UK universities also do well lower down the tables, with 18 in the top 100 and 10 from London alone in the top 400. John O'Leary, part of the board that compiled the latest ranking and editor of the Times Good University Guide, says a greater emphasis on research has helped make world-beaters of a handful of UK universities. Mr O'Leary told BBC News: "UK universities are improving the effectiveness of their research. All but three of the UK's top universities achieved higher citation rates than last year, though they still trail the big US institutions like Harvard, Stanford and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "There are now three sets of international rankings for universities - all of them use citations among their main measures. Leading universities are increasingly aware of their international position and academics always want to produce research that is cited by others. American academics tend to cite other Americans, which gives them an edge. "Increasing the number of academic citations is one of the ways that UK universities have improved this year, but they also do very well in most of the other measures including their reputations amongst other academics. "UK universities genuinely have a very high reputation all over the world." Cambridge University, now in second place, was top of the whole table in the two preceding years. University College London (UCL) rose from seventh to fourth place within the past year. Prof Malcolm Grant, provost of UCL, said the ranking would help confirm London's position as a global leader in something other than banking. "Higher education, science, research, technology and health are all remarkable strengths of London, every bit as strong as financial services," he said. "What is remarkable for London is to be the only city in the world to have two top 10 universities. Mr O'Leary said UCL in particular had done a lot better than in previous years in terms of the number of times its research had been cited in academic journals. He said UCL's increasing focus on research followed a massive increase in the number of postgraduates at the university in recent years. In 1995-6 there were 4,270 graduate students at UCL. By 2011-12 that number had grown to 11,000, a move Mr O'Leary said would have brought in more international students and boosted both the university's income and the effectiveness of its research. Mr O'Leary said teaching in English also gave UK universities a big advantage, particularly in attracting international students. He added: "Per dollar, the UK has for sometime had the most productive university system in the world." Dr Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group of research universities, said: "It is important to nurture leading research universities within a genuinely diverse education system where a range of institutions with different missions and strengths are fostered. "The country does not need - and certainly cannot afford - all universities to be research-intensive. "In these difficult economic times, our institutions have made every pound work hard. Against the odds, with 1% of the world's population, 14% of the world's most

Summary: The United Kingdom punches above its weight in terms of the international reputation of its universities, with four in the top six of the latest rankings from QS.


Mr Rusbridger, who was the editor-in-chief for 20 years until last summer, was due to start the role in September. He said newspapers had been "battered by turbulent and economic forces that were difficult to foresee last summer". The current chair of the Scott Trust, Liz Forgan, will remain in post until her successor is appointed. Mr Rusbridger will also resign as a trustee. In an email to Guardian staff, published by Buzzfeed, he said he had a "fantastically interesting new life in Oxford" to look forward to. He wrote: "I have been on the Trust long enough to understand its role. "We all currently do our journalism in the teeth of a force 12 digital hurricane. It is surely obvious to anyone that changed circumstances will demand dramatically changed solutions." Ms Forgan said: "Alan Rusbridger's contribution to the Guardian over 20 years as editor-in-chief is immeasurable. "He has been the creative leader of this place and an inspiration to generations of journalists. His decision reflects his enormous integrity and his dedication to the Guardian." Mr Rusbridger joined the Guardian in 1979 as a reporter and became editor in 1995, succeeding Peter Preston. Under his management, the paper moved from its office in London's Farringdon to Kings Cross and embraced digital journalism. Mr Rusbridger also changed the size of the newspaper from broadsheet to Berliner format. Mr Rusbridger was succeeded at the Guardian by Katharine Viner, the paper's first female editor-in-chief.

Summary: Former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger will not become the head of the Scott Trust, which owns the Guardian Media Group, he said on his Twitter account.


At a UN oceans summit, delegates from China, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines said they would work to keep plastics out of the seas. Some of the promises are not yet formalised and environmentalists say the measures proposed are not nearly urgent enough. But UN officials praised the statement. Meeting in New York, they said it was part of a clear international shift against ocean pollution. Eric Solheim, the UN's environment director, told BBC News: "There are quite encouraging signs, with nations taking the ocean much more seriously. Of course, there is a very long way to go because the problems are huge." It is estimated that 5-13 million tonnes of plastics flow into the world's oceans annually. Much of it is ingested by birds and fish â€“ and fragments of plastic have even been found in organisms at the bottom of the ocean. A recent paper said much of the marine plastic often originates far from the sea â€“ especially in countries which have developed consumer economies faster than their ability to manage waste. The Helmholtz Centre in Leipzig, Germany, estimated that 75% of land-borne marine pollution comes from just 10 rivers, predominantly in Asia. Reducing the plastic loads in these rivers by 50% would reduce global plastic inputs by 37%, it said. Tom Dillon from the Pew Charitable Trusts, which campaign on oceans, urged China to move quickly. He told BBC News: "For thousands of years the Maritime Silk Road was a pathway for export of Chinese culture and influence. Will the ocean be a vehicle for export of Chinese pollution, or a new culture of conservation and sustainability?" A report to the UN conference from the Thailand government says most marine plastic debris is land-based, caused by inefficient waste management and poor handling of plastic wastes. In Thailand, the total amount of garbage finding its way into the sea was estimated at 2.83 million tonnes in 2016 - of which 12% was plastic. The Thai government says the nation has established a 20-year strategy to tackle the problem, including developing financial incentives for keeping plastic out of the sea and encouraging eco-packaging design and eco-friendly substitutes for plastics. In Indonesia, the government is starting a mass education programme for schoolchildren, and in the Philippines new laws are being developed. Part of the challenge is finding substitutes for plastics. An international prize for smarter materials and design for packaging was launched recently by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin

Summary: Nations responsible for much of the world's ocean plastic pollution have promised to start cleaning up their act.


The Electoral Commission said the wording proposed by ministers - "should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?" - could be perceived as biased to the status quo. It has proposed adding the words "or leave the European Union?" The government has said it will accept the changes although the final decision will be made by Parliament. However, the development has been welcomed by those campaigning to exit the EU. The vote on the UK's membership of the European Union is due to take place before the end of 2017. If the changes were made the options for voters in the referendum would be "Remain a member of the European Union" or "Leave the European Union" rather than the Yes/No options in the existing wording. The watchdog said it was recommending the rethink after consulting members of the public, campaigners and academics. While in its current form, the question was "easy for people to understand and answer", the watchdog said that by only setting out the "remain" option and the "yes" response, it could "encourage voters to consider one response more favourably than the other" - that option being the status quo. This, it warned, could potentially raise issues about the legitimacy of the eventual result, particularly in the eyes of those campaigning to leave the EU. The amended question, it argued, "would not cause comparable concerns about neutrality, whilst also being easily understood". "Any referendum question must be as clear as possible so that voters understand the important choice they are being asked to make," said its chair Jenny Watson. "We have tested the proposed question with voters and received views from potential campaigners, academics and plain language experts." "Whilst voters understood the question in the Bill some campaigners and members of the public feel the wording is not balanced and there was a perception of bias. "The alternative question we have recommended addresses this. It is now for Parliament to discuss our advice and decide which question wording should be used." Ms Watson said it was standard practice for the watchdog to recommend changes to referendum questions and it showed the process was working normally. MPs will consider the issue when they return from their summer recess next week as part of legislation paving the way for the vote. But ministers said they would table changes to the EU Referendum Bill to enact the new wording. "The prime minister's objective has always been clear - to give people a very clear and simple choice," a No 10 spokeswoman said. "We believe that will still be achieved with the recommendation from the Electoral Commission today." UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the change was welcome, tweeting: "I'm in no doubt that the Yes/No offering was leading to great confusion and that Remain or Leave is much clearer. That, combined with a more explicit question, is the right direction of travel." Should the wording be changed, it will cast doubt on the approach of the embryonic Yes and No campaigns. Although the campaigns have yet to be formally launched, it

Summary: The elections watchdog has recommended a change to the question to be put to voters in a future EU referendum.


The tent was still there when I left but the VIPs will not now be coming. The plan was for government officials to spend today signing a raft of documents including the key contract which guaranteed EDF a reward of high prices of Â£92.50 per MWh for the financial risk they are taking with this mammoth project. But hours after EDF's board voted to approve the Â£18bn power plant on Thursday, the government launched a further review of the project. This stunning new development came all the way from the top of government and the timing seemed calculated to cause maximum impact. EDF executives were taken completely off guard, the post-Brexit run of major investment is abruptly halted and what precious entente cordiale in Anglo-French relations there is left after the EU referendum result seems diminished. Is it a genuine pause for a new government to read the small print of a project that is two administrations old, or a signal of a potential change in policy? If so - what is plan B? The nuclear fleet is not getting any younger, renewables are not yet placed to take the strain in January when the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow. If it's an attempt to get better terms it's a poker game where the stakes are very high.

Summary: Down at Hinkley Point yesterday, I watched the EDF Energy staff erect the party tent in preparation for the arrival of VIPs invited to toast the final piece in the nuclear power station puzzle.


The suspect was tracked down at the Underground station for Heathrow Terminals one, two and three. Earlier, armed officers carried out a search on a Victoria line train at King's Cross St Pancras Underground station following reports of an incident at Finsbury Park. The victim suffered cuts to his body and face and was taken to hospital. British Transport Police said his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening. A spokesman told the BBC armed officers attended because they had been on patrol nearby. The Victoria line was suspended in both directions for around 15 minutes. It has since reopened but is severely delayed, a Transport for London spokesman said. Liam O'Hare, who was at Finsbury Park at the time of the incident, told BBC London he saw an altercation between two men on the southbound Victoria line platform. He said: "One of the guys ran off in a different direction, and one boarded the train but was immediately helped off as he was clearly injured. "He was bleeding, there was a puddle of blood on the train floor and people had to step over it." He added that other passengers reported seeing one of the men holding a blade, but said he had not seen it himself.

