The Post Office said the changes would help to keep branches where customers wanted and needed them to be. But the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) said the move was "evidence that the Post Office is in crisis". The union added that the number of post office jobs lost since the beginning of last year was 2,000. The CWU held a five-day strike before Christmas at Crown post offices in a dispute partly about branch closures. The union is also concerned about job losses and pension provision. Crown post offices are the larger branches usually found on High Streets. In a statement, the Post Office said: "With consumer habits changing, and the high cost of maintaining premises in prime high street locations, franchising helps us to keep services where our customers want and need them." It said it would take time to identify the right partners over the coming months and all proposals would be subject to local consultation. It promised to keep staff "fully informed". CWU general secretary Dave Ward said: "The latest round of closures is further evidence that the Post Office is in crisis and that the board of the company, backed by the government, is simply pursuing a strategy of slash and burn. "Today's announcement comes less than three weeks after the closure of a major government consultation on the future of the Post Office and sticks two fingers up to everyone who took part in this." The union said that 75,000 postcards had been sent by members of the public to the government calling for an end to the closure and franchise programme of the Post Office. It added that the Post Office network has been reduced by more than 50% over the past 30 years. In April 2016, the Post Office announced plans to transfer up to 61 branches into WH Smith stores over the following year. It said the move was part of a 10-year plan to cut costs and save cash, and would act as a way of "safeguarding the future of the network".

Summary: The Post Office is planning to close and franchise 37 Crown offices, with, the union says, the loss of 300 jobs and 127 specialist roles.


Son, 24, landed awkwardly during a challenge on Tuesday and will undergo surgery on his right forearm on Friday. Neither the club nor the Korean FA indicated how long Son will be out for. Spurs play Paris St-Germain in a pre-season friendly on 23 July and open their Premier League campaign at Newcastle on 12 August. Son scored 21 goals in 47 games for the north London club last season, as they finished runners-up behind Chelsea in the league.

Summary: Tottenham forward Son Heung-min could miss the start of the new season after fracturing his arm in South Korea's World Cup qualifier against Qatar.


Ambulance staff informed police of the death of the boy, who was eight months old, at around 10:30 BST on Wednesday. Officers were called to Brownhills Road in Newton Abbot, and subsequently closed off the road. A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said a 27-year-old man had been taken into custody in relation to the death. Click here for the latest updates on this story Scenes of crime officers and police attended the house to undertake initial investigations, where they found a sibling of the child along with two adults. Devon and Cornwall Police said they were not looking for anyone else in relation to the case.

Summary: Police are investigating the "suspicious" death of a baby boy in Devon.


The move by House Democrats is part of a "Day Without a Woman" strike, designed to highlight how crucial women are to the US national workforce. "I think it's important women in Congress show our solidarity," said Congresswoman Lois Frankel. Schools in some districts were forced to close after staff walked out. International Women's Day has grown from a labour movement with its roots in a 1908 protest to a UN-recognised annual event. Women in Ireland still face prison for having an abortion Witty comebacks to sexist banter Why I can't post images of things going wrong Protests of various kind took place around the world. In Ireland, women across the country went on strike and wore black to protest against the country's restrictive abortion laws. Solidarity protests were held in London, Amsterdam and elsewhere to call for Irish laws to be changed. Women in Poland staged rallies and marches to demand protection against violence, equal rights and respect. They were joined by actress Jessica Chastain, who was in the city for a screening of her latest film. In Germany, airline Lufthansa said six all-female crews would be flying in support of the day. Just 6% of pilots in the airline's parent company Lufthansa are women. Sweden's women's football team replaced the names on the back of their jersey's with tweets from Swedish women "who have struggled to gain ground in their respective field". In the US, thousands of women were expected to not work or spend money, to demonstrate their economic strength and impact on society. "We provide all this value and keep the system going and receive unequal benefits from it," said Cassady Findlay, a spokeswoman for the organisers behind the idea. US women are paid just four-fifths of their male counterparts' wages. The "Day Without a Woman" is being organised by the group behind the Women's March in January, when millions across the US gathered to protest the day after Donald Trump's inauguration. International Women's Day rallies are planned in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Washington and Berkeley, California, with some employers giving women time off to attend. Mr Trump tweeted on Wednesday to say he had "tremendous respect for women", but the president has been accused of sexism and forced to deny a series of claims of sexual assault. The White House said that none of its female staff members had taken part in the strike. Spokesman Sean Spicer said everyone had "shown up" and was working hard to advance President Trump's agenda. Elsewhere, Iceland's government said that it would begin to make employers prove they offer equal pay regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexuality or nationality, becoming the first country to do so. And in Finland, the country announced a a $160,000 (â‚¬150,000) International Gender Equality Prize to be given to "a dedicated defender and builder of equality". Hundreds of women in the tiny state of Montenegro protested against cuts in state aid for mothers of three or more children, and in Romania dozens of women lay on the ground and read out the names of women killed

Summary: US congresswomen have walked out of work, joining women around the world who are going on strike as part of International Women's Day.


The incident happened on Wednesday after the match at Kingsholm between Scotland and Japan. One departure was delayed by about 20 minutes while a new train manager was brought in to replace the one who was injured, a Great Western Railway (GWR) spokesman said. Many fans complained of overcrowding on trains and poor communication. GWR spokesman Dan Panes said there was an incident "between a member of the public and a member of staff". "As a result that member of staff couldn't work on the train and we had to get a replacement in, which took around 20 to 25 minutes." Mr Panes said GWR put on four additional trains and "strengthened" existing trains due to the high number of passengers travelling. "It's very, very difficult to get more than 2,500 people onto trains almost instantaneously," he said. "We had plenty of capacity but we could provide all the trains that we have in the fleet just for Gloucester and it would still take some time to load that number of people on board those trains." The BBC's head of sport for English Regions, Charles Runcie, who was at Gloucester station after the game, said there was "an almighty scrum" to get on a two-carriage train just before 18:00 BST. "Word filtered through that the driver was refusing to take the train out," he said. "GWR have had three three years to prepare for this and they still put on the same little carriage. There was no communication. It was just rank awful." There were also complaints about overcrowding in Cardiff after Australia's match against Fiji on Wednesday, and at the weekend.

Summary: A train manager was injured in an assault on a platform at Gloucester station after a Rugby World Cup match.


The Georgian burial ground is said to be the best preserved of its kind in the UK. The custodians of the cemetery hope the Grade 2 site will be expanded for community and educational projects. Penzance town council and other donors also contributed towards the restoration of the site. The cemetery was established in around the 1740s according to the town council, and contains about 50 headstones with Jewish and English inscriptions said to be of "an exceptional quality". Keith Pearce, who looks after the Penzance cemetery on behalf of the Board of Deputies of British Jews said it was "a unique historic site." "It's part of Penzance's exotic past. In the 18th Century, Penzance, Falmouth and Truro were very cosmopolitan ports. "The Jews who arrived here would have arrived alongside French people, Spanish people and people from the West Indies - and they were welcomed because they were helping an expanding economy to survive."

Summary: A "unique" Jewish cemetery in Penzance has been restored thanks to a £25,000 lottery grant.


Asthma UK, which questioned more than 4,500 patients, said two-thirds miss out on yearly check-ups, tailored advice and lessons in how to use their asthma inhalers. It says it is a slight improvement on a year ago but remains a bleak picture. In 2015 in the UK, 1,468 people died from an asthma attack - the highest level in a decade. The latest annual asthma care survey suggests: Asthma UK says this is not good enough. According to the charity, two in every three asthma deaths could be prevented with good basic care. In the UK, 5.4 million people are currently receiving treatment for asthma. One million of these are children. NHS England says every asthma patient should be supported to manage their condition and offered regular reviews. Asthma UK says it is not just medical staff who need to do more, people with asthma must take responsibility for their own care too. It says digital health technology, including electronic alerts and reminders to mobile phones, could help patients keep on the right track. An NHS England spokeswoman said: "Whilst we recognise the important issues in this annual survey, we also expect patients to take shared responsibility for managing aspects of this long term condition. "It is important that patients consult with their GP where necessary and know how to use their medication properly. "In future, digital solutions may improve dialogue with health professionals and ensure the widespread development of personal asthma action plans to help avoid unnecessary and costly hospital visits for treatment." Dr Penny Woods, the chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: "The findings of Asthma UK's survey are typical of all lung diseases. "Patients aren't receiving the care they need to help them manage their condition and there are still wide variations in care across the UK. "Due to a lack of prioritisation in health policy, we now have the fourth highest mortality rates from lung disease in Europe."

Summary: Millions of asthma patients in the UK are not getting basic care they need to manage their condition, a charity says.


