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Officials in the semi-autonomous region of Galmudug accused neighbouring Puntland of misleading the US into believing they had targeted extremists. The Somali military confirmed its soldiers were killed in the strike. Washington says the strike killed nine al-Shabab militants, but that it was investigating. Residents in the city of Galkayo in the Galmudug region protested against the strike by burning American flags on Thursday. "The cabinet requests the US government give a clear explanation about the attack its planes carried out on the Galmudug forces," a government statement said. Al-Shabab had said it did not have any of its supporters in the area during the time of the bombing which took place late on Tuesday night. A Somali military general confirmed their statement on Thursday, saying there were no militants in the area.

A Somali regional government official has demanded an explanation from the US after 22 civilians and Somali soldiers were reportedly killed in an airstrike.

The French host the tournament, which begins on 10 June. Didier Deschamps' side take on Romania in the tournament opener in Paris, before matches against Albania and Switzerland. The Scots missed out on Euro 2016 after finishing behind Germany, Poland and Republic of Ireland in qualifying. Scotland's last visit to face France was for a Euro 2008 qualifier, when James McFadden's memorable goal secured a famous win for Alex McLeish's side. France will also play Cameroon on 30 May in Nantes. The 63-year-old was airlifted to Glasgow's Southern General after the aircraft came down near the airstrip at Kingarth at about 15:45 on Saturday. He died on Sunday morning. The other person on board, a 52-year-old man, was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital and remains in a critical condition. The cause of the crash is being probed. It is believed the plane came down about 1km from the airstrip, in the south of the island. Police Scotland said it was working closely with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch. It has asked for any video or mobile phone footage which may help with the inquiry. The 63-year-old's relatives have been informed of his death and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal. Sir Michael says inspectors can rate schools inadequate if wearing Islamic face veils are a "barrier to learning". Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has said such decisions about veils were up to the uniform policies of individual schools. Sir Michael says he wants to give his "full backing" to heads wanting to impose a ban on face veils. The Department for Education says it is "clearly right" that if veils are interfering with learning that Ofsted should take action. The Muslim Council of Britain says Ofsted did not need to resort to the "megaphone of the media to show that it is flexing its muscles". Head teachers' leaders say that inspectors should not be judging schools on dress codes. The Ofsted chief said he was concerned that some heads were "coming under pressure" to relax a ban on face veils, either for staff or pupils. "I want to assure these leaders that they can rely on my full backing for the stance they are taking," said Sir Michael. He said that inspectors could downgrade schools, or rate them "inadequate", if they thought wearing a veil was damaging teaching. "I have also made clear to my inspectors that where leaders are condoning the wearing of the face veil by staff members or by pupils, when this is clearly hindering communication and effective teaching, they should give consideration to judging the school as inadequate." The Ofsted chief says he has written to all inspectors with this advice and says schools can be "marked down" if wearing the veil stands in the way of "positive social interaction". Sir Michael said that discrimination "on the grounds of gender, has no place in our classrooms". The Muslim Council of Britain called for "accommodation" over wearing the veil. "It is a shame that the niqab - the full face veil that a minority of Muslim women wear - has become a polarising issue when it need not be." Leora Cruddas of ASCL head teachers' union said Ofsted should not be judging schools on uniform policies. "Inspectors should focus on what schools achieve rather than what people wear." Andrew Clapham, an academic in Nottingham Trent University's education department, said: "Ofsted's threat to penalise institutions where the Muslim veil is worn has no basis in research." "There is no credible evidence base to suggest that wearing a piece of clothing on one's head has an impact on intellectual or academic ability." Kevin Courtney of the National Union of Teachers criticised Ofsted for threatening schools. "Rather than assisting school leaders this will have the effect of alienating many staff and pupils." A Department for Education spokesman said "we fully support" the statement from Sir Michael that head teachers who "restrict the wearing of the veil to support effective teaching and learning will receive Ofsted's backing". "It is also clearly right that if the wearing of the veil is interfering with education in schools that should trigger action from Ofsted."

France have announced they will play Scotland in a European Championship warm-up match on 4 June in Metz. [NEXT_CONCEPT] A man who was on board a light aircraft which crashed on the Isle of Bute has died in hospital. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw has told inspectors in England they can fail schools for allowing face veils.

Video recorded by the security cam revealed a Colorado landlord used his tenants' apartment without permission, to have sex. Carlos Quijada-Lara has pleaded guilty to a trespassing charge and will be sentenced in September. The speaker helped solve a separate case in which it recorded an alleged house-breaker's voice. This was subsequently recognised as belonging to a child of the victim's neighbour, according to the Associated Press news agency. It said the nine-year-old boy was now facing breaking-and-entering and larceny charges. A local newspaper added that the unnamed boy had admitted to breaking into the home on three separate occasions. It said that although the Echo speaker was itself stolen during one of the break-ins, its owner had been able to recover recordings it had made via her smartphone. The Smoking Gun news site was the first to report the guilty plea in the Nest camera case, which the BBC subsequently verified with a local court clerk. Although Quijada-Lara had given his tenants a lease saying he had the right to enter their flat, prosecutors said he had still committed a felony. Footage uploaded to the cloud by the camera revealed the landlord and another man had had sex on a bed in the apartment and then used a wedding dress belonging to the married couple to clean up afterwards. The case generated local notoriety after some of the captured video was broadcast on local TV news bulletins last December. "I opened up the camera and kind of had to like quit the program and, like, restart it again because I didn't really believe what I saw," the flat's tenant Logan Pierce told KKTV 11 News at the time. "I guess the first thing that went through my mind was like complete and utter disbelief." The growing popularity of smart home devices has been accompanied by concerns that they may put owners' privacy at risk. But the latest two cases illustrate the potential for the tech to protect them as well.

Google's Nest camera and Amazon's Echo speaker have both helped catch home intruders in the US, it has emerged.

England lost the final two Twenty20 matches against Australia but won the points-based multi-format series 10-8. "I hate losing - as I should, and as should the team - but we've a lot to be proud of," Edwards told BBC Sport. "This seemed a long way off a few weeks ago and to stand here with that trophy again is pretty special." 10-13 Jan: Test, Perth - England won by 61 runs 19 Jan: 1st ODI, Melbourne - England won by seven wickets 23 Jan: 2nd ODI, Melbourne - Australia won by 26 runs 26 Jan: 3rd ODI, Hobart - Australia won by four wickets 29 Jan: 1st T20, Hobart - England won by nine wickets 31 Jan: 2nd T20, Melbourne - Australia won by seven wickets 2 Feb: 3rd T20, Sydney - Australia won by seven wickets England could only muster 101 from their 20 overs in Sydney, Natalie Sciver top-scoring with 28, and Australia reached their target with nine balls to spare. "I'm disappointed, we should have got up to 120-130," Edwards said. "We stuck with it with the ball and it wasn't easy to score once the slower stuff was on so it was a disappointing day, but looking at the whole series we've got to be very proud of what we've achieved." Despite closing with two defeats, England were always ahead in the series, having won the one-off Test match in Perth to earn six points, and moved 8-0 ahead by taking the opening one-day international in Melbourne. They secured their second successive Ashes-series victory with a nine-wicket win in the opening Twenty 20 in Hobart on 29 January. Commenting on the closing defeats, with a squad depleted by injuries, Edwards added: "It has taken a bit of the gloss off receiving the trophy but quickly you have to remember back to Perth and back to the ODIs and Hobart, where we managed to play so well. "It's been a really tough four weeks - the Test match took a huge amount out of our young attack and ultimately we've been trying to claw it back since then. The girls have stuck together and to win out here back to back is pretty special." Attention now turns to the ICC Women's World Twenty20, which begins in Bangladesh on 16 March, as England attempt to regain the title they won in 2009, when the inaugural competition was staged on home soil. "These two games in a couple of months' time might be a blessing in disguise to show we've still got a little bit of work to do," Edwards added. "If we get Anya [Shrubsole] back it looks a totally different team and we've got to get home, get everyone fit and well and come ready and raring to go for Bangladesh."

England women captain Charlotte Edwards said defeat in the final match of the tour should not detract from their Ashes-winning performance in Australia.

The Japanese carmaker sold 7.5 million in the first three quarters of 2015, beating Volkswagen's 7.43 million and General Motors' 7.2 million. After six months of the year, VW was ahead of Toyota, in pole position for the first time. VW's emissions scandal emerged towards the end of September. The discovery of software that was able to mislead emissions tests on diesel cars may have more effect on VW's sales in the remainder of the year. Toyota's sales for the first nine months were 1.5% below the level at the same stage last year. Toyota first overtook GM to take the top slot in 2008 and has kept it every year since, except 2011 when GM was the top seller after a tsunami in north-eastern Japan disrupted Toyota's production. Separately, there was relief for General Motors on Sunday when it reached an agreement with the United Auto Workers union, averting a threatened strike. Details of the four-year labour deal were not released. It will now go to a vote of UAW leaders and then the union's 52,700 workers at GM. "We believe that this agreement will present stable long-term significant wage gains and job security commitments to UAW members now and in the future," said UAW president Dennis Williams. The union had threatened that it would terminate its existing contract at midnight Eastern time on Sunday, meaning there could have been a strike. Protests against the move led to looting in parts of the country, with shops attacked and roads blocked. Some cash machines on Thursday were still issuing the old 100-bolivar notes, hours before they expired. President Nicolas Maduro said new higher-denomination bills would be fully distributed in January. He has closed the borders with Brazil and Colombia until Sunday to stop "mafias" hoarding the currency abroad. Anger over the move led to skirmishes in six cities on Friday, the Associated Presss reported the authorities as saying, with 32 people being taken into custody and one injured. The sense of frustration has been compounded because there has been no official explanation as to why bank branches throughout Venezuela do not yet appear to have the larger denomination bank notes intended to replace 100-bolivar notes. The opposition argues the currency initiative is another sign that President Maduro is ruining the economy and must be ousted. Venezuelans have been queuing outside banks after they were given 72 hours to exchange the 100-bolivar note for new larger denomination notes and coins. The 100-bolivar note is worth just two US cents on the black market. Venezuelans mock 'useless' banknote What's behind the crisis in Venezuela? Some people on Thursday still received the 100-bolivar notes when they withdrew money at ATMs, then immediately had to queue up again to re-deposit the soon-to-expire notes. "I don't get the joke," office worker Yarelis Carrero, who lives in the capital Caracas, told the AFP news agency. "When you withdraw cash at the ATMs, they give you 100-bolivar bills. And you can't get the new ones inside the bank, either." Another bank customer said no-one had seen the new bank notes yet. "A guy I know who works for an armoured truck company said even they haven't seen them. Pure lies!" Saul Bernal said. But President Maduro praised Venezuelans for their understanding in a televised address on Thursday. "This is a big effort we're doing to tackle so many evils and tricks. We're burning the hands of the mafia," he said, quoted by Reuters news agency. He said the new bills were already being distributed and would be fully circulated in January. However, the replacement bills have yet to be seen in the streets. He also extended the border closure with Colombia and Brazil - in place since Tuesday - by another 72 hours. Central Bank data suggests there are more than six billion 100-bolivar notes in circulation, making up almost half of all currency. Buying almost anything with cash means a dangerous exercise carting around hundreds or thousands of bank notes in a country where robbery and violent crime is rife, says the BBC's South America correspondent Wyre Davies. President Maduro has blamed currency speculators and gangsters in neighbouring Colombia for inflation that has reached 500%. Economic experts, however, say the measure to take the note out of circulation will have little positive effect on the country's chronic economic and political problems.

Toyota has returned to the top slot in global vehicle sales after releasing figures for the first nine months of the year. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Venezuela's highest denomination banknote has ceased to be legal tender, in a move that has caused cash chaos and long queues at banks.

Refuse workers have been taking action in a dispute over job losses with the action now in its sixth week. It has led to rubbish mounting up on streets across the city, with Birmingham City Council facing a huge backlog. The authority said its recovery plan was aiming to deal with "100 per cent of wards by the end of the week". See more updates on this story and others across Birmingham and the Black Country here A council spokesperson said: "We are now well into our recovery plan to address the backlog of waste caused by the ongoing industrial dispute. "As of yesterday, we have visited approximately two-thirds of the city's 8,200 streets. "We are adopting a different approach that does not involve the regular collection schedules, with the aim of having dealt with 100 per cent of wards by the end of the week ahead." On Avon Street, in Sparkhill, bags of waste were piled up on the pavement, with waste, including nappies, spilling from torn bin bags. Resident William Turner, 73, who has lived on the street for 34 years, said the bins have not been collected for three weeks. "It's unhealthy and dangerous," he said. "They ask us to leave it out and then don't collect it. The council tax is being paid and up to date [but the service] is below zero. I would like to see a refund with some interest." Mr Turner, who said he supports the refuse workers, added the two sides must now come together to reach a resolution. The conflict centres on restructuring plans that trade union Unite says are threatening the jobs of more than 120 refuse collectors. The council says plans will modernise the service and save £5m a year. On Monday the union said there had been further contact with the council, which had been positive, but there was no breakthrough in finding a resolution. Krisztián Gyöngyi was tracking animals in the Akagera National Park when he was killed, African Parks added. It did not give more details, but rhinos usually charge and kill people with their horn. Eastern black rhinos became extinct in Rwanda about a decade ago, and were reintroduced in May. African Parks brought 20 rhinos from South Africa to the Akagera National Park. The death of Mr Gyöngyi, who was from Hungary, was "very tragic" and a "huge loss", African Parks CEO Peter Fearnhead said in a statement. He was a rhino specialist with more than five years' experience, and was instrumental in supporting efforts to reintroduce the black rhino to Rwanda, Mr Fearnhead said. In the 1970s, more than 50 black rhinos lived in the Akagera National Park, but their numbers fell as a result of wide-scale poaching. The last confirmed sighting of the species was in 2007 until African Parks reintroduced them in May after taking steps to improve security at the reserve.

A council has pledged to visit all streets hit by the Birmingham bin strike by the end of the week. [NEXT_CONCEPT] A conservationist who played a key role in reintroducing the eastern black rhino to Rwanda has been killed by one of the animals, a wildlife group says.

Media playback is not supported on this device Chisora threw a table at Whyte in Wednesday's news conference. He has received a two-year ban from boxing, which comes in if he commits another offence, been fined £25,000 and told to pay another £5,000 in costs. The British Boxing Board of Control withdrew their sanction for the fight being for the title, which Whyte keeps. He has not been punished. It remains a WBC world heavyweight title eliminator fight, but the pair will weigh in at different times and not face-off. There will also be a hearing at a later date to discuss any action towards the other people at the melee. During Wednesday's news conference, promoters and coaches sat between the pair but Chisora, 32, picked up the table and threw it at his rival, with security stepping in. That came after Whyte, 28, told Chisora he would attack him after the fight if he saw him. Chisora, who has six defeats from 32 fights, said he was reacting to a threat on his life. The fight was due to be the first British title defence for Whyte, whose only defeat in 20 professional fights was by IBF world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. Joshua headlines the Manchester Arena bill on Saturday, when he defends his world title against Eric Molina. Sloan's time of 1:49.17 was 1.76 seconds outside the Irish record he set in April as he was 37th overall with only the top 16 making the semi-finals. His Irish record time would have been 0.01 outside a qualifying spot. Sloan's team-mate Shane Ryan has progressed to the semi-finals of the 100m backstroke. Ryan clocked 54.33 which was 0.48 outside his national record set last year. Sligo swimmer Mona McSharry finished 24th in the women's 100m breaststroke heats with a time of 1:08.52 which was 1.14 seconds outside her national record set in April. The man, aged in his 40s, was found dead at a house in Thornton Road, Morecambe, at about 22:00 GMT on Friday. An investigation is under way after police were called by paramedics. A woman had also apparently taken the substance but survived and is helping officers with their inquiries, Lancashire Police said. Legal highs produce the same, or similar effects, to drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy, but are not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act. They cannot be sold for human consumption, but are often given labels such as "plant food" to get around the law. Recent studies have shown deaths linked to the substances are increasing.

Dereck Chisora's fight against British heavyweight champion Dillian Whyte on Saturday in Manchester will go ahead - but will no longer be for the title. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Bangor swimmer Jordan Sloan exited from the 200m freestyle heats in disappointing fashion at the World Championships in Budapest. [NEXT_CONCEPT] A man has died after taking a so-called legal high in Lancashire, police have said.

The Blues host San Marino side La Fiorita at Windsor Park on 27/28 June with the return leg on 4/5 July. In the Europa League qualifiers Crusaders take on Latvians FK Liepaja and Ballymena meet Odd BK of Norway. Coleraine's opponents FC Haugesund are also from Norway while Derry City go up against FC Midtjylland of Denmark. The Europa League first qualifying round games will be played on 29 June and 6 July. If the Blues progress they will play the 1967 European Cup winners in Belfast on 11/12 July with the second leg at Celtic Park on 18/19 July. The 11/12 July date is problematic as it coincides with the 'Twelfth' marches in Northern Ireland and an alternative arrangement is likely to be sought. It would be a first meeting between the Blues and Celtic. Celtic defeated Irish League opposition in Belfast four years ago with a 3-0 win over Cliftonville in a Champions League qualifier. The Scottish government had suggested hospitals consider a temporary suspension of the "mesh" procedure. And several patients had said the implants had destroyed their quality of life and caused excruciating pain. But Cochrane Collaboration scientists said their analysis of 81 studies found such problems were rare. They said the procedure was generally safe in the short to medium term but admitted there was a lack of long-term data and said more figures were needed to be sure of safety beyond five years after surgery. According to the group, some 14,000 procedures are carried out in England each year to treat stress incontinence - an involuntary leak of urine when pressure builds in the bladder - for example during coughing and sneezing. About six million women suffer from this across the UK, many affected after childbirth. The operation involves inserting a sling implant made of artificial mesh to support the muscles of the bladder. But a growing number of problems reported by patients - such as the mesh eroding and damaging nearby tissues - led doctors to think again. Hundreds of implant-related claims have been brought to the Scottish courts, with cases also seen in the US and Canada. Meanwhile, figures from the UK regulator, the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency), show there have been 124 adverse reactions reported about mesh implants since the beginning of this year. And experts acknowledge this may not reveal the full extent of problem, as some women do not report the issues they face. But the Cochrane group said its research showed the complication rate is low. And the researchers said most people who had had the procedure felt their quality of life had improved. They said women should be able to make an informed choice, taking all the risks into account. But Kath Sansom, a freelance journalist who lives in Cambridgeshire, said she experienced almost constant burning pain after going through the procedure last year. She told the BBC: "Pre-op I was a super-fit mum... now it's as though I am trapped in the body of an 80-year-old. "I feel like I'm being cut with cheese wire. "The operation has succeeded in so much as I'm not incontinent any more... but my quality of life has been destroyed." And Kate Langley, a preschool play worker who lives near Eastbourne, Sussex, said she had been in and out of hospital since having the operation, with complications giving her crippling pain. Ms Langley told the BBC: "I'm screaming sometimes I'm in so much pain... and financially we're in massive debt because I haven't been able to work." She said it had also taken a toll on her marriage. "It's hard if you don't really have a love life," she said. Scottish ministers are awaiting the results of an inquiry likely to be published in the autumn and to include evidence gathered by the Cochrane group. Most women are advised to try non-surgical therapy first, including pelvic floor exercises to strengthen key muscles. But if this fails, an operation is often the next option.

Linfield will face Scottish giants Celtic if they beat SP La Fiorita in the first qualifying round of the Champions League. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Independent experts are reassuring women a common type of surgery for urinary incontinence is safe and effective.

Lamont, 35, will win his 102nd cap in Cardiff, with Wasps' fly-half/full-back Ruaridh Jackson coming onto the bench. Scotland are aiming to end of a run of eight straight defeats against Wales, and eight losses in the Six Nations stretching back to February 2014. Maitland had recently recovered from a hamstring injury before facing England. He played the full 80 minutes at Murrayfield in Scotland's 15-9 defeat last Saturday, but has suffered a recurrence of the problem. "Sean had a twinge in his hamstring earlier in the week," explained head coach Vern Cotter. "He thought it was OK at the captain's run yesterday but then felt it again, so we thought it was probably best he didn't take the field."

Scotland have been forced to make a late change to their side to face Wales with Sean Lamont replacing the injured Sean Maitland on the right wing.

The 20-year-old, whose contract length has not been revealed, was ever-present during the Spring Series. Leach, a former England Under-19s keeper, arrived at the club from Aston Villa Ladies in February last year. "All I want to do is develop as a player and I feel this environment is the best place for me to do that," she told the club website. It comes after President Donald Trump tweeted that "talking is not the answer" to the country's military ambitions. Russia has also warned the US against taking military action, saying it would be "fraught with unpredictable consequences". North Korea caused alarm by firing a missile over Japan on Tuesday. The missile, which Japan called an "unprecedented" threat, crossed the northern Hokkaido region early on Tuesday, triggering public alerts to take cover, before landing in the sea about 1,180km (730 miles) off the coast. North Korea later said it was "the first step" of wider military operations in the Pacific, and repeated its threats to the US Pacific island of Guam. End of Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump Just days ago, Mr Trump had said he believed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was "starting to respect" the US. But in a tweet late on Wednesday, he said: "The US has been talking to North Korea, and paying them extortion money, for 25 years. Talking is not the answer!" But when asked whether it was true that the US had lost hope in diplomacy, Mr Mattis openly disagreed with the president saying: "No. We are never out of diplomatic solutions." He was speaking as he met his South Korean counterpart, Song Young-moo, at the Pentagon. "We continue to work together, and the minister and I share a responsibility to provide for the protection of our nations, our populations and our interests." Russia, which shares a tiny border with North Korea and a maritime border with Japan, has said that US military activity in the region is partly to blame for the increase in tensions. In a phone call on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that diplomacy was the only way to overcome tensions on the Korean peninsula, which have been escalating in recent months. A military solution would be "fraught with unpredictable consequences," Reuters quoted Mr Lavrov as saying. He also said any further strengthening of sanctions against North Korea by the UN would be counter-productive. Meeting on Tuesday, the UN Security Council had unanimously condemned the launch and again demanded North Korea cease all missile testing. But it did not push for new sanctions. Speaking in Geneva at a UN Conference on Disarmament, North Korean diplomat Ju Yong-chol insisted the North would not be stifled and "will not hesitate to take further tougher counter-measures." He said Pyongyang strongly rejected the "fabricated" stories that it was to blame for the tensions of the Korean peninsula. Have North Korea's missile tests paid off? The club announced on Twitter on Tuesday morning: "Manchester United announces that David Moyes has left the club. "The club would like to place on record its thanks for the hard work, honesty and integrity he brought to the role." It comes after several newspaper reports that Moyes' time at the club was over, following a poor season. United previously said on Monday that Moyes had not been sacked, but they refused to comment on his longer-term future. The news comes after Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Everton - Moyes' former club. It means United cannot qualify for the Champions League next season. Moyes was chosen by Sir Alex Ferguson for the job when he stepped down after 26 years in charge last summer. The 50 year-old was handed a six-year deal to leave Everton for the Premier League champions. United, who are currently in seventh place in the table with four games remaining, will finish this Premier League season with their lowest ever points tally.

Bristol City goalkeeper Caitlin Leach has agreed a new contract with the Women's Super League One club. [NEXT_CONCEPT] US Defence Secretary James Mattis has said the US is "never out of diplomatic solutions" in dealing with North Korea. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Manchester United have sacked their manager David Moyes after just 10 months in charge.

The money is being made available under the Peace 4 programme and is aimed at shared spaces and services for young people. It is part of a larger tranche of about £240m which is due to be allocated before 2020. The UK is set to leave the EU in 2019 but Chancellor Philip Hammond has guaranteed EU funding which is allocated before that date. That guarantee has two conditions: projects must show they are good value for money and are in line with "domestic strategic priorities". The shared spaces funding is aimed at creating up to eight new, civic spaces that can be used by all sections of the community. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that their project will have a "transformative" effect, both locally and regionally. Previous examples include the Peace Bridge in Londonderry and the Girdwood Community Hub in north Belfast. The funding for youth projects will be targeted at young people who are disadvantaged and are at risk of becoming involved in anti-social behaviour or violence. The scheme is open to projects in the border counties of the the Republic of Ireland as well as in Northern Ireland.

EU peace funds of more than £80m open for applications on Thursday.

Zoe Conway, from the Cooley Peninsula near Carlingford, County Louth, made the call after Ryanair asked her to pay €280 (£203) for a seat for her violin. The professional musician, who is on tour in Germany, was travelling from Frankfurt to Dublin on Sunday. Ryanair said their conditions of travelling with instruments are clear. In a statement, the airline said customers agree when they are booking a flight that instruments should be placed in the hold of the plane, or purchased a seat. Zoe's violin was her only hand luggage. "I always carry it as hand luggage because it's so valuable and delicate and if it was dropped, even from my hand to the floor, it would be damaged," she said. However, staff at the Ryanair check-in desk of Frankfurt Hahn Airport told Zoe that she would have to buy a seat for the instrument or allow it to be placed in the hold. "I couldn't believe it," she said. "There's no way I could have put it in the hold, I just wouldn't be able to cover the cost of repairing or replacing it." She said that the emotional attachment to her violin is even more important than its monetary worth. "For me, my violin is like a child. It's an irreplaceable part of my life, and I say that as a mother. "As a musician, your instrument is your voice and you need to protect it. If I was to play someone else's violin, it wouldn't sound like me." After buying a seat for her violin, Zoe was forced to place it in the overhead locker because it would not have been secure in the seat assigned to it. "What good is a seatbelt that's designed to go around a human waist in terms of protecting an instrument?" she said. Zoe plans to lobby her local MEP for a change in EU law, so that it would better reflect the law in the United States, where instruments are treated as normal hand luggage. "It just seems ridiculous to me that you should have to pay for something that weighs four kilograms," said Zoe. "That's much less than Ryanair's maximum hand luggage weight, it just doesn't make sense. "We really need a change in the law on this one. It's just so unfair for an airline to be able to penalise a musician for travelling with a fiddle." Deborah Annetts of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) described Zoe's treatment by Ryanair as unacceptable but not uncommon. "This is indicative of a far wider problem," said Ms Annetts. "Priceless instruments are being smashed, musicians are being refused travel and charged extortionate amounts just to protect their professional livelihoods. "It is simply unacceptable that hard-working professionals are treated this way and left living in constant uncertainty in their profession. "Travel is a fundamental part of a musician's job, and it can't be right that airlines profiteer from some hand luggage but not others." The ISM has in the past urged the EU to provide some clarity for musicians on the issue of travelling with instruments. A spokesperson for Ryanair said: "All customers must adhere to the terms and conditions of carriage, which they agree to at the time of booking, and which state that musical instruments should be checked-in to the hold, or alternatively placed on an additional purchased seat, as they exceed our hand baggage dimensions."

An Irish violinist has called on the EU to ban airlines from asking musicians to purchase seats for their instruments.

Birmingham led when on-loan Northern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty slotted in a debut goal, but a glancing Connor Goldson header drew Brighton level. In-form defender Lewis Dunk then rose highest at a corner to nod Brighton ahead shortly after the break. Brighton were rarely troubled late on and remain one point off the top two. Birmingham remain ninth but are now 11 points behind the top six, after wins for Sheffield Wednesday and Derby. Gary Rowett's side have won just twice in 10 matches, while Brighton extended their unbeaten run to eight games. Both Seagulls goals came from Jiri Skalak set-piece deliveries, with both Goldson and Dunk out-jumping their markers to convert fine crosses. Birmingham struggled to create significant chances in the second half as Brighton held on relatively comfortably, and substitute James Wilson should have added a third in the closing stages. Birmingham manager Gary Rowett: Media playback is not supported on this device "I've warned the players if they think they can take their foot off the gas then they'll be coming in on Sundays and their days off. "I think I'd look a bit stupid if I said we could still get into the play-offs now, the gap's 11 points. "I was really pleased with Kyle Lafferty, when I took him off a fan was screaming he was our only chance of a goal, but he hasn't played a lot of football and needs to be fitter." Brighton assistant manager Colin Calderwood: Media playback is not supported on this device "If you really want to go for it you have to chase the three points and get them. Winning tonight helps us but it won't take us up. "We weren't aware of Middlesbrough being 2-0 up at half-time, but whether Middlesbrough win or lose, if we win every game we'll have a chance. Well, we won't have a chance, we'll be up. "Everyone has experienced highs and lows on the final day and we hope to be involved in some of the action towards the end." The militants stormed into Kuda village in Adamawa state on motorbikes and opened fire on women and children at the wake, a witness said. At least 10 people were wounded in the raid, witnesses said. The village is near Sambisa forest, where the militants fled to last year after losing control of urban areas. In December, Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari said Boko Haram had been "technically defeated", but the group has continued to carry out hit-and-run raids in the north-east and in neighbouring states. Some 17,000 people have died in the insurgency launched by the militants in 2009 to create an Islamic state, Amnesty International says. 'Boko Haram took my children' Town divided by Boko Haram legacy On patrol against Boko Haram Who are Boko Haram?

Brighton kept the pressure on their Championship automatic promotion rivals with victory at Birmingham, whose hopes of a play-off place all but ended. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Militant Islamist group Boko Haram has shot dead at least 18 people at a funeral wake in north-eastern Nigeria, officials and witnesses have said.