Summary: A man has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm after an assault on a 63-year-old man at Finsbury Park.


The "drinkable book" combines treated paper with printed information on how and why water should be filtered. Its pages contain nanoparticles of silver or copper, which kill bacteria in the water as it passes through. In trials at 25 contaminated water sources in South Africa, Ghana and Bangladesh, the paper successfully removed more than 99% of bacteria. The resulting levels of contamination are similar to US tap water, the researchers say. Tiny amounts of silver or copper also leeched into the water, but these were well below safety limits. The results were presented at the 250th national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston, US. Dr Teri Dankovich, a postdoctoral researcher at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, developed and tested the technology for the book over several years, working at McGill University in Canada and then at the University of Virginia. "It's directed towards communities in developing countries," Dr Dankovich said, noting that 663 million people around the world do not have access to clean drinking water. "All you need to do is tear out a paper, put it in a simple filter holder and pour water into it from rivers, streams, wells etc and out comes clean water - and dead bacteria as well," she told BBC news. The bugs absorb silver or copper ions - depending on the nanoparticles used - as they percolate through the page. "Ions come off the surface of the nanoparticles, and those are absorbed by the microbes," Dr Dankovich explained. According to her tests, one page can clean up to 100 litres of water. A book could filter one person's water supply for four years. Dr Dankovich had already tested the paper in the lab using artificially contaminated water. Success there led to the field trials which she conducted over the past two years, working with the charities Water is Life and iDE. In these trials, the bacteria count in the water samples plummeted by well over 99% on average - and in most samples, it dropped to zero. "Greater than 90% of the samples had basically no viable bacteria in them, after we filtered the water through the paper," Dr Dankovich said. "It's really exciting to see that not only can this paper work in lab models, but it also has shown success with real water sources that people are using." One location gave the paper a particularly tough challenge. "There was one site where there was literally raw sewage being dumped into the stream, which had very high levels of bacteria. "But we were really impressed with the performance of the paper; it was able to kill the bacteria almost completely in those samples. And they were pretty gross to start with, so we thought - if it can do this, it can probably do a lot." Dr Dankovich and her colleagues are hoping to step up production of the paper, which she and her students currently make by hand, and move on to trials in which local residents use the filters themselves. "We need to get it into people's hands to

Summary: A book with pages that can be torn out to filter drinking water has proved effective in its first field trials.


Midfielder Mooy scored a 25-yard winner for the Championship leaders. But Monk was furious Mooy was still on the pitch, believing the Australian should have been given a red card and not a yellow for a lunging tackle on Liam Bridcutt in the first half. "Two-footed, off the ground, totally out of control," Monk said of the foul. "I don't want to talk about referees. But if you see that and you can't tell me that's a sending off, I don't know what is. "It was a horrendous tackle that he made." Huddersfield head coach David Wagner said Mooy's tackle was not worthy of dismissal in England, but would have been a straight red-card offence in his native Germany. "In England no red card. Germany, red card," said Wagner, whose side are top of the table by four points after five wins from their six league matches. "But we are not in Germany, we are in England. This is what I've learned. This was a pretty hard, British challenge. "It came too late, but I didn't think for one second it would be a red card because I've been 10 months now in British football and I know, this was not okay, he was too late. Yellow."

Summary: Leeds boss Garry Monk said Huddersfield matchwinner Aaron Mooy should have been sent off for a "horrendous" foul in the west Yorkshire derby at Elland Road.


The police report said the girls killed themselves "out of shame" after one of the sisters was seen with a boy. But the girls' parents had accused the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of "trying to fudge the case". Rights groups and their relatives said many questions remained unanswered. The lower-caste cousins, thought to have been 14 and 15, were found hanged from a mango tree on 28 May 2014 in Uttar Pradesh. The initial reports that the girls had been gang-raped and murdered by a group of men from the same village sparked global outrage. A local post-mortem examination initially confirmed multiple sexual assaults and death due to hanging. But in December, the CBI filed a "closure report" in court, saying investigators had studied "around 40 scientific reports" and "questioned over 200 people" and come to the conclusion that the elder girl had "an intimate relationship" with one of the three men and that the other girl, her younger cousin, was "facilitating the relationship". The girls killed themselves after they were found by a neighbour and because they were afraid of facing their families, the report added. It accused the families of filing a false complaint of rape and murder and requested that the case be closed. The girls' relatives accused the CBI of conducting "a shoddy investigation" and filed a "protest petition" in a local court in Badaun town. On Wednesday, the special court that deals with cases of sexual offences against children rejected the CBI report and also summoned the main suspects in the case to the next date of hearing. A CBI spokesman said they were yet to get the detailed court order and would comment only after studying it, the Indian Express newspaper reported. Three men arrested in connection with the case and two policemen accused of "dereliction of duty" were freed on bail in September.

Summary: An Indian court has rejected a federal police report which had ruled that two teenage girls found hanging from a tree in India last year took their own lives and were not gang-raped and murdered.


From 2019-20, the Football League wants a fifth division with 20 teams in each. Initial reaction was one of outrage from some clubs at how they found out about the plan. Given 90% - 65 out of the 72 - of the Football League clubs need to vote in favour, that seems like a mistake. The Football League insisted it sent documentation on its proposals to all member clubs on Thursday lunchtime, but senior officials of two Championship clubs say they were unaware of the proposals until they were reported by the media. The positive argument put forward for reducing the number of teams in each league is that there would be less need for midweek games, when attendances are smaller. It would also reduce the number of away games and, as a result, the travel costs of both clubs and supporters. "That is an utterly ridiculous argument," said one Championship chairman. "For the best-supported clubs, four home league games amounts to between £1.5m and £2m in gate receipts. For away games, our bill is around £2,000 each time. "So, basically what they are saying is give up over £1m and you will save £8,000. Are you being serious?" In 1994-95, the Premier League needed to reduce from 22 clubs to 20. It was managed in one season, by relegating the bottom four clubs and promoting only two from the First Division. The process continued down to the Third Division, which expanded from 22 teams to 24. Reducing a league from 24 to 20 could be done with four relegated clubs and none promoted, five and one, six and two or seven and three. Then you would need to reduce the third tier by eight and the fourth by 12. The best eight National League sides could make up the rump of League Three. An even more radical option would be for eight Premier League reserve teams to be asked to make up the numbers. It is the kind of idea FA chairman Greg Dyke proposed in 2014 - only for it to be instantly rejected by the Football League. However, the presence of eight well-supported 'reserve' teams may widen interest and could be a way of filling the gap in funding created by those eight fewer games. There are various ways of getting there, but the brutal fact is four Championship clubs are going to get axed from the division. Current solidarity payments for Championship clubs not in receipt of parachute payments are £2.3m. For League One clubs it is £360,000 and League Two £240,000. When the new £5.1bn Premier League TV deal comes into force in August, Championship clubs will get a solidarity payment equivalent to 30% of a third-year parachute payment. League One and League Two clubs will receive 4.5% and 3% of a third-year payment. If the current £10m third-year parachute payment remained the same, there would be a difference of around £2.5m. "Why would anyone who had a chance of being relegated from the Championship vote for that?" said the same chairman. "It is the ultimate turkeys

Summary: The Football League faces a problem getting plans ratified that would lead to the game's biggest shake-up since the Premier League was formed in 1992.


Chief executive Leeann Dempster and Director of Football Operations George Craig performed a rigorous process before appointing Alan Stubbs two years ago, and a similar project is now under way to find his successor. The bottom line for the successful candidate is they must lead the Edinburgh club out of the Championship and back into Scotland's top flight - or be deemed a failure. So who are the likely options for the Hibs board, and what are their chances of succeeding Stubbs at Easter Road? Neil Lennon (current odds: 7/1) Took Celtic job in 2010 and led them into Champions League group stages, famously beating Barcelona, and won three league titles. Left in the summer of 2014 and after a short spell out of the game, appointed Bolton boss. But constant financial issues saw Wanderers plunge to the bottom of the English Championship, and Lennon left in March, less than halfway through a four-year contract. Recently lost out to Brendan Rodgers for the Celtic job. Stuart McCall (current odds: 5/1) Currently in a part-time role as a member of Gordon Strachan's backroom team with Scotland. Linked with a number of managerial posts since leaving Rangers last summer. Had a successful four-year spell as Motherwell boss, leading them to a second-place finish in the Premiership and winning the Manager of the Year Award. Began his managerial career at Bradford City before returning north to take on the job at Fir Park. John Hughes (current odds: 9/4) Life-long 'Hibee' who has played for, captained and managed the club previously, finishing fourth in the top flight in his one full season before a fall-out with the board saw him leave five months later. May find it difficult to turn it down if asked again, but while chairman Rod Petrie remains, a return seems unlikely. Led Inverness to Scottish Cup success and a third-place finish, but left last month amid rows over budgets with the board. John Collins (current odds: 16/1) Played over 160 games for the club in a six-year spell between 1994 and 2000 before leaving for Celtic. Returned to Easter Road in his first managerial job when Tony Mowbray left in 2006, leading the club to a League Cup triumph in 2007, but soon left amid player complaints to the board about his management style. Spent the past two seasons as assistant to Ronny Deila at Celtic. Mixu Paatelainan (current odds: 33/1) A fans' favourite in two spells as a player, best remembered for scoring a hat-trick in a 6-2 win over city rivals Hearts in October 2000. Returned to Easter Road as boss in 2008, and led them to a top-six place. But after his first full season, he left by mutual consent, although departed on a high with another win over Hearts. Most recently boss of Dundee United, but sacked after their relegation from the Premiership this season. Alex McLeish (current odds: 5/1) McLeish took over a struggling Hibs side in February 1998 and despite an upturn in fortunes, they were relegated from Scotland's top flight. Guided them back at the

Summary: In the past 10 years only Tony Mowbray has lasted more than two years as manager of Hibernian.