Mr Arulampalam is already talking to colleagues on the phone as he arrives for work at 7.45am on Sunday. During a 20-minute handover, when he finds out about the most seriously ill patients under his care, he has to contend with the arrival of a "code red" patient who needs immediate treatment in the "resus" area of Emergency. He quickly delegates that job to a senior doctor, asking to be kept informed on the patient's progress, and starts his ward rounds. It's his first big decision of the day - many more will follow, because there's a lot to do. Mr Arulampalam is in charge of all patients admitted for general surgery at the hospital this weekend. His role also involves reviewing patients who have already been admitted during the last few days, who have had surgery and whose care is ongoing. He must also supervise operations, particularly those involving junior staff, and talk to the families of patients who are seriously ill, especially those who have a high risk of dying during surgery. Weekends start on a Friday morning at 8am and finish at the same time on a Monday. Although he is contracted to work just three hours on each of Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Mr Arulampalam usually only goes home at night to sleep. He also has to be on the end of a phone in case he is called back in for an emergency. "On a weekend, my family don't expect to see me," he says. Such is the workload over the period that he often swaps one day with a colleague because "doing a three-day weekend is not safe", he says. First on his ward round is patient Nancy Fuller, who was admitted on Thursday evening with a painful wound after surgery. She says she has no complaints about the weekend care she has received. "I wasn't feeling too good this morning and they immediately did something about it and got medication for me," she says. An hour into his shift, Mr Arulampalam has spoken to the consultant gastroenterologist about an emergency operation, chatted to the orthopaedic surgeon who's preparing to fix fractures and is under pressure to book a CT scan, which will mean liaising with the consultant radiologist. Among senior doctors, he says the staffing levels are "really very good" at the hospital outside of normal hours and that helps when difficult decisions on patients have to be made. Meanwhile, the "code red" patient brought in from a residential home with bleeding needs more tests in a hurry. This requires more conversations with specialists - asking for their advice and sharing knowledge. "Communication is really, really important," he says. At 10am Mr Arulampalam has seen about half of the patients on the emergency ward and he's stacking up work for the rest of the day with two patients already needing to go to theatre. Sometimes he can get away early, but not today. With a house officer, a core trainee, two junior doctors and a registrar working with him, it only takes two or three

Summary: Tan Arulampalam, consultant colorectal and general surgeon, let the BBC follow him on a weekend shift at Colchester General Hospital, where he's been a consultant for 12 years - and he gives his personal view on the plan to make the NHS a seven-day operation.


Kent County Council (KCC) is expected to put up its Young Persons' Travel Pass from £200 to £250 in September - a year after the price doubled from £100. "We have just set up an e-petition and we will be emailing all the schools and hoping people will sign," said Staplehurst campaigner Katya Thornton. KCC said it could not provide a cheaper pass because of government cuts. The travel pass gives unlimited access to Kent's buses for 11 to 16 year-olds on weekdays between 06:00 and 19:00 from the start of the academic year until 31 July. "Some people will say the increase is only £50 but that's a 25% rise and its coming on top of last year's rise," said Ms Thornton. "For some people like me this has a real impact. "It's very unfair for those of us who live in rural communities because I don't have the right kinds of schools on the doorstep. "I would prefer to send my children to a school five of 10 minutes away where they could walk but I can't do that." Leader of the UKIP opposition on the council Roger Latchford, said he was appalled at the increase and would oppose it when it was debated by the council's cabinet on Monday. Tory-run KCC said buying a bus card directly from the operator could cost more than £800 a year. It said government cuts meant the council had to save £209m over the next three years and subsidising bus passes currently cost the council about £15m a year. "It is a discretionary scheme - we don't have to do it," said Conservative Matthew Balfour. "Our subsidy is being reduced but that still leaves a cost to the taxpayer of £338 per pass."

Summary: Parents have vowed to fight a £50 increase in the cost of bus passes for Kent secondary school students.


The 31-year-old lock has made 62 international Test appearances, playing at both the 2011 and 2015 World Cups. Nemsadze has also played for Montauban and Valence d'Agen among others. Bristol director of rugby Andy Robinson said Nemsadze, at 6ft 5ins and weighing more than 120kg, "fits the bill for a Premiership lock". Robinson continued: "He's heavy, abrasive and he's been a key part of a Georgia forward pack that has enjoyed considerable success at international level. "We recruit players that fit the mould of the standards and culture we expect at Bristol Rugby. Giorgi not only brings with him the knowledge of playing in France for nearly 10 years, but also that physical intensity we are striving for."

Summary: Premiership newcomers Bristol have signed Georgia international lock Giorgi Nemsadze from French second-tier side Tarbes.


The incident happened shortly after 19:00 on the A9 Inverness to Thurso road, on the outskirts of Thurso. The driver of a Ford Fiesta was pronounced dead at the scene. The female driver of a Nissan Qashqai was unhurt. The road was closed in both directions at the crash site for a police investigation. Sgt Donnie MacKinnon, from the Road Policing Unit, said: "Tragically this collision has resulted in the driver of the Fiesta sustaining fatal injuries and we are currently trying to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident. "Anyone who was on the A9 just outside Thurso at around 7pm on Thursday evening and witnessed what happened should contact police immediately."

Summary: A male driver has died after he was involved in a two-car collision in the Highlands.


That is the highest level of borrowing in October in six years. The government has borrowed £54.3bn so far this year and is making slow progress on meeting the Office for Budget Responsibility's (OBR) forecast. These figures mean Chancellor George Osborne will need to restrict borrowing to just £15bn between now and April. While not impossible - January usually sees a surplus thanks to an influx of self-assessment income tax receipts - it remains unlikely that the chancellor will meet the £69.5bn OBR forecast without severe cuts at next week's Autumn Statement. The previous annual borrowing figure was £90.1bn. The Treasury said the figures showed the job of rebalancing the economy was "not yet done". It added that "government borrowing remains too high". The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said the chancellor faces "two big challenges" to meet cuts plans and achieve a surplus by 2019-20. "The first is to divide up the shrinking budget for day-to-day spending by departments, while continuing to protect many areas of spending. "The second is to remain within his welfare cap while taking on board the recent House of Lords motion that he must reconsider the tax credit cuts he announced in July," said IFS. Analysis: BBC economics correspondent Andy Verity So you thought we were living in a time of austerity. Yet the question is increasingly - austerity for whom? The Treasury's acknowledged that government borrowing "remains too high". Even ignoring the fact that it was the worst October for the public finances since 2009 (which could be down to statistical blips) the government had to borrow £54.3bn from April to October to plug the gap between its income and its spending. If George Osborne is to achieve his goal of borrowing no more than £69.5bn for the whole financial year, there isn't much headroom left for the remaining five months. It's highly likely that the Office for Budget Responsibility will have to relax its forecast at next week's Autumn Statement. The fact that the budget deficit is falling at all is not because of reduced spending but because of increased tax receipts. From April to October central government spending rose by 1.1% to £402.6bn. A big part of the reason for that was that the government has exempted the health budget from austerity. It is also raising the basic state pension by a minimum of 2.5% a year - even when inflation is negative. Overwhelmingly, the beneficiaries of those exemptions are members of the older generation. By contrast, those who bear the brunt of the planned tax credit and benefit cuts will be people of working age. Many economists say the Treasury has no hope of meeting the OBR's forecast for this year. Howard Archer chief UK and European economist at IHS Global Insight said: "George Osborne now has an almighty task to meet his fiscal targets for 2015/16. "Indeed, if the pattern of the first seven months of the fiscal year continued, PSNB would amount to £80.3bn in 2015/16, which would mean that Mr Osborne would overshoot by some £11bn the target of

Summary: Public sector net borrowing (PSNB) rose £1.1bn in October compared with the same month a year ago to £8.2bn, official figures show.


A KPMG report, leaked to the Northern Echo, revealed the figures included £750,000 of unsold merchandise. Welcome to Yorkshire's Sir Gary Verity said the shortfall was outweighed by the "£102m economic benefit" to the region. He said he regarded the loss as an "investment" in Yorkshire's economy. Speaking after London turned down the chance to host the 2017 event, Mr Verity added he would "love" the race to return to the county by 2020. It was too soon for Yorkshire to bid for the 2017 Grand Depart, Sir Gary said, but he was "very excited" by the prospect of it returning soon. "The Tour de France, in its 112-year history, has never gone back to anywhere as quickly as that," he said. "They do return to places but normally it's six, seven, eight or nine or 10 years...so three years would be way too fast." Welcome to Yorkshire said it was back on track to deliver a "modest surplus" after the report by the accountancy firm last November revealed the losses. Mr Verity said: "We had a loss that we made on it which we regard as an investment for the wider benefit of the Yorkshire economy, that's our job." He added: "It was a multimillion-pound investment and we think that the payback from that for the wider benefit across Yorkshire will continue, not just from last summer to this summer, but for many years to come."

Summary: The tourism chief who helped bring the Tour de France to Yorkshire has defended the £1m loss his organisation incurred from hosting the event.


Colin Patterson, 51, from Newcastle, contacted a fake profile created by the Dark Justice group. During conversations on the internet, he asked for sex, sent naked pictures and arranged a meeting. The former shipyard worker had admitted attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming at a previous hearing. At Newcastle Crown Court, prosecutor Tim Gittins said the vigilante group had set up the profile on the website Badoo as a girl named Tasha. "They were careful that contact was initiated by the defendant and he contacted the profile in January," he said. "It was made clear to him immediately that he was conversing with a 14-year-old and asked if that was acceptable to him. "The defendant's conversations moved quickly towards sexual matters and asking to meet her." Mr Gittins said Patterson sent two pictures of his genitalia, which was part of the 120 pages of conversation between them. A rendezvous was arranged at the Centre for Life, in Newcastle city centre. When Dark Justice arrived they stopped a passing policeman who arrested Patterson. Jailing him, Judge Penny Moreland also placed him on the sex offenders' register for 10 years and made a sexual harm prevention order lasting for 10 years. Shaun Routledge, defending, said: "He does not seek to blame anybody but himself and there are clear indications of remorse." Dark Justice, who are a two-man team, welcomed the sentence and said their work had now resulted in 18 arrests.

Summary: A man who thought he was meeting a 14-year-old girl for sex but had been ensnared by internet paedophile hunters has been jailed for two years.


