Justice Ginsburg, 80, officiates this weekend at the wedding of Michael Kaiser, 59, president of the Kennedy Center performing arts space, and economist John Roberts, 32. Mr Kaiser is a personal friend of hers. In June, the Supreme Court overturned a law that banned recognition of same-sex marriages by the US government. The ruling granted legally married gay men and women access to the same federal entitlements available to opposite-sex married couples. Justice Ginsburg, who was appointed to the nine-member high court in 1993 by President Bill Clinton, voted in the majority in that case. Same-sex marriage is now legal in 13 states and Washington DC, and since the court's decision, the federal government under President Barack Obama has taken several steps to grant same-sex marriage couples the same legal status as opposite-sex couples. The ceremony will take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, the Associated Press reports. Justice Ginsburg told the Washington Post newspaper she believed none of the Supreme Court justices had been asked previously to conduct a same-sex ceremony for fear it would compromise their ability to hear a case on the issue.

Summary: US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is poised to become the first judge on the country's highest court to perform a same-sex marriage.


A member of staff at Glenshee Ski Centre alerted SAIS to the slide on Glas Tulaichean, a 3,448ft (1,051m) Munro. SAIS Southern Cairngorms said the full depth avalanche was filled with mud, rocks and large blocks of snow. Another large slide was recorded at Creag Meagaidh in February. The Sportscotland Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) provides avalanche hazard information reports for walkers, climbers and skiers from December to early April. The service covers hills and mountains in Lochaber, Glencoe, Creag Meagaidh, Southern Cairngorms, Northern Cairngorms and Torridon.

Summary: The largest avalanche recorded by the Sportscotland Avalanche Information Service so far this season has been discovered in the Southern Cairngorms.


The club was honoured by the Institute of Groundsmanship, beating 200 nominees to the top prize in the sustainability and environmental category. The institute also recognised other factors, such as the club's solar panels and solar-powered mower. Groundsman at the Conference National club Stewart Ward said he was "over the moon" at the honour. He added that it was fantastic the club had been recognised as "a small fish in a big pond". Mr Ward said: "It is great to be recognised by the industry leaders and shows that our unconventional methods really do work. "I am constantly learning and am always keen to further my knowledge; I want to ensure that Forest Green Rovers are always at the forefront of the groundskeeping industry and am lucky that the chairman is very supportive of this." Earlier in the year, the football club achieved an EU gold standard in environmental management, which contributed to the club securing the Institute of Groundmanship award. Forest Green has a reputation for standing out from the football crowd: its solar-powered mower uses GPS technology, avoiding the need for human intervention. And in February 2011, the club's owner, Ecotricity founder Dale Vince, banned burgers and sausages being sold to fans. Free-range poultry and fish from sustainable stocks are served instead.

Summary: Forest Green Rovers Football Club has won an award for growing an "organic" pitch avoiding the use of chemicals.


The 30-year-old joined the Blades in the summer but made just one appearance, before being loaned out to former club Walsall last month. He played seven times for the Saddlers and boss Dean Smith had been keen to retain his services. Butler joins a Doncaster side that is currently one point above the relegation zone.

Summary: Doncaster Rovers have signed Sheffield United defender Andy Butler on loan until January.


The ex-Premier League sides meet on a day which also sees Bury host Charlton, while MK Dons visit Shrewsbury. League Two champions Northampton Town start at home to Fleetwood Town, while Oxford United host Chesterfield. The first league meeting of AFC Wimbledon and MK Dons is scheduled for 10 December at Stadium:MK. Bristol Rovers and AFC Wimbledon, both promoted to League One last season, start at Scunthorpe and Walsall respectively. Rochdale are at home to Peterborough United on the opening weekend for the third consecutive season. The 2016-17 League One season, which begins on Saturday, 6 August, will conclude on 30 April - one weekend before the final fixtures in the Championship and League Two. The League One play-offs will also be played one week ahead of the rest of the English Football League, because of the FA Cup final being played on Saturday, 27 May.

Summary: Bolton Wanderers will begin life back in the third tier of English football for the first time since 1992-93 with a home game against Sheffield United.


Fighting is said to have erupted near the town of Harad which was captured by government forces two days ago. Military sources said 28 troops were killed while Houthi rebels said they had lost 40 fighters. Clashes have continued despite a UN-backed ceasefire and peace talks in Switzerland which began on Tuesday. As well as those killed on Saturday, at least another 50 rebels and 40 pro-government troops were reported to have been wounded. Tribal sources said there was an upsurge in fighting early on Saturday as government forces - which are being backed by a Saudi-led coalition - advanced towards the Red Sea port of Midi and rebels brought in reinforcements. Houthi and government delegates have been meeting in Biel in Switzerland to try to end months of fighting. Rebels have accused Yemeni and Saudi-led coalition forces of repeatedly breaching the ceasefire, which is meant to last for a week. The Saudi-led coalition launched a military campaign in March in support of the government after Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, and advanced towards the second city of Aden. Since then, at least 5,700 people, almost half of them civilians, have been killed in air strikes and clashes on the ground. The humanitarian crisis in Yemen has also worsened, with more than 21 million people - four-fifths of the population - now in need of aid.

Summary: At least 68 people are reported to have been killed in fresh clashes between government troops and Houthi rebels in north-west Yemen near the Saudi border.


People living close to the plant in Monkton Lane, Farnham, have complained that the stench has recently got worse. Thames Water, which manages the site, said emergency repair work could be the cause, but that it had written to residents to explain the situation. Local councillor Roger Steel said he had been inundated with complaints, but the firm said it was not aware of any. He said the Farnham Sewage Treatment Works was built 100 years ago and the odour problem was not new. "In the summer residents are not able to open the windows when it's hot, children can't play in the garden. "The odour gets into their clothes, even the wallpaper," Mr Steel said. The councillor, who represents Farnham Moor Park on Waverley Borough Council, said the plant was too old to cope with the current population it served. "There's plenty of room for them to perhaps rebuild a new plant or even to make major additions for it to be able to cope. "It's been inadequate for years and years and years," he said. In a statement, Thames Water said: "We're sorry if residents have noticed an increase in odour, but we're not aware of any complaints and [have] not noticed any difference. "We sent a courtesy letter to inform residents we would be doing a piece of cleaning work, outside of day-to-day operations. "Work stated last Tuesday, and is going well - we're ahead of schedule."

Summary: Residents in a Surrey town have claimed their lives are being made a misery due to the smell from nearby sewage works.


The rebel, known as Roman Ruiz, led the 18th division of the Farc, which operates in north-west Colombia. The bombing was the latest in a series of attacks on the Farc by Colombian security forces. The two sides are holding peace talks but have not agreed a ceasefire. The Colombian air force said it bombed a rebel position near the town of Riosucio in north-western Choco province on Monday. Sources in the security forces later told local media that among those killed in the raid was Alfredo Alarcon Machado, better known by his alias, Roman Ruiz. However, Ruiz has been reported killed once before. Last year, sources in the security forces announced he had been killed, only for the head of the police to deny it later. Ruiz is believed to be the right-hand man of Pastor Alape, who is part of the Farc team negotiating with the Colombian government at peace talks in the Cuban capital, Havana. About 40 Farc rebels have been killed since the security forces resumed their bombing raids. President Juan Manuel Santos gave the order for the resumption after 11 soldiers were killed on 15 April in a Farc ambush in south-western Cauca province. The attack on the soldiers caused outrage in Colombia, with many questioning the rebels' commitment to the peace talks. The Farc had declared a unilateral ceasefire in December as a sign of its commitment to the talks. It argued the ambush in Cauca had been a "defensive measure" taken by its rebels as they came under pressure from the security forces. When the peace talks officially began in November 2012, President Juan Manuel Santos ruled out a ceasefire, arguing that the guerrilla had used them during previous negotiations to re-group and re-arm. In March of this year, he did however order the suspension of bombing raids. The peace talks have been going on for two and a half years during which the two sides have so far reached agreement on three topics on their five-point agenda. An estimated 220,000 people have died in a half century of armed conflict in Colombia. November 2012 - Formal peace talks begin in the Cuban capital Havana between the Colombian government and the Farc. May 2013 - A deal is reached on land reform, one of the most contentious issues. It calls for fair access to land, and rural development, two key causes of the conflict. November 2013 - The two sides agree on the political participation of the Farc should a peace deal be reached. May 2014 - Both parties pledge to eliminate all illicit drug production in Colombia. December 2014 - Farc declares a unilateral ceasefire. March 2015 - Both sides agree to work together to remove landmines. Colombia is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. April 2015 Government resumes air strikes after the Farc kills 11 soldiers in ambush. May 2015 Farc suspends its unilateral ceasefire after government military operation kills 26 rebel fighters. What is at stake in Colombia's peace process?

Summary: A commander of Colombia's largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), was among five rebels killed in a bombing raid on Monday, the Colombian military says.


The 22-year-old joined up with his new teammates after the World Cup, but has yet to feature for the Chiefs. "We have won two games out of three in the Premiership and he's not been here very long," Baxter told BBC Sport. "He, like a number of other very good players here at Exeter, will have to be patient and when their chance comes they'll have to play very well if they want to stay in the team." Campagnaro, who has won 18 caps for his country and featured in all four of their games at this year's World Cup, agreed a move to the Chiefs in Janaury from Pro12 side Benetton Treviso. He has been training with the Premiership club for the past three weeks. "It's hard for me to say how far away he is, we don't know what injuries are going to happen, we don't know the form of the team, we don't know how our centres are going to play this weekend," added Baxter. "He could be very close or he could have to be patient for a while, but the A League's not more than two or three weeks away now. "All the players that haven't played so far will feature in the A League. That will give them an opportunity to play. They may well get an opportunity before then depending on other circumstances."