Amina Al-Jeffery, 21, from Swansea, who has dual British and Saudi Arabian nationality, claims Mohammed Al-Jeffery locked her up after she "kissed a guy". Her lawyers have taken legal action in London in a bid to protect her but her father has denied the claims. The judge said a ruling on the case would be issued in public. Barristers Henry Setright QC and Michael Gration, representing Miss Al-Jeffery, have asked Mr Justice Holman to look at ways of coming to her aid. The judge has been analysing the case in the Family Division of the High Court in London and the hearing ended late on Thursday. Lawyers are due to file final documentation on Monday and Mr Justice Holman is scheduled to deliver a ruling on Wednesday. Mr Justice Holman has said there are reasons to be very concerned about Miss Al-Jeffery's welfare. And he rejected an application from Mr Al-Jeffery for restrictions to be placed on what journalists can report. The judge has been told Miss Al-Jeffery left Swansea and moved to Saudi Arabia at her father's insistence four years ago. He has heard that Miss Al-Jeffery's mother and siblings are back in south Wales. Neither Miss Al-Jeffery nor her father, an academic who is in his 60s, have been at the court hearing. Barrister Marcus Scott-Manderson QC, representing Mr Al-Jeffery, told Mr Justice Holman at the end of proceedings on Thursday that Mr Al-Jeffery wanted "reporting restrictions". But Mr Justice Holman said: "No. Afraid not." He said there were good reasons for staging the hearing in public - even though it was in a family court - and allowing journalists to report freely. Mr Justice Holman said the case involved the welfare of an adult who was a British citizen. "I happen to think that the case raises issues that require to be ventilated in public," said the judge. "I dare say the publicity is extremely disagreeable to the father."

Summary: A father accused of imprisoning his daughter at their home in Saudi Arabia has failed in a bid to limit reporting of the case.


The performance will be overseen by Chic's Nile Rodgers, who produced Bowie's hit album Let's Dance in 1983. "The tribute will be a multisensory testament to the icon's incredible artistry and a reflection of his limitless creativity," said the Recording Academy in a statement. Gaga has previously credited Bowie as an inspiration. "He's sort of like an alien prince," she once told chat show host Alan Carr. "Every morning I wake up and I think, 'What would Bowie do?'" "We had already booked Lady Gaga on this year's show, but when David passed - almost in a single moment - we knew we had to change direction," said Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of the Grammys. "We immediately spoke and agreed that she should be the one to honour David. She's perfect for it." The Grammys will be held in Los Angeles on 15 February. Gaga is nominated for best song written for visual media, thanks to her Diane Warren-penned ballad Til It Happens To You, from the documentary The Hunting Ground. Other performers on the night include Adele, Kendrick Lamar, James Bay, Ellie Goulding and Carrie Underwood. During his career, Bowie was nominated for 11 Grammys but only won once - when Jazzin' for Blue Jean was awarded best video in 1985. He also received a lifetime achievement prize in 2006. The star died of cancer on 10 January, just days after releasing his new album, Blackstar. It will be eligible for honours at next year's Grammy ceremony. A Bowie tribute is also planned for the Brit Awards, which take place on 24 February. Details have yet to be announced, but media reports suggest that Noel Gallagher, Bono, Adele and Damon Albarn have been invited to take part.

Summary: Pop star Lady Gaga is to honour David Bowie with "an experiential tribute" at this month's Grammy Awards.


The proposals include replacing the college grants with bursaries and creating one States-run secondary school spread across four sites. The department has dismissed suggestions of closing one of its four secondary schools and called for the rebuild of two schools to go ahead. The selective system was criticised in two reviews released in 2012. Education Department proposals The review of secondary education found a lack of accountability and called for the creation of school governing bodies, while in the primary sector it found reading ability had declined. Education Minister Robert Sillars said: "[The 11 plus] is not an appropriate way to determine the future of our children's secondary education. "It fails to deliver equality of opportunity, fairness or the sort of social mobility that was originally intended." The written exams assess academic potential and help decide which pupils are offered places at the Grammar School or the grant-supported colleges. Deputy Sillars said: "We have designed our own solution for Guernsey. We do not have to slavishly follow what they do elsewhere. "We are aiming to keep what is good about our education system but address some of the problems of inequality and fairness presented by our current selective process." The Treasury and Resources Department has questioned the lack of costings in the report and suggests the costs of an executive head teacher and increased transport spending would see costs rise to Â£3.5m above current levels. It said there was an "absence of compelling evidence" the proposals offer value to the Guernsey taxpayer. The department has previously advocated the closure of one secondary school and increasing the size of the other three. The proposals will be debated by the States in March.

Summary: The 11 plus exam could end in 2019 under an overhaul of Guernsey's secondary education system.


Murray, 30, is in the same half of the draw as 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka, who he beat in last year's semi-final. Second seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic faces Spain's Marcel Granollers, and is in the same half as nine-time champion Rafael Nadal. The tournament starts at Roland Garros in Paris on Sunday. Seventh seed Konta, who is chasing a first win in the Grand Slam event, having lost in round one in the previous two years, is up against the world number 109 from Taiwan. Defending women's champion Garbine Muguruza opens against 2010 winner Francesca Schiavone and could face a semi-final against world number one Angelique Kerber, who starts against Ekaterina Makarova. Romania's world number four Simona Halep, who is battling to be fit after tearing ankle ligaments, starts against Slovakia's Jana Cepelova and is in the same half of the draw as Elina Svitolina, who beat Halep in the Italian Open final last weekend. Petra Kvitova is set to announce later on Friday whether she will play in the French Open, six months after she suffered serious hand injuries when she was stabbed by an intruder in her home, with the Czech drawn against American Julia Boserup. Konta is the only British player in the women's singles after Heather Watson lost 6-0 6-3 to the Netherlands' Richel Hogenkamp in the third round of qualifying on Friday. The 26-year-old has played Hsieh twice before, with the Briton winning their last match in Vancouver in 2013 and Hsieh winning on grass at Eastbourne in the same year. Last year's runner-up Murray has won his two previous meetings with world number 85 Kuznetsov - in the third round of the 2014 US Open and again on hard court in Beijing last year. The other British men in the draw all avoided seeded players. Kyle Edmund, ranked second in Britain and 50 in the world, takes on Portugal's Gastao Elias, who is 75 places below him. Dan Evans plays Spanish veteran Tommy Robredo, while Aljaz Bedene starts against American Ryan Harrison. Former British number one Greg Rusedski Murray has played a bit too much tennis. He got shingles, and all of a sudden he was back on antibiotics leading up to French Open. Physically he is not in the right place. When you are not winning matches, your mental side starts to affect you, so it's a combination of the two areas. I don't expect that much from him. I think his focus will probably be on defending his Wimbledon title. It's going to be a hard one. Halep was the one everyone was looking at as favourite but she has had an ankle injury. If Konta can get her movement on the clay right she has got a shot, the women's event is wide open. BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller Nadal, Djokovic and Dominic Thiem have all been drawn in the other half, but that does not feel especially relevant to Murray just now. He has lost half of his clay matches so far this year and is seeded to face Juan

Summary: World number one Andy Murray will play Russia's Andrey Kuznetsov in the French Open first round while fellow Briton Johanna Konta faces Hsieh Su-wei.


He made the comments after winning the US Open doubles title with Brazil's Bruno Soares. Judy Murray has said the new sporting and housing development would deliver "big" for tennis and the community. More than 1,000 objections have been lodged with the authority against the development on green belt land. Jamie Murray was asked how he felt about his success and that of brother Andy. He said: "It is amazing what we've been able to do, being from a country with no history of tennis at all. "It is quite amazing thinking about it and I get quite emotional talking about it. "I think my mum especially has done some amazing things, and I hope for everything that she's done for us and for tennis in Scotland that she's able to get this tennis club built. "We want to leave a legacy of what we're doing and it's the best way to do it. I hope the Scottish Government back her plans. I guess we'll probably find out in a few days I think. Golfer Colin Montgomerie also supports the development, although he is no longer closely involved in the plans for the centre, which would be on land between Dunblane and Bridge of Allan. The plan consists of a 12-court tennis venue, golfing facilities, a hotel and spa, and 19 luxury homes. Stirling Council's planning and regulation panel rejected a planning application in December. Planning officers said it should be refused because it was sited on greenbelt land. They also said there was not enough affordable housing proposed and added the residential element was contrary to Scottish planning policy, because residents would have to travel for basic amenities and services. On Wednesday Judy Murray told the hearing that she was keen to find a site suitable for a tennis centre in a "central location" of Scotland. Ms Murray said: "For me being a Dunblane person, when this site was mentioned to me it ticked all of the boxes." She added that it would "deliver tennis on a big scale and serve the local area too". Ms Murray said the tennis facility would not be viable without the golf academy and housing. "Tennis doesn't stack up by itself - it has to have other things around it," she said. She told the public inquiry the Park of Keir development team involved her and property firm the King Group but there was no "formal" business partnership Mark Ruskell, Scottish Green Party councillor for Dunblane and Bridge of Allan, previously spoke against the proposal. Mr Ruskell said: "It would have been totally wrong to rip up our democratically-agreed local plan to make room for executive housing on this treasured greenbelt area. "For over 25 years, local communities have fought against development at Park of Keir. Judy Murray had a good idea but it was in completely the wrong location. I'm sure that sporting legacy can be secured elsewhere." The developers lodged an appeal with the Scottish government in March. The hearing, by the Scottish government's planning and environmental appeals division, will continue to take

Summary: Jamie Murray has urged the Scottish government to back his mother Judy's plans for a tennis centre near Dunblane.


