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Add punctuation: Kevin Hannaway and four others were arrested on 8 August as part of an operation targeting dissident republican activity in Dublin.
Mr Hannaway, 67, from Colin Mill in Belfast was charged on 10 August with assisting the IRA.
Edward O'Brien, 41, of Finglas, Dublin and Eva Shannon, 59, from Oakman Street, Belfast face the same charge.
David Nooney , 52, from Coultry Green, Ballymun, Dublin, and Seán Hannaway, 47, from Linden Gardens, Belfast are each charged with membership of the IRA.
Mr Hannaway is a member of the group known as the 'hooded men' who were detained by security forces during the Troubles.
They are seeking revision of a 1978 judgment of the European Court of Human Rights, which said their treatment was "inhuman and degrading" but not torture.
Mr Hannaway, along with his co-accused, were each granted bail at the non-jury court, on a number of conditions.
A book of evidence is expected to be served on 3 November. | Kevin Hannaway and four others were arrested on 8 August as part of an operation targeting dissident republican activity in Dublin.
Mr Hannaway, 67, from Colin Mill in Belfast was charged on 10 August with assisting the IRA.
Edward O'Brien, 41, of Finglas, Dublin and Eva Shannon, 59, from Oakman Street, Belfast face the same charge.
David Nooney , 52, from Coultry Green, Ballymun, Dublin, and Seán Hannaway, 47, from Linden Gardens, Belfast are each charged with membership of the IRA.
Mr Hannaway is a member of the group known as the 'hooded men' who were detained by security forces during the Troubles.
They are seeking revision of a 1978 judgment of the European Court of Human Rights, which said their treatment was "inhuman and degrading" but not torture.
Mr Hannaway, along with his co-accused, were each granted bail at the non-jury court, on a number of conditions.
A book of evidence is expected to be served on 3 November. |
Add punctuation: Tripoli residents said men with bulldozers attacked the shrine of al-Shaab al-Dahmani, unimpeded by police.
The attack came a day after hardliners were accused of damaging the tomb of a Sufi scholar in the city of Zlitan.
Hardline Salafists regard the shrines as idolatrous.
On Friday, a group attacked the tomb of 15th-Century scholar Abdel Salam al-Asmar in Zlitan, about 160km (100 miles) south-east of Tripoli. The Reuters news agency said its dome had collapsed.
Video footage showed chunks of masonry littering the floor, bullet holes pockmarking the walls and ornate Islamic tiling destroyed.
People in Tripoli say they saw bulldozers destroy part of the al-Shaab al-Dahmani mosque and Sufi shrine.
One, a student named Abdurrahman, told the BBC: "There's a large group of Salafists - they are the one with the bulldozers, and some military police are also present.
"They seem to be overseeing the process, rather than preventing it... There are some bystanders who seem to approve".
He said the Salafists were also handing out pamphlets issued by a Saudi Arabian mufti from the hardline Wahhabi school of Islam.
The destruction in Zlitan follows two days of clashes between rival local tribes which left at least three people dead.
Omar Ali, an official from the Zlitan military council, told Reuters: "The extremist Salafis took advantage [of the fact] that security officials were busy calming down the clashes and they desecrated the shrine."
Libya's Deputy Prime Minister Mustafa Abushagur tweeted: "The destruction of shrines and mosques is a crime. Those who commit these crimes will be held responsible."
In November last year, the bodies of two Muslim clerics were removed from the Sidi Nasr shrine and mosque in Tripoli and reburied according to the principles of the hardline Wahabi school of Islam.
There has recently been an international outcry over the destruction of centuries-old shrines in Timbuktu, Mali.
The Sufi sites were attacked by the al-Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine group which seized the city in April. | Tripoli residents said men with bulldozers attacked the shrine of al-Shaab al-Dahmani, unimpeded by police.
The attack came a day after hardliners were accused of damaging the tomb of a Sufi scholar in the city of Zlitan.
Hardline Salafists regard the shrines as idolatrous.
On Friday, a group attacked the tomb of 15th-Century scholar Abdel Salam al-Asmar in Zlitan, about 160km (100 miles) south-east of Tripoli. The Reuters news agency said its dome had collapsed.
Video footage showed chunks of masonry littering the floor, bullet holes pockmarking the walls and ornate Islamic tiling destroyed.
People in Tripoli say they saw bulldozers destroy part of the al-Shaab al-Dahmani mosque and Sufi shrine.
One, a student named Abdurrahman, told the BBC: "There's a large group of Salafists - they are the one with the bulldozers, and some military police are also present.
"They seem to be overseeing the process, rather than preventing it... There are some bystanders who seem to approve".
He said the Salafists were also handing out pamphlets issued by a Saudi Arabian mufti from the hardline Wahhabi school of Islam.
The destruction in Zlitan follows two days of clashes between rival local tribes which left at least three people dead.
Omar Ali, an official from the Zlitan military council, told Reuters: "The extremist Salafis took advantage [of the fact] that security officials were busy calming down the clashes and they desecrated the shrine."
Libya's Deputy Prime Minister Mustafa Abushagur tweeted: "The destruction of shrines and mosques is a crime. Those who commit these crimes will be held responsible."
In November last year, the bodies of two Muslim clerics were removed from the Sidi Nasr shrine and mosque in Tripoli and reburied according to the principles of the hardline Wahabi school of Islam.
There has recently been an international outcry over the destruction of centuries-old shrines in Timbuktu, Mali.
The Sufi sites were attacked by the al-Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine group which seized the city in April. |
Add punctuation: The incident happened in the town of Akyazi, in Sakarya province, 100km (62 miles) east of Istanbul.
The park manager and his son dived in to help the three children. The five, believed to be all Turkish, were taken to hospital but could not be saved.
It was unclear how the pool had become electrified.
Rescuers and park personnel flushed the pool's water away as others turned off electricity in the facility.
One other person was injured in the incident and taken to hospital.
An investigation has already begun.
The Hurriyet newspaper named the park manager as Mehmet Kaya, 58, and his son as Kadir Kaya, 30.
The children were aged 12, 15 and 17, Turkish media said. | The incident happened in the town of Akyazi, in Sakarya province, 100km (62 miles) east of Istanbul.
The park manager and his son dived in to help the three children. The five, believed to be all Turkish, were taken to hospital but could not be saved.
It was unclear how the pool had become electrified.
Rescuers and park personnel flushed the pool's water away as others turned off electricity in the facility.
One other person was injured in the incident and taken to hospital.
An investigation has already begun.
The Hurriyet newspaper named the park manager as Mehmet Kaya, 58, and his son as Kadir Kaya, 30.
The children were aged 12, 15 and 17, Turkish media said. |
Add punctuation: Nemati, 30, secured both Olympic and Paralympic qualification quota places for her nation last year.
The Iranian Olympic Committee agreed to the decision after a suggestion from the country's National Paralympic Committee.
Nemati will carry the Iranian flag at the ceremony which takes place at the Maracana on 5 August.
"I will do my best to win honours in Olympic and Paralympic Games simultaneously and I dedicate a gold medal to my family," she said.
Nemati won Paralympic gold in the women's individual recurve W1/W2 at London 2012, becoming the first Iranian woman to win an Olympic or Paralympic title.
She earned the Olympic qualification slot with a superb performance at the 2015 Asian Archery Championships in Bangkok, Thailand where she won silver in the women's recurve.
The Iranian Paralympic Committee said it hoped the suggestion to its Olympic counterparts would send a message from Paralympians to Olympians and also to the world, that a person's disability is not a limitation.
The last archer to compete in both Games in the same year was Italy's Paola Fantato at Atlanta 1996. | Nemati, 30, secured both Olympic and Paralympic qualification quota places for her nation last year.
The Iranian Olympic Committee agreed to the decision after a suggestion from the country's National Paralympic Committee.
Nemati will carry the Iranian flag at the ceremony which takes place at the Maracana on 5 August.
"I will do my best to win honours in Olympic and Paralympic Games simultaneously and I dedicate a gold medal to my family," she said.
Nemati won Paralympic gold in the women's individual recurve W1/W2 at London 2012, becoming the first Iranian woman to win an Olympic or Paralympic title.
She earned the Olympic qualification slot with a superb performance at the 2015 Asian Archery Championships in Bangkok, Thailand where she won silver in the women's recurve.
The Iranian Paralympic Committee said it hoped the suggestion to its Olympic counterparts would send a message from Paralympians to Olympians and also to the world, that a person's disability is not a limitation.
The last archer to compete in both Games in the same year was Italy's Paola Fantato at Atlanta 1996. |
Add punctuation: Luke Wallace, 16, of Barrachnie Road, Glasgow, suffered serious injuries in the attack close to Bannerman High School in Baillieston on 17 June.
Police said a post-mortem examination would take place and a report would be sent to the procurator fiscal.
A 17-year-old man has been arrested and charged over the incident. | Luke Wallace, 16, of Barrachnie Road, Glasgow, suffered serious injuries in the attack close to Bannerman High School in Baillieston on 17 June.
Police said a post-mortem examination would take place and a report would be sent to the procurator fiscal.
A 17-year-old man has been arrested and charged over the incident. |
Add punctuation: The committee said "the gift of longer life" could lead to "a series of crises" in public service provision.
Peers said big changes in pensions, health care and employment practices were needed to help people "sustain a good quality of life" as they aged.
The government said supporting people in later life was a priority.
The Lords committee on public service and demographic change cited figures from the Office for National Statistics that forecast a 50% rise in the number of over-65s and a doubling in over-85s between 2010 and 2030.
Source: Office for National Statistics forecasts
The committee has been looking into the impact of demographic change on the UK for nearly a year and has questioned a number of government figures, including Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, as well as academics, charities and companies such as Alliance Boots and B&Q.
Publishing its findings, the committee said the fact people were living longer offered benefits for many but also threatened a "series of crises" unless action was taken to mitigate the impact on public services.
With the number of people living with long-term medical conditions set to rise sharply, a "radically different model" of care would be needed to support people in their homes and to prevent pressure on the NHS, it said.
The committee is calling on the government to set out its thinking on the issue before the next election and for all parties to consider the implications for public spending, in their next election manifestos.
Whoever was in power after the next election, the committee said, should establish independent commissions to examine how pension and savings provisions could be increased, how equity release could be better exploited and how funding for social care could be improved.
"As a country we are not ready for the rapid ageing of our population," Lord Filkin, the Labour peer who chairs the committee, said.
"The amazing gift of longer life is to be welcomed, but our society and politicians need to address the implications and the changes needed to attitude, policies and services so people are best able to benefit from it."
He warned these challenges were not a "distant issue".
"Our population is older now and will get more so over the next decade. The public are entitled to an honest conversation about the implications," he said.
By Nick TriggleHealth correspondent
A leading think tank said the report should be a wake-up call for government and society as a whole and that individuals would have to take more responsibility for their health and income in retirement.
"Our society is in denial of the inevitability of ageing," said Baroness Greengross, chief executive of the International Longevity Centre UK and a crossbench member of the House of Lords. "We have put off the difficult decisions for far too long."
"The report paints a picture of a health and care system which doesn't work for today's older population. Similarly our communities, housing and transport systems are ill-equipped for the challenges ahead."
Policymakers should not be afraid to tell people they will need to work longer and that state pension ages may need to increase further as healthy life expectancy changes, she added.
The Department of Health said supporting people in later life was a priority for the government.
"That is why we took the decision to invest £7.2 billion over four years to protect access to care and support and for the first time ever are bringing in a cap on care fees to make old age care costs more sustainable," a spokesman said.
Source: Office for National Statistics forecasts
"However, we cannot improve care and support by putting ever more money into the system. Many local authorities are innovating and achieving much greater integration between health and care services, thereby improving care for people and optimising use of resources available."
For Labour, Liz Kendall said: "This excellent report rightly emphasises the huge contribution older people already make to the economy and in their communities, and that more should be done to ensure older people can play an even fuller role in future.
"I particularly welcome the committee's call for radical reform of the NHS and social care. We need far bolder changes to ensure these services are fully integrated, with a much bigger focus on prevention to help people stay healthy and living independently for longer." | The committee said "the gift of longer life" could lead to "a series of crises" in public service provision.
Peers said big changes in pensions, health care and employment practices were needed to help people "sustain a good quality of life" as they aged.
The government said supporting people in later life was a priority.
The Lords committee on public service and demographic change cited figures from the Office for National Statistics that forecast a 50% rise in the number of over-65s and a doubling in over-85s between 2010 and 2030.
Source: Office for National Statistics forecasts
The committee has been looking into the impact of demographic change on the UK for nearly a year and has questioned a number of government figures, including Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, as well as academics, charities and companies such as Alliance Boots and B&Q.
Publishing its findings, the committee said the fact people were living longer offered benefits for many but also threatened a "series of crises" unless action was taken to mitigate the impact on public services.
With the number of people living with long-term medical conditions set to rise sharply, a "radically different model" of care would be needed to support people in their homes and to prevent pressure on the NHS, it said.
The committee is calling on the government to set out its thinking on the issue before the next election and for all parties to consider the implications for public spending, in their next election manifestos.
Whoever was in power after the next election, the committee said, should establish independent commissions to examine how pension and savings provisions could be increased, how equity release could be better exploited and how funding for social care could be improved.
"As a country we are not ready for the rapid ageing of our population," Lord Filkin, the Labour peer who chairs the committee, said.
"The amazing gift of longer life is to be welcomed, but our society and politicians need to address the implications and the changes needed to attitude, policies and services so people are best able to benefit from it."
He warned these challenges were not a "distant issue".
"Our population is older now and will get more so over the next decade. The public are entitled to an honest conversation about the implications," he said.
By Nick TriggleHealth correspondent
A leading think tank said the report should be a wake-up call for government and society as a whole and that individuals would have to take more responsibility for their health and income in retirement.
"Our society is in denial of the inevitability of ageing," said Baroness Greengross, chief executive of the International Longevity Centre UK and a crossbench member of the House of Lords. "We have put off the difficult decisions for far too long."
"The report paints a picture of a health and care system which doesn't work for today's older population. Similarly our communities, housing and transport systems are ill-equipped for the challenges ahead."
Policymakers should not be afraid to tell people they will need to work longer and that state pension ages may need to increase further as healthy life expectancy changes, she added.
The Department of Health said supporting people in later life was a priority for the government.
"That is why we took the decision to invest £7.2 billion over four years to protect access to care and support and for the first time ever are bringing in a cap on care fees to make old age care costs more sustainable," a spokesman said.
Source: Office for National Statistics forecasts
"However, we cannot improve care and support by putting ever more money into the system. Many local authorities are innovating and achieving much greater integration between health and care services, thereby improving care for people and optimising use of resources available."
For Labour, Liz Kendall said: "This excellent report rightly emphasises the huge contribution older people already make to the economy and in their communities, and that more should be done to ensure older people can play an even fuller role in future.
"I particularly welcome the committee's call for radical reform of the NHS and social care. We need far bolder changes to ensure these services are fully integrated, with a much bigger focus on prevention to help people stay healthy and living independently for longer." |
Add punctuation: Doyle, 21, has joined from Morecambe and O'Brien, 24, from Bury.
Centre-back O'Brien spent last season on loan at Halifax, while Doyle had loan spells at Chorley in 2014 and 2015, making 59 appearances.
O'Brien is is eligible for Saturday's league opener against Dagenham & Redbridge but Doyle is sidelined for up to four weeks with an injury.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | Doyle, 21, has joined from Morecambe and O'Brien, 24, from Bury.
Centre-back O'Brien spent last season on loan at Halifax, while Doyle had loan spells at Chorley in 2014 and 2015, making 59 appearances.
O'Brien is is eligible for Saturday's league opener against Dagenham & Redbridge but Doyle is sidelined for up to four weeks with an injury.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. |
Add punctuation: A few years ago, Jokowi, as the president-elect is known, was named by the magazine Tempo as one of Indonesia's 10 best regional politicians.
At the time, he was the mayor of Solo, a city on the island of Java.
Mr Widodo was invited to the magazine's office for an interview and a reporter apparently found him in the lobby sitting on his own, without the entourage that usually accompanies Indonesian politicians.
As Mr Basuki tells it, Jokowi looked like a commoner, someone's driver. "Who are you?" asked the journalist.
The future president-elect then stood up and bowed politely as he offered the reporter his name card. The image of Joko Widodo as a humble public servant was born.
This unassuming style was Jokowi's hallmark during his time as Solo's mayor and then as governor of Jakarta from 2012, a post he still held when he won Indonesia's presidential election in July.
He won the poll with 53% of the vote over his rival, Prabowo Subianto, who got 47%.
"His down-to-earth style of leadership is new in Indonesian politics. There seems no gap between him and the people he leads," said Mr Basuki, of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta.
But style can only get you so far, there has to be substance. Joko Widodo also has an enviable record in getting things done.
For his work as mayor of Solo, Jokowi came third in the World Mayor Prize of 2012, an annual award given to leaders who have revitalised their cities.
This is what the judges said about Jokowi, who did not draw his salary while he was mayor: "Joko Widodo turned a crime-ridden city into a regional centre for arts and culture, which has started to attract international tourism.
"His campaign against corruption earned him the reputation of being the most honest politician in Indonesia."
Jokowi has burnished that reputation during his short time as governor of capital, Jakarta.
He built new homes for people living in some of the many slums dotted around the city, initiated projects to alleviate the flooding and introduced a scheme to give poorer people virtually free health care.
He also re-started building work on a badly-needed metro system for the traffic-clogged city.
His supporters are not hard to find, particularly in a poor area called Tanah Tinggi in central Jakarta.
In this densely-populated space, chickens peck around the feet of chatting neighbours. In the heat, flies buzz around food laid out for sale on stalls all along the narrow streets.
Rooms inside the small homes are dark and sparsely furnished but in an area of the slum stands a group of neat, two-storey homes built of concrete that have running water and indoor toilets.
Jokowi built these houses shortly after becoming Jakarta's mayor in order to re-house some of the people living in Tanah Tinggi.
Thirty-eight-year-old Marlina and her family were some of the lucky ones to get a new house.
"All I know is that it was Mr Jokowi who built my house and we didn't have to pay a cent," Marlina said, as she turned on the tap to show off her home's facilities.
But when he becomes president in October, Mr Widodo faces a series of pressing problems, not least the massive fuel subsidy that keeps petrol so cheap in Indonesia.
The government spends three times as much on this as it does on infrastructure construction.
Mr Widodo has promised to phase out the fuel subsidy and use the money for the poor but that proposal has already upset motorists.
There are also wider issues to tackle, including poverty. Indonesia has more than 100 million people who survive on $2 (£1.20) a day or less.
Some of those people live right next to a railway line that runs alongside Tanah Tinggi, within touching distance of the trains that pass by.
