At an emergency meeting in Ghana, ministers promised better collaboration to fight what has become the world's deadliest outbreak to date. So far, 759 people have been infected with the virus in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and 467 of them have died. The two-day meeting was called by the World Health Organization (WHO). Under the new strategy, the WHO will open a sub-regional control centre in Guinea to co-ordinate technical support. Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's assistant director-general of health security, said it was "impossible to give a clear answer" on how far the epidemic could spread. "I certainly expect that we are going to be dealing with this outbreak, minimum, for a few months to several months," he told AFP news agency. "I really hope to see a turnaround where we begin to see a decrease in cases in the next several weeks." BBC West Africa correspondent Thomas Fessy says educating people rather than closing borders is seen as the most effective way to contain the outbreak. Cultural practices and traditional beliefs in some areas have hampered public health measures, contributing to the spread of the disease, he adds. In some cases, mobs have attacked health workers forcing emergency centres to close. The WHO has already sent more than 150 experts into West Africa over the past few months to try to contain the outbreak. But it says political commitment is needed from the region itself to ensure this outbreak is stopped soon. Most of the deaths have been centred in the southern Guekedou region of Guinea, where the outbreak was first reported in February. But health officials say the region's porous borders have allowed infected people to carry the disease into other countries. Ebola spreads through contact with an infected person's bodily fluids and there is no vaccine or cure. It kills up to 90% of those infected. In pictures: Battling Ebola in West Africa Why Ebola is so dangerous

Summary: Health ministers from 11 West African countries have adopted a common strategy to fight a deadly Ebola outbreak in the region.


As the film "Suffragette," opens in British cinemas there is renewed attention on that struggle, one in which Scotland played a vital part. "For a long time the suffrage movement, as far as history is concerned was located in London and the national leadership was located there too," says Dr Norman Watson, a journalist and historian who has researched the suffragettes for 30 years. But he points to the fact that Edinburgh had one of the earliest suffrage societies in the 1870s and by the period after 1905 Scotland was "punching above its weight" in the struggle for votes. There were plenty of opportunities to confront the establishment with then prime minister Herbert Asquith having his constituency in Fife and Winston Churchill as an MP for Dundee. He continues: "So with the militant women pledging to argue at every by-election at which the Liberal party stood because the Liberal party kept refusing them votes, this really catapulted the militancy episode into Scotland and all parts of Scotland were involved." When Churchill came to stand in Dundee in 1908 he was followed by 27 of the national leaders of women's suffrage movements. At one point he even hid in a shed and tried to hold a meeting there. There had been lots of campaigning for the vote towards the end of the 19th Century mainly using methods such at petitions, writing letters and badgering members of parliament. That changed in 1903 with the establishment by the Pankhursts, and others, of the Women's Social and Political Union. A branch was opened in Glasgow in 1906 and by 1908 its Scottish headquarters had been opened in the city. "At first the suffragettes tend to go down to England in order to commit some of the more militant acts," says Prof Sarah Pedersen of Robert Gordon University who is writing a book on the Scottish suffragettes. "We don't really get much militant suffrage activity going on Scotland until a couple of years before the First World War but once they get started they do quite a lot of damage." She points to the burning down of buildings, the grandstands at Ayr and Perth racecourses, the pouring of acid in post boxes to destroy the mail or burning the slogan 'votes for women' into the greens of golf courses with acid. "One of the things to note is that they were very careful not to actually harm or kill anyone with all these fires, the places they set fire to were empty. What they were hoping for was that the landowners and the insurance companies would put pressure on the government to give women the vote," she continues. A important point for the movement in Scotland was a big rally in Edinburgh in 1909. It was led by the formidable Flora Drummond, riding on horseback. A key figure in the movement, she had grown up in Arran. Edinburgh had a rather less positive claim to fame too though. It was here that the suffragette Ethel Moorhead became the first in Scotland to be force-fed, a practice which

Summary: From throwing an egg at Winston Churchill, to a huge suffrage march in Edinburgh, to the horrors of force-feeding, Scotland's suffragettes and the more gradualist suffragists were an important part of the fight for women's votes.


Eleven men - two posthumously - were given the Légion d'Honneur at a ceremony on the navy helicopter carrier Dixmude at HM Naval Base Devonport. They fought at the D-Day Landings more than 70 years ago. Plymouth's honorary French consul said the event on board the warship was "quite exceptional" and would never be repeated. It was the second time France had held such a presentation on a warship, with a similar ceremony staged on board FS Aquitaine in Glasgow in 2015. The men who were honoured at Sunday's ceremony are aged between 90 and 97 years old. Gillian Garrlick collected the medal on behalf of her late father, Charles Dixon, from Plymouth. "My father had actually received it through the post back in October, so he did know he'd received it but was waiting for an official presentation. "Unfortunately he died on 30th December so didn't get to be here today, but it was an honour to receive it for him."

Summary: D-Day veterans have received France's highest military decoration on a French warship in Plymouth.


James Tracy and Josh van der Flier start after featuring for Ireland as replacements last week against Italy. Edinburgh make five changes with Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Duncan Weir forming the half-back partnership and Glenn Bryce in at full-back. In the pack, hooker Neil Cochrane and number eight Cornell du Preez earn starts. Du Preez's return means Magnus Bradbury moves to blindside flanker. Blair Kinghorn and Jason Tovey drop to the bench, while Viliame Mata, Sean Kennedy and Stuart McInally miss out after starting last week. For the hosts, fly-half Joey Carbery makes his first start since sustaining an ankle injury in a Champions Cup game away to Northampton in December. Scrum-half Luke McGrath also comes in while in the pack, prop Mike Ross and locks Ross Molony and Mike McCarthy get starts. Leinster head coach Leo Cullen confirmed that club captain Isa Nacewa is absent after having a small procedure on his knee earlier this week. "We're talking a couple of weeks with Isa," Cullen said. "Edinburgh are bringing a strong team - they're not missing many players." Leinster wing Dave Kearney switches from left to right to accommodate Barry Daly's inclusion. Jamison Gibson-Park, Richardt Strauss and Ian Nagle drop out while Adam Byrne, Ross Byrne, Michael Bent, Mick Kearney and Dan Leavy move to the bench. "We're back on the road and know Leinster are a tough team to overcome, especially on their home patch," said Edinburgh acting head coach Duncan Hodge. "As a squad, we've learned a lot from last week's match against Ulster [the 24-18 defeat] and will look to take the positives from an encouraging second-half display into this week's game. "The players showed a lot of character and resolve last week in overcoming the challenges of what was a high-tempo and physical encounter. "Those involved tomorrow night will need to show a similar tenacity and perform for the full 80 minutes if we're to challenge the home side." Leinster: Z Kirchner, D Kearney, R O'Loughlin, N Reid, B Daly, J Carbery, L McGrath (capt); P Dooley, J Tracy, M Ross, R Molony, M McCarthy, D Ryan, J van der Flier, J Conan. Replacements: B Byrne, A Porter, M Bent, M Kearney, D Leavy, J Gibson-Park, R Byrne, A Byrne. Edinburgh: G Bryce, D Hoyland, C Dean, P Burleigh, T Brown, D Weir, S Hidalgo-Clyne; J Cosgrove, N Cochrane (capt), M McCallum, F McKenzie, B Toolis, M Bradbury, J Ritchie, C Du Preez. Replacements: G Turner, D Appiah, N Beavon, G Gilchrist, L Carmichael, N Fowles, J Tovey, B Kinghorn.

Summary: Leinster make eight changes to their starting line-up for Friday's Pro12 meeting with Edinburgh.


Appeals against the cuts for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic cycle were rejected by the parent body. And Badminton Scotland chief executive Anne Smillie said it could devastate the career of European silver medallist Kirsty Gilmour, among others. "It is is a major set-back to the sport and the government should intervene to overturn it," said Smillie. Powerlifting was successful in its appeal, but archery, goalball, fencing, table tennis, weightlifting and wheelchair rugby will also receive no funding. "The situation of Kirsty Gilmour shows the impact from a Scottish perspective," said Smillie. "She is a Commonwealth Games and European Championships silver medallist who reached a world ranking of 15 to qualify for the Rio Olympics. "Her goal was to continue her development and mount a serious challenge for a medal in Tokyo. "To do this she had a personal award from UK Sport to allow her to train full time and a competition budget to allow her to compete all over the world to gain the necessary points. "All of this has now been taken away yet Kirsty's costs associated with training every day and competing around 20 times a year all over the world must still be met." Badminton Scotland will continue to financially support Gilmour, but Smillie questioned the UK Sport decision. "I see no justification for leaving an Olympic medal winning sport with no funding whatsoever, especially when sports that didn't win medals or reach their targets have retained their funding," she said. "UK Sport's reasoning that badminton is unlikely to win a medal in Tokyo and that our GB players need to be more consistent against the very best in the world is a poor excuse. "Badminton won a men's doubles medal in Rio: a shock result because it wasn't the medal chance that had been predicted but less of a shock to those who know the quality of the badminton programme. "Badminton exceeded its targets, has a strong pathway and has a strategic plan which was approved by UK Sport. "Where there is a robust system in place, 'shock results' are always possible." Former GB wheelchair rugby captain Mike Kerr, who is transitioning to athletics, was also fearful of the impact on his former team-mates. "I am absolutely gutted for the players," he told BBC Scotland. "They will be absolutely devastated by the news. "It is going to have a massive impact on the guys. A lot of the guys rely on this funding for training. "It's a very expensive sport to play - equipment costs, training costs and travelling to and from training." GB wheelchair rugby chief executive David Pond was also "incredibly disappointed". "I think we put up a very strong case, which was listened to by the board, and so we're slightly surprised that the decision has actually stayed as it was," he said. "In terms of what it means for the sport, unless we can find another source of funding, and it has to be a significant source of funding, then it's very difficult to see how we can have a competitive

Summary: Badminton Scotland has called for government intervention after UK Sport confirmed funding cuts to seven sports.