Media playback is not supported on this device The 32-year-old Ivory Coast midfielder becomes only the third player, after Nigerians Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha, to receive the honour twice. Football fans voted for Manchester City's Toure, who first won in 2013, ahead of Yacine Brahimi, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Andre Ayew and Sadio Mane. "I am very proud. To receive this dedication from the fans is unbelievable," Toure told BBC Sport. "Also I want to pay tribute to the other nominees. African football is growing up, becoming much better and we have fantastic young players coming through now." Toure described all five nominees as "champions". He added: "I am delighted and very happy. And as an African player, I want to lead all my younger brothers to be successful in the future. "When I was a kid I was always dreaming of being an important player. I have sacrificed a lot. "I will continue to try to win a trophy every year, I will fight to win a personal trophy." Two of the beaten nominees have won the award before, Algeria's Brahimi in 2014 and Ghanaian Ayew in 2011. Gabon's Aubameyang was on the shortlist for the third year running, while Senegalese Mane made it for the first time. Toure has been nominated for the award seven times and his second win ensures his year ends with a trophy, just as it began when he led Ivory Coast to glory at the Africa Cup of Nations. He captained the team in Equatorial Guinea and opened the scoring in the semi-final to put his side on course for a 3-1 victory over Democratic Republic of Congo. Toure was a key influence as his country ended a 23-year wait for their second Nations Cup title, overcoming Ghana in a penalty shootout in the final. It was Toure's first trophy with the national team in his sixth Nations Cup tournament, having lost in two finals - in 2006 and 2012. There was less success for Toure with Manchester City, who failed to defend their English Premier League 2014 title and finished second to Chelsea. But Toure remains a powerful presence in the heart of the midfield and contributed seven goals for City in the calendar year. Vera Kwakofi, Current Affairs Editor, BBC Africa, said: "Yaya Toure's leadership for country and club offers an example for many young footballers aspiring to emulate his career. "We are pleased that as the BBC we are here to celebrate and share in this moment with his fans around the world."

Summary: Yaya Toure has been voted the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2015.


6 February 2017 Last updated at 17:15 GMT This year features many famous faces and locations from around the world. You may recognise Pikotaro, who became an internet legend with his song Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen. Even the President of the United States, Donald Trump, makes an appearance. The biggest sculpture is a frosty version of the Arc de Triomphe - a famous monument in Paris. They even raised a French flag in front of it in a special ceremony. Check out the video to see some super snow sculpting skills

Summary: The Sapporo Snow Festival has started in Japan, featuring its famous collection of snow sculptures!


Riot police in Rio de Janeiro had encircled the area early on Saturday expecting a court order to evict them. The building is meant to be demolished as part of preparations for next year's World Cup. Community leaders said they were ready to fight back with bows and arrows. Campaigners say the eviction and demolition of the historic building - Rio's former indigenous museum, built in 1862 - are unnecessary. The community, known as Aldeia Maracana (or Maracana tribe), settled in the disused building six years ago. 'Tourist attraction' Brazilian authorities say the area needs to be cleared for the circulation of fans during the 2014 World Cup. Rio's governor Sergio Cabral recently said the demolition was being demanded by the Fifa, the international football federation. But Fifa's office in Brazil issued a letter denying the claim, says the BBC's Julia Carneiro in Rio. There are plans to build a car park in the area. A nearby state school is also due to be demolished, despite protests by parents. Several matches will be played in Brazil's biggest and most famous stadium, including the World Cup final. When it reopens, in the next few months, it will have a total capacity of 78,000 spectators. Maracana will also host the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Olympics. The old Indigenous Museum, which belongs to the federal government, is in urgent need of repair. More than 20 families live there, planting traditional herbs and tobacco. Campaign groups have tried to save it and keep the indigenous community where it has lived for the past six years. The community hoped to be able to showcase their way of life to tourists during the World Cup. Opposition legislator at the Rio de Janeiro Assembly Marcelo Freixo said tourists "would rather see a historic building next to the stadium than a car park or fast food joint". A legal battle has been going on for months. The local authorities have failed to get the court order, but campaigners expect the local authorities to continue pursuing the eviction in the next few days.

Summary: A Brazilian indigenous community that has been facing eviction from a building next to the Maracana football stadium has celebrated the police's decision to leave the area.


Roberts' low finish came after team-mate Christian Burgess was cautioned twice inside a minute, firstly after a tussle with Francois Zoko and then for fouling Ryan Dickson. Zoko had earlier pounced on poor Pompey defending from a corner to put the Glovers ahead at the far post. Portsmouth stay in the play-off places, with Yeovil still next to bottom. Portsmouth manager Paul Cook told BBC Radio Solent: Media playback is not supported on this device "It's a fantastic point, but never ever at any stage were we playing well in the game or we were in control of the game. "I thought Yeovil were excellent on the day. It was a difficult game for us, but the reality of it was we never played well and we have dug ourselves a point and at the end of the season I think we will look at that point as a good point. "We just weren't at it today like we were last week. As a manger it always comes down to me, I accept that, but when you're trying to change a culture of a club it is hard."

Summary: Gary Roberts rescued a point for 10-man Portsmouth with an equaliser at relegation-threatened Yeovil Town.


A BBC team and some tourists were on the volcano when the explosion happened. BBC science reporter Rebecca Morelle described the experience of "Running down a mountain pelted by rocks, dodging burning boulders and boiling steam" and says they had "a very narrow narrow escape". The emergency services thankfully got everyone off the mountain safely with no serious injuries. Rebecca Morelle said a volcanologist who was there at the time had told her it was the most dangerous incident he had experienced in his 30-year-career. Lava flow mixed with steam had caused a huge explosion, which pelted the group with boiling rocks and steam, she said. Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, it's been erupting for the last three weeks. Mount Etna erupts a few times a year.

Summary: Mount Etna on the Italian island of Sicily has erupted.


Harvey Horn, Pat McCormack and Lawrence Okolie each secured wins to complete a 3-2 scoreline in Miami. In an exciting finish to the contest, heavyweight Okolie's fight went to a split decision in the deciding bout. World Series Boxing offers fighters a route to Rio 2016 via an Olympic qualifying event in Bulgaria in May. Team GB topped the boxing medal table at London 2012, with three gold medals, one silver and one bronze. The Lionhearts' next match is away to the Morocco Atlas Lions on 5 February in Casablanca. The team's first home fixture will be against the Mexico Guerreros at York Hall on 18 February.

Summary: The British Lionhearts made a winning start to their latest World Series of Boxing campaign, with an away victory over USA Knockouts.


The rules of the Orange Order prohibit members from attending Catholic Masses. Mr Elliott and the former UUP deputy leader Danny Kennedy publicly attended the funeral of Constable Kerr in Beragh on Wednesday. Both are members of the order. Mr Elliott is a former county grandmaster of Fermanagh. When asked about their attendance an order spokesman told the BBC: "It is important that the Kerr family know they have widespread support throughout the community and the Orange Order offers sincere sympathy to them on the loss of their brave son." A former Ulster Unionist leader and Orangeman David Trimble attended a funeral Mass in Donegal for some of the victims of the Omagh bomb in 1998 without any action being taken. Away from public gaze, it is known that members do attend the funerals of Catholic friends without censure. It appears the leadership intends the same thing to happen on this occasion as well.

Summary: The Orange Order will take no action against UUP leader and Orangeman Tom Elliott for going to Ronan Kerr's funeral Mass, the BBC understands.


Chanel Purchase, 21, of Sheerness, Kent went on social media after the attack to search for his photograph, and he was arrested the following day. James Huggett, 22, of Minster, attacked her after they met outside a nightclub and he walked her home in April 2014. He denied the attack but was convicted of attempted rape at Maidstone Crown Court last week. Miss Purchase, who has waived her anonymity, said the attack happened in her own road. She said she screamed and he ran off, and when she got in her brother rang the police. After police visited her house to take a statement and swabs, she spent three hours searching for his picture on Facebook, even though she did not know his name. "He had told me a few friends that I may know. I did know a few. I thought if I can find a picture, and they would be on his friends' Facebook [pages], she said. She said she persisted because she did not want him to be on the streets and she felt unsafe with him out there. Miss Purchase emailed a picture of Huggett to police and he was arrested hours later. Det Con Gavin Humphrey, from Kent Police, said Miss Purchase responded to what must have been a horrifying ordeal with a incredible bravery and determination. He said her efforts in identifying Huggett allowed police to secure his arrest within seven hours of the incident. Huggett, of Woodland Drive, is due to be sentenced in January following pre-sentence reports.

Summary: A woman who used Facebook to track down the man who tried to rape her has seen him brought to justice.


Reporters said they appeared healthy but a little distressed after their long journey. A circus surrendered some of the lions, while others were taken in raids. The US-based group Animal Defenders International (ADI), which was behind the action, says almost all the lions have had teeth or claws removed. They would not survive in the wild. The lions are being transferred by land to the Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary, a 5,000-hectare reserve in northern South Africa. There, the lions will have drinking pools, platforms, toys and veterinary care. "This is a hugely important rescue mission because it does make a statement around the world about the way people treat animals," ADI spokeswoman Jan Creamer said. "These lions have suffered tremendously." The first group of nine lions was collected in Colombia's capital Bogota on a cargo plane, which then flew to Peru's capital Lima to pick up 24 more animals. "It will be hugely satisfying to see these lions walking into the African Bush," ADI Vice-President Tom Phillips was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. The lions were freed after the use of wild animals was banned in Peru in 2011 and Colombia in 2013. The 5,000-hectare (12,355 acres) Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary is on private land and already houses six other rescued lions and two tigers. The lion habitats there would be steadily expanded over the coming months as the lions became familiar with their new life and were introduced to each other, said ADI.

Summary: More than 30 lions rescued from circuses in Colombia and Peru have been flown to South Africa to start a new life in a sanctuary.