Families live in temporary shelters, made from tarpaulin and odd bits of wood. Every now and then, railway authorities arrive to chase people away and destroy their homes, but those who live there simply return.
They earn a living by scavenging, sorting through rubbish looking for plastic bottles to sell.
Nurhayati is one of them. She came to Jakarta as a migrant with her mother from eastern Java when she was just 13.
Now 21, she has two children who play alongside the railway tracks as trains rush pass.
"The price we get for bottles has fallen recently," she said.
Over the longer term, helping people such as Nurhayati is going to be Mr Widodo's most difficult task.
Peter Carey, a visiting professor at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta, said the economy had grown rapidly over the last decade and Indonesia was soon expected to become one of the world's richest countries.
But he said there needed to be a real desire within the government to provide people with proper health care, a better education system and a co-ordinated transport network - and deal with the country's notorious corruption.
"Indonesia has a huge income gap to close. What's the point in becoming so rich if none of this wealth is used for the benefit of the people of this country," he said. | A few years ago, Jokowi, as the president-elect is known, was named by the magazine Tempo as one of Indonesia's 10 best regional politicians.
At the time, he was the mayor of Solo, a city on the island of Java.
Mr Widodo was invited to the magazine's office for an interview and a reporter apparently found him in the lobby sitting on his own, without the entourage that usually accompanies Indonesian politicians.
As Mr Basuki tells it, Jokowi looked like a commoner, someone's driver. "Who are you?" asked the journalist.
The future president-elect then stood up and bowed politely as he offered the reporter his name card. The image of Joko Widodo as a humble public servant was born.
This unassuming style was Jokowi's hallmark during his time as Solo's mayor and then as governor of Jakarta from 2012, a post he still held when he won Indonesia's presidential election in July.
He won the poll with 53% of the vote over his rival, Prabowo Subianto, who got 47%.
"His down-to-earth style of leadership is new in Indonesian politics. There seems no gap between him and the people he leads," said Mr Basuki, of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta.
But style can only get you so far, there has to be substance. Joko Widodo also has an enviable record in getting things done.
For his work as mayor of Solo, Jokowi came third in the World Mayor Prize of 2012, an annual award given to leaders who have revitalised their cities.
This is what the judges said about Jokowi, who did not draw his salary while he was mayor: "Joko Widodo turned a crime-ridden city into a regional centre for arts and culture, which has started to attract international tourism.
"His campaign against corruption earned him the reputation of being the most honest politician in Indonesia."
Jokowi has burnished that reputation during his short time as governor of capital, Jakarta.
He built new homes for people living in some of the many slums dotted around the city, initiated projects to alleviate the flooding and introduced a scheme to give poorer people virtually free health care.
He also re-started building work on a badly-needed metro system for the traffic-clogged city.
His supporters are not hard to find, particularly in a poor area called Tanah Tinggi in central Jakarta.
In this densely-populated space, chickens peck around the feet of chatting neighbours. In the heat, flies buzz around food laid out for sale on stalls all along the narrow streets.
Rooms inside the small homes are dark and sparsely furnished but in an area of the slum stands a group of neat, two-storey homes built of concrete that have running water and indoor toilets.
Jokowi built these houses shortly after becoming Jakarta's mayor in order to re-house some of the people living in Tanah Tinggi.
Thirty-eight-year-old Marlina and her family were some of the lucky ones to get a new house.
"All I know is that it was Mr Jokowi who built my house and we didn't have to pay a cent," Marlina said, as she turned on the tap to show off her home's facilities.
But when he becomes president in October, Mr Widodo faces a series of pressing problems, not least the massive fuel subsidy that keeps petrol so cheap in Indonesia.
The government spends three times as much on this as it does on infrastructure construction.
Mr Widodo has promised to phase out the fuel subsidy and use the money for the poor but that proposal has already upset motorists.
There are also wider issues to tackle, including poverty. Indonesia has more than 100 million people who survive on $2 (£1.20) a day or less.
Some of those people live right next to a railway line that runs alongside Tanah Tinggi, within touching distance of the trains that pass by.
Families live in temporary shelters, made from tarpaulin and odd bits of wood. Every now and then, railway authorities arrive to chase people away and destroy their homes, but those who live there simply return.
They earn a living by scavenging, sorting through rubbish looking for plastic bottles to sell.
Nurhayati is one of them. She came to Jakarta as a migrant with her mother from eastern Java when she was just 13.
Now 21, she has two children who play alongside the railway tracks as trains rush pass.
"The price we get for bottles has fallen recently," she said.
Over the longer term, helping people such as Nurhayati is going to be Mr Widodo's most difficult task.
Peter Carey, a visiting professor at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta, said the economy had grown rapidly over the last decade and Indonesia was soon expected to become one of the world's richest countries.
But he said there needed to be a real desire within the government to provide people with proper health care, a better education system and a co-ordinated transport network - and deal with the country's notorious corruption.
"Indonesia has a huge income gap to close. What's the point in becoming so rich if none of this wealth is used for the benefit of the people of this country," he said. |
Add punctuation: In a leaked email seen by the BBC, Jo Turton said she will advise the chairman of the authority to rule the proposals as "out of order".
Changes proposed by the cabinet would see Ms Turton removed from her role.
Council leader Geoff Driver and Ms Turton declined to comment but a County Hall spokesman confirmed the situation.
In the email, Ms Turton said the plans would be "highly vulnerable" to a legal challenge if not backed up by a report assessing the "legal, financial, human resource and any other relevant implications and risks".
She said she would advise the council chairman to defer the proposals at a full council meeting on Thursday, until a full report had been prepared setting out the rationale for, and implications of, the changes.
It emerged last week that the authority's Conservative leader Geoff Driver, who is being investigated over alleged council financial irregularities, had banned Ms Turton and four others from briefings he attends.
Mr Driver, who became council leader after the Tories won a majority in elections in May, had previously been in charge until 2013.
A few weeks after the election victory he was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and witness intimidation, and later released pending further inquiries.
Three other men were also held as part of the police probe which began in 2013.
The investigation relates to allegations of financial irregularities at Lancashire County Council in the tendering of a £5m contract with One Connect Ltd, a joint venture between the council and BT to run some services.
The individuals banned from briefings could be witnesses in the ongoing investigation, the BBC understands.
In a statement, the council's lead member for human resources Alan Vincent said: "As the revised structure replaces the current chief executive role with a new position that requires formal financial qualifications, the intention would be to appoint to that new position on an interim basis as soon as possible."
Some senior figures in Mr Driver's own party have told the BBC they believe he should step aside while investigations are ongoing. | In a leaked email seen by the BBC, Jo Turton said she will advise the chairman of the authority to rule the proposals as "out of order".
Changes proposed by the cabinet would see Ms Turton removed from her role.
Council leader Geoff Driver and Ms Turton declined to comment but a County Hall spokesman confirmed the situation.
In the email, Ms Turton said the plans would be "highly vulnerable" to a legal challenge if not backed up by a report assessing the "legal, financial, human resource and any other relevant implications and risks".
She said she would advise the council chairman to defer the proposals at a full council meeting on Thursday, until a full report had been prepared setting out the rationale for, and implications of, the changes.
It emerged last week that the authority's Conservative leader Geoff Driver, who is being investigated over alleged council financial irregularities, had banned Ms Turton and four others from briefings he attends.
Mr Driver, who became council leader after the Tories won a majority in elections in May, had previously been in charge until 2013.
A few weeks after the election victory he was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and witness intimidation, and later released pending further inquiries.
Three other men were also held as part of the police probe which began in 2013.
The investigation relates to allegations of financial irregularities at Lancashire County Council in the tendering of a £5m contract with One Connect Ltd, a joint venture between the council and BT to run some services.
The individuals banned from briefings could be witnesses in the ongoing investigation, the BBC understands.
In a statement, the council's lead member for human resources Alan Vincent said: "As the revised structure replaces the current chief executive role with a new position that requires formal financial qualifications, the intention would be to appoint to that new position on an interim basis as soon as possible."
Some senior figures in Mr Driver's own party have told the BBC they believe he should step aside while investigations are ongoing. |
Add punctuation: The artwork, which depicts a biplane leaving a trail of smoke, is on the wall of a car park in Rumford Street.
Banksy works are difficult to authenticate but a photograph of the black and white biplane artwork has been posted on the artist's website.
Liverpool has only one other known work by Banksy, a giant rat, on the wall of a derelict pub in Berry Street.
That work was part of the 2004 Liverpool Biennial.
In February 2010 the building the rat work is painted on, the former Whitehouse pub, was sold at auction for £114,000. | The artwork, which depicts a biplane leaving a trail of smoke, is on the wall of a car park in Rumford Street.
Banksy works are difficult to authenticate but a photograph of the black and white biplane artwork has been posted on the artist's website.
Liverpool has only one other known work by Banksy, a giant rat, on the wall of a derelict pub in Berry Street.
That work was part of the 2004 Liverpool Biennial.
In February 2010 the building the rat work is painted on, the former Whitehouse pub, was sold at auction for £114,000. |
Add punctuation: Having been at the heart of government in Buenos Aires during the slow, inexorable slide to financial collapse, Mr Cavallo is attuned to the magnitude of the perils now facing the Greeks.
"Defaulting not only on the foreign debts but also on the domestic debts and all foreign contracts at the beginning of 2002 was really a tragedy for Argentina," he told the BBC's Newshour Extra programme.
For many Argentines, the period following the default was ruinous: unemployment nearly doubled to more than 20%. Inflation, which had been vanquished in the 1990s, came back into the economy with a vengeance.
In the year after default, the country's gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 11%. And the poor economic performance had real consequences. The proportion of Argentines living in poverty rose above 50%.
As it tried to balance the books, the government decreed that bank deposits be converted into pesos. In effect, the government had confiscated people's savings. Many people found themselves unable to pay bills such as their mortgage payments because they were denominated in dollars.
Powerful financial players also lost out. Private companies that had purchased utility companies on the basis that customers would pay their bills in dollar values found themselves out of pocket. Some took legal action that remains unresolved to this today.
The turmoil on the markets spilt out onto the streets. Lost savings and fears for the future led to violent riots in which lives were lost. The consequent political instability led a whole series of senior politicians to resign.
But in some ways it could have been worse for Argentina. The country's traditionally vibrant agricultural sector was able to take advantage of the devalued currency.
And, by good fortune, the period after 2001 saw global agricultural prices shoot up, spurred on by Chinese demand. Argentine exports more than doubled between 2002 and 2006.
"Argentina recovered because of the huge improvement in the terms of trade that came from mid-2002 on," Mr Cavallo says. "The price of soya went up from $120 [£76] per tonne to $600 per tonne."
Argentina is one of South America's largest economies. But it has also fallen prey to a boom-and-bust cycle.
A deep recession foreshadowed economic collapse in 2001, which left more than half the population living in poverty and triggered unrest. The country struggled with record debt defaults and currency devaluation.
By 2003 a recovery was under way and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed to a vital new loan. Since then, Argentina has restructured its massive debt, offering creditors new bonds for the defaulted ones, and has repaid its debt to the IMF.
But although the economy has been on the mend since 2001, Argentina again defaulted on its international debt in July 2014.
Argentina profile
While some suggest Greece could experience a similar post-default recovery, there are reasons for believing that, in fact, it would not manage to emulate Argentina's export-led growth performance. Greece lacks a strong export sector that could take advantage of a devalued currency.
"Greece does not have a very strong or competitive manufacturing sector," says Dr Jill Hedges, of the research group Oxford Analytica. "Greece is not a trading nation."
While a return to a weakened drachma might encourage more foreign holidaymakers to go to Greece, it is far from clear that an improved and more vibrant tourism sector would be enough to produce a general economic recovery.
Furthermore, without pressure from Brussels and the IMF, Greece might be tempted to dodge some of the structural reforms that its creditors maintain are necessary for long-term growth. A lack of such reforms could reintroduce inflation into the Greek economy.
"How many years before they would see the light at the end of the tunnel?" asks financial expert Paul Blustein.
Mr Blustein, who wrote a book on the Argentine default, is now writing one on the crisis in Athens. "Greece would go through a horribly wretched period," he says.
For more on this story, listen to Newshour Extra on the BBC iPlayer or download the podcast. | Having been at the heart of government in Buenos Aires during the slow, inexorable slide to financial collapse, Mr Cavallo is attuned to the magnitude of the perils now facing the Greeks.
"Defaulting not only on the foreign debts but also on the domestic debts and all foreign contracts at the beginning of 2002 was really a tragedy for Argentina," he told the BBC's Newshour Extra programme.
For many Argentines, the period following the default was ruinous: unemployment nearly doubled to more than 20%. Inflation, which had been vanquished in the 1990s, came back into the economy with a vengeance.
In the year after default, the country's gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 11%. And the poor economic performance had real consequences. The proportion of Argentines living in poverty rose above 50%.
As it tried to balance the books, the government decreed that bank deposits be converted into pesos. In effect, the government had confiscated people's savings. Many people found themselves unable to pay bills such as their mortgage payments because they were denominated in dollars.
Powerful financial players also lost out. Private companies that had purchased utility companies on the basis that customers would pay their bills in dollar values found themselves out of pocket. Some took legal action that remains unresolved to this today.
The turmoil on the markets spilt out onto the streets. Lost savings and fears for the future led to violent riots in which lives were lost. The consequent political instability led a whole series of senior politicians to resign.
But in some ways it could have been worse for Argentina. The country's traditionally vibrant agricultural sector was able to take advantage of the devalued currency.
And, by good fortune, the period after 2001 saw global agricultural prices shoot up, spurred on by Chinese demand. Argentine exports more than doubled between 2002 and 2006.
"Argentina recovered because of the huge improvement in the terms of trade that came from mid-2002 on," Mr Cavallo says. "The price of soya went up from $120 [£76] per tonne to $600 per tonne."
Argentina is one of South America's largest economies. But it has also fallen prey to a boom-and-bust cycle.
A deep recession foreshadowed economic collapse in 2001, which left more than half the population living in poverty and triggered unrest. The country struggled with record debt defaults and currency devaluation.
By 2003 a recovery was under way and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed to a vital new loan. Since then, Argentina has restructured its massive debt, offering creditors new bonds for the defaulted ones, and has repaid its debt to the IMF.
But although the economy has been on the mend since 2001, Argentina again defaulted on its international debt in July 2014.
Argentina profile
While some suggest Greece could experience a similar post-default recovery, there are reasons for believing that, in fact, it would not manage to emulate Argentina's export-led growth performance. Greece lacks a strong export sector that could take advantage of a devalued currency.
"Greece does not have a very strong or competitive manufacturing sector," says Dr Jill Hedges, of the research group Oxford Analytica. "Greece is not a trading nation."
While a return to a weakened drachma might encourage more foreign holidaymakers to go to Greece, it is far from clear that an improved and more vibrant tourism sector would be enough to produce a general economic recovery.
Furthermore, without pressure from Brussels and the IMF, Greece might be tempted to dodge some of the structural reforms that its creditors maintain are necessary for long-term growth. A lack of such reforms could reintroduce inflation into the Greek economy.
"How many years before they would see the light at the end of the tunnel?" asks financial expert Paul Blustein.
Mr Blustein, who wrote a book on the Argentine default, is now writing one on the crisis in Athens. "Greece would go through a horribly wretched period," he says.
For more on this story, listen to Newshour Extra on the BBC iPlayer or download the podcast. |
Add punctuation: "You have to have a shower and get rid of it because he's quite a nasty piece of work," he said of the title role in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui.
Originally based on Hitler, the Bertolt Brecht play has been reworked by Bruce Norris to include references to Trump.
"I don't think you could have avoided the connections," Norris told the BBC.
"In a play about totalitarianism you have to nod in that direction."
Set in Chicago in the 1930s, Arturo Ui tells of a gangster who uses bribery and intimidation to take control of the city's grocery market.
Norris's version sees Sir Lenny make a Hitler-style salute while using certain quotes that became associated with Trump during last year's US presidential election.
At one point Ui calls a female critic a "nasty woman", mirroring a remark Trump made during his final debate with rival Hillary Clinton.
At others he declares his intention to "make this country great again" and "build a wall", slogans that helped the tycoon turned politician take the White House last November.
"We started taking Trump quotes wholesale and shoehorning them into the play," said Norris, whose previous plays include the Tony- and Pultizer-winning Clybourne Park.
"They didn't require much adjustment. They were already chillingly close to what was already in the play."
"Bruce has definitely appropriated bits of Trump," said Sir Lenny after Tuesday's press night performance at London's Donmar Warehouse.
"But it's really a cautionary tale about any demagogue who uses their influence to ease their way into the upper echelons of society."
The role of Arturo Ui represents the comedian turned actor's latest foray into "serious" theatre, a career shift that began with him playing Othello in 2009.
"I still love comedy, but this is my career now," he explained. "This is me growing up and the journey that began with Othello continuing."
Early reviews of Simon Evans' production have praised Sir Lenny's performance, with the Evening Standard saying he brings "heavyweight authority" to his "smug bully" role.
"It's another casual tour de force from him that showcases his irresistible combination of talents," writes the Telegraph's Dominic Cavendish,
According to The Guardian, Sir Lenny "exudes massive authority" as he transforms "from a shambling klutz into a figure of authoritarian power".
Yet critic Michael Billington feels "there is something a touch glib about the [play's] frequent invocations of Donald Trump".
His reservations were echoed by The Arts Desk's Marianka Swain, who felt "the barrage of explicit references to 'The Donald' becomes a tad wearying".
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui runs at the Donmar Warehouse until 17 June.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. | "You have to have a shower and get rid of it because he's quite a nasty piece of work," he said of the title role in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui.
Originally based on Hitler, the Bertolt Brecht play has been reworked by Bruce Norris to include references to Trump.
"I don't think you could have avoided the connections," Norris told the BBC.
"In a play about totalitarianism you have to nod in that direction."
Set in Chicago in the 1930s, Arturo Ui tells of a gangster who uses bribery and intimidation to take control of the city's grocery market.
Norris's version sees Sir Lenny make a Hitler-style salute while using certain quotes that became associated with Trump during last year's US presidential election.
At one point Ui calls a female critic a "nasty woman", mirroring a remark Trump made during his final debate with rival Hillary Clinton.
At others he declares his intention to "make this country great again" and "build a wall", slogans that helped the tycoon turned politician take the White House last November.
"We started taking Trump quotes wholesale and shoehorning them into the play," said Norris, whose previous plays include the Tony- and Pultizer-winning Clybourne Park.
"They didn't require much adjustment. They were already chillingly close to what was already in the play."
"Bruce has definitely appropriated bits of Trump," said Sir Lenny after Tuesday's press night performance at London's Donmar Warehouse.