Eric Hankin was one of 96 fans fatally injured in a terrace crush at the FA Cup semi-final on 15 April 1989. He and his group had tried to find a vantage point in the Leppings Lane end of the stadium, the jury heard. Timothy Lyons said he earlier warned Mr Hankin he would not be standing in the same area due to a previous experience. Mr Lyons said in a statement that he saw Mr Hankin, a 33-year-old nurse and father-of-two, inside the Sheffield stadium before the Liverpool versus Nottingham Forest tie. He said: "Whilst I was waiting for my wife, I saw Eric Hankin come out of the men's toilet and he came over to talk to me. "I told him that I would not be going into the central pens, especially after what I had experienced the previous year. "I told him that my wife and I would be going into pen seven. "Eric Hankin told me he was going to go behind the goal. It was a short conversation and I do not recall seeing Eric with anyone else." Mr Hankin worked as a staff nurse at Moss Side Hospital in Maghull, Merseyside. Stephen Brown, who also worked at the hospital and went to the match with Mr Hankin, described going into pen three. He said: "Our intention would have been to try to find a vantage point to watch the game, but any plans we had for that were gone as soon as we got in to the crowd and it was just chaos in there." In his 1989 statement, Mr Brown described how the crush became worse and he saw a man near him fall to the ground with his eyes closed. He told the court: "It was different waves of pressure, because you would move in one direction and you would get caught in an area. "The pressure would build and there would be a crush that would increase, increase, increase, and then it would be released and you would move suddenly to the side, or forward, or backwards and then the same thing would happen. "The crushing just increased, released, increased, released and some people were lucky enough to get out when the pressure released." He said when the pressure was tight he was "completely unable to draw breath". The court saw a picture timed at about 15:02 BST, two minutes after the scheduled kick-off, which showed Mr Hankin towards the front of pen three. It is believed Mr Brown was also pictured to the right of his colleague. Mr Brown managed to escape through an open gate, the court heard. The jury also heard from two police officers, Richard Liversidge and Stephen Perry, who tried to revive Mr Hankin inside pen three after the crush. Mr Liversidge, who is now a detective inspector, said Mr Hankin was "limp" and "not breathing". The two officers tried to resuscitate him but were not successful. One of Mr Hankin's friends identified his body at 16:41 inside a temporary mortuary at the ground. His father, also named

Summary: A victim of the Hillsborough disaster was warned about the area where the crush occurred by a fellow Liverpool supporter, the new inquests have heard.


A 19-year-old man was shot in the leg in Stainbeck Road on Thursday. He remains in hospital, where his condition is described as stable, West Yorkshire Police said. A 29-year-old man, from Woodhouse, is in custody. The force said extra officers were patrolling the area to "provide reassurance to the local community" while enquiries continued.

Summary: A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a shooting in Leeds.


The 25-year-old was on the periphery of Newcastle's 2011 Championship-winning squad, and sees comparisons with the promotion-chasing Devon side. "When teams beat us they celebrate like they've won the league, which is a bit similar," he told BBC Sport. "It's the same - people up their game against us, which you've got to deal with when you're a big club like us." On Saturday, Donaldson will make his first return to his last club Cambridge, for whom he scored the goal which won them promotion back into the Football League in 2014. Argyle are second in the fourth tier, but were beaten by Yeovil on Tuesday, only their seventh league defeat in 27 games. "Yeovil the other night, you should've heard them when they won, " Donaldson added. "It's not annoying, it just feels better when you beat them because we should beat teams like that, but sometimes it happens and you've just got to move on and get on with it. "We've got so many good players here - I've not played in a squad this good since I made the step up into men's football, so I think we all push each other on."

Summary: Plymouth Argyle midfielder Ryan Donaldson says League Two teams see the Pilgrims as a major scalp.


Resuming on 43-1 after there was no play in the first session, debutant Eddie Byrom (43) and Adam Hose (48) put on 77 to take the score to 102-1. But Holland then dismissed Byrom, James Hildreth, Tom Abell and Steven Davies in a remarkable four-over spell of 4-8. He ran out Lewis Gregory before Gareth Berg (3-26) claimed two wickets, then rain forced an early close at 135-8. Somerset came into the day in a commanding position, having triggered a similar collapse from Hampshire with the pink ball under the floodlights in their first innings. However, the poor middle-order batting that has undermined their County Championship season came back to haunt them, meaning a first win of the season is now very unlikely. Opener Byrom, who had looked otherwise solid, chipped USA-born Australian Holland to mid-on and Hildreth went lbw for two before Abell and Davies feathered edges to Lewis McManus, both without scoring. Gregory was run out by Holland when he slipped trying to run a quick single, leaving Berg to pin Hose lbw and have Craig Overton caught at mid-wicket before rain prevented any play in the final session. Ian Holland told BBC Radio Solent: "It was a strange session of cricket. Obviously they had the momentum early and they got a decent partnership but we got a load of wickets in a hurry, so it's a decent end for us. "It puts us in a strong position. You never know. There are still 96 overs, maybe more, left in the game. "It is nice to contribute and come in and do well. I don't want to come in and be deadweight. The pink ball has been good to me. It seems to do bits in periods of the game and then flatten out. You are never out of the game." Somerset director of cricket Matt Maynard told BBC Radio Bristol: "It was so good to see Adam Hose and Eddie Byrom batting well and getting into a good position, then Holland came on and nipped it around under the lights and caused problems. "It was nibbling a little bit more. When you come in under those conditions it is tricky. He had a couple of decent balls out there. None of our boys gave their wicket away. "Eddie Byrom has impressed full stop. I liked the look of him in the academy and he is now getting his game. He knows his strengths in this form of the game and he showed that with the balls he left. I feel chuffed for the lad."

Summary: Ian Holland took 4-16 as Somerset collapsed, losing seven wickets for 33 runs against Hampshire on day three.


Media playback is not supported on this device Rangers trailed at the break, through ex-Ibrox striker Kris Boyd's shot but recovered in the second half with James Tavernier's free-kick to draw 1-1. "It's the worst display in the last 14 or 15 months," said manager Warburton. "We move quickly and with quality on the training field and we didn't do that. We chose to go long and I don't know why." Warburton's side, who won last season's Championship, have yet to keep a clean sheet in the Scottish Premiership this term, posting two 1-1 draws and two 2-1 wins. "We draw with Hamilton in the first game and the end of the world is nigh," said Warburton of the expectations on his side. "There is no shortage of desire and commitment. What we have to do is take it from the training pitch on to the match pitch. "We have had passages of good play, Dundee second half and today second half. But we have to be better for longer. "We have to play with a bit more belief. We looked hesitant at times in terms of our decision-making. That is very unlike us and we didn't get the ball moving. "We have new players coming and there is maybe some gelling still going on." Killie's Greg Taylor was dismissed for a second-half tackle on Joey Barton and Warburton said: "Joey is okay. "I saw the challenge. We don't want to see anyone sent off, but it was a poor challenge. "I was conscious the atmosphere was rising. He was on a yellow card, so I took him off as a precaution." Meanwhile, striker Joe Dodoo was sent for an x-ray on his ankle after landing awkwardly early on.

Summary: Mark Warburton lamented his team's first-half display at Kilmarnock, saying: "It was not a Rangers team."


News and discussion programmes on state-controlled television are dominated by talk of the conflict and deliver a common message: that western policy in Syria has failed and President Vladimir Putin has stepped in to the rescue. "Russia is saving Europe from barbarism for the fourth time," the notorious anchorman Dmitry Kiselyov crowed on his weekly show. "Let's count: the Mongols, Napoleon, Hitler - and now Islamic State." The criticism from abroad, that Russia is actually ignoring IS targets to focus on opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, is dismissed as propaganda. "This is truly a matter of national security," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a packed press room this week. "We've experienced terrorism. We don't want to go through that again." As the vast majority of Russians get their news from TV, the message is starting to penetrate. A poll this week by the independent Levada centre in Moscow revealed that 72% of Russians support the airstrikes. That is a dramatic turn-around since the last survey before the military and media campaigns began, when a majority were opposed. It is a reassuring result for Vladimir Putin, for whom the Syria campaign is another chance to play the strong man and reassert Russia on the global power map. The first cruise missiles modern Russia has ever launched in combat were fired on his 63rd birthday; the dramatic images were screened repeatedly, almost like celebratory fireworks. The next day's newspapers hailed the barrage as proof that Russia is back to rival the USA, after President Putin's massive investment in a military modernization drive. But the Levada centre survey revealed another important statistic. "There is a clear fear that Russia will get stuck in Syria, like the Soviet Union did in Afghanistan; that this will be a long campaign, with human sacrifice and great cost," the centre's director Lev Gudkov points out. That is despite repeat assurances that Russia will not deploy ground troops. "The Kremlin is underlining that this is a short-term operation, and only from the air. But what happens if militants attack the Russian airbase? It's completely unclear how things would develop then," Mr Gudkov adds. And there is another problem brewing. Russia is busily portraying its Syria campaign as a war on terror. But the fact that it is supporting a Shia-led alliance against Sunni opposition has not been lost on its own Muslim population. At least 11% of Russian citizens are Muslim, most of them Sunni. At a recent ceremony at the new Moscow central mosque many expressed support for the policy of Vladimir Putin. They echoed a speaker inside who blamed the United States for sowing chaos in the Middle East. "They want to divide the Muslim world," Adam Delimkhanov argued. But privately, other mosque-goers voiced concern. "That's just politics," one man commented of the speech. "Of course we're worried. They're bombing Sunnis." Even official figures here show that more than 2,000 former Soviet citizens have joined the ranks of I.S and other extremist groups in Syria. Where key countries stand - Who is backing whom Why? What? How?

Summary: With fighter jets flying up to 70 sorties a day in Syria, Russia's powerful media machine has gone into overdrive.