That was just below its record performance achieved the previous year, although 2015 included a one-off gain from licensing fees. Turnover was up 14% to £447m while employee numbers were up by 12% to almost 4,000. Almac operates across the world, with more than half its staff based in Craigavon. The company said 2016 had seen "significant investment" on expanding its US HQ at Souderton, Pennsylvania. Almac also recently announced a £5m investment at its global HQ campus in Craigavon to build an additional lab and office facility. Further investment is being planned as part of its global expansion strategy and will be announced throughout the year. In January the firm bought a factory in the Republic of Ireland as a direct result of Brexit. A major part of the Craigavon-based business is making products for big drugs firms. It told a Commons committee its customers need it to have a guaranteed presence in the EU for regulatory reasons. Group chief executive Alan Armstrong said: "2016 was a very successful year for Almac as we continued to deliver upon our global expansion strategy including investment of around £31m in new facilities, equipment and resources."

Summary: Almac, the Craigavon-based pharmaceutical firm, made a pre-tax profit of almost £27m in 2016.


The total population is now estimated to be less than 500 breeding pairs. The situation is even worse south of the border where the iconic bird of prey is said to be heading to the brink of extinction. The latest survey found 460 breeding pairs in Scotland in 2016 compared with more than 500 when the previous study was carried out six years earlier. The RSPB, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Scottish Raptor Study Group, along with a range of other UK partners carried out the survey. It found Scotland remained a major stronghold for hen harriers, with 80% of the UK population. However, having a breeding population of fewer than 1,000 birds makes the species vulnerable to the effects of habitat degradation and, in some areas, wildlife crime. The west Highlands continue to provide a home for the majority of Scotland's breeding harriers, while Orkney and the Hebrides were the only areas of the country to show a slight increase in the number of the birds. A major project aimed at maintaining their population has also been carried out at Langholm Moor in Dumfries and Galloway. Duncan Orr-Ewing, head of species and land management at RSPB Scotland, said: "The hen harrier is an indicator of the health of our upland environment, and the fact that its population continues to decline is of major concern. "The hen harrier is a high priority for our conservation work and urgent steps need to be taken to tackle illegal killing of this species and to improve their moorland breeding habitats." Eileen Stuart, SNH's head of policy and advice, said the decline was a "serious concern". She said they were committed to working with others to tackle wildlife crime throughout the country. "There is a very concerning trend of a long term decline in the number of breeding hen harriers in Scotland," added Wendy Mattingley of the Scottish Raptor Study Group. "For the population to begin to recover and expand over all suitable habitat, the intensively managed grouse moors of east and south Scotland must produce successful breeding hen harriers again. "The hen harrier is a wonderful spectacular raptor and more action must be taken to ensure that its future is secure." Tim Baynes, director of the Scottish Moorland Group, said the decline was disappointing but said it would be working to better understand the reasons behind poor breeding and help to rebuild the harrier population. Simon Wotton, lead author of the study, described the survey as a "monumental effort". "We hope these results will convince everyone in a position to help hen harriers to take positive steps to ensure their protection and rebuild the country's population for people to enjoy for generations to come," he said.

Summary: Hen harrier numbers have fallen by 9% in Scotland since 2010, according to the latest national survey.


The healthcare policy has serious IT issues, prompting the joke: "In 2008 my slogan was: 'Yes we can.' In 2013 my slogan was: 'Control-alt-delete.'" And he ridiculed media commentators for their apparent obsession with Mr Putin's bare chest. Dozens of celebrities, journalists and politicians were at the dinner. The roll-out of healthcare.gov, Mr Obama's main policy initiative of his second term, provided much of the humour. The president made several references to computer malfunctions. "Does anybody know how to fix this," he asked, pretending that the overhead projector had failed to work. Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who quit as a result of the IT issues, stepped up and said: "I got this. I see it all the time." The president used Mr Putin as a way of lampooning some conservative commentators and political opponents. "Last year [conservative commentator] Pat Buchanan said Putin is headed straight for the Nobel Peace Prize... to be fair they give those to just about anybody these days. So it could happen," he said. Mr Obama was given the award in 2009 having been nominated for it after less than two weeks in office. "[Republican] Mike Huckabee and [conservative commentator] Sean Hannity keep talking about his bare chest, which is kind of weird." The charity event is traditionally used by presidents to ridicule their opponents, but also laugh at themselves.

Summary: Barack Obama has used the annual White House correspondents' dinner to crack jokes about his healthcare policy, his political opponents and Vladimir Putin.


The significance of General Muhammadu Buhari's victory should certainly not be underestimated. An electorate that has savoured the rich experience of ousting an incumbent by the mere act of voting cannot easily be persuaded to forget it. And that must surely be a contagious experience on a continent where, it is often said, roughly one in five people are Nigerians. Besides, this was no "people's revolution" - something that the continent's remaining strongmen could loudly dismiss as a dangerous threat to the natural order of things. Instead Nigeria's election was something much more prosaic, and more subtle - a challenge to entrenched autocracy. It was, despite the disruptive efforts of a few, a very ordinary thing: A peaceful, modern, well-monitored, uncontestable transfer of power. Nothing to be feared. A casual precedent that should echo loudly around the region. "It establishes a link between performance and accountability - knowing that if you don't perform you can be thrown out of power by the electorate, not by the military," Adekeye Adebajo, from the Centre for Conflict Resolution in Cape Town, told me by phone. "It's an incredibly powerful incentive for better governance in the future. "It sends a strong signal to the rest of the continent. There will be autocrats in Khartoum, in the DRC, Rwanda and Uganda, who are thinking of staying on in power. They won't welcome this." The election also gives Nigeria more credibility and clout within the West African grouping Ecowas, at the African Union, and internationally, as the continent seeks to shrug off the enduring influence of former colonial powers like France. Nigeria's leaders can no longer be dismissed as hypocrites when they lecture neighbours like Mali, Niger, Guinea and Guinea Bissau, on the need to keep the military out of politics. That can only be a good thing for African democracy. On a more nuts and bolts level, these past few days have been a valuable reminder of quite how difficult it is becoming to rig an election. Social media, fingerprint scanners, and an army of young volunteer observers armed with mobile phones have all played their role - as they have done in other recent African elections - in limiting the possibilities of ballot stuffing and other shenanigans. That's not to say people didn't try to rig this election - and won't in the future. But once the data is out there - posted online - it becomes much harder for the backroom cheats to cook the books. Five reasons why Goodluck Jonathan lost Profile: Muhammadu Buhari Then there's President Goodluck Jonathan's abrupt decision to accept defeat - a move made, I'm told, without consulting some key officials and against the wishes of many in his party. It was a bold, selfless move that may well have saved many lives in Nigeria. It will go down as a new milestone for African democracy, and may help redeem Mr Jonathan's presidency, at least partially, in the eyes of his many critics. Does that mean Nigerian democracy is safe? Perhaps not. A new man may be coming to power.

Summary: After the anxiety and drama of the past few days in Nigeria, it is tempting to get carried away by the impact of this ballot - what it represents for both Africa's largest democracy and for those countries on the continent still wrestling with the notion that power can change hands without the world coming to an end.


Mae'r RSPCA yn dweud bod 11 o bobl wedi eu herlyn am beidio cadw at eu gwaharddiad yn y tair blynedd ddiwethaf. Ond maen nhw'n pryderu y gallai'r ffigwr fod yn llawer uwch. Yn ôl yr elusen gallai cofrestr ganiatáu i berchnogion siopau anifeiliaid a chanolfannau ail gartrefu anifeiliaid weld beth yw cefndir person sydd eisiau prynu anifail. Mae Llywodraeth San Steffan yn dweud bod yna system gofnodi yn bodoli yn barod gan yr heddlu, ac y gall unigolyn ofyn i swyddog i wirio os ydyn nhw'n pryderu. Maen nhw hefyd yn pryderu y gallai cofrestr agored "annog pobl i gymryd y gyfraith i'w dwylo eu hunain". Mae'r RSPCA yn dweud bod 228 o bobl wedi eu herlyn yng Nghymru am droseddau yn erbyn anifeiliaid ers 2013. Ond mae'n rhaid i'r cyhoedd fod yn ymwybodol bod y troseddwr wedi eu gwahardd rhag cadw anifeiliaid yn y lle cyntaf, ac yna rhoi gwybod i'r elusen am y mater. Byddai cofrestr yn ffordd effeithiol o wneud i bobl feddwl ddwywaith cyn troseddu ac yn atal dioddefaint anifeiliaid, meddai'r mudiad. Ym mis Ionawr cafodd Frank Lewis, 18 oed o Groeserw ger Port Talbot ei ddedfrydu am ddwyn cathod o warchodfa er mwyn i'w gŵn allu eu hela a'u lladd. Roedd wedi dwyn yr anifeiliaid o warchodfa Tŷ Nant. San Steffan Yn ôl yr Aelod Seneddol lleol Stephen Kinnock, mae angen gwneud yn siŵr nad yw pobl fel Frank Lewis yn troseddu yn erbyn anifeiliaid eto. Mae wedi gofyn cwestiwn ysgrifenedig i'r adran berthnasol o fewn llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig am y mater. "Mae angen i ni wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n gallu atal rhywbeth fel hyn rhag digwydd eto. Mae'n rhaid bod 'na ffordd o wneud hyn, bod gyda chi gofrestr ond eich bod chi ddim yn torri'r gyfraith diogelu data." Mae'r RSPCA yn dweud bod yna dystiolaeth o'r UDA sydd yn awgrymu bod cysylltiad rhwng troseddwyr sydd yn cam-drin anifeiliaid ac yna yn troseddu yn erbyn pobl, mater sydd hefyd yn pryderu Mr Kinnock. "Oherwydd hynny fe fyddai'n beth da o safbwynt atal trosedd i gadw cofrestr fel eich bod chi'n gallu bod yn llym ynglŷn â chosbi pobl sydd yn troseddu yn erbyn anifeiliaid, a hefyd cadw golwg arnyn nhw rhag ofn eu bod nhw'n troseddu yn erbyn pobl," meddai. Mae galwadau hefyd wedi bod i gael cofrestr yng Nghymru gan yr AC Plaid Cymru, Bethan Jenkins. Dywedodd llefarydd ar ran adran amgylchedd, bwyd a materion gwledig Llywodraeth y DU bod yr heddlu yn cadw cofnod o droseddwyr trwy system gyfrifiadurol genedlaethol, ond bod angen gwneud "gwell defnydd o'r gronfa ddata" a rhannu gwybodaeth yn well. Mae'r llefarydd hefyd yn dweud bod modd i berson ofyn i'r heddlu os oes ydynt yn poeni, a bod yr heddlu yn gallu edrych ar y system i weld os yw'r unigolyn wedi cyflawni troseddau yn erbyn anifeiliaid.