"But it's really a cautionary tale about any demagogue who uses their influence to ease their way into the upper echelons of society."
The role of Arturo Ui represents the comedian turned actor's latest foray into "serious" theatre, a career shift that began with him playing Othello in 2009.
"I still love comedy, but this is my career now," he explained. "This is me growing up and the journey that began with Othello continuing."
Early reviews of Simon Evans' production have praised Sir Lenny's performance, with the Evening Standard saying he brings "heavyweight authority" to his "smug bully" role.
"It's another casual tour de force from him that showcases his irresistible combination of talents," writes the Telegraph's Dominic Cavendish,
According to The Guardian, Sir Lenny "exudes massive authority" as he transforms "from a shambling klutz into a figure of authoritarian power".
Yet critic Michael Billington feels "there is something a touch glib about the [play's] frequent invocations of Donald Trump".
His reservations were echoed by The Arts Desk's Marianka Swain, who felt "the barrage of explicit references to 'The Donald' becomes a tad wearying".
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui runs at the Donmar Warehouse until 17 June.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. |
Add punctuation: After a bright start for the home side, Hearts dominated the first half and only three good saves from goalkeeper Zander Clark kept them at bay.
Cummins pounced shortly after the break to divert a miss-hit Liam Craig shot with Hearts claiming for offside.
Callum Paterson, with a header against the bar, came closest to an equaliser.
But it was St Johnstone who secured their second win over Hearts this season - having beaten the Edinburgh side in the League Cup - to move into third place behind their opponents on goal difference.
To add to Hearts' disappointment, head coach Robbie Neilson was sent to the stand as his side pressed for that elusive leveller.
And Celtic now have a chance to extend their lead to five points with a game in hand when they travel to face Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Sunday.
The Hearts head scratching will go on for some time after what was a dominant display, but they had one man to blame for their defeat - goalkeeper Clark.
Clark has been standing in for the injured Alan Mannus, but his display was such that manager Tommy Wright will have a tough decision to make when his number one is fit and ready for action.
The 24-year-old pulled off two top-class, close-range saves in the first half - stage first from Faycal Rherras and the second from Sam Nicolson, who should have done better from six yards out.
As Hearts piled forward in the second half, he also denied Igor Rossi and then tipped a Tony Watt free kick over the bar.
Clark walked off the pitch to thankful back slaps from his team, respectful handshakes from the visitors and the fans singing his name.
St Johnstone under Tommy Wright have become a very difficult team to beat and even harder when they go ahead.
Every player knows his job and their organisation and work rate is consistent and impressive - and against Hearts it was no different.
Hearts' Robbie Neilson started with Sam Nicolson and Jamie Walker on the wings in a bid to stretch the match and flood the box with crosses.
In that sense, his game plan worked, but the Saints defence fought for every ball, challenged every cross and chased every lost cause.
After going ahead, they were doggedly determined to stay there and it was a frustrating afternoon for those in maroon.
The build-up to the match was dominated by Wright's comments about Hearts players going to ground too easily - and he said in the minutes before kick-off that he stood by his stance.
The Irishman was left looking rather sheepish though after two of his players were booked for simulation.
Goalscorer Cummins, in the first half, and substitute Chris Kane were both cautioned by referee John Beaton.
Neilson resisted the temptation to gloat, although he had his own problems after being sent to the stand.
Media playback is not supported on this device
St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright: "We can get results like that through sheer determination and quality goalkeeping and a desire not to let the ball go in the net from everybody in the team, hard work, the odd wee bit of quality, probably not as much as I would like.
"A hard-fought win and it is a perfect one for a manager - a clean sheet and getting a goal at the other end.
"I've got two number one goalkeepers - that's rare at football clubs and, having been a goalkeeper, I know that.
"Over the last six months, Zander has improved immensely and I don't think there is a better young goalkeeper in Scotland and I think he should be in and around that Scotland squad."
Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson: "I spoke to the players after the game and said we played some fantastic football and created some wonderful chances.
"But we didn't take them and got done with a sucker punch, but I'd rather play like that and be entertaining and exciting and create chances than go direct and hope to nick a goal.
"I thought we played really well to a man, but we just couldn't get the win our play deserved.
"The St Johnstone goalkeeper has some wonderful saves and probably had the game of his life."
Match ends, St. Johnstone 1, Heart of Midlothian 0.
Second Half ends, St. Johnstone 1, Heart of Midlothian 0.
Attempt missed. Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Attempt saved. Christopher Kane (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by John Souttar.
Liam Craig (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card.
Christopher Kane (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Igor Rossi (Heart of Midlothian).
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Blair Alston replaces Steven MacLean.
Attempt missed. Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right.
Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box following a corner.
Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Steven Anderson.
Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Murray Davidson.
Foul by Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone).
Igor Rossi (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. John Souttar (Heart of Midlothian) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Foul by Christopher Kane (St. Johnstone).
Perry Kitchen (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Christopher Kane (St. Johnstone).
Igor Rossi (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Paul Paton (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Arnaud Djoum (Heart of Midlothian).
Christopher Kane (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card.
Attempt missed. Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Robbie Muirhead replaces Don Cowie.
Attempt missed. Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high following a corner.
Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Steven Anderson.
Attempt blocked. Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Liam Craig (St. Johnstone) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Richard Foster (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Igor Rossi (Heart of Midlothian).
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Christopher Kane replaces Graham Cummins.
Hand ball by Igor Rossi (Heart of Midlothian).
Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Steven Anderson.
Igor Rossi (Heart of Midlothian) is shown the yellow card.
Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Graham Cummins (St. Johnstone).
Igor Rossi (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone).
John Souttar (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half. | After a bright start for the home side, Hearts dominated the first half and only three good saves from goalkeeper Zander Clark kept them at bay.
Cummins pounced shortly after the break to divert a miss-hit Liam Craig shot with Hearts claiming for offside.
Callum Paterson, with a header against the bar, came closest to an equaliser.
But it was St Johnstone who secured their second win over Hearts this season - having beaten the Edinburgh side in the League Cup - to move into third place behind their opponents on goal difference.
To add to Hearts' disappointment, head coach Robbie Neilson was sent to the stand as his side pressed for that elusive leveller.
And Celtic now have a chance to extend their lead to five points with a game in hand when they travel to face Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Sunday.
The Hearts head scratching will go on for some time after what was a dominant display, but they had one man to blame for their defeat - goalkeeper Clark.
Clark has been standing in for the injured Alan Mannus, but his display was such that manager Tommy Wright will have a tough decision to make when his number one is fit and ready for action.
The 24-year-old pulled off two top-class, close-range saves in the first half - stage first from Faycal Rherras and the second from Sam Nicolson, who should have done better from six yards out.
As Hearts piled forward in the second half, he also denied Igor Rossi and then tipped a Tony Watt free kick over the bar.
Clark walked off the pitch to thankful back slaps from his team, respectful handshakes from the visitors and the fans singing his name.
St Johnstone under Tommy Wright have become a very difficult team to beat and even harder when they go ahead.
Every player knows his job and their organisation and work rate is consistent and impressive - and against Hearts it was no different.
Hearts' Robbie Neilson started with Sam Nicolson and Jamie Walker on the wings in a bid to stretch the match and flood the box with crosses.
In that sense, his game plan worked, but the Saints defence fought for every ball, challenged every cross and chased every lost cause.
After going ahead, they were doggedly determined to stay there and it was a frustrating afternoon for those in maroon.
The build-up to the match was dominated by Wright's comments about Hearts players going to ground too easily - and he said in the minutes before kick-off that he stood by his stance.
The Irishman was left looking rather sheepish though after two of his players were booked for simulation.
Goalscorer Cummins, in the first half, and substitute Chris Kane were both cautioned by referee John Beaton.
Neilson resisted the temptation to gloat, although he had his own problems after being sent to the stand.
Media playback is not supported on this device
St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright: "We can get results like that through sheer determination and quality goalkeeping and a desire not to let the ball go in the net from everybody in the team, hard work, the odd wee bit of quality, probably not as much as I would like.
"A hard-fought win and it is a perfect one for a manager - a clean sheet and getting a goal at the other end.
"I've got two number one goalkeepers - that's rare at football clubs and, having been a goalkeeper, I know that.
"Over the last six months, Zander has improved immensely and I don't think there is a better young goalkeeper in Scotland and I think he should be in and around that Scotland squad."
Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson: "I spoke to the players after the game and said we played some fantastic football and created some wonderful chances.
"But we didn't take them and got done with a sucker punch, but I'd rather play like that and be entertaining and exciting and create chances than go direct and hope to nick a goal.
"I thought we played really well to a man, but we just couldn't get the win our play deserved.
"The St Johnstone goalkeeper has some wonderful saves and probably had the game of his life."
Match ends, St. Johnstone 1, Heart of Midlothian 0.
Second Half ends, St. Johnstone 1, Heart of Midlothian 0.
Attempt missed. Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Attempt saved. Christopher Kane (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by John Souttar.
Liam Craig (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card.
Christopher Kane (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Igor Rossi (Heart of Midlothian).
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Blair Alston replaces Steven MacLean.
Attempt missed. Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right.
Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box following a corner.
Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Steven Anderson.
Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Murray Davidson.
Foul by Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone).
Igor Rossi (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. John Souttar (Heart of Midlothian) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Foul by Christopher Kane (St. Johnstone).
Perry Kitchen (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Christopher Kane (St. Johnstone).
Igor Rossi (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Paul Paton (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Arnaud Djoum (Heart of Midlothian).
Christopher Kane (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card.
Attempt missed. Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Robbie Muirhead replaces Don Cowie.
Attempt missed. Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high following a corner.
Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Steven Anderson.
Attempt blocked. Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Liam Craig (St. Johnstone) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Richard Foster (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Igor Rossi (Heart of Midlothian).
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Christopher Kane replaces Graham Cummins.
Hand ball by Igor Rossi (Heart of Midlothian).
Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Steven Anderson.
Igor Rossi (Heart of Midlothian) is shown the yellow card.
Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Graham Cummins (St. Johnstone).
Igor Rossi (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone).
John Souttar (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half. |
Add punctuation: Thomson Airways flights from Manchester to Florida, USA, and from Glasgow to Cancun in Mexico, took off as scheduled at 09:40 BST.
Boeing, which produces the planes made of carbon fibre and plastic, claims it is the world's most efficient aircraft.
Thomson had planned to use the 787s from May, but all 50 were grounded in January over faulty batteries.
Singer Alesha Dixon greeted passengers arriving at Manchester Airport on Monday.
Chris Browne, managing director of Thomson Airways said the introduction of the "revolutionary" aircraft was a "major milestone" for operators.
Each aircraft can carry up to 291 passengers and fly as high as 38,000ft (11,500m).
Boeing claims the combination of lightweight materials and new engines from General Electric and Rolls Royce means that the Dreamliner is 20% more fuel efficient than equivalent aircrafts in use and also 60% quieter.
The firm had originally hoped the plane would go into commercial service in 2008, but it has been dogged by production difficulties.
Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways operated the first commercial flight in October 2011.
Boeing's worldwide fleet of Dreamliners were grounded and deliveries halted for three months, however, after a battery on an All Nippon Airlines 787 caught fire and a malfunction forced another flight to make an emergency landing.
Flights using the aircrafts were reintroduced in April after new batteries were fitted.
Thomson Airways are planning to take delivery of eight 787s in total.
British Airways has taken delivery of the first two of 42 Dreamliners ordered over the next 10 years and Virgin Atlantic is scheduled to get the first of its 16 Dreamliners in September 2014. | Thomson Airways flights from Manchester to Florida, USA, and from Glasgow to Cancun in Mexico, took off as scheduled at 09:40 BST.
Boeing, which produces the planes made of carbon fibre and plastic, claims it is the world's most efficient aircraft.
Thomson had planned to use the 787s from May, but all 50 were grounded in January over faulty batteries.
Singer Alesha Dixon greeted passengers arriving at Manchester Airport on Monday.
Chris Browne, managing director of Thomson Airways said the introduction of the "revolutionary" aircraft was a "major milestone" for operators.
Each aircraft can carry up to 291 passengers and fly as high as 38,000ft (11,500m).
Boeing claims the combination of lightweight materials and new engines from General Electric and Rolls Royce means that the Dreamliner is 20% more fuel efficient than equivalent aircrafts in use and also 60% quieter.
The firm had originally hoped the plane would go into commercial service in 2008, but it has been dogged by production difficulties.
Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways operated the first commercial flight in October 2011.
Boeing's worldwide fleet of Dreamliners were grounded and deliveries halted for three months, however, after a battery on an All Nippon Airlines 787 caught fire and a malfunction forced another flight to make an emergency landing.
Flights using the aircrafts were reintroduced in April after new batteries were fitted.
Thomson Airways are planning to take delivery of eight 787s in total.
British Airways has taken delivery of the first two of 42 Dreamliners ordered over the next 10 years and Virgin Atlantic is scheduled to get the first of its 16 Dreamliners in September 2014. |
Add punctuation: The carers are concerned about their lack of employment rights, not being listened to when a child is removed from their care and rates of pay.
Their vote at a meeting in Parliament on Monday was supported by shadow chancellor John McDonnell.
The Department for Education said it was launching a fundamental review of fostering across the country.
Foster carers can be employed by private agencies but the majority are given work by local authorities.
There are around 55,000 fostering households in the UK which care for some 64,000 children.
Foster carers are paid an "allowance" to cover the cost of the child in their care and a "fee" based on their skill level and time.
Weekly sums for an individual child can range from £150 to £500, depending on factors such as how demanding the child is.
But some foster carers are deeply unhappy about the way they are treated.
On Monday 60 current and former carers met in a crowded committee room in Parliament to share their experiences and to take the unprecedented step of voting on whether to unionise.
At the heart of their concerns is their legal status.
They are not classed as employees or workers, because they are not engaged under a contract of employment.
This means that they are not entitled to any of the rights enjoyed by employees or workers such as sick pay, holiday pay, or the national minimum wage. '
"I don't know anyone else who works and doesn't get a pension, sick pay, holiday pay, or recognition as a professional," one of the foster carers said.
Foster caring can be hugely rewarding and fantastically challenging.
Nicola - not her real name - together with her partner has fostered more than 140 children.
Some have stayed with her family for a night or two, others for years.
The majority have been troubled teenagers.
"We had one occasion when a young person in a very high state of distress stabbed a door repeatedly in our home numerous times.
"And following another incident I had to run down the street I was so scared.
"We've had lots of times when we've had to leave our home and ask for police assistance to re-enter," she says.
However, Nicola, along with other foster carers, loves the work, especially when troubled children are able to re-enter education.
With pride and pleasure Nicola talks of how one of the children she fostered who has turned her life around is applying to university and remains in close touch.
Another concern at the meeting was the right to due process.
Many foster care workers have complained that children can be removed from their care without their input or consultation.
They claim there is little redress for them in cases of unfair and inappropriate removals.
They are sometimes excluded from the discussion about removal of the child, or removal is based on accusations against the foster carer which he or she is not allowed to defend.
The complaint about lack of due process also applies to decisions of local authorities to "de-register" foster care workers, meaning that they will no longer receive any placements from that local authority.
Some foster care workers told the BBC it is very difficult to become registered with another local authority or private agency.
They claim that de-registration can serve as a sort of black-listing.
The Department for Education points out that national minimum standards make clear that investigations into allegations or suspicions of harm should be handled fairly, quickly, and consistently in a way that protects the child, and supports the person who is subject to the allegation.
In addition, foster carers whose approval is terminated or terms of approval are amended have the right to a review by the independent review mechanism
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who attended the meeting to support unionising, said: "Foster caring is an essential role in our society, and these foster carers carry a burden for the rest of our community so they should be properly recognised.
"They have never really been recognised and had legal rights. They should have security of their employment and be properly paid as well, and they should have the support that they need."
The meeting was organised by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, a small trade union which has previously unionised low paid migrant workers in London.
Once the discussion was over the union asked the foster carers to vote.
Fifty-six hands shot into the air and a moment of history was made.
They benefit from the highest level of employment protection. There must be a contract between the employee and employer requiring the employee to carry out duties personally, meaning they cannot send someone else to carry out their work.
The employee must also be under the control of the employer in terms of hours, working practices and workplace rules, and be sufficiently integrated into the workplace.
Rights and benefits include holiday pay, national minimum wage, rest breaks, discrimination protection, whistleblowing, deduction from wages, pension contribution from an employer under auto-enrolment, a written contract of employment, unfair dismissal protection, redundancy payment, statutory minimum notice pay, maternity/paternity pay, paid time off for antenatal appointments and a right to request flexible working.
They hold an intermediate position between employees and the self-employed. There must be a contract between the worker and employer requiring the worker to carry out duties personally but the worker is not integrated or subject to as much control as an employee.
If the "employer" is actually a client or customer of any business carried on by the individual, they will not be a worker, but will instead be self-employed.
Rights and benefits include holiday pay, national minimum wage, rest breaks, discrimination protection, whistleblowing, deduction from wages and pension contribution from employer under auto-enrolment.
This status carries the least legal protection. There will be a contract but there is no requirement that the self-employed worker carries out the service personally.
The self-employed usually enjoy maximum freedom as to how to deliver the service and are not subject to workplace rules. Rights tend to be governed by the contract rather than any statutory rights.
Source: Cloisters barristers chambers
Individual foster carers have joined unions in the past, but no group has ever voted to form its own.
Although this may be a very small number, Dr Jason Moyer-Lee, the general secretary of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, believes the vote will mark a real change.
He said: "People who work in foster care, alongside social workers, local authority employees, and others, together form part of a professional network responsible for looking after some of society's most vulnerable individuals.
"Foster care work is important, demanding, and all too often highly exploitative. Like social workers and others who work in care, foster care workers should be remunerated properly, treated fairly, and have recourse to due process. By voting to unionise this is precisely what they aim to achieve."
A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We really appreciate the work foster carers do, as we know it is a very rewarding, but at times challenging, experience.
"Foster carers receive financial support to cover the full cost of caring for a child and we're launching a fundamental review of fostering across the country, which will look at the issues affecting foster carers, including accountability and complaints." | The carers are concerned about their lack of employment rights, not being listened to when a child is removed from their care and rates of pay.
Their vote at a meeting in Parliament on Monday was supported by shadow chancellor John McDonnell.
The Department for Education said it was launching a fundamental review of fostering across the country.
Foster carers can be employed by private agencies but the majority are given work by local authorities.
There are around 55,000 fostering households in the UK which care for some 64,000 children.
Foster carers are paid an "allowance" to cover the cost of the child in their care and a "fee" based on their skill level and time.
Weekly sums for an individual child can range from £150 to £500, depending on factors such as how demanding the child is.
But some foster carers are deeply unhappy about the way they are treated.
