Sadie Hartley, 60, was stunned with a cattle prod and stabbed at her home in Helmshore, Lancashire, in January. Preston Crown Court heard Sarah Williams, 35, exchanged naked photographs with Ms Hartley's partner Ian Johnston in the weeks prior to the death. Ms Williams denies murder. The court has heard Ms Williams was obsessed by Mr Johnston, 57, and "eliminated" Ms Hartley with the help of Katrina Walsh, 56, who also denies murder, when he refused to leave her. Mr Johnston, who had been in an "intermittent", "intimate" relationship with communications director Ms Hartley, began a sexual relationship with Ms Williams after they met in December 2012. The former firefighter told Ms Williams the relationship was over months later, he said, but she kept contacting him in person or by text and even sent an anonymous letter to Ms Hartley, boasting the sender had had "fantastic" sex with Mr Johnston. John McDermott, prosecuting, said Mr Johnston and Ms Williams exchanged naked photographs on 3, 4 and 5 December last year. Mr Johnston said he didn't block the messages and responded "in kind" to Ms Williams' messages. But he told the prosecutor he did not seek to rekindle the relationship and was "distraught" when he read the texts the next day. There were further similar exchanges between the pair on Christmas Day, and again 10 days before the murder, Mr McDermott told the court. Mr Johnston had been in Switzerland when the messages in January were sent, the court heard. Mr McDermott asked: "What were your intentions with Sarah Williams once you would return to this country?" Mr Johnston said: "Nothing at all. I can't recall half the text messages." Ms Williams and riding instructor Katrina Walsh, 56, of Hare Lane, Chester, both deny murder. Walsh is said to have played a key role in helping her friend to "eliminate" her love rival. The trial continues.

Summary: The partner of a woman killed with "demonic savagery" exchanged explicit texts and photos with the woman accused of her murder, a court has heard.


Cherryl Henry-Leach from Doncaster Children's Services Trust, which runs Getting On, said it was one of the only programmes of its kind in the UK. Families work with police, the health service, voluntary sector and council to avoid violence at home. Ms Henry-Leach said parents were often reluctant to get help. "They feel shame and stigma attached to being a victim of domestic abuse, while also fearing the consequences for their child if reported," she said. The programme seeks to stop children moving from one abusive relationship to another, using a "whole-family approach" unique to Doncaster to build families' self-esteem and resilience, Ms Henry-Leach said. Many teenagers on the programme have lived with domestic violence between parents so the project attempts to "de-normalise" abuse and help them move on to healthier relationships. Mother and son, Anne and Luke (not their real names) from Doncaster, said the techniques derived from University of Oxford research taught them how to listen. "There was a lot of swearing and abusive behaviour before," Anne said. "Luke never actually hit me, but he'd go to hit me, or push me which could be frightening. "I can now sit down and talk to my son without us shouting at each other. We can actually have a conversation without being abusive. Luke agreed that they have a "healthier relationship." Five Doncaster families have now completed the nine week programme, which is funded by Â£3.1m from the Department for Education's Innovation Fund. A further six families are still on the programme.

Summary: A project aiming to tackle violence suffered by parents at the hands of their children has been hailed a success in Doncaster.


The brawl on Saturday began after the families objected to photos being taken, witnesses say. Stones and bottles were thrown. Reports say some of the brawlers were armed with hatchets and harpoons. Unrest continued on Sunday at a protest in the regional capital. The head of the regional executive, Gilles Simeoni, has appealed for calm. The incident took place on a creek near the village of Sisco, Upper Corsica. Tension has grown this summer between local communities and Muslims of North African origin in the south of France, especially following the massacre of 85 people by a lorry driver in the city of Nice on 14 July. At the end of last month, an outlawed Corsican paramilitary group warned Islamist militants against targeting their island. Earlier this week, the resort town of Cannes controversially banned the wearing of the Islamic bathing costume for women, the burkini. Three of the injured have been released from hospital in Bastia and the other two were due to be sent home shortly, prosecutors said in a statement (in French). They described the brawl as being of "great violence". French media report that the trouble began around 18:15 (16:15 GMT) when tourists took photos of women bathing. Reports say the women were wearing burkinis. Ange Vivoni, mayor of Sisco, told reporters that when a local teenager was stabbed, the victim's "family and all the people of Sisco got together". According to the newspaper Le Figaro (in French), some of the older men in the bathing party had attacked a group of local teenagers on the beach with hatchets. When the teenagers' parents arrived from the village, two of them were reportedly injured with harpoons. Villagers allegedly then set alight cars belonging to the bathers. Another French daily, Le Monde, reports (in French) that one man was injured twice by a harpoon after his son was beaten up. Stones and bottles were also thrown. Two fathers from among the bathing party were also injured during the brawl, the paper adds. According to Le Monde newspaper, the three involved in the brawl are all Muslims. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve condemned the violence and also appealed for calm. Hundreds of people held a protest in Bastia, heading for a housing estate, where some of those involved in Saturday's brawl are said to live. Riot police could be seen pushing them back and tear gas was reportedly fired when stones were thrown.

Summary: A beach brawl on the French island of Corsica between three families of North African descent and local youths has left five people injured and three cars burnt out, regional prosecutors say.


Mike Brandon, 31, from Bristol, is being treated in Philadelphia after his British consultant said all NHS routes were "exhausted". Kate Brandon said it had been "by far the hardest three weeks of our lives." She said her husband had spent the last week in intensive care but was now back on the "wonderful oncology unit". Mr Brandon was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia two years ago. In May, his wife raised enough money using a social media campaign to fund his taking part in "revolutionary" cancer trials at the University of Pennsylvania. Mrs Brandon said: "We were told that paradoxically the sicker that people become during this treatment, the more likely they are to have a good outcome. "This knowledge has helped carry us through this excruciatingly difficult time. Boy, did our boy get sick." Mr Brandon said: "There are plenty of things about a leukaemia diagnosis that are tough: the constant worry about things that may never happen, the strain of the things that have definitely happened, and the stress it places on those closest to me. "When my leukaemia relapsed in March, we were told that it was time to plan our last days together, but Kate point blank refused. We would fight on, and we have."

Summary: A man with a rare type of leukaemia whose wife raised £400,000 to cover his medical costs in the USA is "well under way" with his cancer treatment.


This is an account of the critical days leading up to the killings. 6 - 8 July 1995: Bosnian Serb forces had laid siege to the Srebrenica enclave, where tens of thousands of civilians had taken refuge from earlier Serb offensives in north-eastern Bosnia. They were under the protection of about 600 lightly armed Dutch infantry forces. Fuel was running out and no fresh food had been brought into the enclave since May. Serb forces began shelling Srebrenica. Bosnian Muslim fighters in the town asked for the return of weapons they had surrendered to the peacekeepers but their request was refused. The Dutch commander called UN Headquarters in Sarajevo asking for "close air support" after shells and rockets landed close to refugee centres and observation posts manned by peacekeepers. 9 July 1995: The Bosnian Serbs stepped up their shelling and thousands of refugees fled to the town from southern camps ahead of advancing Serbs, who attacked Dutch observation posts, taking about 30 soldiers hostage. One peacekeeper was fatally wounded when Bosnian Muslims fired on retreating Dutch troops. 10 July 1995: Dutch Commander Col Karremans filed a request for UN air support after the Bosnian Serbs shelled Dutch positions. UN Commander Gen Janvier initially refused, but agreed after another request from the colonel. Serb attacks stopped before the planes arrived and strikes were postponed. Some 4,000 refugees were in the town by the evening and there was panic on the streets. Large crowds were gathered around the Dutch positions. The Dutch commander told town leaders that Nato planes would launch massive air attacks against the Serbs if they had not withdrawn from the safe area by 06:00 the following morning. 11 July 1995: The Serb forces did not withdraw, but at 09:00 Col Karremans received word from Sarajevo that his request for close air support had been submitted on the wrong form. At 10:30, the resubmitted request reached Gen Janvier, but Nato planes had to return to base in Italy to refuel after being airborne since 06:00. By midday, more than 20,000 refugees - mostly women, children and the infirm - fled to the main Dutch base at Potocari. At 14:30, two Dutch F-16 fighters dropped two bombs on Serb positions surrounding Srebrenica. The Serbs responded with a threat to kill their Dutch hostages and shell refugees, causing the suspension of further strikes. The Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic entered Srebrenica two hours later, accompanied by Serb camera crews. In the evening, Gen Mladic summoned Col Karremans to a meeting at which he delivered an ultimatum that the Muslims must hand over their weapons to guarantee their lives. 12 July 1995: Buses arrived to take women and children to Muslim territory, while the Serbs begin separating out all males from age 12 to 77 for "interrogation for suspected war crimes". It is estimated that 23,000 women and children were deported in the next 30 hours. Hundreds of men were held in trucks and warehouses. About 15,000 Bosnian Muslim fighters had attempted to escape from Srebrenica overnight and were shelled as they fled through

Summary: In the summer of 1995, two years after being designated a United Nations Safe Area, the Bosnian town of Srebrenica became the scene of the worst massacre in the Bosnian war.


The adder's-tongue spearwort is only found in two places in the UK - Badgeworth, near Gloucester, and on Inglestone Common, near Bristol. At Badgeworth, the tiny nature reserve boasts a small crop of the plant but in South Gloucestershire the buttercup is only spotted once every five years. Plant expert Richard Lansdown said: "We wouldn't normally reintroduce but Inglestone is down to a single plant." The species, more commonly known as the Badgeworth buttercup, relies on bare, wet ground that has been churned up by cattle to set seed and thrive. But with fewer animals grazing the common in recent years, it has become overrun with scrub and the buttercup now "only grows intermittently" at a single pond. "I sieved out the mud and extracted all the seeds [at Inglestone] and didn't find any from the Badgeworth buttercup - there weren't any left at all," said Mr Lansdown. "So we've had to use seed originally collected from the site some years ago that was sent to the Millennium Seed Bank." Using the 270 plus seeds held at Kew, 200 plants were propagated and about 80 planted out at Inglestone with a further planting planned for mid-June "The two sites have been declining for a very, very long time," said Mr Lansdown. "But we've planted out 83 plants in different locations at Inglestone and at least half of them are surviving and doing well and have begun fruiting which will add to the seed bank."