Summary: Mae elusen wedi galw am sefydlu cofrestr er mwyn cofnodi enwau pobl sydd wedi cyflawni troseddau yn erbyn anifeiliaid, yn dilyn beirniadaeth nad oes ffordd glir o orfodi gwaharddiad ar y troseddwyr.


The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rates the Royal Cornwall Hospital as "requires improvement". Chief Inspector Professor Sir Mike Richards said it was "disappointing" that "not enough progress" had been made its the 2014 report. Hospital bosses insist changes have been made and care is getting better. Read more on this story as it develops throughout the day on our Local Live pages. The other Cornwall NHS hospitals, St Michael's in Hayle and West Cornwall in Penzance, were rated "good". The CQC's main concerns about the Royal Cornwall Hospital included: In recent months the trust has been ranked one of the worst in the country for waits in A&E, bed blocking and staff being able to report mistakes. Agency spend is exceptionally high; the hospital spent Â£1.43m on agency workers in March. The Royal Cornwall Hospital also has a higher death rate than would be expected so new chief executive Kathy Byrne has some major issues to deal with. Prof Richards said: "If the trust is going to pull itself round, it will need a combined determination of the staff, the leadership team and the commissioners." Kathy Byrne, the RCHT's chief executive said: "We don't feel it is a disappointing report. "I fully accept the CQC's view that in some important areas we have not made enough progress. "We have acted on all the CQC's "must do" recommendations and are seeing better results for patients across the board."

Summary: Cornwall's main hospital has been told it must improve, two years after it was given the same instruction by inspectors.


The would-be thieves - four men dressed in black - struck at a service station in East Delph, Whittlesey at 02:55 BST. Cambridgeshire Police said the cash machine was left at the scene and it was not clear whether cash or anything else was stolen. Fire crews closed the petrol station on safety grounds. Two other trucks were also used in the raid. A red car - possibly an Audi - was seen leaving in the direction of the Dog In A Doublet pub and Thorney, Cambridgeshire Police said. On Saturday, a JCB was used to steal a cash machine from a newsagent's in Harlow in Essex. A police spokesman said it was "too early to say whether it [the Whittlesey raid] is being linked to others, but we are keeping an open mind".

Summary: Ram-raiders using a JCB digger and a forklift truck destroyed a petrol station building in a bid to steal a cash machine.


HMP Kingston is one of six jails in England to be closed by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) as part of spending cuts. Officers left the prison, by marching out the front gate together, at midday. Friends and family were then taken on a tour of the buildings and grounds. Kingston housed around 800 Category C prisoners with indeterminate sentences. The government said the closures would save Â£63m per year in running costs. The MoJ said the closures would result in the loss of 2,600 places from "old and uneconomic" prisons. It plans to build a new 2,000-place super prison in London, north-west England or north Wales. Unions have previously claimed up to 300 jobs could be lost in the closure of HMP Kingston and Camp Hill on the Isle of Wight. Some staff from Kingston have already been redeployed to other sites. Lou Ralls, chairman of the Portsmouth branch of the Prison Officers Association, said staff were "buoyant" despite the closure. He said: "The announcement came as a shock as we regarded ourselves as a high-performing prison. We feel a pocket of excellence for the industry and the city has been lost. "Around 8% of our members have taken voluntary redundancy. "No compulsory redundancies have happened and 100% of staff who wished to relocate have been handed their first or second choice."

Summary: A Portsmouth prison built in 1877 has closed its doors for the last time.


The 26-year-old Durham paceman fractured a bone in his ankle during a County Championship match against Surrey last month. Wood had already been forced out of the current Bangladesh tour. He is set to miss the five Tests against India, the first of which begins on 9 November, and the one-day series that follows in the new year. England's national physiotherapy lead Ben Langley said the new injury is unrelated to the problems that required two operations last winter. "It was only when we got him in for a second scan that we discovered he'd been playing on despite having fractured a bone," he said. "There's no reason to think that when he's had this bone fragment removed, he won't be able to get back to bowling as well he has for Durham, England Lions and England in the second half of the 2016 summer."

Summary: England bowler Mark Wood is to have a third ankle operation and is likely to miss the Test series in India.


The 34-year-old has been playing grade cricket for Sydney side Campbelltown. Panesar toured India on three occasions and took 17 wickets when England won 2-1 in 2012, their first series victory there for 27 years. The left-armer will advise Australia's batsmen and slow bowlers before they depart for the four-Test series, which begins on 23 February. Hopefully there will be opportunities to get involved at a county and get back into first-class cricket "Pat Howard [Cricket Australia's team performance manager] gave me a call and asked if I was available to work with a few players for the upcoming series and I was happy to do that," Panesar told the Tuffers and Vaughan Cricket Show on BBC Radio 5 live. "The hardest role for a spinner is [to] bowl 30 overs in a day, go for three an over, and give [the captain] control from one end and build pressure, and that's going to probably be one of the things [they] are going to ask me." He added that coaching is "something I've always had a passion for". "While I've been out here I've been helping the [Campbelltown] under-16s, under-21s and also the grade team, so this is a good opportunity to work with international cricketers," he said. "Coaching is more about getting to know the person as much as talking about the technical side of the game. Once you develop that trust in people's opinions, your coaching becomes that much easier." Panesar's stint in Australia is part of a bid to return to his best on the field amid mental health problems. In May 2016 he spoke to the BBC about feelings of anxiety and paranoia that stemmed from a loss of confidence and self-esteem. He spent last summer with Northamptonshire but is without a county for 2017, although he may train with Northants on his return from Australia and has not given up hope of playing at the highest level again. "From a playing side, I'm trying to get my shoulder a lot stronger, trying to get fitter again," he said. "Hopefully when I get back [to England] there will be opportunities to get involved at a county and get back into first-class cricket. "I still have international ambitions." Before leaving England to head down under, he travelled daily from Luton to Wimbledon to work with a fitness trainer and turned down television offers, with some reports linking him to ITV show I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here. Panesar has taken 167 wickets in 50 Tests for England, the last of which came at Melbourne on the 2013-14 Ashes tour.

Summary: Former England spinner Monty Panesar is to work with the Australia team before their Test series in India.


The 17-year-old, who cannot be named, was one of three teenagers arrested following the death of Joan Price on the A77 in Ayr on 30 January. At Ayr Sheriff Court Logan Knox, 19, of Girvan, was sent for trial, accused of causing death by dangerous driving. He was also accused of perverting the course of justice. He made no plea and was remanded in custody. Last week John Gribben, 18, of Ayr, was freed on bail after making no plea to similar charges. Ms Price, a 59-year-old musician, from Troon, died at the scene of the collision on the A77 near Holmston roundabout.

Summary: A teenager arrested after a woman died in an alleged hit and run crash has been freed by prosecutors.


Morgan James Francis Hehir, 20, died after an attack at Pool Bank Recreational Park in Nuneaton on Halloween. Miroslav Holan, 23, of Oak Lane, Bradford, previously pleaded guilty to theft at Warwickshire Magistrates Court. He was given a 12 week prison sentence suspended for 12 months on 31 March. Morgan's possessions were never found and his phone contained irreplaceable photographs and memories, said police. The theft "caused further distress to Morgan's family", added Det Sgt Andy Denny of Warwickshire Police. Three men have been charged with Mr Hehir's murder and will go on trial next month.

Summary: A thief who stole a wallet and mobile phone from a man who lay dying from stab wounds has been sentenced.


Police called to the collision on Long Street in Easingwold, North Yorkshire, found the white BMW 1 Series on top of a red Toyota Yaris. A blue Vauxhall Corsa was also involved in the collision, which happened outside a terraced house near the Horseshoe pub at about 21:30 GMT on Tuesday. The road was closed while the vehicle was recovered. Live updates and more news from across Yorkshire Jade Barnes, who lives a few doors from the scene, said: "The house the car crashed into is the house of a heavily pregnant lady, so I went to check she was ok. "We heard a crash but presumed it was people putting the bins out. "It was only when I saw the emergency services that I knew something awful had happened." Police said no one was injured and there were no arrests.

Summary: A car has crashed into a house and on to the roof of another car.


The world ranking event is part of the new Home Nations quartet of events - any player who wins all four tournaments will receive a £1m bonus. It is the first professional tournament in Northern Ireland since 2008. "It's brilliant. Everyone's been asking about an event here and now we've got one," said Belfast player Joe Swail. The format for the tournament, to take place from 14-20 November, will be a flat draw with all players starting in the first round. Total prize money for each of the Home Nations events will be £366,000, with the winner to receive £70,000. "There's definitely an appetite for a ranking event. Belfast is a brilliant place and I think the event will be a great success," added the two-time World Championship semi-finalist. "I feel as if snooker is coming home with these new big events in the UK. "I know the game is growing massively in China and it's nice to travel. "But for snooker in the UK to keep improving, it's important that we develop the game at grassroots and it helps the profile of the game having tournaments like this."