Large house parties could also be vulnerable to sneak-in thefts over the festival period. The warnings are in a safety message from police in the Highlands and Islands. Police Scotland said criminals targeted homes at this time of year to try and steal presents and money. Insp Ewan Henderson said posts and other messages on social media sites before and during parties could alert thieves. He said: "Christmas nights out are planned in advance, so just taking a few minutes to think about the security of your home will mean everyone's Christmas can be fun-filled. "Posting photos on social media of nights out are an everyday occurrence. "What we are asking is that you think about it before you post the messages. Are you inviting someone to break in to your home by advertising it is un-occupied? Could the messages be posted the next day?" Peter Kirwan, of Neighbourhood Watch Scotland, added: "We're encouraging people to ask a neighbour to keep an eye on their house when they go away. "Small things like moving curtains and taking in mail can help make a place look occupied and reduce the risk of a house breaking."

Summary: Christmas party selfies and other social media posts about festive nights out could alert thieves to unoccupied homes, police have warned.


The plaques, dating from the 1920s, were taken from Woodhenge, which is two miles (3 km) from its more famous contemporary, Stonehenge. They describe and show a plan of the site, which was discovered by accident in 1925 by a passing RAF pilot. The plaques were originally installed by the Ministry of Works following archaeological excavations. Heather Sebire, from English Heritage, which cares for this site, said: "Woodhenge is an incredibly important heritage site and these plaques are a landmark in the history of how the site was discovered, excavated and presented nearly a century ago. "This is a serious case of heritage crime. We are working with Wiltshire Police and Historic England to identify the culprits and hope we can return the plaques to where they belong." Phil McMahon, inspector of ancient monuments for Historic England, said: "The sad theft of these historic plaques has deprived us of an important aspect of the story of Woodhenge. "They represent a key part of one of the earliest attempts to interpret and present to the public the complex and internationally-significant prehistoric monuments of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. "We very much hope that the plaques can be recovered and restored to their rightful place at Woodhenge." Woodhenge dates back to about 2300 BC, and is thought to have been an important communal meeting place for people in the later Stone Age. Today, 168 concrete posts mark the positions of the original six concentric rings of gigantic timbers, which lay inside a circular ditch called a henge. Police have appealed for witnesses to contact them.

Summary: A pair of bronze plaques have been stolen from a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire.


Further alleged offences were reported relating to the suspect but "no robust direction" was given to the investigation lasting over six months. Chief Constable Chris Eyre said it "actually demonstrates positive work". HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) reviewed child protection at the force last August. HMIC, which independently assesses police forces, said it took more than six months for Nottinghamshire Police to arrest the 21-year-old man regarding his sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl. Zoë Billingham, of HMIC, said: "During this period, two further offences relating to the suspect, involving the exchange of indecent images with other teenage children, were reported to other forces. More on this and other stories in Nottinghamshire "We found examples of poor supervision of investigations leading to unacceptable delays, which can leave opportunities for perpetrators to continue offending." In response to the finding, Mr Eyre said: "When a victim would not engage with us we did not give up and continued to pursue the offender over a series of weeks until we could build up enough evidence to arrest him." The watchdog also found that "potential evidence was lost" in the case of a 10-year-old girl who had been groomed online, due to officers not having specialist training and delays. Mr Eyre said: "There are some cases where it is completely appropriate for non-specialist staff to deal with offences which relate to child protection matters, with the help and advice of specialists. "All officers have been provided with online training and regular updates about child sexual exploitation." The initial HMIC inspection in September 2014 revealed a 16-year-old girl in police custody went without food or water for almost two days, prompting the follow-up review. Ms Billingham said: "The force still has not reduced the number of children being detained unnecessarily in police custody overnight when they should have been transferred to alternative accommodation. This still needs to improve." Mr Eyre said it was the "responsibility of the local authority to find suitable alternative accommodation" for the children. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) said the report uncovered "deeply concerning issues that need to be addressed". "There have been serious delays in dealing with cases that led to potentially vital evidence being lost and a suspect possibly going on to re-offend," a spokesperson said. "Police need to make sure that they act on recommendations to ensure every child in Nottinghamshire is protected."

Summary: A suspected sex offender may have groomed teenagers before being arrested owing to "significant delays" by Nottinghamshire Police, a report found.


The 38-year-old's body was found by her father at a house on Shearman Street in Trowbridge last Thursday. A 78 year old man - who is not related to Ms Barker - was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and actual bodily harm, police said. He has since been bailed until the end of November, pending further enquiries. In a statement Ms Barker's family said it had been "left devastated" by her "untimely death". "She was much loved and will be greatly missed by us all. "She was a bright young woman who, in addition to her attainment of a BSc degree in Dental Technology at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff, was a talented artist and an accomplished cook, having appeared on the Masterchef television programme. "It will be difficult to come to terms with her loss, but this is being aided by the kind words and messages of support we have received and for which we are very grateful."

Summary: The family of Masterchef contestant Helen Barker have paid tribute to "a talented artist" after she was found dead at her home in Wiltshire.


The inquest is looking into the murders of ten Protestant workmen in the County Armagh village. Earlier, coroner Brian Sherrard said police should be given time to pursue a new lead that emerged last week. A partial palm print, found on a getaway van, was re-examined and, for the first time, linked to a suspect. Mr Sherrard said that, given the significance of the evidence, the PSNI should be allowed the opportunity to investigate it. "My obligation to the deceased, to the families of the deceased and to the community as a whole, and in the interests of justice, demand that the police be allowed the opportunity to investigate this new lead. "That, however, cannot be an open-ended opportunity," the coroner said. "I am acutely aware that more than 40 years have passed since the attack and that those closest to the deceased require answers while they are fit enough to participate." Judge Sherrard said the discovery of the print had "shaken the confidence of a number of families who now wonder who to believe and what they can believe." He said this was "quite understandable given the timing". "These families wish the inquest to push on despite this development as they see it as the best way for them to gain an insight into the deaths all those years ago," he said. But he argued that the discovery of the palm print was likely to prove "invaluable" in allowing the inquest to answer key questions. "This is the first and best opportunity since 1976 to establish a verifiable link between the person who has been identified and the attack. That link may produce many more leads," he said. The coroner said a timetable would be put in place and that families will be advised as to the progress of the investigation. The ten men were taken from their minibus as they made their way home from work at mill in Glenanne and shot dead by IRA gunmen in January 1976. One Catholic man was allowed to escape. No one has ever been convicted over the atrocity. Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, Sinn FÃ©in, said it was absolutely incredible that it took somebody 40 years to come up with the palm print finding. He was asked about the situation at a meeting of the Assembly's Executive committee on Wednesday. However, after he said he was surprised about the palm print, the committee chairman, Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt, asked him not to say anything else in case it was sub judice. The inquest is expected to resume on 21 June.

Summary: An inquest into the 1976 Kingsmills massacre has been adjourned until later this month.


They are under pressure from voters to limit building development but planning guidelines make it hard for them do so. Unless they have a five-year supply of housing land, developments that are refused can go through on appeal. To fight an appeal "will cost a lot of money" and councils are "strapped for cash", said consultant David Shaw. The East region is one of the fastest growing parts of England and the government is keen to increase the rate of house building. Mr Shaw, a Peterborough based town planning consultant, said: "Councils are very strapped for cash these days. "If they are going to have to fight an appeal they know that will cost them a lot of money and they're frightened of that. So they're making decisions that they are really reluctant to make." Local authorities are obliged to have a five-year housing land supply as part of the National Planning Policy Framework published in March 2012 by the Department for Communities and Local Government. The aim of the framework is to make the planning system less complex and more accessible, the department said. If a local authority does not have a clearly stated five-year housing land supply planning policies for new homes will be considered out of date. This means a government inspector can override a local decision on appeal using this one provision. Source:National Planning Policy Framework North Hertfordshire District Council is in a high-growth area under pressure to accept more new homes than local people want. It recently approved plans for 150 homes at Ivy Farm, Royston. David Levett, planning portfolio holder for the council, said: "It wasn't the ideal site but on balance we felt that if we refused it and it went to appeal, it would almost certainly be approved by the inspectors. "We haven't got a five-year land supply and... that's why we approved it." Mr Levett denied that the costs of an appeal were a factor at Royston. Â£242,000 was the average (mix adjusted) price of a property in the UK in 2013 21,050 homes were started by private enterprise, housing associations and local authorities in the East 19,040 homes were completed 27.8m residential properties make up the UK housing market Other councils claiming to have a five-year land supply have still found their decisions overturned on appeal. South Cambridgeshire District Council refused plans for 150 new homes at Waterbeach. But the planning inspector later approved them, saying the council could not "demonstrate" a five-year land supply. Robert Turner, the council's planning portfolio holder, said: "We were very disappointed to see a major decision like that overturned. "Applications are coming to us and even if we don't like them, and refuse them, the government has obviously got a bigger picture and can grant them on appeal." In Clenchwarton, near King's Lynn, an application for 40 homes was turned down by the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk because the site was outside the village development boundary and prone to flooding. But it was allowed on appeal, again, because the inspector said the

Summary: Councils in the east of England feel forced to back plans for homes because they are "frightened" to reject them, a BBC investigation has found.