On Monday 60 current and former carers met in a crowded committee room in Parliament to share their experiences and to take the unprecedented step of voting on whether to unionise.
At the heart of their concerns is their legal status.
They are not classed as employees or workers, because they are not engaged under a contract of employment.
This means that they are not entitled to any of the rights enjoyed by employees or workers such as sick pay, holiday pay, or the national minimum wage. '
"I don't know anyone else who works and doesn't get a pension, sick pay, holiday pay, or recognition as a professional," one of the foster carers said.
Foster caring can be hugely rewarding and fantastically challenging.
Nicola - not her real name - together with her partner has fostered more than 140 children.
Some have stayed with her family for a night or two, others for years.
The majority have been troubled teenagers.
"We had one occasion when a young person in a very high state of distress stabbed a door repeatedly in our home numerous times.
"And following another incident I had to run down the street I was so scared.
"We've had lots of times when we've had to leave our home and ask for police assistance to re-enter," she says.
However, Nicola, along with other foster carers, loves the work, especially when troubled children are able to re-enter education.
With pride and pleasure Nicola talks of how one of the children she fostered who has turned her life around is applying to university and remains in close touch.
Another concern at the meeting was the right to due process.
Many foster care workers have complained that children can be removed from their care without their input or consultation.
They claim there is little redress for them in cases of unfair and inappropriate removals.
They are sometimes excluded from the discussion about removal of the child, or removal is based on accusations against the foster carer which he or she is not allowed to defend.
The complaint about lack of due process also applies to decisions of local authorities to "de-register" foster care workers, meaning that they will no longer receive any placements from that local authority.
Some foster care workers told the BBC it is very difficult to become registered with another local authority or private agency.
They claim that de-registration can serve as a sort of black-listing.
The Department for Education points out that national minimum standards make clear that investigations into allegations or suspicions of harm should be handled fairly, quickly, and consistently in a way that protects the child, and supports the person who is subject to the allegation.
In addition, foster carers whose approval is terminated or terms of approval are amended have the right to a review by the independent review mechanism
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who attended the meeting to support unionising, said: "Foster caring is an essential role in our society, and these foster carers carry a burden for the rest of our community so they should be properly recognised.
"They have never really been recognised and had legal rights. They should have security of their employment and be properly paid as well, and they should have the support that they need."
The meeting was organised by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, a small trade union which has previously unionised low paid migrant workers in London.
Once the discussion was over the union asked the foster carers to vote.
Fifty-six hands shot into the air and a moment of history was made.
They benefit from the highest level of employment protection. There must be a contract between the employee and employer requiring the employee to carry out duties personally, meaning they cannot send someone else to carry out their work.
The employee must also be under the control of the employer in terms of hours, working practices and workplace rules, and be sufficiently integrated into the workplace.
Rights and benefits include holiday pay, national minimum wage, rest breaks, discrimination protection, whistleblowing, deduction from wages, pension contribution from an employer under auto-enrolment, a written contract of employment, unfair dismissal protection, redundancy payment, statutory minimum notice pay, maternity/paternity pay, paid time off for antenatal appointments and a right to request flexible working.
They hold an intermediate position between employees and the self-employed. There must be a contract between the worker and employer requiring the worker to carry out duties personally but the worker is not integrated or subject to as much control as an employee.
If the "employer" is actually a client or customer of any business carried on by the individual, they will not be a worker, but will instead be self-employed.
Rights and benefits include holiday pay, national minimum wage, rest breaks, discrimination protection, whistleblowing, deduction from wages and pension contribution from employer under auto-enrolment.
This status carries the least legal protection. There will be a contract but there is no requirement that the self-employed worker carries out the service personally.
The self-employed usually enjoy maximum freedom as to how to deliver the service and are not subject to workplace rules. Rights tend to be governed by the contract rather than any statutory rights.
Source: Cloisters barristers chambers
Individual foster carers have joined unions in the past, but no group has ever voted to form its own.
Although this may be a very small number, Dr Jason Moyer-Lee, the general secretary of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, believes the vote will mark a real change.
He said: "People who work in foster care, alongside social workers, local authority employees, and others, together form part of a professional network responsible for looking after some of society's most vulnerable individuals.
"Foster care work is important, demanding, and all too often highly exploitative. Like social workers and others who work in care, foster care workers should be remunerated properly, treated fairly, and have recourse to due process. By voting to unionise this is precisely what they aim to achieve."
A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We really appreciate the work foster carers do, as we know it is a very rewarding, but at times challenging, experience.
"Foster carers receive financial support to cover the full cost of caring for a child and we're launching a fundamental review of fostering across the country, which will look at the issues affecting foster carers, including accountability and complaints." |
Add punctuation: The Glen Lyon facility will anchor in the deep waters of the Atlantic, west of Shetland, and is expected to produce 400 million barrels of oil over the next two decades.
The vessel is packed with technology to make production cheaper and with the oil price low, that's exactly what the industry is trying to achieve across the board.
The top half of the huge Floating Production, Storage and Offloading facility (FPSO), looks like a traditional platform with mile after mile of pipes, a giant stack where the flare will burn and of course a helideck.
But the bottom half looks like an ordinary - if very big - ship. And soon this will take up permanent residence in the unforgiving environment west of Shetland.
Mark Thomas, the new man in charge of BP's North Sea operation, tells me their focus is increasingly shifting to the north Atlantic.
He said: "For BP, west of Shetland is our future. What west of Shetland will be to BP in the 2020, 2030 decades is what the Forties system was to BP in the 80s and 90s.
"We will be known, I believe, as the operator of choice and our brand will be associated with west of Shetland for the foreseeable future."
Forties was the largest field in the North Sea and produced its first oil in 1975. Within seven years it had produced a billion barrels of Brent Crude.
BP has invested more than £4bn in this development.
The Glen Lyon production ship was towed from South Korea by three ocean-going tugs.
In the Norwegian port of Haugesund, it is going through final checks before the three-day journey to its final destination.
Operational manager Keith O'Donnell said: "Some of the mooring facilities on board have to be maintained in a horizontal position to protect them during the long tow.
"Once we get here, close to the field, we can release some of those sea fastenings.
"We need divers to be able to do that work and so an inshore location is essential."
As the North Sea's remaining reserves continue to deplete, oil companies are increasingly focusing on the hostile waters of the North Atlantic.
BP is already investing in the Clair and Clair Ridge projects while Total has recently begun producing gas from the Laggan-Toremore fields.
Jeremy Cresswell, energy editor at the Press and Journal newspaper in Aberdeen, says the area represents the future of UK oil.
"There are bound to be further significant discoveries. There are others sitting around out there right now.
"In a sense, perhaps the adventure west of Shetland has barely begun."
The first barrel is expected to flow through Glen Lyon at the end of this year, with production predicted to continue until 2035. | The Glen Lyon facility will anchor in the deep waters of the Atlantic, west of Shetland, and is expected to produce 400 million barrels of oil over the next two decades.
The vessel is packed with technology to make production cheaper and with the oil price low, that's exactly what the industry is trying to achieve across the board.
The top half of the huge Floating Production, Storage and Offloading facility (FPSO), looks like a traditional platform with mile after mile of pipes, a giant stack where the flare will burn and of course a helideck.
But the bottom half looks like an ordinary - if very big - ship. And soon this will take up permanent residence in the unforgiving environment west of Shetland.
Mark Thomas, the new man in charge of BP's North Sea operation, tells me their focus is increasingly shifting to the north Atlantic.
He said: "For BP, west of Shetland is our future. What west of Shetland will be to BP in the 2020, 2030 decades is what the Forties system was to BP in the 80s and 90s.
"We will be known, I believe, as the operator of choice and our brand will be associated with west of Shetland for the foreseeable future."
Forties was the largest field in the North Sea and produced its first oil in 1975. Within seven years it had produced a billion barrels of Brent Crude.
BP has invested more than £4bn in this development.
The Glen Lyon production ship was towed from South Korea by three ocean-going tugs.
In the Norwegian port of Haugesund, it is going through final checks before the three-day journey to its final destination.
Operational manager Keith O'Donnell said: "Some of the mooring facilities on board have to be maintained in a horizontal position to protect them during the long tow.
"Once we get here, close to the field, we can release some of those sea fastenings.
"We need divers to be able to do that work and so an inshore location is essential."
As the North Sea's remaining reserves continue to deplete, oil companies are increasingly focusing on the hostile waters of the North Atlantic.
BP is already investing in the Clair and Clair Ridge projects while Total has recently begun producing gas from the Laggan-Toremore fields.
Jeremy Cresswell, energy editor at the Press and Journal newspaper in Aberdeen, says the area represents the future of UK oil.
"There are bound to be further significant discoveries. There are others sitting around out there right now.
"In a sense, perhaps the adventure west of Shetland has barely begun."
The first barrel is expected to flow through Glen Lyon at the end of this year, with production predicted to continue until 2035. |
Add punctuation: The rapist, who cannot be named as he was a minor at the time of the crime, was sentenced to a maximum three years in a reform facility in August 2013.
He was released from detention recently and is currently housed with a charity because of fears over his safety.
Under the current law, his detention cannot be extended, the court said.
Jyoti Singh, a 23-year-old physiotherapy student, died after being brutally raped by six men on a moving bus in 2012, causing global outrage.
Four adult convicts in the case are appealing against death sentences. A fifth died in prison.
The release of the youngest convict has been opposed by many people, including the parents of Ms Singh.
In a last-ditch attempt to prevent his release, the Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal filed a petition in the Supreme Court late on Saturday night.
Second chance for rapist?
Rape victim named by mother
Profiles: Delhi attackers
How life changed for victim's family
On Monday, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition, saying it "shared" the concern of most citizens but its hands were "tied" by the law.
"We share your concern but our hands are tied by the existing law. There has to be clear legislative sanction to extend the detention period beyond three years. Under the present law, detention cannot be extended beyond three years," the top court said.
The BBC's Geeta Pandey in Delhi says the Supreme Court order was a foregone conclusion - the convict had already served the maximum three year sentence under India's current laws dealing with juvenile crime and he cannot be kept in detention any longer.
Last week, a legal challenge by politician Subramanian Swamy to stop the release had also failed.
The Delhi high court ruled on the case on Friday, saying: "We agree it is a serious issue. But after 20 December, the juvenile cannot be kept at a special home per law."
Although the convict is now an adult, he has been handed over to a charity, where he will remain for at least two years.
16 December 2012: A 23-year-old physiotherapy student is gang-raped by six men on a bus in Delhi, her male friend is beaten up and the pair are thrown out after the brutal assault
17 December: Key accused Ram Singh, the bus driver, is arrested. Over the next few days, his brother Mukesh Singh, gym instructor Vinay Sharma, fruit seller Pawan Gupta, a helper on the bus Akshay Thakur, and the 17-year-old juvenile, who cannot be named, are arrested.
29 December: The victim dies in hospital in Singapore from injuries sustained during the assault; body flown back to Delhi
30 December: Victim is cremated in Delhi under tight police security
11 March 2013: Ram Singh dies in Tihar jail; police say he hanged himself, but defence lawyers and his family allege he was murdered
31 August: The juvenile is found guilty and sentenced to three years in a reform facility
13 September: The four adult defendants are convicted and given the death penalty by the trial court
March - June: The convicts' appeal in the Supreme Court and the death sentences are put on hold
December 2015: Youngest convict released from correctional centre after serving maximum sentence allowed | The rapist, who cannot be named as he was a minor at the time of the crime, was sentenced to a maximum three years in a reform facility in August 2013.
He was released from detention recently and is currently housed with a charity because of fears over his safety.
Under the current law, his detention cannot be extended, the court said.
Jyoti Singh, a 23-year-old physiotherapy student, died after being brutally raped by six men on a moving bus in 2012, causing global outrage.
Four adult convicts in the case are appealing against death sentences. A fifth died in prison.
The release of the youngest convict has been opposed by many people, including the parents of Ms Singh.
In a last-ditch attempt to prevent his release, the Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal filed a petition in the Supreme Court late on Saturday night.
Second chance for rapist?
Rape victim named by mother
Profiles: Delhi attackers
How life changed for victim's family
On Monday, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition, saying it "shared" the concern of most citizens but its hands were "tied" by the law.
"We share your concern but our hands are tied by the existing law. There has to be clear legislative sanction to extend the detention period beyond three years. Under the present law, detention cannot be extended beyond three years," the top court said.
The BBC's Geeta Pandey in Delhi says the Supreme Court order was a foregone conclusion - the convict had already served the maximum three year sentence under India's current laws dealing with juvenile crime and he cannot be kept in detention any longer.
Last week, a legal challenge by politician Subramanian Swamy to stop the release had also failed.
The Delhi high court ruled on the case on Friday, saying: "We agree it is a serious issue. But after 20 December, the juvenile cannot be kept at a special home per law."
Although the convict is now an adult, he has been handed over to a charity, where he will remain for at least two years.
16 December 2012: A 23-year-old physiotherapy student is gang-raped by six men on a bus in Delhi, her male friend is beaten up and the pair are thrown out after the brutal assault
17 December: Key accused Ram Singh, the bus driver, is arrested. Over the next few days, his brother Mukesh Singh, gym instructor Vinay Sharma, fruit seller Pawan Gupta, a helper on the bus Akshay Thakur, and the 17-year-old juvenile, who cannot be named, are arrested.
29 December: The victim dies in hospital in Singapore from injuries sustained during the assault; body flown back to Delhi
30 December: Victim is cremated in Delhi under tight police security
11 March 2013: Ram Singh dies in Tihar jail; police say he hanged himself, but defence lawyers and his family allege he was murdered
31 August: The juvenile is found guilty and sentenced to three years in a reform facility
13 September: The four adult defendants are convicted and given the death penalty by the trial court
March - June: The convicts' appeal in the Supreme Court and the death sentences are put on hold
December 2015: Youngest convict released from correctional centre after serving maximum sentence allowed |
Add punctuation: In South Korea, unexpectedly strong growth figures also weighed in to boost investor confidence.
The country's benchmark Kospi index closed up 0.7% at 2,040.40 points on news that economic growth hit a five-year high in the third quarter of the year.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index jumped 2.1% to finish at 18,825.30 points.
Stocks were lifted in Japan by the positive signals coming overnight from the European Central Bank as well as the strong close on Wall Street.
A weaker yen also suggested a good day for the country's crucial export sector.
Car maker Toyota and electronics giants Sony and Toshiba all saw solid gains of as much as 2%.
Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng closed up 1.34% at 23,151.94, while the benchmark Shanghai Composite on China's mainland closed up 1.3% at 3,412.43.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 finished 1.7% higher at 5,351.60 points.
The country's large lenders, Westpac, CBA and ANZ, jumped by as much as 2%, while commodity producers' shares were also up.
Mining giant BHP Billiton rose by more than 2% while Santos continued yesterday's rally with another 2.2% increase. | In South Korea, unexpectedly strong growth figures also weighed in to boost investor confidence.
The country's benchmark Kospi index closed up 0.7% at 2,040.40 points on news that economic growth hit a five-year high in the third quarter of the year.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index jumped 2.1% to finish at 18,825.30 points.
Stocks were lifted in Japan by the positive signals coming overnight from the European Central Bank as well as the strong close on Wall Street.
A weaker yen also suggested a good day for the country's crucial export sector.
Car maker Toyota and electronics giants Sony and Toshiba all saw solid gains of as much as 2%.
Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng closed up 1.34% at 23,151.94, while the benchmark Shanghai Composite on China's mainland closed up 1.3% at 3,412.43.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 finished 1.7% higher at 5,351.60 points.
The country's large lenders, Westpac, CBA and ANZ, jumped by as much as 2%, while commodity producers' shares were also up.
Mining giant BHP Billiton rose by more than 2% while Santos continued yesterday's rally with another 2.2% increase. |
Add punctuation: For these festive actors its a sign of success, and the louder people in the audience shout, the better they feel.
"It's always a good feeling to get all the kids booing at you," says pantomime star Danny Grehan. "If they're booing at you, you know you've done a good job."
He's playing the evil Abanazar in the Porthcawl production of Aladdin.
Fresh from their collaboration with Tinchy Stryder, the Chuckle Brothers will take a starring role in Darlington's The Chuckles of Oz
Better known as Neighbours veteran Karl Kennedy, Alan Fletcher will feature in Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood in Dunstable.
Craig Revel Horwood is playing one of the ultimate pantomime baddies - Captain Hook - in Dartford's production of Peter Pan.
Blue singer Duncan James is taking to the stage in Birmingham, where he will take to the stage in Jack and the Beanstalk.
"The whole participation of people shouting, you never get that apart from in panto, where everybody is allowed just to vocalise that enjoyment," says Dick Bradnum, who will be playing Widow Twankey in Aladdin.
"In the age that we live in, people are in front of screens a lot of different types and to get them in front of a live experience where there are real human beings around them and real noise, there is something genuinely uplifting about it. It's not a bad job to be doing," adds Danny.
Working all through the Christmas holidays does have its downsides and there are some things the paid wish they had more time to enjoy.
"The only thing with panto is you've got to work on the 26th so you always miss out on cold turkey and chips, which is one of my favourite bits of Christmas," says Danny.
Dick adds: "Boxing Day audiences are a little bit quieter in my experience because I think they're still recovering from Christmas Day.
"You can still smell the turkey off them. Bloated, sitting there happy."
Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube | For these festive actors its a sign of success, and the louder people in the audience shout, the better they feel.
"It's always a good feeling to get all the kids booing at you," says pantomime star Danny Grehan. "If they're booing at you, you know you've done a good job."
He's playing the evil Abanazar in the Porthcawl production of Aladdin.
Fresh from their collaboration with Tinchy Stryder, the Chuckle Brothers will take a starring role in Darlington's The Chuckles of Oz
Better known as Neighbours veteran Karl Kennedy, Alan Fletcher will feature in Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood in Dunstable.
Craig Revel Horwood is playing one of the ultimate pantomime baddies - Captain Hook - in Dartford's production of Peter Pan.
Blue singer Duncan James is taking to the stage in Birmingham, where he will take to the stage in Jack and the Beanstalk.
"The whole participation of people shouting, you never get that apart from in panto, where everybody is allowed just to vocalise that enjoyment," says Dick Bradnum, who will be playing Widow Twankey in Aladdin.
"In the age that we live in, people are in front of screens a lot of different types and to get them in front of a live experience where there are real human beings around them and real noise, there is something genuinely uplifting about it. It's not a bad job to be doing," adds Danny.
Working all through the Christmas holidays does have its downsides and there are some things the paid wish they had more time to enjoy.
"The only thing with panto is you've got to work on the 26th so you always miss out on cold turkey and chips, which is one of my favourite bits of Christmas," says Danny.