Summary: Italy centre Michele Campagnaro will have to wait to make his Exeter debut.


The bank said that "due to changes in commercial priorities" it would not sponsor the event beyond 2016. It has sponsored the event, which features the top eight men's players in singles and doubles, since 2009 when it moved to London's 02 Arena. Barclays has also dropped sponsorship of the Premier League and London's "Boris bikes". A spokesman said the bank was going through a period of change and it was re-assessing the way its portfolio of sponsorships worked for the company. The bank has not disclosed the value of the tennis deal. Separately the Daily Mail reported that the World Tour Finals would remain at the 02 Arena until at least 2018. There had been speculation that it would move elsewhere - with interest from North America and Abu Dhabi. This year's event takes place from 15-22 November.

Summary: Barclays Bank is to end its sponsorship of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament.


In an unexpected move, the European Parliament voted to require all EU importers of four minerals to be certified to ensure they do not fuel conflicts and human rights abuses. The European Commission had recommended that checks be only voluntary. Human rights groups praised the vote as a "historic moment". The decision will now be discussed by member states and the European Commission. Amnesty International and Global Witness had originally warned that a voluntary system covering European businesses would have watered down the proposals. Before the vote, the two groups were among more than 150 which signed a letter calling for binding rules that focused on more manufacturers and more materials. MEPs decided to back a law covering not just European importers that sourced minerals from conflict zones but also companies that used the four materials - tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold - in the manufacturing process. While an estimated 20 refineries and smelters would be directly affected, the EU also estimates as many as 880,000 firms would have to provide details on the measures they take to avoid the use of minerals from conflict areas such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes area of East Africa. Many tech gadgets such as smartphones use conflict materials, so-called because they are mined in warlike conditions and traded by armed groups. Campaigners had earlier complained that the scheme did not cover minerals and materials such as diamonds, jade and chromite, which are also known to be sources of conflict.

Summary: Euro MPs have called for companies to carry out mandatory checks to stop "conflict minerals" entering Europe from war zones.


Serco won a £70m contract in April 2015 to take over HR and finance support for Lincolnshire County Council. Lincoln's Bishop King Primary School said about 30 staff were affected, with four receiving no wages at all. Serco said it was "really sorry for the impact" the latest error had had on staff at the school. Abi Tierney, delivery director for Serco, said there has been some "significant issues" with parts of the service. She said the firm was "putting in a lot of work to deliver changes and make improvements", but denied accusations the contract was too big for the company to handle. More on this and other local stories from across Lincolnshire In May, Serco was fined more than £1m after failing to pay bills to suppliers and leaving staff without wages. The fine came after a number of head teachers complained that errors by Serco meant staff were left unpaid. Paula Colburn, business manager at Bishop King, said staff had been "left in tears" and put under unnecessary stress. She said: "We can't keep working like this - I can't have it being detrimental to the staff's health." In a statement, Lincolnshire County Council said: "Serco has committed to rectifying the payroll issues by the end of October, and we are satisfied that they are making good progress to achieve this."

Summary: A company responsible for council payroll services has apologised after staff at a school were left without wages, or paid incorrectly.


US businessmen Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan are leading a bid to buy a 60% stake in Wales' only Premier League club. Swansea had hoped the deal would be done by the end of 2015-16. "It remains to be seen if it will be done before the start of next season," Jenkins told BBC Wales Sport. "Will it be taken further and finalised in the summer? We wait to see. "All we can do is try to continue along the same path and get ready for next season." Jenkins is among the shareholders set to enjoy a tenfold windfall on the shares they purchased during a successful rescue of what was an ailing club in 2002. Francesco Guidolin will remain manager for the next two seasons after signing a fresh deal. Asked whether the potential new owners had any input into the decision to retain Guidolin, Jenkins said: "They are fully aware of the way we run the club and try to do things in a certain way. "They are fully aware of how we work and why we make the decisions that we do." Jenkins also revealed Swansea held talks with former boss Brendan Rodgers before opting to stick with Italian Guidolin.

Summary: Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins says the club's proposed takeover by an American consortium may not be completed until next season.


The coach, which was carrying a cheerleading team from Kent, collided with an Audi car near Flitwick at 06:45 GMT. Two men from Buckinghamshire and a third from the London area, all of whom were in the car, died. A fourth man, who was also in the car, has been taken to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital. No-one on the coach was injured. Bedfordshire Police said the double-decker coach collided with the Audi while it was stationary on the hard shoulder. "The coach driver was arrested in connection with the incident and taken to Luton Police Station where he is being interviewed," a police spokesman said. It is understood the cheerleading team are from a university in Kent and were on their way to a sporting event in Birmingham when the crash happened. Tim Lambkin, director of Sheerness-based Travelmasters, said the cheerleaders were transferred to another vehicle and continued on their way after the collision. Mr Lambkin said: "It is too soon to comment on the causes of what happened - we have to let the police experts do their work. "Our hearts and thoughts go out to the families of those who died and the man hurt. "In the 31 years I've been involved in the company I've never known anything like this." Police have urged any witnesses to the accident to come forward.

Summary: A coach driver involved in a crash which left three people dead on the M1 in Bedfordshire has been arrested.


The indictment says Hubert Zafke was an accessory to the murder of at least 3,681 people during one month in 1944. It says he was an SS medical orderly. The trial is to start on 29 February in Neubrandenburg. Mr Zafke remains at home, a prosecution spokesman said. The Nazis killed about 1.1m people in Auschwitz, most of them Jews. During the month covered by the indictment - 15 August to 14 September, 1944 - the teenage Jewish girl Anne Frank arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau, the most notorious Nazi camp complex. Her diary, describing the ordeal of her family hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam, remains a worldwide bestseller. She died in Bergen-Belsen, shortly before that camp's liberation by the British Army in 1945. According to the indictment, Mr Zafke served in the SS in a different part of the Auschwitz complex from October 1943 to January 1944, during World War Two. Prosecutors say that, like the other SS guards at Auschwitz, Mr Zafke was well aware of the camp's function as "an industrial-scale mass murder site". Last year a German court sentenced Oskar Groening, 94, to four years in jail as an accessory to the murder of at least 300,000 people at Auschwitz. Known as the SS "book-keeper of Auschwitz", he was allegedly responsible for counting banknotes confiscated from prisoners. How the Holocaust unfolded, year by year Why did ordinary people commit atrocities in the Holocaust?

Summary: A 95-year-old former SS member will go on trial in north-east Germany next month accused of assisting in the mass murder of Auschwitz death camp inmates.


The institutions housed women and girls who became pregnant outside marriage. An investigative website has found that in 1942 the mortality rate of babies born outside marriage was twice that of those born to married parents. The Detail's research also reveals that the deaths of many babies in the homes were caused by "severe malnutrition". The website compiled its research by examining death certificates and archive files at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI). It also analysed burial records for Milltown Cemetery, Belfast's biggest Catholic cemetery. The Catholic Church's Down and Connor Diocese, which owns the burial records, said the website's revelations "add further to our shame". "These findings demonstrate how, as a church and as a society, we have failed to protect the most vulnerable members of our community," a diocesan statement said. Not all of the homes were Catholic; some were run by the Church of Ireland and the Salvation Army. Former residents of the Northern Ireland institutions are launching a campaign for a dedicated public inquiry into the treatment of woman and children at the homes. Some of the girls who were sent to the homes were as young as 13, but most were older teenagers. Many mothers who gave birth in the homes were excluded from Stormont's recent Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) inquiry because it only focused on victims who were under the age of 18. The campaign is being supported by the human rights organisation Amnesty International. The Detail said Amnesty International is calling for a "proper human rights-compliant public inquiry" after it received allegations of "forced labour, arbitrary detention, ill treatment and the illegal adoption of babies in former mother and baby homes". Stormont's Executive Office recently set up a working group to look into allegations of abuse in mother and baby homes. It is focusing on residents aged over 18 from mother and baby homes and Magdalene laundries who fell outside the remit of the HIA inquiry. The group held its first meeting in March. The harsh conditions in mother and baby homes have recently gained international attention due to the Tuam babies scandal in the Republic of Ireland. Three months ago, an Irish public inquiry confirmed that "significant quantities" of human remains had been discovered at the site of a former home in Tuam, County Galway. The Irish government agreed to set up the inquiry in 2014 after allegations about the deaths of 800 babies in Tuam and the manner in which they were buried. The issue was brought to the fore by County Galway historian Catherine Corless, whose personal research into hundreds of death certificates raised questions over where the children had been buried. Excavation of the site by the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation began in October 2016. In March, investigators confirmed that human remains were found in "at least 17 of the 20 underground chambers which were examined". The Tuam home operated from 1925 to 1961 and a child died in the home nearly every two weeks between the mid-1920s and 1960s. Most of the deaths are

Summary: New research into infant mortality rates at former mother and baby homes in Northern Ireland has added weight to calls for a public inquiry.


Mr Jammeh told state TV the proclamation was in line with Gambia's "religious identity and values". He added that no dress code would be imposed and citizens of other faiths would be allowed to practise freely. Some 90% of Gambians are Muslim. The former British colony's economy relies heavily on tourism. However, relations with the West have soured recently. The European Union temporarily withheld aid money to Gambia last year over its poor human rights record. Mr Jammeh has been president of the tiny West African country for 21 years. "As Muslims are the majority in the country, the Gambia cannot afford to continue the colonial legacy," Mr Jammeh told state TV, explaining his decision to proclaim an Islamic republic. Other Islamic republics include Iran, Pakistan and - in Africa, Mauritania. Mr Jammeh withdrew Gambia from the Commonwealth in 2013, describing the organisation as neo-colonial. In 2007, he claimed to have found a herbal cure for Aids.