Jim Cassell headed City's academy when Sturridge spent three seasons there. England (2011-present): 4 caps, 0 goals Bolton Wanderers (loan 2011): 12 Premier League appearances, 8 goals Chelsea (2009-2013): 96 appearances in all competitions, 24 goals Manchester City (2006-09): 32 appearances in all competitions, 6 goals And he has been frustrated at Sturridge's lack of first-team appearances at both City and Chelsea. "Hopefully Liverpool will get the best from Daniel as he has the potential to be a top-class international striker," Cassell told BBC Sport. Cassell was City's academy director for 12 years, from 1997 to 2009, until he was given a new job heading up the club's international academies. During his time in the role, Cassell brought through Micah Richards, Stephen Ireland, Michael Johnson and Joey Barton, and won the 2008 Youth Cup. And he quickly identified Sturridge, who moved to Manchester City from Coventry City as a 13-year-old in 2003, as a huge talent who could go on to achieve success at the highest level. "Daniel was exceptional, even as a 13-year-old," Cassell said, after Sturridge completed his move to Liverpool from Chelsea for an undisclosed fee on Wednesday. "He had great pace, fantastic feet and magnificent vision. I couldn't speak too highly of him when he was with us. "He trained hard, was respectful and always immaculately turned out - I thought he was great. We knew he could go on and achieve great things." Sturridge played in the 2006 Youth Cup final against Liverpool, which City lost 3-2 on aggregate despite the striker scoring twice in the home leg. Media playback is not supported on this device He was promoted to the first team squad in the 2006-7 season, but went on to make only 21 appearances for City, scoring five goals. In July 2009 he moved to Chelsea and, although he got more first-team opportunities and won four caps for England, he was often played out wide and again failed to make a first-team place up front his own. Cassell admits it has sometimes been hard to watch such a talent sitting on the sidelines. "It's frustrating," he said. "In English football, we sometimes don't get the most out of our young players. The problem is enabling them to really establish themselves. They need that to really make it at international level. "The English game needs to be patient with these young talents."

Summary: The man who brought Daniel Sturridge through the ranks at Manchester City hopes to finally see the striker fulfil his potential at new club Liverpool.


Prof Yves Barde, from Switzerland, is renowned for his research into the way proteins in the brain work and their role in illnesses such as depression. Prof Barde, currently at the University of Basel, will take up his post at Cardiff University in September. It said science was an international business and "we're importing one of the most important stars." He was appointed under the Welsh government's five-year Ser Cymru (Stars of Wales) project to expand universities' research capabilities in the fields of life sciences, advanced engineering, and low carbon energy and the environment. Prof Barde received international acclaim in 1989 with the discovery of a gene which creates a protein - brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) - which is involved in number of brain processes including memory. He has explored the the role of BDNF plays in healthy brain function along with dysfunction. Recently his team at the University of Basel focused on how some drugs can increase BDNF levels in specific areas of the brain. The research helped in the development of new drugs, including the first oral treatment of multiple sclerosis. Prof Barde says he hopes to develop his current research interests of using stem cells to understand how the brain works and also to explore mental health illnesses such as depression. He said: "Some of the work I'll be undertaking in Cardiff will be about understanding the meaning of the link between the nervous system and neurological diseases which currently remains pretty mysterious, particularly in the case of depression. "But alongside several outstanding research groups at Cardiff University, I will also aim to advance research using embryonic stem cells and reprogrammed somatic cells to advance understanding of neuronal dysfunction. "This is a really exciting time for me, and for advances in neurobiology and for science in Wales." Cardiff University is already widely recognised for research into stem cells. The university's chancellor and Nobel Prize winner, Sir Martin Evans, was the first scientist to identify embryonic stem cells. These are cells which are taken from an embryo and which can develop into many other types of cells that can then be adapted for a wide variety of medical purposes. There is some opposition to this research on moral or ethical grounds although the research has proved to be highly valuable in understanding many diseases. Cardiff University vice-chancellor Prof Colin Riordan believes the appointment will build on the university's strengths. "It is a testament to the university's existing strengths in neuroscience and stem cell research that we are able to attract a scientist of Prof Barde's calibre. "By working with others in his field, Prof Barde will be able to help Cardiff University tackle some of the biggest health challenges of our time." Prof Ole Petersen, director of the university's school of biosciences, told BBC Wales: "I'm delighted about this great prospect of fostering world-beating research. "Science is an international business. We see throughout Europe that countries with the most internationalised science do the best science. "And we're importing one of the most important stars." Economy and Science Minister Edwina

Summary: A £50m project to attract world-class scientists and their teams to Wales has made its first appointment.


Staffordshire bull terrier Butch was labelled "dangerous" by Merseyside Police after he was found eating the corpse in 2015. Officers said the 10-year-old dog, who had been trapped in the Liverpool flat for several days, presented a danger. But a dog charity said Butch "did what was natural" and should be rehomed. Judge Nigel Bird has now ordered a review of the seizure order and fairness of the court hearing. The precise cause of Butch's owner's death remains unknown. The force assessed whether the animal, which is not a banned breed, presented a danger to others and concluded it did. A judge sitting at Liverpool Magistrates' Court agreed and ordered the dog's destruction in April 2016. But the Senior Staffy Club said Butch was a "friendly dog" and sought permission for a judicial review at Manchester Civil Justice Centre earlier. The charity said Butch's owner, who had been ill for some time, had been in the process of signing him over to the charity when he died. Spokeswoman Kate Lee said a volunteer went to collect the dog from the property but did not get an answer. She said it was distressing and unfortunate but Butch had done "what was natural for a dog" left without water or food for a number of days. Ms Lee said: "We were there; we were ready to take the dog from the police and take him in our kennels and assess him and find him a suitable home. "That's what should have happened." The dog has been in police kennels since the owner's death in September 2015. Merseyside Police said the Chief Constable has noted the court's decision. A date for the review is yet to be set.

Summary: A dog sentenced to death after eating his owner's body has been given a stay of execution after a judge granted a judicial review.


Two of the Australian actress's films will be in competition for the Palme d'Or, both also starring Colin Farrell. They are Sofia Coppola's One is The Beguiled and The Killing of a Sacred Deer, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Her sci-fi rom com How to Talk to Girls at Parties and an episode of TV drama Top of the Lake will also be screened. Elsewhere, multiple Oscar-winning director Alejandro Inarritu will show a short virtual reality film titled Carne Y Arena (Flesh And Sand). Filmed by renowned cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, the experimental film will explore the experience of a group of immigrants and refugees crossing the border between Mexico and the US, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It is a theme explored by a number of film-makers. Happy End by Austria's Michael Haneke is another refugee story, this time set in Calais. Actress Vanessa Redgrave also examines the refugee experience in her directorial debut, Sea Sorrow. Among the big-name directors competing for the Palme d'Or are Michel Hazanavicius, the man behind the Oscar-winning silent movie The Artist, whose film Le Redoutable is about the romance between director Jean-Luc Godard and actress Anne Wiazemsky. Carol director Todd Haynes will premiere his period drama Wonderstruck, starring Julianne Moore. Lynne Ramsay is the only British director with a film in competition. Her latest feature, a thriller titled You Were Never Really Here, stars Joaquin Phoenix. As usual, there will be a number of special screenings out of competition. This year, Barack Obama and Donald Trump will be seen in a An Inconvenient Sequel, Al Gore's follow-up to his 2006 climate change documentary An Inconvenient Truth. The Cannes Film Festival runs from 17 to 28 May 2017. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Summary: Nicole Kidman fans may want to head to the French Riviera next month - the star is in four productions that will be shown at the Cannes Film Festival.


With Hibs leading 2-1, Falkirk's David McCracken handled the ball in his own box, with Muir in close attendance, but was not punished. The match ended 2-2. "We want officials to get the big calls right," Stubbs told BBC Scotland. "Unfortunately, tonight, he's sadly, sadly got a big call wrong." The Hibees had trailed to Lee Miller's deflected goal but scored through Liam Henderson and Darren McGregor to lead after the break. After sliding in to make a challenge on John McGinn, McCracken rolled the ball with his hand as he stood up, before clearing it. Play continued and, in the final 10 minutes, Conrad Logan in the Hibs goal allowed Bob McHugh's shot to squirm underneath him for a late equaliser. "When the officials make such a catastrophic mistake, at such an important time in the game - 3-1 takes the real stuffing out of them," continued Stubbs. "At 2-1, they're still chasing. "Listen, Conrad's made a mistake. Outfield players, they make a mistake, they've got another nine players that can help them. "When you're a keeper, it's a lonely place when you do. He's been great since he's come in, so we're not going to dwell on that too much." Falkirk manager Peter Houston said he hadn't seen television replays of the McCracken incident but again referenced the penalty awarded to Hibs at the Falkirk Stadium when the sides met in October. That game finished 1-0 after Jason Cummings scored the spot-kick - every other fixture between the teams has ended level. "I can't comment on that because I haven't seen it properly," said Houston of the penalty claim. "Over the course of the season, things even themselves out. "The only game that's been won by one of the two clubs this season was a penalty given against us and it was never a penalty. "So maybe if he has handled it - and maybe he has because I haven't seen it properly - it's evened itself up tonight." Houston was pleased to approach the return leg - in Falkirk on Friday night - level with his rivals. "One of the things I said pre-match was I wanted to be in the game going into it the second leg," added Houston. "Right away, if you go into the game and they've won 2-1, you start thinking you have to chase it early doors and open yourself up. "It's a winner-takes-all on Friday night in many ways. It could go to extra time, it could go to penalties."

Summary: Hibernian head coach Alan Stubbs said referee Alan Muir got a "huge call" wrong in denying his side a penalty in their Premiership play-off semi-final first leg.