The party said extending the way shares were taxed and closing a loophole would bring in up to £26bn in the next Parliament, if it won the election. It is also wants a tax avoidance crackdown and would require £1m+ earners to publish their tax records. The Conservatives described Labour's plans as "a total shambles". Meanwhile, the Tories are promising a "new generation" of social housing will be built in England if they win the general election. And the Lib Dems are proposing a cash incentive to engineering and technology graduates who sign up for the armed forces. Party leader Tim Farron said the £10,000 "golden handshake" - paid to recruits committing for five years - would help address a "critical skills shortfall" in the services. Labour has been facing calls to say how it would pay for a series of election pledges after its draft manifesto was leaked last week. It says the final version, which has yet to be published, will be fully costed. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said Labour's plans to increase taxes on City transactions would be a "Robin Hood tax" that would "make the financial sector pay its fair share" after the damage caused by the financial crisis. Labour said it would extend the existing 0.5% stamp duty paid on shares to other financial assets, including investments known as derivatives. It would also end an exemption, known as intermediaries relief, that applies to some banks and hedge funds, saying that together the measures would bring in between £4.7bn and £5.6bn a year. Mr McDonnell added: "Ordinary people are still being made to pay by the Tories for a crisis they didn't cause through the worst spending cuts for generations." A Robin Hood tax isn't a new idea, far from it. John McDonnell has long campaigned for it. The other name for it is a financial transactions tax, where a small levy is placed on certain financial transactions or trades. Here in the UK, we already pay stamp duty when shares are bought and traded. Last year that raised just over £3bn. Labour wants to go further and extend the levy to bonds and more complex financial instruments called derivatives, which it claims would raise £26bn over the course of the next Parliament, and help curb speculative computer-driven high frequency trading. Labour says the plan mirrors a similar one being planned by the EU, but Europe's scheme is currently in the long grass. The UK ruled out taking part, fearing it would hurt the City of London, where huge amounts of these trades are done. If Labour's plans came to fruition, critics say these transactions would simply move elsewhere or the costs would be passed on to the likes of pensions funds, ultimately hitting consumers. That's on top of worries over the potential loss of business and jobs in the City because of Brexit. Mr McDonnell also said Labour would ensure "fairness" in the UK's tax system with a string of tax-avoidance measures. These include increasing the number of people investigating the tax affairs of the wealthiest individuals,

Summary: Labour says it would raise billions of pounds for public services with a new tax on financial transactions - known as a "Robin Hood" tax.


17 November 2014 Last updated at 17:53 GMT This trio provides a tour of their company and explain the principles that have guided their business as part of the African Dream series.

Summary: Definition Africa is a Ugandan fashion label founded by Nadia Bhegani, Olga Mugyenyi and Nahida Bhegani, which tries to source all of its raw materials on the continent.


More tough negotiation and reforms lie ahead if it is ever to join the EU. Its neighbour Croatia joined in 2013. Bosnia's move comes more than two decades after it emerged from a three-year conflict that cost about 100,000 lives, when Yugoslavia fragmented. The EU foreign policy chief saw the bid as a step towards European unity. "At a time when the union is questioned from within, seeing that with our immediate neighbours there is such an energy and willingness to join and work hard to adapt their countries, society, economy, institutions, systems to the European standards, gives us the sense of responsibility we have also towards our European Union citizenship," Federica Mogherini told journalists. Integration with Europe is seen as a way to help Bosnia's ailing economy and overcome its reputation for corruption that scares off investors. Last March, EU foreign ministers and Bosnia signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement that had been on hold since 2008, paving the way for the application. Dragan Covic, the chairman of Bosnia's tripartite presidency, said there would be "years of many challenges ahead", the AFP news agency reports. He submitted the application to Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders, whose country currently holds the six-month EU rotating presidency. The EU was happy to see "Bosnia back on the reform path", AFP quoted Mr Koenders as saying.

Summary: Bosnia-Herzegovina has formally applied to join the 28-nation European Union - a milestone in its efforts to overcome political and ethnic divisions.


They will be published by Esquire magazine on Friday and submitted to a scientific journal. Froome, 30, chose to share the data because he wants to prove that people can "trust" his achievements. The Briton was spat at by some spectators during this year's Tour following media claims of doping. Pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline performed the tests in its human performance laboratory. Froome, who won the Tour this year and in 2013, wanted to determine the characteristics which make him an exceptional athlete. Team Sky manager Sir Dave Brailsford said: "There are opportunities to do what we can to make the unbelievable believable. "I think the independence thing is a good thing. And why not? I can't see the negative in it. "There's a lot of talk about transparency these days, trying to have a leadership role. He's won the Tour twice, we should make the effort."

Summary: Britain's double Tour de France winner Chris Froome is to reveal the results of his independent physiological testing this week.


The photographer, who has visited India more than 60 times, once said the country had taught him to watch and wait on life. "If you wait, people would forget your camera and the soul world drifts into view," he told an interviewer. McCurry, whose picture of a young orphaned Afghan girl with green eyes became an iconic image of war and the most recognised picture in the history of National Geographic magazine, has now published a book of his pictures of India. "These magnificent pictures, some justly famous, many new and revelatory - reveal the beauty of the country and highlights its extraordinary contradictions," writes author William Dalrymple in his introduction. "This is a very different India indeed, and it is here, in the places suspended between modernity and tradition, that most of the pictures in the book were made." Here is a selection from Steve McCurry: India published by Phaidon/Roli Books.

Summary: Celebrated American photographer Steve McCurry has been coming to India for more than three decades.


Manager Roberto Martinez wants greater attacking options after selling Steven Naismith to Norwich and Aiden McGeady also possibly going out on loan. Everton's top target was Dynamo Kiev forward Andriy Yarmolenko but they have been frustrated in that pursuit. Senegal striker Niasse has 12 goals in 21 games for his club this season. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Everton have made an approach for Lokomotiv Moscow forward Oumar Niasse and hope to tie up a £13.5m deal before Monday's transfer deadline.


He said they should follow the example of London Challenge, the now defunct Labour policy which improved London schools, and get outstanding schools and heads working very closely with the less successful. For decades, London secondary schools had some of the worst exam results in the country. Sir Michael was a teacher in the capital in the 1970-90s. He told BBC Newsnight that if someone had told him then that London would be doing much better than the rest of England, he would not have believed it. He said the improvement was down to London Challenge - there was the "political will" to make schools better, adding that London Challenge bypassed local authorities. Little Ilford School in Newham is one school where results have improved dramatically over the last 15 years. In 1997, just 16% of its students got five GCSES at grades A-C, the league table measure then. Last year, 71% passed at least 5 GCSES at grades A*-C including English and Maths. Over half of the school's pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 88% speak English as an additional language. According to the acting headteacher, Katy Episcopo, that change is down to improved teaching, and certain specific initiatives. They have Study Plus classes, which help students who are behind in reading and writing, and that has had a significant impact. They work closely with pupils' parents. They build confidence and they support aspiration. Although funding for London Challenge was cut two years ago, results have kept rising. It seems the improvement has developed its own momentum. Not only are more students passing GCSEs, but more are achieving higher grades too. Temoore Zulfiqar, who is aged 16, has already taken three GCSEs, in maths and science. He got two A* grades and one A. He wants to go to Oxford or Cambridge and thanks to his school, he has already visited both several times. Students at Little Ilford see no bar to their ambitions. Tanvir, who is 15 years old, told me he wanted to be Britain's first Muslim prime minister. As London has rapidly improved, some other authorities have not kept pace. Barnsley in South Yorkshire has some of the worst GCSE results in England. Simon Barber, headteacher of the brand-new Holy Trinity school, is determined to improve standards. Although almost all his pupils speak English as a first language, and only 16% were eligible for free school meals last year, 53% of pupils got five GCSES at grades A* to C, including English and maths, last year. He told me he was keen to learn from other schools, especially those in London. He took a group of children to Newham last summer, to see the London sights, and to visit another school. Some of the pupils who had gone on the visit told me the atmosphere was different at the Newham school - the children were more focused on learning. "If you didn't look out the window, you'd never know it was a rough area," one young teenager told me. "The children looked so smart and ready

Summary: Sir Michael Wilshaw, Chief Inspector of Schools in England and head of education watchdog Ofsted, has told BBC Newsnight that schools and local authorities up and down the country should learn from London and "draw a line" below underperformance.


Wildschut crossed for defender Reece Burke to put the visitors ahead from close range against the run of play. Aaron Mooy equalised straight after half-time for the Terriers. But Wildschut ran from inside his own half to round goalkeeper Danny Ward and slot home the winner. The two teams came into the match at opposite ends of the table but both in poor form, with Huddersfield's early season dominance having fallen away in recent weeks. However, the Terriers dominated the first half without finding the breakthrough, although Elias Kachunga did have an effort ruled out for offside. Wigan had already looked dangerous on the break when they counter-attacked again and Wildschut sped down the right before delivering a centre for unmarked on-loan West Ham defender Burke to fire home. Whatever Town boss David Wagner said at half-time clearly worked as five minutes into the second half, Mooy equalised after Nahki Wells' left-wing centre found him at the far post. But Huddersfield had not learned their lesson when the Latics broke again and Wildschut ran unchallenged from the halfway line to round Ward and slot the ball home. Wigan's first win in three games moves them up a place and although they are still in the relegation zone, it puts them level with Wolves on 18 points. The Terriers are clinging on to the final play-off place but have now conceded 15 goals in their last six games, having only let in 10 in their opening 12 matches. Huddersfield boss David Wagner told BBC Radio Leeds: "We played some good stuff today, we brought our identity on the grass, created moments and played with speed and were energetic. It was a good game from my side, but unfortunately we didn't get two penalties in my opinion, after speaking with the guys from the TV one was 100%. "Our biggest problem in our game was that we were not able to handle their counter-attacks better than we did. "The first one we have to clear in the middle of the pitch, not when their winger was on the sideline, and the second one we switched off after we thought we had cleared the situation and the ball goes over our head. "We have to give credit to our opponent. It was a gameplan Wigan had and it worked for them. They did exactly the same against Barnsley and we were not able to defend it better today." Wigan boss Warren Joyce told BBC Radio Manchester: "I'm obviously pleased to get the three points but it's just one game and you have to follow it up by bringing some consistency into the group, so we're seeing that regularly not only on a weekly basis but on a daily basis that we do the right things every day and then if you're doing that, there's a pretty good chance you are going to do it consistently on a Saturday or a Monday night. "Yanic Wildschut is a very effective footballer. If he's got the ball at his feet or he's dribbling with it or he's running

Summary: Yanic Wildschut scored one goal and made another as Wigan earned their first win under new manager Warren Joyce and stretched Huddersfield's winless run to four games.