Summary: A rare buttercup is being reintroduced in South Gloucestershire.


April Jones was playing with friends near her home in Machynlleth but was seen getting into a grey or light coloured van at 19:00 BST on Monday. Around 200 people helped in a search of streets, farmland and woodland through the night. April was last seen wearing a purple knee-length coat with a fur hood, white school polo top and black trousers. The Ysgol Gynradd Machynlleth pupil had been playing on her bicycle with friends near her home on the Bryn-y-Gog estate. Dyfed-Powys Police said all the witnesses to her suspected abduction were children. Det Supt Reg Bevan said getting information from the children would take time. "It's a delicate and difficult process interviewing young children who were the witnesses to this," he said. "That's continuing - it commenced last night and it will continue this morning and hopefully I will have more information for you later." A hotline number has been released for people to call with information - 0300 2000 333. Det Supt Bevan added: "We're liaising with our colleagues, neighbouring forces, [getting] specialist advice. By Cemlyn DaviesBBC Wales I've already heard shouts and cries of 'April' as the search resumed this morning. I'm standing near the spot where the five-year-old was last seen around half past seven on Monday evening. The community has really pulled together and that was clear last night. A few hundred people gathered at the town's leisure centre. I was there to watch them come together. They divided themselves into groups to go out into the town to keep searching for April. This morning, I've spoken to the local councillors who have said they will do everything possible to help April Jones's family at this very, very difficult time. They've described the family as a wonderful family who play their part in the community, and they'll do everything they can to help find April safe and sound. "We've got specially trained family liaison officers supporting April's family." He also praised the "tremendous response" from the community. Local people gathered at Machynlleth Leisure Centre on Monday evening to help look for the girl, as news of her disappearance spread on social network sites. Posters of April were also circulated and put up around the town. Police also set up road blocks to check vehicles, while the street where April disappeared has been cordoned off. Det Ch Supt Simon Powell of Dyfed-Powys Police said officers were "becoming increasingly concerned for her safety". He said the force had launched an "intensive search and criminal investigation" into the abduction. "April was last seen playing on a bicycle near her home address and was seen getting into what we believe was a light-coloured van which then drove off," he added. Insp Kevin Davies said the fire service and police dog teams had been mobilised, and vehicle check-points set up. "There is mention of a grey van, we're looking at that as one of the angles of inquiry," he said. "Nothing is being overlooked. It's an angle, it's an inquiry that we're pursuing along with other angles. "We're searching the area.

Summary: Police are treating the disappearance of a five-year-old girl in Powys as a suspected abduction.


Fighting that broke out in the capital, Juba, in July is responsible for the latest surge in those fleeing, it says. More than 1.6 million people are also displaced within South Sudan, meaning about 20% of the population have been made homeless since December 2013. A fragile peace deal signed last year is on the brink of collapse. "The violence in July came as a major setback to peace efforts in South Sudan," the UNHCR spokesman Leo Dobbs said in a statement. The UN says more than 185,000 people have fled South Sudan since July. "The fighting has shattered hopes for a real breakthrough and triggered new waves of displacement and suffering, while humanitarian organisations are finding it very difficult for logistical, security and funding reasons to provide urgent protection and assistance to the hundreds of thousands in need," Mr Dobbs said. South Sudan refugees: Many of the refugees arriving in Uganda, which hosts the most South Sudanese, are "exhausted after days walking in the bush and going without food or water. Many children have lost one or both of their parents", the UNHCR says. A fall-out between President Salva Kiir and former Vice-President Machar - the most powerful members of their respective Dinka and Nuer ethnic groups - led to the civil war which erupted in December 2013. They only agreed to settle their differences under intense international pressure, signing a peace deal in August 2015 - and Mr Machar returned to Juba as vice-president in a unity government in April. But battles then broke out between his bodyguards and presidential guards three months later, prompting him to flee. Another member of his party has been appointed as vice-president, a move Mr Machar does not recognise. Earlier this week, a report funded by George Clooney accused both Mr Kiir and Mr Machar, as well as their officials, of personally profiting from the war. Both men have denied the allegations. The UN wants to deploy a 4,000-strong regional protection force for Juba which would have a more robust mandate than the 12,000 UN soldiers already in the country, however the mandate and size of the force still have to be agreed. More on South Sudan's crisis:

Summary: The number of people who have fled South Sudan because of the country's civil war has passed the one million mark, the UN refugee agency says.


Addressing the party's UK conference, Ms Dugdale restated her support for the tax policy her party ran on in May. She wants a 50p tax on those earning over £150,000, and a penny increase in income tax to pay for public services. The conference will vote on Tuesday on plans to give the Scottish and Welsh leaders more power over their parties. The proposals would allow Kezia Dugdale and Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones the power to appoint a representative to the party's UK national executive committee (NEC). The plans would also give the Scottish and Welsh parties more autonomy. Sources have said there was an attempt to "unpick" the plans by removing the extra seats from the package. This was defeated, but it is possible there could be a second attempt prior to Tuesday's vote. Speaking at the weekend, Len McCluskey, head of the UK's biggest trade union Unite, said Ms Dugdale should not have the power to appoint Scotland's representative on the NEC. He said that while there was wide support for the autonomy proposals, coupling them with the NEC seat plans had created a "difficult position". Ms Dugdale has said she is confident the full package will be passed. It appears Kezia Dugdale and Jeremy Corbyn are involved in their first dispute since his re-election. A series of reforms to the way the Labour Party works are due to be passed on Tuesday. The package includes autonomy plans praised by Ms Dugdale last week. This part is uncontroversial and supported by everyone I've spoken to. But there is a row over another part. The reforms would also allow Ms Dugdale - and her Welsh counterpart Carwyn Jones - to appoint someone to represent them on the party's UK executive. Mr Corbyn's supporters think the extra NEC seats could be used to try and undermine him as the battle for the party's future plays out. They want to postpone the plan. For now, it appears Ms Dugdale will get her way. But it's possible there will be another attempt to scupper the NEC plan tomorrow. In her address to the conference in Liverpool on Monday afternoon, the Scottish Labour leadersaid her party will not support "another austerity budget" in Scotland. The speech is Ms Dugdale's first to conference since the Holyrood elections earlier this year, when Labour fell to third place in terms of the seats it holds in the Scottish parliament, behind the Conservatives. MSPs at Holyrood will be responsible for setting income tax in Scotland from April 2017, but First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has already rejected increasing the basic rate for the five year lifetime of the parliament, as well as ruling out upping the top rate in the first year. Ms Dugdale said her party would "place amendments to introduce a 50p tax on those earning over £150,000 and to add a penny to income tax to pay for public services" when the Scottish government brings forward its budget for 2017-18. She said: "With the full range of powers the Scottish Parliament now has, the SNP government

Summary: Scottish Labour Leader Kezia Dugdale has pledged to oppose the Scottish government's budget if it does not embrace a 50p top rate of tax.


More than 300 male evacuees have been held for screening after leaving the Old City under an agreed ceasefire. Talal Barazi, governor of Homs, says 111 men have been questioned and released, while 190 others are still being held. More than 1,100 people have fled the city since Friday under a truce. Aid organisations in Syria had hoped to evacuate more civilians on Tuesday after the ceasefire was extended by three days, but the operation was delayed by a day due to logistical reasons. "The evacuation of civilians and delivery of food aid will continue tomorrow morning," the regional governor told the AFP news agency. A truce agreed until Wednesday night could be extended if necessary, he added. The UN human rights office says it is "deeply concerned" that boys and men were seized as they left the besieged area. "It is essential that they do not come to any harm," said Rupert Colville, spokesman for the UN commissioner for Human Rights. "We will continue to press for their proper treatment according to the international humanitarian and human rights law." Melissa Fleming, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said detainees were being held at an abandoned school. "We are monitoring the situation. We are definitely taking account of the number there and who is there," she said. Meanwhile, face-to-face negotiations between Syrian government and opposition delegations in Geneva have been adjourned for the day. A second round of peace talks was held on Monday with separate meetings between UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi and the two sides. "The beginning of this week is as laborious as it was in the first week. We are not making much progress," he told a news conference at the United Nations headquarters. The first round ended last month with no firm agreements and both sides trading insults. The opposition wants the government to commit in writing to the 2012 Geneva Communique, which called for the formation of a transitional administration with full executive authority. President Bashar al-Assad's government has ruled out any transfer of power. On the ground, efforts to evacuate hundreds more women, children and elderly people from Homs, which has been under siege for 18 months, were temporarily halted on Tuesday for logistical reasons. More than 450 civilians left on Monday, amid mortar fire and shooting. The BBC's Lyse Doucet, who is in Homs, said it was not expected that so many young men would try to leave. So their fate is being scrutinised very closely, our correspondent adds. She was at a press conference on Tuesday where the Homs governor gave the latest figures on how many detainees had been released. He said he expected around 80% of those held would be let free. Matthew Hollingworth, Syria director for the UN's World Food Programme, told the BBC "the floodgates have opened" as many more people try to leave. "The levels of destitution inside the Old City are like nothing I've ever seen before," he said. "People are living in tunnels underground, moving between shells of buildings to find roots to eat

Summary: UN aid agencies have expressed concern about the safety of scores of men and boys detained by the Syrian authorities after being evacuated from Homs.


Danni Jordan found the net for the Welsh with just a minute to go, to make the final score 2-1 in Glasgow in the final Test of the series. Phoebe Richard had equalised just before half-time in a hard-fought encounter after Fiona Burnet had opened the scoring for the hosts. Wales take the series 3-0 after beating Scotland 2-1 and 1-0 previously. The dramatic series win was a fitting way for defender Tina Evans to celebrate winning her 100th cap for Wales. "We're absolutely thrilled considering Scotland are ranked considerably higher than us in the world rankings," Evans said. "We knew it was going to be a really difficult test for us but we're really pleased with how we've performed in getting three really good results. "We came here with high expectations and probably exceed them but we're delighted with the performances and the results we've got. "It was a really special day and it was really amazing to captain today and for the girls to come in and put in that huge amount of effort makes me really chuffed and excited for what the future holds." Wales are currently ranked 26th in the world and are preparing for the European Championships in Cardiff in August, so will relish an important series win over 17th-ranked Scotland. Find out how to get into hockey with our special guide.