Charlotte Moore said she would "guarantee investment in innovation" in the coming years. Moore was speaking at the channel's autumn and winter launch, where she announced shows including the return of Luther and Sherlock. She also announced a "visceral" new retelling of the ancient story of Troy. The drama, told from the perspective of a Trojan family during the war between Greece and Troy, would be "unlike anything we've ever seen on BBC One before", she promised. Moore said: "We all know BBC One's remit is to entertain, educate and inform for a mainstream audience. "But I want to make three promises. BBC One will be defined in the coming years by its commitment to risk taking. I will guarantee investment in innovation. And I will challenge every new commission to break the mould." The autumn line-up also includes Abi Morgan's police drama River and Capital, starring Toby Jones as an investment banker living on a south London street that is transformed by rising house prices. Costume dramas War and Peace and the 20-part Dickensian will also be screened, as will a new adaptation of John le Carre's novel The Night Manager starring Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston. The launch also gave a first glimpse of Tracey Ullman's return to British TV. In a clip from the Tracey Ullman Sketch Show, the comedian and actress is seen portraying German Chancellor Angela Merkel. There will also be a landmark comedy season to mark 60 years since Hancock's Half Hour launched the sitcom on British TV. The landmark season will see current comedy stars recreate classic comedy shows. However the sitcoms that will be recreated have not yet been revealed. It will also include a documentary charting the career of comedian Peter Kay and a live episode of Mrs Brown's Boys. Mrs Brown's Boys star Brendan O'Carroll said he was "seriously delighted". He said: "When I heard the BBC were letting us go fully live I thought, they've lost their minds. As Mrs Brown's Boys started in the theatre, it gives us a chance to show the TV audience live what we really do." Meanwhile, Kay described Twenty Years of Funny as "a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the last 20 years and highlight some of the work it's been my honour to create". There will also be a one-off drama To Sir With Love, adapted by Hanif Kureishi from ER Braithwaite's 1959 novel. Kureishi said as a young man the book was "the only novel I was aware of which dealt with the subject of race in Britain, and I hope this dramatisation provides a vivid portrayal, particularly for the young, of how Britain has changed since then, and how it has remained the same". And JK Rowling will executive produce an adaptation of her Cormoran Strike Mysteries, based on the crime novels she writes under the name Robert Galbraith.

Summary: The controller of BBC One has said she is committed to taking risks on the channel, with every new programme being required to "break the mould".


But what will this mean for consumers - particularly those who are suffering from slow broadband - or none at all? Rival telecoms companies have long argued that Openreach - the firm providing most of the UK's broadband infrastructure - should not be part of the same group as BT, which has a third of the country's broadband market. The likes of Sky and TalkTalk say this structure has been bad for competition and consumers. Ofcom agreed - as did the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. To avoid a protracted legal battle, BT has now fallen into line. The jury is still out. BT will still control Openreach's budget, even though the newly separated company will have its own boss and decide how to spend its cash. Really fast broadband requires running fibre optic cable into every home, which is very expensive. As a result, most UK broadband connections still rely on the elderly copper wires used for telephone calls. Andrew Ferguson, of the news website ThinkBroadband, said it is unclear whether separating BT and Openreach will deliver this faster option. Most observers agree that the split alone will not solve the UK's broadband problems. Slow and non-existent broadband is still an issue in some rural areas and Openreach has been criticised for its failure to address the issue. However, very few other operators appear willing to fix the problem, which is expensive and technically challenging. You have a broadband fault but it is taking weeks to fix. Sound familiar? Critics say Openreach just failed to provide adequate levels of customer service because complaints come through a customer's internet service provider, giving it no incentive to undertake repairs more quickly. Gavin Patterson, BT chief executive, admitted on Friday that Openreach's service has "not been where it needed to be" and said the separation would improve the situation. It remains to be seen how long that will take to deliver - and to remove the BT logo from thousands of BT white vans.

Summary: Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, said on Friday that BT had agreed to "legally separate" Openreach - the division that owns and operates the UK's broadband network.


Officers were called to reports of an altercation at the Intu Bromley Shopping Centre at 15:45 GMT. Video filmed by a member of the public appears to show shoppers fleeing in panic, while a photo shows a police officer holding what appears to be a large knife. A man in his 20s, who suffered a minor head injury, was arrested. He was detained on suspicion of affray and possession of an offensive weapon. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a man holding a machete. Footage posted on Twitter by Alexander Adeosun, who was shopping with his friends at the time, shows people running through the shopping centre. "There was panic and people were running and falling over," he said. "My brother had to jump over the escalator." Mr Adeosun said he was filming from the floor above and saw police arresting a man. He said he also saw an officer placing what appeared to be a machete in a bag. Keith Moon, 35, said he had been shopping with his wife at the time. "We walked back in and saw the police leading a young guy in handcuffs away. One of the policemen was holding a machete around 2ft long," he said. Armed officers were called to the scene but their assistance was not needed as it was not a firearms incident, the Met said. A force spokeswoman said: "At this stage officers believe he sustained the injury as a result of an altercation. Officers wish to trace "approximately six youths" seen running off from the scene, she added. Earlier, the Met said it was seeking a man seen fleeing the scene, possibly discarding a weapon Police recovered two knives from the scene.

Summary: A machete has been recovered after a suspected knife fight broke out at a shopping centre on Boxing Day.


The bodies of those who died were returned to Manila on Thursday. They were honoured on Friday in a ceremony led by President Benigno Aquino. The violence took place in the southern province of Maguindanao on Sunday. Police seeking two terror suspects entered a village held by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). MILF signed a peace deal with the government last year to end years of fighting. But the rebels say police did not liaise with them about the operation as required under the deal, leading to the accidental clash. On Friday, flags at government offices and military installations are being flown at half-mast to honour those who died. At the memorial service inside a police camp in the suburbs of Manila, Mr Aquino paid tribute to the fallen officers by offering a prayer at each of their coffins. He also presented each of their families with a Medal of Valor, the highest military award given by the armed forces. "I pledge to bring justice to all those who were killed," said Mr Aquino, who faced criticism for not being present when the officers' bodies arrived in the capital He promised grieving relatives that government forces would make it a top priority to capture suspected bomb expert Abdul Basit Usman. Usman, who is linked to a MILF splinter group that rejects the peace deal, is one of two suspects that the commandos were targeting during the operation. The other was Zulkifli bin Hir, known as Marwan, who is a leading figure of Islamist militant group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) Police say Marwan was killed, but this has not been confirmed. Both men have been incorrectly reported killed several times. . On Wednesday, in a televised address to the nation, Mr Aquino said that the peace deal with MILF must not collapse. "If the peace process were derailed, how many more graves would we have to dig," he said. The rebels have agreed to end their fight in return for the establishment of an autonomous Muslim region. Thousands of people have been killed over four decades of separatist fighting in the south of the country.

Summary: The Philippines is holding a day of mourning for 44 police commandos killed in a clash with Muslim rebels.


PC Daniel Moss, 39, who was based in Hastings, was placed under formal investigation by Sussex Police on 2 December and suspended from duty. The force said he was advertising sexual services for payment on an adult website after reporting off sick with a stress-related illness in September. He was sacked on Friday following a public gross misconduct hearing. The hearing found he had behaved in a manner that had discredited the police service or undermined public confidence. He did not attend the hearing. Det Insp Nick Wainwright from Sussex Police's professional standards department said despite being on sick leave Mr Moss was "still able to offer himself as being available to perform sexual services for payment". Mr Wainwright said it was "clearly completely out of keeping with his role that others uphold with pride, integrity and with the trust of the public whom they serve".

Summary: A police officer who advertised himself as a male prostitute while off sick from work has been sacked.


"We are asking people to move to safer areas," a spokeswoman for the national relief agency said. The south and centre have been placed on red alert because of the floods, which have claimed several lives. In 2000, 700 people died and half a million were made homeless in Mozambique's worst flooding on record. The worst affected areas are in the southern Gaza province, where a number of rivers are currently above crisis levels. Emergency teams are on stand-by and motorboats have been dispatched to help transport people to safety, the AFP news agency reports. The evacuees will be brought to temporary shelters. Some of them have been set up in the capital, Maputo. "We estimate there are 55,000 people affected," Rita Almeida from Mozambique's Disaster Relief Management Institute told AFP. The town of Chokwe, home to a dyke, is particularly vulnerable, she added. "We are registering very high water levels in the Limpopo and Inkomati rivers that could flood the town," Ms Almeida said. From Sunday to Monday, almost 185mm (7 inches) of rain fell over the Limpopo basin, the AFP reports. International observers have described the situation as critical. There are fears that the dyke in Chokwe could break, which would lead to chaos in the evacuations. "If that dyke breaks, all those people will have to move more rapidly," the country chief of the World Food Programme, Lola Castro, said. Neighbouring South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana have also been hit by severe flooding. In South Africa, floodwaters claimed several lives and left hundreds stranded after the Limpopo river burst its banks on Monday.

Summary: Mozambique has started to evacuate some 55,000 people after heavy rains caused sea levels to rise to dangerous levels in parts of the country, officials say.


The group, believed to be the first all-amputee team to undertake the challenge, set off from the Canary Islands on 20 December. Two of the rowers have reportedly struggled to eat anything since they set off, a spokeswoman said. They have also been sent "flying off their seats", by heavy sea swells. Lee Spencer, Nigel Rogoff, Paddy Gallagher and Cayle Royce, aged 29 to 56, were among 26 crews which set off from La Gomera to Antigua in the Caribbean. Cayle Royce - 29, from Dartmouth. Suffered serious injuries serving in Afghanistan Paddy Gallagher - 30, from Cambridgeshire. He was injured in Afghanistan while serving with the Irish Guards Nigel Rogoff - 56, from Hereford, who lost his leg while taking part in an RAF parachuting display Lee Spencer - 46, from Yelverton in Devon. He lost a leg when he was struck by debris when he stopped to rescue a seriously injured motorist on the M3 Mr Spencer, who spoke to his wife, Claire, on BBC Radio Devon, wished his family a Merry Christmas and said he was "really looking forward" to seeing them at the finish in Antigua. Mrs Spencer told him he was "mad", but she was "very, very proud" and she would "raise a glass, or five, [to him] in the pub". They aim to row the 3,000 miles in under 55 days, but with another 2,453 miles to go, the team has reported on Facebook that "sea sickness has well and truly kicked in with two members of the team struggling to eat anything since they set off". They also report that the strong north-easterly winds have have also brought a "new challenge" with a battle between the swell and the oars. A spokeswoman said: "The seas are quite rough and the oars keep pushing into their prosthetics. "The big swell is also putting them off course so they are hoping for calmer conditions to get back on track." The Talisker Challenge is branded as "the world's toughest row". The spokeswoman said: "The first two weeks are known as hell on earth and it takes that long to adjust before they get in their stride. "It's a long journey ahead. This is day four and there are at least another 45 days ahead." The crew members come from Devon, Hereford and Cambridgeshire.