The company set up an office in Northern Ireland three years ago. The new jobs aimed at legal graduates will be created over the next five years, taking its Belfast workforce to almost 500. Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said the announcement reflected the company's "very positive experience" in Northern Ireland. She said the salaries would contribute almost Â£3m a year to the local economy. Invest NI is offering grants of Â£860,000.

Summary: The international law firm, Allen and Overy, is creating 100 new jobs in Belfast.


Speaking at a rally for Tory candidate Zac Goldsmith, the prime minister warned about the dangers of a Labour victory for the capital's economy. Mr Goldsmith said his Labour rival was "Mr Corbyn's man" in City Hall. But Mr Khan said he was "no patsy" to Mr Corbyn and would stand up to him. It is 100 days until London elects a new mayor to succeed Boris Johnson, who is stepping down after eight years. The vote will be a key electoral test for Jeremy Corbyn and Labour, for whom the capital was one of the few bright spots in last year's dismal general election defeat. Last May, Labour won four seats from the Tories in London and hope to win back City Hall for the first time since 2008. Addressing a rally of Conservative activists, Mr Cameron sought to frame the election as an early verdict on Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the Labour party as well as a choice between Mr Goldsmith and Mr Khan. "Zac Goldsmith can be a great mayor. You've got the man and the plan, think for a moment about the alternative," he said. "Sadiq Khan nominated Jeremy Corbyn to be leader of the Labour party and he doesn't regret it. Never mind the fact he (Mr Corbyn) wants to give the Falklands back to Argentina or he thinks that nuclear submarines should patrol the Atlantic without any missiles. "His policy is to bring back and legalise secondary strikes and flying pickets. Just think what the first Corbyn-elected Mayor would be like for our economy, for our city. You do not want to be lab rats in the first Corbyn economic experiment in public life". Ahead of the rally, the Conservatives launched a poster campaign depicting Mr Goldsmith as "your man in City Hall". In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Mr Khan said he would stand up to the Labour leader over the issue of Trident renewal and Mr Corbyn's plans for a "Robin Hood" tax on financial transactions, which Mr Khan opposes. "That is the job of the Mayor of London: not to be a patsy or a spokesperson for George Osborne and David Cameron - as Mr Goldsmith is being - or Jeremy Corbyn or the party, but to be London's advocate to their party and the government." While he said he did not regret nominating Mr Corbyn for leader - and therefore allowing him to get onto the ballot paper - he said he would have his "own mandate" if he was elected. "There will be occasions when frankly speaking I disagree with Jeremy," he said, citing his support for Gatwick expansion and pro-business agenda. He said he wanted to build the broadest electoral alliance: "When you meet and study the best mayors from around the world they are not tribal. What they try and do is to reach across the entire city." The Liberal Democrats, UKIP, the Green Party and the English Democrats are also fielding candidates in May's election while former Respect MP George Galloway is also standing. The Conservatives and

Summary: David Cameron has urged Londoners not to elect Labour's Sadiq Khan as their next mayor, claiming they will become "lab rats" for party leader Jeremy Corbyn's economic experiments.


The two men could not be separated after completing the 31.8-mile (50 km) race in five hours, two minutes and 47 seconds on Sunday. James Quirk completed the top three, finishing 10 minutes behind the leaders, with Karen Chiarello the leading lady, in fifth. The course shadows the Parish Walk from Peel to Bride and on to Ramsey. The event was renamed in 2016 with all proceeds going to the Firefighters Charity, which provides assistance to serving firefighters, retired firefighters and their families.

Summary: Samuel Fletcher and David Walker finished joint first in the island's FireFighters Memorial Walk.


It follows the revelation that the Church of England has dropped its opposition to gay clergy becoming bishops if they agree to stay celibate. The Reverend Martin Reynolds says his friend Jeffrey John, the Dean of St Albans, has been made a "whipping boy" in the row. He told Radio Wales it would be great if he could now become a Welsh bishop. Dr John, from Tonyrefail in Rhondda Cynon Taf, has been at the centre of the row over gay bishops having twice been put forward for the role in the Church of England. In 2003 he declined the position of Bishop of Reading in the face of protests from traditionalists. He was also rejected as a candidate for the Bishop of Southwark in 2010, with evidence emerging it was because of his sexual orientation. On Friday, however, it was revealed that after a decision taken last month the Church of England would allow gay men in civil partnerships to become bishops as long as they promise to be celibate. Unlike the Church of England, the Church in Wales has never had a ban on gay clergy in civil partnerships becoming bishops. Mr Reynolds, an Anglican priest in Newport, claimed the reason the moratorium in the Church of England was introduced 18 months ago was because Dr John was about to become Bishop of Southwark. He told BBC Radio Wales: "Rowan [Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury] didn't want another furore ... they shafted Jeffrey yet again - introduced this rule that you couldn't be in a civil partnership which of course Jeffrey is with Grant [Holmes, a hospital chaplain]. "Poor old Jeffrey's been more than just a whipping boy - he's been assassinated really several times." Asked if there was now any realistic chance of his friend becoming a bishop in the Church in England, Mr Reynolds said: "Wouldn't it be nice if he became a bishop in the Church in Wales?" He added that gay clergy in civil partnerships in Wales are not asked "if we do anything naughty in bed". Asked about the question of policing the celibacy of gay clerics, Mr Reynolds said he believed honour still exists in the church. "When Jeffrey said he and Grant weren't actually sleeping together anymore I think we all believed him. "I don't think there was a single person ... that I ever spoke to said Jeffrey wasn't telling the truth." Mr Reynolds also praised the Church in Wales approach on the celibacy issue. "In Wales we've never bothered, we've never tried," he said. "Our bishop has never introduced any such a role and, of course, we know that the archbishop of Wales has said if there was a gay man who was in a relationship who was nominated, he'd be happy to ordain him."

Summary: A gay rights campaigning clergyman has called for a leading Welsh gay cleric to be made a bishop in Wales.


Hussain, who won 2015's Great British Bake Off, will judge alongside chef and food writer Allegra McEvedy. CBBC's Junior Bake Off sees 40 youngsters aged nine to 12 competing for the title. Hussain said: "This time last year I was in the Bake Off tent and now I get to go back and help encourage the next generation to get their bake on." The contestants will each complete two bakes over 10 heats, including a technical bake and showstopper challenge, with four youngsters in the grand final. The CBBC show's previous judges have included Mary Berry, Paul Hollywood, James Martin and Graham Hornigold. Hussain, 31, has built a career since winning Bake Off which includes her first cook book, a column for The Times and a request from Buckingham Palace to make a cake for the Queen's 90th birthday. She will also present The Chronicles of Nadiya, a TV show tracing her culinary roots in Bangladesh. She won last year's final on BBC One after baking a "big fat British wedding cake" adorned with jewels from her own wedding day as the showstopper. It became the most-watched TV programme of the year with an average audience of 15.1 million people, according to consolidated figures, which include catch-up viewing. Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram, or email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Summary: Former Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain has said she is "excited" to be joining the show's junior version as a judge.


Dozens of soldiers seized the parliament compound in the administrative capital Garowe and blocked nearby streets. However one of the region's most respected clan elders, Islan Issa Islan Mohamed, told them to return to their barracks. He told the BBC that the "drama" was now over. It had been reported that the soldiers were protesting about a delay in the payment of salaries as well as poor working conditions. Last September soldiers took control of the central bank in Garowe in protest at lack of payments, Garowe Online reported. Puntland profile Puntland, an arid region of north-east Somalia, declared itself an autonomous state in August 1998, in part to avoid the clan warfare engulfing southern Somalia. Unlike its neighbour, breakaway Somaliland, Puntland says it does not seek recognition as an independent entity, wishing instead to be part of a federal Somalia.

Summary: Troops in Somalia's semi-autonomous region of Puntland have briefly staged a mutiny.


People regularly playing sport stands at 15.74 million over 12 months, a rise of 1.65 million since 2005/06. Bucking the normal trend, the number of women playing sport and being active is increasing faster than men. Swimming remains the top sport overall but continues to decline, with athletics a close second and rising. Sport England's Active People Survey began in 2005/06 and measures the number of people taking part in sport across the nation, with findings published every six months. There was good news for tennis, cricket, boxing and rugby union, with increases in the numbers taking part but football and cycling experienced falls. Participation figures for lower socio-economic groups and disabled people were low and remain static. "It's good news that more women are playing sport, and driving an overall increase in the numbers," said Jennie Price, Sport England's chief executive. "It's particularly great to see This Girl Can is making a real difference. That's because we've really focused on what drives women's attitudes and behaviours. "If we're to see a further step change in the total number of people playing sport, we need to take a similar, consumer-focused approach in areas where the figures are stubbornly low, like disability and lower socio-economic groups."

Summary: An increase in the number of women playing sport has driven improved participation figures, according to the latest survey by Sport England.