The coalition had carried out 21 strikes over two days, a sharp increase that slowed IS advances, the US said. President Barack Obama predicted a "long-term campaign" against the group, which holds swathes of Syria and Iraq. He was speaking at a meeting of military commanders from 22 countries that have joined the anti-IS coalition. "This is an operation that involves the world" against IS, Mr Obama said after the meeting at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington. "There are going to be periods of progress and setbacks," he added. President Obama said the allies were "deeply concerned" about the situation in and around Kobane. The battle for the predominantly Kurdish town has lasted for a month and is regarded as a major test of whether the coalition's air campaign can push back IS. US-led forces have been carrying out air strikes in support of Kurdish forces there for two weeks. In a statement, the US military said Tuesday's raids had destroyed IS buildings and military vehicles. It added that the situation on the ground "remains fluid, with IS attempting to gain territory and Kurdish militia continuing to hold out". Abdulrahman Kok, a Kurdish journalist in Kobane, told Reuters news agency that the air strikes had lasted throughout Tuesday, calling it "a first". But he added that IS had intensified its own shelling later in the afternoon. IS is believed to control about half of the town, from which more than 160,000 people have fled. Capturing it would give the group unbroken control of a long stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border. Mr Obama also said the US was "also focused on the fighting that is taking place in Iraq's Anbar province". The militants have made significant gains in the western province in recent weeks, despite air strikes from the US and its allies since August. The battles in both Anbar and Kobane illustrated the threat posed by IS and "coalition air strikes will continue in both these areas", he said. In other developments:

US-led forces have stepped up air strikes against Islamic State (IS) fighters threatening the Syrian town of Kobane, near the Turkish border.

State-owned Indian Airlines and the private carrier Jet Airways will begin the extra flights from Thursday, a government statement said. A number of Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, have cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of destabilising the region. Indians are the largest group of migrants in Qatar. The move came after India's Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathy Raju held talks with Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, and assured her that additional flights would be operated to allow Indians who had been unable to book tickets, to return home. The government statement said Air India would run extra flights between the southern city of Trivandrum and Doha from 25 June to 8 July while Jet Airways will operate Mumbai-Doha-Mumbai flights on 22 and 23 June. The research by Harvard academics draws on leaked documents to paint a picture of the way China polices social media. The government and its army of helpers write 488 million fake posts a year, the report said. The profusion of comments on social media sits alongside other efforts, to find and delete content deemed too sensitive for Chinese citizens. The vast majority of the comments and posts made on social media are crafted to look like they come from ordinary people, said the authors of the paper, who were led by Gary King from Harvard's department of government. Many of the posts do not attempt to rebut or argue with critical commenters, they said. "They do not step up to defend the government, its leaders, and their policies from criticism, no matter how vitriolic; indeed, they seem to avoid controversial issues entirely," said the paper. "Letting an argument die, or changing the subject, usually works much better than picking an argument and getting someone's back up," it said. More often Communist Party workers or ordinary citizens employed to post on behalf of the government engage in "cheerleading" about the state's achievements or its history. The helpers are known within China as the "Fifty Cent Party" because of an unsubstantiated rumour that contributors are paid 50 cents for each of their posts. The 488 million posts per year are made more effective by making sure they are added during the busiest times on social media or when a controversial issue is being widely debated. The study used documents and spreadsheets leaked in 2014 that revealed the names and online pseudonyms of people employed by the Chinese authorities to post on the state's behalf. The academics extrapolated from this sample in an attempt to estimate the true scale of official activity on social media sites. There were good psychological reasons for using distraction rather than censorship or counter-arguments, the paper said. "Since censorship alone seems to anger people, the 50c astroturfing program [entailing creation of fake grassroots content] has the additional advantage of enabling the government to actively control opinion without having to censor as much as they might otherwise," the authors concluded.

Two airlines will start operating extra flights to Doha, the Qatar capital to help stranded Indians return home. [NEXT_CONCEPT] China is "flooding" social media with comments by paid supporters in a bid to sway public opinion, a report has said.

The York Independent Flood Inquiry investigated the reasons why more than 600 properties in the city flooded. It highlighted issues over the suitability of the police command centre and problems in warning the public. Recommendations include installing sirens and expanding the number of community flood wardens. Following criticism from some members of the the public that they had not received updated flood warnings, the inquiry panel suggested the setting-up of an "opt-out" emergency system that would telephone all the homes and business in an area at risk of flooding. The inquiry's chair Angharad Davies paid tribute to the "fortitude" of the people of York in dealing with the flooding. Ms Davies said everybody in the city "had to work collectively to increase the resilience of residents and businesses so they are better prepared to recover more quickly from flooding". She said: "We recognise the inevitability that York will flood again and any solutions need to be forward looking. "They cannot simply address the current problems." The Environment Agency had faced criticism from residents and politicians after hundreds of homes were flooded when the Foss Barrier was raised after water entered the control room. The report said the decision by the EA to lift the barrier "was the best option available". The inquiry added that the "decision had to be taken very quickly" and the EA "had no time to consult" other organisations. The report said: "In future whenever possible, the EA should discuss decisions such as opening the Foss Barrier with their multi-agency partners." The inquiry also concluded the Silver Command control centre set-up at Fulford Road Police Station was "not suitable" due to "limitations in space and IT facilities available".

A report into severe flooding in York in December 2015 has called for better warning systems to be put in place.

Patients will be transferred to Lisnaskea. Local politicians say this will mean longer journeys and waiting times for appointments. Temporary cover was provided when the former GP retired in June 2016. However, despite the post being widely advertised within the UK and Republic of Ireland no one applied to take on the contract. At the time, the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) advised that "patients should not be unduly concerned as final arrangements are still being confirmed" and said "quality medical services will be maintained in Roslea." But in an update this week the HSCB confirmed that the surgery would close and patients transferred to the Maple Healthcare practice in Lisnaskea . However, the board has plans for a new Health and Care Centre in Lisnaskea. Sinn Féin councillor Thomas O'Reilly said patients had been "seriously misled" when they were told last year that the surgery in Roslea would be retained. He described the situation as "a disaster" for people in rural areas who have no access to public transport. "People at the extremity of the Roslea practice say it will be a 35-mile round trip for them to visit their doctor now in Lisnaskea," he said. He claimed the practice in Lisnaskea was "already oversubscribed" with people having to wait "maybe a couple of weeks for appointments". He told BBC News NI that the GP crisis in Fermanagh has been "flagged up and has been talked about for years" and said more needs to be done to attract doctors. Mr O'Reilly believes the decision to close rural surgeries will place additional pressures on out-of-hours GP services and A&E and "the cost has got to outweigh in the long term the investment that should be put in to retaining the GP services in local areas".

The GP surgery in Roslea, County Fermanagh will close at the end of this week, leaving the village without a doctor for the first time in more than 100 years.

The Department of Home Affairs has applied for planning permission to pull down Victoria Road Prison because the building is falling into disrepair. The prison was decommissioned in September 2008 and the prisoners were transferred to a new jail in Jurby. The site has since been used for various projects including the filming of a horror film. Home Affairs minister Adrian Earnshaw said: "A recent survey indicates parts of the gatehouse and cell blocks have deteriorated to a degree where the risk associated with allowing public access is something I am no longer comfortable with. "Therefore, the department is reluctantly having to refuse all new requests for access. "The building occupies a prime two acre site in Douglas and I now want its fate to be decided as soon as possible. "There are surprisingly significant costs in maintaining this Victorian building without repairs to its fabric. "Those costs will only increase and that is why I want to see the future of the former prison resolved."

A former prison in the Isle of Man could be demolished if a planning application is approved.

The royal couple met fellow new mothers and fathers at Government House in Wellington along with not-for-profit childcare organisation Plunket. The parents were selected to reflect the diversity of New Zealand society. Eight-month-old Prince George appeared to remain calm even though there were tears from some of a similar age. All the babies were born within a few weeks of George's birthday, 22 July 2013. By Nicholas WitchellRoyal correspondent, in Wellington He behaved like someone who expected to get his own way. George was "intrepid" according to one of the parents of one of the other babies in the room. That sounds a touch on the diplomatic side. More accurately it would seem that the eight-month-old third in line to the throne treated his first "official engagement", meeting a specially selected "play group" of 10 other babies of a similar age, as an opportunity to show that he wasn't to be messed with. He crawled with confidence; adopted a proprietorial attitude to toys and generally showed - in the words of one journalist who witnessed it - that he is something of a "bruiser". It must run in the family. There was a time, when he was a small boy, that his father was known as "basher". George went on a crawl-about with other children in the Blandor Room which had a large portrait of his great-grandmother, the Queen. Prince William and Catherine chatted informally with the parents of 10 babies, including a pair of gay fathers and a single mother. George was dressed in £75 blue dungaree shorts by British luxury brand Rachel Riley, a white blouse and soft blue pre walking shoes. Catherine watched on protectively as William chatted to some of the other parents. The duke joked: "It's madness, there are babies everywhere." The idea was to give the royal couple the chance to introduce the young prince to the world in a less formal way than usual. They also had the chance to swap experiences with other first-time parents. Jared Mullen, whose daughter Isabella was among the group, said afterwards: "He is a lovely little boy, very intrepid. "The whole thing has been a huge privilege." Tristine Clark, New Zealand president of Plunket, said: "The parents are a spread of all the communities in New Zealand, including Maoris, Samoans, people of Chinese descent and gay couples. "This is a very multi-cultural country and we wanted the duke and duchess to meet people from all backgrounds." Childcare worker Sheila Lemalie, who had brought her baby son TJ to the playgroup, said: "It was a very special time. We had a chance to cuddle George - he is very strong and very advanced. "We talked to the Duke and Duchess about parenting - and to the Duchess about her role as both a mother and a royal. She said she was lucky to have help with George from her family and her friends. "Prince William said he supported his wife by giving George his bottle at night and putting him to bed." The Royal New Zealand Plunket Society, widely known as Plunket, was founded in 1907 by paediatrician Sir Frederic Truby King.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took Prince George on the first official public engagement of their 19-day tour of New Zealand and Australia.

Richard Westgate died in 2012 after moving to the Netherlands to seek help for symptoms he thought were caused by "aerotoxic syndrome". His brother Guy told an inquest in Salisbury Mr Westgate had been in "excruciating pain" from the symptoms. The 47-year-old said his brother felt let down and angered by UK doctors. He told the court the specialists in Holland were the first group of medics who gave him a "light at the end of the tunnel. "He went there to be cured," he said. However, coroner Dr Simon Fox QC ruled at the start of the inquest that "exposure to organophosphate in the course of his employment as a commercial pilot" was "not a proper issue to be examined by this inquest." Mr Fox said he would look at whether the 43-year-old had died from an overdose, intended or not, of the insomnia drug pentobarbital. He said he would also consider whether he had been suffering from myocarditis - an inflammation of the heart muscle. Mr Westgate's death was originally examined by retired senior coroner for Dorset, Sheriff Payne, who issued a report in February 2015 which raised concerns over air quality in aeroplanes. The Global Cabin Air Quality Executive (GCAQE) says it is common practice for airlines to use warm, compressed air taken directly from aircraft engines to pressurise the cabin. Their research suggests this air, known as "bleed air", can become contaminated with engine oils and hydraulic fluids leading to illness among cabin crew through repeated exposure. However, the air industry has argued there is no threat to passengers or crew. 28 July 2016 Last updated at 14:51 BST Newlyweds Sammy and Mike Birnie have trashed their wedding attire for a "trash the dress" photoshoot. The Banchory couple used mud, coloured paint and champagne for the pictures. Photographer Logan Sangster uploaded the end result to social media where Mike said they had provided inspiration for similar like-minded people. Speaking on BBC Good Morning Scotland Sammy said she wanted to do something different with her dress, rather than store it after the big day.

A British Airways co-pilot who thought he had been poisoned by repeated exposure to contaminated cockpit air, died as he sought treatment abroad. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Photos: Logan Sangster/Deeside Photographics

But the country's complex tax system seems to be one of its biggest hindrances. The former head of Greece's tax collection agency, raising taxes in the midst of the financial crisis, told the BBC "it was not an easy job to do". Probably a masterful understatement, given Greece's recent past. Harry Theocharis is now an MP, but used to be the most wanted man in Greece - and not in a good way. It was his job to try to raise taxes in the middle of the financial crisis and try to reform the notoriously inefficient tax system itself. "You make everybody's life difficult... it doesn't make you popular at all," he said. To give just one example of the complexities Mr Theocharis wrestled with: in Greece there are six different rates of VAT. The normal rate is 23% - there are two reduced ones for items such as food, fuel and medicine. But the Greek Islands enjoy reduced rates of VAT to encourage people to stay in remote parts of the country and to help the vital tourism industry there. That makes six rates in all, and creates plenty of opportunities for dodging tax. A recent surge in tourism on the island of Mykonos for instance seems to have led to lower payments of VAT to the Greek government. Greece also has a pension system that is amazingly complex, with numerous exceptions for different jobs allowing for early retirement. The pensions are not very generous on average, but overall the Greek government is spending 30% more on pensions than the British government does. The whole system is in desperate need of simplification in order to make it cheaper to run. Then there are the privatisations. At the start of the crisis, the Greek government committed itself to bringing in €50bn from the sale of state assets. According to Mr Theocharis, that target was soon reduced to €30bn and then €20bn. In total, the government has managed to raise about €2-3bn so far. Things like the privatisation of the port of Piraeus are supposed to be bringing in more, but they have been delayed, cancelled and then relaunched. Then there are the cuts that have been reversed, such as the reopening after two years of the state broadcasting company ERT, which started programmes again this year. The problem therefore is not so much that Greece is incapable of reform or does not know what needs doing, but that it has wasted five years of the bailout without making serious attempts to fix the structural problems that beset the economy - and in many cases it is actually going backwards. If it had started five years ago, it might have been seeing the results by now as countries like Ireland and Spain have done, but one of the reasons that the Greek bailout has reached another crisis point is that it has hardly started. It is not the kind of record that is likely to make the countries that are lending Greece all that money trust them with some more.

Five years into its austerity regime, the Greek government has once again had to go cap in hand to its creditors and ask for more money.

Angela Burns said a BBC Wales investigation found concerns were raised a year before Dylan Seabridge, from Pembrokeshire, died in 2011. Charges of neglect against his parents were dropped in 2014. Health Minister Mark Drakeford said any conclusion would be premature before the local safeguarding board's child practice review had been published. The inquest into the death of Dylan, from Dolau in Eglwyswrw, heard that scurvy was an easily preventable and treatable disease. His parents Glynn and Julie Seabridge told the hearing in January 2015 they did not believe Dylan had scurvy and thought he was suffering from growing pains. They had been charged with neglect but the Crown Prosecution Service dropped those charges in 2014. An unpublished draft serious case review, written in 2013 and leaked to BBC Wales, said Dylan was educated at home and "invisible" to the authorities, though his parents dispute that. Pembrokeshire County Council has said a child practice review into the case will be published soon. Ms Burns, the Conservative AM for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, told the Senedd on Tuesday: "For four years that little boy's name and his situation has not been in the eye of those who can make a difference." She added: "It's more than just about Pembrokeshire County Council, if we really want to make a difference. "I don't have absolute faith that those who are going to be doing this [child practice] review will be able to do it to the best of their ability." Mr Drakeford insisted that child safeguarding boards were "independent by their nature" and included members not employed by social services. "There has been a whole series of independent voices who have been present there in Pembrokeshire and have reported on the progress that that local authority has been able to make in the time since this death took place," he said. "I'm sorry that the member doesn't have confidence in the safeguarding board. "It seems premature to reach that conclusion before anyone of us has even had an opportunity to read the report that they will produce."

An independent review should be held into the death of an eight-year-old boy from scurvy, an AM has said.

The publisher said it was changing its editorial structure to address challenges faced by the print industry. It cited audiences migrating to digital platforms and "industry giants" like Google and Facebook changing the way people read their news. Johnston Press did not say how many jobs could be lost. But the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said 25 posts were under threat at 24 out of 28 Scottish weekly titles. In a statement, the Edinburgh-based publisher said: "The pace of change in the media industry is showing no signs of abating, as we continue to face the challenges posed by our audiences migrating to digital platforms, and industry giants like Google and Facebook changing the way people read their news. "We have seen over the past year at least, a number of newspapers closing or being put up for sale as publishers struggle to confront the challenges." It added: "This restructure is designed to ensure our news brands are able to continue to serve their communities - as their only source of trusted local news. "However, it does mean that there will be a significant reduction in the number of editorial roles. "We are working closely with the NUJ in Scotland, and will continue to do so, in order to ensure we can achieve the best outcome for affected staff within the new structure." NUJ Scottish organiser Paul Holleran said: "Members were shocked at the scale of proposed job losses and are now aware of the long-term precarious position of 24 Johnston Press Scottish titles. "So far the management team have worked closely with the union in providing relevant information, maximising consultation and responding positively to initial negotiations. "We have been told that their plans will put these titles into profitability. "From our point of view we want to save all the titles, protect the journalists who will continue to work on these papers and get the best possible deal for those members who choose to leave the business. "They have agreed a sensible timeframe for consultation and negotiation and I am hopeful agreement can be reached as soon as is practicable." According to the NUJ, the four titles which are not facing job cuts are the Falkirk Herald, Fife Free Press, Southern Reporter and Stornoway Gazette. The union added that they had been identified as "prime" titles which would be given extra support to target potential growth.

Johnston Press has announced plans to cut a "significant" number of journalists from its Scottish weekly titles, following a strategic review.

The 20-year-old from Banbridge was victorious in the final sprint to win on 18 points from France's Morgan Kneisky on 14 points. Downey won silver in the 120-lap event at the European Under-23 Championships earlier this year. "I really wanted this. I was going so hard. You reap the rewards when you really want something," he said.

Ireland's Mark Downey won points race gold on Saturday's second day of the Track World Cup in Apeldoorn.

It believes that cardholders would be more protected from con-artists if they could block the card from remote purchases at certain times. The bank's app now includes an option to reduce daily ATM withdrawal limits, from the typical level of £300. Such a move would reduce any losses from thefts at cash machines. Fraud losses across all payment cards, remote banking and cheques in the UK totalled £769m in 2016, according to Financial Fraud Action, the industry's anti-fraud body - an increase of 2% on the previous year. There were a total of 1.9 million cases of financial fraud during 2016. Barclays said that while frauds, such as identity fraud, led to full compensation to customers, this was often not the case from scams. Online shopping scams, for example, could lead to significant losses for victims, if banks were not able to step in before payments went through. The bank claims that its option to control debit card use - such as blocking remote use and plans to introduce a temporary block on any transactions - was a first among High Street banks. Barclays has 24 million UK customers, of which about five million have the app. The aim is to block any opportunity for a con-artist to go on a spending spree, were they to trick somebody out of the card details. The official launch of the service coincides with a major advertising campaign by the bank about the threat of fraud. "As a society our confidence in using digital technology to shop, pay our bills and connect with others has grown faster than our knowledge of how to do so safely," said Ashok Vaswani, chief executive of Barclays UK. "We all need to boost our digital safety levels in order to close the gap." However, critics have consistently challenged the banking sector for failing to protect customers adequately from the threat of fraud.

High Street bank Barclays is allowing customers to "turn off" their debit card to online purchases or set daily ATM limits to reduce scams.

The news comes just a week after Apple unveiled its very expensive iPad Pro, a tablet aimed at persuading professionals to give up their laptops. Two very different strategies in a market in need of a shot in the arm. Just a couple of years ago tablets were the future of computing. But now sales appear to have reached a plateau - indeed, figures from IDC showed tablet shipments down 7% in the second quarter of 2015 compared to last year. It's the waning interest in the iPad which stands out from the statistics, but Amazon has also struggled. At the end of 2014 it was in fifth place in the IDC figures with sales down 70% over the holiday period compared with the previous year. Today it showed off four tablets, all aggressively priced. The 10" and 8" Fire HD devices were touted as the ultimate entertainment devices, with high quality widescreen displays in a thin and light body. Then there was a Kids' Edition tablet, rugged enough to stand all kinds of battering, with access to plenty of age-appropriate material. But it is the 7" Fire at £49.99 that is Amazon's key weapon and will have its budget rivals worried. The company says low-end tablets suffer from poor quality components and short battery life and deliver a poor customer experience - and insists the Fire is different. A demonstrator held one up alongside a Samsung tablet costing twice as much and showed that the screen on the Amazon device displayed video better. At another point in the demo, an Apple iPad Air 2 with a broken screen was produced. This, we were told, had happened after 20 revolutions in a testing machine, while the Fire had survived being spun round 200 times. Amazon also unveiled the latest version of its Fire TV set-top box. The key novelty here was that it displayed 4K video, the new ultra-high-definition standard, unlike the latest Apple TV unveiled last week. Again, it was about half the price of the Apple product. Just like the new tablets, the real aim of the set-top box is to give buyers a reason to buy Amazon content, and in particular to sign up to an annual subscription to Prime, which gives them fast delivery and free access to its video service. The margins on the hardware are undoubtedly wafer-thin - Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos told me three years ago that the firm made no profit on its tablets and I suspect little has changed. But Mr Bezos's hardware ventures have had mixed results. The Fire smartphone he launched with such fanfare a year ago has now been quietly withdrawn. He had made big claims for its unique technology but a high price seemed to deter many from giving it a try. Now it is back to the bargain basement strategy- there is even a "buy five, get one free" offer on the new Fire. A cut-price tablet will probably not give Apple many sleepless nights - but the likes of Samsung and even Tesco with its Hudl, will be wondering whether it is worth continuing to pour money into a market where the competition seems unconcerned about making a profit.

Amazon has lobbed a bomb into the cut-price tablet market, with a new device costing under £50.

Ings, 22, is out of contract with the Clarets in the summer and is rumoured to have signed a pre-contract agreement with David Moyes's Real Sociedad. The former Bournemouth player was linked with moves to Liverpool and Tottenham during the transfer window. "For his development he wants to be in the top end of the Premier League," Dyche told Sky Sports. "It is the most powerful league in the world. His aspirations need to be top end of the Premier League. The middle of La Liga is no use. "That is not doing us down, it is the reality of the market we are in. If I had seen him play at Manchester United on Wednesday, I would be knocking on the door to try and get him." In an interview last week, Moyes, whose side are currently 11th in La Liga, said Ings was a player "anyone would like to have". Reports emerged at the weekend, claiming Ings was flying to Spain for a short visit. Pictures then appeared on social media, apparently showing the striker having a meal with Moyes. However, it has now been established the images were fake, something Burnley's official Twitter feed highlighted themselves, although that posting was quickly deleted. Ings, who has scored nine goals for Burnley this season, moved to Turf Moor from Bournemouth in August 2011 for a fee of about £1m. All three enjoyed a boost after winning Brit Awards earlier in the week. Smith returned to number one after picking up best breakthrough artist and the global success award. Sheeran - who won best British male and album - rose to number two, while Royal Blood climbed 15 places to number three after scooping best British group. George Ezra, who performed at the Brits ceremony on Wednesday, climbed two places to four. Best international female winner Taylor Swift rose three places to number five - despite having removed her music from Spotify last November, saying free streaming was devaluing music. She is one of the few stars to resist the rise of streaming, which doubled in the UK in 2014 while CD sales dropped by 8%. The Official Charts Company has now devised a formula to add streams from services like Spotify, Deezer and Google Play to figures from the sales of downloads, CDs and vinyl. The formula looks at how many times the tracks on each album have been played. The figures for the two most popular songs are then reduced to prevent huge hit singles distorting the album chart. If an album has more than 12 songs, just the most popular 12 are counted. The adjusted total number of streams for the songs on each album is then divided by 1,000, and that figure is added to the physical and digital sales. Sam Smith's In the Lonely Hour sold 38,000 copies in the past week and its streaming figure was 2,900. Ed Sheeran's X sold 35,000 copies and had a "stream factor" of 3,400. "Sam and Ed are both established as genuine superstars now - and the fact that they appeal to fans who buy CDs, snap up album downloads and stream music highlights just how broad their appeal is," Official Charts Company chief executive Martin Talbot said. Streaming was incorporated into the singles chart last July. Elsewhere on the chart, the 40th anniversary reissue of Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti took it to number six, while Chris Brown and Tyga entered at number seven with Fan of a Fan: The Album. Paloma Faith's A Perfect Contradiction rose from number 33 to eight following her victory in the best British female category at the Brit Awards. The track Madonna performed at the Brits, Living For Love, entered the singles chart at number 26. This week's top five singles are unchanged, with Ellie Goulding spending a fourth week at the top, followed by Hozier; Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars; The Weeknd; and the collaboration between Sir Paul McCartney, Rihanna and Kanye West.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche says striker Danny Ings should remain in the Premier League to help him improve his game. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran and Royal Blood have taken the top spots in the first UK album chart to count streaming data alongside sales.

The former South Africa batsman bludgeoned a career-best 156 off 113 balls in his first game back after a month out with a hand injury. Rossouw hit 24 fours and two sixes as Hampshire raced to 250-6. Somerset were earlier bowled out for 249 with Dean Elgar (78), Peter Trego (55) and Adam Hose (50) contributing. Such was Rossouw's dominance, the 27-year-old scored 56 of the visitors' first 57 runs in the early stages of Hampshire's chase. The left-hander, who joined Hampshire on a Kolpak deal in January, was particularly brutal towards Jamie Overton, smashing 36 off the first 13 balls he faced from the paceman. Moments after captain James Vince (35) chipped Tim Groenewald to mid-on having put on 114 for the second wicket, Rossouw brought up his hundred off 73 balls. Overton returned to claim four quick wickets, including Rossouw in what would prove to be the penultimate over, but two sixes from Lewis McManus saw Hampshire home with 12.4 overs to spare. Despite the loss, Somerset are still in a good position to qualify from the South Group stage having won four of their five matches, while Hampshire have won three and lost two. UCAC, representing teachers in Wales, has issued a joint statement with five other unions to the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB), which sets pay. Elaine Edwards, UCAC's general secretary, said it was concerned teachers "at all stages of their career" were leaving the profession. The UK government said it was working to "raise the status of teaching". Teachers' pay increases have been limited to 1% or less for the past five years, and the UK government aims to keep to this limit for the next four years. Ms Edwards warned teachers are facing "extreme" challenges, which included pay freezes and "overwhelming" workloads. There are concerns teachers' pay was not going to "keep in pace" with the private sector, making it "impossible to raise teaching standards", she said. "We believe devolving responsibility to Wales would actually sit better with us having our own vision for education," she added. Meanwhile, an independent review of the National Literacy and Numeracy Programmes, commissioned by the Welsh government, has found "no robust evidence" for improvement. However, the report noted it was too early to assess the impact and that practitioners felt it would lead to improvement "over time". The STRB is expected to make its recommendations on teachers' pay in April. A Department for Education spokeswoman said it had worked with the profession to "raise the status of teaching", adding that that a record number of highly-qualified graduates and "experienced career changers" were now teaching. She added: "But we are determined to go further, and recognise that some schools find it harder to recruit the teachers they need, which is why we are expanding the great Teach First and Schools Direct programmes and we are launching the National Teaching Service, which will mean more great teachers in schools in every corner of the country." A Welsh government spokesman said: "The devolution of teachers' pay and conditions could... provide opportunities for Wales to shape the teachers' pay and conditions system to underpin our aspirations for the education system, raise standards and support and develop the teaching profession. "We were therefore disappointed to see teachers' pay and conditions included as a reservation in the Wales Bill." The Welsh government was "determined to support teachers throughout their career" as evidenced by policies such as its "new deal", the spokesman added.

Rilee Rossouw's superb attacking century saw Hampshire to a four-wicket win at Taunton and ended Somerset's unbeaten start in the One-Day Cup. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Teachers' morale in Wales has hit "an all time low" due to issues over pay, a teaching union has warned.