Dick adds: "Boxing Day audiences are a little bit quieter in my experience because I think they're still recovering from Christmas Day.
"You can still smell the turkey off them. Bloated, sitting there happy."
Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube |
Add punctuation: Sources say the Leeds-based retailer, which has around 120 stores and employs some 2,500 staff, is poised to enter administration.
After undergoing rapid expansion about 10 years ago, it has since seen sales slacken off.
The group is reported to have already lined up the business services firm Ernst & Young to handle the administration.
The company focuses on the youth fashion market, which is fiercely competitive and under pressure.
"Operating towards the value end of the market should have placed the retailer in a strong position to take advantage of the consumer trend towards low-cost fashion," said Anusha Couttigane, from retail consultancy Conlumino.
"However, its target youth market has been the hardest hit demographic of the recession and it has struggled to appeal to them as effectively as rivals such as Primark, Asos or H&M.
"Fashion is a fast-moving industry where brand loyalty is fickle and Republic has failed to keep up with some pretty fierce competitors," she said.
If Republic does appoint administrators, it will be following in the footsteps of a list of High Street stalwarts.
These include the music retailer HMV, the camera group Jessops and the DVD and games rental company, Blockbuster.
"It's the worst post-Christmas period we've seen in a long time," said Matthew Hopkinson from the Local Data Company.
Republic is owned by private equity firm TPG, which bought the company in 2010 in a deal thought to be worth about £300m.
According to Anusha Couttigane, TPG had been trying to sell off some stores and persuade landlords to agree to lower rents.
"In light of this, news of its administration suggests that attempts to renegotiate monthly payments have failed, bringing the business to a complete standstill and landlords facing the prospect of more vacant units on the High Street."
Matthew Hopkinson said that while some stores may be snapped up, the vast majority of them are in shopping centres, which would be difficult to fill.
"HMV and others have also been sitting in shopping centres and therefore I think the number of units which have gone in the last few months in shopping centres will make it far harder than 12 months to refill them," he said.
Republic began selling denim clothing in Leeds in 1986 and since then has grown to supply both men and women with clothing brands including G-Star, Diesel and Firetrap.
Its chairman, Andy Bond, who was a former boss of Asda, is said to have left the company last week after two years.
Its current chief executive is the former boss of TK Maxx, Paul Sweetenham. | Sources say the Leeds-based retailer, which has around 120 stores and employs some 2,500 staff, is poised to enter administration.
After undergoing rapid expansion about 10 years ago, it has since seen sales slacken off.
The group is reported to have already lined up the business services firm Ernst & Young to handle the administration.
The company focuses on the youth fashion market, which is fiercely competitive and under pressure.
"Operating towards the value end of the market should have placed the retailer in a strong position to take advantage of the consumer trend towards low-cost fashion," said Anusha Couttigane, from retail consultancy Conlumino.
"However, its target youth market has been the hardest hit demographic of the recession and it has struggled to appeal to them as effectively as rivals such as Primark, Asos or H&M.
"Fashion is a fast-moving industry where brand loyalty is fickle and Republic has failed to keep up with some pretty fierce competitors," she said.
If Republic does appoint administrators, it will be following in the footsteps of a list of High Street stalwarts.
These include the music retailer HMV, the camera group Jessops and the DVD and games rental company, Blockbuster.
"It's the worst post-Christmas period we've seen in a long time," said Matthew Hopkinson from the Local Data Company.
Republic is owned by private equity firm TPG, which bought the company in 2010 in a deal thought to be worth about £300m.
According to Anusha Couttigane, TPG had been trying to sell off some stores and persuade landlords to agree to lower rents.
"In light of this, news of its administration suggests that attempts to renegotiate monthly payments have failed, bringing the business to a complete standstill and landlords facing the prospect of more vacant units on the High Street."
Matthew Hopkinson said that while some stores may be snapped up, the vast majority of them are in shopping centres, which would be difficult to fill.
"HMV and others have also been sitting in shopping centres and therefore I think the number of units which have gone in the last few months in shopping centres will make it far harder than 12 months to refill them," he said.
Republic began selling denim clothing in Leeds in 1986 and since then has grown to supply both men and women with clothing brands including G-Star, Diesel and Firetrap.
Its chairman, Andy Bond, who was a former boss of Asda, is said to have left the company last week after two years.
Its current chief executive is the former boss of TK Maxx, Paul Sweetenham. |
Add punctuation: Craig Mackey told new recruits at the police training college Hendon it had also been been an awful week "for the policing family".
But he said they would "never be alone" and that their city was proud of them.
It comes two days after PC Keith Palmer was killed preventing Khalid Masood from entering Parliament.
Masood, 52, drove his car onto the pavement and into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before crashing the vehicle into railings and running into the grounds of Parliament.
On Friday acting commissioner Mackey said: "We are mourning the loss of a brave officer, PC Keith Palmer, who died protecting Parliament and our democracy.
"At moments like this, rare though they are, it is natural to be afraid and to despair at the inhuman violence we have seen.
"But it is at moments like these that you truly appreciate the strength of the policing family."
Fifty people were injured in Wednesday's attack, with 31 receiving hospital treatment.
Two people remain in a critical condition, and one has life-threatening injuries.
Acting commissioner Mackey told the new recruits: "As police officers, we have a special bond with the public, as their protectors and guardians. It is a bond that grows stronger in adversity.
"We have seen the gratitude of this city to its police service manifested this week with kind words and gifts. They're proud of you and your colleagues. As am I."
On Thursday evening acting commissioner Mackey joined Home Secretary Amber Rudd, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and hundreds of people at a candlelit vigil in Trafalgar Square to remember those who lost their lives as a result of Wednesday's attack.
Candles were laid on the ground and on the steps leading to the National Gallery, then lit in memory of those who died.
Earlier, Army veteran Mike Crofts, who witnessed the attack and rushed to help PC Palmer, told BBC Breakfast it was his military training that made him react.
"Unfortunately despite our best efforts we were unable to save him.
"He was at the time surrounded by a whole host of colleagues who really loved him. We held his hand through the experience, talked to him throughout."who lost their lives. | Craig Mackey told new recruits at the police training college Hendon it had also been been an awful week "for the policing family".
But he said they would "never be alone" and that their city was proud of them.
It comes two days after PC Keith Palmer was killed preventing Khalid Masood from entering Parliament.
Masood, 52, drove his car onto the pavement and into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before crashing the vehicle into railings and running into the grounds of Parliament.
On Friday acting commissioner Mackey said: "We are mourning the loss of a brave officer, PC Keith Palmer, who died protecting Parliament and our democracy.
"At moments like this, rare though they are, it is natural to be afraid and to despair at the inhuman violence we have seen.
"But it is at moments like these that you truly appreciate the strength of the policing family."
Fifty people were injured in Wednesday's attack, with 31 receiving hospital treatment.
Two people remain in a critical condition, and one has life-threatening injuries.
Acting commissioner Mackey told the new recruits: "As police officers, we have a special bond with the public, as their protectors and guardians. It is a bond that grows stronger in adversity.
"We have seen the gratitude of this city to its police service manifested this week with kind words and gifts. They're proud of you and your colleagues. As am I."
On Thursday evening acting commissioner Mackey joined Home Secretary Amber Rudd, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and hundreds of people at a candlelit vigil in Trafalgar Square to remember those who lost their lives as a result of Wednesday's attack.
Candles were laid on the ground and on the steps leading to the National Gallery, then lit in memory of those who died.
Earlier, Army veteran Mike Crofts, who witnessed the attack and rushed to help PC Palmer, told BBC Breakfast it was his military training that made him react.
"Unfortunately despite our best efforts we were unable to save him.
"He was at the time surrounded by a whole host of colleagues who really loved him. We held his hand through the experience, talked to him throughout."who lost their lives. |
Add punctuation: If he could read Russian, I suspect he'd appreciate the way the media here have been covering the US election.
Pro-Kremlin newspapers have waxed lyrical about Donald and, at times, torn Hillary to shreds.
"I officially declare that Clinton is a cursed witch," wrote Russian MP Vitaly Milonov recently in the popular tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda. "That's why even a funny guy like Trump looks more reasonable in comparison."
The Russian press has portrayed Clinton as a raving Russophobe.
"Russia is already fighting on two fronts, in the Donbass and in Syria," wrote the pro-government Izvestia.
"If the war-like, Russia-hating Hillary Clinton wins the US election, a third front could open up in the Caucasus; money will pour in to support terrorists, just like it did during the two Chechen wars. There could even be a fourth front in Central Asia, where weak regimes are already being attacked by extremists and 'Orange Revolutions'."
In contrast, the Russian media praises Donald Trump's pro-Russia position.
"If he's able to put into effect 30% of his plans regarding Russia and Putin, that will be good," noted Moskovsky Komsomolets.
Trump is portrayed here as an outsider: "the upstart with no connection to the ruling class", according to Komsomolskaya Pravda.
"The political coup against him has failed," wrote the government paper Rossiskaya Gazeta. "Trump's speeches are unpretentious, without the kind of hypocritical political correctness of the conservative establishment. He feels out the pressure points of the deepening structural crisis in America."
In America, Trump's lewd conversation about women taped 11 years ago on a bus sparked outrage and condemnation.
Not in the Russian press.
In the broadsheet Nezavisimaya Gazeta, a Moscow University academic wrote that "Trump's words were the kind of spiel you hear over a cup of coffee...they've been blown up into a whole scandal".
Komsomolskaya Pravda compared criticism of Trump's taped conversation to the Democratic Party's outrage over the hacking of its server.
"So, to hack the server of the Democratic Party and to publish the cynical correspondence of Hillary Clinton's aides, for an insight into the methods used to finance her campaign, that is considered 'indecent'. But to secretly record a private conversation, that is 'OK'?"
The Moskovsky Komsomolets declared: "The Trump 'sex scandal' isn't worth a thing... After all, Franklin Roosevelt, who was US president four times, died with his lover on his knee. And John Kennedy had hundreds of mistresses. One of them had suspected links to East German intelligence; another was the lover of a famous Chicago mafia boss."
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed claims that Moscow favoured Donald Trump in the US election as "complete and utter rubbish".
Russian media coverage tells a very different story. And not only in the papers.
At times Russian state television sounds like 'Trump TV', repeating at length the tycoon's claims that the election is rigged.
Two weeks ago, Dmitry Kiselev, the anchor of Russia-1's flagship news programme News of the Week, read out an extract from Mark Twain's 'Running For Governor'. The implication: that elections in America have a long history of fraud.
Last Sunday, he dismissed US elections as "not direct, not equal, not transparent, not everyone can vote, and there are many opportunities for vote rigging".
He predicted that whoever wins the election, the loser is unlikely to accept the result.
Most chillingly, Kiselev's programme has raised the spectre of Donald Trump being assassinated.
"They could just kill him," Kiselev declared back in September. "America's Special Services don't need a president like this. They whip up hatred for Russia to justify their own existence. The American oligarchs don't need Trump, either... The American establishment is ruthless."
This week Komsomolskaya Pravda issued a similar warning, concluding it "couldn't exclude the most dramatic scenario a la John Kennedy".
If you were to base your view of the US election solely on pro-Kremlin newspapers and state TV, you might easily conclude that the election is rigged, that the result almost certainly will be contested and that America faces a prolonged period of post-election chaos.
"This isn't an 'Orange Revolution' yet. But it's funny," concluded Dmitry Kiselev. | If he could read Russian, I suspect he'd appreciate the way the media here have been covering the US election.
Pro-Kremlin newspapers have waxed lyrical about Donald and, at times, torn Hillary to shreds.
"I officially declare that Clinton is a cursed witch," wrote Russian MP Vitaly Milonov recently in the popular tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda. "That's why even a funny guy like Trump looks more reasonable in comparison."
The Russian press has portrayed Clinton as a raving Russophobe.
"Russia is already fighting on two fronts, in the Donbass and in Syria," wrote the pro-government Izvestia.
"If the war-like, Russia-hating Hillary Clinton wins the US election, a third front could open up in the Caucasus; money will pour in to support terrorists, just like it did during the two Chechen wars. There could even be a fourth front in Central Asia, where weak regimes are already being attacked by extremists and 'Orange Revolutions'."
In contrast, the Russian media praises Donald Trump's pro-Russia position.
"If he's able to put into effect 30% of his plans regarding Russia and Putin, that will be good," noted Moskovsky Komsomolets.
Trump is portrayed here as an outsider: "the upstart with no connection to the ruling class", according to Komsomolskaya Pravda.
"The political coup against him has failed," wrote the government paper Rossiskaya Gazeta. "Trump's speeches are unpretentious, without the kind of hypocritical political correctness of the conservative establishment. He feels out the pressure points of the deepening structural crisis in America."
In America, Trump's lewd conversation about women taped 11 years ago on a bus sparked outrage and condemnation.
Not in the Russian press.
In the broadsheet Nezavisimaya Gazeta, a Moscow University academic wrote that "Trump's words were the kind of spiel you hear over a cup of coffee...they've been blown up into a whole scandal".
Komsomolskaya Pravda compared criticism of Trump's taped conversation to the Democratic Party's outrage over the hacking of its server.
"So, to hack the server of the Democratic Party and to publish the cynical correspondence of Hillary Clinton's aides, for an insight into the methods used to finance her campaign, that is considered 'indecent'. But to secretly record a private conversation, that is 'OK'?"
The Moskovsky Komsomolets declared: "The Trump 'sex scandal' isn't worth a thing... After all, Franklin Roosevelt, who was US president four times, died with his lover on his knee. And John Kennedy had hundreds of mistresses. One of them had suspected links to East German intelligence; another was the lover of a famous Chicago mafia boss."
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed claims that Moscow favoured Donald Trump in the US election as "complete and utter rubbish".
Russian media coverage tells a very different story. And not only in the papers.
At times Russian state television sounds like 'Trump TV', repeating at length the tycoon's claims that the election is rigged.
Two weeks ago, Dmitry Kiselev, the anchor of Russia-1's flagship news programme News of the Week, read out an extract from Mark Twain's 'Running For Governor'. The implication: that elections in America have a long history of fraud.
Last Sunday, he dismissed US elections as "not direct, not equal, not transparent, not everyone can vote, and there are many opportunities for vote rigging".
He predicted that whoever wins the election, the loser is unlikely to accept the result.
Most chillingly, Kiselev's programme has raised the spectre of Donald Trump being assassinated.
"They could just kill him," Kiselev declared back in September. "America's Special Services don't need a president like this. They whip up hatred for Russia to justify their own existence. The American oligarchs don't need Trump, either... The American establishment is ruthless."
This week Komsomolskaya Pravda issued a similar warning, concluding it "couldn't exclude the most dramatic scenario a la John Kennedy".
If you were to base your view of the US election solely on pro-Kremlin newspapers and state TV, you might easily conclude that the election is rigged, that the result almost certainly will be contested and that America faces a prolonged period of post-election chaos.
"This isn't an 'Orange Revolution' yet. But it's funny," concluded Dmitry Kiselev. |
Add punctuation: Mr Cameron this week announced plans to regenerate 100 estates with some to be demolished.
But at PMQs Labour's Jeremy Corbyn said council tenants and Right-to-Buy purchasers would be "forced away".
The PM called Mr Corbyn a "small-c conservative" who wanted people to stay "stuck" in council estates.
The Labour leader said Mr Cameron had not "thought this thing through very carefully", pointing out that the estates bulldozed would include people who had bought their homes under the Conservatives' flagship Right-to-Buy policy.
He asked: "Will those people, the leaseholders, will they be guaranteed homes on those rebuilt estates that you are proposing to do?"
The PM said local councils and residents would be involved in the process which would "make sure that tenants get good homes, make sure homeowners get rehoused in new houses".
Pressed afterwards about the demolition plans on the BBC's Daily Politics, Conservative security minister John Hayes said the details of the redevelopment policy had not been announced but he was confident people would be offered "decent" alternative accommodation while construction work was taking place.
The leaders' clash came as the government's Housing Bill makes its way through Parliament. The legislation offers the Right-to-Buy for housing association tenants and also covers so-called "starter homes" which are aimed at first-time buyers.
Mr Corbyn said these homes would be unaffordable to people on the new National Living Wages living in 98% of council areas.
Rather than building more affordable homes, the government was "branding more homes as affordable", he added.
Mr Cameron said he and the Labour leader both owned their own homes, asking: "Why won't we let those 1.3 million (housing association tenants) own their homes?"
With his questions, Angus Robertson, the SNP's Westminster leader, called for the return of a post-study work visa for foreign students, saying business and colleges in Scotland supported the move.
The PM said such a visa would effectively tell foreign students "it's okay to stay with a less than graduate job".
He told MPs: "We don't need the world's brightest and best to come here to study and then to do menial labour jobs, which actually that's not what our immigration system is for."
Jeremy Corbyn stuck to one broad subject - housing - for each of his allocated questions, surprising pundits by avoiding the junior doctors' strike.
He introduced two members of the public - Daryl on whether tenants would be offered replacement housing in the same areas, and Linda, who was worried about her tenancy if she downsizes when she gets older.
The atmosphere in the Commons was noticeably rowdier than some of the Labour leader's early appearances, when Mr Corbyn called for a different approach reflecting his "new politics".
The prime minister managed a dig about Labour's drawn-out reshuffle, which he said was "still going on", and rounded off his answers by claiming Mr Corbyn "does not believe in Britain". | Mr Cameron this week announced plans to regenerate 100 estates with some to be demolished.
But at PMQs Labour's Jeremy Corbyn said council tenants and Right-to-Buy purchasers would be "forced away".
The PM called Mr Corbyn a "small-c conservative" who wanted people to stay "stuck" in council estates.
The Labour leader said Mr Cameron had not "thought this thing through very carefully", pointing out that the estates bulldozed would include people who had bought their homes under the Conservatives' flagship Right-to-Buy policy.
He asked: "Will those people, the leaseholders, will they be guaranteed homes on those rebuilt estates that you are proposing to do?"
The PM said local councils and residents would be involved in the process which would "make sure that tenants get good homes, make sure homeowners get rehoused in new houses".
Pressed afterwards about the demolition plans on the BBC's Daily Politics, Conservative security minister John Hayes said the details of the redevelopment policy had not been announced but he was confident people would be offered "decent" alternative accommodation while construction work was taking place.
The leaders' clash came as the government's Housing Bill makes its way through Parliament. The legislation offers the Right-to-Buy for housing association tenants and also covers so-called "starter homes" which are aimed at first-time buyers.
Mr Corbyn said these homes would be unaffordable to people on the new National Living Wages living in 98% of council areas.
Rather than building more affordable homes, the government was "branding more homes as affordable", he added.
Mr Cameron said he and the Labour leader both owned their own homes, asking: "Why won't we let those 1.3 million (housing association tenants) own their homes?"