Summary: Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has declared his Muslim-majority country an Islamic republic, saying the move marks a break with the colonial past.


Yassar Yaqub, 28, from Huddersfield, was shot by an officer in an operation near junction 24 on 2 January. Moshin Amin, 30, Broomer Street, Dewsbury, denied possessing a handgun, a silencer and ammunition with intent to endanger life at Leeds Crown Court. A provisional trial date was set for 4 December and Mr Amin was bailed until 27 June.

Summary: A man driving a car in which his passenger was shot dead by police on the M62 has appeared in court.


It happened at Pinewood Avenue in Woodburn. The man is understood to be a high-profile loyalist. The ambulance service received a call about 14:15 GMT following reports of a man with a gunshot wound. After treatment at the scene by paramedics, he was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. In the aftermath of the attack, armed police wearing protective masks carried out raids on property in the area. There has been an ongoing feud between loyalist factions in Carrickfergus for some time. It is understood one line of enquiry is that the shooting could be connected. PSNI Supt Darrin Jones said that while the investigation was "still at an early stage police are following significant lines of enquiry". "Firearms being discharged in a residential area, particularly during daylight hours when children are in the vicinity, is concerning," he added. "We need the community to give us the information needed so we can remove the dangerous individuals who carried out this attack from our streets and put them before a court of law. "There will be a continued police presence in the area as we search for those who carried out this brutal attack." Alliance MLA for East Antrim Stewart Dickson said a "shooting is a very violent incident and it will undoubtedly have caused a great deal of fear and concern". Ulster Unionist MLA John Stewart said he was "shocked" to hear of the attack and that there was "no justification for such actions". Detectives are appealing for anyone with information to contact them on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously by telephoning 0800 555 111.

Summary: A man in his 40s has been taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after being shot in the neck in Carrickfergus, County Antrim.


BBC Turkish spoke to residents on the Syrian border to find out how the military escalation has affected their daily lives. The first two contributors come from Beylerbeyi and Lower Beylerbeyi villages - directly north of the Syrian city of Aleppo, just on the Turkish side of the border. The third contributor did not want his name or location to be given. Our village is 100m (330 feet) from the border. IS controls the Syrian side of the border. We see IS militants from time to time. They can come all the way to the border fence. The border has always been busy since the start of the Syrian war. But since the Turkish air strikes against IS, it has got busier. Of course, this worries us. Our kids used to take the livestock to the areas next to the border for grazing without any problems. Now they can't as they fear some stray bullet or an attack could come from the other side. We see military build-ups. We used to sleep on the roofs because of the heat. Now we can't as bullets may come. We don't get too close to the border unless we really have to. We live right on the border but we are worried and live in fear. We particularly fear that the Turkish army is going to move into Syria from here. If that happens, our lives will be in danger. IS would attack the border villages. If IS attacks us, the whole village would have to move from here. We sleep in fear. Warplanes fly over us. That makes us even more worried - especially about our kids. Drones are making reconnaissance flights. I would leave my village if I could but I don't have the means. We don't want war on our border. We want to live carefree! I live in a village close to the border. After the war, smuggling thrived. I used to smuggle people in and out of Syria until 10 days ago. I charged 50 Turkish lira per person (Â£12; $18) - of course, if it was an IS militant I charged double! I can't do any smuggling at present because of the military mobilising. After the clashes between the Turkish army and IS, security has been tightened along the border. I tried to smuggle someone twice but soldiers showed up right away. We can't do our job any more. Warplanes are flying over us. We hope things along the border normalise soon.

Summary: Turkey has dramatically stepped up its involvement in the conflicts across its south-eastern border, bombing both militants from the Islamic State (IS) group and Kurdish militants, and allowing the US to use a key airbase.


The 3.5-acre site in St Werburghs shut in 2007 when the company went into liquidation. A property consultant is now preparing an outline plan on behalf of the land owners Folland Ltd. Nearly 900 people lost their jobs in 2007 when four companies which formed part of the Brooks Service Group closed. Some 350 of these were from the Bristol operation. Outline plans include 114 houses and flats, with further space allocated for uses including offices, studios and workshops. But the St Werburgh's Neighbourhood Association has drawn up its own community plan for the land. They want to see a mixed-use development, weighted more to residential use with "small-scale employment opportunities". Campaigners say they want the existing buildings and the chimney should be kept as local landmarks. A public consultation event is due to take place between 14:30 and 18:30 BST on 1 April at the St Werburghs Community Centre, on Horley Road. Bristol City Council has received a pre-application enquiry from the developer and the firm hopes to submit a planning application in the summer. None of the 19th or 20th Century buildings is believed to be listed and it is not a conservation area.

Summary: Plans for more than 100 homes are being drawn-up for the former Brooks Laundry complex in Bristol.


The men, who are in their mid 20s, were caught in squally conditions after they left Raasay at about 20:00 on Sunday to paddle across about a mile of sea. The mother of one of the men raised the alarm before later finding them on the shore of The Braes peninsula on Skye. The Coastguard said the men were "very cold" and needed medical attention. The Portree RNLI lifeboat and Coastguard Rescue Team had been looking for the two men. After the kayakers were found, the lifeboat crew took them to Portree Hospital where they were treated for hypothermia and cuts and scrapes. The Coastguard team escorted the mother and another woman safely back home. Coastguard watch manager Martin Collins said: "These kayakers have been very lucky. "We have had wintery squalls across the area this evening with winds gusting to over 40mph at times and if they hadn't made someone aware of their plans they could have been exposed to the elements for a lot longer. "If you are heading out to sea in a kayak the Coastguard recommends that you check the weather forecast and tidal conditions before you head out, wear a buoyancy aid and carry distress flares are in date and stowed where you can reach them." He added: "For remote locations carrying a personal locator beacon is highly recommended."

Summary: Two kayakers got into difficulty after their craft capsized in bad weather while making an evening crossing between the isles of Raasay and Skye.


The Candystripes play their last home game of the season on Friday when they host Sligo Rovers. However, the club still do not know when work on a multi-million pound redevelopment of their stadium will begin. Derry City and Strabane District Council, who own the stadium, said a tendering process is ongoing. Club chairman Philip O'Doherty said he is concerned that Friday's game could be the club's last at Brandywell for some time. "The ideal situation would have been that, after this last home game, the diggers would be in the next day," Mr O'Doherty said. "That's not going to happen, the longer construction work is delayed the less games we will play at Brandywell next season. "That means that the possibility of having the European tie at Brandywell is basically under threat at the minute," he added. Derry City secured their place in next season's Europa League competition with last week's 2-1 victory over Bohemians. Brandywell 2016 Timeline Earlier this year, Derry City sought out venues for the relocation of six home games which would be affected by the redevelopment. Since then, the Brandywell delays have left talks with other clubs 'up in the air', Mr O'Doherty said. "We have no clarity from Derry City and Strabane council which is extremely frustrating. "The club has been slaughtered on social media about holding things back but I do not know when this project will start. "Derry City Football Club is also a business and it is not a good situation for the club to be in." A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council said: "The tender process for the appointment of a contractor for the Brandywell Stadium redevelopment and dog track is ongoing. "Council is hopeful that these processes will be concluded shortly," they added. Although Friday's tie with Sligo Rovers is the last home game for Derry City, other stakeholders at Brandywell - which include a greyhound track - have use of the stadium until at least the end of November. That means construction could be delayed further.

Summary: The chairman of Derry City Football Club has warned that European football at Brandywell stadium is under threat.


After initially refusing to talk, he has confirmed he is 29-year-old Egyptian Abdullah Hamamy. He was shot in the stomach as, authorities say, he lunged at soldiers. President Francois Hollande says there is little doubt it was a terrorist act. The Egyptian remains under arrest in hospital. His father, a retired Egyptian police general, said his son had not shown any signs of radicalisation, AFP reported. Reda al-Hamamy said his son was in Paris on a business trip, lives in the United Arab Emirates, and has a wife and a seven-month old son. Abdullah Hamamy had visited Turkey in 2015 and 2016, AFP reported. He entered France on 26 January on a flight from Dubai and stayed at an apartment costing â‚¬1,700 ($1,830; Â£1,470) a week near the Champs Elysees that had been reserved last June, months before Mr Hamamy applied for his tourist visa in October, a source told the news agency. He is believed to have bought two machetes after arriving. Cans of spray paint, but no explosives, were found in his backpack. French authorities say the suspect also shouted the Islamic phrase "Allahu Akbar" ("God is greatest") during the incident. No group has claimed the attempted attack and no link to extremism was found during a search of the apartment. However police are also examining Mr Hamamy's Twitter account after around a dozen messages were posted in Arabic just minutes before the attack. "In the name of Allah... for our brothers in Syria and fighters across the world," he wrote, before referring to the so-called Islamic State jihadist group in another tweet a minute later, AFP says. Hundreds of visitors were inside the museum at the time of the incident and were evacuated.

Summary: The man suspected of attacking soldiers with two machetes at Paris's Louvre Museum on Friday has confirmed his identity to investigators and given his version of events, judicial sources say.