It means Welsh ministers could control £3bn of taxes a year by 2020. Mr Osborne also promised that spending per head on devolved services in Wales would not fall below 115 percent of spending per head in England. Welsh ministers said their budget would fall in real terms and they needed more details on the minimum funding pledge. Key points of the Spending Review Announcing plans for £20bn worth of cuts in the Commons on Wednesday, Mr Osborne told MPs Britain had to tackle its national debt but put its economic and national security first, saying they provided "the foundations for everything we want to support". However, the chancellor said he had dropped plans to cut tax credits, paid to 238,000 families in Wales, after the House of Lords effectively blocked them. He also ruled out any reductions to police funding in England and Wales, after the Home Office had previously urged forces to prepare for cuts of 25% or 40%. Dyfed-Powys police and crime commissioner Christopher Salmon said it was "encouraging news". Mr Osborne confirmed that block grants to the Welsh government would rise to just under £15bn by 2019/20. The Welsh government's total budget for 2015/16 is £15.3bn, including £14.4bn of block grants, plus around £950m from the proceeds of business rates. The chancellor said he would also help fund a "city deal" backing infrastructure projects for Cardiff and the surrounding areas, to which the Welsh government and local authorities have already pledged £580m. S4C is set to see the money it receives from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport cut from £6.7m to £5m by 2019. While this represents 10% of its funding, - the rest comes through the licence fee - chairman of the S4C Authority Huw Jones called the reduction "disappointing". Labour Welsh Finance Minister Jane Hutt described it as "another smoke and mirrors" Spending Review. "The reality looks like an overall real terms cut to our budget," she said, predicting it would fall by 3.6% between 2015/16 and 2019/20. Ms Hutt added that there was "nothing to relieve the ongoing and significant pressures on public services in Wales"'. Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb hailed it as a "landmark" settlement for Wales. "By removing the need for a referendum on income tax, the Welsh Assembly will finally take its place alongside other mature legislatures by being accountable to the people it serves," he said. Although First Minister Carwyn Jones told BBC Wales he was in favour of devolving some income tax powers "in principle", the Welsh government needed more details on the plans and timescale involved, he said. Mr Jones said Mr Osborne's minimum funding pledge for Wales, the so called "funding floor", offered no long term guarantees. "One of the problems we have, of course, is that the UK government has said we will put a funding floor in place, to keep Welsh funding at a constant level, but only for the length of this Parliament," he said. "That's not a permanent solution - we need to have full reform of the Barnett formula to see that." Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards welcomed the tax changes, saying: "A referendum would have been a complete waste of time and resources, and we are pleased that the UK government has finally seen sense on this matter." Welsh Lib Dem leader Kirsty Williams also welcomed the dropping of the referendum requirement, saying: "Tax varying powers will bring much-needed accountability to Wales' political system. "For too long, successive Welsh Governments have been able to spend money without having the responsibility for raising it." However, UKIP Wales leader Nathan Gill said: "It's frankly outrageous that Osborne has opened the door to devolve tax raising powers to Wales without a referendum for the people." Rachel Banner from True Wales, the group which campaigned against further devolution in the 2011 referendum, claimed that introducing income tax powers for Wales without a referendum was "illegitimate and brings the devolution settlement into disrepute". Meanwhile, shadow chancellor John McDonnell was branded "a clown" by a Welsh party colleague. Alun Davies, the AM for Blaenau Gwent, said John McDonnell was "out of his depth" on Twitter. He made the claim after Mr McDonnell produced Mao Zedong's Little Red Book in the House of Commons while saying Mr Osborne was selling off £5b worth of UK assets, in particular to China. Mr Davies tweeted: "McDonnell is a clown. Way out of his depth. "We needed leadership, strength and substance today. We got Mao". Mr McDonnell said the reference was "a bit of a joke". Analysis by Sarah Dickins, BBC Wales economics correspondent For the 238,000 families in Wales on tax credits, there may be relief that the chancellor has walked away from bringing in the tax credits he proposed in the Summer Budget but it is in effect just a delay. The savings will still be made and will be factored into Universal Credit when it is fully rolled out across the UK. At the moment it is in all but three local authorities in Wales, not Cardiff, RCT nor the Vale of Glamorgan, but not all areas within those authorities. The decision by the chancellor that Wales will have the powers to raise and vary income tax are part of his policies of bringing decision making about economic development closer to home. For example, in England local authorities will be financed by council tax and business rates rather than grants. But Scotland has had powers to raise or lower income tax by 1p in the pound for many years and not used them. In Wales there are very few people, only 4,000 in 2014/15, paying higher rate tax of 45%. The vast majority pay basic rate tax and a 1p increase or decrease is estimated to only raise an extra £180m on 2012 estimates. A Welsh government that raised income tax by 1p would have to decide whether that was worth the potential political pain. The ten local authorities behind the Cardiff City Deal, a request for around £500m from the Treasury as part of a £1.2 billion project, will be pleased that the chancellor confirmed support in principle. The team behind the City Deal now have to develop detailed plans for projects, involving the public and private sectors, that will make the economy of south-east Wales stronger. That may not be as straight forward as it seems.

Control of some of the income tax levied in Wales can be devolved to the Welsh government without a referendum, Chancellor George Osborne has said.

The researchers say that India is also forecast to beat Europe's CO2 output in 2019. Scientists say that global totals are increasing fast and will likely exceed the limit for dangerous climate change within 30 years. The world has already used up two thirds of the warming gases researchers calculate will breach 2 degrees C. The Global Carbon Project involves researchers from several different institutes around the world and it provides objective details on the scale of annual emissions. The latest data shows that a record 36 billion tonnes of carbon from all human sources were emitted in 2013. The biggest emitters were China, which produced 29% of the total, followed by the US at 15%, the EU at 10% and India at 7.1% But in an interesting development, China's emissions per head of population exceeding those of the European Union for the first time. While the per capita average for the world as a whole is 5 tonnes of carbon dioxide, China is now producing 7.2 tonnes per person, to the EU's 6.8 tonnes. The US is still far ahead on 16.5 tonnes per person. "We now see China's per capita emissions surpassing the EU," said Dr Robbie Andrew, from the Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research in Norway, who was involved in the research. "They are still nowhere near the US or Australia, but the fact that they have surpassed the EU will be quite surprising to a lot of people." This development will shine an interesting light on global climate negotiations where China has often used its relatively low per capita emissions to argue that it is on the same page as other developing countries, and that restrictions on its use of carbon were not justified. China's rapid industrialisation over the past 20 years has seen the construction of huge numbers of mainly coal fired power stations. This build-up means that the emissions that China is committed to in the future, now exceed the total of everything it has emitted to date. Prof Corinne Le Quere from the University of East Anglia, who is also involved with Carbon Project, said that a significant proportion of China's emissions were in fact, driven by demand from consumers in Europe and the US. "In China about 20% of their emissions are for producing clothes, furniture even solar panels that are shipped to Europe and America." "If you look at the emissions in Europe with that perspective, they would be 30% higher if we accounted for those goods that are produced elsewhere." The other major emissions growth is seen in India. In 2013 the country's carbon grew by 5.1%, and it is now on track to overtake the EU in 2019. "India has enormous problems, if the current government could sort out the issues with toilets that would an enormous achievement," said Dr Andrew. "They have so many things to focus on in that country, to ask them to pull back on emissions, is a big problem." For 2014, the carbon record is likely to be broken again as emissions are likely to hit 40bn tonnes, 65% above 1990 levels. The researchers involved say the recent rise is due to the global economic recovery combined with a lower than expected increases in carbon intensity, especially in the developing world. The scientists have calculated that to have a good chance of keeping global warming below 2 degrees C, total emissions of carbon will have stay under 3,200 billion tonnes. The world has about 1,200 billion tonnes left, but the latest data shows that there is a now a declining chance of now staying below the 2 degree target. "The global emissions are continuing to increase at an incredible rate," said Prof Le Quere. "In about 30 years we will have used up the remaining quota, that's extremely rapidly, that's to have a 66% chance to remain below 2 degrees." The researchers say that existing reserves of oil, gas and coal exceed the 2 degrees target. Prof Le Quere says that this message has not been understood by politicians. "We have not accepted that we will not be able to burn all this fuel, the scale of action that is required has not sunk in." The new research comes as 125 heads of state and government are set to meet at the UN in New York to discuss climate change. UN Secretary General has asked global leaders to come to the UN next week and to bring commitments with them to tackle the issue. The meeting is meant to kick start the process to a new global deal that will be agreed in Paris at the end of 2015. According to the scientists, the politicians have a long way to go, if they are to prevent the world breaching the 2 degree target. "China and India are doing exactly the same as other countries," said Prof Le Quere. "I really think we need to show leadership in the way we use energy in rich countries so that others can follow different pathways to development. At the moment we don't see any countries that have that leadership." Details of the studies dealing with the Global Carbon Project have been published in the journals, Nature Climate change, and Nature Geoscience. Follow Matt on Twitter @mattmcgrathbbc

New data on carbon shows that China's emissions per head of population have surpassed the EU for the first time.

Cameron Bancroft and Chris Dent eased any nerves on a variable pitch with an unbeaten opening stand of 137. Earlier, Liam Norwell took the final three Glamorgan wickets for a season's best 6-38 as the visitors made 158. Andrew Salter (31), Graham Wagg (30) and Chris Cooke (23 not out) could not contrive a competitive lead. The clatter of wickets slowed down dramatically after 25 fell on day one, though batting was still difficult early on because of inconsistent bounce, until Bancroft and Dent nearly trebled the previous best stand of 46. It was Gloucestershire's second Championship win of the 2017 campaign, while Glamorgan suffered their third defeat in a row, as the teams now head into the T20 Blast, which begins on Friday, 7 July. Gloucestershire captain Phil Mustard told BBC Radio Bristol: "Cricket is a funny game and I have never been involved in a game quite like that. To be honest, the scores might not suggest it but the pitch was fine. "I thought our bowlers bowled well as a team and we have got the job done today, that is pleasing. It sets us up and pulls things together for the T20." Glamorgan coach Robert Croft told BBC Wales Sport: "The game was nailed on day one, 25 wickets fell and it did everything just enough, it swung, nothing to do with the pitch, it seamed just enough, there was just enough even bounce, and it was two-paced just enough. "Both sides showed it was difficult to bat on and if we'd been none down overnight we could have capitalised. It wasn't to be, but (on the second day) the pitch was a heck of a lot better. "It has been a challenging three weeks but we've got to regroup, reflect on those matches and the two wins before that (so we can) compare and contrast what was good and what wasn't." The pictures reveal the extent of destruction wrought by the group during their 10-month occupation of the Unesco World Heritage site. While some treasured monuments have been destroyed, much of the ancient city's ruins are said to remain intact. Syria's antiquities chief Maamoun Abdulkarim said authorities had been "expecting the worst". But he told the AFP news agency that "the landscape, in general, is in good shape". He was planning to visit the city on Monday and start a survey of the ruins. President Bashar al-Assad hailed the recapture of Palmyra from IS as an "important achievement" in the "war on terrorism". Military sources say the Syrian army now has "full control" after days of fighting backed by Russian air strikes. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Mr Assad, a Kremlin spokesman said. The Kremlin said President Assad knew the Palmyra operation "would have been impossible without Russia's support". Boost in fight against IS Why IS militants destroy ancient sites Palmyra and the logic of loss IS seized the Unesco World Heritage site and modern town in May 2015. Soon after, they killed the archaeologist who looked after the ruins for 40 years. Palmyra is situated in a strategically important area on the road between the capital, Damascus, and the contested eastern city of Deir al-Zour. When IS seized the city it destroyed archaeological sites, provoking global outrage. Two 2,000-year-old temples, an arch and funerary towers were left in ruins. The jihadist group, which has also demolished several pre-Islamic sites in neighbouring Iraq, believes that such structures are idolatrous. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, said at least 400 IS fighters were killed in the battle for Palmyra. In a statement released on Saturday, Russia's defence ministry said its strikes hit 158 IS targets, killing more than 100 militants. Palmyra: Blowing ruins to rubble

Gloucestershire eased to a 10-wicket victory well inside two days after being set a modest target of 135 by Glamorgan at Cheltenham. [NEXT_CONCEPT] New images have emerged from Palmyra, hours after Syrian troops recaptured it from the Islamic State group (IS).

The data compiled over a six-month period shows the busiest services and worst-affected points along each route. Top of the list is the 17:21 service from Edinburgh to Glasgow Central via Shotts, which was found to run at a maximum of 146% of planned capacity between Haymarket and Livingston South. Transport Scotland said the data would help ScotRail "improve passenger experiences". Last November, a major improvement plan was published in response to widespread criticism of ScotRail's reliability since its Dutch owners Abellio took over the contract in April 2015. Statistics published since then have shown that ScotRail's performance has improved for five consecutive months. The rail company said 160 extra carriages had been introduced on routes across the country, with another 180 to follow in the next 24 months. How busy is Scotland's busiest train ? Lewis Macdonald finds out I took the 17.21 train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Central via Shotts. Far from being standing room only there were still a number of empty seats once we pulled out of Haymarket. And once we'd reached Livingston South there was plenty of space. I spoke to some of my fellow passengers. One said she took this train at the same time every day and that people were sometimes standing in the gangways - but not always. Another said the stretch between Haymarket and Livingston was often busy, but nothing remarkable. It seems Scotland's busiest route might not be worthy of the title. Transport Secretary Humza Yousaf said: "The Scottish government is delivering the most ambitious programme of rail investment ever seen in Scotland, committing over £5bn across the current funding period. "We wholly appreciate busy trains can be uncomfortable and can assure passengers we are focused on delivering the value-for-money service they both want and deserve. "We will achieve this in the near future, meanwhile, this busiest trains information will help make informed journey planning choices simpler in the here and now." Scottish Labour said the report revealed "the alarming scale of overcrowding on trains across Scotland". The party's transport spokesman Neil Bibby said: "The fact that a train with room for 185 passengers, including those standing, can have 270 people on board is simply staggering. "Passengers are fed-up with overcrowded, delayed and expensive trains. "When the SNP awarded the contract to run our railways to Abellio, SNP ministers said it was a 'world-leading' deal. It is clearly nothing of the sort." 1. Edinburgh-Glasgow Central via Shotts, 17:21. Planned loading passengers - 185. Maximum capacity recorded - 270 (146%) 2. Glasgow Central-East Kilbride, 17:01 during the summer. Planned loading passengers - 185. Maximum capacity recorded - 249 (135%) 3. Neilston-Glasgow Central, 08:07. Planned loading passengers - 282. Maximum capacity recorded - 375 (133%) 4. Neilston-Glasgow Central, 08:24. Planned loading passengers - 282. Maximum capacity recorded - 367 (130%) 5. Edinburgh-Glenrothes w/Thornton, via Dunfermline, 17:53. Planned loading passengers - 282. Maximum capacity recorded - 337 (120%) 6. Balloch-Airdrie, 07:07. Planned loading passengers - 282. Maximum capacity recorded - 333 (119%) 7. Edinburgh-Dunblane, 16:03. Planned loading passengers - 273. Maximum capacity recorded - 323 (118%) 8. Glasgow Central-East Kilbride, 18:47. Planned loading passengers - 185. Maximum capacity recorded - 212 (115%) 9. East Kilbride-Glasgow Central, 07:59. Planned loading passengers - 555. Maximum capacity recorded - 624 (115%) 10. Dalmuir-Larkhall, 08:18. Planned loading passengers- 281. Maximum capacity recorded - 305 (109%)

Transport Scotland has published a list of the busiest trains in the country.

In an open letter, the security and foreign policy experts say it "falls short of meeting the administration's own standard of a 'good' agreement". They call for fewer concessions on international nuclear inspections and on research and development activities. The publication of the letter comes as the deadline for a final accord nears. US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif are to fly to the Austrian capital Vienna on Friday to join the negotiations, which may need to continue beyond 30 June. The so-called P5+1 - the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany - wants to limit Iran's sensitive nuclear activities to ensure that it could not build a nuclear weapon quickly. Iran, which wants sanctions lifted in exchange, insists its nuclear work is peaceful. The open letter published by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy on Thursday is signed by a bipartisan group of US diplomats, legislators, policymakers and experts who have met regularly over the past three years to discuss Iran. They include: "Most of us would have preferred a stronger agreement," the letter says. "The agreement will not prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapons capability. It will not require the dismantling of Iran's nuclear infrastructure," it adds. "It will however reduce that infrastructure for the next 10 to 15 years. And it will impose a transparency, inspection, and consequences regime with the goal of deterring and dissuading Iran from actually building a nuclear weapon." The letter calls on Mr Obama to insist that Iran provide information about nuclear weapons research Western powers suspect it has carried out, and allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to military sites. The president is also urged to establish strict limits on the research and development of centrifuges used to enrich uranium to preclude the "rapid technical upgrade and expansion" of Iran's enrichment capacity at the end of any deal. Enriched uranium can be used to make fuel for both nuclear energy and weapons. A senior Obama administration official said it had received the letter and that it "in large part tacks with the US negotiating position inside the negotiating room".

Former senior advisers to US President Barack Obama have expressed concern at the emerging deal between world powers and Iran over its nuclear programme.

The Nigerian international, 28, helped the Edinburgh club clinch the Scottish Championship title after joining on a short-term deal from Celtic on 1 March. He played 12 games at centre-back and right-back, scoring one goal. Hibs required an endorsement from the Scottish Football Association and a visa prior to the permanent deal for Ambrose being ratified. The club have already recruited midfielder Danny Swanson from St Johnstone and striker Simon Murray from Dundee United as they bolster their squad for a return to the Premiership. Chief executive Leeann Dempster said: "Efe is a player of real quality, and one who excited the fans when he arrived on a short-term deal. "The club as a whole are delighted to be bringing in a player with his quality and experience. "[Manager] Neil [Lennon] was really keen to get Efe over the line, and we're delighted to have been able to achieve that. "Bringing in a player like Efe is a coup and the supporters played their part. We now have over 11,300 season ticket holders; this is the sort of backing that helps us to bring in players with his quality as we prepare for the season ahead." The team from the University of Aberdeen believe the ancient remains could be one of many along the coast south of Stonehaven. It is the first time an official excavation has been carried out there. Pictish symbol stones were said to be found on the Dunnicaer sea stack by locals in the 19th Century. Until this latest discovery, it was unclear whether the site held other historical remains. The Aberdeen team believe they have found the remains of a house, a fireplace and ramparts. Lead archaeologist Dr Gordon Noble said it could be the precursor to Dunnotter Castle, the remains of which lie a quarter of a mile south of the site. He explained: "We've opened a few trenches so far. This is the site where, in the 19th Century, they found six Pictish stones when a group of youths from Stonehaven came up the sea stack. "Here we've got clear evidence of people living on the sea stack at least for part of the year. Certainly people are living here for long enough to create this really nice well-constructed hearth and these lovely floor layers." The remote location meant the archaeologists needed the assistance of a specialist just to reach the site. Their climbing guide was Duncan Paterson. He said: "Considering the team themselves had never been on a rope, never been on a harness let alone put a helmet on or climbed up slopes like this - it was a big challenge." "We had tide times to consider. We've got a bit of grassy slope, this conglomerate and mud and turf to deal with. "So a big challenge." The team will continue to dig until the weekend. Believed to have hidden on a British Airways flight from Johannesburg to Heathrow, he was found on the roof of notonthehighstreet.com's headquarters on Kew Road, Richmond, on 18 June. Police said a post-mortem examination found he died from multiple injuries. A second stowaway found on the plane remains in a "critical condition". Scotland Yard said efforts to identify the deceased were "ongoing", while it was waiting to speak to the second man, a 24-year-old, found in the undercarriage of the plane. It said it was yet to determine whether the two cases were linked. British Airways has said it was working with the authorities to "establish the facts surrounding this very rare case". The 5,600-mile journey (9,012km) from Johannesburg to the UK usually takes about 11 hours. There have been other cases where stowaways have fallen to their deaths after smuggling themselves onto planes and hiding in landing gear. In September 2012, Jose Matada, 26, was found dead after falling from the undercarriage of a flight from Angola to Heathrow on to a street in Mortlake, west London. An inquest heard he may have survived freezing temperatures of up to minus 60C (-76F) for most of the 12-hour flight, but it was believed he was "dead or nearly dead" by the time he hit the ground.

Hibernian have completed the signing of centre-back Efe Ambrose on a two-year deal after a successful spell on loan. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Archaeologists have uncovered a "very significant" Pictish fort after scaling a remote sea stack off the coast of Aberdeenshire. [NEXT_CONCEPT] A stowaway believed to have clung to a plane before falling to his death remains unidentified almost a month later, the Met has said.

Staff intentionally left four swabs in Margaret Draper after an operation to fit a pacemaker at Royal Preston Hospital in 2015 but they were later revealed to be the wrong type. The mistake, which the hospital has admitted responsibility for, has left a wound which is yet to fully heal. The trust which runs the hospital said "lessons had been learned" from it. The Chorley grandmother-of-five said dealing with "the drawn out and stressful complaint procedure" in the 15 months since the life-threatening operation had been "a difficult time for me and my family". "As well as the physical pain and scars that I've been left with, my experiences have had a huge impact on me mentally." Mrs Draper's solicitors Irwin Mitchell said Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's initial investigation into the error found the surgical team opted to leave swabs in her wound to help control post-operative bleeding following the procedure on 13 August. However, it found when she was later moved to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, an "insufficient verbal handover" meant staff there were unaware of the swabs, which were only found when the decision was taken on 27 August to remove the pacemaker, they said. The solicitors said the hospital initially did not admit the severity of the mistake and claimed the swabs were made of a special material used to prevent blood flow. Following pressure from Mrs Draper's family, the swabs were sent for tests and in March 2016, a second report by the trust into her case found they were surgical swabs, which should not have been used, and so the case constituted a "never event", a preventable incident which "simply should not happen". Mr Draper said it worried her that the initial investigation "did not find this was a 'never event' and that it was only after we continued to force the issues that the true scale of the problem was revealed". Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's medical director Mark Pugh said: "We would like to sincerely apologise to Margaret Draper and her family for the distress caused. "We have carried out an investigation into the matter; lessons have been learned and robust measures are being put in place." He added it could not comment on legal proceedings but said the trust would "continue to work with Mrs Draper and her family to resolve the issue". Swan, 16, was beaten 6-3 3-6 6-3 by Ysaline Bonaventure in the opening rubber of the best-of-three tie. Watson, 23, led 4-2 in the final set but eventually lost 6-4 3-6 6-4 to Alison van Uytvanck as Belgium took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Group 1 promotion play-off in Eilat, Israel. "The Belgian team were a bit stronger than us," captain Judy Murray said. "All in all, there are lots of things to be pleased about but we are very disappointed we didn't get out of this zone - we have been stuck in here for years and I am fed up of it." Murray's squad beat South Africa and Georgia this week to reach the Group 1 play-off. Both British players were ranked lower than their opponents, with Swan the world number 524 and Bonaventure at 160, while Watson is 42 places below Van Uytvanck at 85 in the rankings. With the result of the tie already decided after the two singles matches, they did not play the doubles. GB were without world number 28 and Australian Open semi-finalist Johanna Konta, who withdrew with illness, and Naomi Broady, whose family has a long-running dispute with the Lawn Tennis Association. Former British number one Laura Robson was not considered as she is in the early stages of her latest comeback from wrist injuries. Murray added: "Next year we want a full team out, get out of the zone into the World Group to have some home and away ties, and really showcase British women's tennis to the fans in Britain." The defeat by Belgium means GB miss out on a World Group II play-off in April, and the possibility of a first home tie for Britain's women since 1993. International Tennis Federation president David Haggerty says his organisation is reviewing the format of the Fed Cup. "The competition has benefited from the home-and-away knock-out format that has been so successful in the Davis Cup, and the ITF is looking at new formats that would allow a 16-team World Group, something that is favoured by many of our constituents," he said.

An 81-year-old grandmother who had surgical swabs left in her by surgeons has said it had a "huge impact" on her. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Great Britain's Fed Cup promotion hopes ended after Katie Swan and Heather Watson both lost against Belgium.

After seven thrilling laps of the 4.25-mile Billown Circuit on the Isle of Man, the Bennett's Suzuki rider edged out Manxman Dan Kneen by 0.15 seconds. Dunlop led after lap one, but Kneen had hit the front by the end of the second circuit, only for Dunlop to regain the lead on lap six. Bradford's Dean Harrison completed the podium positions in third. For Ballymoney rider Dunlop, this was his 18th success at the Southern 100 meeting but he was made to battle all the way by Penz13.com BMW pilot Kneen. Kneen set the fastest lap of the race at 114.185mph, with Dunlop also breaking the previous lap record for the race with 113.910. "I felt a bit rusty as I haven't raced since the TT so it's good to be on a bike again. The bike wasn't running 100% but we'll get it sorted," said Dunlop after the race. English riders Jamie Coward, Ivan Lintin and James Cowton made up the top six. Race debutant Joe Thompson won the concurrently-run 600cc class from Isle of Man rider Brendan Fargher, with Darryl Tweed third. Tweed came home ahead of fellow Ballymoney rider Seamus Elliott to take the 125/400cc honours for the second year in succession with Dan Sayle from the Isle of Man claiming third. Richard Charlton was the victor in the 600cc B event. Racing continues on Wednesday night with four scheduled races down for decision. The main Solo Championship race takes place on Thursday, with Dunlop favourite to win the feature race for a fourth time.

Michael Dunlop won the opening 1,000cc race at the Southern 100 for the sixth time in seven years on Tuesday night.

The defender, 36, turned down Blues to join local rivals Aston Villa, but Redknapp plans to use the savings on making several additions to his squad. Lazio's Ravel Morrison, who is training with the club, could be among them. "I'm hoping the players I'm going to bring in, with the budget I had for John, will make us a stronger all-round team," he told BBC WM. Former Blues loanee Morrison, 24, has not figured in the Serie A side since April 2016 and played under Redknapp at QPR. Redknapp said he was looking to make "five or six" more signings, after drafting in goalkeeper David Stockdale from Brighton and centre-back Marc Roberts from Barnsley, in a bid to turn Birmingham into promotion contenders after they narrowly avoided relegation last season. However, the 70-year-old insisted the club would spend within their means in the transfer market. "We're not going to be splashing out £15m on players," he said. "We took the Championship goalkeeper of the year on a free transfer, so that's a good start, and then we took Marc Roberts, who I think is an outstanding young centre-half with a big future. "So that's two parts of the jigsaw, and there's another five or six to fill still. When we get them in, I'll be happy with that team." Liniers, in the fifth tier, have been at their home ground since 1987. One half is much shorter than the other, and the Argentine Football Association is threatening closure if it is not corrected by 15 December. Club president Marcelo Gomez said officials realised the field was crooked after seeing aerial images on Google Maps. But manager Cesar Aguirre does not believe it poses a problem. "We've played here for so many years that we've adapted to its shape," he said. "Maybe it's the opposition team who need a couple of minutes to get used to the field. But tactically it does not change much." Liniers vice-president Miguel Narvaez explained how the wonky pitch came to be. "This is a story that began 30 years ago," he said. "In 1984-85, a couple of old visionaries bought seven and a half hectares. "They began the works, they laid the pitch, and at that time there were no lasers. "They pulled the string line and it seems they did it a bit crooked. Now we are now working to fix that." Fifa regulations state that pitch markings should be "rectangular and marked with continuous lines which must not be dangerous".

Birmingham City's failure to sign John Terry could work in the club's favour, says manager Harry Redknapp. [NEXT_CONCEPT] A club in Argentina has been ordered to fix the wonky pitch they have been playing on for almost 30 years.

Her novel The Green Road won in the adult fiction category, beating works by Bill Bryson and Kate Atkinson. Enright said it was "such an honour to be selected for this award by my favourite people - booksellers". The author also took the opportunity to praise independent bookshops, saying: "Long may they remain." "Four or five years ago, we were all in a panic that the internet would eat booksellers and paper. But they've battled on and they're starting to flourish," she said, speaking ahead of Independent Bookshop Week. The Green Road will now be entered into a "best of the best" competition, which will pit previous winners of the award - from Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall to Sarah Waters' The Paying Guests - against each other in a public vote. 'Tastes and passions' Official figures for the number of UK independent bookshops show they fell by 3% last year to 894, down on the previous year. However, Meryl Halls, head of membership services at the Booksellers Association, said the mood had been "cautiously optimistic" in the sector for the last two years, and that shops "are starting to feel properly confident now". Independent Bookshop Week, which begins on Friday, is a seven-day celebration of independent retailers and will see events taking place across the UK and Ireland. "I am a big fan of independent bookshops," said Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson. "I like the way each have their own character... with stock reflecting the tastes and passions of their owners and customers." Other winners at this year's awards include Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre's victory in the children's category for Pugs of the Frozen North, while the best picture book was won by Stanley the Amazing Knitting Cat by Emily MacKenzie.

Anne Enright, the Irish Fiction Laureate, has won the Independent Bookshop Week award voted for by independent booksellers.