With his questions, Angus Robertson, the SNP's Westminster leader, called for the return of a post-study work visa for foreign students, saying business and colleges in Scotland supported the move.
The PM said such a visa would effectively tell foreign students "it's okay to stay with a less than graduate job".
He told MPs: "We don't need the world's brightest and best to come here to study and then to do menial labour jobs, which actually that's not what our immigration system is for."
Jeremy Corbyn stuck to one broad subject - housing - for each of his allocated questions, surprising pundits by avoiding the junior doctors' strike.
He introduced two members of the public - Daryl on whether tenants would be offered replacement housing in the same areas, and Linda, who was worried about her tenancy if she downsizes when she gets older.
The atmosphere in the Commons was noticeably rowdier than some of the Labour leader's early appearances, when Mr Corbyn called for a different approach reflecting his "new politics".
The prime minister managed a dig about Labour's drawn-out reshuffle, which he said was "still going on", and rounded off his answers by claiming Mr Corbyn "does not believe in Britain". |
Add punctuation: The Ufa player said he was the subject of monkey chants before being sent off for a gesture against Spartak Moscow.
Spartak will not be punished as the RFU said it found no evidence of racism.
"For the Russian FA to say they didn't hear or see any evidence of racism is beyond a joke," Frimpong tweeted.
"Been banned for two games - acceptable on my part for the gesture, no problems with that.
"I've always said we are blessed in England and how wonderful of a country it is. Not saying there isn't racism in England of course. Must stress not all Russians behave like that."
Artur Grigoryants, head of the disciplinary committee, said: "The match inspector and the match delegate did not note that there had been any disciplinary violations by Spartak supporters towards Frimpong in the match reports.
"There were no instances of racism. We have no grounds to take disciplinary sanctions against Spartak."
Ghana midfielder Frimpong, 23, apologised for his reaction but did not attend the hearing.
Last season, Dynamo Moscow's Congolese defender Christopher Samba was given the same ban for an identical offence.
Zenit St Petersburg's Brazilian striker Hulk has recently said racism happens at "almost every game" in the Russian league and that it is a genuine threat to the 2018 World Cup, which will he held in the country.
He said he had repeatedly faced monkey chants and also accused a referee of racially abusing him.
It was announced on Wednesday that the striker will be one of the star names taking part in the preliminary draw for the World Cup, along with compatriot Ronaldo, former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro and ex-Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o. | The Ufa player said he was the subject of monkey chants before being sent off for a gesture against Spartak Moscow.
Spartak will not be punished as the RFU said it found no evidence of racism.
"For the Russian FA to say they didn't hear or see any evidence of racism is beyond a joke," Frimpong tweeted.
"Been banned for two games - acceptable on my part for the gesture, no problems with that.
"I've always said we are blessed in England and how wonderful of a country it is. Not saying there isn't racism in England of course. Must stress not all Russians behave like that."
Artur Grigoryants, head of the disciplinary committee, said: "The match inspector and the match delegate did not note that there had been any disciplinary violations by Spartak supporters towards Frimpong in the match reports.
"There were no instances of racism. We have no grounds to take disciplinary sanctions against Spartak."
Ghana midfielder Frimpong, 23, apologised for his reaction but did not attend the hearing.
Last season, Dynamo Moscow's Congolese defender Christopher Samba was given the same ban for an identical offence.
Zenit St Petersburg's Brazilian striker Hulk has recently said racism happens at "almost every game" in the Russian league and that it is a genuine threat to the 2018 World Cup, which will he held in the country.
He said he had repeatedly faced monkey chants and also accused a referee of racially abusing him.
It was announced on Wednesday that the striker will be one of the star names taking part in the preliminary draw for the World Cup, along with compatriot Ronaldo, former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro and ex-Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o. |
Add punctuation: Katie Bergin had been trying to track down her father Anthony Brown since her mother gave her pictures of them together when she was a baby.
She "found her needle in a haystack" 11,000 miles away in Australia after a plea for help on Facebook.
"Dad said it's like the moon and stars coming back to earth," said Ms Bergin.
The pair had both been trying to track each other down - but Ms Bergin's break came with a little help from one of the genealogist firms featured on the BBC programme Heir Hunters.
"It has been such an emotional time, it's been a whirlwind and I have never been more happy," said Ms Bergin, 51.
"The first time we spoke on the phone, we both just cried and cried. After 10 minutes I had to say 'I'll call you back' because I was so emotional.
"I bought a ticket to Australia ASAP and got here as soon as I could. I just wanted to hug him!"
Mr Brown, now 77, left Wrexham as a 17-year-old to join the armed forces.
He met Ms Bergin's mother Anne in 1964 as he worked at the Scarsdale Arms pub in Kensington, London.
Katie was born in 1965 after a brief relationship but Mr Brown only saw his daughter once, when he gave her a panda teddy bear.
"I've always wanted to track down Dad ever since Mum told me the story," Ms Bergin said.
"She gave me a few pictures of Dad, told me his name was Anthony Brown and was originally from Wrexham.
"I've spent my life searching phone books, calling random A Browns or latterly searching for A Browns on the internet but as you can imagine, A Brown is quite a popular name."
Ms Bergin, who grew up in London finally had a breakthrough in April.
A partner from one of the probate research firms which features on the BBC's Heir Hunters show saw her post on Facebook and offered to help.
"After a few weeks of work, he said he is probably overseas," Ms Bergin added.
"That was a huge blow as I thought my needle in a haystack search in the UK had just got much, much bigger! But somehow, he found a number for dad's sister-in-law, who lives in Shropshire.
"I called her and sent some photos and she said that's your dad - but he's in Australia! She gave me his number and I called. It was an amazing moment when I first heard his voice!"
Mr Brown emigrated to Australia in 1975 and became a car salesman. Now retired, he lives in Albury, New South Wales with his wife Marge.
"He had told Marge he had a long-lost daughter and his dream was to meet me," said Ms Bergin.
"He has suffered a heart attack and cancer but said he couldn't go until he met me.
"I took the panda he gave me as a kid with me to Australia and I'll be spending my 52nd birthday with him in June - my first with my dad." | Katie Bergin had been trying to track down her father Anthony Brown since her mother gave her pictures of them together when she was a baby.
She "found her needle in a haystack" 11,000 miles away in Australia after a plea for help on Facebook.
"Dad said it's like the moon and stars coming back to earth," said Ms Bergin.
The pair had both been trying to track each other down - but Ms Bergin's break came with a little help from one of the genealogist firms featured on the BBC programme Heir Hunters.
"It has been such an emotional time, it's been a whirlwind and I have never been more happy," said Ms Bergin, 51.
"The first time we spoke on the phone, we both just cried and cried. After 10 minutes I had to say 'I'll call you back' because I was so emotional.
"I bought a ticket to Australia ASAP and got here as soon as I could. I just wanted to hug him!"
Mr Brown, now 77, left Wrexham as a 17-year-old to join the armed forces.
He met Ms Bergin's mother Anne in 1964 as he worked at the Scarsdale Arms pub in Kensington, London.
Katie was born in 1965 after a brief relationship but Mr Brown only saw his daughter once, when he gave her a panda teddy bear.
"I've always wanted to track down Dad ever since Mum told me the story," Ms Bergin said.
"She gave me a few pictures of Dad, told me his name was Anthony Brown and was originally from Wrexham.
"I've spent my life searching phone books, calling random A Browns or latterly searching for A Browns on the internet but as you can imagine, A Brown is quite a popular name."
Ms Bergin, who grew up in London finally had a breakthrough in April.
A partner from one of the probate research firms which features on the BBC's Heir Hunters show saw her post on Facebook and offered to help.
"After a few weeks of work, he said he is probably overseas," Ms Bergin added.
"That was a huge blow as I thought my needle in a haystack search in the UK had just got much, much bigger! But somehow, he found a number for dad's sister-in-law, who lives in Shropshire.
"I called her and sent some photos and she said that's your dad - but he's in Australia! She gave me his number and I called. It was an amazing moment when I first heard his voice!"
Mr Brown emigrated to Australia in 1975 and became a car salesman. Now retired, he lives in Albury, New South Wales with his wife Marge.
"He had told Marge he had a long-lost daughter and his dream was to meet me," said Ms Bergin.
"He has suffered a heart attack and cancer but said he couldn't go until he met me.
"I took the panda he gave me as a kid with me to Australia and I'll be spending my 52nd birthday with him in June - my first with my dad." |
Add punctuation: The 63-year-old appeared via videolink from prison at Chester Crown Court.
Mr Bennell had already denied eight of the offences but entered not guilty pleas again as 12 further charges were added.
He was a youth scout and junior football coach associated with a number of clubs, most notably Crewe Alexandra.
The charges include 14 counts of indecent assault, five counts of serious sexual assault and one count of attempted serious sexual assault.
The alleged offences took place between 1980 and 1987 and involved four complainants who were boys under 16 at the time.
The case was adjourned to 3 July when a hearing will take place at Liverpool Crown Court.
Judge Roger Dutton said a trial was likely to be listed for January in Liverpool.
Mr Bennell was remanded in custody. | The 63-year-old appeared via videolink from prison at Chester Crown Court.
Mr Bennell had already denied eight of the offences but entered not guilty pleas again as 12 further charges were added.
He was a youth scout and junior football coach associated with a number of clubs, most notably Crewe Alexandra.
The charges include 14 counts of indecent assault, five counts of serious sexual assault and one count of attempted serious sexual assault.
The alleged offences took place between 1980 and 1987 and involved four complainants who were boys under 16 at the time.
The case was adjourned to 3 July when a hearing will take place at Liverpool Crown Court.
Judge Roger Dutton said a trial was likely to be listed for January in Liverpool.
Mr Bennell was remanded in custody. |
Add punctuation: The 19-year-old, a former West Ham trainee, played 15 times for Ipswich in the Championship last season.
Emmanuel made his professional debut in August 2015, 10 days before his 18th birthday, and later that season had a brief loan spell with Crawley.
He is the second Ipswich player to be signed on loan by Rotherham this week, after striker Kieffer Moore.
In total, Emmanuel has made 24 appearances for Ipswich.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | The 19-year-old, a former West Ham trainee, played 15 times for Ipswich in the Championship last season.
Emmanuel made his professional debut in August 2015, 10 days before his 18th birthday, and later that season had a brief loan spell with Crawley.
He is the second Ipswich player to be signed on loan by Rotherham this week, after striker Kieffer Moore.
In total, Emmanuel has made 24 appearances for Ipswich.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. |
Add punctuation: A 91-year-old woman has a head injury and a 72-year-old woman has a serious leg injury following the crash on Scoonie Road in Leven just before 09:30.
It is understood a Honda Civic hit a parked Ford B-Max, which then crashed into the pedestrians and the wall.
The 35-year-old driver of the Honda is in hospital with minor injuries.
The Scottish Ambulance Service took the three women to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.
Their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
Nobody was in the parked car. | A 91-year-old woman has a head injury and a 72-year-old woman has a serious leg injury following the crash on Scoonie Road in Leven just before 09:30.
It is understood a Honda Civic hit a parked Ford B-Max, which then crashed into the pedestrians and the wall.
The 35-year-old driver of the Honda is in hospital with minor injuries.
The Scottish Ambulance Service took the three women to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.
Their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
Nobody was in the parked car. |
Add punctuation: In the distance it appears like a tiny blur against the bright light of noon.
But coming closer, gathering force, the wind creates a moving cloud of sand.
By the time it reaches the Tuareg nomads in the desert north of Agadez it is whipping into faces, stinging every piece of exposed skin.
They hunker down and turn their backs to the wind and wait for the storm to pass.
Every choice in this landscape is defined by the imperative of survival.
For the Tuareg of Niger, life is a constant struggle against the accumulating challenges of hunger and poverty.
They live in a country which ranks lowest on the United Nations human development index - 187 out of 187 - and which has the world's highest birth rate.
Niger also has one of the world's highest rates of child marriage.
About 24% of girls will be married by the time they are 15. That rises to nearly 80% by the age of 18. It is a social phenomenon that affects all significant ethnic groups in Niger, including the majority Hausa community.
The main reason is economic.
Hard-pressed families receive a "bride price" in return for their daughter's hand in marriage. A girl married off is also one less mouth to feed.
And there is a deep-rooted fear of unmarried teenaged girls falling pregnant, or as one mother put it: "They can easily become delinquents."
The story of child marriage in Niger is rooted in poverty and the overall position of women in society.
In the northern city of Agadez, we were told of marriages of Tuareg girls to wealthy men from neighbouring Nigeria where thousands of dollars were paid - the price varying according to the girl's beauty.
One mother, Amina, who asked that her full name not be used, has a 15-year-old daughter.
She is unemployed and separated from her husband, and described Niger as a place where "there is no room for women to dream dreams".
Marriage was her daughter's choice but she herself would welcome a wealthy suitor, she said.
"Many families have no choice… When a wealthy Nigerian comes offering millions [in local currency], they will let them marry, even if they are young," Amina added.
For some the consequences of such marriage can be catastrophic.
Aysha, which is not her real name, was married at 13 to a businessman from the northern Nigerian city of Kano.
"I didn't think it was about marrying someone I would be happy with," she said, "but I was very young and I didn't have anybody to whom I could go for advice."
Far from her family, Aysha found herself imprisoned in her new husband's home.
"He was always trying to make it clear that it was as if he had bought me, that it was not because I wanted him but because he had bought me," she told the BBC.
Aysha recalled that after about 10 days, he came and locked her in the bedroom.
"He mistreated me at home… One day he locked me in the bedroom… It is as if he raped me," she said.
The teenager later managed to escape with the help of her brother - and is now 21 and studying to be a nurse.
There are also significant health issues for young girls who become pregnant.
At the Dimol Clinic in Niger's capital, Niamey, there were girls who had been married as young as 12.
Dimol means "dignity" in the Hausa language and the clinic treats girls and woman for fistula - a gynaecological condition often occurring in girls giving birth before they are physically mature. It can lead to severe infection and incontinence.
The clinic director is Salamatou Traore, a straight-talking symbol of African dynamism, who blames poverty and the lack of education for much of the problem.
"Getting change is very difficult and it is very costly - it is not easy, because most of the population is illiterate," she said.
"They don't go to school and they don't allow the girls to go school. Change is difficult."
While the marriage of young girls is a social norm here, it is also given explicit backing by religious leaders.
When the government tried to introduce laws to give more protection to girls, it faced strong opposition from prominent clerics in this overwhelmingly Muslim country.
At a Koranic school in Agadez, Sheikh Abbas Yahaya told the BBC that marriage should depend on the physical maturity of the couple.
"It depends on the body of the girl and the man's body," he said.
"If the two are mature the marriage can be OK also, because in Islamic religion even at age nine years, if the girl is in the right condition she can be able to get married."
The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) has been campaigning for change. It carries out awareness programmes in towns and villages.
Its chief child protection officer in Niger, Brigitte Sonnois, says child marriage must be tackled on a wide front.
Creating food security for families is essential as well as education and, critically, changing the status of women in society.
"People do not really see the value of education for girls as they mostly expected to be wives and mothers and raise children," she told the BBC.
Changing such attitudes, and tackling the poverty that helps create them, is a daunting task.
To most girls living in poverty the prospect of having a choice about their lives is remote. | In the distance it appears like a tiny blur against the bright light of noon.
But coming closer, gathering force, the wind creates a moving cloud of sand.
By the time it reaches the Tuareg nomads in the desert north of Agadez it is whipping into faces, stinging every piece of exposed skin.
They hunker down and turn their backs to the wind and wait for the storm to pass.
Every choice in this landscape is defined by the imperative of survival.
For the Tuareg of Niger, life is a constant struggle against the accumulating challenges of hunger and poverty.
They live in a country which ranks lowest on the United Nations human development index - 187 out of 187 - and which has the world's highest birth rate.
Niger also has one of the world's highest rates of child marriage.
About 24% of girls will be married by the time they are 15. That rises to nearly 80% by the age of 18. It is a social phenomenon that affects all significant ethnic groups in Niger, including the majority Hausa community.
The main reason is economic.
Hard-pressed families receive a "bride price" in return for their daughter's hand in marriage. A girl married off is also one less mouth to feed.
And there is a deep-rooted fear of unmarried teenaged girls falling pregnant, or as one mother put it: "They can easily become delinquents."
The story of child marriage in Niger is rooted in poverty and the overall position of women in society.
In the northern city of Agadez, we were told of marriages of Tuareg girls to wealthy men from neighbouring Nigeria where thousands of dollars were paid - the price varying according to the girl's beauty.
One mother, Amina, who asked that her full name not be used, has a 15-year-old daughter.
She is unemployed and separated from her husband, and described Niger as a place where "there is no room for women to dream dreams".
Marriage was her daughter's choice but she herself would welcome a wealthy suitor, she said.
"Many families have no choice… When a wealthy Nigerian comes offering millions [in local currency], they will let them marry, even if they are young," Amina added.
For some the consequences of such marriage can be catastrophic.
Aysha, which is not her real name, was married at 13 to a businessman from the northern Nigerian city of Kano.
"I didn't think it was about marrying someone I would be happy with," she said, "but I was very young and I didn't have anybody to whom I could go for advice."
Far from her family, Aysha found herself imprisoned in her new husband's home.
"He was always trying to make it clear that it was as if he had bought me, that it was not because I wanted him but because he had bought me," she told the BBC.
Aysha recalled that after about 10 days, he came and locked her in the bedroom.
"He mistreated me at home… One day he locked me in the bedroom… It is as if he raped me," she said.
The teenager later managed to escape with the help of her brother - and is now 21 and studying to be a nurse.
There are also significant health issues for young girls who become pregnant.
At the Dimol Clinic in Niger's capital, Niamey, there were girls who had been married as young as 12.
Dimol means "dignity" in the Hausa language and the clinic treats girls and woman for fistula - a gynaecological condition often occurring in girls giving birth before they are physically mature. It can lead to severe infection and incontinence.
The clinic director is Salamatou Traore, a straight-talking symbol of African dynamism, who blames poverty and the lack of education for much of the problem.
"Getting change is very difficult and it is very costly - it is not easy, because most of the population is illiterate," she said.
"They don't go to school and they don't allow the girls to go school. Change is difficult."
While the marriage of young girls is a social norm here, it is also given explicit backing by religious leaders.
When the government tried to introduce laws to give more protection to girls, it faced strong opposition from prominent clerics in this overwhelmingly Muslim country.
At a Koranic school in Agadez, Sheikh Abbas Yahaya told the BBC that marriage should depend on the physical maturity of the couple.
"It depends on the body of the girl and the man's body," he said.
"If the two are mature the marriage can be OK also, because in Islamic religion even at age nine years, if the girl is in the right condition she can be able to get married."