Summary: Wales women hockey came from behind to complete a three-Test whitewash over their Scottish counterparts.


Last year Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service attended 37 incidents, compared with 16 in 2014 /2015. The service is now carrying out special training sessions using a 28 stone (179kg) dummy. Figures obtained by the BBC show a rise in "bariatric rescues" from four assistance requests in 2011/12. More on this and other Lincolnshire stories. The type of rescues logged by the fire service included removing bedroom doors and banisters, to using lifting equipment to help patients from their homes into ambulances. Spencer Creek, technical response manger for the service said that more than 60 firefighters had taken the specialist training course. "What we are looking at now is how the guys practically deal with the weight of the casualty," he said. "And how do we deal with it in a number of different scenarios." As well as the training, the service has invested in specialist equipment including, inflatable chairs and strengthened stretchers at the cost of Â£3,000 per fire engine. East Midlands Ambulance Service has equipped all its ambulances with stretchers capable of holding patients weighing up to 30 stones (190kg).

Summary: Firefighters in Lincolnshire have seen a doubling in the number of calls to assist the ambulance service treat obese people in one year.


Hansons Auctioneers said the Gibson UB3 banjolele is expected to attract worldwide interest at the sale on 30 June, in Etwall, Derbyshire. In 2008, another George Formby banjo ukulele sold for for £72,000 at auction to Queen's Brian May. In 1936, the BBC banned Formby's song The Window Cleaner for being smutty. John Croft, former president of the George Formby Society and ukulele expert, said: "There is huge interest in this instrument. George Formby has fans all over the world - young and old." Mr Croft, from Llanyblodwel, Shropshire, added it was a "wonderful piece of social history". "In his heyday in the late 1930s, George Formby earned more than three top Hollywood stars put together - Errol Flynn, Douglas Fairbanks and Clark Gable. "And we should never forget Formby's contribution to boosting morale among the troops during World War Two. "He and his wife Beryl flew out to dangerous war zones, including El Alamein. This country owes a great deal to them both. "I hope the instrument stays in the UK but the most important thing is that it is loved and played." This banjolele was originally purchased by Bill Logan, the first president of the George Formby Society. Who was George Formby? He was born George Hoy Booth on 26 May 1904, in Wigan and was the eldest of seven children The actor, singer-songwriter and comedian's show business career started in 1921 and lasted 40 years until his death in 1961 He was famous for playing the banjolele and by 1939 was the most popular and highest paid entertainer in the British Isles - he was estimated to be earning more than £100,000 a year Formby appeared in 21 films, made more than 230 records, entertained on stage hundreds of times, performed twice by royal command and entertained an estimated three million allied servicemen and women during World War Two In 1960, Formby made his last record, Happy Go Lucky Me, and in December that year made what was his final television programme, The Friday Show George Formby Society Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: "This is such a rare opportunity. This was one of George Formby's favourite banjoleles and the chance to own and play it is very special. This instrument is a priceless treasure for Formby fans." Formby was said to have owned three Gibson UB3 models.

Summary: A banjo ukulele owned by popular 1930s and 40s entertainer George Formby is to be auctioned, with an estimated sale price of £30,000.


Hollywood actress Glenn Close stars in the musical, which opened on Monday evening at London's Coliseum theatre. Writing in The Guardian, Michael Billington said the new production had given the show "a new lease of life". "Close delivers the big lines not with a camp flourish but as if they were sincerely felt," he said. Billington noted that the show had "none of the epic scale of the original London production" but added this was to the producers' credit: "Sometimes semi-staged is better than the luxurious grandeur of an elephantine West End musical." Glenn Close is reprising the role of Norma Desmond, a character she first played in Los Angeles in 1993. She won a Tony award for her Broadway performance in 1995. Holly Williams from theatre website WhatsOnStage said: "It might be 20 years since she bagged a Tony in this part, but I wouldn't bet against her scooping a few shiny new gongs this time round." However, some critics did note that Close's voice occasionally struggled with the higher notes. "[Close's] vocal instrument may not be as sharp as it once was, but she brings an utterly ferocious intensity to the part and the songs," Mark Shenton wrote in his review for The Stage. Time Out also had some criticisms of the production: "Like many later Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals, Sunset Boulevard is not brilliant." Andrzej Lukowski added that "69-year-old Close is definitely a bit old to play 50-year-old silent movie star Norma Desmond". Rod McPhee, writing in The Daily Mirror, said Close "masterfully belts out the show's biggest numbers, and earned rapturous applause as a result. Her first musical in London's West End proves that she's far from a fading star." Sunset Boulevard tells the story of a Hollywood writer named Joe (played in the new production by Michael Xavier), who is being chased by mob creditors. Joe seeks refuge in a Los Angeles mansion, only to discover it is already being inhabited by Norma Desmond, a wealthy but forgotten silent movie star. Culture minister Ed Vaizey attended Monday evening's performance, tweeting: "Absolutely wonderful. Glenn Close gives the performance of a lifetime. One of the best things I have seen." Speaking to the BBC after she came off stage on Monday evening, Close said: "Norma Desmond is one of the best parts ever written for a woman." "It's a phenomenal show, it's such an exciting journey and it has been the best adventure. I feel so lucky. I am on such an emotional high, I've never had this kind of response."

Summary: A new production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Sunset Boulevard has received a positive response from critics.


Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif dismissed them as "failed lies". He claimed they were published "just in time" for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference, which took place earlier this week. On Wednesday, Israel's military said it had found the rockets on a ship it seized in the Red Sea off Sudan. The Klos-C, a Panamanian-flagged vessel, is currently being escorted to the southern Israeli port of Eilat, and is expected to arrive on Saturday. Its 17-member crew were apparently unaware of their cargo. The Klos-C was transporting dozens of M-302 rockets, which have a range of 150km to 200km (93-124 miles), Israeli military spokesman Brig-Gen Moti Almoz said. "The ship may be carrying other weapons as well, but we can only know this when it reaches Eilat." "There is clear and unequivocal information that this came from Iran." On Wednesday, the Israeli military said it had tracked the weapons for several months as they were flown from Damascus to Tehran and then taken to a port in southern Iran. From there, it added, they were loaded on to the KLOS-C, which sailed to Iraq, where containers of cement were added. The ship was eventually intercepted while on its way to Sudan. On Thursday, Mr Zarif rejected the allegations and questioned why they had surfaced just after the conference a pro-Israel US lobby group. "An Iranian ship carrying arms for Gaza," he wrote on Twitter. "Captured just in time for annual AIPAC anti-Iran campaign. Amazing Coincidence! Or same failed lies." A spokesman for Hamas, the militant Palestinian Islamist movement that governs Gaza, said they were a "silly joke". Israel has long accused Iran of arming groups such as Hamas. More than 60 rockets fired from the Gaza Strip have hit Israel since the start of last year, Israel says. Hamas denies that it has fired any rockets since a 2012 ceasefire agreement with Israel, with other Gaza-based groups claiming responsibility. However, Israel says it hold Hamas responsible for any attacks from Gaza and has repeatedly launched deadly air strikes. During a visit to California on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the discovery of the shipment had revealed "the true face of Iran" to world powers attempting to negotiate a comprehensive agreement on its controversial nuclear programme. "Iran has been exposed for what it is," he told reporters. "It smiles in the Geneva talks about its own nuclear ambitions, gives soothing words, and as they're doing that, they're shipping these deadly weapons to the world's worst terrorists." In a speech at the AIPAC conference on Tuesday, Mr Netanyahu had reiterated his unhappiness with the prospect of a long-term deal that would allow Iran to continue enriching uranium and engaging in other activities that might allow it to develop nuclear weapons. At a news conference in Jakarta on Thursday, Mr Zarif insisted that Iran's nuclear programme was solely for peaceful purposes. "I do not believe dismantling of this programme is helpful to the cause of non-proliferation because Iran has technology, Iran has the scientists, Iran has the capability," he said.

Summary: Iran has rejected Israeli allegations that it was behind a shipment of Syrian-made rockets intended for Palestinian militants in Gaza.


Zaur Dadayev shot the former deputy prime minister, a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin, in February 2015 near the Kremlin. Four others acted as accomplices. The group were allegedly promised $250,000 (Â£192,000) to kill Nemtsov. They all denied the charges. Nemtsov's relatives fear that whoever ordered the murder will never be found. Russian authorities are still looking for another Chechen said to be behind the killing, Ruslan Mukhudinov. He believed to have fled abroad. But lawyers for Nemtsov's family have said the investigators have exaggerated Mr Mukhudinov's role and "the masterminds are high-ranking people". The jury in Moscow convicted the five men after more than eight months of hearings. Zaur Dadayev is former member of an elite military unit. He was under the command of pro-Moscow's Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Russia's Chechen Republic in the North Caucasus. The other four defendants are brothers Anzor Gubashev and Shadid Gubashev, Khamzat Bakhayev and Tamerlan Eskerkhanov. A sixth man, Beslan Shabanov, died while he was being detained in Chechnya. Nemtsov served as first deputy prime minister under President Boris Yeltsin in the 1990s, and later became a vocal critic of President Putin. The 55-year-old was shot dead on 27 February 2015 on his way from a restaurant in central Moscow. Earlier that day he was interviewed on a liberal radio station, in which he had called on listeners to join a rally. At the time, Nemtsov was working on a report examining Russia's alleged role in the conflict in Ukraine. President Putin called the murder "vile and cynical" and vowed to hold those responsible to account. Russia has seen several killings of high-profile politicians and journalists in recent years. But the country has a long history of prosecuting alleged hit-men and failing to follow the chain of command to discover who ordered the murder, correspondents say. It took the 12 jury members more than 12 hours to reach their verdict. They spent it in a closed room in one corner of the military courthouse with a guard posted outside the window. But when they finally filed back into court, it was to pronounce every one of the accused guilty. In each case they ruled by a clear majority. Standing opposite them inside a glass cage, surrounded by armed police and a Rottweiler, the men from Chechnya listened in silence, looking relaxed and even smiling as they had for much of this trial. There was speculation that one of the accused, Khamzat Bakhayev, might be acquitted for lack of evidence. When the jury found him guilty too, his wife burst into tears. But outside, lawyers representing Boris Nemtsov's family said they believe the trail of evidence leads to senior figures within Chechnya, loyal to Vladimir Putin. They've vowed to go on pushing until they uncover who actually ordered Boris Nemtsov killed, and why.