Media playback is not supported on this device McGregor weighed in at 153lbs for Saturday's 154lb fight, with Mayweather 149.5lbs, before a face-off that drew roars from the thousands in attendance. McGregor screamed in the face of his rival and paraded around the stage as Mayweather cut a reserved figure. "He looks blown out, full of water," said McGregor, 29. "That's the worst shape I've ever seen him in. I am going to breeze through him, trust me." If we get a bad result, which for us is McGregor knocking Floyd out in the first four rounds, we could lose around $20m, by far the worst boxing result in the state's history Mayweather, who has come out of retirement for a 50th and final bout, said: "I know what it takes when it's a fight of this magnitude. "Weight doesn't win fights, fighting wins fights. It won't go the distance, mark my words. This will be Conor McGregor's last fight also." Some in Las Vegas thought McGregor's more conservative performance at Wednesday's final news conference intimated he might be coming to terms with the realities of making his boxing debut against one of the greatest fighters of his generation. But playing to a crowd filled with Irish colours and songs, he revelled in his reception - and in the boos for Mayweather - beating his chest and screaming repeatedly. "Look at me, I am in peak physical condition," he said, adding he would weigh close to 170lbs on fight night. The build-up to the T-Mobile Arena bout has at times resembled a soap opera but finally, at around 04:00 BST on Sunday morning, they will at last fight. Many from within boxing have rubbished the match, choosing to refer to it as an "event" rather than a fight. But the dissatisfaction of the boxing purist looks unlikely to affect the mass audience, with the bout being screened in more than 220 countries. That global reach could see the record of 4.6 million pay-per-view buys - set when Mayweather beat Manny Pacquiao in 2015 - beaten. Watching the fight costs a minimum of £20 in the UK but around £75 in the US. This, added to ticket sales, merchandise and sponsorship, makes for a healthy pot. Tickets are also on sale to watch in bars on the Las Vegas strip, while more than 400 cinemas across the US will broadcast the event. It all means more than $600m (£466m) could be generated, with Pacquiao-Mayweather's reported haul of around $620m in sight. Mayweather is expected to make around $300m, McGregor $100m. Not bad for 36 minutes of work or less. There have been reports 'Money Man' has not taken McGregor seriously. This week 5 live boxing analyst Steve Bunce said only a "cocktail of age setting in and underestimation of his opponent" could pose any danger to the favourite. Mayweather's father, Floyd Sr, this week told media his son had lost "a lot" of his ability since retiring in 2015. But a 50th career win from 50 fights would carry his son past the late Rocky Marciano's perfect 49-fight record, rounding off a dominant professional career that began after he had won bronze at the 1996 Olympics. Betting markets have bemused those who give McGregor no hope as his price has shortened in recent weeks. At around 10-3, the boxing debutant is actually a shorter price than many of the fighters Mayweather dealt with before retiring in 2015. Las Vegas is expecting more than 1,300 private jets to land before for the weekend's action and the high rollers who hit the city's famous strip traditionally bet big on Mayweather in his home city. "If we continue as we are, we will rival the $50m record staked in the state of Nevada, set when Mayweather beat Pacquiao," said Jay Rood, who runs the sportsbook at the MGM Grand. "If we get a bad result, which for us is McGregor knocking Floyd out in the first four rounds, we could lose around $20m, by far the worst boxing result in the state's history." Closer to home, one Irish bookmaker claims an individual has placed £650,000 on McGregor in a bid to win £2.8m. And while we are talking betting, Mayweather has said he will tweet a picture of his betting slip when he wagers on himself. Packie Collins - trainer and brother of former world champion Steve: "I've been around the game for a long time, even based in America with my brother when Marvin Hagler was fighting. I've never seen anyone train or practise as hard as Conor McGregor. I give him a chance in there." Chris Eubank - former two-weight world champion: "Everyone is underestimating the Irish spirit. They have ghost-like spirit in warfare. I've felt it. I'm still wondering now how I got beat by Steve Collins in 1995. If McGregor pulls it off it is arguably the greatest upset in history. Everything can happen, that's why I've travelled. It is not a farce." Jeff Mayweather - uncle of Floyd: "Everyone knows what this fight is about. It's about money. Conor McGregor boxed at one point in his life but didn't master it. Floyd is a master at it." Get the biggest boxing news sent straight to your device. Find out more. Rickie Hatton - beaten by Mayweather in 2007: "I don't really give McGregor any chance and I hope I'm wrong. But the only way he could possibly win would be if Floyd Mayweather gets careless or takes a few risks or anything like that - but Floyd never does that, does he? I don't think he'll get lucky; Floyd doesn't let you get lucky." Amir Khan - former light-welterweight world champion: "It's not only a fight for McGregor and Mayweather, it's a fight between MMA and boxing. At the moment UFC is hitting huge pay-per-view numbers in the US. It's critical for boxing Mayweather wins. I think it could turn some UFC fans back to boxing." Hall of fame referee Joe Cortez, who has helped McGregor adjust to boxing rules - "He is one of the best learners I have seen. He picked up everything so quick. I've found him to be a gentleman behind the scenes. He's a class act with his girlfriend and baby - a gentleman." Media playback is not supported on this device Fight has met film regularly when it comes to boxing, and a McGregor win might well one day inspire a Hollywood reimagining of Saturday's action. The contrasting environments in which each man has trained hark back to Rocky IV, where Rocky trains in the Siberian mountains, chopping wood and resorting to old-school training methods, while Ivan Drago works out in a state-of-the art facility. Mayweather is the traditionalist of this pair, working out from his renowned yet simple Mayweather Boxing Gym. McGregor on the other hand has had access to every gizmo under the sun at the UFC's new Performance Institute - altitude chambers, underwater treadmills, you name it. He's the Drago figure in this scenario - and things did not work out too well for the Russian.

Conor McGregor claimed he has never seen Floyd Mayweather in worse physical shape as the pair exchanged words at a raucous weigh-in in Las Vegas.

Khalid Masood killed four people in Westminster this week. It is understood his phone had connected to messaging app WhatsApp two minutes earlier. Amber Rudd said she would be meeting technology firms this week. A WhatsApp spokeswoman said the company was "horrified at the attack" and was co-operating with the investigation. Meanwhile, a 12th arrest has been made by officers investigating the attack. The 30-year-man was detained in Birmingham on Sunday on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. All messages sent on WhatsApp have end-to-end encryption, meaning they are unreadable if intercepted by anyone, including law enforcement and WhatsApp itself. So while Masood's phone is believed to have connected with the app, police may not know what, if anything, was communicated. Speaking to BBC One's Andrew Marr Show, Ms Rudd said: "It is completely unacceptable, there should be no place for terrorists to hide. "We need to make sure that organisations like WhatsApp, and there are plenty of others like that, don't provide a secret place for terrorists to communicate with each other. "It used to be that people would steam open envelopes or just listen in on phones when they wanted to find out what people were doing, legally, through warranty. "But on this situation we need to make sure that our intelligence services have the ability to get into situations like encrypted WhatsApp." Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said authorities already had "huge powers". There had to be a balance between the "right to know" and "the right to privacy", he said. The Facebook-owned company, which has a billion users worldwide, has said previously that protecting private communication is one of its "core beliefs". Tim Cook, the chief executive of Apple which also uses end-to-end encryption, has previously said it would be "wrong" for governments to force Apple to "build a back door" into products. But Ms Rudd said: "I would ask Tim Cook to think again about other ways of helping us work out how we can get into the situations like WhatsApp on the Apple phone." Europol director Rob Wainwright echoed Ms Rudd's call for changes. "I would agree something has to be done to make sure that we can apply a more consistent form of interception of communication in all parts of the way in which terrorists invade our lives," he told Andrew Neil on the BBC's Sunday Politics. The victims of the Westminster attack were commemorated at the beginning of England's World Cup qualifier against Lithuania at Wembley Stadium. Before kick-off, four wreaths were laid in the centre of the pitch by Metropolitan Police Acting Commissioner Craig Mackey, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, FA chairman Greg Clarke and Culture Secretary Karen Bradley. A minute's silence was also observed by fans and players. Masood, 52, killed three people and injured 50 when he drove a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge on Wednesday. He then fatally stabbed a police officer before being shot dead by police - all within 82 seconds. Ms Rudd would not confirm who shot Masood, amid claims it was a bodyguard for Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon. A provider could co-operate with authorities and decrypt data, says Will Knight, a senior editor at MIT Technology Review. But done properly, encrypted data can be difficult or impossible to access. WhatsApp maintains only those involved in a message can read the contents due to end-to-end encryption. There are sometimes "backdoors", Mr Knight says, and intelligence services have exploited those to retrieve the keys needed to decrypt messages. But backdoors may then be exploited by criminals, or hostile governments. Prof Ross Anderson, from Cambridge University, points out that if companies do co-operate, and try to keep quiet about it, it won't take long for the tech-savvy to cotton on. And criminals or terrorists will merely divert to one of the many other messaging services, based overseas, he adds. Scotland Yard has said it believes Masood acted alone, and while officers were "determined" to find out whether he had been inspired by terrorist propaganda, it was possible his motive would never be known. A 58-year-old man, who was arrested in Birmingham the morning after the attack under the Terrorism Act, remains in custody, while a 32-year-old woman arrested in Manchester remains on police bail. Eleven people were initially arrested over the incident and nine people in total have been released without charge. Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning

There must be "no place for terrorists to hide" and intelligence services must have access to encrypted messaging services, the home secretary has said.

The fountain, nearly 300 years old, is visited by millions of tourists every year. But its poor structural condition was exposed in 2012 when bits of its elaborate cornice began falling off after an especially harsh winter. The fountain became famous in 1960 with the release of the film La Dolce Vita. In the film a voluptuous Anita Ekberg wades through its pristine waters - her hopelessly infatuated male co-star in her wake - in what critics say is one of the enduring cinematic images of the 20th Century. A team of 26 restorers have not only given the fountain a thorough cleaning, they have stopped it from crumbling away. They have repaired cracks and steel supports with the aim of avoiding a repeat of the incident in 2012 when pieces of the fountain came crashing down. Water once more tumbles from the base of the fountain's sea-god scene and new lighting shows off its gleaming Baroque facade. The repairs have been paid for by the Italian fashion house Fendi, founded as a leather goods business in Rome in the 1920s and now part of French luxury giant LVMH. It agreed a deal which allows it to hang a plaque near the monument for four years. The company has also spent €320,000 cleaning up the city's lesser known Le Quattro Fontane (Four Fountains).

Water is once more cascading from the world famous Trevi fountain in the Italian capital Rome after it underwent a 17-month €2.2m (£1.6m) renovation.

Mixu Paatelianen said his team's performance was "flat" and "unacceptable". That turned out to be merely the prelude to stronger criticism from Tannadice chairman Stephen Thompson. In a statement that addressed the team having "failed miserably on the pitch", Thompson admitted to mistakes made in the boardroom. He finished with a withering remark: "The current playing squad now have 13 matches to preserve the club's Premiership status and redeem their own professional reputations." Click here to listen to Wednesday's Scottish football podcast featuring Dundee United discussion The 3-0 home loss was chastening, not least because United seemed to have embarked upon a revival, with two wins and a draw in their three games prior to Motherwell's visit. It was the moment in the season when Paatelainen's side had to show that they could recover, that resilience and purpose would underpin a revival. Media playback is not supported on this device It fell short - jarringly so for supporters as much as the manager and the chairman - and has left United now feeling as though they are in the last throes of this campaign. It might already feel lost, although Thompson's strong, blunt words can be read as an attempt to provoke a sudden burst of defiance. Even so, desperation has invaded every aspect of the club. The boardroom mistakes Thompson admitted to might include not engaging in a more critical overview of the recruitment decisions made in the last two transfer windows. Supporters inevitably first turn their frustrations on the manager and it seemed as though the opinion of some of the fans had turned implacably against Jackie McNamara before he was relieved of his position last September. McNamara had endured a disappointing 2015 after the winter transfer window closed with the club selling Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong to Celtic on deadline day. United played 30 league games under McNamara in 2015, losing 17 of them and winning seven (23%), while his overall record was played 99, lost 39 and won 38. The team's record in the Premiership under Paatelainen is played 15, lost 10 and won two - a win rate of 13%. When the Finn took charge, United were bottom of the table, but only one point adrift of Partick Thistle. Only 12 points separated United from Hearts in third place. Now, United are 13 points behind second-bottom Kilmarnock, albeit they have a game in hand. The run of results under Paatelainen has been poor and there has been little sign of any kind of resurgence. The team was already in wretched form when he succeeded McNamara but Ross County were also bottom when Jim McIntyre was appointed as manager in September 2014 and once the January transfer window closed, he steered his side to 10 victories from their remaining 15 league game and finished ninth - eight points clear of the relegation play-off place. The comparison is damning for Paatelainen, because it shows that alternative was possible to the growing sense of resignation about the club's fate. Supporters, in the main, seem to have almost accepted relegation is inevitable, although the inconsistency of all the sides in the bottom half of the Premiership means that nothing can be taken for granted. There are more fundamental issues to be addressed, though. Thompson has previously been adamant that he sees Paatelainen as the right manager for United in the longer term. January signings were underwhelming, with only Eiji Kawashima and Guy Demel starting regularly, although it is generally a difficult window to do business in. In his statement, Thompson says that United have the third-highest wage bill in the top flight, which means that in the space of less than two seasons Hearts have built a squad of better ability and value for money. That ought to alarm a club that has been established in the top six until this season and has a large playing squad. There is also the potential financial consequences of relegation for a club that runs at a loss and has been reliant on player sales to counter that. Thompson's statement admits to failings, by the board and by the team. It also represented a last attempt by the chairman to rebuke the players into a response. Whatever happens, though, United need to improve their recruitment. Two managers have failed to wring more out of the squad, or improve it across two transfer windows. The legacy of that could be a spell out of the top flight.

The aftermath of Dundee United's defeat by Motherwell has been a period of recriminations.

Its first trip outside mainland China is part of the events marking the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from Britain to China. Its follows Xi Jinping's visit last week, his first as Chinese president. During his trip, which was marred by protests, he warned that any challenge to the Beijing central government was "impermissible". Hong Kong's political climate has grown tense in recent years with increasing calls for self-determination and even independence. The Liaoning's presence has been viewed by some as a show of force by Beijing, but many in Hong Kong have also queued for free tickets to tour the ship. It is accompanied by three warships, and will be anchored near Hong Kong's Tsing Yi island for five days. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been stationed in Hong Kong since the 1997 handover. But it keeps an extremely low profile. PLA soldiers are very rarely, if ever, seen on the streets in uniform. That is why the very public visit of the Liaoning is so significant, just days after the Chinese President Xi Jinping warned the city against independence forces. China watchers say its very presence is an unprecedented show of military force in rebellious Hong Kong. That it will be open to the public is an additional demonstration of China's soft power. The 300m (990ft) aircraft carrier is a refurbished Soviet ship of the Kuznetsov class purchased from Ukraine and was built in the late 1980s. It is part of a larger effort by Beijing to boost its military presence on the global stage. In April, the country launched another aircraft carrier - its first to be made domestically. It is expected to be operational by 2020. Sidney Fillery was accused of the crime following the murder of private detective Daniel Morgan, who was found with an axe in his head outside a London pub in 1987. But the High Court ruled Mr Fillery was unfairly prosecuted on the evidence of a "doubtful witness". Damages have yet to be agreed. The judge, Mr Justice Mitting, threw out the claims of three other men accused of carrying out the murder of Mr Morgan - who was found dead in the pub car park. Daniel Morgan, from Llanfrechfa, near Cwmbran, worked for a private investigations agency, Southern Investigations, during the 1980s. He was killed after leaving the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London. Mr Fillery's civil proceeding follows a series of failed police investigations into Mr Morgan's murder, which were dogged by allegations of police corruption. Several investigations in 1990s and 2000s led to a prosecution being brought in 2011 against Mr Morgan's business partner, Jonathan Rees, and two brothers, Glenn and Gary Vian. But the case collapsed and it emerged a senior police officer, Det Supt David Cook, had established improper contact with a witness and concealed it from prosecutors. As a result, Mr Fillery and the three others claimed the Met had falsely and maliciously prosecuted them. Mr Justice Mitting decided Det Supt Cook "deliberately withheld" details of his contact with the witness from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) - which decided to press charges. He concluded this amounted to '"misfeasance in public office" but said it was the decision of the CPS as to whether to prosecute all four men, not the Met. He added the prosecution would have gone ahead even if the evidence of the tainted witness had been left out. But Mr Justice Mitting found Mr Fillery was prosecuted entirely on this witness's evidence, which made his prosecution unfair. The Daniel Morgan case remains unsolved and is the subject of an independent Home Office inquiry In a statement, Mr Morgan's brother Alistair said the case had "focussed simply on the conduct of David Cook." "Whatever the conclusions of this judgement, we consider that it would be a travesty of justice if David Cook is allowed to become the scapegoat for the failures of the Metropolitan Police over the decades in failing to confront the police corruption that lay at the heart of this case," he added.

China's first operational aircraft carrier Liaoning has arrived in Hong Kong. [NEXT_CONCEPT] A former Metropolitan Police detective has won damages against the force after he was unfairly accused of perverting the course of justice.

The number of thefts in the Tilehurst and Soutcote areas of Reading has been mounting, the borough council said. It is believed the iron grills, which cost the council £500 each to replace, are being sold for scrap for about £2 a time. "One can only guess what level of moron is stealing these covers," said deputy council leader Tony Page. More on this and other stories from across the south of England. Robin Garton, 69, from Devizes in Wiltshire, disappeared on 25 September on a hillwalking trip near Glen Coe. Despite extensive searches involving helicopters, divers and search dogs, there has been no trace of him. His son, Will Garton, said search teams were "baffled that they can't find him" but it was important for the family to "mark him and have a service". Robin Garton was reported missing after he failed to meet up with friends as planned in Kinlochewe in Wester Ross. He was last seen checking out of his accommodation near Glen Coe on his way to Aonach Eagach Ridge. "He told the receptionist in the bed and breakfast that morning that's what he was going to do," said Will Garton. "His car's parked in the right place to do that ridge and he's not the sort of person who changes his mind - so we're very confident that he is somewhere on that ridge." But despite rescue teams spending more than 1,500 man hours searching the area, employing drones with cameras, helicopters and sniffer dogs as well as divers to search the loch - he has not been found. "The team there say they're baffled. Normally they find people much more quickly then this but so far, for whatever reason, they've been unsuccessful," said Mr Garton. "It's a living nightmare, the not knowing is the worst thing imaginable." Described as in "really good health", Mr Garton said his father was a very experienced mountaineer and "well within his comfort zone" tackling the Aonach Eagach Ridge. But he admitted it was "quite possible" he may have suffered a heart attack. "It's a challenging walk but if he has had a heart attack we would expect him to be somewhere where he could be found," he said. "That is what is so distressing for us - the lack of any news and it is bizarre that we have had no sightings as of yet." With the family getting "increasingly desperate to have him returned home", Mr Garton said rescue teams had promised there would be "no cut off" and they would carry on combing the mountain until he was found. "They're convinced he's there somewhere on that ridge and I think they will find him. I hope to God they find him," he said. "It's really important to us that they are not giving up that search so we still expect him to come home to us in some form." In the meantime Mr Garton said the family were "realistic about the chances" and were preparing "for the worst". "You can't put your life on hold but it's important to us to mark him - to have a service to recognise the huge contribution he made as a family man, a businessman and as a campaigner on climate change," he said. "We're obviously realistic and pragmatic but you can't quite extinguish the one in 10 million chance that he might come back." The family has praised the local mountain rescue team and volunteers for the search effort, which they describe as "truly humbling". A memorial service is due to be held at St Johns Church, Devizes in December. Mr Morgan, who served nine years at the helm of Welsh Government from 2000 to 2009, died in May at the age of 77. Hundreds of people attended a celebration of his life at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay on Wednesday. Thursday's service took place at the Wenallt chapel, Thornhill crematorium in the city.

Public safety is at risk after 40 drain covers were stolen within two weeks, a council has said. [NEXT_CONCEPT] The family of a hillwalker who went missing in the Highlands five weeks ago are to hold a memorial service. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Family and friends of the former first minister Rhodri Morgan have paid their final respects at a service of committal in Cardiff.

A new inquest into the death of 18-year-old Pte Cheryl James from Denbighshire will be heard in February. Her body was exhumed in August prior to the new hearing. The soldier, from Llangollen, was one of four recruits found dead with gunshot wounds at the barracks between 1995 and 2002. Pte James's parents, Des and Doreen James, made their fresh appeal on a special broadcast for British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) on Friday, which marked the 20th anniversary of her death. The High Court ordered that a new inquest should be held in 2014, quashing an open verdict finding in the original inquest in 1995. Speaking in the BFBS interview, Mrs James said: "I'd love to speak to somebody that had something to do with her on the day of her death, or the day before. "Just speak to someone that had some sort of inkling to what happened." She said it would help give the family closure on events surrounding the death. Pte James was undergoing initial training at Deepcut when she was found dead with a bullet wound to her head. Her parents, who now live in Llanymynech, Powys, believe she had suffered sexual harassment and bullying at the barracks. Mr James said as long as the new inquest was evidence-led, they would accept its conclusions. "If it comes as suicide, then it comes. And if it doesn't - it doesn't," he said. In addition to the death of Pte James, the deaths of three other soldiers at Deepcut - Pte Sean Benton, Pte Geoff Gray and Pte James Collinson - has led to long-standing allegations of bullying at the barracks. However, a request that new inquests be held into their cases was turned down in May.

The parents of a soldier who died at Deepcut barracks in Surrey 20 years ago have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Now Wales will try to steal the title for the world's largest human scrum from England's grasp to take their place in the Guinness Book of Records. Cardiff hopes to smash the record with at least 1,500 rugby lovers, including veteran players from all over the world, with international referee Nigel Owens blowing the starting whistle. The current record of 1,198 was set in Middlesex as England hosted the Rugby World Cup in 2015. The attempt, at University Sports Fields in Llanrumney, comes as rugby legends and players from days gone by travel from across the globe to the capital for the Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival. Teams of rugby players from countries including Germany, Japan, America, Australia, New Zealand and Wales will play during the veterans' tournament, which kicks off with a parade through Cardiff city centre on Sunday. Festival Director and brain child behind the record attempt Paul Guest said it would be an "enormous undertaking" as it needs to move like a normal scrum despite having at least 750 players on each side. But he said Wales could "absolutely" take the record on Wednesday. The Principality Stadium will host the opening ceremony. It is the first time Wales has hosted the over-35s festival after beating London, Toulouse and Treviso to secure the bid. With the oldest registered player being an 87-year-old man from Japan, players wear different coloured shorts for rules, including if and how they can be tackled. The week-long festival features legendary Welsh players including JPR Williams, Shane Williams and Graham Price. Mr Guest said the festival was a celebration of the love of rugby and friendship, not about big names. "I don't think Welsh people realised the reputation Wales has gained as a rugby nation. "The fact that they are going to be able to go into the Principality Stadium and are going to be eating and drinking with Welsh players is just massive. "Just to experience the Welsh rugby culture is unique." Part-funded by the Welsh Government, the festival aims to keep over-35s involved in rugby - the age group has the second biggest drop out rate behind teenagers. "Think about all the different roles in a rugby club - they are all filled by people who are over 35, the majority are volunteers," said Mr Guest. "Without these people these clubs wouldn't exist. "The love of rugby doesn't go away just because you are unable to play at the level you did in your 20s." Aird, 21, featured regularly for Rangers between 2012 and 2015 and was loaned to Vancouver Whitecaps last year. He has four international caps. "I believe he can come in and excite the fans," manager Peter Houston told Falkirk's website. "He's certainly a player with a bit of quality." The Bairns visit Championship rivals Greenock Morton in Saturday's Scottish Cup fourth-round tie. "Fraser is a player who I have been keen to bring to the club and one that we have worked hard to be able to secure," added Houston. "He is versatile across the right-hand side of the pitch and is a player who can add something a bit different to what we already have." Meanwhile, Rangers have confirmed that Tom Walsh, 20, has also terminated his contract at Ibrox. The winger made his Rangers debut in 2012 and had loan spells at Stenhousemuir, Dumbarton and St Mirren. "Everyone at the club wishes Fraser and Tom all the very best for their future careers," Rangers said in a statement. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

The age old rivalry between Wales and England fills the pages of sporting history books. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Canada midfielder Fraser Aird has joined Falkirk for the rest of the season after agreeing to terminate his contract with Rangers.

Ch Insp Tim Frohwein was the most upset his wife had ever seen him on the day he disappeared in Derbyshire in 2013. He was found with a half empty bottle of whisky and a pack of pills but had no alcohol in his blood and died of hypothermia, a pathologist said. The coroner has said it could have been a "staged" suicide that went wrong. The hearing is due to end this week. Mr Frohwein's body was found in the Goyt Valley by family and friends in November 2013 after he disappeared from his Buxton home six days earlier. On the opening day of the inquest in Chesterfield on Monday, Derbyshire Constabulary argued that evidence about Mr Frohwein's mental state or working life should not be heard. The force's lawyer Bryony Ballard argued that the inquiry should focus on the circumstances of his death because suicide had been ruled out. But coroner Dr Robert Hunter disagreed and said it would be a "warts and all hearing". Earlier, Mr Frohwein's wife Lesley said in the 30 years she had known him he had never been so upset and cried for 15 minutes the day he disappeared. He had been "dreading" a meeting at work for senior police officers the following day, she added. While she was out walking the dogs she received a text message from her husband which led to the family raising the alarm. He was also upset at being relocated from Buxton to Chesterfield because the drive would hurt his knee which had recently been operated on. The inquest was also told he did not seek help from a doctor because he did not want it on his police record. Previously in the hearing, the pathologist said there was no alcohol in his system nor was there a toxic level of drugs. The inquest continues.

A police officer found dead on moorland after a six day search was dreading a meeting at work, an inquest has heard.

20 May 2016 Last updated at 16:11 BST The EgyptAir flight MS804 was carrying 66 people on a journey from Paris in France to Cairo in Egypt when the radars that keep track of aircrafts as they travel lost touch with it. Boats have found some wreckage in the Mediterranean sea where the plane went missing. No one yet knows exactly what happened but security experts say it might have been caused by terrorism. The 28-year-old, linked with Manchester United, will join Atletico after the Copa America campaign with Argentina. He spent six seasons with Benfica, making 200 appearances with 32 goals, having joined them from Argentine giants Boca Juniors in 2010. Gaitan won three straight league titles with Benfica and was a Europa League runner-up twice. "We don't want to have hard borders between Northern Ireland and the Republic," said Jean-Claude Juncker. He was speaking after talks in Brussels with Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Enda Kenny. The UK is expected to trigger the Brexit process next month. Border controls were removed under the 1998 Good Friday peace deal. But once the UK leaves the EU, the border - heavily policed during the Troubles in Northern Ireland - will become one of the EU's external borders. Last June a majority of voters in Northern Ireland and Scotland voted to remain in the EU, but the UK Leave campaign won overall because so many in England backed Brexit. "We want to have the Good Friday agreement not being put under risks, and we want land borders being as open as possible," Mr Juncker said. A veteran European Commission politician, France's Michel Barnier, will be the EU's chief negotiator on Brexit, and he attended the Juncker-Kenny talks on Thursday. The Commission and Irish government "will work closely together during the whole process of the Brexit negotiations," Mr Juncker said. Mr Kenny said Dublin was very concerned by the implications of Brexit and wanted "the closest possible relationship between the UK and the EU". "There should not be a return to a hard border and there won't be," AFP news agency quoted him as saying. Police officers found heroin and cannabis during raids on two properties in Gartloch Road and Rigby Drive on Thursday morning. Two men, aged 30 and 36, were arrested in connection with alleged drugs and firearms offences. A 26-year-old woman was arrested in connection with alleged drugs offences. Tenants in England and Scotland saw an identical rise, but the increase in Wales was slower, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. On a regional level, the sharpest rise - of 3.2% - was in London. The slowest was a 0.4% increase in the North East of England, as well as Yorkshire and the Humber. "We have a chronic shortage of housing in the areas where jobs are being created, so rents continue to rise as supply fails to meet demand," said Matt Hutchinson, director of flat and house share site SpareRoom.co.uk. "In some areas of London we are seeing up to 13 people compete for every room advertised during peak months." The latest official figures from the ONS showed that house prices rose at a faster rate than the cost of renting. There was a 7.2% increase in property prices in the year to the end of February. The cost of renting rose by 2.1% in England in the year to the end of March, by 2.1% in Scotland, but by 0.8% in Wales, the ONS said.

A search is underway to find out why a plane went missing on 19 May. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Atletico Madrid have agreed a deal to sign midfielder Nicolas Gaitan from Benfica for 25m euros (£19.7m). [NEXT_CONCEPT] The European Commission president has said he agrees with the Irish government that Brexit should not bring back a "hard" Northern Ireland border. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Three people have been charged after drugs with an estimated street value of £300,000 plus a firearm and ammunition were seized in the east end of Glasgow. [NEXT_CONCEPT] The cost of renting a home from a private landlord in Britain rose by 2.1% in the year to the end of March, official figures show.

The bill would pardon men only if they had sex without "force or threat" and if they married the victim. Critics say it legitimises rape and child marriage, and lets off men who are aware of their crime. Violence against women in Turkey has increased in the past decade - 40% of women report sexual or physical abuse. Statistics also show the murder rate of women increased by 1,400% between 2003 and 2010. The bill was initially approved on Thursday evening after being brought to parliament by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). On Tuesday, MPs will debate the bill a second time before casting their final vote. It is a highly contentious bill that has divided Turkey along its traditional secular versus conservative fault line. The aim, says the government, is not to excuse rape but to rehabilitate those who may not have realised their sexual relations were unlawful - or to prevent girls who have sex under the age of 18 from feeling ostracised by their community. There is opposition to the bill on the streets of Istanbul. Many say it will encourage men to rape. But the government will get support among its pious voter base in poorer areas where girls are married off young and the sexual abuse rate is higher. Supporters say Mr Erdogan has liberated religious women by repealing a ban on headscarves in public places. The vote on Tuesday could spark mass protests. If it passes it will likely quash the convictions of some 3,000 men accused of assaulting an under-18-year-old. But critics say as well as overlooking statutory rape (underage sex) it would legitimise child marriage. "Sexual abuse is a crime and there is no consent in it. This is what the AKP fails to understand," said Ozgur Ozel, MP for the opposition Republican People's Party, according to AFP news agency. "Seeking the consent of a child is something that universal law does not provide for." But Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said it could help couples who have engaged in consensual sex and want to marry. "When a child is then born from this non-official union, the doctor warns the prosecutor and the man is sent to prison, putting the child and mother into financial difficulties," he said.

A bill which would allow men accused of raping underage girls to be cleared if they marry the girl has been preliminarily backed by Turkish MPs.

Lewis Jones, 21, had stepped out to see friends when the explosion ripped through New Ferry, Wirral, on Saturday. His family said they unsuccessfully tried his phone in the aftermath, but it was "only when we went outside that we found out what had happened". A woman was also seriously injured in the blast, which hurt 31 others. Merseyside Police said the woman has since been discharged from hospital. In a joint statement, Mr Jones's mother Maureen and older brother Jonathan said the 21-year-old left their house close to the blast site "just a couple of minutes before the explosion". "After... we rang his phone, because we had no idea which direction he had gone in, but it was switched off. "It was only when we went outside that we found out what had happened." Mrs Jones said that as a mother, "you always worry about your children going out... but you don't expect something like this to happen just a few minutes from home". The pair said the Everton fan was a "real joker", who was also "very kind and sensitive". A police spokesman said Mr Jones was being treated at The Walton Centre in Liverpool, a hospital which specialises in neurology and spinal services. Everton ambassador Graeme Sharp said the thoughts of the club were with Mr Jones and his family, adding that everyone there was "all deeply saddened to hear of what Lewis is going through". Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, Wirral Borough Council, the Health and Safety Inspectorate and the National Grid are continuing to jointly investigate the cause of the explosion. A number of shops and businesses within the original blast cordon have now reopened, the council said.