After suffering two consecutive - and humiliating - defeats in the Delhi and Bihar elections, India's ruling BJP, many believe, also needed a small rebellion to shake it out of its complacency. On Tuesday evening, four senior party leaders, led by India's former deputy prime minister LK Advani, fired what was clearly a broadside against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. "The principal reason for the latest defeat is the way the party has been emasculated in the last year," said the leaders in a statement, criticising the party's campaign strategy after Sunday's humiliating defeat in Bihar. "A thorough review must be done of the reasons for the defeat as well as the way the party is being forced to kow-tow... and how its consensual character has been destroyed." The scathing missive was strategically timed: it came hours after the government eased regulations for foreign direct investment in at least 15 sectors to boost reforms and inject some feel-good before a gloomy Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. The challenge also came ahead of Mr Modi's much-hyped three-day visit to Britain. It was clearly intended to embarrass the prime minister. Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, who has written a biography of Mr Modi, says revolt by the party elders - "oldies come out of cocoon", headlined The Economic Times - is mainly aimed at scuttling BJP president and Mr Modi's closest aide, Amit Shah's chances of beginning a fresh term as party president in January. Mr Shah, a ruthless tactician, is often described as Mr Modi's Karl Rove and the man behind the party's sweeping win in last year's general election. At 50, he is also one of the youngest presidents of the Hindu nationalist party. He is also a controversial politician, who is accused of sanctioning the killing of a Muslim civilian in 2005, when he was the home minister of Gujarat state. He spent more than three months in jail after which he was released on bail. Mr Shah denies the charges. Critics say Mr Modi and Mr Shah, both from Gujarat, have completely taken over the BJP, and are running what used to be a loose, collective and largely democratic party as their private fief. The duo have also successfully managed to sideline the old guard. Mr Advani, one of BJP's architects, was removed from the party's parliamentary board last year, and kicked upstairs to a newly formed Margdarshak Mandal (guidance committee) an ineffectual body of elders, along with other veterans like former minister, Murli Manohar Joshi, and former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Mr Joshi, still remembered for his incendiary rhetoric in the run up to the 1992 demolition of the Babri mosque by Hindu hardliners, was forced to vacate his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi, to make way for Mr Modi last year. Clearly, Tuesday's revolt was initiated by some of the party's most experienced leaders, but they are in their autumn of their lives, marginalised and ignored by the party - supporters of Mr Modi uncharitably call them yesterday's people. They have been seething against what they think

Summary: US founding father Thomas Jefferson once said a "little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world, as storms in the physical".


RWE Npower is planning to bring down the remains of the boiler house at the Didcot A plant which partly collapsed in February, killing four men. Three bodies are yet to be recovered. The energy company said using remote-operated vehicles (ROVs) was preferable "since it limits the risk to life". It called the conditions caused by the collapse "unprecedented at this scale in the UK". A spokesman said the "traditional demolition method, which would require people to go underneath the structure to place demolition charges to bring down the building" would risk lives "because the building cannot be proven to be stable". "The ROV option is the preferred route, with the traditional method being prepared as a back-up, should the robotic option not prove reliable." Plans are being finalised and are due to be submitted to the Health and Safety Executive. The spokesman added: "We understand that the time taken to recover the families' loved ones is deeply upsetting... our priority remains the recovery of the missing men and we are doing everything that is within our power to ensure it is progressed as fast and safely as possible." Work to recover the men's bodies had been halted because contractors have reached a 50m (164 ft) exclusion zone. In Oxfordshire County Council cabinet papers published earlier the cost to Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service of attending the incident and subsequent search and recovery operations stands at Â£300,000. The length of time to recover Christopher Huxtable, 34, from Swansea, Ken Cresswell, 57, and John Shaw, 61, both from Rotherham, has previously been criticised by some family members. John Howley, the uncle of Mr Cresswell, described it as "diabolical". Labour MP for Rotherham Sarah Champion also branded it a "national scandal".

Summary: Robots should be used to place demolition charges at the base of the collapsed Didcot power station because using people "carries inherent risks to life", the site owner has said.


The government has moved responsibility for its funding to the BBC, which the Defence Committee said had "entirely predictably" led to cuts. It added that BBC Monitoring was "vital" to diplomacy and business. The BBC said it was "confident" the service would continue to meet the UK government's needs. The government directly funded BBC Monitoring until 2013, when responsibility passed to the BBC under an agreement announced by Chancellor George Osborne in 2010. The cross-party committee said this had left the service exposed, with around 100 jobs set to go under a re-structuring programme. It expressed concern at plans to move Monitoring out of its current Caversham Park headquarters in Berkshire, where it operates alongside US counterpart Open Source Enterprise, because of potential disruption to information-sharing. Currently, Monitoring covers 25% of the globe, while Open Source Enterprise covers the remaining 75%. The committee's report said: "The government uses open-source information for indicators and warnings of areas of instability and potential threats to UK security. "The decisions made concerning the funding and governance of BBC Monitoring over the past decade or so have been woefully short-sighted and catastrophically ill-thought-out. "A service that has the potential to be a vital tool in opening the world to UK diplomacy and business is in grave danger of becoming a hollow shell of its former existence." A BBC spokeswoman said: "The media landscape has changed vastly since the creation of BBC Monitoring in the 1930s and we believe our planned restructure is vital to equip us for a world in which digital skills are far more important than physical location. "We are confident that we will continue to meet the UK government's needs for open-source monitoring and they have told us they are happy with our changes."

Summary: BBC Monitoring, the UK service that translates and analyses global media, is in danger of becoming a "hollow shell", MPs have warned.


Massive adult yellowfins swim together, while juveniles group separately and swim with adult skipjack of a similar size. Schooling confuses predators and makes it less likely that any single fish will fall victim to one. And bigger numbers mean more eyes are on the lookout for a meal. Fishing is the best economic hope for the tiny island states that dot this part of the Pacific. And much like the fish they pull from the ocean, they've learned the benefits of swimming together. The bulk of the fishing in the Pacific is sold by treaty to other countries, with the host nation collecting an access fee for each day of fishing. Since the Pacific island nations started negotiating as a bloc five years ago, they've found themselves in a much better position. Effectively, eight Pacific countries including Kiribati, formed a cartel, banding together to wield their market power to negotiate a better deal, and it's working. Their revenues from fishing rights have increased from $100m (Â£65m) to $430m over the past five years, according to the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency. So how can these tiny states, mere specks on a map of the vast Pacific, wield this kind of market power? In truth, they're not as small as they seem. Every nation's exclusive economic zone spreads roughly 370 kilometres (230 miles) from its shores in every direction. So a country of widely-scattered, tiny atolls can have massive fishing grounds, even if it doesn't have much land. Kiribati's land area is only 810 sq km, roughly equal to the city of New York or about half the size of Greater London, but its exclusive economic zone is bigger than India (about 3.5 million sq km). Together, the small island states control so much ocean that they've enacted a rule forcing their customers to choose between their waters and the open ocean. Most opt for the former. But controlling enough of the resources is no guarantee of an effective cartel. Cartels take a considerable amount of political will and discipline. Members of the most famous one, Opec, often break ranks, and there's some evidence of discord here, too. "Certainly we encounter more and more where it becomes more difficult to operate as a bloc. The easy wins have been won already," says Wez Norris, the deputy director-general of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency. Last year, Kiribati largely opted out of a regional $90m deal with the US, drastically cutting the number of days US boats could fish in its water under the treaty. Kiribati's President Anote Tong says there's a practical element to it. In previous years, they ran out of fishing days allowed under the treaty, and had to buy some from one country in order to give it to another. But Kiribati might also be looking for a better deal. "All we're saying is we would reduce our contribution of vessel days to the US treaty. If the US boats want to fish in our waters, they can buy direct from us," he says. Regardless of whether cartels stick together,

Summary: As huge schools of tuna cut swiftly across the Western Pacific on a migration course that spans thousands of kilometres, they cluster by size.


Researchers suggest there is poor evidence to support screening and isolating infected patients - standard practice in hospitals worldwide. But good hand hygiene and bathing with antibacterial solutions are key to reducing infections, they say. Experts warn more studies are needed before any change in protocols. Despite rates of Meticillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) falling in many countries, concerns about its spread remain. The bug is resistant to most antibiotics and while it is can be carried harmlessly on the skin it may lead to serious wound infections - particularly in people who are already unwell. Hospitals have used a varied combination of methods to tackle it, including: Scientists reviewed studies over the last decade. But most investigated several infection control measures in combination, making it difficult to tease out which ones worked best. Researchers say the limited evidence focusing solely on isolation or screening suggest they may not reduce spread of the disease and could do more harm than good. Prof Gerd Fatkenheuer, from the University Hospital Cologne, Germany, who was part of the research team said: "In the haste to do something against the rising tide of MRSA infection, measures were adopted that seemed plausible but were not properly assessed, bundling the effective and harmless with the ineffective and harmful. "We know for example that isolating patients can result in anxiety and depression and fewer visits by doctors and nurses." The scientists emphasise evidence backs good hand-washing and suggests people with the bug should bathe daily using antibacterial solutions. Prof Peter Collignon at the Canberra Hospital, Australia said: "Certain countries, however, that take all of these combined approaches - such as the Netherlands and Denmark - have the lowest rates of MRSA spread in healthcare facilities. "So we need to make sure that studies clearly show that we will not do harm by stopping some or all of these isolation methods." The report authors say as MRSA levels continue to drop this provides a good opportunity to reassess how best to tackle the problem. And they recommend scarce resources could be redeployed to combat other infections - rather than singling out MRSA. Recent figures for England suggest 862 cases of MRSA were recorded in the year 2013-14, a substantial reduction from the 4,451 cases reported in 2007-08.

Summary: The jury is still out on the effectiveness of methods to control the hospital superbug MRSA, according to an international report in the Lancet.