Summary: A Russian jury has found five ethnic Chechen men guilty of murdering leading opposition politician Boris Nemtsov.


The Chelsea skipper is alleged to have made racist comments towards Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand in a league match on 23 October 2011. A not guilty plea was entered on Mr Terry's behalf at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. He will now stand trial on 9 July, nine days after Euro 2012. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Mr Terry, 31, is accused of a racially-aggravated public order offence. Following Wednesday's hearing, the footballer's legal team said in a statement: "Mr Terry looks forward to the opportunity to clear his name. By Dan RoanBBC Sports News Correspondent The fact that Terry will not stand trial until July means he is now free to lead England into the European Championship, the Football Association, along with Chelsea, having made clear it will not suspend him. However, it also means these serious charges will hang over him for a further five months. Terry says he does not wish to talk about the case, but you can be sure he will be asked. Some will worry about the effect this uncertainty will have over on his performances in the summer and the England team's morale. "Mr Terry denies making any racist statement and will establish in court that he is not guilty of any such offence. "Mr Terry has never racially abused another player in his entire career.'' Police questioned Mr Terry under caution in November and a file on the matter was sent to the CPS at the beginning of December. The decision to charge Mr Terry was taken after police received a complaint from a member of the public after the Premier League match at Loftus Road. The maximum sentence for the offence is a fine of £2,500. As a summary offence under the Crime and Disorder Act, it will be fully heard in a magistrates' court.

Summary: England football captain John Terry will stand trial for alleged racist abuse in July, after the final of the European Championship in July.


At one point the drone was just 30m (100ft) from the plane which had to take evasive action to avoid a collision, officials said. A navy spokesman accused the Iranians of behaving in an "unsafe and unprofessional" manner. Tensions between the countries are high with the Gulf a potential flashpoint. US Naval Forces Central Command spokesman Commander Bill Urban said the incident happened in international air space as an F/A-18E Super Hornet was preparing to land on the USS Nimitz. Despite radio warnings to stay clear of the carrier, the drone carried out "unsafe and unprofessional" altitude changes near the jet, he said. "The dangerous manoeuvre by the QOM-1 [drone] in the known vicinity of fixed-wing flight operations and at coincident altitude with operating aircraft created a collision hazard and is not in keeping with international maritime customs and laws," Cdr Urban said. The incident is the latest in a series of close encounters in the Gulf between US and Iranian forces. In July, a US Navy ship fired warning shots at an Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessel after it came within 140m (450ft) and ignored radio calls. In January, a US destroyer fired three warning shots when Iranian fast-attack vessels approached at high speed in the Strait of Hormuz.

Summary: An Iranian drone has flown dangerously close to a US fighter jet as it was about to land on a carrier in the Gulf, the US Navy says.


Researchers found residues of potassium bromate and potassium iodate in 84% of the samples collected from Delhi. The chemicals are banned in many countries, but India continues to allow their use in bakeries. The All India Bread Manufacturers' Association said the chemicals were "considered safe". Health Minister JP Nadda has urged people not to panic and to wait for his ministry's report on the issue. "I have told my officials to report to me on an urgent basis. There is no need to panic. Very soon we will come out with the [inquiry] report," he said. Delhi-based environmental think-tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said in its report that it had collected 38 bread and bakery samples from retail stores, bakeries and fast-food shops in Delhi for its study. "More than 84% of samples tested were found to contain potassium bromate and/or iodate," it said. The CSE has urged the government to ban the use of these chemicals in bakery products. "Considering that it [potassium bromate] can cause cancer, is banned in most parts of the world, and has healthy alternatives, there is no reason why this chemical should be allowed, specifically when residues are found to be present in the end-product." The CSE said potassium iodate should also be banned because "it can potentially affect the functioning of thyroid". The bread manufacturers' association said it was yet to see the CSE report, but added that the two additives were safe and "widely used in advanced countries like the US". "Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's regulations permit the use of potassium bromate and/or potassium iodate at 50 ppm max for bread and at 20 ppm max for bakery purpose," the association said in a statement.

Summary: India's health ministry has ordered an inquiry after a study found cancer-causing chemicals in many bread and other bakery products.


The celebrated singer, who died in January aged 69, is joined by Adele, Calvin Harris, Coldplay and Jess Glynne on the five-strong shortlist. Adele was named British artist of the year in 2015, one of the two awards she won at last year's event. This year's awards, to be broadcast live on BBC One, will be held at the ExCel in London on 12 December. Bowie's nomination follows his surprise omission from the album of the year shortlist announced last month. Blackstar, his final release, had been tipped for inclusion but was shut out by Rick Astley's 50, Adele's 25 and three other titles. Kaiser Chiefs, Craig David, John Legend and Robbie Williams are among the performers at this year's ceremony. It was announced last week that pop singer Izzy Bizu will be crowned BBC Introducing artist of the year at the event. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Summary: David Bowie has been posthumously nominated for the British artist of the year prize at the BBC Music Awards.


A BBC investigation reveals Southampton docks does not monitor its air pollution rates, despite the city being among the most polluted in the UK. Southampton City Council estimates the port contributes up to 23 per cent of air pollution in the city. Ships can use a "plug-in" system to reduce emissions but not in the UK. It comes after the World Health Organisation (WHO) called Southampton one of the most polluted cities in the UK. The city's port welcomes thousands of ships a year, including some of the biggest cruise liners and container ships in the world. The vessels leave their engines running while docked to power their electrics, but elsewhere in the world ships use a shore-based electricity supply, virtually eliminating their emissions. Cargo and cruise ships, including the Queen Mary 2 and Britannia which regularly dock in Southampton, use the method - just not when visiting the British port. Port Director Alastair Welch from ABP said: "The challenge has been in particular there is no one standard for shore power. I'd like it in place as soon as possible. "I should emphasise shore power is not the only answer and that's why we're working with solar power and hybrid ships now, because all of them have a part to play for the future." A review of Air Quality in Southampton in 2015 by the local authority showed the port is believed to contribute between seven and 23 per cent of the air pollution, while cars contribute 18 per cent and HGVs 12 per cent. The government has since told Southampton to implement clean air zones by 2020 and the council is implementing a Clean Air Strategy to meet national goals.

Summary: Southampton, the biggest cruise port in Britain, has no way of monitoring air pollution generated by emissions from the largest ships in the world.


"Had I been president, Captain Khan would be alive today. We wouldn't have been in this horrible, horrible mistake, the war in Iraq," he said. The soldier's father, Khizr Khan, said it was a "cruel" remark. He is campaigning for Hillary Clinton, who is making her first appearance with First Lady Michelle Obama. The two shared a stage at Winston-Salem in North Carolina. Introducing Mrs Obama, the former first lady said her voice was needed in this election "more than ever". Mrs Clinton referred to Mr Trump's ongoing feud with the Khans and accused him of "rubbing salt into the wounds of a grieving family". Mr Khan's son Humayun was killed by a car bomb in 2004 in Iraq at the age of 27. Their grief became part of the presidential campaign in July when Khizr Khan made an emotional speech at the Democratic Convention attacking Mr Trump for anti-Muslim rhetoric, as his wife stood next to him. The Republican candidate's reaction, in which he implied the mother was not allowed to speak up, attracted strong condemnation from within his own party. Speaking to ABC News in an interview aired on Thursday, Mr Trump repeated his insistence that their son would be alive, but added he believed the soldier was a "great hero". In response, Mr Khan said: "This is the most cruel thing you can say to grieving parents, that if I was there this would not have happened." In other campaign developments: Former Illinois Representative Joe Walsh tweeted: "On November 8th, I'm voting for Trump. On November 9th, if Trump loses, I'm grabbing my musket. You in?" He later said he was speaking metaphorically about "acts of civil disobedience". Mrs Clinton's campaign is dealing with more questions arising from hacked emails published by Wikileaks. The Trump campaign has seized on the latest dump to suggest the line between Bill Clinton's personal income and the donations for the Clinton Foundation has been blurred. Doug Band, a top aide to Mr Clinton, said in an email that he had solicited donations to the foundation and also generated personal income for him through gifts and paid speeches. Who will win? Play our game to make your call

Summary: Republican Donald Trump has been criticised by the family of a dead US soldier after saying as president he would have kept him alive.


The taskforce was appointed by the Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland. It was asked to examine the impact of negative equity and repossessions. The taskforce has warned that the number of people falling behind on their mortgage payments could increase as interest rates begin to rise. The taskforce is now undertaking further work aimed at developing policy recommendations. Northern Ireland suffered a huge housing bubble followed by a crash that saw prices fall by almost 50%. As a consequence, rates of negative equity are much worse than elsewhere in the UK and repossessions have also increased. A major "at risk" group identified by the taskforce are households who undertook "equity release" remortgages at the height of the market. They are people who increased their mortgages to release cash for other purposes, such as home improvements or to finance buy-to-let properties. In 2007, 74% of remortgaging in Northern Ireland was for equity release. The taskforce said this category of "credit hungry" borrower was disproportionately active in Northern Ireland. Lower income groups who took out "second charge" mortgages with subprime lenders are also at high-risk. The taskforce said those lenders have shown "a more tenacious approach to arrears management". However, it said, in general, lenders have shown "forbearance" and if they had not done so rates of repossessions would be higher. The taskforce warned that, despite a gradual recovery in the Northern Ireland economy and the housing market, major risks remain. It said that the Northern Ireland economy "remains some distance from reaching escape velocity"' and that borrowers are "poorly equipped to absorb future income shocks".