A critically-ill man injured in a suspected gas blast had just left his home "just a couple of minutes before the explosion", his family have said.

This is because clever, self-learning programs are getting better than human recruiters at analysing vast amounts of data gleaned from application forms, CVs (curricula vitae or resumes), and social media profiles. Not only can they see if your credentials match the basic requirements of the job description, they can identify personality traits from the way you've expressed yourself on paper and online. These algorithms try "to automate the 20-to-50 things the best recruiters do consciously or unconsciously" when shortlisting candidates, says Jon Bischke, chief executive of Entelo, a recruitment tech firm. But he doesn't believe we'll ever reach the point where the computer makes the final decision. "The goal is not to tell you who to hire," he says. "But it might tell you which five people to bring in to interview." The more data recruitment algorithms can analyse, the more accurate their assessments will become. And they can learn from previous successes and failures. So if a selected candidate does well in the job, for example, his or her profile can be fed back into the algorithm so that it can spot people with similar profiles in future. "Maybe in life I've looked at 20,000 or 30,000 resumes," says Sheerov Desai, chief executive of Gild, a machine learning recruitment firm. "A machine which has been fed hundreds of millions is going to outperform me." Before the advent of powerful computers and data science, recruiters "would spend a lot of time doing manual research on applicants, Googling them, looking for details about work they've done in the past, seeing if they would be a good cultural fit," says Mr Desai. All this has now been automated and speeded up. And these algorithms can often spot things we humans can't. For example, one of Gild's clients complained that the agency was sending them Java engineers for a vacancy for an Android programmer. "But the machine is scanning hundreds of millions of resumes, and it started to make the conclusion that Java and Android were quite similar technologies," says Mr Desai. The machine was right - a Java programmer not already familiar with Android would pick it up very quickly, he says. Another big advantage computers have over humans is that they are free from racial and gender prejudice. Where human recruiters may - even unconsciously - dismiss candidates based on assumed ethnicity, sex or education, algorithms can assess anonymised applications objectively. It is this kind of bias that drove Stephanie Lampkin to launch Blendoor, a "Tinder for jobs" that hides applicants' race, age, name, and gender and matches them with companies based on skills and education alone. Finding the best candidates is one thing, keeping them motivated and loyal once you've hired them is another. Most companies set their goals annually, but research shows the average goal's shelf-life is actually just 40 days, says Kris Duggan, chief executive of BetterWorks, a business management software company. Mr Duggan's product lets employees set goals quarterly and check in on their progress - he compares it to the fitness-goals system, FitBit. BetterWorks is also researching how to apply machine-learning to assess how effective a company's goals really are. The more engaged staff are the better they perform, says Jim Barnett, chief executive of Glint, a company that regularly surveys employees. "Measuring engagement isn't like an annual check-up with your doctor - it's more like fitness and diet, which you should be monitoring all the time," he says. Algorithms sift through the survey data to predict which teams may be running into problems, and suggest how managers might forestall them. But how much monitoring is too much? In a recent experiment at MIT, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, employees in a business wore monitors to track their basic emotional states. Algorithms sifting through the data identified that all employees experienced flashes of anger during their day. Further analysis showed this was always during meetings with a particular manager. Now that might be useful to know if you're the boss, but how happy would staff be at that level of intrusion? And what are the risks of relying so heavily on computers for recruitment purposes? Algorithms trained to spot correlations and patterns - to seek out candidates that fit an ideal based on previous experience - may reject candidates from non-traditional backgrounds who would actually be excellent, some experts warn. If you write the algorithm too rigidly, it may end up selecting competent applicants but reject "the next Picasso, Shakespeare, or Turing", says Petar Vujosevic, co-founder of GapJumpers, a recruitment tech company specialising in "blind audition" assessments of potential candidates. GapJumpers believes setting relevant online tasks for applicants is a better way of assessing talent than simply wading through - probably embellished - CVs. "If people are not careful how they think about and build recruitment technology, in what is essentially a human process,"' says Mr Vujosevic, "it will only make people feel even less engaged and appreciated for their talents - and on a scale human recruiters never could manage." Caveats aside, the financial case for using self-learning algorithms is clear. There are 5.3 million new job hires every month in the US, according to the country's Bureau of Labor Statistics. And each corporate vacancy attracts 250 applications on average. That's a lot of documents for businesses to plough through. Automating this process saves money - that's the bottom line. In the UK, replacing a departing staff member costs £30,614 on average, says Oxford Economics - which works out at more than £4bn a year in total for British business. And with a third of new hires leaving after six months, as a business you really want to do everything you can to get the right person the first time round. So if your job application is rejected in future, you may have to blame a computer, not the HR department. Follow Technology of Business editor Matthew Wall on Twitter @matthew_wall Click here for more Technology of Business features

Next time you apply for a job, it could be a computer algorithm deciding whether or not you fit the bill.

Willie Cameron, who runs a range of hospitality businesses in the Highlands, believes the fact that the pound tanked against the Euro following the EU referendum has benefited the sector in the short-term. But its long-term repercussions are more uncertain. A recent survey suggested that more than a quarter of EU nationals - normally the most loyal and lucrative visitors - would be less likely to holiday here because of the vote to leave. Mr Cameron said: "In the short term it's extremely good as far as the tourism industry is concerned. "However, in the long term we don't know what's going to happen and this is where the big question mark regarding tourism generally is concerned - we're entering very, very uncertain times." Any potential investment in the industry is being "put on the back burner", he added. "There are no decisions being made, there's no indication of decisions being made, it is very worrying." Part of that uncertainty surrounds the attitude of potential EU visitors. Would they really turn their backs on the UK as a holiday destination as a recent poll suggests? Simon Calder, travel editor of The Independent, said: "It is not unreasonable for people on the continent to feel a bit miffed with the result of the EU vote. "Effectively we were saying, 'We don't want to play' and therefore, of course, there will be a number of people who will say, 'Right, well if you don't want to be part of our great economic experiment, then we don't want to come on holiday to your country'. "I think a bigger worry, actually, are people who will infer for some reason - maybe all the rhetoric that was going on at the time of the referendum - that somehow they'll need a visa to come to Scotland. "It's very unlikely that the traditional Scottish markets will need that but it might deter some people." The numbers of tourists coming to Scotland's shores is just one side of the coin. Increasingly, the staff serving them in the cafes and making the beds in the hotels are from other EU states, especially eastern and central Europe. Restaurant worker Erik Harrmann, from the Czech Republic, said he was shocked and baffled by the Brexit vote. "I was surprised. We all thought that Britain would remain. Yes, it was like shock for us, for all of us," he said. His colleague, Julie Barbusinova, added: "I was so sad. Everybody was sad in work." Many observers reckon foreign seasonal workers are the backbone of the tourist industry here. George Stone runs a programme which has brought hundreds into the Highlands in recent years and he has real concerns about what might happen if there is a hard-line approach to such immigration. "They form a huge part of the workforce in the hotels," he said. "And it's not just in the unskilled jobs that don't require a language, but the waitresses and, to an increasing extent, the people in the kitchen, not just washing the dishes but preparing the meals, are coming from Europe, particularly the central European countries. "There are going to be two sets of losers. First of all, the young, dynamic people from places like the Czech Republic but also my friends, the hotel owners and managers here in the north of Scotland. "It will be difficult for them to replace the staff from other sources." The Scottish tourist trade is just one sector still trying to find out what exactly Brexit will mean for them.

Hotels, restaurants and historic attractions in the north of Scotland have just enjoyed a bumper season - but there is uncertainty about the future of the tourism industry following the Brexit vote.

The death, which happened on Victoria Street, was reported to police shortly after 14:15 BST on Sunday. A 45-year-old man, understood to be the victim's twin brother, was arrested at the scene. Police have been given extra time to question him on suspicion of murder. The MLA for Upper Bann, Carla Lockhart, described the man's death as "horrendous news". "My thoughts are with those now mourning the loss of a loved one," she said. "I have spoken with the police and been briefed about their lines of inquiry. "I would encourage anyone who has any information to come forward." The regulator said Vodafone had misled pay-as-you-go customers, charging them for top-up credit but "providing nothing in return". It also found Vodafone had broken the rules on handling customer complaints. Vodafone offered its "profound apologies" and said it was "determined to put everything right". The fine stems from two earlier investigations into Vodafone, which has 20 million mobile customers in the UK. One found that 10,452 pay-as-you-go customers lost out when Vodafone failed to credit their accounts after they paid to top up their mobile phone credit. The affected customers collectively lost £150,000 over a 17-month period, Ofcom said. The problems were caused by errors linked to the company's move to a new billing system. However, Vodafone "failed to act quickly enough to identify or address these problems" and only moved to fix the issue after Ofcom intervened, the regulator said. A second investigation found that Vodafone's customer service agents were not given "sufficiently clear guidance" on what constituted a customer complaint. Moreover, poor processes meant some complaints were not handled "in a fair, timely manner". The firm also failed to ensure customers were told, in writing, of their right to take an unresolved complaint to a third-party resolution scheme after eight weeks. In a statement, Vodafone said it had "fully refunded or re-credited" 10,422 pay-as-you-go customers out of the 10,452 affected. It said it was unable to track down the remaining 30 affected. It also said it had invested in better customer service and training. "Everyone who works for us is expected to do their utmost to meet our customers' needs," it said. "It is clear from Ofcom's findings that we did not do that often enough or well enough on a number of occasions. We offer our profound apologies to anyone affected by these errors." Lindsey Fussell, Ofcom Consumer Group director, said: "Vodafone's failings were serious and unacceptable, and these fines send a clear warning to all telecoms companies. "Phone services are a vital part of people's lives, and we expect all customers to be treated fairly and in good faith." A £2,640 grant to pay for "bespoke earplugs" for residents near Hinkley Point C in Somerset has been approved by the local council cabinet. Energy firm EDF has already paid for new double-glazing in some homes. But councillors said outdoor noise was "very obtrusive" and further measures were needed. EDF began moving heavy machinery onto the site at the beginning of January. It said excavation work to prepare the ground for the new plant will involve removing the equivalent of four Wembley Stadiums-worth of soil. West Somerset Councillor Sue Goss, who proposed the earplugs, said the noise was "24/7" and "very obtrusive" but developers EDF Energy said it was within the required limits. "EDF has acknowledged there is a noise issue in the hamlets closest to the site by providing double glazing to all affected properties," she said. "Unfortunately the double-glazing doesn't extend to the outside of people's properties, where the noise is very obtrusive." But an EDF spokesman said the firm monitored and controlled site noise levels "very carefully" and has complied with the limits placed on it. "We have developed a package of measures to support our neighbours during the construction of Hinkley Point C and these go well beyond statutory requirements." The measure, which is recommended for approval, will go before a full council meeting next week. If approved, funding for the earplugs will come from a fund set up by EDF for local residents.

Police have launched a murder investigation after the body of a 45-year-old man was found in a flat in Lurgan, County Armagh. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Regulator Ofcom has fined Vodafone £4.6m for "serious" breaches of consumer protection rules, its largest fine to date for a telecoms operator. [NEXT_CONCEPT] People living near the site of a new nuclear power station are set to be given earplugs to block out the noise of "24/7" construction.

The schools watchdog is challenging a High Court ruling last year clearing an Islamic mixed-sex faith school of unlawfully segregating the pupils. Birmingham's Al-Hijrah school separates boys and girls from the age of 10. Three appeal judges reserved their judgment after a two-day hearing. In a report last summer, Ofsted ruled that the mixed-sex school was inadequate, saying that its policy of separating the sexes was discrimination under the 2010 Equality Act. But in November, High Court judge Mr Justice Jay overruled the inspectors, saying that they had taken an "erroneous" view on an issue "of considerable public importance". Amanda Spielman, England's chief inspector of schools, who appeared in court in person, is appealing over the segregation ruling. Ofsted says that Al-Hijrah admits boys and girls aged four to 16 but completely separates them from Year 5 for lessons, breaks, school trips and school clubs. This amounts to direct sex discrimination which particularly impacts on girls and leaves them "unprepared for life in modern Britain", says the watchdog. Peter Oldham QC, appearing for the school's interim executive board, asked the judges to dismiss the appeal. Mr Oldham said boys and girls at Al-Hijrah, which is maintained by Birmingham City Council, were "treated entirely equally while segregated" and that was lawful. He said Ofsted did not claim that separation was discrimination until 2016 and its actions were "the antithesis of proper public decision making". Helen Mountfield QC, appearing for Ofsted, offered an apology to the court for previous inspections. Ms Mountfield said: "Ofsted recognises this was not picked up earlier, or at other schools. This is the first case where it has been picked up." The QC told the judges that if the appeal was allowed, Ofsted would reinspect all mixed-sex schools with segregation policies which might be breaching equality laws. She said the total number of mixed-sex faith schools which had been inspected amounted to 677 maintained schools and 55 independent schools. "Ofsted has identified two which definitely segregate on grounds of gender and 16 which may do," she added. A judgement is expected at a later date.

Schools in England which segregate boys from girls will face fresh inspections if education watchdog Ofsted wins a test case over sex discrimination, the Court of Appeal heard on Wednesday.

Spencer Bell, 71, from Bushey, Hertfordshire, went to the aid of Alan Trethewey, 67, who had fallen on to the M1 near Watford on 30 January. Both men were then hit by an oncoming car. Mr Bell's family previously described him as "the most loving, funny and generous person". The hearing regarding Mr Bell's death has been adjourned due to criminal proceedings involving a car driver, who has been charged with causing death by careless driving. "Knowing he died in such a selfless way is no comfort. But we would not have expected anything else of him," Mr Bell's family said. Harvey Lloyd was conferred a British Empire Medal for services to mountain rescue, mountaineering and heritage in Wales. He was a member of Llanberis Mountain Rescue team in the 1970s until the 1990s, rescuing walkers off Snowdon. Meanwhile Clara Jones, from Llangefni, Anglesey, 74, was appointed an MBE for services to the Women's Institute. Commenting on the honour, Llanberis Mountain Rescue team secretary Phil Benbow said Mr Lloyd had helped make the team a success. At the time of his involvement, the volunteers rescued about 50 people a year from the areas around Snowdonia National Park. Last year it attended 270 incidents, which Mr Benbow said was down to the increasing popularity of Snowdon as a visitor and hiking attraction. He said: "Harvey was a well respected and highly regarded member of the team when he was living in the area, and contributed to the great success of the team." Deng, who played for both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls last season, will effectively replace NBA superstar LeBron James, who joined the Cavaliers last week. "Luol Deng is one of the most important free agent signings in the history of the franchise," said Heat president Pat Riley. "He is a proven All-Star." Dwayne Wade will be at Miami next season after re-signing for the Heat. Sudan-born Deng represented the Bulls from 2004 to 2014, twice earning selection as an NBA All-Star. He was traded to the Cavs in January. The 29-year-old competed for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics and has been named in Joe Prunty's squad for the forthcoming Eurobasket qualifying campaign. The Heat have appeared in the last four NBA Finals, winning in 2012 and 2013, but were beaten by the San Antonio Spurs last season.

A "selfless" man was hit and killed by a car as he tried to help a former postal worker who had fallen off a motorway bridge, an inquest heard. [NEXT_CONCEPT] A mountain rescue volunteer from Caernarfon has been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Great Britain forward Luol Deng has joined Miami Heat as a free agent.

Despite falling unemployment, wage growth is weak because the supply of labour has also gone up, says the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). The CIPD said for every low-skilled job, there were 24 applicants. There were also 19 candidates for every medium-skilled job and eight for every high-skilled vacancy. The CIPD's quarterly Labour Market Survey of employers, carried out in association with the Adecco Group, said the workforce had been boosted by more workers from other EU countries, as well as by older workers and former welfare claimants. The report's author, Gerwyn Davies, who is senior labour market adviser at the CIPD, said pay had been expected to rise along with employment, but such predictions were "the dog that hasn't barked for some time now". "We are still yet to see tangible signs of this situation changing in the near term," he added. "The facts remain that productivity levels are stagnant [and] public sector pay increases remain modest, while wage costs and uncertainty over access to the EU market have increased for some employers. "At the same time, it is also clear that the majority of employers have still been able to find suitable candidates to employ at current wage rates, due to a strong labour supply until now." Not all recent surveys back up the CIPD's view. Last week, a survey of employment agencies found that the UK labour market was tightening, with employers finding it harder to recruit staff. The survey, carried out by market research firm Markit for the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), said that pay rates for both permanent and temporary staff were rising quickly because of a continuing fall in the number of job applicants. Markit said last year's Brexit vote was also driving some EU nationals home, making it harder to fill a wide variety of jobs. The vaccine will be offered to men who have sex with men (MSM) up to and including the age of 45 who attend sexual health or HIV clinics. MSM prisoners aged up to and including 45 will also be eligible to receive the vaccine through prison health services. HPV is the name for a group of viruses which can lead to genital warts and some forms of cancer. The introduction of the programme follows a recommendation by the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation (JCVI), the UK's independent, expert panel on vaccination matters. Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said: "I am delighted to announce the introduction of an HPV vaccination programme for MSM in Scotland from today. "Its introduction is based on the advice of the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation. "The JCVI recognises that MSM are a group at high risk of HPV infection and associated disease who receive little indirect health benefit from the existing, highly successful, HPV vaccination programme for girls. "Introducing a HPV vaccination programme for MSM will help to provide protection against HPV infection which can cause genital warts and HPV-related cancers." The two met in Washington despite Chinese objections. China has denounced meetings between foreign leaders and the exiled Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader, whom the country considers a separatist. The pair, who have met several times before, talked behind closed doors in the White House Map Room. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman condemned Wednesday's meeting. "If the United States plans this meeting, it will send the wrong signal to Tibet independence and separatist forces and harm China-US mutual trust and cooperation," said Lu Kang. Mr Obama encouraged direct dialogue between the Dalai Lama and China, the White House said. "Tibet, per US policy, is considered part of the People's Republic of China, and the United States has not articulated our support for Tibetan independence,'' said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest. "Both the Dalai Lama and President Obama value the importance of a constructive and productive relationship between the United States and China. "All of those were policy positions of the United States before the meeting occurred. Our policy hasn't changed after the meeting.'' Mr Obama has previously described the Tibetan Buddhist leader as a "good friend". The Dalai Lama fled to India after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. The Buddhist leader has pushed for more Tibetan autonomy while China accuses him of encouraging outright independence.

Pressure on incomes looks set to continue, with pay rises forecast at 1% over the next year, a survey predicts. [NEXT_CONCEPT] A new HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccination programme is now being offered to men who have sex with men. [NEXT_CONCEPT] US President Barack Obama has met the Dalai Lama in private and told him he encourages dialogue with China, the White House has said.

Sylvia, a Japanese Shiba Inu, was discovered in the sea by a dog walker at the western entrance of the Menai Strait near Caernarfon on Saturday. She had vanished on Newborough beach on the island's west coast a week ago. Her owner Janice Bannister had spent £750 hiring a helicopter to search the area. People from all over the UK joined her on Saturday to help look for Sylvia after her story attracted huge support, while a facebook campaign was started to help find her. "We were all out looking for her when the news came though that she had been found," said Mrs Bannister, of Telford, Shropshire. "We were all devastated. The coastguards were out searching with us at the time but they went to the point where she was found - a very treacherous place - and they carried her back to me in a blanket. "She's at home with us now and we're going to bury her." Mrs Bannister said she had been comforted by the "thousands" of messages she had received on social media and now wants to raise money for the coastguards in the area. She also hopes to have a memorial bench for Sylvia on Newborough beach, if she is given permission. "I really want to put something back into the local community because they have been so good and without the coastguards I wouldn't have had any closure.," she added. "We're determined to make sure she didn't die in vain."

A missing dog whose owner hired a helicopter to look for her has been found drowned a few miles from where she disappeared on Anglesey.

Bad debts at the banks are making them less willing to lend. The OECD says many legacies of the area's financial crisis are unresolved and major new problems have emerged. Europe has, however, made "important progress" to recover from a double dip recession. The eurozone's economy has now been growing without interruption for three years. But it has not been strong growth, and it has been supported by what are called (perhaps euphemistically) the unconventional policies of the European Central Bank - extremely low, even negative interest rates and quantitative easing. In its regular health check on the eurozone economy, the OECD notes that investment is far below 2007 levels, unlike the United States. The reasons include weak demand - businesses will always be reluctant to invest if they are concerned that they may struggle to sell the goods and services they produce with the new investment. But there are also some financial factors holding back investment. In some countries businesses are still burdened with high levels of debt. The banks are struggling with high levels of "non-performing loans" - where borrowers are behind with their repayments. That tends to makes the banks more wary of new lending. Two countries stand out as having particularly acute problems in this area - Greece and Italy, although they are not alone. On one measure, the Italian banks look in even worse shape than their counterparts in Greece, the country whose economy has been most severely hit by the eurozone financial crisis. The Italian banks have a higher level of non-performing loans compared to their capital, which is a financial buffer that is used to absorb losses, including losses due to problem borrowers. Italy's banks are seen as a serious weak link in the eurozone. The country's economy has started growing again, but it remains 8.5% smaller than it was before the international financial crisis. Italy's government also has a problem with a persistently rising debt burden, behind only Greece in the eurozone. That in turn makes it a struggle for the government to bail out its banks, if they need it. Indeed the OECD report warns about "the still large potential for negative feedback loops between banks and their sovereigns", although it doesn't name Italy specifically in that context. The eurozone's banking union was intended to address that problem. The OECD says it needs to be completed. In particular the OECD says there should be more by way of eurozone-wide financial backstops - for a fund to deal with failing banks and for insurance to protect depositors if their bank goes bust. These ideas are not popular in some eurozone countries, especially Germany where there seen as by many as a case of Germany underwriting the banks in other eurozone nations. The wider message from the OECD report is that the eurozone may be out of immediate danger, but it is not in robust health.

Investment in the eurozone remains far below pre-crisis levels, partly due to problems in the banks, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has said.

The ministry said an air strike may have killed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and up to 330 other fighters on 28 May. It said the raid had targeted a meeting of the IS military council in the group's de-facto capital of Raqqa, in northern Syria. There have been a number of previous reports of Baghdadi's death. This is the first time, however, that Russia has said it may have killed the IS leader. Other media reports have previously claimed he had been killed or critically injured by US-led coalition air strikes. A statement by Russia's defence ministry published by the state-funded Sputnik news agency said 30 IS commanders and up to 300 soldiers were at the Raqqa meeting. "According to information that is checked through various channels, IS leader Ibrahim Abu-Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was killed as a result of the strike, was also present at the meeting," it added. Colonel John Dorrian, a spokesman for the US-led coalition, said the US could not confirm whether Baghdadi had been killed. There has been no official comment from Syria's government. Islamic State group: The full story Life under IS: A Raqqa diary Baghdadi's whereabouts have been unknown for some time, although he was believed to be in Mosul in Iraq before a US-led coalition began an effort to reclaim the city in October 2016. Reuters reported that he was recently believed to have been "hiding in thousands of square miles of desert" rather than living in either Mosul or Raqqa. His only public appearance since IS declared the creation of a caliphate in June 2014 was in a video days later, showing him delivering a sermon in Mosul after IS took control of the city. Since then, the group has lost considerable amounts of territory and has been under pressure from air strikes by Russian-led forces and by the US and its allies. In March, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that "nearly all" of Baghdadi's deputies had been killed. "It is only a matter of time before Baghdadi himself meets this same fate," he added. Baghdadi - thought to be a nom de guerre rather than his real name - is believed to have been born in Samarra, north of Baghdad, in 1971. Reports suggest he was a cleric in a mosque in the city around the time of the US-led invasion in 2003. Some believe he was already a militant jihadist during the rule of Saddam Hussein. Others suggest he was radicalised during the four years he was held at Camp Bucca, a US facility in southern Iraq where many al-Qaeda commanders were detained. He emerged as the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, one of the groups that later became Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (IS), in 2010. In October 2011, the US officially designated Baghdadi as a "terrorist". It has offered a reward of up to $25m (£19.6m) for information leading to his capture or death. IS went on to seize Mosul, Iraq's second-biggest city, in June 2014 before claiming swathes of territory and launching deadly attacks on Western cities, including Paris in November 2015.

Russia's defence ministry is investigating whether one of its air strikes in Syria killed the leader of the Islamic State militant group (IS).

Since 2006 all passengers departing from Newquay airport aged 16 and over have had to pay the charge. Airline Ryanair said the "significant fee" was a reason for pulling its flights from Newquay in 2011. Ryanair agreed to return to the airport after Cornwall Council confirmed in September it would scrap the fee. Malcolm Bell, head of Visit Cornwall, has said scrapping the "disliked" fee will be good for tourism. Neil Warnock has not just lifted the Bluebirds from the Championship relegation zone to a seemingly once unlikely top-half finish. The 68-year-old has also reconnected the club with its fans and ensured a sense of optimism for next season. When Warnock arrived in October, Cardiff were struggling with their 'project' under Paul Trollope. The former Wales international is undoubtedly a high quality coach, but it was not working for him as a manager. After 11 League games, only eight points collected and with the club precariously in the relegation zone - Trollope was sacked and the ultimate Championship manager arrived to unusually united acclaim from supporters. Warnock has worked his magic by transforming the team and galvanising the fan base. When he meets owner Vincent Tan this month, Warnock will have a strong hand to gain the funds he feels he needs to launch a promotion challenge next season. Warnock has indicated he desires a war chest of only around £5m to £6m, which is just as well, because the club has been living in the shadow of the Financial Fair Play regulations. The Cardiff manager believes he already has a solid base upon which to build next season. Keeping Gabon defender Bruno Ecoule Manga would be a significant boost. The signs are good after it initially looked as if the cultured centre back might seek pastures new. But negotiations seem to still be hanging in the balance. Defensive resources appear to be good at Cardiff, particularly with Sol Bamba excelling since his arrival with Warnock. Of course, the goalkeeping spot has to be a priority, as Scotland's Allan McGregor and youngster Ben Amos return to their parent clubs after loans. Warnock's unsuccessful January pursuit of Aberdeen's Jonny Hayes suggests the Cardiff manager is looking to boost his options on the flanks, which may see the attempted offloading of Craig Noone and perhaps even Anthony Pilkington. There is an industrious look to the midfield - when isn't there with a Warnock side? - with Joe Ralls and player-of-the-season Arron Gunnarsson, though more pace is required. It could yet be the end of an era if a deal cannot be reached with club stalwart Peter Whittingham, though this one could run-and-run, as the 32-year-old mulls over reduced terms and considers his options. Whittingham appears not to be a priority in the summer activity, though even with selective appearances, few Cardiff fans would want to see him at a Championship rival next season. Nothing underlines Warnock's effect on the Bluebirds team more than the transformation of striker Kenneth Zohore, who has gone from struggling youngster to formidable Championship force. The Dane's 12 goals since Boxing Day have made him a hot property - a result of his development under coach Ronnie Jepson, allied to Warnock's powers of motivation. All of which indicates the importance of Warnock for the future. He's a manager fans of some clubs might loathe - but most would love him to be in charge of their team. His track record of seven promotions says everything you need to know about his ability and experience in the Championship. After an initial impact from Tan's money and a season in the Premier League, marked by turmoil, Warnock has been a healing and inspirational character. Because of the progress this season, Warnock will be under immense pressure to deliver next season. But he'll relish that. He's never been shy and has no thoughts of retiring. His barnstorming style is characterised by an ebullience that belies his age. With 70-year-old Harry Redknapp remaining at Birmingham, Warnock won't quite be the oldest swinger in the Championship town next season. But Cardiff fans firmly believe their old dog still has sufficient tricks for a successful hurrah before he thinks about calling it a day.

An unpopular £5 airport development fee has ended, following criticism from airlines and tourism bodies. [NEXT_CONCEPT] They say football is a young man's game, yet Cardiff City's best signing has been in football for half a century.

Francisco Rivera Ordonez, known as Paquirri, was hurt while taking part in a bullfight in the north-eastern town of Huesca on Monday. Doctors said the bull's horn sank 25cm (10in) into Paquirri's groin. In 1984, his father - also known as Paquirri - died after being gored in a fight in the city of Cordoba. As well as his father, Paquirri's grandfather and brother belong to the family bullfighting dynasty. In a 2008 profile, CBS News said the two brothers were the leading lights in "a new generation of matadors in Spain who bring more excitement and more spectators into the bullring than there's been for some time". In February 2009, Paquirri was awarded a Fine Arts medal by Spain's culture ministry. El Pais newspaper said (in Spanish) that the injury also damaged Paquirri's abdomen, but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. About 2,000 bullfights are still held every year in Spain, but the numbers are falling. In 2010, Catalonia became the second Spanish region after the Canary Islands to ban the tradition. Opponents describe the blood-soaked pageants as barbaric, while fans - including Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy - say the tradition is an ancient art form deeply rooted in national history. Last year, a major bullfighting event in Madrid was cancelled after all three matadors were gored.