The presidency has published a "transparency charter" defining her duties, funded from Mr Macron's budget. She will have an active role in civil society, focusing on disabled people, education, children, women's issues, health and gender equality. A petition signed by more than 316,000 people opposed a "first lady" role. Much French media comment has focused on the 24-year age gap between her and her younger husband. She played a prominent role in his election campaign and is seen as a strong influence on him. The social issues that will particularly engage her also figured as priorities in Mr Macron's manifesto. The ElysÃ©e Palace's new "charter" (in French) is an innovation - no previous French presidency has stated the spouse's role so clearly. Should France have a first lady? Meet France's new first lady Macron targets nepotisms Emmanuel Macron: France's controversial man on the move Creating an official first lady position would have required a change to the law or constitution. Instead, the charter uses the term "the head of state's spouse". It stipulates that Mrs Macron will not be paid a salary for exercising her duties, nor will she have her own budget or expenses claims. The costs will come out of the presidential budget. She will have the assistance of two advisers, her own office and a secretariat. In his presidential campaign, Mr Macron stressed that politicians should not employ relatives, after his conservative rival FranÃ§ois Fillon lost much support for doing so. In an interview, Elle magazine asked Mrs Macron how she had reacted to hostile and sexist comments on the age gap between her and Mr Macron. She answered: "Badly - but finally I told myself: 'Well, you're having a hard time, but just keep quiet about it.'" She added: "In time, it goes away". She admitted that her love for Mr Macron had caused some private anguish. "The children often suffer. I know I caused some harm to my children, and that's the thing I reproach myself for most of all. But I couldn't help doing what I did. There are moments in life when you have to make vital choices." On the age gap, she said: "So regarding the 20-year gap, whatever could be said about that was so petty. Of course at breakfast I sit there with my wrinkles, he with his freshness. But that's just the way it is."

Summary: Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, is getting an official role but without the title "first lady".


The gunmen seized the compound five days ago and have been demanding the release of an opposition leader arrested last month on weapons charges. Supporters of the gunmen have staged rallies nearby and clashed on Wednesday with police, who fired tear gas. Mr Sarkisian urged the gunmen to "sober up" and end their "provocative" action. In comments reported by Armenian Armenpress news agency, he said: "No problem will be solved in Armenia with the use of force, raids and hostage-taking. The resolution of the problem will be an important test for Armenia and the maturity of our society." Mr Sarkisian said the government would act "in line with Armenia's laws" if the gunmen persisted, but he gave no further details. The hostage-takers have been demanding the release of Jirair Sefilian, a military veteran of Armenia's conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, who has been accused of illegally possessing weapons and preparing to seize government buildings. In taking control of the police station in Armenia's capital on Sunday, the gunmen killed one police officer and injured two others. They later released five hostages. Those still being held include a deputy police chief. Mr Sefilian has criticised Mr Sarkisian over his handling of the conflict involving pro-Armenian separatists in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but has an ethnic Armenian majority. A bloody war erupted after the end of Soviet rule in 1988, and there has been frequent unrest since, the latest in April, when clashes left dozens dead.

Summary: Armenia's President Serge Sarkisian has urged gunmen holding four hostages at a police station in Yerevan to free their captives and lay down their arms.


First Great Western has amended some services from midday to 20:00 BST because of the expected intense heat. There will be no fast trains between London Paddington and Bourne End in Buckinghamshire or Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. Network Rail said if the track buckled the line must be closed for repairs "causing considerable disruption". Trains from London Paddington will terminate at Twyford for a connection with a branch line service to Henley-on-Thames. Passengers travelling to Bourne End will see their services from Paddington terminate at Maidenhead and will also have to complete their journey on a branch line train. Temperatures are set to hit 30C (86F) in parts of the Thames Valley, the Met Office said.

Summary: Hot weather is set to disrupt trains in the Thames Valley area with speeds being cut over fears of rails buckling.


Media playback is not supported on this device The National League side were beaten 2-0 by Premier League visitors Arsenal, who are 105 places above Sutton on English football's ladder. The home side had several chances, with Adam May wasting a chance and Roarie Deacon hitting the crossbar. "This was our cup final," said Doswell. "I'm very, very proud." The 50-year-old said it was "a dream" to watch his side play Arsenal, who will face another non-league team - Lincoln City - in the last eight. "We were disappointed not to get a goal for the supporters here but the overriding emotion is pride," he added. Sutton, who famously beat Coventry in the FA Cup in 1989, had overcome league sides AFC Wimbledon and Leeds United on their way to the fifth round. But they could not get the better of an Arsenal team who had lost three of their previous four games. FA Cup fairytale over for Sutton United - 5 live podcast This content will not work on your device, please check Javascript and cookies are enabled or update your browser Sutton held their own against 12-time FA Cup winners Arsenal, who are fourth in the Premier League, before Lucas Perez's 26th-minute cross-shot gave Arsene Wenger's side the lead. Theo Walcott's 100th goal for the club sealed victory at Gander Green Lane. Wenger, who made seven changes to the team beaten 5-1 by Bayern Munich last week, said Sutton's performance surprised him. "I don't really enjoy tonight because we absolutely had to do the job and it is tricky," he said. "They played very well. It is basically division five and when I arrived here in England 20 years ago, in division five they were not as fit physically as they were today. "They were organised and had a huge desire. If we were not mentally prepared, we would not have gone through." Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown was surprised to see Deacon, who came through the Gunners' youth system, playing at non-league level. "You wonder, looking at Roarie Deacon, if the game has failed him," he said. "He should be playing at a higher level. He has great quality with both feet and he was really unlucky with that shot that hit the bar." Former England striker Alan Shearer said the Sutton players can be very proud of their performance throughout the competition. "It has been one heck of a run," he said. "There were some very, very positive performances out there."

Summary: Sutton United's players will "go down in history" despite missing out on a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals, said manager Paul Doswell.


Profits for the first three months of 2015 were $626m (Â£416m), and revenues were $4.45bn, a 4% increase from a year earlier. However, eBay said that "strengthening dollar significantly impacted first quarter results". Revenue at eBay would have been 7% higher without that currency headwind. At payment site PayPal, currency fluctuations were less severe, hurting revenues by 3% as a result of hedging by the site. eBay said it expected to complete its spinoff of PayPal into a separate company by the third quarter of 2015. "I feel very good about the performance of our teams at eBay and PayPal. Each business is executing well with greater focus and operating discipline as we prepare to separate eBay and PayPal into independent publicly traded companies," said eBay chief executive John Donahoe in a statement accompanying earnings. Shares in the site increased by over 5% in trading after markets had closed.

Summary: Online retailer eBay has reported better-than-expected results but added that a strong dollar substantially hurt the company's results.


On Thursday, Root himself said he was looking forward to the time when his leadership mettle would be examined. On the first day of the second Test, where South Africa moved on to 309-6, Root got his wish and, in turn, allowed the pressure to ease off the Proteas on more than one occasion. It was a fluctuating day - South Africa were attritional in the first session, fluent after lunch and had to recover following a four-wicket collapse in the evening. They were helped by England opting to use Liam Dawson ahead of fellow spinner Moeen Ali and again in the sleepy overs in the run-up to the second new ball. I'm not the only one confused by England's approach to Moeen, with both Root and coach Trevor Bayliss saying that he is now seen as the second spinner. When confidence is high - as Moeen's should be after taking 10 wickets at Lord's - it is reasonable to expect players to perform for you. Therefore, I was surprised when left-armer Dawson, despite what the England higher-ups are saying about his place in the pecking order, was used before Moeen at Trent Bridge. Media playback is not supported on this device Put simply, we know that Moeen is good enough at this level, but the same cannot yet be said about Dawson, who is playing in only his third Test. Indeed, Dawson was the most expensive of England's bowlers, often providing a release for the South Africa batsmen. It was almost as if Root felt like he had to bowl him simply because he was in the side. In all, the six bowlers that England have in their side is probably too many. It creates a problem for the captain in juggling them, and perhaps even puts doubt in a bowler's mind in that he may be thinking that he has to perform well quickly otherwise he will be replaced by one of the many other options. I would prefer to see England play an extra batsman, even if that does push the talented Moeen down to number eight. The make-up of this side is not one I expect to be mirrored during this winter's Ashes series. When England knew that the new ball was approaching, they allowed the game to drift, fiddling overs from Dawson and Keaton Jennings. It was almost as if they were waiting for James Anderson and Stuart Broad to take the wickets, rather than using the other two of their four seamers - Ben Stokes and Mark Wood - with the old ball. Often, the whole point of a new ball is that you are using it against a new batsman. England may have missed a trick by taking the foot off the gas at that moment. Root's other issue on Friday was the use of the review system, with both of England's referrals frittered away inside 24 overs. On both occasions, headstrong bowlers in Stokes and Broad wanted reviews, only to see that their lbw appeals were turned down for pretty obvious reasons. It's tricky

Summary: After England handsomely defeated South Africa in the first Test at Lord's, I wrote that new captain Joe Root had been given an easy ride.


Regulator Ofcom ruled the performance, by Alexandr Magala of Moldova, was "in line with audience expectations". It also rejected suggestions the act might lead to copycat behaviour. "The repeated warnings and clear references to the inherent danger of the act meant it was very unlikely that audiences would attempt to copy it." Magala is no stranger to the ...Got Talent format, having previously appeared on the US, French, Italian, Russian and Ukrainian versions of the show. The 26-year-old also performed at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014 prior to his ITV debut on 9 April. Audience members screamed and covered their eyes as the Magala slid down a pole with a sword lodged in his mouth, coming to a stop an inch above the ground. "I actually thought you were going to die," judge Simon Cowell admitted after the act was put through to the next round of the competition. The impresario later described Magala's oesophageal exertions as "the most dangerous act... ever seen on Britain's Got Talent". The same programme drew three complaints over its language, another three relating to animal welfare and another related to "generally accepted standards". These complaints will also not be investigated, according to the media regulator's latest broadcast and on demand bulletin.

Summary: ITV show Britain's Got Talent will not be investigated by the broadcasting watchdog over a sword-swallowing act that drew 33 complaints.