Summary: Four ex-serviceman attempting to row across the Atlantic have been hit by severe sickness since setting off.


Neil Fears, from Belper in Derbyshire, was reported missing by his fellow divers on Tuesday after he failed to surface. The 51-year-old's body was recovered near the wreck of the SS Stanfield, near La Manga, about three hours later. It is not yet known why the experienced diver failed to surface. His daughter Cerys said: "He was always there if I needed him for whatever situation, he'd do anything to look after his family." Mr Fears was a director of IT firm Davidson Richards in Derby. "He was very hardworking and could be very determined," his daughter added. "My boyfriend said he was strong and ambitious, but he was also very kind and caring, generous and very clever." Mr Fears had been diving with three others and was paired up with one of them. A spokesperson for the Guardia Civil in Murcia said the paired diver had "turned to his partner and realised he wasn't there". The divers had been using equipment which regulated oxygen supply and pressure, depending on the user's depth under water. This meant they had to return to the surface regularly, but Mr Fears failed to do so as planned.

Summary: The daughter of a British diver who died while exploring a World War One shipwreck off the coast of Spain has paid tribute to her "caring" father.


It includes new taxes on businesses and the wealthy, Giorgios Stathakis told the BBC in an exclusive interview. Eurozone finance ministers have welcomed the plan, saying there could be a deal "within days". Greece will default if it does not repay a €1.6bn (£1.1bn) IMF loan by the end of the month. If that happens, it risks crashing out of the single currency and possibly the EU. Mr Stathakis told the BBC's Robert Peston he was confident Greece's new proposals to balance the government's books had broken the deadlock with its creditors. "We [will] try to remove the tax burden from pensions and wages towards business and the wealthy," he said. He said the proposals also included an increase in the VAT rate for some selected items. Greece's economy minister Giorgios Stathakis told me that his Syriza government, led by Alexis Tsipras, had avoided crossing its red lines with the new proposals. So, he said, there would be no further reductions in pensions or public-sector wages. And there would be no increase in VAT on electricity. He also said that the government had agreed with the IMF and eurozone governments that the targeted budget surplus would be 1% of GDP or national income this year, 2% next year and 3% the year after. There will be no agreement with creditors to cut Greece's massive burden of debt, despite Syriza's earlier insistence on this. But Mr Stathakis told me he expects eurozone government heads to issue a communique later saying that debt relief will be on the agenda for negotiation in coming months. Read more from Robert Speaking ahead of an emergency Eurogroup summit in Brussels on Monday, European Council president Donald Tusk said the latest Greek proposals were the "first real proposals in many weeks". "This evening I want all cards on the table. That doesn't mean I want to negotiate technical details, but it means I want to end this political gambling," he said. Talks have been in deadlock for five months. The European Commission, the IMF and the European Central Bank (ECB) are unwilling to unlock the final €7.2bn tranche of bailout funds until Greece agrees to economic reforms. Separately, the European Central Bank (ECB) again increased its emergency funding for Greek banks after anxious savers withdrew more than €4bn in recent days. Greek PM Alexis Tsipras, who has ruled out pension cuts, higher power rates, and an excessive budget surplus, said he hoped Greece would "return to growth within the eurozone". He met the heads of Greece's three international creditors in Brussels, ahead of his talks with the leaders of 18 other eurozone nations later on Monday. But eurozone finance ministers said they were not given enough time to study them for a proper assessment, amid confusion over different versions of the Greek proposals submitted. Speaking after the meeting, Mr Dijsselbloem described the proposals as "broad and comprehensive", but said work was needed to check they added up "in fiscal terms". One of the key power-brokers, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, told reporters his goal was to find an

Summary: Greece's economy minister has spelled out the terms of new proposals to end deadlock on its debt crisis, amid hopes a deal can now be struck this week.


Senior ministers are "absolutely furious" about his resignation and departure from government. Some ministers believe the claims in his letter are "just not true because he is well aware that the welfare changes have always clearly been about saving money as well as improving the systems". It's suggested that his central motivation is the EU referendum, and, for others who are supporting him, a strategy to kill off George Osborne's hope of taking over from David Cameron. IDS's team is adamant that his exit is entirely about the handling of PIPs (Personal Independence Payments) and nothing to do with the EU. Whatever the truth, it is very dangerous for a political party to be so publicly divided, and, on a very simple level, for its members to be so angry with each other.

Summary: It's not just Iain Duncan Smith who's angry.


Two possible candidates are the party's deputy leader Tom Watson and ex-shadow business secretary Angela Eagle. But Mr Corbyn has said he would not "betray" his supporters by resigning. He is expected to receive a warmer reception at a rally of his supporters on Wednesday. Mr Corbyn was given a muted reception by his MPs during Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons, where David Cameron told him his presence as leader was "not in the national interest", adding: "For heaven's sake man, go." On Tuesday 172 Labour MPs voted in favour of the no-confidence motion; 40 voted against. Mr Corbyn's predecessor Ed Miliband and former deputy leader Harriet Harman have urged Mr Corbyn to step down, and Pat Glass has resigned as shadow education secretary - just 48 hours after being given the job after mass shadow cabinet resignations. She said it was her "dream job" but added "the situation is untenable". The former shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Seema Malhotra told Newsnight it was likely that a challenger would come forward on Wednesday. Former acting leader Dame Margaret Beckett told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "When you assume leadership you have to understand that the interests of those you lead come before your own and in those interests I'm afraid he should stand aside." But shadow chancellor John McDonnell urged his fellow MPs to "play by the rules" and trigger a formal leadership contest. He said Mr Corbyn was feeling "fine" but added: "We're all saddened that we're going through this because it's completely unnecessary." Mr Corbyn has pointed to his backing among the party's grassroots, insisting that the vote by MPs had "no constitutional legitimacy". "I was democratically elected leader of our party for a new kind of politics by 60% of Labour members and supporters, and I will not betray them by resigning," he said. He will address a rally organised by his backers in the Momentum movement on Wednesday evening. Also speaking in his support will be Public and Commercial Services union chief Mark Serwotka and Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack. Unite trade union general secretary Len McCluskey has accused the MPs voting for the no-confidence motion of "pointless posturing", warning they would have to mount a full-blown leadership challenge if they wanted to oust Labour's leader. Labour MP Mike Gapes said Mr Corbyn's camp should "fear" Ms Eagle because she is "principled, competent and honest". The result of Tuesday's no-confidence ballot has led to more calls for Mr Corbyn to make way. Labour's leader in Scotland, Kezia Dugdale, suggested Mr Corbyn's position was untenable, telling the BBC: "If I had lost the support of 80% of my MSPs I could not do my job." But following the result the leader issued a statement saying the government was "in disarray" following the vote to leave the EU, adding: "Labour has the responsibility to give a lead where the government will not." He added: "Today's vote by MPs has no constitutional legitimacy. "We are a democratic party, with a clear constitution. Our people need Labour Party

Summary: Labour MPs are expected to announce a challenge to Jeremy Corbyn's leadership after a motion of no confidence in him was supported by three-quarters of the parliamentary party.


Bob Pooler, chief instructor with Shropshire Aero Club, said he received a call from the actor, who was keen to rent an aircraft while he was filming the new Star Wars movie. He said the actor had wanted to bring one of his own planes to Britain, but ran out of time before filming started. Mr Pooler said the call, from Ford himself, came "out of the blue". He said he delivered a plane from Sleap Airfield, near Wem, to Denham, close to Pinewood Studios on Sunday. "I checked Harrison out, flew around the patch with him and made sure he was legal to fly and that's it. "We talked about Star Wars among other movies." Mr Pooler, who is also a dealer for Husky light aircraft, said he had first been contacted by the manufacturer's factory a few months ago. "To rent the aeroplanes from Sleap you have to become a member and Harrison paid his membership dues until the end of the year," Mr Pooler said. "I asked him, 'can we make you a temporary member of the aero club?' and he said 'I don't want to be a temporary member, I want to be a lifetime member'. "I proposed that to the committee at the aero club and of course, without hesitation they said let's make him a lifetime member. "He's got an open invitation to visit us at any time. "He's also invited me to visit his place in California. "I think he's got his own mini air force of about 11 aeroplanes." It is not the first time Ford has been connected with the county. In 2004 he travelled along the Shropshire Union canal after attending the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in North Wales with wife Calista Flockhart.

Summary: Hollywood actor Harrison Ford has become the latest member of a Shropshire flying club.


Boston beat domestic competition from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington DC to be put forward. "Our goal is to host Olympic and Paralympic Games that are innovative, walkable and hospitable to all," said Boston mayor Marty Walsh. The deadline for cities to apply to host the Games is 15 September. The International Olympic Committee are due to make a decision in 2017. The last time the USA hosted a summer games was in Atlanta in 1996, although Salt Lake City, Utah, hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002. "I very much want to bring the games to the United States to share the incredible spirit of the games with another generation of Americans, and advance the Olympic and Paralympic movements," said American IOC executive board member Anita DeFrantz. The US is the third country after Germany and Italy to officially launch a bidding process. At an IOC meeting in Monaco in December, a 40-point action plan was voted on to revamp the sporting showpiece. Potential hosts will find it easier and cheaper to bid under the "Olympic Agenda 2020" reforms and events can be held outside the host country or city. The 28-sport cap for future summer Olympics has been removed - although there will be no changes to the Rio 2016 schedule. Instead of a 28-sport limit, each summer Games will be restricted to 10,500 athletes and 310 events.