A leading Spanish bullfighter is in a serious condition after being gored by a bull, according to a regional government official.

Add more than 40 years, four weddings, one daughter and too many pairs of glasses to count and Deirdre Barlow has become an icon of the ITV1 soap. Anne Kirkbride who played the husky-voiced red wine lover appeared in more than 3,000 episodes. She died at the age of 60 after a short-term illness, but what will we remember Deirdre for? In the early days her huge spectacles didn't even have lenses and she wore some interesting frames. Later she opted for a smaller style. She loves her chain belts. In fact it's rare you'd see Deirdre without one. No it's not "chicken pie, shop bought". It is of course her stuffed marrow, which she stuffs with mince and couscous. In 1998 she spent time in jail for fraud. The storyline even spilled over into real life when then Prime Minister Tony Blair demanded the release of #theWeatherfieldone (and that was way before Twitter or trending was even thought of!). She's been married four times and been in more than 10 different relationships during her four decades on the street. She was married twice to Ken. The first time in 1981 more than 24 million viewers watched the wedding (which generated higher ratings for ITV than the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer). A year later and Deirdre's having an affair with ex-boyfriend Mike Baldwin. The storyline proves to be a ratings winner and it's the first Corrie story to be written about in the newspapers. When Deirdre went back to Ken after the affair with his rival, it was flashed up on screens at Manchester United's Old Trafford with the words 'Ken and Deirdre reunited. Ken 1 - Mike 0'... the crowd cheered. "Ken do something," is often trotted out when she's in a fix. Our favourite time is when Gail throws a pie in Deirdre's face after she insults her. And then of course there's "Oh Tracy luv" Deirdre's used this countless times in reference to her daughter who tends to rub most other street residents up the wrong way. Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube

She first appeared in Coronation Street in 1972 as "a young 17-year-old 'dolly bird'".

Petro Poroshenko said the will of the Ukrainian people was to eventually join the Western military alliance. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said any decision on future membership would be up to the 29 alliance members. Russia has repeatedly criticised Nato's expansion in eastern Europe and objects to Ukraine becoming a member. Ukraine faces many obstacles on the road to membership, including the conflict in the east of the country. Mr Poroshenko was speaking after holding talks with Mr Stoltenberg in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. "Ukraine has clearly defined its political future and future in the sphere of security," he said. "Today we clearly stated that we would begin a discussion about a membership action plan and our proposals for such a discussion were accepted with pleasure." Such a plan would set targets on political, economic and defence reforms. But Ukraine could face bigger barriers, such as the demand that any international disputes should be settled by peaceful means, as stated by Nato rules. That means having to resolve the situation in the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, a move not recognised by the government in Kiev. Given the challenges, analysts say any prospect of membership is still years away. Nato, the most powerful regional defence alliance Mr Stoltenberg said he welcomed the fact that Ukraine was moving towards meeting Nato standards, regardless of membership. In a clear reference to Russia, he said that every nation could decide its own path and no-one else had the right to lean on them or veto the process. He also called on Moscow to withdraw "thousands of soldiers" from Ukraine, despite Russia's denial of having any troops in the country. Reacting to Mr Poroshenko's remarks, a Russian government spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said: "For many years Russia has been worried by Nato's military infrastructure moving closer to our borders, potentially this could be the next step. "It will not boost stability and security in the European continent." Women and a child were killed in the crossfire as clashes broke out earlier this week, the BBC has learned. Most of Sirte, the hometown of former leader Muammar Gaddafi, fell to IS earlier this year. IS is one of a number of groups battling for control of Libya and has made advances across the country. Fighting broke out in a residential area of Sirte on Monday between Islamic State and a Salafist Muslim group backed by angry armed civilians. It followed the death of a Muslim cleric who - along with others in the neighbourhood - had refused to comply with IS's order for residents to pledge allegiance or face death, a local journalist told the Associated Press. The BBC has been told that most of the 25 people who had been killed were armed civilians who had joined the fighting. One report said IS had taken back the neighbourhood, although this has not been confirmed. IS faced a similar battle in the eastern port city of Derna in June - the first city outside Iraq and Syria to fall to the group - and was pushed back by an al-Qaeda affiliated group. Since Col Gaddafi's death in Sirte in October 2011, Libya has descended into chaos, with various militias fighting for power. The internationally-recognised government has been forced to leave Tripoli. In the past year, IS has set up checkpoints and established a presence in cities across Libya. In January, an IS-affiliated group bombed the Corinthia Hotel in Tripoli, killing 10 people. In February and April, videos were released showing IS militants in Libya killing two groups of mainly Egyptian and Ethiopian Christians. Air strikes against IS positions have been conducted by the Egyptian air force and by Libya's internationally-recognised government. Libya's rival power bases

Ukraine's president has asked for discussions to begin on an action plan that could eventually lead to membership of Nato. [NEXT_CONCEPT] At least 25 people have been killed in clashes between Islamic State (IS) and a rival Islamist group backed by armed civilians in the Libyan city of Sirte.

Abdullahi Hassan Abdullahi was arrested by police in Islington, north London, shortly after midnight. The 21-year-old, of Elthorne Road, Archway, has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon. Mr Abdullahi, who is unemployed, has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Highbury Corner magistrates on Saturday. Former Torquay United winger Niall Thompson scored a hat-trick, taking his tally to five goals in his last four matches. Les Afful was also on target for City, who move up two places to 16th in the sixth tier of English football. Truro's last victory came on 24 September, when they won 2-1 at Wealdstone in National League South. The 26-year-old was out of contract at the end of the season but his new deal ties him to the club until 2019. Former Exeter trainee Norwood moved to Rovers from Forest Green in July 2015 and has netted 30 goals since then. "I've enjoyed playing here for the last year or so and the fans have been great to me, so it didn't take long to agree a new deal," he told the club website. The 31-year-old forward cost Real £56m when he joined them from the Italians in June 2009, but it is believed he has gone back to Milan on a free transfer. The 2007 World Player of the Year has signed a two-year deal. Appearances: 120 Cost per game: £466,666 Goals: 29 Cost per goal: £1,931,034 Games to goals ratio: 4.14 Honours: La Liga (2011-12), Copa del Rey (2010-11), Spanish Supercup (2012) His exit comes in the wake of Gareth Bale's arrival at Real, a move which pushed Kaka further down the pecking order and meant he wanted to leave before the transfer window closed. Talks between the player, Real president Florentino Perez and AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani lasted until the early hours of Monday morning. A Milan statement said: "Last night after 20:00 CET, thanks to the traditionally good relationship between the two clubs, Real Madrid and Milan reached and formalised an agreement for the transfer of Ricardo Kaka into Rossonero colours. "And overnight, a little before 03:00 CET in the morning, an agreement was reached with the world-class Brazilian." After leaving Sao Paolo as a teenager in 2003, Kaka won the Champions League and a Scudetto during his six years in Milan, and landed the prestigious Ballon d'Or award in 2007. During his time with Real he lifted the Primera Division trophy, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Supercup. Kaka has scored 29 goals in 87 appearances for Brazil and played at three World Cups.

A man accused of carrying a sword in public while wearing a hockey mask is due to appear before magistrates. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Truro City got their first victory in nine matches as they won 4-2 at Whitehawk in National League South. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Tranmere Rovers striker James Norwood has agreed a new two-and-a-half year deal with the National League side. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Brazilian Kaka has left Real Madrid and rejoined former club AC Milan.

Prosecutors say Abdoullah C was contacted by the cousin of suspected ringleader Abdelhamid Abaaoud soon after the 13 November attacks. Both Abaaoud, a Belgian national, and his cousin Hasna Aitboulahcen died five days later when police raided a flat near Paris where they were barricaded. The suicide bombings and mass shootings were France's deadliest-ever attacks. Few details have been released about the alleged role played by Abdoullah C, who is reported to have been arrested in a low-key operation in Brussels on Tuesday. Police did not immediately announce his arrest in order to avoid alerting potential accomplices, a spokesman said. He appeared before a Brussels court on Thursday but his case was postponed, local media say. Several phone calls were made between the suspect and Hasna Aitboulahcen "after the terrorist attacks and before the Seine-Saint-Denis raid", the Belgian prosecutor's spokesman said. A decision on extending his detention was due to take place on Thursday. Abdoullah C appeared in court alongside another suspect, Abraimi Lazez, according to reports. Lazez, 39, a Belgian of Moroccan descent, was arrested last month in the Belgian town of Laeken and is suspected of helping key suspect Salah Abdeslam flee France. Police found two guns and traces of blood in a car connected to Mr Lazez but determined that the blood did not belong to Abdeslam and neither of the guns was capable of firing live ammunition. Police are still searching for Mr Abdeslam, 26. They believe he took part in the 13 November attacks before contacting friends in Belgium to drive him back over the border to Brussels. Despite a series of raids, police have failed to find him. French police have conducted thousands of raids in connection with the Paris attacks. Hundreds of people have been placed under house arrest across France.

Police in Belgium have arrested a ninth suspect in connection with last month's Paris attacks, which killed 130 people.

Amonkar, who enthralled audiences with her soulful singing for decades, died on Monday night at her house in Mumbai. The singer followed the classical Hindustani school of singing, but was known for creating her own distinctive style. Many, including legendary Bollywood singer Lata Mangeshkar, have paid tributes to Amonkar, and acknowledged her "great contribution" to music. As news of her death broke, many people took to social media to pay tribute. The hashtag #kishoriamonkar has begun trending on Twitter India. Tunisia Defender Zied Boughattas opened the scoring for the hosts on the stroke of half-time and Ihab Msakni added the second in the 65th minute. The second leg of that tie is on 18 May in Gabon, with the overall winners progressing to group stage of the tournament. Earlier on Friday it ended 0-0 between Al Ahly Tripoli and Misr Elmaqasah of Egypt, that games was played in Tunis because of the ongoing security concerns in Libya. The tie will now be decided on 17 May in Egypt. Etoile and Al Ahly Tripoli had begun the 2016 season in the African Champions League, the most prestigious and richest club event on the African calendar alongside TP Mazembe of the DR Congo. Reigning African champions Mazembe fell by two goals away to Wydad Casablanca and were held at home with the Moroccans equalising in stoppage time. Etoile and Mazembe have won nine Confederation of African Football titles each, achievements surpassed only by Al Ahly of Egypt with 18 triumphs. The silver lining for Etoile is demotion to the Confederation Cup gives them a chance to win the competition twice in a row after beating Orlando Pirates of South Africa in the final last year. Brazilian striker Diogo Acosta has been in good form for the Red Devils from Mediterranean resort Sousse. If Etoile can close the gaps exposed by Enyimba in Nigeria they should build a lead at home to surprise qualifiers Mounana of Gabon. Recently-appointed Mazembe coach Hubert Velud has appealed for patience from supporters disenchanted by failure to reach the Champions League group stage. "I just got here," he said, referring to his arrival this year after the contract of fellow French coach Patrice Carteron was not renewed. "Mazembe want to win trophies every year and we have the Confederation Cup in our sights now." The club from Congolese mining city Lubumbashi have been goal shy lately, sorely missing Tanzanian striker Mbwana Aly Samatta, who moved to Belgium. Ghanaian Daniel Nii Adjei showed signs of inheriting the leading scorer role, but has lacked consistency. Mazembe host Stade Gabesien, a Tunisian outfit competing in Africa for the first time and unbeaten in qualifying tor the play-offs with two victories and four draws. Hichem Essifi, the striker Tunisians call 'The Hulk' because of his imposing physique, will warrant special attention from the Congolese. Three days after winning the South African title a record-extending seventh time, Mamelodi Sundowns face Medeama of Ghana near Pretoria. Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango told BBC Sport: "We have to switch our minds to a new focus and concentrate, we know we want the club wants which is to conquer Africa and that's what we have to think about. "First we have to get to the group stage. But is a dream for the club and the players to conquer Africa and to make history - we know we have an opportunity to do it. "We know we are playing a good team and we must give our best. We are taking it very seriously. If we can win 3-0 at home that would be fantastic." Young Africans must shackle leading Confederation Cup scorer Arsenio 'Love' Cabungula from Angolan club Esperanca Sagrada in Dar es Salaam if they hope to become the first Tanzanian team to reach the group stage. The match between Stade Malien of Mali and FUS Rabat of Morocco pits former Confederation Cup title-holders against each other in Bamako. Mouloudia Bejaia of Algeria against Esperance of Tunisia and Al Merrikh of Sudan against Kawkab Marrakech of Morocco complete the first-leg schedule.

Renowned Indian singer Kishori Amonkar has died at the age of 86. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Reigning champions Etoile du Sahel took a step towards reaching the group stage of the Confederation Cup with a 2-0 win over Gabon's Mounana.

The British retailer's directors appointed administrators after failing to find a suitable buyer for the struggling clothes business. Jaeger has 46 stores, 63 concessions, a head office in London and a logistics centre in King's Lynn. The firm has suffered from intense competition on the High Street and falling sales. Jaeger, which was founded in 1884, has counted actresses, royalty and Arctic explorers among its fans. However, it has struggled to keep up with rivals such as Burberry or see off competition from fast-fashion chains including Zara and H&M. It was acquired by private equity firm Better Capital in 2012, but was put up for sale for about £30m after struggling to boost sales. Peter Saville, the joint administrator, said: "Regrettably despite an extensive sales process it has not been possible to identify a purchaser for the business. "Our focus now is in identifying an appropriate route forward and [to] work with all stakeholders to do this." Reports had suggested that the clothing retailer Edinburgh Woollen Mill was interested in the business. The Scottish firm, which owns Jane Norman and Peacocks, bought some parts of the menswear retailer Austin Reed when it closed last year. Jaeger's problems are partly because it has "struggled for years to truly understand its core clientele", according to analysts at retail consultancy Kantar Worldpanel. Glen Tooke at Kantar said the firm also relied too heavily on special offers, estimating that discounts accounted for over three quarters of Jaeger's sales. "This constant stream of sales and offers has discouraged shoppers from paying full price and has lessened their trust in the quality of the Jaeger product - one of its fundamental selling points," he said. Last year the firm said its annual sales fell 4% to £78m, while it reported a pre-tax loss of £17m. Jaeger started by selling woollen long johns and its clothes were worn by the explorer Ernest Shackleton on an Antarctic expedition. In the 1950s and 1960s its celebrity fans included the actress Marilyn Monroe and the model Twiggy, before more recently being worn by the Duchess of Cambridge. The company said it wanted to "realise the value it has created in the networks" and would return the money to shareholders. National Grid's gas business owns 82,000 miles of pipeline, and delivers gas to about 11 million domestic, industrial and commercial customers. The company reported a 15% rise in half-year pre-tax profit to £1.348bn. Asked about the fears of power supply shortages this winter, Steve Holliday, National Grid's chief executive, told the BBC's Today programme that the winter would be "tight but manageable" under normal circumstances. He added that the extra measures that National Grid had taken to deal with the tightness of supply were the cheapest way, at a cost of 50p per household, to balance supply and demand. Last week, it was forced to ask the power industry to generate more electricity, as well as request that heavy users switch to back-up supplies, as a result of multiple energy plant breakdowns. That was the first such request since 2012. The company expects to issue seven more of these alerts - known as a Notification of Inadequate System Margin (NISM) - this winter to balance supply and demand for electricity this winter. In July, it warned that this winter would see the tightest supply margin for power since 2009. The sale of the gas pipelines is expected in 2016. "The UK gas distribution business has been an important part of National Grid and the sale of a majority stake will realise some of the value we have created for our shareholders," Mr Holliday said. The Sunday Times has previously reported that the business could be worth £10bn.

The fashion chain Jaeger has gone into administration, putting 700 jobs at risk in the UK. [NEXT_CONCEPT] UK power operator National Grid plans to sell a majority stake in its gas distribution business.

The energy thieves operating in London can tamper with 15 meters in a day, an investigation found. Fraud investigators from British Gas said the gangs were risking causing gas explosions and endangering lives. Regulator Ofgem believes theft costs the industry £400m per year. British Gas says it adds £30 to annual bills. Mark Andrews, the firm's head of revenue protection, has warned people die "every year" because of meter tampering. Power theft investigator Piers Merritt said: "We find trends where people go around estates and tamper with meters. "These people will charge between £10 and £500 a time. "They're not putting themselves at risk, if something happened there it's all the adjoining properties and everyone in there that's going to be affected by a potential explosion." By Richard AndersonBusiness reporter, BBC News With families across the country struggling to keep up with rising fuel bills, a £30 surcharge for energy theft is a substantial hit. Ofgem says the figure is more like £15, but this is based on a survey of all the big six energy suppliers, some of which appear to be doing little to acknowledge, let alone address, the problem. The figures from British Gas suggest the problem is far more widespread, and expensive. And, as things stand, there is little incentive for suppliers to clamp down, as they recoup the money by charging the rest of their customers. Concerns about high household energy bills, which now stand at about £1,400-a-year on average, led the government to rethink the way it funds renewable energy. The result is an estimated £50 reduction in bills. Energy theft may be harder to tackle, but clearly more action is needed to clamp down on the practice. Investigators found five instances of gas theft and two of electricity theft in a Sheffield street where a house was destroyed in a suspected gas explosion last year. The scale of the damage meant the cause of the explosion could not be identified. Mr Andrews said: "The police were on site and they asked us whether or not we felt it was right to look at some of the other supplies on the street and yes, from 20 houses in a single terraced street, sure enough we found five gas thefts and two electricity thefts. "It's a great example what the scale of the issue is." In London, a man who received a suspended prison sentence for digging up a street in the capital, allowing residents to steal electricity, told Inside Out "thousands" of homes in the capital were avoiding paying for usage by "hotwiring" their supply. Ofgem told the BBC it would be publishing its decision on the new obligations for energy suppliers to be more proactive in tackling electricity theft in February. It introduced similar obligations for gas suppliers during January 2013. Mr Andrews said: "The difficult economic climate equals more people feeling this is the only way they can get their energy. "This is a huge problem, we believe that perhaps £500m worth of gas and electricity is stolen across the industry each year. "In terms of what that means for the customers, it's potentially £30 a year on their bills and it's money they shouldn't have to pay." Inside Out was shown examples of bicycle inner tubes being used to divert supply. Lewisham Council has uncovered evidence that landlords are stealing the supply for multiple properties on the same street. Ben Reeve-Lewis, from the council, said he regularly visited homes where meters suggested no electricity had been used for three months. "Landlords of that kind will fill up their properties with people who can't complain," he said. Ofgem believe a third of energy theft is linked to the illegal growing of cannabis and police and energy firm investigators have found booby traps close to illegitimate equipment. Insp Lee Devall, from Essex Police, said: "Organised crime gangs don't want you to find this and are not happy when thousands of pounds worth of equipment is ruined." Inside Out is broadcast on Monday, 20 January at 19:30 GMT on BBC One and is available for seven days thereafter on the iPlayer.

Criminal gangs are helping homeowners and landlords avoid paying for power by "hotwiring" supplies for as little as £10, BBC Inside Out has learned.

The Swans lost 3-0 to Middlesbrough on Saturday and are second from bottom. Swansea have conceded 37 goals, more than any other team in the league this season, and 18 of those have been since the American replaced Francesco Guidolin in October. "When I came here I knew what I was getting into and I'm not backing down from it now," said Bradley. "That's the challenge. When the team has put itself in a tough spot, everybody has got to stick together during the toughest times and fight the fight," he added. "I put pressure on myself to see if we can get stronger and fight for points. I will continue to do that. Media playback is not supported on this device Bradley says fighting back after conceding in the Premier League is getting harder, as his side let in three goals in 90 minutes for the second time in three days after their 3-1 defeat by West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday. "It's the same story. We start ok, but concede. Before we know it we're 2-0 down," he added. Swansea face West Ham on Boxing Day before playing Bournemouth on New Year's Eve and Bradley knows his side have a difficult festive period ahead after their Teesside defeat. "I feel as though we put ourselves in a hole over and over and that takes a lot of out of a team," he continued. "It's been more a case of on-the-road matches and now we have two very big home games coming up and turn all our attention to them." It happened on the A497 between Porthmadog and Criccieth at about 11:30 BST on Friday. The road was reopened after the lorry was recovered. No-one was injured.

Swansea City boss Bob Bradley says he has no intention of stepping down despite their poor Premier League form. [NEXT_CONCEPT] A road had to be temporarily closed after a lorry became stuck under a bridge in Gwynedd.

Mr Trump told a nearly all-white audience in Michigan that black voters "are living in poverty" and their "schools are no good". He promised to "produce" for African-Americans where Democrats had failed. "If you keep voting for the same people, you will keep getting exactly the same result," he said. He said his opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, "would rather provide a job to a refugee" than to unemployed black youths, "who have become refugees in their own country". Mrs Clinton called Mr Trump's remarks "so ignorant it's staggering". Mr Trump also predicted he would receive 95% of the African-American vote if he went to on to run for a second term in 2020. President Barack Obama, historically the most popular president among African-Americans in US history, received 93% of the black vote in 2012. Mr Trump has suffered from dismal support among African-Americans. Current polls show about 2% of black voters say they will vote for the New York real estate developer. The Trump campaign relationship with the black voters thus far can be described as rocky at best. The billionaire businessman has seen strong support among white supremacist groups. Mr Trump came under heavy criticism after he took days to distance himself from a former leader of the Ku Klux Klan who endorsed him. On several occasions, African-American protesters have been assaulted by Trump supporters at rallies. A New York Times investigation found supporters frequently use racist language at rallies. The Friday speech was the third time this week that Mr Trump sought to appeal to African-American voters. Some analysts say Mr Trump, trailing badly in national polls for weeks, desperately needs to broaden his appeal beyond his base of white working-class voters. However, many commentators on Twitter were perplexed by Mr Trump's approach in courting these voters. "This is Trump's SALES PITCH to black voters, ostensibly. Telling us we're dumb, broke suckers who have no jobs is the best he could do," Jamil Smith, a black reporter for MTV News, wrote on Twitter. Ana Navarro, a Latina Republican strategist, wrote: "Trump's 'Black outreach' so tone-deaf & condescending, his 'Hispanic outreach', (eating a taco bowl), suddenly not that bad & stupid." Earlier on Friday, Mr Trump announced that Paul Manafort, a seasoned political operative who led his campaign for the past three months, had stepped down. On Wednesday, Mr Trump promoted pollster Kellyanne Conway to campaign manager and hired conservative media executive Stephen Bannon as his campaign's CEO. The moves effectively demoted Mr Manafort, whose links to the pro-Russian former Ukrainian government of Viktor Yanukovych have drawn scrutiny in recent days. The incident happened on Kilbowie Road, in the West Dunbartonshire town, at about 07:45. The 52-year-old male van driver was taken to Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital along with the teenager, a 42-year-old man and 48-year-old woman. The driver has since been discharged but is the subject of a police inquiry. Police have appealed for witness to the crash to come forward. It resulted in the closure of the route between the A82 Great Western Road and Second Avenue. All four people injured remain in hospital, police said. Insp Adam McKenzie of Police Scotland said: "It is quite clearly a serious incident from the word go when pedestrians are struck by vehicles. "One person had been knocked completely over the small wall at the back of the bus stop. "The driver was still partially trapped within the vehicle and debris from the bus stop was embedded in the vehicle as well." He added: "At the moment we are conducting the forensic side of the inquiry - photographs, measurements and every piece of physical evidence that we can gather. "The vehicle will be removed and will be subject to a full mechanical examination as well. "It's a busy area and I would ask that if anyone in a vehicle or a pedestrian has witnessed it this morning, and has not already spoken to police, could they please come forward."

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has made a direct appeal to African-American voters, saying "What do you have to lose?" [NEXT_CONCEPT] Four people, including a 15-year-old boy, have been injured after a van crashed into a bus stop in Clydebank.

Caithness artist Joanne B Kaar came across the labels while researching material about factory ships called klondykers at Ullapool Museum. The boats from Russia and continental Europe anchored off Ullapool to process fish from the 1970s to the 1990s. Art that emerged from Kaar's research forms part of this weekend's PortAble exhibition in the village. They include her own versions of the labels and also a fisherman's jacket printed with information about the klondyers. Art for PortAble has arrived in Ullapool in 2m by 2m boxes having previously been posted in them to galleries in London and then Spain for display. The 12 artists involved also include Ullapool's Charlotte Watters, Ian Stephen from the Isle of Lewis and Achiltibuie-based Marian Leven. Ullapool arts centre An Talla Solais has organised the exhibition. Earlier this year, photographs of a controversial football match played in Ullapool in 1984 were put on public display for the first time. Dubbed Scotland versus the Soviet Union, the game saw the Eastern Bloc crewmen borrow boots from local people so they could play. Held at a time of heightened tensions in the Cold War between the East and West, it was criticised because it was seen as a threat to western society. More than 95% of reported dumped rubbish was cleaned up within five days during 2013/14. This is compares with just over 92% the previous year and 91.3% in 2011/12. Blaenau Gwent was the best performer in Wales, with a 100% clear-up rate within five days. The figures are included in the latest national performance statistics for councils in key areas. In total, 31,301 fly-tipping incidents were reported across Wales, which is a slight rise on the previous year. The response rate ranged from 80.2% in the Vale of Glamorgan and 81.1% in Neath Port Talbot to 99.2% in Rhondda Cynon Taf, 99.1% in Caerphilly and 99% in Carmarthen. Denbighshire recorded 2,206 fly-tipping incidents, clearing up 94% within five days. But Kelvin Hughes, Denbighshire's senior environmental crime officer told the Daily Post there was inconsistency between how authorities log the data. "We take the view that to the public it doesn't matter whose land it's on; Denbighshire looks untidy, and that's what we want to get away from, which is why we look at fly tipping on private land as well as public land which we're responsible for," he said. The 25-year-old from Glasgow took control after the interval when the players were tied at 2-2, resuming with a break of 96. A tight final frame was settled when McGill cleared up after potting the last red. The win lifts him from 29th to 18th in the world rankings. Having never been beyond the last eight in a ranking event, McGill is Scotland's first new winner at this level in a decade. He defeated former world champions Stuart Bingham and Shaun Murphy en route to the final. Sign up to My Sport to follow snooker news and reports on the BBC app.

Soviet-era Russian fish box labels have inspired some of the artwork for a new exhibition. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Councils in Wales are getting better at clearing up fly-tipping, according to latest figures from the Welsh government. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Anthony McGill clinched his first ranking title with a 5-2 success over Kyren Wilson in the final of the Indian Open in Hyderabad.

It follows an incident at Castle View School in Canvey Island, Essex, when a boy was hit in the face by a flapjack. Catering staff at the school have been told only to serve square or rectangular flapjacks. The school said the "isolated accident" had led to a review of "the texture and shape of the flapjacks" provided. How to cook flapjacks A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said: "We often come across half-baked decisions taken in the name of health and safety, but this one takes the biscuit. "The real issue isn't what shape the flapjacks are, but the fact that pupils are throwing them at each other - and that's a matter of discipline, and has got nothing to do with health and safety as we know it. "We're happy to make clear that flapjacks of all shapes and sizes continue to have our full backing." Health and safety advisor Ray Hurst said he could not understand why triangular flapjacks had been banned, but not those cut into squares or rectangles. "Anything that is thrown is likely to cause injury if it hits somebody, especially in the face or the eye," said Mr Hurst, former president of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health. "It does seem a little over the top to ban triangular flapjacks," he said. Essex County Council said it did not give schools guidance on the shapes of foodstuffs.

A school's decision to ban triangular flapjacks after a pupil was hurt has been labelled "half-baked" by the Health and Safety Executive.

The US space agency probe captured the latest image on Tuesday when it was just under eight million km from the dwarf world. As of Thursday, New Horizons had moved to within six million km, heading for its historic flyby next week. The new picture was the first to be returned following the computer hiccup at the weekend that saw the probe briefly drop communications with Earth. The face of Pluto seen in the image is broadly that which will be examined in detail on 14 July. It includes a large dark region near Pluto's equator, dubbed "the whale", and a roughly heart-shaped bright area spanning 2,000km. At closest approach, New Horizons will be about 12,500km above the surface. Its high-resolution camera Lorri should then be able to discern features at a resolution better than 100m per pixel. Lorri is responsible for the view seen on this page, too, but the colour information has been overlaid from the probe's other camera, Ralph. "They're still a little blurry but they're by far the best pictures we've ever seen of Pluto, and they're only going to get better," said John Spencer from the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in Colorado, US, one of the New Horizons co-investigators. "Right now they're just showing us that Pluto is really weird. It's got some extremely dark areas, some extremely bright areas, and we don't know what any of them are yet," Dr Spencer told Newshour on the BBC World Service. He and his colleagues believe the brightest patch might be covered in frozen carbon monoxide, while the dark swathe may be a deposit of hydrocarbons, burnt out of Pluto's atmosphere by UV light and cosmic rays. But this is all guesswork at the moment. "We will get pictures 500 times better than this next Tuesday, when we have our closest approach," Dr Spencer said. When it arrives at the dwarf planet, New Horizons will be travelling at almost 14km/s - far too fast to go into orbit. Instead, it will execute an automated, pre-planned reconnaissance, grabbing as many pictures and other data as it can as it barrels past the 2,300km-wide dwarf and its five known moons: Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos and Hydra. The flyby occurs on the 50th anniversary of the first successful American pass of Mars by the Mariner 4 spacecraft. By way of comparison, New Horizons will gather 5,000 times as much data at Pluto than Mariner did at the Red Planet. New Horizons' difficulty is getting all that information back to Earth. The distance to Pluto is vast - more than 4.5 billion km - and this makes for very low bit rates. It will take 16 months to send back all the science acquired over the coming days. The BBC will be screening a special Sky At Night programme called Pluto Revealed on Monday 20 July, which will recap all the big moments from the New Horizons flyby. Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos

New Horizons has acquired yet another stunning view of Pluto.

Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan, Newport, Monmouthshire, Powys, Wrexham and Flintshire are covered by the Active Inclusion Fund. A £16m scheme for west Wales and the valleys was unveiled in the spring. Finance Minister Jane Hutt said: "This EU investment will support people most in need and at risk of poverty." The Welsh government said the aim was to help more than 10,000 long-term unemployed people aged over 25 across Wales over the next three years. The hosts went in a goal up at half-time thanks to Stephen Lowry's strike from close range in the 34th minute. Erik Sabo levelled with a low shot and Jakub Vojtus slotted home on the hour. Milan Bortel was sent off for a second yellow card offence, then Sabo netted his second of the night on 84 minutes. Trailing by a single goal from the first leg, but with an away goal to their credit, Linfield started the game brightly in front of a large home support of 3000 at Windsor Park. The first chance of the game fell to the visitors though, but a 25-yard effort from Emir Halilovic whistled wide of Ross Glendinning's right-hand post. Media playback is not supported on this device Guy Bates looked to be fouled in the area but penalty appeals were waved away, before Lowry's well-struck shot hit the post with goalkeeper Adam Jakubech beaten. That close call proved to be only a temporary reprieve for Spartak as Lowry fired in the opening goal after David Kee's corner was not dealt with. Just before the break, Vojtus headed straight into the arms of Glendinning. On the resumption, the Blues' keeper did well to help a long-range Lukas Gressak attempt over the bar, but skipper Sabo rifled in the equaliser from outside the box. Spartak went in front on the night and established a two-goal lead in the tie when Vojtus ran from inside his own half and slotted past Glendinning from just outside the six-yard box. Soon after, the same player saw a fierce shot from the edge of the box cannon off the left-hand post after getting the better of Matthew Clarke. Garsia Casado then hit the post from close range, while, at the other end, Andrew Waterworth slipped when Chris Hegarty squared the ball to him as the Blues attempted to earn some respite. Following Bortel's dismissal, Sabo made his side's passage into the third round safe with a neat finish.

Long-term unemployed people in eastern counties of Wales will be offered training and work placements under a new £6m scheme backed by EU cash. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Irish Premiership side Linfield crashed out of the second qualifying round of the Europa League 5-2 on aggregate after losing 3-1 to Slovakia's Spartak Trnava in the second leg in Belfast.

Derrick Cooper, 76, of Hillberry Green, Isle of Man, faces six counts of assault and two of child cruelty. The offences are alleged to have taken place at the former Underley Hall boarding school, near Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria. Mr Cooper appeared at Kendal Magistrates' Court along with five men who were charged last month. The five, aged 57 to 72, also face allegations of assault. All were bailed and will appear at Carlisle Crown Court on 20 March. Operation Tweed was launched in 2014 by Cumbria Police after a former pupil made allegations. Underley Hall, an independent boarding school for boys, opened in 1976 and closed in 2012. It was one of seven prizes for the network at Wednesday evening's Broadcast Awards. Catastrophe picked up best comedy programme while The Paedophile Hunter was named best documentary. The Broadcast judges said Channel 4's output was "at its strongest since [chief creative officer] Jay Hunt took over in 2011". The channel performed particularly well in factual categories - winning in the news and current affairs category for Dispatches: Escape from Isis. It also picked up best popular factual programme for The Secret Life Of 4 Year Olds and best documentary series for The Romanians Are Coming. The wins come at an uncertain time for Channel 4. Last year, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said it was looking at a range of options for the channel's future after rumours that proposals to privatise the network had been put forward. It was not a clean sweep for Channel 4, however, as the station lost out in the drama category to BBC One's Doctor Foster. The list of winners included a special recognition award for the BBC's long-running satirical news quiz Have I Got News For You. The programme was commended by the judges for "remaining reassuringly familiar, while somehow striking the right tone on many of the complex and upsetting news stories that have come its way". Britain's Got Talent won best entertainment programme, after a difficult year for its creator Simon Cowell as viewing figures for his other major ITV show, The X Factor, decreased significantly. Other winners at the ceremony, which was presented by Jonathan Ross, included Emmerdale for best soap and Peter Kay's Car Share for best original programme.

A sixth man has been charged as part of an investigation into abuse at a school for boys with behavioural problems. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Channel 4 has been named channel of the year at a television industry awards ceremony.

The 23-year-old's contract had been due to expire at the end of the season, and the Baggies offered him a new deal for a third time in December. He has not played since September and his relationship with the club had broken down since the 2014-15 campaign. "I've had a tough two years but everything happens for a reason. I'm mentally stronger now," Berahino said "Now I am finally here I just can't wait to start. For Stoke to show their faith in me is unbelievable," he added. "On match fitness I am not there yet, but I am going to work hard to get myself back so I can help my new team-mates climb the table." Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes said: "We've signed a young English striker who has already proven his ability in the Premier League. "After a frustrating period he's now desperately keen to reignite his career and we look forward to seeing him do that with us." Berahino reacted angrily to a bid from Tottenham being turned down on transfer deadline day in summer 2015 and two months later tweeted that he would never play for West Brom again under then-chairman Jeremy Peace. And in January 2015, he scored four goals but barely celebrated in what was interpreted as a sign of his growing disillusionment at the Hawthorns. Speaking after Saturday's 4-0 defeat by Spurs, West Brom boss - and former Stoke manager - Tony Pulis had said Berahino would not be sold "unless it is right for the club". He added: "It has to be a two-way situation. That has always been the situation; we will not sell the lad because it suits him." England Under-21 forward Berahino is the Potters' second signing of this transfer window after the loan deal for Derby keeper Lee Grant was made permanent. This site is optimised for modern web browsers, and does not fully support your browser

Stoke have signed West Brom striker Saido Berahino for a fee of £12m on a five-and-a-half-year deal.

The Judge in his case said Brown had completed all his requirements and officially closed the case. After the hearing, Brown tweeted: "IM OFF PROBATION!!!!!!!! Thank the Lord!!!!!!" Brown pleaded guilty to attacking Rihanna just hours before the Grammy Awards in 2009. Since then he was won 3 Grammys. Brown and his lawyer hugged in the courtroom and again in a courthouse lift. The singer has been under supervision by court and probation officials since mid-2009 and initially avoided problems with the case. However since 2013 he has struggled to complete his community service and had his probation revoked after he performed a show in Northern California without permission. His lawyer Mark Geragos said: "I couldn't be more delighted." He also said his client was making good progress. "He is in a spot right now and a place right now that I couldn't be prouder of him." Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube The episode will be a 75-minute edition, airing at 20:00 BST on BBC Two, to conclude series 22. It will be made up of two films shot before Clarkson was suspended from the show and eventually sacked, with co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May presenting links from the studio. Last week the BBC trailed the episode, with a 30-second teaser. The BBC said the first film will see the three presenters "immerse themselves in the lifestyle of the traditional classic car enthusiast". The second will follow the trio "try to become leisure enthusiasts with the help of some cheap lifestyle leisure vehicles". The BBC has yet to decide on Top Gear's future following Clarkson's sacking, after he punched a producer while on location. There has been speculation that the show could return with a different guest host every week, in a similar style to BBC One's satirical quiz show Have I Got News For You. It was reported earlier this month Hammond and May had been offered £1m deals to stay with the BBC, however both have yet to sign new contracts. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution's (RNLI) Shannon class vessel is powered by water jets rather than traditional propellers. The boat has now arrived at the charity's Montrose station in Angus. The cost of the lifeboat was bequeathed to the charity by supporter Ruth Grant Smith who died in 2005 She left left money to fund an all-weather lifeboat to be named after her husband Ian Grant Smith. The new lifeboat is 50% faster than RNLB Moonbeam, the vessel which has been used by Montrose crews for the past 25 years. Water-jets allow the vessel to be more manoeuvrable, able to operate in shallow waters and be intentionally beached Ray Wilkie, lifeboat operations manager said: "We're very pleased to finally have the Shannon on station so that the crew can really get to grips with the new boat." Coxswain Scott Murray said: "The new boat is faster and more manoeuvrable than Moonbeam and the way it handles is very impressive. All this means that we'll be able to reach casualties more quickly." Each Shannon costs £2.1m and has an operational lifetime of 25 years but the life expectancy of its hull and wheelhouse is 50 years.

Chris Brown's probation for assaulting Rihanna has ended after more than six years. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Jeremy Clarkson's final appearance on Top Gear will be shown on 28 June, it has been announced. [NEXT_CONCEPT] The first of a revolutionary new type of vessel has arrived at Scotland's oldest lifeboat station.

The force has already had to save £43m due to government budget cuts, which resulted in the loss of about 500 police officers. That figure has now been increased to £60m, but Chief Constable Steve Finnegan said changes can be made that will not affect frontline policing. His proposals include losing one of three Assistant Chief Constable posts and four Chief Superintendent roles. The force has already made £40m of the initial £43m it was asked to save, so now has to save a further £20m. About £10.5m of that needs to be saved by April 2014. Mr Finnegan's scheme to restructure the constabulary is planned to be implemented by April next year. The plans also include reducing the number of regional divisions from six to three, with the new divisions being Western and Northern, Southern and Central and Eastern and Pennine. By Chris RiderBBC Lancashire political reporter There was a time when the government was keen to promote what they were doing to help the police. How things have changed. Lancashire Police face a difficult task in finding a further £20m of savings. The plan to merge the various divisions might not cause too much upset but there might be further concerns if there is an impact on the frontline. It's no surprise the Police Federation is worried about any review of the units which deal with specialist crimes. The force has a decent track record but now in 2013 it faces its biggest challenge. The force's G Division, which includes the Force Major Investigation Team and the Serious and Organised Crime Unit, will be reviewed with a view to cutting costs. The H Division, which includes the operational side such as the road policing units and armed response, will have some resources split across the divisions. Mr Finnigan said these further savings pose a huge challenge and will mean the biggest change in the running of the force since 1996. He said: "Changing our senior management structure in this way means that we can recognise significant savings without impacting on frontline policing or the services we provide to the public. "As I have said many times, we will do all that we can to protect the frontline during these difficult and challenging financial times and this option allows us to do that." The Chair of the Lancashire Police Federation Rachel Baines said she was concerned at the impact of the cuts. "It really is quite shocking," she said. "It will see a total reconstruction of the design of the police force that we have had for many years. "There is no doubt that you cannot take £10.5m out of a budget of our size without seeing a further reduction in the number of police officers, and a further reduction in the number of police staff that support us in what we do." Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, Clive Grunshaw, said: "Lancashire is a high-performing force and I want to see the continuation of high-quality policing services that are flexible and responsive to local people's needs. "I will be monitoring the process closely."

Plans to save a further £20m have been revealed by Lancashire police.

Kevin Baker, 35, died from "self-strangulation by ligature" while his wife Tracey, 42, had multiple head injuries, police said. The couple, who are believed to have three children, were found at the house in Wellings Close, Chard, on Sunday. Police began a murder inquiry but have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths. Avon and Somerset Police added investigations would continue "to develop a full understanding of what happened" and a file would be sent to the coroner's office. Senior investigation officer Andy Mott said: "Our thoughts are very much with the families affected by this tragic incident and they're continuing to be supported by specially trained family liaison officers." Brig Gen Fathi Bayoudh was reportedly trying to secure the release of his son, who had been detained by Turkish troops on the border with Syria. Tuesday's gun and suicide bomb attack killed more than 40 people. No-one has so far admitted carrying out the attack, but Turkey blames IS. Unnamed Tunisian sources told local and international media that Mr Bayoudh had been in Turkey for several weeks in an attempt to repatriate his son with the help of diplomats. "Bayoudh travelled to Turkey in an effort to meet his son, who joined the Islamic State in Syria a few months ago with his girlfriend," a security source was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying. "Bayoudh's son travelled with his girlfriend who studied with him at the Faculty of Medicine a few months ago, which prompted several attempts by his father to persuade him to return." The head of consular affairs at Tunis' foreign ministry, Faycal Ben Mustapha, told AFP: "It was to do with their son. We don't know exactly what he did, but he went to Iraq and then Syria and ended up in detention in Turkey." A separate source told the news agency that the doctor was at the airport to meet his wife when the attack took place. Thousands of Tunisians have gone abroad to wage jihad, including to Syria and Iraq, the birthplace of IS. Estimates vary between 3,000 and 6,000 of them, making Tunisians the largest number of foreign fighters to join the group's ranks, according to some researchers. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has said the early signals indicate IS was responsible for Tuesday's attack in Istanbul. The group has carried out a string of bomb attacks across Turkey recently. The New England Revolution striker, who is 32 on Thursday, returns a self-imposed 10-month international absence. Kamara withdrew because he felt the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) "lacks respect for players". Sierra Leone need to secure a victory to qualify for the Nations Cup finals for the first time in 20 years. That would put them through as Group I winners, leapfrogging their Ivorian opponents, who currently lead them at the top of table by one point. But a point for Ivory Coast would book their passage to next year's tournament in Gabon. Kamara's return is a boost for Sierra Leone given his form in MLS. He has scored nine goals so far this season for New England and his previous club Columbus Crew, where he had an outstanding campaign last year when he was the league's top goalscorer with 22 goals in the regular season and four in the play-offs. SLFA public relations officer Abu Bakarr Kamara told BBC Sport: "Coach Sellas Tetteh said he has nothing against Kamara and he's welcomed back to the team. "Kamara is now part of coach Tetteh's plan for the game and he's looking forward to him to giving his best against Ivory Coast." Meanwhile, Leone Stars will have to play without China-based defender Gibril Sankoh, who has failed to honour Tetteh's invitation. Ivory Coast will be without Hertha Berlin's Solomon Kalou, who has flown home after suffering two family bereavements.

A man whose body was found beside his wife's at their Somerset home killed himself, a post-mortem has suggested. [NEXT_CONCEPT] A Tunisian military doctor seeking to retrieve his son who had joined so-called Islamic State (IS) was one of the victims of the attack at Istanbul's Ataturk airport, reports say. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Kei Kamara has been handed a late-call up to the Sierra Leone squad to face Ivory Coast in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday.

John MacKenzie has accused the charity of treating landowners, farmers, crofters and estate workers with "suspicion". The owner of the 60,000-acre (24,281 ha) Gairloch and Conon Estate, said he believed 99% of people involved in land management felt the same way. RSPB Scotland said it preferred "constructive dialogue" to signs. Mr MacKenzie told BBC Radio Scotland that he erected the notices after similar action was taken by another Highland landowner. He said he wanted to show his unhappiness with the RSPB. Mr MacKenzie had given permission for the monitoring of a red kite nest on his estate, believing that the work was being done by staff from Forestry Commission Scotland. However, he withdrew his consent when he learned it was being done by an RSPB employee. Mr MacKenzie said he also found out that the RSPB was monitoring a different bird's nest on his land than the one he had been told about. He said the charity treated landowners, their workers and others involved in agriculture with a "degree of suspicion". Mr MacKenzie added: "If you were to speak to 98-99% of all shepherds, farmers, crofters, ghillies, foresters, stalkers, gamekeepers and landowners in the Highlands they would say they simply do not trust the RSPB in the way they operate." He said the vast majority of these people supported wildlife conservation. RSPB Scotland said it was not required by law to notify landowners of its survey work, but usually did so as a courtesy. A spokesman added that the monitoring that was done on Mr MacKenzie's estate had involved the use a vehicle provided by the Forestry Commission as part of its support of red kite conservation. Checking on the health of the Highland's red kite population has added significance following the deaths last year of 16 kites and six buzzards. Some of the birds were poisoned. The RSPB spokesman said the charity wanted to be clear that the Gairloch and Conon Estate had not been implicated. Responding to Mr MacKenzie's signs, the spokesman said: "Whilst we would prefer a constructive dialogue with anyone who disagrees with our charitable work, especially in local communities, it is of course the right of any individual to erect a sign on their private land expressing their opinion, if they wish to do so."

A landowner has put up signs with the message "RSPB not welcome here" on his estate in the Highlands.

Media playback is unsupported on your device 14 October 2014 Last updated at 15:58 BST Every year a town in Maine, in America, competes in a boat race with a difference as part of the town's annual pumpkin celebrations leading up to Halloween. Competitors carve giant boats out of pumpkins and race them down a river in order to win the "coveted" Golden Gourd trophy. They are judged on their pumpkin carving ability, and their paddling speed.

You might be used to carving pumpkins for Halloween, but these guys have taken it to a whole new level!

Here is a full list of candidates running, in 10 District Electoral Areas (DEAs), for 60 seats on Belfast City Council. The 50-year-old homeless man was declared dead by a senior doctor in the Indian city and sent immediately to the mortuary - against hospital rules. Patients pronounced dead are supposed to be kept on the ward for two hours in case the doctor has made an error. Doctors said the man, named as Prakash, had a metabolic disorder and was delirious when police brought him in. Local media reported that he was found unconscious at a bus stop. Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Dr Suleman Merchant, the dean of Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, said Prakash was an alcoholic who had "neglected himself" and had maggots on his face and ears. "Maggots eat human tissues. Usually dead bodies have maggots. He must have been lying around for at least six or seven days," said Dr Merchant. He told reporters that the doctor who examined Prakash had checked the patient's pulse, respiration, and heart. Dr Merchant said the hospital had launched an inquiry into the breach of protocol that led Prakash to be taken immediately to the mortuary. Prakash is in a stable condition in the hospital's intensive care unit where he is being treated for an ear infection and malnourishment, Dr Merchant said. The new fintech hub will operate from an entrepreneurial centre set up a year ago at Royal Bank of Scotland's headquarters in Edinburgh. Backed by both the UK and Scottish governments, it will provide free space and expertise to fintech entrepreneurs. It aims to be a "centre of excellence" for a sector which was estimated to be worth £6.6bn to the UK economy in 2015. Fintech encompasses innovation in financial services, including e-banking, payment technologies, crowdfunding and digital currencies like bitcoin. The new development means fintech entrepreneurs will be given their own space at an expanded Entrepreneurial Spark "hatchery" for start-ups at Gogarburn. Louise Smith, head of design in personal and business banking at RBS and a UK government fintech "envoy", said: "The fintech sector has huge potential for our economy so it is essential that these entrepreneurs are given all the support they need to ensure Scotland is at the heart of the fintech revolution." Entrepreneurial Spark chief executive Lucy-Rose Walker said: "The new space is the first of its kind and will be a centre of excellence right at the heart of the financial services sector in Scotland. "We're bringing together industry leaders and networks and marrying that with Entrepreneurial Spark's tried and tested approach to build, grow and scale businesses. "All of that makes this a key milestone in Scotland's journey towards its ambition of being a world leader in fintech and innovation." First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was delighted that the existing Entrepreneurial Spark hub was expanding to include space for fintech start-ups. She said: "This will contribute to the immediate need for physical space for fintech companies while the wider financial services industry continues to work collectively to deliver the fintech strategy. "Scotland is already playing an active role in the fintech sector and the strategy will further enhance our standing, both nationally and internationally."

Elections for Northern Ireland's 11 new councils will be held on 22 May 2014. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Mortuary staff in Mumbai were given a big surprise when a man woke up shortly before a post-mortem examination. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Scotland's first financial technology business accelerator is to open its doors to entrepreneurs in May.

The Fir Park side were denied what looked like a goal in Saturday's loss to Dundee when Ben Heneghan's header was ruled not to have crossed the line. The 3-2 defeat leaves Motherwell in the play-off place with four games left. "It's frustrating but we can only deal with what is front of us," McDonald told BBC Scotland. "You can't look back and moan about these issues. You have to move on." Heneghan's effort came at 3-1, with Chris Cadden later clawing a goal back for the hosts, who are level on points with Hamilton and one behind Dundee. "It seems to be every week at the moment with Motherwell and goal-line incidents," added McDonald. "This one again clearly looks over. "We've had three against and one go for us this season. Two of those have been against Dundee. "The first game at Dens Park it was 0-0 at the time and the goalie's caught it then put it in the net. Even the Dundee players were saying 'we got away with that one'. "In the Hamilton game, we believe that was a goal and the game finished 0-0. The first goal is always crucial. "This time it was 3-1 but it would have given us more time to get that equaliser and I'm confident we would have got it. "It's a coincidence that it's happened in games with the teams around us but it could have made a massive difference in terms of where you are away from them. "It's a hard job for the linesmen but he's got it wrong. I'm probably more disappointed with the previous decisions but when you see the pictures, it's clearly over the line. "Everyone feels hard done by over the course of the season, whether it's goal-line incidents, offside decisions or red cards "We just need to pull our sleeves up and get on with it." Motherwell are at Fir Park again on Saturday, with Ross County the visitors, but home form has been a worry for the Lanarkshire club, who finished fifth last season. With 10 defeats on their own patch, their record is the worst in the Premiership. "The pitch is fantastic," said McDonald. "It might be the best in the league. "Teams will enjoy playing on it but there's no excuse for us when the pitch is that good. "It's up to the players to cope with the pressure of playing at home. I think that's been a problem at times."

Motherwell cannot afford to dwell on the latest controversial decision to go against them as they battle to avoid the drop, says striker Scott McDonald.

Rovers, who stay second on goal difference, took the lead in the 29th minute when Adam Buxton whipped over a fine first-time cross and Ihiekwe jumped above his marker to head home. The hosts went close again early in the second half when the influential Buxton struck the inside of a post with a fine free-kick, and they managed to double their lead when Craig Eastmond scored an unfortunate own goal. Jack Jebb pulled one back for Sutton in the 77th minute and they were back on level terms when Pape Gueye got the final touch in the 81st minute. However, Ihiekwe had the final say with a great strike to seal all three points for Rovers. Match report supplied by the Press Association Match ends, Tranmere Rovers 3, Sutton United 2. Second Half ends, Tranmere Rovers 3, Sutton United 2. Goal! Tranmere Rovers 3, Sutton United 2. Michael Ihiekwe (Tranmere Rovers). Steve McNulty (Tranmere Rovers) is shown the yellow card. Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Andy Cook replaces Cole Stockton. Goal! Tranmere Rovers 2, Sutton United 2. Pape Gueye (Sutton United). Substitution, Sutton United. Pape Gueye replaces Maxime Biamou. Goal! Tranmere Rovers 2, Sutton United 1. Jack Jebb (Sutton United). Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Adam Mekki replaces Connor Jennings. Substitution, Sutton United. Jack Jebb replaces Craig Dundas. Scott Davies (Tranmere Rovers) is shown the yellow card. Substitution, Sutton United. Tommy Wright replaces Kieron Cadogan. Own Goal by Craig Eastmond, Sutton United. Tranmere Rovers 2, Sutton United 0. Gomis (Sutton United) is shown the yellow card. Second Half begins Tranmere Rovers 1, Sutton United 0. First Half ends, Tranmere Rovers 1, Sutton United 0. Kieron Cadogan (Sutton United) is shown the yellow card. Louis John (Sutton United) is shown the yellow card. Connor Jennings (Tranmere Rovers) is shown the yellow card. Goal! Tranmere Rovers 1, Sutton United 0. Michael Ihiekwe (Tranmere Rovers). First Half begins. Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Mike Ihiekwe scored twice as Tranmere edged out Sutton 3-2 at Prenton Park to move level on points with National League leaders Lincoln.

While not everyone hated the sequel to 2015's Fifty Shades of Grey, the vast majority of critics were not impressed. The New York Times said the film was "Fifty Shades Darker and only half as watchable" as its predecessor. "What an incredibly, indelibly idiotic movie," is how Rolling Stone's Peter Travers summed it up in his 0.5-star review. "Fifty Shades Darker is an ordeal to watch not because of its gothic eroticism but because of its utter blandness," wrote The Independent's Geoffrey Macnab. "When the inevitable spanking scene takes place, it is tongue in cheek (although not quite literally so)." "Buff, bland, bonking machines are possessed of prodigious libido but bereft of personality," The Daily Mirror's Chris Hunneysett wrote. "If you want to watch a movie about a billionaire playboy with a penchant for darkness, inflicting violence and dressing up in masks, you're far better off seeing The Lego Batman Movie." But Variety liked it a little more, writing: "For all its structural and psychological deficiencies, it's hard not to enjoy Fifty Shades Darker on its own lusciously limited terms." "It sure ain't boring," observed Deadline's Pete Hammond, who also gave the film a more positive review. "Best of all, like the first film, this one has a killer soundtrack that makes Fifty Shades Darker sound just as good as it looks." "There's one significant problem with both Fifty Shades movies that's impossible to ignore: [Jamie] Dornan is just a dud," said Time's Stephanie Zacharek. But, she adds: "It's all fantasy, so what's the harm? There isn't any. And if millions of girls or guys go out to see Fifty Shades Darker with their friends for a giggle or two, then the world is a happier place." Other publications who didn't quite consider the film a masterpiece included The Guardian, The Telegraph and The New Yorker. To be fair - we're fairly confident everyone involved in making the film wasn't pinning their hopes on critical praise. Like the first film in the franchise, Fifty Shades Darker will still likely be a huge box office success. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

The reviews of Fifty Shades Darker are in and err, well... oh dear.

17 August 2016 Last updated at 19:07 BST It happens when winds mix with smoke and flames. The fire burned around seven acres of land but, thankfully, no injuries were reported. Fire crews in the state of Oregon managed to put out the blaze after about an hour. They think it was caused by farming equipment cutting the field. Video courtesy of Cornelius Fire Department. The Welsh Labour leader said Whitehall had to "re-learn the art of diplomacy" rather than "shouting at foreigners" to secure trade deals after Brexit. Welsh voters said they wanted the UK to leave the EU in June's referendum. The UK Government said it will get the "best possible deal for the whole of the United Kingdom as we leave the EU". Mr Jones, the longest serving current leader of a UK nation, told the BBC's Sunday Politics Wales: "There are some who are realists, but there are others who still say Europe will, basically fall at our feet," he said. "They're not going to do that; they have to be realistic and understand this is a discussion between not just two parties but more than 30 different parties when you take into account the different parliaments in the EU as well. "The UK needs to re-learn the art of diplomacy rather than shouting at foreigners, which is the impression you get from some of the Tory politicians." Mr Jones has led the Welsh Government for seven years, longer than current Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Northern Ireland's Arlene Foster, and UK Prime Minister Theresa May. Earlier, Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said Brexit would help communities who had previously missed out from EU funding. Over the last 16 years, more than £4bn in EU aid has been spent in west Wales and the valleys - the areas which have benefitted the most. But the Vale of Glamorgan MP told BBC Radio Wales' Sunday Supplement programme leaving the EU would provide the opportunity to reshape how structural funds are shared. He said areas such as parts of Barry, which is in his constituency, or areas across Powys were in desperate need of support. "Because of the European map as it's drawn, they haven't been able to draw on the same levels of EU funding that parts of the traditional west Wales and the valleys have," he said. Mr Cairns stressed no decisions had yet been made on structural funds or repatriated powers once the UK leaves the EU but there was a "positive opportunity" to support the poorest communities. He added: "How many times have we heard from some of the charities or local authorities that draw down the funding, the talk about the frustration behind the European rules that doesn't allow them to do certain things? "Well, we can now set UK priorities to benefit those communities as they see fit rather than as some bureaucrats in Brussels see fit." Prime Minister Theresa May intends to trigger the process for the UK to leave the EU by the end of March 2017 and will then have two years to complete it. That remains the plan despite Supreme Court judges still considering whether or not to overturn a High Court ruling stating Parliament must have a say in the Brexit process. In the four-day hearing earlier this month, Welsh ministers joined campaigners and the Scottish Government in challenging the UK government's belief that it could trigger the process of leaving the EU without MPs' authorisation. A Department for Exiting the EU spokesperson said: "As the prime minister has said, we are determined to get the best possible deal for the whole of the United Kingdom as we leave the EU. "We have also been clear that we're seeking a new partnership with the EU that works in the mutual interest of both sides, and are approaching these negotiations with a spirit of goodwill. "We are working closely with the Welsh government and the other devolved administrations to ensure we make a success of Brexit."

This incredible clip of a "firenado" has been filmed by firefighters in the US. [NEXT_CONCEPT] First Minister Carwyn Jones has accused new UK Government ministers of being naïve over future relationships with the European Union.

Brown was charged by the FA after the Shrimpers' 3-2 loss at Bury on 8 May - the final day of the League One season. Brown, also fined £3,000, admitted four breaches, while a fifth was found proven by an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on Wednesday. "I have learned my lesson and I will take this into account regarding my future conduct," the 57-year-old said. "They have come to the right decision. I was wrong in my actions and I apologise to everyone associated with the club and the officials from the Bury game," the former Hull boss added. The misconduct charges stated that from the third minute of injury time through until half-an-hour after the match had finished, Brown's language and/or behaviour was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper on five separate occasions. He also said after the match that assistant referee Barry Gordon should be "struck off" for his role in awarding the late spot-kick which led to Bury's 94th-minute winner.

Southend boss Phil Brown has been given a four-match touchline ban by the Football Association for misconduct.