Jack Brereton, 25, will stand in the Stoke-on-Trent Central election triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Tristram Hunt. Meanwhile, Trudy Harrison, 40, who lives in the village of Bootle where she was a parish councillor for a number of years, will stand in Copeland. The by-election was called following the resignation of Labour's Jamie Reed. Mr Reed said he was stepping down to take a job at the Sellafield nuclear plant while Mr Hunt has taken up a director's role at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Conservatives are quietly confident of doing well in both Copeland and Stoke-on-Trent Central, places that were once safe Labour seats but are now seen as being in play in the volatile Brexit climate. In choosing a candidate for the west Cumbrian seat who has worked at Sellafield, the Conservatives are making a statement of their support for the nuclear industry, the constituency's largest employer. If he were to win, the Conservative candidate in Stoke - 25 year-old Jack Brereton - would become one of the country's youngest MPs, although he already has plenty of experience having served on the local council for five years. The party finished third in the seat in the 2015 election and faces a strong challenge from UKIP, whose leader Paul Nuttall is standing, as well as a Labour Party who on Wednesday evening chose former Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council leader Gareth Snell as its candidate. Ms Harrison said she would campaign on supporting the local nuclear industry and backing the UK plans to leave the European Union. "Copeland has had Labour MPs and Labour Councils for years," she said. "They've ignored us and failed to deliver the jobs, infrastructure and services we need, and now they want to ignore how we voted in the referendum." Mr Brereton, who was elected to represent the Baddeley, Milton and Norton ward on Stoke-on-Trent City Council in 2011, said: "This by-election has come at a crucial time for our country. "It is an opportunity for the people of Stoke to send a message that the referendum result must be respected, and to back the Prime Minister's clear plan to make a success of Brexit." Voting in both constituencies takes place on 23 February. The other candidates so far declared in Copeland are: Liberal Democrats: Rebecca Hanson UKIP: Fiona Mills Labour Party: Gill Troughton The other candidates in Stoke are: Liberal Democrats: Zulfiqar Ali Christian Peoples Alliance: Godfrey Davies UKIP: Paul Nuttall Labour Party: Gareth Snell

Summary: The Conservative Party has chosen its candidates for two by-elections.


The 22-year-old former Bristol City trainee has scored four goals in 29 appearances for Gareth Ainsworth's Chairboys this campaign. He joins a Latics side currently 23rd in League One. "Aaron's been unhappy of late because he hasn't been able to force his way into the team, so this move is best for all parties," said Ainsworth.

Summary: Oldham have signed striker Aaron Amadi-Holloway on loan from League Two side Wycombe for the rest of the season.


From 1 April, there will be a three-year ban on killing fish outside estuary limits and strict controls on numbers in inland waters. The SNP's Joan McAlpine hailed a "reprieve" for haaf netting methods. However, Labour's Elaine Murray called it a "guesswork decision" while Conservative Alex Fergusson criticised the failure to delay the regulations. Concerns had previously been raised about the impact of the controls on the historic tradition of haaf netting on the Solway Firth which dates back to Viking times. Ms McAlpine claimed the regulations recognised the "unique cultural heritage" of the pursuit. She said Scottish government officials would work on a scientific project which would allow some salmon to be caught. "Nobody knows these stocks better than the haaf netters who have been working the Solway for generations," she said. "So they are ideally placed to participate in a project gathering evidence about fish numbers and other conservation material." She said the details of the plans had still to be revealed but she would be pressing for an early meeting with fishermen. Ms Murray said the regulations threatened the future of angling clubs as well as haaf-netting and related tourism. "Haaf netters and anglers across Dumfriesshire will find it extremely difficult to forgive or forget this disastrous order which has been pushed through by the Scottish government," she said. "What makes things worse is that there has been simply no proper scientific evidence given by the government to back up their decision to introduce a blanket ban on salmon taking in our region." She added that despite the offer of "belated scientific studies" there would be no direct compensation to counter the loss of earnings. "The ban will be felt in every part of the region, as fishing tourism will likely fall, something which is absolutely crucial for rural economies like ours," she said. Mr Fergusson tabled a motion to annul the measures but it was voted down. "It is clear that many stakeholders feel that the scientific basis for these measures is seriously unsound and that the measures are being pushed in order to be seen to be 'doing something'," he said. "My motion to annul the measures was simply designed to delay conservation measures being introduced in order to give the Scottish government time to bring forward a more robust scientific basis for them in a way that would ensure the buy-in of all stakeholders - something that is far from universal at present." A Scottish government spokeswoman said it was aware of the "cultural importance" of haaf netting and the "poor conservation status" assessed in the area meant it could continue on a "catch and release" basis. She said Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead had made clear they were looking to widen their science focus to include more specific work on the impact on such "cultural activities". "Marine Scotland is keen to undertake further scientific work on salmon catches that involves the continuation of existing activities to a degree and we are keen to involve the haaf netters in that programme," she added.

Summary: MSPs have given widely differing views of the impact in south west Scotland of new wild salmon stock protection rules.


21 July 2016 Last updated at 20:33 BST The targeting of oil facilities has reduced the country's output and threatened its fragile economy. So what is behind the renewed violence? The BBC's Martin Patience has spoken to one of the militants.

Summary: Oil militancy has made a comeback in Nigeria with a recent wave of attacks carried out by the Niger Delta Avengers.


They have become two of the most recognisable estates in the country, after appearing as the backdrop for films such as Harry Brown and numerous TV shows including the The Bill and Spooks. It is the sheer size of the estates that is a draw to directors. With long lines, corridors and walkways, they can be a film-maker's dream. But as a result of complaints, Southwark Council has enforced strict guidelines for anyone wanting to film on the Aylesbury or Heygate housing estates. "I don't want to see any filming on the Aylesbury that portrays violence and all the things that are not right for the estate," says Jean Bartlett, who speaks on behalf of the Aylesbury Residents and Tenants Association. On iPlayer Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Front Row she admits the locals have, in the past, welcomed stars and film crews. "We all did (welcome them) at first because there was funding coming from the film companies. "I think that over time time it was the same subjects being used.... violence, drugs and run-down areas, which then portrayed the estate as a hell-hole." The 2009 film Harry Brown, starring Sir Michael Caine, depicted an elderly man living in fear of violent gangs. Other gritty television programmes filmed on the estates have also included gang drama Top Boy. Jean is also unhappy at the way the location has been used in the Channel 4 promotional trailer. "Every time I see the logo it makes me cringe. They put washing hanging out in areas that doesn't even have washing. "They put loads of rubbish across the whole of the area. It's absolutely terrible." In 1997 the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, chose the Aylesbury Estate to make his first major speech outside of Parliament. At that time, the estate symbolised the problems of urban deprivation and despair. Mr Blair unveiled his vision for regenerating Britain's inner cities and underlined his government's determination to tackle the issues and declared that there must not be any "no hope areas". British rapper, Tinie Tempah, grew up on Aylesbury Estate and his memories of living there are in tune with some of the darker sides of films shot there. "I remember growing up and seeing grey, very narrow walkways which are sort of prone to conflict. "You can only walk past the same person so many times without someone saying 'Who are you?' or 'What's all this about?' "There were very grubby lifts where people would urinate. Those high-rises, when you wake up in the morning, they don't inspire you - you don't feel the need to want to get out of there." Unique memory Despite millions of pounds being spent on regeneration over the years, the Aylesbury Estate, together with the neighbouring Heygate Estate, are in the process of being demolished and rebuilt. These two projects will cost Â£3.9bn and involve the construction of hundreds of new homes, shops and open spaces and the rebuilding of several schools. But the film director Joe Cornish, who made the science fiction hit Attack The Block on the

Summary: Many people would enjoy opening their front door to see a Hollywood star making their new movie, but residents living in the Aylesbury and Heygate housing estates in South London have had enough of film-makers.


President Francois Hollande told British Prime Minister Theresa May that talks must settle the UK's financial bills and the rights of citizens. Other pro-EU politicians meeting in Malta expressed a similar view, saying they would not allow "cherry-picking". Mrs May called for simultaneous talks during exit negotiations. But in a phone call, Mr Hollande warned her that the withdrawal agreement should come first, a common line among European leaders. "First we must begin discussions on the modalities of the withdrawal, especially on the rights of citizens and the obligations arising from the commitments that the United Kingdom has made," he said. Meeting in Malta, members of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), the largest group in the European parliament, said they would focus on: The party chairman Manfred Weber said they would "not allow the cherry-picking we saw over the past few decades", and that the UK could not shape the future relationship with the bloc in the way it had done as a member of the EU. Speaking at the meeting, German Chancellor Angela Merkel did not mention Brexit directly, but said the EU must guarantee the prosperity and security of its citizens or risk them turning away. She had already said that Britain's commitments to the EU had to be dismantled before talks could move on. Mrs Merkel ended her speech with a quote from the philosopher Erich Fromm: "He said one loves what one makes a lot of effort for and what one makes a lot of effort for one loves. "And it's important we must make an effort for this Europe because we love it and we want to leave it behind in a good position for future generations." The European Council President, Donald Tusk, is expected to set on Friday draft guidelines that will form the basis for EU negotiations with the UK. They will be amended and then approved by the remaining 27 EU leaders in a month's time, and they are likely to set out a clear negotiation schedule, the BBC's Chris Morris in Malta says.

Summary: France has insisted that the UK must first sort out the terms of its exit from the European Union before talks can move on to future relationships.