Summary: Boston has been selected by the United States Olympic Committee as its candidate city to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.


The 27-year-old Nigerian joined the Hornets from Udinese in July 2014 and helped them win promotion to the Premier League in 2014-15. He scored 17 goals in 42 games last season as the Vicarage Road side finished 13th in the top flight and reached the FA Cup semi-final. Walter Mazzarri's men start the new campaign with a trip to Southampton on Saturday.

Summary: Watford striker Odion Ighalo has signed a new five-year deal.


A US team writing in the New England Journal of Medicine say Down's syndrome can be reliably tested for in the mother's blood. Meanwhile, Great Ormond Street Hospital has started offering similar tests. A decision on whether the UK's Down's syndrome screening programme should change is due this year. At the moment in the UK, a woman is assessed based on her age and an ultrasound scan, with those deemed high-risk having further tests. These involve a needle taking a sample of the placenta or the fluid that bathes the baby. There is a risk of miscarriage with the procedure. Blood tests look for fragments of DNA from the placenta, which drift about in the mother's bloodstream. Down's syndrome is caused by an extra copy of a huge stretch of DNA and that extra bundle of genetic information can be detected in the blood. If initial tests are more accurate they could reduce the number of women who go on to have the invasive test. Previous research had suggested the tests were effective in high-risk women. Now a team at the University of California, San Francisco, suggests the blood test could replace current tests for all women. They correctly identified 38 cases of Down's syndrome out of nearly 16,000 women tested. The basic risk screening found only 30 cases and had a higher rate of false-positives. The UK's national screening committee will assess the new tests in June. Professor Lyn Chitty, from Great Ormond Street, has been evaluating how they could be introduced across the NHS. She says testing every pregnant woman's blood is unlikely. However, she says it can and should be integrated into the existing screening so that high-risk women have an extra check before deciding if an invasive procedure is needed. She told the BBC: "These are really exciting times; this cell-free DNA is changing prenatal care dramatically. "I think it broadens access to testing. really; a number of women will decline invasive testing because of the risk of miscarriage and they may well take up non-invasive prenatal testing." She said progress in the area was "very rapid" and tests for other genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis were also becoming available. Great Ormond Street already has an approved test which it has started offering in parts of London. The Down's Syndrome Association said that if the changes did come into force then the risks and benefits need to be clearly communicated to parents. "At the time of testing, easily understood and up-to-date information must be provided in an unbiased way by well trained professionals," the organisation said in a statement.

Summary: Testing pregnant women's blood for disorders in unborn children promises dramatic advances in medicine, researchers have said.


The three ministers will use 17th century Chevening House, in Kent, when they entertain foreign dignitaries. Under the previous government it was shared by William Hague with deputy prime minister Nick Clegg. It has been used since the 1980s as a country retreat and to host international visitors. Mr Davis, the Brexit Secretary, International Trade Secretary Mr Fox and Mr Johnson were appointed by new Prime Minister Theresa May last week. All three campaigned for the UK to leave the EU, and will have key roles as the UK negotiates its departure. Asked why Mrs May had decided the foreign secretary should share his country retreat with two colleagues, the PM's official spokeswoman said: "It reflects the fact that all those secretaries of state will, as part of their work, be meeting and engaging with and hosting foreign visitors and leaders and it will provide an opportunity to do that." It has also been confirmed Mrs May will live in the flat above 11 Downing Street while Chancellor Philip Hammond moves into the Number 10 flat, continuing a recent tradition established by Tony Blair and continued by Gordon Brown and David Cameron. Meanwhile, Mr Johnson has stopped his weekly Daily Telegraph column now he has been appointed foreign secretary. The ex-London mayor was paid just under Â£30,000 a month for the column. His spokesman said it "would not be appropriate" for it continue given his new role. Publication of his book on William Shakespeare has been postponed.

Summary: Boris Johnson is to share the foreign secretary's official country residence with Cabinet colleagues David Davis and Liam Fox, Downing Street has announced.


Former Juventus playmaker Pirlo's £5.17m annual salary makes him Major League Soccer's highest earner, while ex-Chelsea and Manchester City midfielder Lampard, 37, is on £3.8m. "I asked them the question, why come to MLS now?" said Reyna. "They looked me in the eye and said they wanted to compete." Lampard missed a planned debut in Sunday's 4-4 draw against Toronto FC with a calf injury. Media playback is not supported on this device Thirty-six-year-old Pirlo, who still wants to be a part of Italy's Euro 2016 squad, is likely to play for the first time when NYC FC entertain Orlando at Yankee Stadium on 26 July. "We are starting a club from scratch," said Reyna. "It is not just about bringing great players in. We are trying to establish a culture and a foundation for the way we want to train and act around the changing room. "At this stage, that is as important as the result we get on a weekend. "These guys are experienced. They are mentally very strong. That is why they have been as good as they are for so long. "That will supersede their age." Chosen as an expansion club in May 2013, NYC FC became MLS' 20th franchise and launched at the start of the 2015 season. They are part of the City Football Group founded by Manchester City owner Sheik Mansour, and have sister clubs in Melbourne and Yokohama. They have the same sponsor - Etihad Airlines - and also wear sky blue shirts. On 6 July, the club announced Pirlo had joined them from Juventus, becoming their third 'Designated Player' - each club can sign up to three players whose wages exceed the salary cap - alongside Lampard and Spain World Cup winner David Villa. NYC FC began their debut campaign with a 1-1 draw at Orlando on 8 March and beat New England Revolution in front of 43,507 in their first home game at Yankee Stadium the following week. Results since then have been patchy and the 4-4 draw with Toronto left them second bottom of the Eastern Conference, three points off a play-off place. Crowds remain good - they attracted their highest attendance, 48,047, to the 'derby' with New York Red Bulls on 28 June and their average gate of 28,785 is only beaten by Seattle Sounders (40,236) and Orlando (34,005) in MLS. "There is a long way to go but New York is the most diverse city in America," said first-time fan, Scott Carey, 23. "That will jump start it." Opinion is split. Local shopkeeper Saeed Abbad is impressed. "When they get big crowds - like the Red Bulls game - the atmosphere is exactly the same as when the Yankees are playing," he said. "Remember, the Yankees have been going for 114 years. The soccer team has hardly been here for that many days." Others are not so sure. "New York City won't do anything for football in this country," said Cody Kaczetow, 23, another first-timer. "It is not going anywhere in terms of how people respect it. It will

Summary: Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo have not joined New York City FC just for the money, according to the club's sporting director Claudio Reyna.


Media playback is not supported on this device With McGrath without several experienced campaigners, the side has only seven starters from last summer's qualifier defeat by Mayo. Left-half forward Dessie Ward will be Monaghan's only championship debutant. With Darren Hughes ruled out by injury, Karl O'Connell switches to midfield in a largely experienced Monaghan side. Cian McManus and Kane Connor will be making their first championship starts for Fermanagh although they did come on as substitutes during last summer's campaign. McGrath believes his side can upset Monaghan despite being without several experienced campaigners. Injury has ruled out Ruairi Corrigan, Declan McCusker, Owen McManus and Ryan Jones. Richard O'Callaghan, James McMahon, Marty O'Brien and Damian Kelly are also missing but McGrath remains positive. That leaves Michael Jones, Che Cullen, Aiden Breen, Eoin Donnelly, Ryan Lyons, Sean Quigley and Tomas Corrigan as the survivors from the controversial defeat by Mayo last summer although Kane Connor and Paul McCusker did come on as substitutes in that game. "If we play to our potential, we can still be very, very competitive against Monaghan," said the Erne county boss. McGrath accepts that Monaghan will go into the Clones game as favourites having won two of the last four Ulster titles. Malachy O'Rourke's Farney County side also produced a solid league campaign as they comfortably retained their Division One status while in contrast, Fermanagh dropped back to Division Three in a major setback for the county. "Yes they are a very accomplished team and they are experienced in the right way, with them certainly not an old team," admits McGrath. "Their system of play has been road-tested and found to be successful so it's a huge task for us. "But the championship is about performance collectively as a team and individually as players. "We have worked very hard over this last number of weeks. We too have a lot of very high-quality footballers." Holding midfielder O'Callaghan looks a big loss for McGrath's side after opting out to spend time in Australia. Defenders O'Brien and Kelly opted to quit inter-county duty over the winter while the injury list included Ruairi Corrigan who missed the entire league campaign following shoulder surgery. Monaghan: R Beggan; F Kelly, D Wylie, R Wylie; C Walshe (capt), V Corey, N McAdam; K Hughes, K O'Connell; G Doogan, S Carey, D Ward; C McCarthy, J McCarron, C McManus. Subs: C Forde, K Duffy, J Mealiff, D Mone, B Greenan, A Lynch, D Malone, O Duffy, R McAnespie, T Kerr, M Bannigan. Fermanagh: T Treacy; M Jones, C Cullen, C McManus; A Breen, R McCluskey, CP Murphy; E Donnelly, L Cullen; B Mulrone, R Lyons, P McCusker; K Connor, Sean Quigley, T Corrigan.

Summary: Fermanagh boss Pete McGrath hands a championship debut to Conor Murphy for Saturday evening's Ulster Football opener against Monaghan.


Their ship, the FV Naham 3, was seized south of the Seychelles in March 2012. The vessel and its crew were kept off the Somali coast, until it sank. The hostages - from a number of East Asian countries - were then brought ashore and held in the bushland. They are believed to be some of the last remaining captives seized by Somali pirates in the mid-2000s. Piracy off the coast of Somalia has reduced significantly in recent years. The men are from Cambodia, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. John Steed, who works with the Hostage Support Partnership, said information about the hostages' condition was limited to photos sent to prove the men were still alive. "We won't know until I actually pick them up inside Somalia tomorrow," he told the BBC. "The guys are pretty ragged, very thin, malnourished. Several of them had to see a doctor today because they were unwell." He said he could not comment on whether any payment was made to secure the captives. However, he said the local community and tribal elders were involved in the "difficult situation". "These are poor fishermen. The ship had no value, they had no insurance, and of course governments don't want to be involved in these sort of negotiations either," he said.