The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) has been campaigning for change. It carries out awareness programmes in towns and villages.
Its chief child protection officer in Niger, Brigitte Sonnois, says child marriage must be tackled on a wide front.
Creating food security for families is essential as well as education and, critically, changing the status of women in society.
"People do not really see the value of education for girls as they mostly expected to be wives and mothers and raise children," she told the BBC.
Changing such attitudes, and tackling the poverty that helps create them, is a daunting task.
To most girls living in poverty the prospect of having a choice about their lives is remote. |
Add punctuation: Sgt Robert Bye was given the honour for his conduct during the first day of the 3rd Battle of Ypres on 31 July 1917.
A paving stone bearing his name will be laid at Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, Pontypridd, in a special ceremony.
The Welsh Guardsman, who was given a hero's welcome at home, went on to become a miner. He died in 1962.
His WWI VC citation describes how his action led to 70 German soldiers being captured or killed.
The 3rd Battle of Ypres - also known as The Battle of Passchendaele - claimed more than 300,000 allied casualties, or 35 for every metre of territory taken.
On the first morning of the battle, Sgt Bye's company took the German's lightly-guarded forward line, but soon after ran into trouble as they came under machine gun fire from a heavily fortified system of blockhouses along the support line.
With the attack floundering, Sgt Bye crawled alone to the rear of the nearest blockhouse and threw in a hand grenade.
When soldiers in the neighbouring blockhouse turned its fire on him, he managed to dodge the bullets and silenced that post as well.
As a result, the Welsh Guards were able to secure all the objectives they had been set that morning.
Sgt Bye was presented with his Victoria Cross by King George V on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace on 5 September 1917.
On his homecoming, the streets of Penrhiwceiber were decked out with bunting and schools were closed for a holiday to mark the occasion.
The Welsh Guards will be represented at next Friday's ceremony.
Major Karl Dawson said: "Sergeant Robert Bye VC epitomises the bravery and commitment we see in our Guardsmen on operations today.
"Learning from these experiences and honouring our brave is the pride of our wider Welsh family inheritance. Once a Guardsmen, always a Guardsman."
After WW1, Sgt Bye was promoted to Sergeant Major, and transferred to the Sherwood Foresters.
He also saw action in WW2, becoming a coalminer after the war. He died on August 23, 1962, aged 72. | Sgt Robert Bye was given the honour for his conduct during the first day of the 3rd Battle of Ypres on 31 July 1917.
A paving stone bearing his name will be laid at Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, Pontypridd, in a special ceremony.
The Welsh Guardsman, who was given a hero's welcome at home, went on to become a miner. He died in 1962.
His WWI VC citation describes how his action led to 70 German soldiers being captured or killed.
The 3rd Battle of Ypres - also known as The Battle of Passchendaele - claimed more than 300,000 allied casualties, or 35 for every metre of territory taken.
On the first morning of the battle, Sgt Bye's company took the German's lightly-guarded forward line, but soon after ran into trouble as they came under machine gun fire from a heavily fortified system of blockhouses along the support line.
With the attack floundering, Sgt Bye crawled alone to the rear of the nearest blockhouse and threw in a hand grenade.
When soldiers in the neighbouring blockhouse turned its fire on him, he managed to dodge the bullets and silenced that post as well.
As a result, the Welsh Guards were able to secure all the objectives they had been set that morning.
Sgt Bye was presented with his Victoria Cross by King George V on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace on 5 September 1917.
On his homecoming, the streets of Penrhiwceiber were decked out with bunting and schools were closed for a holiday to mark the occasion.
The Welsh Guards will be represented at next Friday's ceremony.
Major Karl Dawson said: "Sergeant Robert Bye VC epitomises the bravery and commitment we see in our Guardsmen on operations today.
"Learning from these experiences and honouring our brave is the pride of our wider Welsh family inheritance. Once a Guardsmen, always a Guardsman."
After WW1, Sgt Bye was promoted to Sergeant Major, and transferred to the Sherwood Foresters.
He also saw action in WW2, becoming a coalminer after the war. He died on August 23, 1962, aged 72. |
Add punctuation: The successor to Jacques Bihozagara as Rwanda's ambassador to Belgium has called the death an assassination.
No official reason has been given for his death.
Relations between the two neighbours have been strained recently, amid claims Rwanda was backing rebels seeking to overthrow Burundi's president, something Rwanda denies.
Africa Live: BBC news updates
Mr Bihozagara was dead within minutes of arriving at the prison hospital, according to fellow prisoners.
A Rwandan foreign ministry official told AFP news agency that he had been illegally detained and urged the authorities to clarify this sudden death, "which raises many questions".
Mr Bihozagara was arrested last December by Burundi's intelligence services on suspicion of spying for his country.
He was a retired ambassador and former youth minister.
He lived in Burundi before the Rwandan genocide in 1994 and after his retirement, he visited the country regularly on business, reports the Rwandan newspaper the New Times.
Rwanda and Burundi have a difficult relationship.
In February, Rwanda was accused of training Burundian rebels in its refugee camps and subsequently announced that it would try to relocate all Burundian refugees to other host counties.
At least 240,000 people have fled Burundi in the last year.
Burundi has been hit by unrest since President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to stand for a third term last April. | The successor to Jacques Bihozagara as Rwanda's ambassador to Belgium has called the death an assassination.
No official reason has been given for his death.
Relations between the two neighbours have been strained recently, amid claims Rwanda was backing rebels seeking to overthrow Burundi's president, something Rwanda denies.
Africa Live: BBC news updates
Mr Bihozagara was dead within minutes of arriving at the prison hospital, according to fellow prisoners.
A Rwandan foreign ministry official told AFP news agency that he had been illegally detained and urged the authorities to clarify this sudden death, "which raises many questions".
Mr Bihozagara was arrested last December by Burundi's intelligence services on suspicion of spying for his country.
He was a retired ambassador and former youth minister.
He lived in Burundi before the Rwandan genocide in 1994 and after his retirement, he visited the country regularly on business, reports the Rwandan newspaper the New Times.
Rwanda and Burundi have a difficult relationship.
In February, Rwanda was accused of training Burundian rebels in its refugee camps and subsequently announced that it would try to relocate all Burundian refugees to other host counties.
At least 240,000 people have fled Burundi in the last year.
Burundi has been hit by unrest since President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to stand for a third term last April. |
Add punctuation: The 21-year-old has risen through the club's youth ranks and made his senior debut against Southampton in 2014.
He has now made 53 league appearances for the League One side, with a single goal against Shrewsbury in April 2016.
Thompson told the club website: "I love it here. I love playing here. It's a great club and a great place to play your football. Long may it continue."
Millwall, who are 10th in League One and five points outside the promotion play-off zone, host 12th-placed Walsall on Wednesday. | The 21-year-old has risen through the club's youth ranks and made his senior debut against Southampton in 2014.
He has now made 53 league appearances for the League One side, with a single goal against Shrewsbury in April 2016.
Thompson told the club website: "I love it here. I love playing here. It's a great club and a great place to play your football. Long may it continue."
Millwall, who are 10th in League One and five points outside the promotion play-off zone, host 12th-placed Walsall on Wednesday. |
Add punctuation: In the wake of what is officially classified as one of the two worst nuclear accidents in history, ranking at Category Seven on the International Event Scale (INES), the "electricity too cheap to meter" vision of the 1950s appeared to be turning into a technology too costly to contemplate in terms of the human and financial balance-sheets.
Within weeks, Germany announced it would close all its nuclear reactors, and Switzerland followed suit. Even China, busiest of the new builders, delayed approval for new power stations.
And around the world, opinion poll after opinion poll showed nuclear power losing its lustre.
"Fukushima impacted significantly, firstly on public opinion, and secondly by creating the need to analyse what happened from a technical point of view, to learn lessons and apply them," says Luis Echavarri, director-general of the ONuclear Energy Agency (NEA) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
"I see a clear impact on plans for the future in the sense that there is a certain delay in taking decisions on new power plants - I think that's going to last for three to four years."
The vast majority of the reactors operating before Fukushima are still operating; even Germany stopped short of shutting them all down.
The glaring exception is in Japan itself, where only two out of 54 reactors are currently in operation. Some are shut for good; with others, local authorities have yet to decide whether to permit a restart.
But outside Japan, how does the future look a year on? Will Fukushima mark a full stop or just a comma in the nuclear story?
As always with this issue, the same set of facts produces very different interpretations.
John Ritch, director-general of the industry-backed World Nuclear Association (WNA), believes it has created a small pause - nothing more.
"Fukushima was a setback in terms of public perception and increased timidity on the part of policymakers," he says.
"But we're quite confident that the underlying facts remain the same; and that's what's caused dozens of governments to review their policies for the 21st Century and decide to make nuclear energy a central part."
Central to those "underlying facts" is the need for rapid decarbonisation of global energy to avert dangerous climate change.
Germany, he asserts, will come to rue its decision to pursue that goal through renewables alone.
Tom Burke, founding director of the sustainable development thinktank E3G and a long-time opponent of the nuclear industry, has a very different take.
"What I think will be even more significant [than German-style closures] in the long term is the economic impact," he says.
"The economics of nuclear have always been bad; and because countries such as Japan and Germany in particular are going to drive even harder into renewables, costs are going to come down even faster than they have, making nuclear even less cost-effective."
He also cites blockages in the supply chain, skills shortages and escalating concerns over Iran's possible military intentions as factors set to take nuclear out of the equation.
One thing is clear: even before Fukushima, the real centre of nuclear power was shifting from its traditional heavy users such as France and the US to Asia.
Timeline: nuclear accidents
South Korea has emerged as a major user of nuclear electricity and an exporter of technology; but China is the really big player.
Of about 60 reactors under construction around the world, 26 are in China, with many more set to follow.
There are observers who quietly applaud China for its apparent capacity to build reactors on time and on budget, while European projects at Flamanville in France and Olkiluoto in Finland flounder in a miasma of escalating costs and stretched deadlines.
Tom Burke is not among them. He points to the low building standards that contributed to the heavy death toll from the 2008 Sichuan earthquake and the recent health scare over melamine in milk products as evidence that China struggles with quality control - a key issue in building reliable nuclear reactors.
"How China is possibly going to create quality control mechanisms of a standard that exceed the Finns or the French is beyond me," he says.
"So what you're basically doing if you're in a country such as the UK is you're putting your future carbon policy in the hands of Chinese quality control inspectors, because if China drops another Category Seven incident, nobody's going to be able to run reactors."
The UK and many other countries are - at least on paper - pushing ahead with plans to build new reactors as part of a package aimed at curbing global warming and increasing their energy security.
However, a new trend has emerged in the last six months or so, with France - the biggest nuclear nation in Europe - announcing plans to extend the lives of existing reactors rather than build a big fleet of new ones.
In the US, licences for two new reactors were granted in February, the first since 1978 - underwritten by a vast $8bn (£5.1bn) in loan guarantees from the public purse. But the new build number is dwarfed by the 60-odd old ones that have been granted 20-year stays of execution.
This is bound to have an impact on other countries' programmes. If fewer reactors are being built, there is much less experience from which to learn; less learning makes it harder to build them quickly and cheaply.
With France, for example, constraining its building programme, will that increase costs for the UK?
You can also argue that on safety grounds, this is the wrong strategy: if new designs are safer than old ones, as their publicity would have us believe they are, would not the safest thing be to replace old with new - a kind of nuclear "cash for clunkers"?
Here, the industry gives conflicting messages. During the WNA's news briefing for reporters prior to the Fukushima anniversary, one official listed the increasing safety features of new reactor designs, while another described them as partly "marketing spin".
For John Ritch, the supposedly enhanced safety features of the so-called Generation 3+ reactors coming on to the market, such as the Westinghouse AP-1000 or Areva's EPR, are not really relevant to Fukushima.
"What Fukushima really represented was a failure of imagination," he says.
"You didn't need to tear the station down and build it again with AP-1000s - what you needed to do was spend a few million dollars on sea defences.
"If you live in Japan, you have to anticipate a tsunami, and they didn't do a good job of thinking through the threat - a major requirement is to have backup cooling and they didn't do that; they failed to capture it for years and years."
WNA says that regulators and operators have learned the lessons of Fukushima by putting their reactor fleets through safety reviews and "stress tests".
The processes ask whether there are risks that have not been imagined possible that now have to be considered - both natural risks, like floods, or of human agency.
It asks whether an electricity supply can be maintained in the event of a complex sequence of failures, and whether staff are sufficiently trained to deal with an event of Fukushima-like magnitude.
US stress tests have thrown up issues that are being addressed by spending about $100m across the country - roughly $1m for each reactor.
On the new vs old argument, Mr Ritch uses a car analogy: new cars might be safer than old, but still your old one might be safe enough, and economics might dictate that you do not change it.
Whether the analogy works for people living around the controversial Fessenheim station on the Franco-German border, built on a geological fault line, or near the Vermont Yankee station in the eastern US where maintenance standards were low enough to allow a cooling tower to collapse in 2007, I am not so sure.
Nevertheless, the new designs are beginning to be built, in China as well as France and Finland, and maybe the UK. WNA believes other developing countries are set to join the nuclear club, with Vietnam likely to open its first reactor by 2018 and Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia not far behind.
All have experienced tsunamis in recent years, and how the public would react to the laying of the foundations is unknown.
The Fukushima accident can be traced back to a number of very different factors, depending on how you do your analysis.
Fukushima: Nuclear power's VHS relic?
Among them is the type of reactor used, a boiling water reactor. Steam pressure generated by excess heat and a reliance on pumps for cooling were among the facets of the design that created the sequence of events we saw.
So has Fukushima accelerated development of the so-called Generation 4 designs, some radically different from anything on the market now and potentially much safer?
The OECD's NEA funds part of the Generation 4 initiative, but Luis Echavarri does not see deployment any time soon.
"My view is that Generation 4 reactors need to be based on recovering credibility with public opinion first, so Gen 3 and 3+ have to be successful first," he says.
"Gen 4 do have the objective of being safer, but there are other criteria too: more economic, less waste, reduced proliferation risk - that's the combination that will make them attractive, but they need 20-30 years to be in the marketplace.
"And if they are to be in the marketplace in 20-30 years' time, then we first need to recover the credibility damaged by Fukushima."
The implication is clear: if the credibility damaged by Fukushima is not recovered, neither will the nuclear industry.
Some of the key things likely to determine whether credibility is restored include building new reactors on time and to budget, effectively cleaning up the Fukushima site and ideally allowing many of the displaced to return home, and developing robust long-term storage for waste.
And above all - no more accidents.
Follow Richard on Twitter | In the wake of what is officially classified as one of the two worst nuclear accidents in history, ranking at Category Seven on the International Event Scale (INES), the "electricity too cheap to meter" vision of the 1950s appeared to be turning into a technology too costly to contemplate in terms of the human and financial balance-sheets.
Within weeks, Germany announced it would close all its nuclear reactors, and Switzerland followed suit. Even China, busiest of the new builders, delayed approval for new power stations.
And around the world, opinion poll after opinion poll showed nuclear power losing its lustre.
"Fukushima impacted significantly, firstly on public opinion, and secondly by creating the need to analyse what happened from a technical point of view, to learn lessons and apply them," says Luis Echavarri, director-general of the ONuclear Energy Agency (NEA) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
"I see a clear impact on plans for the future in the sense that there is a certain delay in taking decisions on new power plants - I think that's going to last for three to four years."
The vast majority of the reactors operating before Fukushima are still operating; even Germany stopped short of shutting them all down.
The glaring exception is in Japan itself, where only two out of 54 reactors are currently in operation. Some are shut for good; with others, local authorities have yet to decide whether to permit a restart.
But outside Japan, how does the future look a year on? Will Fukushima mark a full stop or just a comma in the nuclear story?
As always with this issue, the same set of facts produces very different interpretations.
John Ritch, director-general of the industry-backed World Nuclear Association (WNA), believes it has created a small pause - nothing more.
"Fukushima was a setback in terms of public perception and increased timidity on the part of policymakers," he says.
"But we're quite confident that the underlying facts remain the same; and that's what's caused dozens of governments to review their policies for the 21st Century and decide to make nuclear energy a central part."
Central to those "underlying facts" is the need for rapid decarbonisation of global energy to avert dangerous climate change.
Germany, he asserts, will come to rue its decision to pursue that goal through renewables alone.
Tom Burke, founding director of the sustainable development thinktank E3G and a long-time opponent of the nuclear industry, has a very different take.
"What I think will be even more significant [than German-style closures] in the long term is the economic impact," he says.
"The economics of nuclear have always been bad; and because countries such as Japan and Germany in particular are going to drive even harder into renewables, costs are going to come down even faster than they have, making nuclear even less cost-effective."
He also cites blockages in the supply chain, skills shortages and escalating concerns over Iran's possible military intentions as factors set to take nuclear out of the equation.
One thing is clear: even before Fukushima, the real centre of nuclear power was shifting from its traditional heavy users such as France and the US to Asia.
Timeline: nuclear accidents
South Korea has emerged as a major user of nuclear electricity and an exporter of technology; but China is the really big player.
Of about 60 reactors under construction around the world, 26 are in China, with many more set to follow.
There are observers who quietly applaud China for its apparent capacity to build reactors on time and on budget, while European projects at Flamanville in France and Olkiluoto in Finland flounder in a miasma of escalating costs and stretched deadlines.
Tom Burke is not among them. He points to the low building standards that contributed to the heavy death toll from the 2008 Sichuan earthquake and the recent health scare over melamine in milk products as evidence that China struggles with quality control - a key issue in building reliable nuclear reactors.
"How China is possibly going to create quality control mechanisms of a standard that exceed the Finns or the French is beyond me," he says.
"So what you're basically doing if you're in a country such as the UK is you're putting your future carbon policy in the hands of Chinese quality control inspectors, because if China drops another Category Seven incident, nobody's going to be able to run reactors."
The UK and many other countries are - at least on paper - pushing ahead with plans to build new reactors as part of a package aimed at curbing global warming and increasing their energy security.
However, a new trend has emerged in the last six months or so, with France - the biggest nuclear nation in Europe - announcing plans to extend the lives of existing reactors rather than build a big fleet of new ones.
In the US, licences for two new reactors were granted in February, the first since 1978 - underwritten by a vast $8bn (£5.1bn) in loan guarantees from the public purse. But the new build number is dwarfed by the 60-odd old ones that have been granted 20-year stays of execution.
This is bound to have an impact on other countries' programmes. If fewer reactors are being built, there is much less experience from which to learn; less learning makes it harder to build them quickly and cheaply.
With France, for example, constraining its building programme, will that increase costs for the UK?