Summary: The Northern Ireland housing market remains "dysfunctional" and poses a risk to economic recovery, a Stormont-backed taskforce has concluded.


Borge helped to create the Sandinista National Liberation Front in 1961. In 1979, the Sandinista revolution overthrew dictator Anastasio Somoza and Borge served as interior minister in the new government of Daniel Ortega. US President Ronald Reagan saw the revolutionaries as a threat and backed the right-wing Contras in the civil war that followed. An estimated 30,000 people died in the fighting which lasted a decade and wrecked the country's economy. Borge was born into a poor family and dedicated himself to the struggle against the Somoza family, which had run Nicaragua for 40 years. He received military training in Cuba before he helped to found the Sandinista movement. The organisation was named after Augusto Cesar Sandino, who fought against US intervention in Nicaragua in the 1930s. Borge became the powerful interior minister in the Ortega government of the 1980s, where he imposed censorship on the media and was accused of human rights violations. However, he denied accusations that he was responsible for expelling and harassing clergymen during the war. The Sandinistas were voted out of power in 1990. Congressman Jacinto Suarez was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying Borge was "a transcendental figure in Nicaraguan history". But the news agency also quoted Nicaraguan writer Gioconda Belli, who said of Borge's later life: "After 1990, I have the sense he gave up his revolutionary ideas... He ended up a tragic-comic figure". Borge's final years saw Daniel Ortega return to government - he won presidential elections in 2006 and again in 2011. Borge was admitted to hospital earlier this month for a lung infection and underwent surgery.

Summary: The last surviving founder of the left-wing Sandinista movement in Nicaragua, Tomas Borge, has died aged 81.


It will be the 30-year-old's first competition of 2016 as she prepares to defend her Olympic title in Brazil. The double world champion missed the indoor season with an Achilles injury. Ennis-Hill is not yet ready for a full heptathlon and will miss an event in Gotzis, Austria on 28 May.

Summary: Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill will begin the build-up to Rio 2016 by competing in the javelin at the Loughborough International Athletics match on Sunday.


From star players to influential club legends, the 62-year-old Dutchman has made a few enemies during his 42 years in football, the past 23 of those coaching some of Europe's leading clubs and the Netherlands national team whom he led to third place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. During his first news conference at Old Trafford, Van Gaal insisted he was more "democrat" than autocrat, extolling his "strong personality" - a trait, he reminded his audience, he shares with former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. But why does Van Gaal come to English football with such a fearsome reputation? BBC Sport gets the inside story on his biggest bust-ups. The time he was told he was too slow Louis van Gaal never lacked confidence and his strong personality was there, even as a player. He made his name as a midfielder with the Royal FC Antwerp, under Guy Thys, the legendary Belgian coach. "I was annoyed that he did not always play me," Van Gaal later recalled. "I was one of four foreigners and he could only play three in those days. Thys reckoned I lacked pace.'' Thys said: "He'd come up to me and ask me why I did not play him. 'Boss, I am the best player, aren't I?' And then I would tell him he was not. He could not believe that. "I do admit he had by far the strongest personality of all the players I have come across. But, sorry to say, he was slow… " One of Van Gaal's best performances came in a 4-1 victory over Aston Villa in the home leg of the Uefa Cup tie in 1975. "That day against Villa he was absolutely brilliant," Thys remembered. "For the return match he asked how he should play. I said: 'Like you normally do, slowly.' "I remember that conversation well. He could not see the funny side of my answer. But we needed to take the pace out of the game. And it worked. We beat them in Birmingham 1-0. And Louis was fantastic again. He never played such a brilliant game again.'' Van Gaal was infuriated by Thys's negative approach to the second leg. He felt Antwerp should have kept attacking. "I had respect for him as a person, but I did not rate him as a coach," Van Gaal said. "Probably because he put me on the bench too often. I reckoned I should play. He did not.'' Van Gaal was so unhappy in Belgium football he wanted to leave. "I wrote 80 letters to get a job elsewhere. I only got one or two replies, but I did get my move," he said. "Thys threatened to stop me from leaving by demanding a big transfer fee. So I said, do what you like, but I will take my old job of PE teacher again, if you do that. No sweat at all. So they let me go.'' The time Rivaldo wanted to change position In 1999 Van Gaal was in charge of Barcelona and Rivaldo was at the peak

Summary: New Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has never been afraid to have an argument or make it clear who is in charge.


Tess Newall, who had worn her great-great grandmother's dress at her wedding in June, posted a plea on Facebook to help find it, which was shared more than 300,000 times. Luckily her dress was found but what is the appeal for brides of choosing a dress once worn by a relative? Three women explained why they had ditched trawling the bridal shops for the perfect dress in favour of a borrowed gown. Kate Ridgway, from Stockport, made the decision to wear her grandmother's wedding dress in 2014. "I remember it from when I was a child," said the 27-year-old. "I always knew nan had kept it and I tried it on for dressing up, but back then I thought it was a horrid lacy thing." However, when she got engaged to her now-husband Stu, Joan Chatfield, known as "Nanny Chat", asked if she would like to wear it on her big day. "I was heavily pregnant at the time, so I couldn't try it on," said Kate. "But she had always wanted me to wear it." Then, three days after Kate's eldest son was born, her nan passed away. When she travelled down to Sussex for the funeral, her mother handed her the box with the vintage wedding dress from 1951, and everything fell into place. "When I tried it on, it fitted perfectly," she said. "I had it cleaned but I didn't have to do anything else to it. "I had tried on brand new wedding dresses and I had fallen in love with one, but this felt different and so special. "It meant so much to us as a family for me to wear it and, as you can imagine, it made for a very emotional day." London-based digital designer Emily Clark also hopes to start a tradition of her own by using her mother's frock for her wedding this October. The 33-year-old said her mother's dress, which was first worn in 1980, had played a big part in her childhood. "I used to dress in my mum's wedding dress from the age of five or six to - if I'm truthful - until I was 15. "It's one of a kind, it's a dress you wouldn't be able to find now and you wouldn't be able to replicate." The dress was bought by her grandfather, who died last year. She said the dress would act as a way of commemorating him at her wedding to fiance Andrew Stewart. The dress is currently being altered, and when she heard that Mrs Newall's had gone missing at the dry cleaners she says she "did panic". She added: "I just think it's wonderful that they've had it returned." For Rachel Cohen, from Edinburgh, the discovery of her grandmother's dress in the loft spurred on the idea to go retro. "I knew there were dresses up there amongst a lot of random stuff," she said. "I even found one dress which much have been from a previous generation, but it just couldn't have been worn." However, the one Granny Marie Waterston wore in

Summary: Social media was captivated by a 150-year-old wedding dress that had been lost after a dry cleaners went bust.


Myles Bradbury has lodged an appeal against a 22-year jail sentence imposed last December. He admitted abusing 18 children at Addenbrooke's in Cambridge between 2009 and 2013. The mother of the 11-year-old abused when he was kept on as a patient told the BBC Bradbury should never be freed. Bradbury, 41, from Herringswell in Suffolk, was jailed at Cambridge Crown Court for sexual assault, voyeurism and possessing more than 16,000 indecent images. The court heard the images of his victims were taken in the hospital. Victims told investigators Bradbury had focused on examining their private parts when there was no medical need to do so. The child, who is now 13, was referred to Bradbury because his older sister had a blood disorder and it was feared he might have the same condition. But, his mother said, there was nothing wrong with him. Instead of discharging him from his patient list, Bradbury continued seeing and abusing the boy for a year. The boy is currently on heavy medication to deal with the mental effects of his abuse. His mother said she did not know how Bradbury could appeal. She said: "He is in prison now, probably doing his crafts or whatever. We are suffering every day. "He does not understand the knock-on effect he has had on families." Bradbury's appeal will be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice on 12 June.

Summary: A paedophile doctor who abused young cancer victims kept one boy on as a patient for a year even though he was not ill.


Consumer group Which? said nearly half of its members surveyed said such reassurance was most likely to make them see red while hanging on the line. Next on the frustration list was being directed to the company's website, and apologies for all operators being busy. Callers would rather be told how long they would have to wait, Which? found. Many also wanted to know where they were in the queue, and to be given the choice of being called back. Nearly half of those asked said that classical music was the most soothing while waiting. Nine in ten of those asked felt that they were prepared to wait on the line for no longer than five minutes. Richard Headland, editor of Which? magazine, said: "Waiting on hold is a waste of time, but some organisations make the experience needlessly annoying through objectionable messages and music. "If these drive you round the bend, vote with your feet and take your custom elsewhere. The best companies know the value of answering your call quickly." Businesses lining up a queuing strategy Jo Causon, chief executive of the Institute of Customer Service, a trade body, said: "People are time-poor and less likely to be happy waiting for service as a result. It means consumers are less understanding of organisations that do not make it easy to get in touch. "If businesses want to enjoy ongoing customer loyalty - and attract new business - their focus should be on convenience and efficiency. In short, this means getting it right quickly, and getting it right first time. Anything less, and customers will think twice about spending money or recommending them to others." She pointed out that the phone is now consumers' third most popular method for getting in touch with an organisation, behind face-to-face contact and online.

Summary: Being told that your call is valued is the most annoying feature for those waiting on the phone to a company, a new survey suggests.


But Good Day Out, in Heol Senni, Powys, gives people the chance to go for a stroll with Kunekune pigs Babz, Holly, Hazel and Willow. Helena Barnard, who runs the walks with Julia Blazer, began after she adopted two pigs and walked them with family. "It's really about getting people closer to nature," she said. They are Kunekune pigs - a New Zealand breed whose name means "fat and round" in Maori. Mrs Barnard and Ms Blazer needed to get a Defra-approved licence and have a vet inspect the routes in order to get the go-ahead. The pigs are not on a leash and wander alongside people, motivated in no small part, by the promise of food. Mrs Barnard was a nurse and a sergeant for Bedfordshire Police and then Dyfed-Powys Police before making the switch to pottering about with pigs and she juggles it with her work as a dance teacher. The duo stared doing the walks in summer 2016 after Mrs Barnard adopted two pigs. She said: "Julia said to me 'if you like walking pigs, then I'm sure other people would do as well'. "There's a thing about walking pigs that's very calming because they walk slowly and happily just jog along with you. "They are very, very social animals and they love human contact."