Brexit Secretary David Davis told MPs there was a lot of research and policy work to be done before it was ready. Mr Davis said he wanted to be "as open as we can be" without undermining the UK's negotiating position. The minister also said if no agreement was reached with the EU a transitional Brexit deal could be struck "if it is necessary and only if it is necessary". The government has said it will notify the EU of its intention to leave - beginning the two year process of talks on its exit - by the end of March at the latest. In response to pressure from Labour and some Tory MPs, ministers agreed last week to give more detail of their negotiating aims before starting the exit negotiations. Appearing before the Commons Select Brexit committee for the first time, Mr Davis said the "broad outline" of the UK's objectives were known but the detail had to be filled in. Asked by its chair, Labour MP Hilary Benn, when the plan would be released, Mr Davis would not be drawn on a specific date but ruled out it happening in January. Transition, transition, transition. It is the word of the week. Just about anyone who is anyone in business or politics is now gathering around the "transitional deal" camp fire. A lobbying group for financial services (unsurprising), a House of Lords committee, a deputy governor of the Bank of England, Chancellor Philip Hammond and even David Davis, the Pied Piper of Brexit himself, have come round to openly discussing the possibility that Brexit does not necessarily mean Brexit - at least not necessarily on the original time table and that there may be a halfway house. The idea for a transitional period to smooth the period between the UK's exit from the European Union and the completion of more detailed negotiations has been in the ether for months - but this is the week it has begun to crystallise into solid political form. Chancellor Philip Hammond said earlier this week that "thoughtful" politicians acknowledged a transition deal would be helpful to avoid the trauma of a sudden change in trading, customs and regulations the day after the UK leaves the EU. That could be seen as an insult to Brexiteers such as Michael Gove and Jacob Rees-Mogg - who hate the idea of a transitional deal - but I'm told there are very few "red lines" between the key departments in the way this negotiation is conducted. There are also many definitions of what such a transition might look like. Is it merely an implementation period for a largely agreed deal (David Davis's preference) or is it a longer term arrangement which keeps the status quo in place while details are worked out more slowly? Either way, the pressure for more clarity is growing. A House of Lords committee will warn tomorrow that thousands of banking jobs will go to Europe if some sort of transition deal is not made ready. Lobbying group, TheCityUK, will endorse that view and privately bankers are finalising contingency plans and some are close to pressing go. The Chairman of HSBC, Douglas Flint, today told Bloomberg TV that the bank were looking at the option of moving staff to Paris if needed. As one source told me today "there is no enthusiasm for leaving. Banks are looking for excuses to stay". We'll soon see whether the sudden warmth towards a transitional deal is excuse enough. John Pienaar: Post-Brexit migration questions "The reasons for setting the final possible date, 31 March (for triggering the Article 50 process of leaving the EU), were numerous but one of them was the determination to carry out all of the policy work first, consult properly and then bring something to Parliament," he told MPs. "It won't be next month. The policy work is still under way and there are quite a few decisions that have to be made." Officials, he said, were conducting "sectoral analysis" of the impact of Brexit in 57 areas likely to feature in the negotiations, highlighting home affairs as one area where more preparation needed to take place. Asked about the likely scope and length of the plan, he said anything which jeopardised the UK getting the best possible deal from the negotiations would be left out. The test, he said, would be "will releasing information be hazardous or not? If it is not, we will release it". He told MPs that his goal was a "smooth and orderly" exit from the EU and - on trade - "maximum market access with minimum of disruption" to British firms. Pressed about whether he agreed with Chancellor Philip Hammond who has expressed his support for transitional arrangements for a limited period to cushion the impact of leaving the EU, he said he would not rule anything out at this stage. He told the committee that an interim arrangement could be struck "if it's necessary, and only if it's necessary" but that a deal was "all negotiable" within the 18-month framework currently suggested by European Union negotiators. "We need to know where we are going before we talk about a transition". One option, he accepted, was the UK paying the EU to maintain access to the EU's single market for a short period of time but he stressed that "keeping something open does not mean we are doing it". Questioned by former education secretary Michael Gove on what the remaining 27 EU states wanted out of Brexit, Mr Davis said their views varied and could be shaped by domestic politics, noting there were "15 electoral events" - including in Germany and France - due to take place during the process. He added: "We are going to have to harness two things - one is economic and maybe security self-interest, and the other is a persuasion of them that it is in in Europe's best interest to have a friend and a strong trading partner off their north-western shore."

The government's plan for Brexit negotiations will not be published until February at the earliest.

Conservative leader David Cameron said an SNP-backed Labour government was a "chilling prospect" as he appeared with Boris Johnson in London. Ed Miliband said Labour would not end up borrowing more than the Tories if he formed the next government. Nick Clegg said the Lib Dems would "guarantee stability" after 7 May. The deputy prime minister warned of the prospect of a "second election before Christmas" if no party won an outright victory and either the Conservatives or Labour attempted to govern on their own. UKIP leader Nigel Farage is spending the day in the Kent seat he hopes to win for his party, after taking out a two-page advertisement in the Daily Telegraph urging people "to vote with their heart". With two days to go before polling day: Polls suggest the election is still too close to call, and in the final days the parties are focusing on their core messages amid speculation about post-election deals if there is a hung Parliament. What are the top issues for each political party at the 2015 general election? Policy guide: Where the parties stand In an interview with the BBC, Mr Miliband said he did not accept the Institute for Fiscal Studies' assessment that debt would be £90 billion higher in 2019/20 if Labour's plans were implemented rather than the Conservatives. And referring to his 8ft stone monument of pledges, he claimed his campaign vice chairman Lucy Powell had been wrong when she said no-one had suggested carving them into stone meant "he will absolutely not" break them. The Labour leader also acknowledged for the first time that he might not win an outright victory on Thursday, by making clear his plan to abolish non-dom status for foreigners would be non-negotiable in any post-election deal. He spoke as Labour was out campaigning on the NHS, publishing what it calls a leaked document suggesting 98 of England's 240 trusts are expected to have run up a combined deficit of £750m by next April. Speaking in the target seat of Bedford, Mr Miliband said the NHS was facing a "financial bombshell", which would result in two-thirds of hospitals having to make substantial cuts this year. Appealing to undecided voters as he seeks to improve on the 258 seats his party won in 2010, the Labour leader said the election would be "the closest we have ever seen in our history". Mr Cameron told BBC Radio 5 live that the NHS had made "real progress" in the past five years. "We have put the money in, we have got rid of bureaucracy, which has kept money on the front line," he said. "The key thing for the future is to make sure we have the strong economy that can support the strong NHS." Analysis by political editor Nick Robinson By 10 o'clock on Thursday evening the people will have spoken but the questions which will then follow look likely to be - "What on earth did they mean by that? Who actually won? Who has the right to govern?" Unless the polls are wrong - which they very well might be - and unless there is a late switch in opinion - which there still could be - most players and pundits are now expecting an election that is too close to call and may produce a result which could allow for either David Cameron or Ed Miliband to become prime minister. So, what is obsessing politicians of all parties behind-the-scenes is the debate about what a legitimate government would look like. Read Nick's blog The Conservatives, which won 307 seats in 2010, are targeting seats held by Liberal Democrats, as well as appealing to UKIP supporters and Conservatives who might not bother to go to the polling station, in an attempt to win an overall majority. While SNP MPs were perfectly entitled to make their voice heard in Westminster, Mr Cameron told the BBC, it would be "unhealthy" for a future government to be reliant on a party that "did not want the UK to be a success". Mr Clegg said his party would do a "lot better" than commentators were suggesting as he launched a 1,000 mile "dash" from Land's End to John O'Groats, taking in key marginal seats in Cornwall, Somerset, South Wales and the Midlands. Opinion polls suggest the party could lose up to half of the 57 seats it won five years ago. Amid speculation about possible coalition deals in the event of another hung Parliament, Mr Clegg said the party with the "greatest mandate" in terms of seats and votes won should have the "space and time to try and assemble a government". The Lib Dems, he told Radio 4's Today programme, would be prepared to talk to other parties - except UKIP and the SNP - in a "grown-up" way, saying they would be "guarantors of stability at a time of great uncertainty". But he warned of a "shambles" if the Conservatives or Labour try to form a minority government and rely on the informal support of other parties to get their legislation through Parliament. "The last thing Britain needs is a second election before Christmas," he said. "But that is exactly what will happen if Ed Miliband and David Cameron put their own political interest ahead of the national interest." Meeting the voters on the campaign trail can be fraught with danger for any politician seeking election, as a quick delve into the BBC archives displays. Watch video from the vaults on the BBC News Timeliner The best of BBC News' Election 2015 specials

The main party leaders are criss-crossing the UK appealing to undecided voters in key seats as the election campaign enters its final two days.

She told the BBC the agencies could not monitor everyone known to them around the clock. Wednesday's attacker has been named by police as Khalid Masood, who was British born and known to the police and MI5. Four people died, including Masood, with 40 more injured. Masood was not the subject of any current police investigations, but had a range of previous convictions. Ms Rudd said: "I think we have to be careful before we point any finger of blame at the intelligence services. They do a fantastic job. "The fact that he was known to them doesn't mean that someone has 24-hour cover. "I think we'll discover more about this particular man and the people around him but I'm in no doubt that the intelligence services are doing a great job. "I think that would be absolutely the wrong judgement to make. "I'm confident that as we get more information - and I really can't be drawn any further on it at the moment - that we will learn more and take comfort from the information that we have and the work that the intelligence services do." She said it was "hard for them" as they operated with "a large degree of secrecy, for good reasons" and urged that they be given the "space" to carry out their inquiries as they needed. She also defended the government's de-radicalisation programmes, which are aimed at preventing young people being drawn into extremism but which have attracted criticism from some community groups. She told BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg: "We have a very successful programme of working with people to stop them. "You're right, one got through, there may be lessons to learn. Above all I want people to be aware we don't just have a programme that stops people, we have a programme that enters into the communities much earlier on, to stop people being radicalised." She also rejected calls for the police and security services to be given more cash to deal with the terror threat, which remains at "severe," as it was before Wednesday's attack, meaning another incident is "highly likely". She said: "I think that the government and the country has the tools that it needs to combat terrorism. We have the right legislation, we have the right programmes and we have the right support. I don't think it would be right now to have some knee-jerk reaction and introduce something new." The so-called Islamic State group has said it was behind the attack, in which PC Keith Palmer, Aysha Frade and US tourist Kurt Cochran were killed. Prime Minister Theresa May earlier told MPs: "We will never waver in the face of terrorism." Paying tribute to PC Keith Palmer, who died after being stabbed, she said: "He was every inch a hero, and his actions will never be forgotten." Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn described the attack as "an appalling atrocity". The victims included 12 Britons, three French children, two people from Romania, four from South Korea, one from Germany, one from Poland, one from Ireland, one from China, one from Italy, one from the US and two Greek people. The Frenchman, 23, who is the son of Catalan Dragons' chief executive Christophe Jouffret, scored twice and kicked 28 goals for Whitehaven in 2015. "Louis is an exciting signing," Haven boss James Coyle told the club website. "Last season he made a massive impact on the team when he arrived and after he left we struggled to replace him."

Home Secretary Amber Rudd has warned against "pointing any finger of blame" at the security services over the London terror attack. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Championship Whitehaven have re-signed ex-Warrington Wolves half-back Louis Jouffret after his contract at French club Union Treizist Catalane expired.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court, Daniel Jones, 34, admitted murdering Paul Tompkins in his Stourbridge flat after being invited there for a drink. He beat his victim in a "horrific attack" before stealing some property to buy more alcohol, police said. Jones, from Forge Road, was told he must serve a minimum of 18 years. Police said Mr Tompkins, known as Tonka, "offered the hand of friendship" to his killer after meeting him in the street after Jones had stormed out of his home because of a family argument. Det Ch Insp Martin Slevin, said Jones launched the "prolonged" on him after the pair spent the afternoon drinking together Mr Tompkins' neighbours heard a disturbance coming from the flat on Forge Road and raised the alarm, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said. Jones left the flat and went to a nearby pub where he got a change of clothes from a friend and disposed of his blood-stained clothing in a nearby garden. The motive for the fatal beating is not known, police said. Mr Tompkins' family praised the "thorough" police investigation and thanked social services for the daily help they gave him. "Our brother Paul was a gentle and generous man, who was considered fondly by those who knew him, as was clearly expressed by the many kind comments on social media after his death," they said. "These comments and the attendance at Paul's funeral have been a comfort to his family." Hubert Burda, which bought the group from UK private equity firm Exponent, said they had agreed not to disclose financial details of the transaction. The BBC started publishing the Radio Times in 1923 and owned it until 2011. At its peak it had nine million readers a week. It now has just 660,000, but is still the UK's best-selling guide. As a result of the deal, Burda will also own BBC titles including BBC Good Food, BBC History and BBC Gardeners' World. Burda, based in Munich, describes itself as a family enterprise with a history spanning 100 years. It has 540 brands worldwide. In the UK, its existing titles include YourHome and Wedding.

A man who inflicted more than 80 injuries on his neighbour by beating him to death on New Year's Day has been jailed for life. [NEXT_CONCEPT] The publisher of the Radio Times and Top Gear magazine, Immediate Media, has been bought by German company Hubert Burda Media.

Kim Wall was last seen alive on Danish entrepreneur Peter Madsen's submarine on 10 August. He initially said he had dropped her off safely near Copenhagen, but has since said she died in an accident and that he had "buried" her at sea. The body has been sent for forensic analysis, but is yet to be identified. Ms Wall, 30, was reported missing by her boyfriend after she failed to return from what should have been a short trip to research a feature about the inventor and his submarine. The submarine sank hours after the search for the journalist began, and Mr Madsen was charged with negligent manslaughter. Danish police believe the 40-tonne vessel was deliberately sunk by Mr Madsen, who was rescued before being arrested. The inventor, 46, told police that he had left Ms Wall's body somewhere in Koge Bay, south of Copenhagen. The torso was found on the shore by a passing cyclist. Copenhagen police spokesman Jens Moller said: "It is clear that the police, like the media and everybody else, are speculating whether this female body is Kim Wall, but it is way too soon to tell." The police say they cannot release any more information at this time. Peter Madsen's lawyer, Betina Hald Engmark, said her client has not admitted any wrongdoing. She said he had given evidence to the police during preliminary questioning and "information from this" had now emerged. "My client has not confessed to anything, my client still pleads not guilty to the charges against him," she said. The court case is being heard behind closed doors, but part of his explanation of what happened was released after a request from the defence and prosecution. In a statement, Copenhagen police also said that maritime authorities had determined the route the submarine travelled in Koge Bay and the Oresund strait before sinking. Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning

A woman's headless torso has been found by police searching for a Swedish journalist who went missing during a trip with a submarine inventor.

Police with riot shields surrounded the Bella Italia restaurant on Irving Street after the incident was reported at 20:50 GMT. Parts of the busy tourist area were cordoned off and nearby diners were ordered to stay indoors. The man was detained soon after 22:45. There were no reports of injuries. He was seen being led from the restaurant by police and was then driven away. Officers at the scene said the man had been found with a knife in his pocket. Jordan Brown, who was playing a gig at Caffe Concerto next door, told the BBC: "All of a sudden the police came around and said 'please can we stop playing'. "They then kept us inside." Police have said the incident is not terror-related. Transport for London has written to the foreign secretary, a former London mayor, to help end the 13 year impasse. In total 145 nations have outstanding charges. The worst offenders include the US, Japan, Nigeria and Russia. The Foreign Office insists diplomats are not exempt from paying the charge. According to Transport for London (TfL), around three quarters of embassies in London do pay the charge, "but there remains a stubborn minority who refuse to do so, despite our representations through diplomatic channels". The US Embassy, which argues it is a tax and so covered by diplomatic immunity, owes the most, at more than £11.5m, while the Australian High Commission is among nations that owe the least, at £120. Top 10 congestion charge embassy debtors: Following legal advice, TfL's view is that the matter should be taken to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, but this needs government support, which is why it has been raised with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Paul Cowperthwaite, TfL's general manager for congestion charging, said: "We are clear that the congestion charge is a charge for a service and not a tax. This means that foreign diplomats are not exempt from paying it. "We continue to pursue all unpaid congestion charge fees and related penalty charge notices. "In October we wrote to the foreign secretary to ask him to take up the matter with the relevant embassies and the International Court of Justice." Solution sought TfL figures suggest that London-based embassies owe £105,258,715 for the period since the congestion charge was launched in 2003 and 31 December 2016 - up from £58m in 2012. A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Our position is clear: there are no legal grounds to exempt diplomats from paying the London congestion charge. This is not a tax, and the majority of diplomatic missions in London recognise this and pay. "We are committed to working with TfL to find a solution to the problem of non-payment by some missions." The congestion charge was introduced by former London mayor Ken Livingstone in February 2003, with the aim of reducing traffic congestion in and around the city centre between 07:00 and 18:00 Mondays to Fridays. The current charge is £11.50 per day. Turkey says about 70 suspected members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and two soldiers have been killed since Wednesday in a major military operation against the rebels. A ceasefire and talks to settle the conflict broke down in July. Kurdish sources say 200,000 people have been forced from their homes. Around 10,000 government security forces, backed by heavy weaponry, have been involved in the operation which centres on Cizre and Silopi, according to the military. Cizre was placed under curfew in September, with Turkey describing the town as a hotbed of PKK activity. Grim reports from Turkish town under curfew Inside Turkey's battle-scarred Kurdish town Turkey-PKK conflict: Why are clashes escalating? Mr Davutoglu said the government would oppose any attempt by the the PKK and its supporters to expand the conflict. "If your struggle is creating chaos in these cities, we will not allow that. "If they are struggling to secede from Turkey, we will never allow that." On Monday, two protesters died in a clash between police and Kurdish demonstrators over a curfew imposed in Diyarbakir. Parts of the city were placed under curfew in November after a pro-Kurdish lawyer, Tahir Elci, was shot dead in a fight between police and unidentified gunmen. Two policemen also died. More than 40,000 people have died since the PKK launched its armed campaign in 1984.

A man has been arrested after a woman was taken hostage, apparently at knifepoint, at a restaurant near Leicester Square in London's West End. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Boris Johnson has been urged to take foreign governments through the international courts to make them pay London's congestion charge after they racked up a bill topping £105m. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Turkey will not allow Kurdish militants to create "chaos" in the cities of the country's south-east, PM Ahmet Davutoglu says.

Referee Jon Moss controversially awarded West Ham a spot kick against leaders Leicester after Foxes defender Wes Morgan tangled with Winston Reid. Last Sunday's incident prompted a widespread debate about players tussling at set-pieces. "I think if you start to give penalties for that then it stops," said Koeman on Thursday. When Tottenham defeated Stoke 4-0 on Monday to cut Leicester's lead at the top of the table to five points, the lack of contact as players lined up for corners was noticeable. Koeman said he wanted consistency from referees over penalty decisions from corners. After Morgan was punished for grappling Reid, Leicester's appeals were dismissed after a similar 90th-minute incident involving Angelo Ogbonna and Robert Huth. "Everybody knows if you take somebody in his shirt or like a rugby player, you take your man in the box, it's a penalty," said the Dutchman. "If one day it's a penalty and even in the same game next time it's not, that doesn't help or make it clear for everybody."

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman says referees should give penalties when players grapple at corners.

City are five points clear at Premier League summit with four games left. And Tigers face Racing 92 in their Champions Cup semi-final on Sunday. "For us it's been great to see how they cope with pressure," said Tigers centre Tait. "Claudio Ranieri speaks very well about taking it game by game and the players seem to respond to that." Talking to BBC East Midlands Today, Tait continued: "It would be nice if we can show that same composure come Sunday." Tait said it would be a "fairytale" if the Foxes went on to win the Premier League. Tigers themselves are still in the hunt for an 11th English championship of their own, while also still pursuing success in European rugby's biggest club competition. "It's great for the city," Tait said. "It's the sporting capital of the UK at the minute. "Both clubs are bouncing off each other with their success." Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill says the fortune of the city's top sports club, including newly-crowned British Basketball League champions Leicester Riders, has created "a buzz" in Leicester. He said: "The football have gone enormously well. Let's hope they kick on and become Premiership champions. "Basketball have already done it themselves and the Tigers have the opportunity to do that in two competitions. "Hopefully it will be a good end to the season for everybody." His decision is a significant ramping up of sanctions on Ukraine's neighbour for its annexation of Crimea and the continuing conflict in eastern Ukraine. Those targeted include social networks VK.com and Odnoklassniki, search engine Yandex and the Mail.ru email service. Ukrainian service providers have been ordered to block access to the sites. The companies' offices in Ukraine will also face asset freezes and other restrictions although it was not immediately clear how the ban on the services would come into force and whether Ukraine had the technical means to enforce it. The president's decision to push through a decision by Ukraine's national security council could prove controversial domestically, as VK (VKontakte) alone has an estimated 15 million users in Ukraine and Odnoklassiki (which translates as Classmates) is also widely popular. Blogger Anton Hodza hailed the ban as a "fantastic opportunity" for Ukrainian start-ups, while another joked that Ukraine's authorities should prepare for riots from angry schoolchildren and pensioners. But IT expert Artur Orujaliev condemned the move as censorship and journalist Oksana Romanyuk from Reporters Without Borders said the economic reasons used to justify the ban were actually economic sanctions against Ukrainians. Tipichnyy Kiev, a news community with 695,000 subscribers on VK, offered practical advice to its readers to either use mirror sites on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and promised help in using proxy servers. Several other Russian companies also face sanctions, including cyber-security company Kaspersky Lab, Doctor Web, and Aeroflot, as well as several TV companies including NTV and RT and news agency Ria Novosti. The sanctions row led to Russia's Eurovision contestant, Julia Samoilova, was unable to travel to Kiev because she had performed in Crimea. Ukraine has gradually broadened its sanctions list, which now includes more than 1,200 individuals. When Ukraine's President, Viktor Yanukovych, was deposed in 2014, Russian troops moved into Crimea and the government in Moscow annexed the Ukrainian peninsula. Conflict broke out in eastern Ukraine as pro-Russian separatists launched an insurgency against the government in Kiev. Since the conflict began, some 10,000 people have died. A tentative ceasefire is in place but there are regular violations and 13 people were killed last month, mainly by shelling or landmines. The European Union and US imposed sanctions on a number of Russian companies and individuals linked to the Russian involvement, and Moscow responded with its own measures.

Leicester Tigers will follow the advice of Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri in their bid to reach the European Champions Cup final, says Mathew Tait. [NEXT_CONCEPT] Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has imposed a ban on Russia's biggest social media networks and internet services popular with millions.

The Wellcome Trust team says a specific speech test accurately predicts whose stutter will persist into their teens. About one in 20 develops a stutter before age five - but just one in 100 stutter as a teen and identifying these children has so far been difficult. Campaigners said it was key for children to be diagnosed early. Stuttering tends to start at about three years old. Four out of five will recover without intervention, often within a couple of years. But for one in five, their stutter will persist and early therapy can be of significant benefit. The researchers, based at University College London, used a test developed in the US called SSI-3 (stuttering severity instrument). In earlier work, they followed eight-year-olds with a stutter into their teens. They found that the SSI-3 test was a reliable indicator of who would still have a stutter and who would recover - while other indicators such as family history, which have been used, were less so. It showed the test was highly sensitive and specific in classifying those with a stutter who would recover, those whose stammer would persist and those who were "fluent" - had no communication difficulties. A fluency result is important because it shows the test can be used on unaffected children, which it would have to be if it was to be used to screen for problems. This latest paper, published in the Journal of Fluency Disorders, looked at another 272 children with a stutter and 25 without, aged five to 19. It showed that the test could reliably be used across the age range. The researchers also found so-called "whole word repetition" was not a reliable indicator of persistent stutter. Core symptoms were found to be prolonging parts of words, partial repetition of words or "blocking" on the first part of a word. Prof Peter Howell, who led the research, said: "If we can identify children at risk of stuttering, then we can offer appropriate interventions to help them early on. "Primary school is a key time in a child's development and any help in tackling potential communication problems could make a big difference to the child's life." He told the BBC: "We had already looked at children aged eight to teens. But we wanted to establish if we could extend those findings to younger children. "What the paper is showing is that the prospect of being able to screen children looks like a real possibility, based on this data." Norbert Lieckfeldt, chief executive of the British Stammering Association, said: "The crucial thing about this research is that it seems to be able to be accurately predict which children will have a persistent stammer. "That would be a huge step forward." Mr Lieckfeldt added: "At five, there is still a window of opportunity to help those with a stammer. "If we intervene early enough, there is a really high success rate of normal, fluent speaking, whereas for six- to eight-year-olds, the recovery rate drops like a stone." He was Richard Patterson, 45, from Castlerock. The lorry he was driving overturned after it was in collision with a van at 12:45 local time on Thursday. The crash happened on the M1 southbound near Monasterboice in Drogheda, County Louth.

A screening test for children starting school that could accurately detect early signs of a persistent stutter is a step closer, experts say. [NEXT_CONCEPT] The name has been released of a County Londonderry man killed in a crash on a motorway in the Republic of Ireland.

For years, the mark has identified tweed made from cloth woven by hand in the Western Isles with wool yarn from island sheep. The Lord Lyon, King of Arms, has granted that the orb be the industry's coat of arms. The Harris Tweed Authority said the recognition would provide a further layer of protection from imitations. The orb will be incorporated into a shield to become the coat of arms. Norman Macdonald, chairman of the Harris Tweed Authority, said: "Being awarded a Grant of Arms is a historic milestone for Harris Tweed which has fought for decades to protect the sanctuary of the Harris Tweed cloth. "It's the ultimate protection for our products which are known for throughout the world for consistently high standards of quality and authenticity. "It's an honour to receive the Grant of Arms from Lord Lyon himself and we are grateful to be able to ensure the security of our cloth and its heritage for generations to come."

Harris Tweed's orb trademark has been officially recognised as a coat of arms.

The Buckingham Palace announcement came as Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson visited Somalia for talks about security and the drought in the region. The government said it will match the first £5m donated by the public. Runner Sir Mo Farah has also backed the appeal, saying it "breaks his heart" to "see children without food and water" and urged people to "act now". The Olympic champion has been named an ambassador for Save the Children, one of 13 UK aid agencies brought together by the UK's Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC). DEC says at least 16 million people in Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan need food, water and medical treatment. Drought and conflict are to blame for the crisis, says the DEC, which will broadcast an emergency appeal on the major television networks later. While in Somalia, the foreign secretary met President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and saw demonstrations of the training the British military is providing to Somali National Army and African Union Mission to Somalia forces. He also helped load aid supplies from the UK on to a cargo plane. "All of this is vital if Somalia is going to move forward to achieve long-term stability and prosperity," said Mr Johnson, who will next be visiting Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya. Olympian Sir Mo spent his early childhood in some of the worst affected areas in Somalia. He said: "As a father of four, it hurts to see children without food and water, but this is a reality being faced by parents in East Africa right now. "The drought is really bad and there are millions of children at risk of starvation." Last month, a famine was declared in parts of South Sudan, the first to be announced in any part of the world in six years. The government and the United Nations reported that some 100,000 people are facing starvation, with a million more on the brink of famine. A combination of civil war and an economic collapse have been blamed. In Kenya, the country's president Uhuru Kenyatta declared its drought a national disaster and Kenya's Red Cross says 2.7 million people face starvation. There is also a severe drought in Somalia and Ethiopia. 'Desperate for food' Saleh Saeed, chief executive of the DEC, said hunger was "looming" across East Africa. He said more than 800,000 children aged under five "are now facing starvation and will die soon if we don't reach them and act quickly". "We are hearing that families are so desperate for food that they are resorting to eating leaves to survive," he added. Mr Saeed told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the money raised is being used to provide water, sanitation and food. He said that, while it was important to talk about the long-term infrastructure of countries like Kenya, the areas impacted by the crisis were facing an "emergency situation". Addressing concerns that some of the money going to the countries affected by civil war may be stolen by the government or rebel forces, he said the charities brought together by the DEC work directly with staff and vetted organisations on the ground. Mr Saeed said it was "unfortunate" that the government of South Sudan was reportedly considering charging aid workers to enter the country. He added: "We need to put it into perspective. The amount of money that is lost on fraud is actually quite small." International Development Secretary Priti Patel said UK aid has funded food, water and emergency healthcare in East Africa, but more support was "urgently needed to prevent a catastrophe". She said the international community must follow the UK's lead "to save lives and stop the famine before it becomes a stain on our collective conscience". For more information on the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal visit www.dec.org.uk

The Queen is making a personal donation to a UK charity appeal for families facing starvation in East Africa.

Mohammed Ali Ahmed and Zakaria Boufassil are both charged with funding terrorism on or before 7 July 2015. Mr Ahmed and Soumaya Boufassil are separately charged with preparation of acts of terrorism between January 2015 and this month. The three, from Small Heath, are due before magistrates in London on Friday. West Midlands Police said they were among five people arrested in Birmingham on 14 April and at Gatwick Airport the next day. A third man, Fazal Sajjad Younis Khan, 40, also from Small Heath, has been charged with possession of CS spray, police said. He has been released on bail to appear before Birmingham magistrates on 13 May. A 59-year-old man remains on bail while the investigation continues, police added.

Two men and a woman from Birmingham have been charged with terror offences as part of a UK probe launched after the Paris and Brussels attacks.

Michael Duncan, 19, of Tarland, was also convicted of sexually assaulting the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in March last year. The High Court in Edinburgh heard he ignored her pleas for him to stop. Lord Uist deferred sentence on Duncan to the High Court in Dumbarton next month.

A teenager has been found guilty of raping a 15-year-old girl in Aberdeen.