A total of 737 clubs have entered the 2017-18 competition, with 370 of those starting their campaign on the weekend 5-6 August when 185 extra preliminary round ties will be played. The extra preliminary round is the first of six qualifying rounds before the first round proper on 4 November. The two Northwich teams will be also face each other in the North West Counties Premier Division next season. Northwich Victoria were beaten 3-0 by Premier League Sunderland at the Stadium of Light 11 years ago. There are 18 clubs taking part in the FA Cup for the first time this season, including Whitchurch Alport. The Shropshire club was formed in 1946 and boasts former Northern Ireland striker Jimmy Quinn among its former players. Friday's draw took place 41 days after Arsenal beat Chelsea in the 2017 final at Wembley. All extra preliminary round winners will receive £1,500 in prize money. Click here for the full FA Cup extra preliminary round draw

Summary: Northwich Victoria, who reached the second round two seasons ago and the third round in 2006, will face local rivals 1874 Northwich - a breakaway club formed five years ago - in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup.


The hosts fell behind just before the break when Sergio Ramos used his hand to block a shot in the box and Bruno Soriano chipped in from the spot. Ramos made amends soon after the restart, heading in from a corner. Zinedine Zidane's side put the visitors under concerted pressure throughout the second half, but Villarreal held on to deny Real the outright record. Instead they will have to share the record of 16 straight wins set by Pep Guardiola's Barcelona side in the 2010-11 season. However a point ensures they remain top of La Liga, four points ahead of Barcelona, who could only draw 1-1 with Atletico Madrid. Not many players switch between the roles of hero and villain as easily as Sergio Ramos and the volatile defender once again played both parts expertly either side of the interval. For the second game in a row he tried to disguise a handball by pretending the ball had hit his face. But the referee was having none of it and Bruno outsmarted Real keeper Kiko Casilla with a Panenka-style penalty to give Villarreal the lead. Ramos did the same against Espanyol at the weekend. It is the third penalty that Ramos has conceded in seven games across all competitions this season, yet the Spaniard made amends, losing his man at a corner and producing a powerful header that gave Sergio Asenjo no chance. It was the only one of 17 corners that the hosts converted, with Ramos also unable to persuade the referee to award Real a late penalty as he fell under the challenge of Roberto Soriano. This was the first game in which Real's 'BBC' front line of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo have all started together - a result of both injury and Zidane's commitment to rotating his squad. Yet there were only flickers of the trio's best football, especially in the first half when a resolute Villarreal stopped Real's fluid passing game and forced them to resort to shots from distance. The hosts dominated for long spells of the second half but rarely forced Asenjo into a save, with Benzema guilty of heading over two chances when well placed before both he and Bale were substituted before the end. A night of frustration for Real's talisman Ronaldo was complete when he finally found the target, only to see his effort parried away by Asenjo before slamming a late free-kick straight at the Villarreal keeper. Match ends, Real Madrid 1, Villarreal 1. Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card. Second Half ends, Real Madrid 1, Villarreal 1. Attempt saved. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Alfred N'Diaye (Villarreal). Foul by Raphael Varane (Real Madrid). Alexandre Pato (Villarreal) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Alfred N'Diaye (Villarreal). Foul by Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid).

Summary: Real Madrid missed out on a record-breaking 17th consecutive La Liga victory as they drew with Villarreal.


Two people were left with "life-changing" injuries when a corrosive substance was thrown on to them through their car windows. Cousins Resham Khan and Jameel Muhktar had been celebrating Ms Khan's 21st birthday before the attack. John Tomlin, 24, is described as white, 6ft tall, of stocky build and with short fair hair. The new images show Mr Tomlin, who has distinctive hand and face tattoos, entering a shop in Romford on 3 July. Mr Tomlin is also known to frequent the Canning Town area. Ms Khan, a student at Manchester Metropolitan University, and Mr Muhktar suffered severe burns to the face and body in the attack on 21 June. "Within seconds, my cousin started screaming. Her eyes were blistered, her face started melting. My face started melting", Mr Muhktar said. According to police, they had stopped at traffic lights when the man approached them and threw the toxic substance at Ms Khan through the window. The attacker then circled around the car and threw more of the acid at Mr Muhktar, before eventually fleeing the scene. Mr Muhktar, 37, had to be temporarily placed in an induced coma to treat his injuries. "I'm in a really bad way. I'm going to be scarred for life. I can't walk properly, I can't hear properly, I can't sleep", he said. Police said the incident is being treated as a hate crime.

Summary: Police have released new images of a man they want to talk to in connection with an acid attack in east London.


Dr Imran Farooq was stabbed outside his home in Green Lane, Edgware, last year. His killers may have had help from other people, some of whom could have assisted unwittingly, police added. An e-fit image of a suspect wearing a baseball cap has been released. A man aged 34 who was questioned last year has been bailed until this November. Dr Farooq, who was a senior member of the MQM party, was killed "in a brutal manner", said Det Ch Supt Neil Basu of the Metropolitan Police. His death, on 16 September 2010, "has left the community with a deep sense of loss", he added. The 50-year-old suffered multiple wounds and blunt trauma to the head. Police have previously said he may have been followed by up to four Asian men in vehicles or on foot. Officers are asking for information about Dr Farooq, who came to the UK in 1999 seeking political asylum, and his routine. They also want to talk to anyone asked to help buy items which could have been used in the attack, of the planning of it, such as knives or mobile phones. It is thought two kitchen knives were used in the attack, along with a brick from a house. One of the knives was made by Ausbein Messer, with a 5in (13cm) blade, and the other was branded as Schinken Messer, with a 5.5in (14cm) blade.

Summary: The murder of a Pakistani politician in north London a year ago was "carefully planned", Scotland Yard has said, as it offered a £20,000 reward for details.


It means that 1,500 jobs are at risk: 650 in higher education, 500 in further education and 400 civil servants. About 1,000 places may be lost in universities but 16,000 would go from further education colleges. The department is being asked to cut £82m or 10.8% from its annual spending. Employment and Learning Minster Stephen Farry said the level of cuts proposed was "unprecedented". Mr Farry said: "This document outlines the possible impact on a wide range of functions and services across the department and arms length bodies in response to the executive's draft budget. "The level of cuts being proposed for the department is unprecedented and this will have far reaching and deep implications across all of the department's provision. "The potential measures will impact on the universities, colleges and other sectoral training providers and will almost certainly result in a reduction in places offered to train and educate our young people." The news comes a day after a senior official in the Department of Education predicted at least 2,500 job losses in schools over the next financial year. The proposed cuts at the Department for Employment and Learning are contained in a draft savings plan that sets out the impact the 2015/16 budget will have on the department. To date, the department has decided upon reductions of less than half of the required £82m. BBC News NI education correspondent Maggie Taggart said: "Some 17,000 fewer places in colleges and universities would be extremely damaging to the prospects of young people. "71% of the department's budget goes on staff costs and more than 1,500 jobs are at risk." Mr Farry has also decided to take more than £2m out of the budget for smaller teacher training colleges - a 20% cut. "It is the money St Mary's and Stranmillis currently get because of their small scale," said our education correspondent. "He says the payment called the 'premia' does not contribute to front line training and if he did not remove it , he would have to make even steeper cuts." NUS-USI president Rebecca Hall said the ramifications for students could be catastrophic. "Government must make investing in our future a key priority. That means investing in students and in further and higher education," she said. "Government simply must overturn the proposed cut to DEL funding within the draft budget." A senior official in the Department of Education has predicted at least 2,500 job losses in schools over the next financial year because of cuts. Trevor Connolly described the situation as "extremely bleak and difficult". Mr Connolly said 1,000 teaching jobs and 1,500 non-teaching jobs could be lost and that that figure could rise. He said schools budgets could also be cut. The Department of Education has to make cuts of £198m to its budget. Mr Connolly made his remarks when he was giving evidence to the Education Committee at Stormont. The draft budget is out for public consultation until the end of the month. The assembly will debate the budget next month.

Summary: Some 17,000 education and training places could go as a result of severe cutbacks, the Department for Employment and Learning has revealed.


Christian Calderwood was forced to stop by other drivers who surrounded him with their vehicles and took his keys. Stirling Sheriff Court was told that Calderwood, 42, was barely able to stand by the time police arrived. Calderwood, of Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire, will be sentenced in April. The court heard that Calderwood was spotted driving erratically on the M80, west of Stirling, at about 17:00 on 23 May last year. Motorists saw him speeding up and slowing down, and veering from lane to lane. Lindsey Brooks, prosecuting, said that other motorists were so concerned about the way he was driving that they began to follow him, and saw that he then joined the M9. A truck driver saw Calderwood's car come up behind him, almost hit him, then overtake and just miss the rear of the lorry before drifting onto the hard shoulder and back again onto the motorway. After seeing further erratic driving, the truck driver slowed to a halt near the Park of Keir roundabout forcing Calderwood to stop behind him. Mrs Brooks said other motorists stopped alongside Calderwood, "effectively blocking him in". One witness took the keys out of his car's ignition. Mrs Brooks said: "The witnesses spoke to the accused, who seemed to be confused and foaming from the mouth. "The police noted he was unsteady on his feet, unaware of his surroundings, where he was, or what he was doing. "There appeared to be white powder round his mouth and the officers said they were having difficulty keeping him awake." He was told to take a roadside breath test, but did not appear to understand what he was being asked to do. A blood test later showed high levels of Etizolam, a benzodiazepine which is prescribed for anxiety and insomnia in India and Japan. Calderwood admitted driving while unfit through drugs. Sheriff Richard McFarlane deferred sentence for four weeks for reports and disqualified Calderwood from driving in the interim. He said: "From the description I have, you were hardly fit to stand, let alone drive a vehicle."

Summary: A man who drove for 20 miles on a motorway after taking drugs was "foaming from the mouth" when he was stopped by police, a court has heard.