Summary: If someone told you they were taking pigs for a walk in the Brecon Beacons, you might think they were telling porkies.


Having gone behind through Macauley Gillesphey's free-kick after Jason Kennedy had been hauled down, Orient overturned the deficit. Jay Simpson found space to level after half-time, firing into the left corner. Ollie Palmer then streaked clear to put Orient ahead, before Raynes headed in from Alex Gillead's cross to level. The goal denied Kevin Nolan's visitors the chance to go fifth in the table, as they remain seventh, while Carlisle are three points behind in 11th. Leyton Orient player-manager Kevin Nolan told BBC Radio London: "You've got to respect the point, especially when you come to a place like this. "In the end we probably could have snatched it, but if we would have I think (Carlisle manager) Keith Curle would have been equally disappointed. "I'm delighted with the response. Since I've come in we've taken 16 points out of eight games so it's fantastic form and we've got to take positives out of it because we're all disappointed at the moment."

Summary: Michael Raynes' late equaliser earned Carlisle United a key point in a 2-2 draw with fellow League Two promotion hopefuls Leyton Orient.


Hardie is expected to start in Gregor Townsend's team having had an injury-interrupted season. Once Scotland's undisputed number seven, he has suffered an awful run of bad luck culminating with the loss of his Test place to Hamish Watson. "I've been unfortunate, but I'm looking to put it behind me and finish the season on a real high," said Hardie. The New Zealand-born back-row, 28, was one of Scotland's stars at the 2015 World Cup, his work-rate and impact at the breakdown catching the eye. He was talked about as one of the players of the tournament, but this season has brought one setback after another. In November, during a bruising Test against Australia, Hardie suffered damage to his ankle and knee, while also suffering a concussion. It took him two months to recover. Following on from that, he was selected to play against Wales in the Six Nations but had to retire after just 24 minutes. Then he appeared as a substitute in the game against France but only lasted five minutes before having to go off injured again. Townsend named Hardie in the starting line-up for his first Test as Scotland coach, against Italy in Singapore, but Hardie suffered a back spasm in the warm-up and had to withdraw. "Everybody gets injuries and everybody has low patches, but rehab is a really good time to look at it as a positive, even though it isn't so much," Hardie told BBC Scotland. "You have to get your body right and get other aspects of your rugby game right. I've had a lot of time to do that. "You can't look at the negative side too much. You'd love to be out there every week with the boys, but that's just the way rugby is sometimes. I'm a really positive person. I've had my fair share of injuries and I know how to overcome them. "It does toughen you mentally, it helps you be more resilient and when you get on the field you realise how important it is. I'd never take anything for granted, but you realise when you get the injuries and you're not playing every week how hard it is. "Hamish is playing some great rugby and I'm really happy for him. He's come on in leaps and bounds in the last year or two and he's getting lots of experience. The competition is healthy. It's bringing out the best in us. "It's a privilege to be in camp and I've got to make the most of it. The boys have built a really good culture across the last two or three years, starting with Vern (Cotter) and now with Gregor, and we're just going to see more special things from this group."

Summary: Scotland flanker John Hardie wants to end a nightmarish eight months with a win against Fiji on Saturday in Suva.


Abigail Klem, president of the US first daughter's eponymous clothing line, says it has seen "some of the best performing weeks" in its history. The reported sales surge comes amid an ongoing boycott targeting business interests of the fashion entrepreneur's father, President Donald Trump. Last month several retailers dropped Ms Trump's label, citing falling sales. In an interview with fashion magazine Refinery29, Ms Klem declined to cite specific sales figures, but research by a market analytics firm seems to support the claim. According to Lyst, a London-based e-commerce website which tracks clothing retail, sales of Ivanka Trump products rocketed in February. It says sales increased 346% from January to February this year and 557%, compared with average orders last year. "To see such an extreme spike in one month is completely unheard of and came as a huge surprise to us," says Lyst's US spokesperson Sarah Tanner. Ms Klem said that most products are sold to women in New York, California and Texas, and the average shopper earns between $60,000-100,000 per year (Â£50,000-Â£82,000). She said the political controversy surrounding President Trump, and the boycott, may have helped his daughter's brand. The reported sales surge comes after Kellyanne Conway, a counsellor to President Trump, was accused of breaking ethics rules by promoting Ivanka Trump products during a live TV interview from the White House. The first daughter's perfume is currently highest ranked on Amazon.com, with many shoppers leaving pro-Trump comments. "I bought this without knowing what it smelt like, and I didn't care! I support the Trumps! MAGA! Who needs nordstroms!" Dustin M wrote, in reference to Nordstroms, which was the first retailer to drop Ivanka's products. "Oh and by the way, the smell is aweosme!" Another apparently happy customer wrote: "Bought this as a gift for my wife, and to support Ivanka's position."

Summary: Ivanka Trump's brand is booming, says the fashion firm, as one estimate says sales have jumped five-fold.


Allan Bell made the statement during peaceful demonstrations by pro-choice and anti-abortion campaigners outside the Manx parliament on Tuesday. Mr Bell said work on changing the legislation would begin "at the end of this year, early next year". The Termination of Pregnancy Act 1995 is the current law governing abortions in the Isle of Man. This means a termination can only be carried out on the island in the case of a pregnancy arising from a criminal offence such as rape, or on mental health grounds. For most women seeking an abortion, the only option is to travel to the UK to pay for the procedure. Manx campaign group, CALM (Campaign for Abortion Law Modernisation), which was established in April, wants island legislation to be brought in line with the UK. Although it is not currently illegal, the group said it is "almost impossible" for women to have a termination on the Isle of Man. A spokesman added: "The current act is incredibly restrictive. We are not saying abortion should be available to everyone at the drop of a hat." Anti-abortion campaigners at the rally held banners saying: "Thou shalt not kill". A spokesman said: "I'm part of a group which is here to represent the rights of unborn babies." Chief Minister Allan Bell said the legislation was due to be reviewed after the Isle of Man's general election in September.

Summary: The chief minister of the Isle of Man has said abortion laws on the island "need changing".


Media playback is unsupported on your device 6 September 2015 Last updated at 11:33 BST Huge crowds of German people gathered at the station to cheer them on as they arrived. Many of them held signs saying "welcome" written in German and Arabic, and offered bottles of water and sweets to them. German police said around 7,000 refugees arrived at Munich station on Saturday, most of them had travelled from Syria. They will now be sent on to special reception centres all over Germany where they will receive hot food and clothes. BBC reporter Jenny Hill is at the train station in Munich...

Summary: Hundreds of migrants were given a warm welcome when they arrived at Munich train station in Germany.


His plan to deport the estimated 11 million people living illegally in the US was decried as impractical during an election debate in Wisconsin. But he said on Wednesday it was cheap, "doable" and humane. Democratic President Barack Obama wants to lift the threat of deportation to millions of undocumented people. But his plan to allow about four million people to apply for work permits has been hindered by legal challenges. Mr Trump, a billionaire New Yorker who has been leading in the polls, defended his plan to build a wall on the US-Mexico border and deport all the people living illegally in the US. "You're going to have a deportation force, and you're going to do it humanely," he told MSNBC's Morning Joe. "You have millions of people that are waiting in line to come into this country and they're waiting to come in legally." How do you deport 11m people? Debate exposes Republican divisions He pointed to the actions of former US President Dwight Eisenhower, who authorised what was probably the largest deportation operations in US history. Senator Ted Cruz backed Mr Trump during the debate, condemning any form of "amnesty" because illegal immigration kept wages low for American workers. But his fellow Republican, Ohio Governor John Kasich, said that mass deportation was a "silly argument" that could never work and would split families. The issue has exposed the diverging views within the party, and Florida Senator Marco Rubio clarified his stance on Wednesday. He described his position as a "very long path" to citizenship when people had spent at least 10 years on a work permit.

Summary: Donald Trump has defended his hardline stance on immigration, a day after it was attacked by fellow Republican presidential candidates on national TV


Chester, 38, was appointed Trinity coach last March and guided them to the semi-final of the Challenge Cup and Super League safety. The former Hull KR coach's new deal will see him remain at the club until the end of 2019. "The negotiations were very easy and over quite quickly, we both have the same thoughts of how we want the club to progress," he said. Trinity are eighth in Super League, with three wins from their opening six games.

Summary: Wakefield coach Chris Chester has signed a new two-year deal.


Steve Huffman said that he had not created the news comment platform "to be a bastion of free speech, but rather as a place where open and honest discussion can happen". He promised to provide further details on Thursday. One expert said the plan would probably enrage many of the site's users. Last week, Reddit's previous chief executive, Ellen Pao, resigned after an online petition calling for her dismissal attracted more than 213,000 signatures. The petition had accused Ms Pao of leading the site into a "new age of censorship" after five "subreddit communities" run by volunteers had been banned for failing to tackle the "harassment of individuals". However, one of Reddit's other former chief executives - who no longer works for the company - has since suggested that Ms Pao was less minded to restrict users' activities than many of her critics had assumed. "On at least two separate occasions, the board pressed [Ms Pao] to outright ban all the hate subreddits in a sweeping purge. She resisted," wrote Yishan Wong. "She probably would have tolerated your existence so long as you didn't cause any problems. I know that her long-term strategies were to find ways to surface and publicise Reddit's good parts - allowing the bad parts to exist but keeping them out of the spotlight." Reddit attracted more than 163 million visitors last month, according to its own figures, making it one of the net's most popular destinations. Mr Huffman co-founded Reddit in 2005 and was announced as the site's new chief last week, following Ms Pao's resignation. In a message posted to the site on Tuesday, he said his top priority was to develop a "comprehensive content policy" and tools to enforce it. "The overwhelming majority of content on Reddit comes from wonderful, creative, funny, smart, and silly communities. That is what makes Reddit great," he wrote. "There is also a dark side, communities whose purpose is reprehensible, and we don't have any obligation to support them. And we also believe that some communities currently on the platform should not be here at all. "We as a community need to decide together what our values are. To that end, I'll be hosting an AMA [Ask Me Anything session] on Thursday." More than 14,000 comments have been posted below the announcement by the site's users. Some support his action, others suggest it will destroy the community. Several members said they now intended to switch to Voat - a rival site that promises to "not meddle and not censor content" unless it is illegal. One analyst said it was inevitable that Mr Huffman's plans would antagonise many of Reddit's users, but added that was not necessarily a bad thing. "When you try to formalise things that have emerged as an organic mess, there is absolutely a risk that you are going to lose a lot of the core of what you were and alienate a big bunch of users," said Mark Mulligan, from Midia Research. "But Reddit has had a couple of years of incredibly strong growth in terms of

Summary: Reddit's new chief executive has confirmed he plans to take fresh action against parts of the site containing offensive and obscene content.