Adrian Brown made the "unscheduled landing" between Bassingbourn Primary School and the village college at about 08:40 GMT on Tuesday. Unable to reach Royston Heath because of light winds, and not wanting to "disturb sheep" in a nearby field, he chose the playground. Primary head Sue Brown said the unexpected visitor "made their day". Mr Brown, from Litlington in Cambridgeshire, arrived on his single-person "hopper" balloon - one that does not have a basket - "just as the bell was ringing", Mrs Brown said. Read more on this and other stories from Cambridgeshire He said he had set off 30 minutes earlier from a field north of Bassingbourn and was aware the wind conditions were light and variable. "Ideally we like to land close to a road or track to enable easy access for the retrieve crew to come and collect us," Mr Brown said. "With such light winds I didn't think we would be able to reach the heath at Royston. "The Royston Road from Litlington has the complication of power lines and sheep in the fields which I did not want to disturb." When he landed, Mr Brown was greeted by a familiar face - his daughter, who is a pupil at Bassingbourn Village College. "[She] came across and said hello, which was lovely," Mr Brown said. The engineering company boss has been ballooning for 25 years.

Summary: A man landed his hot air balloon on a Cambridgeshire school playing field "to avoid sheep", he said.


The wooden panelling, ceiling beams and fireplace from the Oak Parlour at Gwydir Castle, near Llanrwst, were sold to an American newspaper owner in 1921. They were shipped to New York but have not been seen since the 1930s. It is now hoped they can be retraced and brought back to Wales. Judy Corbett, who owns Gwydir Castle with her husband, Peter Welford, said it was bought by William Randolph Hearst, an American newspaper tycoon in 1921. The 16th Century linen-fold panelling, the fireplace overmantel and the carved and moulded ceiling beams were dismantled, crated up and sent to America. "He ended up assembling it in his billiard room in his apartment in New York," she said. The apartment was known as the Clarendon, said to be the largest apartment in the world. It was partly demolished in the 1930s, but the couple know the panelled rooms were taken out and stored. "This is where we lose track of it," they said. "Where did our room go? "Did the Hearst family hold on to it? Was it sold? Was it donated to an American museum? "We have spent years looking through archives and records but can find no trace of it anywhere." Numerous items of furniture, along with another whole room, were also sold off in 1921. The panelling from the dining room was also bought by Mr Hearst. But it was later discovered in a warehouse belonging to the Metropolitan Museum in New York, and was brought back to Wales and reinstalled at Gwydir in 1996. Ms Corbett added: "The story of the dining room shows that miracles can happen. We would love to find our second missing room."

Summary: The owners of a 16th Century Tudor mansion in Conwy county are appealing to people in the United States to help them find a missing room.


He posted three different photos along with the message: "Today's exhilarating spacewalk will be etched in my memory forever - quite an incredible feeling!" He later sent a second tweet which said: "Wrapping up today's spacewalk activities. Huge thanks to the ground teams who make it all possible & keep us safe out there - you guys rock!" Tim Peake made history on Friday when he became the first British person ever to walk in space. He and fellow astronaut Tim Kopra were outside the space station, carrying out repairs, for four hours and 43 minutes. However, they were forced to finish the walk early, when Tim Kopra found water in his helmet.

Summary: UK astronaut Tim Peake has tweeted a selfie of his historic spacewalk.


The Dismaland show - which will also feature work from Damien Hirst, Jenny Holzer and Jimmy Cauty - will take over the Tropicana site for five weeks. "I loved the Tropicana as a kid, so getting to throw these doors open again is a real honour," Banksy said. The show is his first in the UK since 2009's Banksy v Bristol Museum show which drew huge crowds. Banksy described the show as a "family theme park unsuitable for children". He said he had been motivated to work on the site which had been "popular with low income holiday makers" after peering through a gap in the fence in January. Many of the works require "audience participation". "A dead princess is only complete when surrounded by gawping crowds with their cameras out, or the opportunity to photograph yourself pulling an amazed expression when a killer whale leaps from a toilet," he said. "I guess you'd say it's a theme park whose big theme is 'theme parks should have bigger themes'." Dismaland is the official name but it's really Banksyland. Subversive, darkly comic and cocking a snook at authority there are good reasons why the mysterious Mr Banksy is so popular. His stencils are well known but this is something very different - a pitch black antidote to the 'fun day out'. The Julie Burchill 'Punch and Judy', the riot torn village, the 'magic castle' with a paparazzi and Disney centrepiece and, of course, an exit through the gift shop. Fun for all the family? No. Something Britain's seaside has never seen before? Yes. Weston is bracing itself for crowds. Speculation had been growing that the elusive Bristolian was planning an exhibition after a castle and sculpture made from tanker trucks were spotted above the walls. Locals had been told a Hollywood company was filming there. Nigel Ashton, leader of North Somerset Council, said: "We have been working closely with the organisers for months now and, for obvious reasons, have had to remain tight-lipped about the true nature of the event. "In fact, only four people in the entire council knew what was really happening." The transformation inside the Tropicana is quite stunning. It's still the run-down lido it has been for the past 15 years, but now there's art everywhere. From the moment you walk through the fake airport-style security you get the dismal tone of Dismaland. Grumpy guards play the part astonishingly well. Inside you see Banksy's Cinderella castle and his Grim Reaper dodgem, which dances to the song Staying Alive. But you also get a heavy dose of other local and international artists. Damien Hirst makes contributions alongside others. And the organisers are keen to point to the show's art credentials rather than it being just street art alone. The Tropicana outdoor pool and leisure facility closed in 2000 due to falling visitor numbers. Since then, there has been various attempts to either reopen or demolish the structure. The Trop Trust is trying to reopen the structure and bring it back into use. Trust member Derek Mead said: "It has definitely

Summary: Graffiti artist Banksy has announced an exhibition at a derelict seafront lido in Weston-super-Mare.


Arseny Yatsenyuk said the government was sending a bill to MPs urging that Ukraine's non-bloc status be cancelled. The remarks come as Nato holds an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis in eastern Ukraine. The West has stepped up its accusations of direct Russian involvement in the conflict, following advances by pro-Russian rebels. On Thursday Nato released satellite images it said showed Russian forces inside Ukraine. and said more than 1,000 troops were operating there. Russia denies sending troops. Nearly 2,600 people have been killed since April, the UN says, when Russia's annexation of Crimea prompted the rebels to take control of large parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the far east of the country. "The government is entering a bill to Verkhovna Rada [parliament] about the cancellation of Ukraine's non-bloc status and resumption of Ukraine's course for Nato membership," Mr Yatsenyuk said. Ukraine's previous President Viktor Yanukovich, ousted earlier this year, enshrined the country's non-aligned status in the constitution in 2008. At a government meeting, Mr Yatsenyuk said Ukraine's main aim remained membership of the European Union. He said the bill that was being presented would also prevent Ukraine from joining any bloc that would stand in the way of this, meaning any economic union involving Russia. Heavy fighting is continuing near Ukraine's strategic port of Mariupol, on the Azov Sea. Rebel forces are trying to capture the city but Ukrainian government troops are digging in. On Thursday the separatists seized the nearby town of Novoazovsk. The advance has raised fears that the Kremlin might seek to create a land corridor between Russia and Crimea - a territory annexed by Russia from Ukraine in March. Rebels are also reported to have surrounded government soldiers in several places further north, near the city of Donetsk. Ukrainian forces near the town of Ilovaysk say they are cut off and have been urgently asking for supplies and reinforcements. Overnight, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the rebels to open a "humanitarian corridor" to allow encircled Ukrainian troops to leave without unnecessary casualties, though he did not specify the location. Rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko later told Russian TV that his fighters had agreed to the request, on condition that the Ukrainians hand over heavy weapons and ammunition. Ukraine security officials said in a statement that the proposal demonstrated that the rebels "are led and controlled directly from the Kremlin". At least 2,593 people had been killed in the conflict between mid-April and 27 August, the UN said in its latest report. Human rights violations like abduction and torture were "committed primarily by the armed groups", referring to the rebels, it said. Separately, Human Rights Watch said in a report that the rebels were subjecting civilians to torture, degrading treatment and forced labour. The reports of Russian troops fighting with rebels prompted renewed Western criticism of Moscow's role in the conflict. US President Barack Obama blamed Russia for the escalation but stopped short of saying its troops had invaded Ukraine. "There is no doubt that this is not a home-grown, indigenous uprising in eastern Ukraine,"

Summary: Ukraine's prime minister has said he will ask parliament to put the country on a path towards Nato membership.


The 26-year-old, who has played rugby league for Salford, will join from Rotherham in the summer. Prop Mark Tampin and back row forward Max Argyle will also leave the Yorkshire side for Jersey. George Eastwell has signed from Loughborough Students while Jake Armstrong will arrive from Doncaster. Jersey are fifth and could still make the Championship play-offs, but will not go up to the Premiership if they are successful as they do not have a suitable ground. Head coach Harvey Biljon had previously said he was three players away from finalising his squad for next season.

Summary: Jersey have signed five players in preparation for next season in the Championship, including former Sale Sharks centre Jordan Davies.


Striker Emmanuel, 27, scored 19 goals in the National League for Bromley last season and played for the Whites between 2012 and 2014. Centre-back Howlett-Mundle, 19, has previously had spells at Crystal Palace and Scottish sides Hearts and Montrose. Forward Jackson Jr, 19, had stints at Whitstable Town and Worthing last season and has agreed a two-year deal. Meanwhile, 32-year-old former Welling player-manager Loui Fazakerley, who is a fitness coach at Crabble, has been registered as a player for the coming campaign. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Dover Athletic have re-signed Moses Emmanuel and brought in Jahmal Howlett-Mundle and Ira Jackson Jr.