Summary: Titanic Belfast is to be the venue for the new Irish Open tournament in November, at which 128 of the world's leading players will compete.


It found the problem was compounded by the force's outdated and disjointed IT systems, one of which was at least 25 years old. But it also praised the "high quality training" offered by the force. The review was launched in response to a complaint of racial discrimination made by PC Jim Davies in 2014. It also recorded another allegation of "racist language" used by an officer in the same year, which was reduced from gross misconduct to misconduct. And it raised concerns over "potentially derogatory" Powerpoint slides used in training, which referred to "good breeding potential" and women who "expect to be hit". The authors of the review highlighted the absence of an "ethnicity recording system" that could properly track people from the Gypsy, Roma and traveller (GRT) communities. They said this problem was made worse by "elderly" IT programs, including a DOS-based system at least 25 years old, and a version of Windows that Microsoft no longer supported. It said: "Without clear ways of tracking GRT populations it is impossible to effectively consider the equality impact on these populations." The review was carried out between June 2014 and May 2015 and was led by Professor Margaret Greenfields of Buckinghamshire New University, as well as PC Davies who founded the the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Police Association. Prof Greenfields said the force had "fully accepted" the review's recommendations and praised it for "seeking to go far beyond tokenism or minimum standards of community engagement". A total of 40 crimes were identified in which members of the GRT community were involved.

Summary: Thames Valley Police must improve how it records data on Gypsies, Roma and travellers "as a matter of urgency", an independent review has said.


The Welsh secretary said Labour had let down west Wales and the valleys. Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, Mr Cairns said some areas, which had the most EU funds, voted more heavily to leave. A spokesman for First Minister Carwyn Jones insisted EU-funded programmes had made a "big difference" in Wales. Mr Cairns accused Mr Jones of trying to present Wales as "a victim of the EU referendum", following the majority vote across the UK for Brexit. "He seems to forget that Wales voted to leave the European Union too," he said. Mr Cairns argued Brexit represented an opportunity to do things better - and warned "carrying on in the same old way, spending according to the same old plans after two decades is not an option any longer". "After all, European structural funds are supposed to be a temporary fix, a stimulus for the most deprived parts of the UK. "In Wales in 1999 I remember the debate about Objective One money - it was described as a 'once-in-a-generation opportunity'. "But 16 years on, £4bn later, Labour's mismanagement of the funds has let those communities down. "So much was their frustration that those areas that had received most European aid were the very same areas that voted in the strongest numbers to leave the European Union. "If only they [Labour] had focused on the outcomes in the same way that they focused on the money that they were spending in those projects." Mr Cairns told the conference the new structure after Brexit "will give us the opportunity to follow UK priorities, investing in a way that is completely tailored to the Welsh and the UK economy". The Vale of Glamorgan MP singled out Mr Jones for criticism, but added: "Whether we like it or not, we must work from that instruction. "There are new and exciting opportunities for Wales with the UK being the global leader in free trade." Mr Cairns argued the new Department for International Trade will be "fundamental" to seek out new markets and increase inward investment for Wales. A spokesman for the first minister said there was an "astonishing paradox" in Mr Cairns's remarks. "First he celebrates the good employment figures in Wales, and then he trashes European funding," he said. "The truth is that European funded programmes, like Jobs Growth Wales, have made a big difference to Welsh businesses and job-seekers. "The reason Wales is out-stripping other parts of the UK doesn't have anything to do with the Tories in Westminster."

Summary: Alun Cairns has launched a fierce attack on the "mismanagement" of £4bn of EU grants by the Welsh Government intended to help the poorest areas.


Sources said ministers planned to lay the groundwork for a new Commons vote. The government plans to set out its achievements in Iraq so far with RAF air strikes and training of Kurdish and Iraqi security forces, sources said. The BBC also understands a small force could be sent to Libya. The team of about 20 troops would be sent to help Libya secure its borders - which is seen as a crucial step towards stemming the flows of migrants into Europe. An MoD spokesperson commented: "The UK, along with international partners, is supporting the process to form a recognised Libyan government and we are developing plans to provide support once this is done; it is too early to discuss the exact nature of this." According to sources, ministers intend to argue that the mission to defeat IS now has to turn to Syria, and that the UK should play a role in that effort. Describing the government's plans to increase its military involvement in the region, a source said: "The government is essentially posing a question: Could we do more? Should we do more? But Syria is where the fight should be taken to." Another source added: "The government will say the campaign in Iraq has been a success. IS has been degraded, land has been taken back. Some of their leaders have been killed. But the problem is across the border in Syria." Two years ago MPs rejected possible UK military action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government. A new parliamentary vote on the issue is not imminent, but the case will continue to be made throughout September in the run-up to the anniversary of the launch of UK airstrikes in Iraq, sources added. They said any move to extend UK military action to Syria would only involve an extension of airstrikes against IS targets and involvement in coalition special forces operations. The timing of the separate, small deployment to Libya is expected to depend on when Libya can form a unity government, and may be part of a broader effort. Nato is poised to go back into Libya to rebuild the country's defence and military once there is more political stability. Nick Hopkins will have more on this story on Newsnight on Friday at 22:30 BST on BBC Two.

Summary: Ministers will start to make a case for British military action in Syria next week - with Downing Street keen to take the "next step" against so-called Islamic State - the BBC understands.


Dozens more were injured in the accident near the town of Bambari, about 300km (186 miles) north-east of the capital Bangui. Most of the victims are said to be traders heading to a nearby market. Local residents often travel in overloaded lorries due to lack of other transportation in the country. The cause of Wednesday's crash is now being investigated. A local lawmaker said the lorry was travelling faster than normal. "They were driving fast to make it to the market on time. That's what probably caused the accident," Amaseka Topi told Reuters news agency. Dozens of injured people are being treated in Bambari's hospital. There are fears that the death toll could rise further. Years of neglect have left much of the Central African Republic's road system in ruins, and safety regulations are rarely enforced. The poor landlocked country has been wracked by conflict along religious and ethnic lines since 2013.

Summary: At least 77 people have been killed after a lorry loaded with passengers and goods crashed in the Central African Republic, officials say.


Reial Phillips, linked to Birmingham's Burger Bar gang, was "at the heart" of the shootings, targeting rival members of the Johnson Crew, police said. At Birmingham Crown Court he admitted firearms offences and conspiring to sell cocaine and heroin. Police said his actions "brought fear" to people in the West Midlands. Ashai Gray, 22, from Tanacetum Drive in Walsall, also admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin and was sentenced to nine years in jail. More updates on this story and others in Birmingham and the Black Country Both men were among 18 the BBC named in March when they were banned from parts of Birmingham for what police then said were their links to "gun or gang crime". West Midlands Police said 20-year-old Phillips, of Musgrave Road, Winson Green, and Gray were believed to be the "armed response" faction of the Burger Bar gang. The shootings occurred over several months last year and escalated when members of the rivals groups uploaded rap videos online to taunt one another, the spokesman said. Det Supt Mark Payne said: "For a period of time last year these men and their associates brought fear to the people of the West Midlands through their actions." The two gangs took their names from two cafes in Handsworth where black youths congregated in the late 80s and early 90s. Shootings timeline:

Summary: A man has been jailed for 27 years after seven people were injured in a series of shootings during a feud between rival gangs.


Drivers who get too close to cyclists could end up in court on a charge of dangerous or careless driving. Those caught too near will be advised that bikes should be given as much room as cars. Evidence will also be captured via a bike-mounted camera. The scheme could be repeated across the country. Police officers believe many people are put off cycling on Edinburgh's streets because of the fear of other vehicles coming too close when they overtake. PC Dominic Doyle, of Police Scotland, said: "A lot of drivers see a person on a bicycle riding on the road in a cycle lane and don't consider that passing them closely puts all road users in danger. "It could constitute careless or even dangerous driving and you would fail your driving test for that. "Those drivers that we stop during this operation will be shown how closely they passed the unmarked officer by standing on our specially-designed mat. "You should allow at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car when passing a person on a bicycle, giving consideration to the maximum speed limit and time and distance available to you." A total of 398 cyclists have been injured in collisions in the capital over the past two years, including 62 seriously. One has died. Keith Irving, Cycling Scotland chief executive, said: "Operation Close Pass is a welcome new initiative by Police Scotland to improve road safety. "Education and enforcement are essential to making safer roads for everyone, whether we are cycling, driving or walking. "This initiative is one of the many we need to take to tackle the increase in serious injuries amongst people cycling." Ch Supt Andy Edmonston, head of road policing for Police Scotland, said: "We are constantly working to make Scotland's roads safer for everyone, and I am very pleased to see this innovative approach being piloted in Edinburgh where a large number of people cycle to commute and for pleasure."

Summary: An unmarked police cyclist is taking to Edinburgh's streets to highlight the space cars should give bikes on the road.


York's National Railway Museum (NRM) has launched an appeal to mark the Flying Scotsman's 93rd birthday. The engine, which retired from service in 1963, has been restored for the NRM in a decade-long, £4.2m refit. On Saturday it ventured on to the mainline network for the first time in 40 years as it took a test run through Cumbria and Lancashire. Last month, the locomotive emerged into the East Lancashire Railway's Bury Bolton Street station after the final stages of the work at a nearby yard, thrilling hundreds of rail enthusiasts. It is due to be painted in its new green livery on Wednesday and have its nameplates reattached before making its journey between London Kings Cross and York on 25 February. Public services will begin later this month, alongside an exhibition at the museum. Former fireman John Morgan, from Peterborough, said he was looking forward to seeing the Flying Scotsman steaming between the two cities again. The 77-year-old became a fireman at 16 and worked on some of the most famous locomotives of the age, including the Flying Scotsman and the Mallard, the world's fastest steam train. "I have a lot of very good memories of 60103 [Flying Scotsman's British Rail number]," he said. "I did a lot of trips on the footplate and shovelled a lot of coal. "There was a lot of interest, even back then. Whenever we'd back up into King's Cross there'd be a crowd of people around wanting to get up into the cab." Bob Gwynne, associate curator of collections and research at the NRM, said: "As we've been planning our highly anticipated Scotsman Season, many people have already approached us with their special connections to the iconic steam locomotive and the famous train it was named after. "We've heard from crew members that worked on board and their families, and even of some babies born on the train."