Loch Glascarnoch near Garve supplies water to Mossford power station. A road that used to link Inverness and Ullapool, two bridges and part of a telegraph pole have been visible and were photographed by Calum Maclean. Glascarnoch and its dam form part of energy giant SSE's Conon hydro electric scheme, which involves six dams and seven power stations. The dams and power plants were built in stages between the 1940s and 1960s. A new road to Ullapool was built to replace the one lost under Loch Glascarnoch. SSE said the water level of the loch had been lowered for operational reasons. A spokesperson said: "As we head into the winter we've pulled the level down because the rain we usually get in October and November can raise the levels up by as much as one metre a day."

Summary: Water levels at a loch created in the 1950s have dropped low enough to reveal structures usually hidden underwater.


A police investigation has been launched into the death of the 67-year-old - a wanted man in Russia, and an opponent of President Vladimir Putin. A former Kremlin power-broker whose fortunes declined under Mr Putin, Mr Berezovsky emigrated to the UK in 2000. Thames Valley Police said the death, at a property in Ascot, Berkshire, was being treated as unexplained. The area around the property has been cordoned off to allow the investigation to take place, the force said. The inquiry was at a very early stage and more details will be released when available, it added. A South Central Ambulance Service spokeswoman said it had been called to the property at 15:18 GMT. "We sent a number of ambulance officers and an ambulance to the address. The 67-year-old male was confirmed deceased at the scene," she said. Last year, Mr Berezovsky lost a Â£3bn ($4.7bn) damages claim against Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich. Mr Berezovsky claimed he had been intimidated by Mr Abramovich into selling shares in Russian oil giant Sibneft for a "fraction of their true worth". The allegations were completely rejected by the London Commercial Court judge, who called Mr Berezovsky an "inherently unreliable" witness. By Steve RosenbergMoscow correspondent, BBC News Russians have little sympathy for oligarchs, whether alive or dead. That's because while Boris Berezovsky - and the tiny number of other tycoons - were striking rich in the 1990s, millions of people here were sliding into poverty. As he gained in power, many Russians saw Berezovsky as the "grey cardinal" in the Kremlin - exerting huge political influence for his own benefit. Having fled to London, he became a vocal Kremlin critic and pledged to work from self-imposed exile to depose President Putin. But back home in Russia, many of Mr Putin's opponents blamed Berezovsky for having engineered the transfer of power from Yeltsin to Putin. Boris Berezovsky will be remembered as a towering figure of the 1990s and as one of the most powerful men in Yeltsin's Russia. BBC world affairs reporter Richard Galpin said sources have told him that Mr Berezovsky was depressed after the loss of the court case and was under financial pressure. The tycoon's wealth is thought to have considerably diminished in recent years, leaving him struggling to pay debts in the wake of costly court cases. Mr Berezovsky had made his fortune in the 1990s selling imported Mercedes as well as Russian-made cars. He was one of the first Russian oligarchs - a tiny group of tycoons who at the end of communism used their connections to become rich almost overnight. Later owning Sibneft, the national airline Aeroflot, and as primary shareholder in Russia's main television channel, he supported Boris Yeltsin's rise to power, enjoying huge influence during this era. Mr Berezovsky survived numerous assassination attempts, including a bomb that decapitated his chauffeur. During the later years of Yeltsin's presidency, Mr Berezovsky was part of the leader's inner circle as deputy secretary of Russia's security council. "Boris Berezovsky was one of the most powerful men in Russia back in the

Summary: Exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky has been found dead at his home outside London.


The former Blackpool boss has been ruthless with a squad that even flirted with bottom spot and appears to be placing his faith this time on players with recent experience of the Scottish Championship. Fellow former Scotland international Gary Naysmith has had a similar clear-out of an East Fife squad that also under-performed by finishing fourth in the table, although they did pick up in time to reach the play-off final, where they lost to Stenhousemuir. Defender Julen Etxabeguren Leanizbarrutia and goalkeeper Alan Martin have made the biggest jump up the ranks during the close season. Former Real Sociedad 24-year-old Leanizbarrutia has left East Fife to sign for Dundee, while Martin has left Clyde for Hamilton Academical. Annan Athletic and East Stirlingshire have had their annual mass cull of their squads, with Berwick Rangers the most active in adding to their numbers. Key signing: Jordan Hart spent the second half of last season on loan from Celtic and the 19-year-old goalkeeper has now made the move from the Scottish champions permanent. Intriguing arrival: Having started his career with Partick Thistle, versatile 24-year-old Nigeria-born Smart Osadolor headed to Tiffin University in Ohio after spells with junior outfits Irvine Vics and St Anthony's, but the left-side player returns to Scotland after his scholarship. One that got away: Former Rangers youth defender Andrew Mitchell returned to Annan on loan from Southport in February, but the 23-year-old has now moved to Crusaders in his native Northern Ireland. In: Jordan Hart, goalkeeper (Celtic); Blair Currie, goalkeeper (Hamilton Academical); Jamie Watson, forward (Airdrieonians); Smart Osadolor, midfielder (Tiffin University Athletics). Out: Kieran Brannan, forward (Kilbirnie Ladeside); Chris Dickinson, forward (West Auckland); Alex Mitchell, goalkeeper; Iain Chisholm, defender; Kenny MacKay, forward; Steven Logan, midfielder; Callum Cook, midfielder; Michael McAnespie, defender; Craig Murray, goalkeeper; Danny Graham, midfielder; Dion Irving, defender; Benjamin Wagner, forward. Loan ended: Junior Ogen, forward (Rangers); Andrew Mitchell, midfielder (Southport); Calum Cook, midfielder (Dumbarton). Last season: 5th Prediction: 2nd. Having knocked Airdrieonians out of the Petrofac Training Cup then came close to ousting Queen of the South in the League Cup, Jim Chapman's side look to have the basis for a promotion challenge this season. Key signing: Arbroath have high hopes for Kane Hester, a 20-year-old striker signed from junior club Arbroath Vics after scoring four goals in three pre-season games. Intriguing arrival: Midfielder Sergio Cecilia Alvarez, previously of Atletico Victoria of Tenerife in the fourth tier of Spanish football, won a contract after the 25-year-old impressed on trial. One that got away: Simon Murray ended the season with 24 goals, the 23-year-old striker having ended the season on loan to the Red Lichties after being loaned back following a £50,000 January transfer to Dundee United. In: Sergio Cecilia Alvarez, midfielder (Atletico Victoria); Jamie Reid, midfielder (Dundee); Calum Brodie, goalkeeper (Dundee); Andrew Munro, defender (Raith Rovers); Martin Grehan, forward (Stenhousemuir); Allan Fleming, goalkeeper (East Fife); David Gold, midfielder (Berwick Rangers); Jamie Clarke, midfielder (Broughty Athletic); Graham Hay, defender (Formartine United); Craig Wilson, defender (Linlithgow Rose); Kane Hester, forward (Arbroath Vics). Loan: Darren Ramsay, defender (Rangers); Andy Ryan, striker

Summary: Many had tipped Clyde as promotion favourites last season based on their appointment of Barry Ferguson as manager, but the former Rangers midfielder has had to return to the drawing board after failing to even reach the play-offs.


Bristol Crown Court heard that Vielstone and Gatooma homes in Devon had a room where residents were left alone, often without food and water. Paul Hewitt, 70, denies charges of conspiracy to detain and falsely imprison residents. Mr Hewitt also said he was unaware that residents missed meals and he would have "made sure" they were fed. The court heard that a woman resident said she had been tied up in the room at Gatooma in Holsworthy Mr Hewitt, from Teignmouth, said he would not approve of this, telling the court: "Absolutely not. Mechanical restraint was a no no." He also denied stopping residents making home visits as a punishment. Mr Hewitt said he purchased Gatooma in 2004 for residents with behavioural issues. "It was about giving them a better quality of life," he said. "They had been in hospital or locked units. We wanted them to be free to be part of a community set up and be free to go to the shops or the pub." Mr Hewitt, founder of Atlas Project Team Ltd, ran the two care homes for adults with learning disabilities. He sold the business in 2006 but continued to be in charge, the court heard. Mr Hewitt and employees Lee Farrant, 30, James Lawson, 41, Julie Barlow, 51, and Aaron Jones, 33, all from Devon, deny a series of charges against seven residents at Vielstone near Bideford and Gatooma in Holsworthy between 2010 and 2011. Mr Lawson denies eight charges of false imprisonment, Mr Farrant six charges of false imprisonment and Mr Jones and Ms Barlow three charges each of false imprisonment. The trial continues.

Summary: The boss of two care homes said he was unaware vulnerable residents were being locked in so-called punishment rooms.


Marchant, 20, has made 37 appearances for Quins since making his senior debut in May 2015, scoring 11 tries. "I'm delighted to have re-signed with Harlequins," he said. "This is such a great club and I have loved my time here. It was an easy decision to stay." Marchant had been due to tour Argentina with England last month but was ruled out with a toe injury.