Sharon Shoesmith was sacked over a damning report into the death in 2007 of Baby Peter who was subjected to months of abuse. Three people were jailed, including his mother. The Court of Appeal ruled Ms Shoesmith had been "unfairly scapegoated" and that her removal had been unlawful. Her payout could cost up to £600,000, but she is expected to receive less. Timeline of Baby P case ▶ Sharon Shoesmith on child protection Earlier this week, one government source told BBC Newsnight the exact figure may not emerge as there are confidentiality clauses preventing its disclosure. The package is believed to be more than the minimum suggested by senior judge Lord Neuberger in a 2011 ruling in the Court of Appeal. He suggested Ms Shoesmith was entitled to a minimum of three months' salary plus pensions contributions. Three months' salary would have been about £33,000. Ms Shoesmith was sacked in December 2008 by the then children's secretary, Ed Balls, who has said her payout "leaves a bad taste in the mouth". On the legal fees, Councillor Richard Wilson, the leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group on Haringey Council, said: "Whilst we agree Ms Shoesmith should have gone it is not right that the taxpayer has been left with a massive bill because Haringey Council decided not to follow the proper procedures. "It is appalling that because of the action of the then Labour government and the Labour-run council, local residents will be left with a hefty bill for legal fees." He added: "Ed Balls and the Labour-run Haringey Council should apologise for landing taxpayers with this massive bill. It adds insult to injury and shows we are still paying the price for mistakes made four years ago." A council spokesman said: "The legal fees relate to a very complex and long-running process that involved a number of different strands of litigation." Baby Peter had more than 50 injuries when he died, despite being on the at-risk register and receiving 60 visits from social workers, police and health professionals over eight months. His mother, Tracey Connelly, her boyfriend, Steven Barker, and his brother, Jason Owen, were jailed in May 2009 for causing or allowing the child's death. Earlier this month it was reported that Connelly was due to be released from prison on parole.

Summary: Haringey Council spent £196,000 trying to fight its former head of children's services in her case for unfair dismissal, it has emerged.


Or so the common narrative goes. But try telling that to Monika Schulz-Hopfner. She and her husband, along with 250 other residents of Atterwasch, a quiet village near the Polish border, face eviction from their home of 30 years to make way for the Janschwalde-Nord coal mine. And not just any old coal, but lignite, the dirtiest form of this ancient fossil fuel that is mined in vast opencast pits. If the plans go ahead, the village, parts of which date back more than 700 years, will be demolished. "Since the plans for the mine were unveiled in 2007, we have lived with this constant threat, which has taken over the lives of every individual and the community as a whole," says Mrs Schulz-Hopfner. How American energy independence could change the world Shale industry faces reality check "Every single decision we make is affected by it." And the residents of Atterwasch are not alone. In the eastern German region of Lausitz, nine villages are under threat, where up to 3,000 people could lose their homes to make way for five new lignite mines that are fuelling the country's renewed thirst for coal. Two further mines are under consideration. The mines are needed to power a new generation of coal power plants. Two new lignite plants were opened in 2012, with a further two in the pipeline. Another two hard coal plants also opened last year, with a further five opening this year or next, with two more awaiting licences. The effects are already being felt. Lignite production in 2012 hit its highest level for almost 20 years, while initial estimates suggest this brown coal was used to generate 162bn kWh of electricity last year, more than in any year since 1990. The use of hard coal also increased, meaning the two energy sources accounted for 46% of Germany's overall energy production. The impact on CO2 emissions has been immediate. "There has been an increase of between 5%-7% in CO2 in the past two years," says Prof Claudia Kemfert, head of energy at the German Institute for Economic Research. And this in a country that aims to reduce emissions by 40% from 1990 levels by 2020. As Prof Christian Hey, secretary general of the German Advisory Council for the Environment, says: "Germany has a coal problem." There are many reasons why. One is the low cost of carbon. "Due to the failure of the emissions trading system, the price of CO2 permits is very low," says Prof Hey. "The EU has failed to address this issue." Oversupply and a fall in demand for energy - and therefore permits - during the economic downturn means the price now stands at around three euros per tonne of CO2. If everything had gone to plan, the price would be more than 10 times that by now. Overcapacity has also pushed the price of coal lower, while the lignite industry has benefited to the tune of 60 million euros from being exempt from supporting the renewables industry, says Prof Hey. This means the fossil fuel has moved

Summary: Germany is an enlightened leader in the global battle to reduce CO2 emissions, a pioneer in renewable energy and community power projects and a champion of energy efficiency.


The party, which was the third biggest group after the last local election, took four seats from Labour, one from the Tories and one from an independent. The final result at the Little Thurrock Blackshots ward was won by the Conservatives by one vote over the UKIP candidate after three recounts. UKIP and the Conservatives have 17 seats each, and Labour 14. There is one independent. The parties are now in discussion about whether a coalition can run the authority. Thurrock Tory group leader Rob Gledhill and UKIP leader Graham Snell said they believed they could work together. Basildon - where UKIP took two seats, one from Labour and one from the Lib Dems - and Southend-on-Sea councils remained with no one party in overall control. Harlow Council was held by Labour, and Castle Point and Brentwood councils were held by the Conservatives. Colchester City Council remains with no party in overall control. The counts for Rochford Council and Epping Forest are taking place on Friday. The tensions at the Backstage Centre in Purfleet were palpable. Just when the final declaration seemed imminent it went to a third recount and became even more nail-biting. Thurrock was a top target for UKIP on a national basis, and in the end they fell agonisingly short in coming out level with the Conservatives. Nonetheless, they're jubilant at having picked up six seats, which the leader Graham Snell puts down to his colleagues' hard work on local issues such as housing, jobs and the environment. Thurrock is now in an unprecedented situation with joint council leaders. Graham Snell and Robert Gledhill agree that there is common ground on about 70% of issues. In particular, they're united in their opposition to any new Thames river crossing coming through Thurrock.

Summary: UKIP have won six seats on Thurrock Council, missing out on being the largest party by a single vote.


The firms' respective arrangements with Ireland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg will be investigated. Announcing the move, tax commissioner Algirdas Semeta said that "fair tax competition is essential". Last year, a US Senate investigation accused Ireland of giving special tax treatment to Apple. The European Commission will look at whether the companies' tax affairs breach EU rules on state aid. Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said: "In the current context of tight public budgets, it is particularly important that large multinationals pay their fair share of taxes." Countries in Europe cannot allow certain firms to pay less tax than they should, Mr Almunia added. The investigations will focus on "transfer pricing", or whether the countries allowed the multinational firms to charge one part of the company over the odds for goods or services from another part of the company as a way of shifting profits. Under Commission rules, companies must charge their subsidiaries market rates. Sanctions for a breach of tax rules could include an attempt to claw money back from Apple, Starbucks and Fiat. Apple said that it had not had "any special tax deal with the Irish government". "We have received no selective treatment from Irish officials," the company said. "Apple is subject to the same tax laws as scores of other international companies doing business in Ireland." The Irish finance ministry said Apple "did not receive selective treatment and there was no 'special tax rate deal'". "Ireland is confident that there is no state aid rule breach in this case and we will defend all aspects vigorously," the Department of Finance said. Last year's US Senate committee investigation revealed that Apple had been able to funnel profits into Irish subsidiaries or "ghost companies" that had no declared tax residency anywhere in the world, cutting billions from its tax bill. The Senate committee hearing revealed that Apple designated its Irish entities as unlimited companies, which meant it did not have to publish annual accounts. The Irish arrangement allowed Apple to pay just 1.9% tax on its $37bn in overseas profits in 2012, despite the fact the average tax rate in the OECD countries that make up its main markets was 24% last year. In a 40-page memorandum, the Senate committee said: "Ireland has essentially functioned as a tax haven for Apple." Coffee giant Starbucks has been embroiled in a tax controversy for a number of years. In 2012, the multinational admitted that it had a special tax deal with the Dutch government which allowed it to transfer money to its Dutch sister company in royalty payments. Starbucks said on Wednesday that its Dutch tax arrangements conformed with financial law. "We comply with all relevant tax rules, laws and OECD guidelines and we're studying the Commission's announcement related to the state aid investigation in the Netherlands," a Starbucks spokesperson said. The Dutch finance ministry said it was confident that its tax system was "robust". "We are confident that the investigation by the EC will in the end result in the conclusion there is no state aid involved," a spokesman told the BBC. The

Summary: The European Commission is to open a formal investigation into Apple, Starbucks and Fiat in relation to tax arrangements with three EU countries.


Mr Bo said he was coerced into making a confession and rubbished testimony from witnesses who included his wife. The former Chongqing Communist Party boss is also charged with corruption. He faces charges of abuse of power relating to his wife's role in the murder of a British businessman. Two years ago the 64-year-old high-flier was seen as a candidate for promotion to the Politburo Standing Committee, China's seven-member top decision-making body. But in February 2012, as China prepared for its once-in-a-decade leadership handover, questions emerged over the death of a British businessman, Neil Heywood. By Celia HattonBBC Beijing correspondent Is the Bo Xilai trial an act of tightly scripted political theatre or an unexpectedly colourful legal showdown? The Chinese authorities have taken pains to demonstrate that this trial is seemingly open and transparent by issuing a constant stream of updates on Weibo, China's version of Twitter. However, the updates offer a limited, one-sided view of what is going on in the courtroom. Criticisms of the trial have been deleted from Weibo, leaving the Jinan court's account of the proceedings as the only real source of information on the trial. On the other hand, even the bite-sized bits of information on Weibo cannot hide that Bo Xilai's testimony has been surprisingly belligerent. He has disputed charges and witness testimony against him, including that of his own wife. Mr Bo's seemingly energetic defence might also be part of the authorities' attempts to demonstrate that the former Chongqing Party boss will receive a fair hearing. Is this a game of legal smoke and mirrors? We have no choice but to continue to follow Weibo for more updates. Bo Xilai trial as blogged by the court Mr Bo's downfall was seen as the biggest political shake-up to hit China's ruling elite in decades. His wife, Gu Kailai, has since been convicted of Mr Heywood's murder. Correspondents say the trial is as much about getting rid of a popular politician as it is about criminal wrongdoing. Mr Bo is widely expected to be found guilty. Events in the courtroom gripped the nation. "Bo is a psychologically tough man. This kind of person is very appealing. I don't think he will plead guilty easily," one person wrote on China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo. The trial is taking place at the Intermediate People's Court in Jinan, in eastern Shandong province. The court is providing an account of proceedings on its official microblog. "I hope the judge will try this case fairly and justly according to the law of the country," Mr Bo reportedly said. Five of Mr Bo's relatives are said to be in court, along with 19 journalists and 84 other people. Foreign journalists have not been allowed in. According to the indictment posted by the court, Mr Bo is accused of receiving bribes totalling 21.8m yuan ($3.56m; Â£2.28m) from two Dalian-based businessmen. Mr Bo went on the offensive, denying accepting any money in the form of bribes. The court microblog quoted him as saying about one of the cases: "That [businessman] Tang Xiaolin gave me three bribes

Summary: Disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai has fought back in court against charges of bribery on the opening day of the country's biggest political trial in decades.