Summary: People with links to one of the world's most famous locomotives are being urged to come forward with their memories.


Mr Bashir will travel to Saudi Arabia on Friday, Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said. The minister added that he hopes US sanctions against Sudan will be lifted in July, and said he believes the US wants to normalise relations. The US has not confirmed the claim. Economic sanctions were imposed against Sudan in 1997 after the state was labelled a "sponsor of terrorism". President Barack Obama signed an executive order easing some of the curbs in January, shortly before leaving office. The White House said the move was intended to acknowledge Sudan's efforts to reduce internal conflict, improve humanitarian access to people requiring aid, and curtail "terrorism". Mr Obama had delayed the reduction in sanctions by 25 weeks, to give the Sudanese government an incentive to continue its reforms. Relations between the US and Sudan have not been tension-free of late, however. The country was one of seven included in Mr Trump's proposed travel ban, along with Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. It is not known whether Presidents Bashir and Trump will meet when the US leader arrives in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The visit is Mr Trump's first overseas trip since taking office, and he is scheduled to address the summit on his "hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam". In 2009 and 2010, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Mr Bashir for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity related to the conflict in Darfur, which has claimed at least 300,000 lives. He denies the charges, and has successfully evaded arrest for several years. The ICC is based in The Hague, and was established in 2002 to try the world's most grievous crimes, when national courts are unable or unwilling to act. A US official told NBC News that the Trump administration opposes invitations or travel by individuals facing ICC indictments. "The United States has made its position with respect to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's travel clear," the official said. "While the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, which is the treaty that established the International Criminal Court, we nevertheless strongly support efforts to hold accountable those responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, including such acts in Darfur," the official added.

Summary: Saudi Arabia has invited Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for alleged war crimes, to a summit with US President Donald Trump and Arab and Muslim leaders.


The Tory manifesto says elderly people needing care at home would have to meet the costs but could keep £100,000 after the bill is deducted from their estate. The work and pensions secretary told the BBC it would still be "a reasonable inheritance" to pass on to dependants. Labour said the plan would leave people "on their own" and should be pulled. The policy scraps a planned £72,000 cap on care costs paid by the individual. The Tories argue that allowing people to keep a "floor" of £100,000 of assets which cannot be touched is fairer. Live updates: Sunday political interviews Reality check: Who could social care changes affect? Tory opposition to social care plans Labour steps up push for pensioner vote Conservative ministers have been defending the policy, arguing PM Theresa May is showing "bravery" by tackling the issue, and that a balance has to be struck between costs funded by the individual and those funded by the taxpayer. But Conservative think tank the Bow Group has warned it could be the "biggest stealth tax in history", and Labour has accused the Tories of "attacks on older people", citing the social care plan as well as curbs on winter fuel payments and the downgrading of the "triple lock" on the state pension. Four opinion polls for Sunday newspapers suggest that, while the Conservatives retain a big lead, support for Labour has increased. Elderly voters who own their own homes tend to be fertile ground for Tory support. But a social care plan that would see those people's homes sold off to pay for their care after death - meaning their children couldn't inherit those properties - was always going to be a difficult one to sell to this crucial group of voters. Today Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green defended it saying that £100,000 was a "reasonable amount of inheritance". That's the amount up to which the government would fund a person's care under the plans. But with a lot of properties worth a lot more than that, it has drawn criticism. Labour has taken the opportunity to make its pitch for the grey vote, promising more social care spending and a cap of £72,000 on how much anyone would need to pay, while the Lib Dems have accused the government of introducing a "dementia tax". With speculation over whether the cabinet is fully signed up to the Tories' new social care plan, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has been batting off suggestions that the cabinet didn't have a say in a policy that is likely to prove uncomfortable for Tories to sell on the doorstep. On plans to means-test the winter fuel payment - a sum of between £100 and £300 for those who reach the state pension age - in England and Wales, Mr Green told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show those "in genuine need" would continue to get it and the money saved would go into social care. The exact threshold for cut-off would be subject to consultation, he added. Mr Green said the social care cap system that

Summary: Damian Green has said the Conservatives will not "look again" at plans to fund social care in England, despite fears they will be unpopular with voters.


Jamie Topliss-Yates was struck by a car driven by Zaid Bhamji at the BP garage in Chanterlands Avenue in Hull. Bhamji, 21, received a six-month suspended prison sentence after admitting dangerous driving. Mr Topliss-Yates said he feared the incident had left him with long-term health issues. His head struck the car windscreen as he was thrown over the top of the vehicle and he is waiting to have a brain scan to see if there is any neurological injury. More on this and other Hull stories Mr Topliss-Yates said he had no chance to avoid the car and thought he was going to die. "Literally the last thing that went through my head before I actually hit the car was to try and brace myself and try and jump on to the bonnet," he said. Bhamji was sentenced at Hull Magistrates' Court last week over the incident, which happened on 14 January. It was estimated he was driving at between 20mph and 30mph. Mr Topliss-Yates said he would have liked to have seen the driver jailed as "a few months inside would have made him stop and think". "I was angry for a while because it seemed such a pointless thing to do," he said. "It upset me a little bit that the sentence was a suspended one, because you can't drive at that speed across a petrol station forecourt and think that that's OK."

Summary: A man who suffered a broken pelvis when he was run over at speed on a petrol station forecourt has said he is "upset" the driver was not jailed.


Wasilu Umar admitted killing her husband, who was more than twice her age, by concealing rat poison in his food, the police in Kano said. Three other people also died and 10 were taken to hospital apparently after eating the same food. Child marriage is common in Nigeria, especially in the mainly Muslim north. The girl's father had forced her to marry the 35-year-old man, police said. The marriage took place last week, police superintendent Musa Magaji Majia told the Associated Press news agency. The BBC's Will Ross in Nigeria says Islamic police are trying to stop parents from forcing children into marriages against their will and the father could be charged. The teenager is likely to be tried in a juvenile court.

Summary: A 14-year-old girl in the northern Nigerian state of Kano has confessed to killing the man she was forced to marry, police say.


The Somerset Choices website, run by Somerset County Council, will see approved and vetted carers list the types of services they can offer. The National Care Association said if listed carers fell ill or took holiday, there could be gaps in service. Somerset County Council said steps were in place to mitigate against this. The two-year project - which lists services on a website - has been prompted by the introduction of the Care Act 2014, which came into force in April. By law, councils must develop new markets which can offer a range of choices for those needing care. Nadra Ahmed, chair of the National Care Association, said: "There is a concern over the continuity of service. "If these are single employers with 'single' roles, if something happens to them, are we going to find people left at critical periods of time without any support?" She said there were also issues with how well-trained the self-employed carers were. Gareth O'Rourke, senior manager at the council, said: "[The service] is for a group of people who have a very good understanding of their needs and a strong understanding of how they want their needs to be met." He added those on the register were vetted, insured and met self-employment law criteria. According to Somerset County Council, the number of people likely to need support will rise from 2,392 in 2011, to 2,751 in 2015. In 2011/12, about 58,300 people provided unpaid care. It is not known how many people need care in the county as some pay for it privately and have no contact with social services. Somerset Choices offers services from personal care to dog walking.

Summary: A council project to boost the number of "sole trader" carers for the elderly may leave people without support, a care association has said.


Lochte, Feigen and two other members of the US swimming team said they had been robbed at gunpoint in a taxi in Rio. But police say their account of when they arrived at the Olympic village does not square with CCTV recordings. Local media report that Lochte left Brazil before the order was issued. His Twitter account shows footage of him arriving back in the United States on Monday, Lochte swam in two events at the Rio Games, winning gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay. Feigen, who is still believed to be in Brazil, won gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay. Accounts of what happened to the swimmers have been confusing from the beginning. Lochte first told US TV network NBC about it but International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said reports of the robbery were "absolutely not true". The US Olympic Committee (USOC) later confirmed the swimmers' accounts. Lochte himself told police that he and team mates James Feigen, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger had all attended a party in the French Olympic team's hospitality house on Saturday evening. He said that during their return drive to the Olympic village, their cab was stopped by men posing as police officers. One of the men held a gun to his head, Lochte said, and robbed him of his money and personal belongings. But police investigating the case say they have found no evidence of the robbery. They also point to "inconsistencies" in the swimmers' accounts. Lochte and Feigen told police they and their fellow swimmers had returned to the Olympic village at 04:00 local time (08:00 GMT). But CCTV recordings appear to show the swimmers returning to the Olympic village at 07:00 local time. They can be seen putting their belongings through a metal detector at the entrance to the village in what appears to be a calm manner. Police say they have not been able to track down the driver who the swimmers said drove them back to the village. They also said that Feigen and Lochte gave different accounts of how many men robbed them. Investigators have requested a search warrant for the rooms the swimmers stayed in with a view to examining Feigen's mobile phone. They said they wanted to trace the swimmers' whereabouts on Saturday night and Sunday morning. The US Olympic Committee (USOC) confirmed that Brazilian police had sought the passports and further testimony from Lochte and Feigen. In a statement the committee said: "The swim team moved out of the village after their competition ended, so we were not able to make the athletes available." The statement said that USOC "do not make athlete travel plans public and therefore cannot confirm the athletes' current location" but that they would co-operate with the Brazilian authorities.

Summary: A judge in Brazil has issued an order preventing US swimmers Ryan Lochte and James Feigen from leaving the country after police queried their evidence in a robbery case.