Summary: Harlequins centre Joe Marchant has signed a new and extended contract with the Premiership club.


Discussions are set to focus on Syria and Iran, particularly the nuclear deal bitterly opposed by Mr Netanyahu. Mr Cameron said the UK "remains staunch" in its "defence of Israel's right to exist and to defend itself". Pro-Palestinian campaigners have denounced Mr Netanyahu's visit. There were angry confrontations outside Downing Street on Wednesday between protesters demanding Mr Netanyahu's arrest for what they say amount to war crimes in Gaza and pro-Israel activists. Although a petition calling for the Israeli PM's arrest secured enough signatures to be considered for a debate in Parliament, the bid was rejected earlier this week because "visiting heads of foreign governments... have immunity from legal process, and cannot be arrested or detained", the UK government said in a statement. Arriving in Downing Street, Mr Netanyahu said: "The Middle East is disintegrating under the twin forces of militant Islam - militant Sunnis led by Isis [Islamic State] and militant Shiites led by Iran. "I believe that we can co-operate in practical ways to roll back the tide of militant Islam both in the Middle East and in Africa." The Israeli premier also said he was "ready to resume direct negotiations with the Palestinians with no conditions whatsoever to entering negotiations... immediately". Talks between Israel and the Palestinians broke down in April 2014. Mr Cameron praised the "close relationship between Britain and Israel" and the "growing economic and commercial ties" between the countries. He said he wanted to talk about the "enormous important global threats" in particular so-called Islamic State.

Summary: Action is needed to stop the Middle East "disintegrating" under the threat of militant Islamists, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said at the start of talks in London with David Cameron.


Known as "The Bulldozer", he won with 58% of the vote to the 40% of his main rival Edward Lowassa. The victory margin was a surprise - many analysts had predicted a tighter race after four opposition parties united behind Mr Lowassa's candidature. It boiled down to Mr Magufuli's popularity, which superseded that of the governing Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) that has dominated politics since independence from British rule in 1961. So what are the five big challenges he faces once in office? Change was the buzzword during the election campaign. Now people will expect him to engage in a major house-cleaning exercise by showing the door to corrupt government officials and old-school public servants. This will pose a huge political risk, as they are well-entrenched in CCM. But Mr Magufuli, the former works minister, will have to tackle corruption head-on, as Tanzanians have had enough of it. His first big test will come with the appointment of a cabinet. Will it be made up of people untainted by corruption? If not, voters will be disappointed. After all, he has built his political career on the promise that he is not scared of taking risks, and that he works hard and acts fast. Although the official unemployment rate is at around 10%, people sometimes get the impression that the crisis bigger - a recent advert for 70 jobs in the public service posts attracted more than 10,000 applications. Interviews had to be held in a football stadium. Almost half of Tanzania's 50 million-strong population is made up of young people, and they are worst-affected by unemployment. They voted with great enthusiasm, believing their fortunes will change under Mr Magufuli. He will be under most pressure from them to deliver on his promise to create jobs - and end poverty. He has promised to revive industries which are in bad shape, like the cotton and fish processing sectors. Mr Magufuli has promised children free education from kindergarten to secondary school. While many Tanzanians welcome this, they feel it is not enough. They want a higher standard of education with improved curriculums so that Tanzania can have a better-skilled work force. Mr Magufuli will be hard-pressed to meet their demands - almost all state schools are short of desks, books and teachers. With last week's local elections in Zanzibar scrapped because of alleged rigging, Mr Magufuli will have to make sure that a re-run takes place, and that it is free and fair. When Mr Kikwete came to power, he promised to keep a close eye on the semi-autonomous islands, which are popular with tourists. But as he leaves the office, more than 60% of Zanzibaris want more autonomy for the archipelago - an indication of their dissatisfaction with the union. If Mr Magufuli can bring about a lasting solution, he will go down in history as one of Tanzania's most successful presidents - but it is a big if. Outgoing President Jakaya Kikwete promised a new constitution, but failed to deliver on it during his 10 years in office. The opposition gained many

Summary: Tanzania's President-elect John Magufuli will be inaugurated on Thursday following his landslide victory in fiercely contested elections.


The midfielder, 32, twice won the league during a nine-year spell at Stamford Bridge, including one success under Jose Mourinho in 2006. Essien thinks Mourinho could do it again with his side top of the table. He told BBC Sport: "There is still a long way to go but I'm sure they are in a good position and once Jose is ahead it is very difficult to overtake him." Essien, who now plays for AC Milan, sees similarities between the current Chelsea side and the one he played for when Mourinho signed him from Lyon during his first spell in charge in 2005. In an interview with BBC Sport, the Ghana international - who also played under Mourinho during a loan spell at Real Madrid - assesses the qualities of his former boss and Chelsea's prospects. He also discusses his work with the #UnitedAgainstEbola project, a campaign for Health Africa International launched to try and combat the threat of ebola and the potential impact of the disease on the up-coming Africa Cup of Nations. Essien on Chelsea: "It's not a big surprise they are doing so well. Whoever works under Jose will tell you that he is the sort of man who always gets the best out of his players. "The way they are playing now reminds me of when I first came to Chelsea. We were very hard to beat and we won most of our games and they are doing it this year. "They have a lot of young players who can step up. I think they are going to become like Chelsea of years ago. And they will win trophies for their club." Essien on Mourinho: "He is very close to his players and he knows how to talk to them. Sometimes he might ignore you a little bit just to get you a little bit angry and then go out there and perform. So he has his little ways to keep his players going. "He is not scared of anyone. Sometimes he is too honest, but you don't have to take it personally. You have to prove to him that when you are on the pitch you are better. And that's what he wants." Essien on United Against Ebola: "There was a joke about me on the internet that I have got ebola. I said this in not a joke and I came up with this campaign to try and educate people in Africa about the disease. "I was not worried. I had not travelled to Africa. I was fine. I was in good health. People around the world were more worried about me so I tried to calm everybody down. "I'm still working on it to try and get some of my team-mates and people I know to get involved and to promote this campaign and try to raise awareness and to raise money for those who need it. "The most important thing is when someone has the virus how to deal with the person and how to go close to the person. Essien on the impact

Summary: Michael Essien believes former club Chelsea will be hard to catch in the Premier League title race.


Spaniard Tena, 26, joined Accies from Livingston in 2013 but has not played since suffering a knee injury against Ayr United in July. Seaborne signed from Partick Thistle in August but only made 13 appearances. "We thank both players for their service and wish them well for the future," a club statement said.

Summary: Hamilton Academical have released defenders Jesus Garcia Tena and Dan Seaborne "in order to allow them to find new clubs ahead of next season".


The specialist system monitors the strain from wind, traffic and the weight of the bridge. Specialists were brought in to install the monitors which will feed data back to the control room. The bridge was closed to all traffic on 4 December after a crack was discovered in a truss under the carriageway. Engineers hope to have it repaired and open to traffic again by 4 January. An inquiry will begin after that, with MSPs agreeing that the "immediate" priority should be to get the bridge reopened. The lorries were sent over the bridge in different patterns over five hours of tests on Saturday. An inquiry will focus primarily on the structural defect, and an independent technical adviser will be asked to take part. The inquiry aims to call officials from bridge operator Amey, its predecessor the Forth Estuary Transport Authority, Transport Scotland staff and Transport Secretary Derek Mackay.

Summary: Ten lorries have been used during tests of a new state-of-the-art structural monitoring system installed at the Forth Road Bridge for the first time.


GSA established a Phoenix Bursary scheme to help those affected by the blaze which ripped through its iconic Mackintosh building in May last year. Of the 100 students given grants, 90 are exhibiting at the Reid Building. The show has paintings, video work, multi-media installations, sculptures, interactive pieces and photography. It will open to the public on Friday. An investigation by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service concluded the fire was caused by flammable gases from a canister of expanding foam. The report, released in November, said the gases ignited as they came into contact with the hot surface of a projector in Studio 19. In the aftermath of the blaze, GSA launched a Â£20m fundraising drive to pay for the restoration of the Mackintosh and its contents. The art school confirmed earlier this year that Glasgow-based Page\Park Architects would lead the restoration project.

Summary: Students who lost work in the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) fire are showing new work made possible through a special programme set up to help them.


The officer told French media how he and a colleague came face-to-face with one of three gunmen launching an attack, and shot him dead. Ninety concert-goers were killed at the Bataclan concert hall, where Eagles of Death Metal were playing. Dozens more people died in co-ordinated attacks across Paris on 13 November. The policeman, a department head at the Paris anti-crime brigade (BAC), told FranceInfo radio (in French) that he and his colleague had been responding to reports of an explosion at the Stade de France when they were redirected. They were ordered to go to the 10th and 11th arrondissements of Paris following news of shootings. On the way, they found panicked concert-goers fleeing the Bataclan and quickly decided to go inside. "What surprised us immediately was the extremely bright light that blinded us," said the officer, whose identity has been protected for security reasons. "The bewildering silence... and then hundreds of bodies one on top of the other." What happened at the Bataclan? Who were the victims? Soon after entering the music venue, the police duo saw a gunman walk on stage and point a Kalashnikov at an audience member. "He was very calm," the officer said. "Given the carnage, there was no doubt about what we had to do. We opened fire straight away. We kept shooting until he fell to the floor." The gunman was later identified as Foued Mohamed-Aggad, a 23-year-old French national from Strasbourg. The two officers, who reportedly only had service weapons and light bulletproof vests, then heard an explosion from elsewhere in the building and realised there were likely to be more attackers. Faced with extreme danger, the men phoned their loved-ones. "We decided we could not leave the scene - we could not leave these people," the officer said. "I was ready to die with my team that night. I phoned my girlfriend to say goodbye." Elite police units soon arrived at the scene. Two other attackers who took people hostage in the concert hall eventually died in a final police assault hours later. They were later identified as Frenchmen Omar Ismail Mostefai, 29, and Samy Amimour, 28. Paris attacks: Who were the attackers?

Summary: The first police officer to arrive at the Bataclan has described the "indescribable moment of fear" he felt on entering the scene of the massacre.