In a rain-reduced game of 46 overs per side, a 93-ball unbeaten 101 from Adam Hose and Jim Allenby's 90 off 110 balls helped Somerset post 294-6. Chasing a revised target of 297, the hosts slipped to 62-4 with Craig Overton (2-39) amongst the wickets. Jack Taylor's explosive 68 stemmed the flow of wickets, but Gloucestershire fell short and were all out for 215. Gloucestershire have won only two of their six matches and their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages are hanging by a thread. Somerset's total owed much to the fourth-wicket partnership of 123 between Hose and Allenby. The home side never got going in reply and lost Phil Mustard to the first ball of the second over. Taylor's 50-ball knock gave Gloucestershire some momentum and contained three sixes and eight fours, but once he fell to Jamie Overton (3-53), the innings fell away. Max Waller finished with 3-37 as Somerset moved onto 10 points from their six matches.

Summary: One-Day Cup South Group leaders Somerset beat Gloucestershire by 81 runs to secure a fifth win in six.


There was an eight-fold increase in the time it took West Yorkshire Police to answer calls in 2015 compared to 2013, figures obtained by the BBC show. In South Yorkshire the time tripled and more than doubled in North Yorkshire. Police crime commissioner for West Yorkshire said extra staff had been recruited to bring response times down. Figures, released under a Freedom of Information request, showed between April 2013 and April 2014 it took West Yorkshire Police on average 14 seconds to answer 101 calls. That increased to one minute 46 seconds from April 2014 to April 2015, despite a drop in the number of people using the service. Caller waiting times continued to increase in the eight months between April and November 2015. Figures also showed the number of people hanging up before calls were answered had more than doubled from 5% in 2013 to 11% in 2015. John Summerscale, a former special constable from Bradford, said he had experienced many delays. "I was told by the police it should take four rings before someone answers but I've been waiting up to 20 minutes and still no answer." Mark Burns Williamson, West Yorkshire police crime commissioner, blamed the delays on budget cuts but said extra staff had since been recruited to address the problem. He said: "Such delays are unacceptable and I was being contacted by members of the public who weren't happy. "We've got waiting times down now to between 18 and 60 seconds and there is a higher level of customer satisfaction with the service." Elsewhere, it took South Yorkshire Police an average of 30 seconds to answer calls in 2013/14, rising to just under a minute and a half in 2014/2015. In North Yorkshire, the length of time went up from 23 seconds in 2013/14 to just under a minute in 2014/2015. Crime commissioners for both forces said improvements were being made including new technology and better online reporting of crimes.

Summary: Callers to the 101 non-emergency service at three Yorkshire police forces are having to wait longer to get through compared to two years ago.


The number of suspensions at Movilla High School, in Newtownards, County Down, was revealed in the latest report from school inspectors. Its problems were first highlighted two years ago, when inspectors said its quality of education was "inadequate". The latest inspection has found some improvements, but not in exam results. In fact, the percentage of pupils who attained five or more GCSEs (or equivalent qualifications) at grade C or above has dropped from 23.6% at the time of the original inspection to 18.4%. The number of pupils enrolled at the school has also dropped to 215 and Movilla has been without a permanent head teacher since July, when Caroline Karayiannis left her post. In a statement to the Belfast Telegraph newspaper, the school's interim principal Ian Bell said: "The board of governors and management of Movilla High School acknowledge the findings of the ETI (Education and Training Inspectorate) follow-up report, and are encouraged by their endorsement of the positive changes made in the school from September 2015." When contacted by the BBC, Mr Bell would not comment on the number of suspensions or add to his earlier statement. The 440 suspensions at Movilla accounted for 12% of the total number of suspensions across all schools in Northern Ireland in the 2014/15 academic year, which stood at 3,647. The statistics include repeat offenders as pupils can be suspended multiple times in a year. Movilla High School was placed in "formal intervention" in January 2014 - a process in which schools with unsatisfactory educational records are offered extra support to raise their standards. Since then it has been the subject of a series of follow-up visits from ETI inspectors, the most recent in November 2015. After their latest visit, inspectors said Movilla High School has been "adversely affected by a lack of strategic leadership, strained relationships at various levels and several long-term illnesses in key curriculum areas". It said the school's problems were "compounded by a deteriorating system for the pastoral care and behaviour management of the pupils, as evidenced by the 440 recorded suspension incidents during 2014-15". Although half of the lessons observed during the follow-up inspection were "good or better", the inspectors said they witnessed some classes being "disrupted by low-level misbehaviour by a small number of pupils, which needs to be managed to better effect". However, the report also said that in the first three months of this academic year, the school's "senior leadership team and the staff have worked collegially to put in place measures to promote positive behaviour by the pupils". It also said that relationships "between staff at all levels have improved".

Summary: A school suspended pupils 440 times in one academic year, despite the fact that only 353 students were enrolled at the school during that period.


Seleka rebels were said to be fighting running battles with government troops. The fighters, who have been involved in an on-off rebellion since December, accuse President Francois Bozize of failing to honour a peace deal. Former colonial power France has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, and reportedly sent troops to secure the airport. French officials warned French nationals in the country should stay at home. Rebel spokesman Nelson Ndjadder said they had shot down a government military helicopter and were now heading for the presidential palace. However, there were no further reports of fighting as darkness fell. The rebels are also said to have cut off electrical power to parts of the city, having taken control of three power plants in the neighbouring town of Boali. A local UN official in southern Bangui said people were in a state of panic but could not confirm the rebels had entered the city. The rebels joined a power-sharing government in January after talks brokered by regional leaders to end a rebellion they launched last year. But the deal quickly collapsed, with the rebels saying their demands, including the release of political prisoners, had not been met. On Friday it was reported that they had taken a checkpoint in the town of Damara, about an hour's drive from Bangui, where regional Fomac peacekeepers are based. BBC Africa editor Richard Hamilton says government soldiers have been unable to fend off the rebels because Mr Bozize fears being overthrown in a coup and is therefore wary of having a strong army. He came to power himself in a military coup in 2003. CAR has been hit by a series of rebellions since independence from France in 1960. It is one of the poorest countries in Africa, despite its considerable mineral resources.

Summary: Hundreds of rebels have entered the Central African Republic (CAR) capital Bangui, according to witnesses.


I'm scared because there is also a clock counting down in the bottom right-hand corner so something important must be about to happen like the arrival of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse but it turns out Shaun Batt has joined Leyton Orient from Millwall instead. On loan. Welcome to Transfer Deadline Day, which I've deliberately written in capitals because there are those who think we should make it a public holiday. Chaotic and stressful and full of panic buying, Transfer Deadline Day and the window that precedes it make up football's equivalent of the Yuletide season, with Sky Sports' Jim White playing its equivalent of Santa. "Sorry, no joy with Fabregas, I brought you Fellaini instead." A magnificent irony of transfer windows is that they were introduced in 2002-03 in part to stabilise the game. It's about ducking and diving, maybe finding a player whose mother-in-law lives in Taunton, 10 miles down the road from Yeovil. Which isn't on most sat-navs Transfer windows were part of a compromise deal between football authorities and the European Commission, with the sport insisting on contractual stability for players, and clubs investing in those players, in exchange for freedom of movement at prescribed times of the year. Yet there is nothing stable about transfer windows and the media coverage that attends them. Indeed, Transfer Deadline Days in Britain, which generate mind-boggling numbers for a wide range of media outlets, have come to resemble the NFL draft in the United States. But here is another irony. The NFL draft is by some measures the second biggest sports story in the United States in any given year because it is the principal means of player acquisition and a genuine game-changer. With the weakest team getting first pick, it democratises the league, theoretically giving every team an equal chance on any given Sunday. In contrast, Transfer Deadline Days involve an awful lot of acquisitions across an unlevel playing field that often change nothing, but still generate enough hot air to make it seem as if they might. "It's a period of time that is false and everything during that period of time is forced," says Gary Johnson, manager of Championship side Yeovil. "Everybody has a little panic for the simple reason that the supporters demand a big name, or at least hope for one, and some of this is driven by the media. But for smaller clubs it's very difficult to get someone in that people can gasp at." It is difficult to find a manager who is a fan of transfer windows, whether they manage in the Premier League or the lower reaches of the Football League. Ian Holloway, who managed Blackpool and, briefly, Crystal Palace in the Premier League, reckons transfer windows are "utter madness" and lead to "the headlong hurtling into deals to rescue dreams". "They encourage knee-jerk reactions, inflated transfer fees and wages and minimal planning and background checks," adds Holloway, who parted company with Palace in October and is now at Millwall. Johnson, whose side sit second from bottom in the Championship table,

Summary: There is a man on my telly standing outside The Den in a suit speaking fast and portentously without full stops or commas and with lots of superlatives.