Summary: Twenty-six men held hostage by Somali pirates for nearly five years have been released, international mediators say.


Two-time major winner McIlroy, 25, and Danish former world number one Wozniacki, 23, announced their engagement on New Year's Eve. Media playback is not supported on this device "The problem is mine," McIlroy said. "The wedding invitations issued at the weekend made me realise that I wasn't ready for all that marriage entails." The couple had been together for more than two years. McIlroy is currently at Wentworth for the BMW PGA Championship, the European Tour's flagship event which starts on Thursday. Wozniacki is set to compete in the French Open in Paris starting on 25 May. In a statement issued through his management company, McIlroy added: "There is no right way to end a relationship that has been so important to two people. "I wish Caroline all the happiness she deserves and thank her for the great times we have had." "The news has shocked the worlds of both golf and tennis, particularly with the timing of the split. McIlroy is due to start a crucial run of tournaments, while Wozniacki is playing the upcoming French Open." Speaking at Wentworth on Wednesday, McIlroy said the decision to end the engagement had been mutual and amicable. He said it was a difficult time, but that the move was best for both of them. McIlroy won the US Open in 2011 and US PGA Championship the following year. Wozniacki, who has reached the final of one grand slam tournament - the US Open in 2009 - is currently ranked 13th in the world. When McIlroy announced their engagement, he tweeted: "I have a feeling it is going to be a great year."

Summary: Northern Irish golf star Rory McIlroy has broken off his engagement with tennis player Caroline Wozniacki.


Alan Bennett, of Lingholme, Redcar, was at Teesside Magistrates' Court for the short hearing during which he confirmed his name and address. He is accused of murdering Lynne Freeman, 46, and 30-year-old Jodie Betteridge, on Wednesday evening. He was remanded in custody and will appear at Teesside Crown Court on 29 March. Police were called to Mapleton Crescent, where Mrs Freeman lived on Wednesday evening, then seven minutes later to Ms Betteridge's address in Byland Close. Ms Freeman's children Sarah Helm, 28, James Helm, 27, Kimberley Helm, 25 and Lauren Freeman, 18, previously said in a statement: "We shouldn't have to be writing a tribute to our mother who was taken from us so early. She should still be here to watch her four kids and grandkids grow." In tribute to Ms Betteridge, Theresa Largan, 51, said: "Jodie lived for her kids. I don't think I ever saw her on her own, she always had the tribe with her."

Summary: A man has appeared in court accused of murdering two women within minutes of each other in separate attacks.


The California company, which is due to release a new phone later this year, said it sold 50.8 million iPhones in the period, down 1% year-on-year. Apple reported a 4.6% rise in revenue across the whole company, slightly below analysts' expectations. Shares in the firm fell nearly 2% in after-hours trading after earlier hitting a record high. Apple said quarterly profits were $11bn (Â£8.5bn), up 4.9% from the same period in 2016. Despite falling unit sales, revenue from the iPhone still climbed 1% to $33.2bn as it sold more of the bigger, more expensive iPhone 7 Plus. This is always the least impressive time of year for Apple's earnings, come as it does after the Christmas period. But worse-than-expected iPhone sales had investors slightly unhappy after anticipation of strong earnings sent shares to record highs earlier on Tuesday. That said, revenues are up, in part because of "robust" sales of the iPhone 7 Plus, the bigger, pricier model. Tim Cook told investors he was also pleased with the continued growth of its Services division - that's things like Apple Music, Apple TV, iTunes and so on - but the health of Apple is only realistically measured with the success of that all-conquering smartphone. Which is why the rest of the year will be exciting to watch. With the iPhone's 10th anniversary upon us, expectations are high for the next device. Anything short of a major improvement would be troubling for investors who are banking on the next iPhone being a blockbuster, not an incremental upgrade.

Summary: Apple sold fewer iPhones than a year ago in the first three months of 2017, the company said in its latest results.


The Whites will move above Sheffield Wednesday into the top six if they beat Blackburn at Craven Cottage on Tuesday. Button, 28, who joined Fulham last summer from Brentford, told BBC London: "There's 10 games to go, nearly a quarter of a season. "A lot of things can change so as confident as we are, we've got to make sure we maintain that." Fulham are the Championship's in-form side, taking 17 points from their last seven games, including a 3-1 victory at leaders Newcastle on Saturday. Reaching the play-offs would mark a dramatic turnaround in 15 months under head coach Slavisa Jokanovic after they finished 20th last season. The former Watford manager transformed the squad ahead of his first full season, including bringing in Button - and the goalkeeper praised Jokanovic for his impact. "The gaffer and his team know exactly what they want from us and drilled it into us from day one," he added. "Why it's clicked recently I'm not too sure. Obviously there were a lot of changes in the summer, a lot of new faces. "We're getting to know each other and we've shown on the pitch that it has come together."

Summary: Goalkeeper David Button says Fulham can not afford to be complacent as they target a Championship play-off place.


Matthew Whelan, 29, from Mancot, Flintshire, had previously admitted wounding with intent but denied attempting to murder Imtiaz Ul Haq. He changed his plea at Mold Crown Court on Monday. His sentence was adjourned pending the outcome of the trial of a co-defendant. Mr Haq, 58, suffered serious injuries to his throat during the incident at the Costcutters store in Queensferry on 8 December. Whelan, who has previously admitted a charge of robbery, was remanded in custody. Co-defendant Leslie Baines, 47, from Connah's Quay, denies robbery and is due to go on trial in May.

Summary: A man has admitted a charge of attempted murder after a shopkeeper's neck was cut during a robbery at his premises.


Chasing 261 to win, Durham began on 15-1 and nightwatchman Mark Wood (66) hit his highest first-class score as he put on 116 with Keaton Jennings (61). Notts took two quick wickets before Scott Borthwick's 51 took Durham close. Michael Richardson (51 not out) ensured Durham completed a three-day win, leaving Notts still without a victory. Nottinghamshire have now drawn three and lost one of their opening four matches in the Championship. Durham reduced their victory target to 154 runs when they reached lunch on 107-1. Notts gave themselves hope as Luke Wood had Jennings caught by Steven Mullaney at gully, while Harry Gurney got one to move sharply to dismiss Mark Wood six overs later. Media playback is not supported on this device Wood, who did not feature in England's recent tour of West Indies, spent 114 balls at the crease, hitting a six and nine fours, passing his previous best of 58 not out at Trent Bridge two years ago. Durham then eased to their victory target, thanks largely to a stand of 86 in 14.4 overs between Borthwick and Richardson. Borthwick hit eight fours in his 65-ball knock for a fourth half-century of the season, before being trapped lbw by Samit Patel. Durham suffered a dramatic collapse in their last match against Middlesex when, chasing 259, they were bowled out for only 71. Calum MacLeod (21 not out) made sure there would be no such problems and struck Patel for a six and a four in one over, before hitting the winning run off the same bowler. Durham batsman Keaton Jennings: "For Mark Wood to get a career-best on that pitch was phenomenal. "He's a tremendous competitor and he looked calm and controlled. He took the pressure off me. "We tried to play every ball on its merit, knowing we needed to get through the first hour. To get through the morning unscathed was a real bonus." Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell: "There wasn't much swing but there was still a bit of movement off the seam. "We beat the bat a bit but from a slightly shorter length than is needed here. It's not a difficult ground to bowl on. "If you have a first-innings lead of 83 here and then lose you have probably bowled pretty poorly." BBC Newcastle's Martin Emmerson: "I am not really sure why it is but Durham continue to hold a spell over Notts - this was their fifth win in six games. "Having been bowled out for just 163 on Monday in their second batting horror show of the last week, you wouldn't have given them much hope of chasing down 261, the highest total in the game. "Eighteen wickets fell on Monday but by lunchtime none had gone today. "Credit to Keaton Jennings and Mark Wood for their stand of 116 runs, while it was nice to see half-centuries for Scott Borthwick and Michael Richardson as they helped restore some timely confidence."

Summary: Durham beat Nottinghamshire by six wickets to secure their third Championship win of 2015 and continue their good start to the season.


Tour operator TUI has been accused of failing to vet security at the hotel in Sousse where a gunman killed 38 people. Andrew Ritchie QC said the families of those who died believed TUI's "utter complacency" amounted to neglect. TUI's lawyers had argued against a neglect finding, saying "matters could have been worse" during the attack. Islamist Seifeddine Rezgui attacked the five-star Riu Imperial Marhaba hotel on 26 June 2015, before he was shot dead by police. The inquest into the deaths of the Britons heard that "part of the attack or most of it could have been prevented" had security been tighter. Who were the British victims? What exactly happened on the day? Mr Ritchie said it was the victims' families' submission "that TUI's utter complacency in the face of the risk posed to its customers in Tunisia and its abrogation of responsibility for security was the very essence of neglect". He told the inquest at London's Royal Courts of Justice that the Tunisian government had been taking the terror risk seriously, but TUI and the hotel operators had not. Guests were "dependent" upon hotel owners, operators and travel companies for their safety, he added. He went on to say the guards at the Riu Imperial Marhaba had not been an effective deterrent and the lack of CCTV had made it a target. Mr Ritchie argued the coroner, Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith, should consider a "neglect" conclusion, saying there had been "gross neglect" on the part of TUI. But Howard Stevens QC, counsel for TUI, told the inquest: "It's relevant to note that some steps were taken, even if [in] your conclusion of these steps you incline to the view that perhaps more could have been done or things could have been done better." He said even if there had been additional CCTV cameras or guards it "cannot be said that any of these measures would probably have made a difference". A suggestion the beach gate should have been shut or locked to stop the attacker entering did not amount to a "gross failure", he submitted. He said "matters could have been worse" because people on the beach would not have been able to escape through the gate had that been the case. Mr Stevens also told the inquest there had not been any "gross failure" to contact the police by hotel staff, and TUI acted in line with other operators in sending tourists to Tunisia. Counsel to the inquest, Samantha Leek, had said she did not agree with incorporating "neglect" in the conclusion and unlawful killing verdicts were the only ones open to the coroner. The Foreign Office's counsel, Andrew O'Connor, called for a "neutral and non-judgmental" conclusion, saying a neglect verdict was "not available" on the evidence heard. Coroner Judge Loraine-Smith indicated he would not accept the neglect submission and would give his conclusions on Tuesday.