He also told MPs the British and Irish governments "recognise the benefits" that come from the travel area. Mr Brokenshire was responding to questions from East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson and Foyle MP Mark Durkan. He said said he did not "want to see a return to the borders of the past". It was Mr Brokenshire's first appearance at Northern Ireland Questions since he was appointed secretary of state last week. He was also asked about the possibility of holding a border poll and repeated his view that the "conditions had not been met". DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds told the House that a united Ireland would be "financially catastrophic". Mr Brokenshire appeared in the Commons alongside the new Northern Ireland Minister Kris Hopkins, who succeeded Ben Wallace. Shadow Northern Ireland Minister Stephen Pound joked that he had now faced six Conservative ministers and he suggested he was being used "as a training aid for young thrusting Tories". Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Dave Anderson said the Conservative government was "badly prepared for Brexit" and he urged Mr Brokenshire to read recent reports which highlighted the economic difficulties. The secretary of state said he was "always grateful for summer reading" and he said he would add the Labour MP's suggestions to his list. Mr Brokenshire's predecessor Theresa Villiers was an interested observer during the session of Northern Ireland Questions, which is the last before the summer recess.

Summary: Secretary of State James Brokenshire has told the House of Commons the continuation of the Common Travel Area between Northern Ireland and the Republic will be a "priority issue".


Two people were left with "life-changing" injuries when a corrosive substance was thrown on to them through their car windows. Cousins Resham Khan and Jameel Muhktar had been celebrating Ms Khan's 21st birthday before the attack. John Tomlin, 24, is described as white, 6ft tall, of stocky build and with short fair hair. He is known to frequent the Canning Town area. Ms Khan, a student at Manchester Metropolitan University, and Mr Muhktar suffered severe burns to the face and body in the attack on 21 June. "Within seconds, my cousin started screaming. Her eyes were blistered, her face started melting. My face started melting", Mr Muhktar said. According to police, they had stopped at traffic lights when the man approached them and threw the toxic substance at Ms Khan through the window. The attacker then circled around the car and threw more of the acid at Mr Muhktar, before eventually fleeing the scene. Mr Muhktar, 37, had to be temporarily placed in an induced coma to treat his injuries. "I'm in a really bad way. I'm going to be scarred for life. I can't walk properly, I can't hear properly, I can't sleep", he said. Police said there was no current information to suggest the attack was racially or religiously motivated.

Summary: Police have released an image of a man they want to talk to in connection with an acid attack in east London.


The bus was travelling to the Monastery of St Samuel the Confessor, 135km (85 miles) south of Cairo, from Minya province when it came under fire. No group immediately said it was behind the attack. But Islamic State (IS) militants have targeted Copts several times in recent months, and vowed to do so again. Two suicide bombings at Palm Sunday services at churches in the northern cities of Alexandria and Tanta on 9 April left 46 people dead. Another suicide bombing at a church in the capital in December killed 29 people, while a Christian community was forced to flee the town of el-Arish in the northern Sinai peninsula after a series of gun attacks in February. The Copts killed on Friday had been travelling to St Samuel's monastery to pray. Their bus was in a small convoy that was stopped on a desert road near Adwa police station by between eight and 10 gunmen wearing military uniforms, officials cited witnesses as saying. The gunmen then fired at the bus with automatic weapons before fleeing in three 4x4 vehicles, they added. A Christian official in Minya, Ibram Samir, told the New York Times that children had been on the bus and were among the dead. Mr Samir said a pick-up truck carrying workmen at the monastery was also in the convoy. It is not clear whether it was targeted as well. Minya governor Essam al-Bedawi said security forces had arrived at the scene and were fanning out along the road to the monastery and setting up checkpoints. Copts make up about 10% of Egypt's population of 92 million. Last month's attacks prompted President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi to declare a three-month nationwide state of emergency and promise to do whatever was necessary to confront jihadist militants, most of whom are based in northern Sinai. But many Copts complain that the Egyptian authorities are not doing enough to protect them, says the BBC's Orla Guerin in Cairo. There is now a real sense of fear, and a feeling of being hunted, she adds. The Coptic Orthodox Church is the main Christian Church in Egypt. While most Copts live in Egypt, the Church has about a million members outside the country. Copts believe that their Church dates back to about 50 AD, when the Apostle Mark is said to have visited Egypt. The head of the Church is called the Pope and is considered to be the successor of St Mark. This makes it one of the earliest Christian groups outside the Holy Land. The Church separated from other Christian denominations at the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) in a dispute over the human and divine nature of Jesus Christ. Read more about the Coptic Orthodox Church

Summary: Gunmen have attacked a bus carrying Coptic Christians in central Egypt, killing at least 26 people and wounding 25 others, state media report.


The FA's investigation into Whelan's comments about Jewish and Chinese people will be treated "as a priority". Whelan, who has denied being racist, made the comments while defending his decision to appoint Malky Mackay. "Should they even suggest I'm guilty I would immediately resign," he said. In an interview with ITV News, Whelan added that he does not expect to be found guilty because "I'm absolutely anti-racist, always have been, always will be". The FA issued a statement on Friday in which it said it was "very concerned" by the situation and had written to Whelan. Media playback is not supported on this device The 77-year-old must respond to the FA by Wednesday. Mackay was recruited by Wigan despite being under investigation by the FA for allegedly sending homophobic, sexist and racist text messages while at Cardiff. Mackay, who took charge of Wigan for the first time against Middlesbrough on Saturday, has also denied being racist. Whelan has apologised for remarks he made in an interview with the Guardian, although he has insisted he was misquoted and did not intend any racial slight. The newspaper reported that Whelan used the word "chink" and also said that "Jewish people chase money more than everybody else". "If I have upset one person, I apologise," said Whelan. Tan, who sacked the 42-year-old Mackay last year in acrimonious circumstances, leading to a legal dispute, thinks the decision to make him Wigan manager is a mistake. "This is a racist chairman hiring a racist manager," Tan told BBC Sport. "I hope that stops at two racists in Wigan, not snowballing to 2,000 or 20,000 racists in Wigan." Both Whelan and Mackay have refused to respond to Tan's comments.

Summary: Dave Whelan says he will resign as Wigan chairman if the Football Association punishes him for the controversy in which Cardiff owner Vincent Tan has labelled him "racist".


A four-mile section of the A591 between Keswick and Grasmere remains closed after it was damaged in a landslide. Cumbria County Council said it had upgraded a forest road at Dunmail Raise which is wide enough for a small bus but not general traffic. A spokesman said the service would begin on Tuesday. A spokesman said there would be a park and ride service with pick up points at Keswick, Legburthwaite and Grasmere.

Summary: A shuttle bus service is being put in place to help passengers stranded after the collapse of a major road during Storm Desmond.


The former party leader's victory came as the SNP won all six seats in the north east of Scotland. Callum McCaig won Aberdeen South from Labour, and Kirsty Blackman did likewise in Aberdeen North. Stuart Donaldson won West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, Angus Robertson held Moray, and Eilidh Whiteford was re-elected in Banff and Buchan. However, Alistair Carmichael retained Orkney and Shetland for the Liberal Democrats. Mr Salmond, speaking after defeating the Liberal Democrats in Gordon, said: "The Scottish lion has roared this morning across the country. "There is a swing under way in Scotland the like of which has not been seen in recorded politics. "I look forward to representing every constituent, regardless of their political views." Mr Salmond claimed a 47.7% share of the vote, over Christine Jardine on 32.7%, as the SNP saw a 25.5% increase. Mr McCaig's win, with a 29.8% increase, saw Anne Begg lose her seat. He said he was "honoured and thrilled". Ms Blackman's win was on the back of a 34.2% increase to defeat Richard Baker. Mr Donaldson's West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine victory came after a 25.9% share increase. Lib Dem Sir Robert Smith, who lost the seat, was pushed into third behind Conservative Alexander Burnett after a 17% fall. Mr Robertson increased his majority for a 49.5% share, as did Ms Whiteford, with a 19% vote increase and a 60.25% share. Mr Carmichael's victory came after a 20.6% fall in his share of the vote. He thanked the people of Orkney and Shetland for giving him the "tremendous privilege" of serving them again.

Summary: Alex Salmond said the Scottish lion had "roared", after he won the Gordon seat for the SNP in the general election.


The squat, squeaking android is being created at Pinewood Studios by two British men who are members of a Star Wars robot-building group. Lee Towersey and Oliver Steeples say they feel "very privileged" to be working on the film. Star Wars: Episode VII is currently in pre-production and filming is due to begin in the spring. The new outing is being directed by JJ Abrams and is set for release in December 2015. The two robot builders have previously employed their skills on Star Wars-themed commercials, but it was a visit of LucasFilm president Kathleen Kennedy to a convention in Germany that got their work noticed - and landed them jobs on the new film. "I mentioned that the R2-D2 Builders in the UK were available if required, as a semi-joke. When I was contacted to work on the film by executive producer Jason McGatlin, it was on her recommendation," said Mr Steeples. "It's a dream come true," he added. "I hope I can live up to the expectations of the thousands of R2-D2 builders around the world, let alone the millions of Star Wars fans." The pair, who have been constructing R2-D2 units for some years, will be responsible for maintaining the robots during the making of the film, and will try to improve on its design. The robot is a mesh of gears, lights and electronics which need to be kept in excellent condition throughout the production of the movie. British actor Kenny Baker was inside the machine for the first six Star Wars films. It has not been revealed whether he will rejoin the series for Episode VII. R2-D2, an astromech android, is best known as a companion to the human heroes of the Star Wars franchise, including Luke and Anakin Skywalker, using its resources to rescue them from perilous situations. He built up an endearing partnership with his fussy fellow android C-3PO, who is able to understand R2-D2's language and interprets it for humans. The droid's name is an abbreviation of "reel 2, dialogue 2" - which Star Wars creator George Lucas overheard in the editing suite for his second film, American Graffiti.

Summary: R2-D2 is to make an appearance in the next outing of Star Wars, makers LucasFilm have confirmed.