Summary: A coroner has rejected a request to rule that neglect played a part in the deaths of 30 Britons killed in the Tunisia resort attack in 2015.


Huston, who was 38th in qualifying, had earlier progressed from the last 32 by beating Dutchman Rick Van Der Ven with his final arrow. However, his Olympic Games debut was later ended as Bonchan won 6-0. There was Just two points between the pair in the first two sets, and one point in the third. Huston was the first British athlete in Olympic Games action in Rio last Friday. The archer was competing minus his trademark flat cap after it fell foul of the British Olympic Association's dress code.

Summary: Belfast man Patrick Huston was beaten by Korea's Ku Bonchan at the last-16 stage in the men's individual archery at the Olympic Games on Wednesday.


14 May 2016 Last updated at 18:29 BST Ahmed Soultan, a pioneer of Morocco's urban music scene, Listen to a sample of his track Afrobian which features Femi Kuti, Fred Wesley and Pee Wee Ellis.

Summary: DJ Rita Ray looks at some of the best recent music releases from Morocco - and why some North African musicians are seeking inspiration further south.


The event was missing from calendar in 2014 and 2015 because of financial limitations but is set to return as the first race of the season next year. The organising club have applied for Friday 1 April and Saturday 2 April as its dates for next year. A new title sponsor, JFM Haulage, has been acquired for the event. Traditionally, the Cookstown 100 has been the first race of the Irish road racing season, but that is set to change next year. The April date switch has still to be ratified by the sport's governing body, the MCUI, Ulster Centre, however. The race will still be held over the 3.6-mile Clough course, although work will be carried out to certain parts of the course. For many years, the Mid Antrim was staged in August, although a June date was experimented with in 2012, before the event reverted back to its usual August date the following season.

Summary: The organisers of the Mid Antrim 150 have applied for an early April date as they seek to resurrect the national road race in 2016.


Two girls aged 17 and 18, were taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital with respiratory and abdominal issues. Christopher Wardle, 25, formerly of Barrack Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Spencer Benham, 23, of Wilberforce Road, Leicester, pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon. They were sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on 15 July. More on this story and others from Staffordshire Twelve people, who were inside the restaurant at the time, were also examined by paramedics after reporting "varying degrees of respiratory and stomach irritation", West Midlands Ambulance Service said.

Summary: Two men who set off a canister in a fast-food restaurant have been jailed for 10 months each.


Physics suggests equal amounts of matter and antimatter should have been made in the Big Bang. In 2010, researchers at the Tevatron accelerator claimed preliminary results showing a small excess of matter over antimatter as particles decayed. The team has submitted a paper showing those results are on a firmer footing. Each of the fundamental particles known has an antimatter cousin, with identical properties but opposite electric charge. When a particle encounters its antiparticle, they "annihilate" each other, disappearing in a high-energy flash of light. The question remains: why did this not occur in the early Universe with the equal amounts of matter and antimatter, resulting in a Universe devoid of both? The Tevatron results come from a shower of particles produced at the facility when smashing protons into their antimatter counterparts, antiprotons. The proton-antiproton collisions in turn create a number of different particles, and the team operating the Tevatron's DZero detector first noticed a discrepancy in the decay of particles called B mesons. These decayed into pairs of particles called muons alongside pairs of their antimatter versions, antimuons. But, as the team reported in May 2010 in a paper published in Physical Review Letters, there was a notable 1% excess of the matter particles. However, unpicking important events in the soup of interactions created in particle physics experiments meant that those measurements were associated with a level of uncertainty - reflecting the probability that the effect they see is a random statistical occurrence, rather than new physics. The researchers now have 50% more data to work with, and have tried to establish that their earlier result in fact came from the particle decays that they first proposed. As they reported this Thursday, they have now reduced the uncertainty in their experiment to a level of "3.9 sigma", or 3.9 standard deviations - equivalent to a 0.005% probability that the effect is a fluke. But particle physics has a strict definition for what may be called a discovery - the "five sigma" level of certainty, or about a 0.00003% chance that the effect is not real - which the team must show before they can claim to have solved the long-standing matter/antimatter mystery.

Summary: US particle physicists are inching closer to determining why the Universe exists in its current form, made overwhelmingly of matter.


Theresa May has not secured the clear mandate that she sought for her version of a hard Brexit. When she called the election, she declared: "Every vote for the Conservatives will make me stronger when I negotiate for Britain with the prime ministers, presidents and chancellors of the European Union." Well, she is not stronger. She has fewer seats than she started with. As a result, it will now be hard for the government - formed with the help of Northern Ireland's DUP - to start talking to the EU in nine days time as planned without rethinking its strategy. The EU will be dismayed at the uncertainty the election has created. They had hoped Mrs May, with a healthy majority under her belt, would be a strong negotiator, liberated from the strictures of the Brexit ultras in her party. Instead, the 27 other EU member states are facing a divided British parliament in a divided Britain. The EU's budget commissioner, Gunther Oettinger, told German radio he was unsure the Brexit negotiations could begin on time. He said having Britain as a weak negotiating partner could result in what he described as "a poor outcome". With her government relying on the support of the DUP, Mrs May could start negotiations but she might have to compromise over her plans if she wants to get any Brexit-related legislation through the House of Commons. Depending on the wishes of the Democratic Unionist Party MPs would be a recipe for survival, not stability. If at any point Mrs May stands down as prime minister, any negotiations over Brexit would be delayed while the Conservative Party chooses a replacement for her and discusses if or how to change its approach to Brexit. This would not be straightforward because Tory divisions over Europe would remain and potential leadership contenders would have to decide whether to argue for a soft or hard Brexit. The key question would be this - can the Tories continue pushing for a hard Brexit, defined as a free trade deal with the EU outside the single market, the customs union and the free movement of workers? Or might they be forced to consider a softer Brexit that involved, say, some single market membership in order to secure the support of other parties? Might that put the so-called Norway option back on the table? Norway, it must be remembered, has access to the single market through its membership of the European Economic Area but is not a member of the EU. Speaking on ITV News, the former Chancellor George Osborne said: "Hard Brexit went into the rubbish bin tonight." There will now be a battle royal within the Conservatives between those who agree with Mr Osborne's analysis and those hardline Brexiteers who do not. And of course there is always the possibility that a second general election could be called at some point. This would yet more take time and yet more delay to any Brexit discussions. One big question is whether the UK could stop the clock on the Article 50 Brexit negotiations

Summary: Britain's exit from the European Union has been plunged into uncertainty.


The bank's shares in Frankfurt closed 5% lower, despite a statement from the bank that it had sufficient reserves to make bond payments. On Monday, shares slumped 9.5% and have fallen more than 40% this year. Earlier, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said he had "no concerns" about the bank. He was speaking to journalists after a meeting in Paris. On Tuesday, the bank's co-chief executive John Cryan, sent a message to all staff in which he assured them the bank was in a strong financial position, despite global growth fears, low oil and other commodity prices, and the fact that the bank would be booking write-downs in its fourth quarter. He said that while the stock markets had "expressed some concern about the adequacy of our legal provisions", he did not "share that concern". "We will almost certainly have to add to our legal provisions this year, but this is already accounted for in our financial plan," he said. Mr Cryan added: "Volatility in the fourth quarter impacted the earnings of most major banks, especially those in Europe, and clients may ask you about how the market-wide volatility is impacting Deutsche Bank." He said staff at the bank could tell customers concerned about investing with the bank that "Deutsche Bank remains absolutely rock-solid, given our strong capital and risk position". The email to staff, made publicly available via the bank's official Twitter account, is an unusual step. It follows Monday's statement to investors in which the bank stated its 2016 payment capacity was estimated to be about €1bn (£783m), sufficient to pay so-called additional tier 1 (AT1) coupons of approximately €350m on 30 April. Such statements are rare and illustrate the level of fear currently stalking the markets, In recent weeks, bank stocks have suffered heavy losses, with traders citing concerns about the level of exposure some banks may have to commodity and oil company debt, amid a desire among some mining and oil firms to maintain dividend payments even if they have to borrow to do so. The bank is also the subject of takeover speculation in German media, given the low value of its share price. Deutsche Bank has had negative press for years now amid a series of scandals and litigation. It chalked up a record loss of €6.8bn last year. Fears that banks do not have the financial reserves to cope with a major oil or commodities company reneging on its debt payments were reflected in European stock markets on Tuesday, with banking stocks and commodities firms under particular pressure in afternoon trade across all the major European indexes. In the UK, miners led the losers' board on the FTSE 100, with Anglo American down almost 10% at 339.20p, Antofagasta down 8.9% at 412.90p and Glencore down more than 7.3% at 95.28p. Royal Bank of Scotland was 1.95% lower at 226.20p, Barclays was 3.6% lower at 158.05p and HSBC was lower by 0.95% at 434.30p.

Summary: Shares in Deutsche Bank continued to fall on Tuesday, despite assurances from the bank that its balance sheet was "rock solid".