You can also argue that on safety grounds, this is the wrong strategy: if new designs are safer than old ones, as their publicity would have us believe they are, would not the safest thing be to replace old with new - a kind of nuclear "cash for clunkers"?
Here, the industry gives conflicting messages. During the WNA's news briefing for reporters prior to the Fukushima anniversary, one official listed the increasing safety features of new reactor designs, while another described them as partly "marketing spin".
For John Ritch, the supposedly enhanced safety features of the so-called Generation 3+ reactors coming on to the market, such as the Westinghouse AP-1000 or Areva's EPR, are not really relevant to Fukushima.
"What Fukushima really represented was a failure of imagination," he says.
"You didn't need to tear the station down and build it again with AP-1000s - what you needed to do was spend a few million dollars on sea defences.
"If you live in Japan, you have to anticipate a tsunami, and they didn't do a good job of thinking through the threat - a major requirement is to have backup cooling and they didn't do that; they failed to capture it for years and years."
WNA says that regulators and operators have learned the lessons of Fukushima by putting their reactor fleets through safety reviews and "stress tests".
The processes ask whether there are risks that have not been imagined possible that now have to be considered - both natural risks, like floods, or of human agency.
It asks whether an electricity supply can be maintained in the event of a complex sequence of failures, and whether staff are sufficiently trained to deal with an event of Fukushima-like magnitude.
US stress tests have thrown up issues that are being addressed by spending about $100m across the country - roughly $1m for each reactor.
On the new vs old argument, Mr Ritch uses a car analogy: new cars might be safer than old, but still your old one might be safe enough, and economics might dictate that you do not change it.
Whether the analogy works for people living around the controversial Fessenheim station on the Franco-German border, built on a geological fault line, or near the Vermont Yankee station in the eastern US where maintenance standards were low enough to allow a cooling tower to collapse in 2007, I am not so sure.
Nevertheless, the new designs are beginning to be built, in China as well as France and Finland, and maybe the UK. WNA believes other developing countries are set to join the nuclear club, with Vietnam likely to open its first reactor by 2018 and Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia not far behind.
All have experienced tsunamis in recent years, and how the public would react to the laying of the foundations is unknown.
The Fukushima accident can be traced back to a number of very different factors, depending on how you do your analysis.
Fukushima: Nuclear power's VHS relic?
Among them is the type of reactor used, a boiling water reactor. Steam pressure generated by excess heat and a reliance on pumps for cooling were among the facets of the design that created the sequence of events we saw.
So has Fukushima accelerated development of the so-called Generation 4 designs, some radically different from anything on the market now and potentially much safer?
The OECD's NEA funds part of the Generation 4 initiative, but Luis Echavarri does not see deployment any time soon.
"My view is that Generation 4 reactors need to be based on recovering credibility with public opinion first, so Gen 3 and 3+ have to be successful first," he says.
"Gen 4 do have the objective of being safer, but there are other criteria too: more economic, less waste, reduced proliferation risk - that's the combination that will make them attractive, but they need 20-30 years to be in the marketplace.
"And if they are to be in the marketplace in 20-30 years' time, then we first need to recover the credibility damaged by Fukushima."
The implication is clear: if the credibility damaged by Fukushima is not recovered, neither will the nuclear industry.
Some of the key things likely to determine whether credibility is restored include building new reactors on time and to budget, effectively cleaning up the Fukushima site and ideally allowing many of the displaced to return home, and developing robust long-term storage for waste.
And above all - no more accidents.
Follow Richard on Twitter |
Add punctuation: The Austrian was on his second run when a drone carrying a camera crashed onto the slope centimetres behind him.
"This is horrible," said Hirscher, 26. "This can never happen again. This can be a serious injury."
Despite the incident, Hirscher finished in second place, 1.25 seconds behind Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen.
The International Ski Federation (FIS) subsequently announced that it will ban camera drones from its World Cup races.
FIS men's race director Markus Waldner told The Associated Press that drones will be prohibited "because they are a bad thing for safety".
He added: "It was huge luck that Marcel was not hurt. I am very angry."
According to Waldner, FIS agreed the drone could be used but the pilot should not have flown the camera directly over the race course.
"He did not follow our instructions," said Waldner. "He had to fly outside of the race track and follow the racer from a 15-metre distance."
Drones have been used many times before at ski races.
The FIS said the new technology was aimed at enhancing the experience for TV viewers.
That's because a drone provides moving pictures from an overhead angle which regular cameras can't shoot.
The company responsible for the camera drone, sports marketing agency Infront, said the circumstances leading to the crash are "being examined".
In a post on his Instagram account following the drone crash, Hirscher joked there was "heavy air traffic in Italy".
He later wrote a blog, adding: "Quite honestly, if I look at the pictures from the drone crash on the internet, I get sweaty palms and tremble."
Hirscher won slalom silver at the 2014 Winter Olympics and, in March, became the first skier to win the men's overall title four years in a row.
His performance at Madonna di Campiglio on Tuesday helped him reclaim the overall World Cup lead from Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal. | The Austrian was on his second run when a drone carrying a camera crashed onto the slope centimetres behind him.
"This is horrible," said Hirscher, 26. "This can never happen again. This can be a serious injury."
Despite the incident, Hirscher finished in second place, 1.25 seconds behind Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen.
The International Ski Federation (FIS) subsequently announced that it will ban camera drones from its World Cup races.
FIS men's race director Markus Waldner told The Associated Press that drones will be prohibited "because they are a bad thing for safety".
He added: "It was huge luck that Marcel was not hurt. I am very angry."
According to Waldner, FIS agreed the drone could be used but the pilot should not have flown the camera directly over the race course.
"He did not follow our instructions," said Waldner. "He had to fly outside of the race track and follow the racer from a 15-metre distance."
Drones have been used many times before at ski races.
The FIS said the new technology was aimed at enhancing the experience for TV viewers.
That's because a drone provides moving pictures from an overhead angle which regular cameras can't shoot.
The company responsible for the camera drone, sports marketing agency Infront, said the circumstances leading to the crash are "being examined".
In a post on his Instagram account following the drone crash, Hirscher joked there was "heavy air traffic in Italy".
He later wrote a blog, adding: "Quite honestly, if I look at the pictures from the drone crash on the internet, I get sweaty palms and tremble."
Hirscher won slalom silver at the 2014 Winter Olympics and, in March, became the first skier to win the men's overall title four years in a row.
His performance at Madonna di Campiglio on Tuesday helped him reclaim the overall World Cup lead from Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal. |
Add punctuation: Contracts with 13 private prisons will be reviewed and and allowed to expire over the next five years.
"They do not save substantially on costs and ... they do not maintain the same level of safety and security," Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates said explaining the decision.
The majority of US prisoners are held in state-run prisons.
On Wall Street, the stocks of private prison companies declined sharply after the news was announced.
By Thursday afternoon, Corrections Corporation of America stock had plunged by nearly 50%.
An Inspector General's report released this month found that private prisons saw higher rates of violent incidents and rule infractions in comparison with government-run institutions.
Jonathan Burns, a spokesman for the Corrections Corporation of America, told BBC News that the report contained "significant flaws" and that other studies have shown their facilities "to be equal or better with regard to safety and quality".
David Fathi, who directs the National Prison Project for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) told BBC News that the decision could have a trickle-down effect on state and local prisons, where more than 90% of US prisoners are held.
In prison systems "nobody ever wants to be the first" to make changes to policy, Mr Fathi says, so the states will be watching closely to see if the change in federal policy successfully cuts back on violence - and costs.
There were 94,365 prisoners being held in private facilities overseen by states in 2010, according to the Sentencing Project group.
During the Democratic presidential primary race, Hillary Clinton's main rival Senator Bernie Sanders made a campaign promise to end the "private, for-profit prison racket".
Senator Sanders sponsored a bill during his campaign attempting to end the use of private prisons in September 2015 saying "we cannot fix our criminal justice system if corporations are allowed to profit from mass incarceration".
In a statement after the decision, Senator Sanders called the move "an important step in the right direction", and that it is "an international embarrassment that we put more people behind bars than any other country on Earth... due in large part to private prisons".
Mrs Clinton's website states that she will "end the era of mass incarceration, reform mandatory minimum sentences, and end private prisons".
Mother Jones magazine published an expose earlier this month after one of their reporters took a job as a guard at a private prison in Louisiana for four months.
The magazine found the wide scale use of violence by prisoners and guards alike.
The federal government began to rely on private prisons in the 1990's during a period of overcrowding, with the inmate population peaking in 2013.
The decline in prisoner population over the past three years contributed to the Justice Department's decision, Ms Yates said.
President Barack Obama had made criminal justice reform a priority for his administration, and in July 2015 he became the first sitting president to visit a federal prison.
The Obama administration has pushed for shorter sentences for non-violent crimes, while separately Mr Obama has regularly reduced the prison sentences of large groups of non-violent inmates.
"Mass incarceration makes our entire country worse off, and we need to do something about it," Mr Obama said last year.
Earlier this month, Mr Obama commuted the sentences of 214 federal inmates, meaning he has now authorized more prisoner releases that the last nine previous presidents combined, accounting to analysts.
As of December, private prisons housed 22,660 federal inmates, out of a total of nearly 200,000. | Contracts with 13 private prisons will be reviewed and and allowed to expire over the next five years.
"They do not save substantially on costs and ... they do not maintain the same level of safety and security," Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates said explaining the decision.
The majority of US prisoners are held in state-run prisons.
On Wall Street, the stocks of private prison companies declined sharply after the news was announced.
By Thursday afternoon, Corrections Corporation of America stock had plunged by nearly 50%.
An Inspector General's report released this month found that private prisons saw higher rates of violent incidents and rule infractions in comparison with government-run institutions.
Jonathan Burns, a spokesman for the Corrections Corporation of America, told BBC News that the report contained "significant flaws" and that other studies have shown their facilities "to be equal or better with regard to safety and quality".
David Fathi, who directs the National Prison Project for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) told BBC News that the decision could have a trickle-down effect on state and local prisons, where more than 90% of US prisoners are held.
In prison systems "nobody ever wants to be the first" to make changes to policy, Mr Fathi says, so the states will be watching closely to see if the change in federal policy successfully cuts back on violence - and costs.
There were 94,365 prisoners being held in private facilities overseen by states in 2010, according to the Sentencing Project group.
During the Democratic presidential primary race, Hillary Clinton's main rival Senator Bernie Sanders made a campaign promise to end the "private, for-profit prison racket".
Senator Sanders sponsored a bill during his campaign attempting to end the use of private prisons in September 2015 saying "we cannot fix our criminal justice system if corporations are allowed to profit from mass incarceration".
In a statement after the decision, Senator Sanders called the move "an important step in the right direction", and that it is "an international embarrassment that we put more people behind bars than any other country on Earth... due in large part to private prisons".
Mrs Clinton's website states that she will "end the era of mass incarceration, reform mandatory minimum sentences, and end private prisons".
Mother Jones magazine published an expose earlier this month after one of their reporters took a job as a guard at a private prison in Louisiana for four months.
The magazine found the wide scale use of violence by prisoners and guards alike.
The federal government began to rely on private prisons in the 1990's during a period of overcrowding, with the inmate population peaking in 2013.
The decline in prisoner population over the past three years contributed to the Justice Department's decision, Ms Yates said.
President Barack Obama had made criminal justice reform a priority for his administration, and in July 2015 he became the first sitting president to visit a federal prison.
The Obama administration has pushed for shorter sentences for non-violent crimes, while separately Mr Obama has regularly reduced the prison sentences of large groups of non-violent inmates.
"Mass incarceration makes our entire country worse off, and we need to do something about it," Mr Obama said last year.
Earlier this month, Mr Obama commuted the sentences of 214 federal inmates, meaning he has now authorized more prisoner releases that the last nine previous presidents combined, accounting to analysts.
As of December, private prisons housed 22,660 federal inmates, out of a total of nearly 200,000. |
Add punctuation: Media playback is not supported on this device
The Springboks back row forward will join Ulster on a two-year deal from the Bulls in the summer after the conclusion of the Super Rugby campaign.
"I can learn a lot from Rory Best. I'm really looking forward to playing with him," said the 25-year-old.
Botha currently has a shoulder injury but he expects to play again in March.
"I had surgery last year but it's looking very good at the moment. I'm on track and I want to be back in action in March."
The twice capped Botha says conversations with fellow South Africans Marcell Coetzee and Franco van der Merwe convinced him to move to the Irish province, despite the team's struggles this season.
"The people I've spoken to say there is a good vibe there and that it's a good culture. Obviously, they say the weather is not the best but it is something to adapt to.
"I've heard about the performances this season but they have had a lot of injuries and you are not always able to do your best when there are a lot of injuries.
"They are not where they want to be at the moment but I know Ulster is a team that is striving for greatness," added Botha, who has made 46 appearances for the Bulls.
Van der Merwe is departing from Kingspan Stadium at the end of this season to join Cardiff Blues but Botha says his compatriot had nothing but good things to say about the Belfast-based club.
Injury has prevented flanker Coetzee from beginning his Ulster career following his move last summer but he is expected to make his debut for the Irish province against Edinburgh on 10 February.
"I spoke to Franco van der Merwe and for me to have Marcell there is really good for me because we are good friends.
"(Like myself) Marcell is newly married also and I think that is a good thing that my wife can be with his wife.
"My wife is very excited about the move because the farthest she has been out of South Africa is Zanzibar and it is a very exciting thing for us to go north to somewhere we have never been before.
"She is studying to become a chartered accountant. She just did her honours now and that will be a very good thing if she can go over with that (qualification)".
Botha made his Springboks debut against Italy in 2013 but suffered a knee injury just four minutes into his second test against Scotland.
He returned to full fitness and captained the Blues to the final of last year's Currie Cup and Ulster's director of rugby Les Kiss believes the player will be a major addition to his pack.
"He is very aggressive in attack and his ability to get over the gain line will be especially good for us," said the Ulster boss.
"Arno is also strong in defence, he's a nuisance at the breakdown and he's a good lineout option, so he has a very well-rounded game." | Media playback is not supported on this device
The Springboks back row forward will join Ulster on a two-year deal from the Bulls in the summer after the conclusion of the Super Rugby campaign.
"I can learn a lot from Rory Best. I'm really looking forward to playing with him," said the 25-year-old.
Botha currently has a shoulder injury but he expects to play again in March.
"I had surgery last year but it's looking very good at the moment. I'm on track and I want to be back in action in March."
The twice capped Botha says conversations with fellow South Africans Marcell Coetzee and Franco van der Merwe convinced him to move to the Irish province, despite the team's struggles this season.
"The people I've spoken to say there is a good vibe there and that it's a good culture. Obviously, they say the weather is not the best but it is something to adapt to.
"I've heard about the performances this season but they have had a lot of injuries and you are not always able to do your best when there are a lot of injuries.
"They are not where they want to be at the moment but I know Ulster is a team that is striving for greatness," added Botha, who has made 46 appearances for the Bulls.
Van der Merwe is departing from Kingspan Stadium at the end of this season to join Cardiff Blues but Botha says his compatriot had nothing but good things to say about the Belfast-based club.
Injury has prevented flanker Coetzee from beginning his Ulster career following his move last summer but he is expected to make his debut for the Irish province against Edinburgh on 10 February.
"I spoke to Franco van der Merwe and for me to have Marcell there is really good for me because we are good friends.
"(Like myself) Marcell is newly married also and I think that is a good thing that my wife can be with his wife.
"My wife is very excited about the move because the farthest she has been out of South Africa is Zanzibar and it is a very exciting thing for us to go north to somewhere we have never been before.
"She is studying to become a chartered accountant. She just did her honours now and that will be a very good thing if she can go over with that (qualification)".
Botha made his Springboks debut against Italy in 2013 but suffered a knee injury just four minutes into his second test against Scotland.
He returned to full fitness and captained the Blues to the final of last year's Currie Cup and Ulster's director of rugby Les Kiss believes the player will be a major addition to his pack.
"He is very aggressive in attack and his ability to get over the gain line will be especially good for us," said the Ulster boss.
"Arno is also strong in defence, he's a nuisance at the breakdown and he's a good lineout option, so he has a very well-rounded game." |
Add punctuation: The Glasgow company's profit before tax for the year to 31 March increased by 10.3% to £4.4m, with turnover up by 7.5% to £35.7m.
The group already runs 14 offices in eight countries, and said it intended to increase its presence in Munich.
Murgitroyd said it was also considering setting up in Paris.
A new unified European Patent Court is to be located in London, Munich and Paris and the company said it would consider "how best to service our clients' needs " in the French city over the coming year.
Murgitroyd specialises in registering and protecting intellectual property through patents and trademarks.
The new European patent system is designed to make it cheaper and simpler for companies.
Ian Murgitroyd, chairman of the group, said: "I am pleased to report that Murgitroyd has continued to deliver an increase in turnover and profitability for the eleventh consecutive year since its flotation in 2001.
"While we remain cautious, due to the uncertain macro-economic environment, we continue to invest in the business and the board remains confident that Murgitroyd can continue on this growth trajectory to deliver value to shareholders." | The Glasgow company's profit before tax for the year to 31 March increased by 10.3% to £4.4m, with turnover up by 7.5% to £35.7m.
The group already runs 14 offices in eight countries, and said it intended to increase its presence in Munich.
Murgitroyd said it was also considering setting up in Paris.
A new unified European Patent Court is to be located in London, Munich and Paris and the company said it would consider "how best to service our clients' needs " in the French city over the coming year.
Murgitroyd specialises in registering and protecting intellectual property through patents and trademarks.
The new European patent system is designed to make it cheaper and simpler for companies.
Ian Murgitroyd, chairman of the group, said: "I am pleased to report that Murgitroyd has continued to deliver an increase in turnover and profitability for the eleventh consecutive year since its flotation in 2001.
"While we remain cautious, due to the uncertain macro-economic environment, we continue to invest in the business and the board remains confident that Murgitroyd can continue on this growth trajectory to deliver value to shareholders." |
Add punctuation: Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel said the 27-year-old was left out for "internal reasons".
Tuchel said "the matter is now settled" and Gabon forward Aubameyang will return to the side for Saturday's Bundesliga trip to Hamburg.
His replacement Adrian Ramos scored the only goal against Sporting.
Former Hertha Berlin striker Ramos rose to meet Matthias Ginter's cross and looped a header into the corner of the net.
Aubameyang, dressed in a black coat, scarf and fedora hat, watched the match from the stands.
Match ends, Borussia Dortmund 1, Sporting Lisbon 0.
Second Half ends, Borussia Dortmund 1, Sporting Lisbon 0.
Sebastian Rode (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sebastián Coates (Sporting Lisbon).
Offside, Sporting Lisbon. Adrien Silva tries a through ball, but Gelson Martins is caught offside.
Offside, Borussia Dortmund. Adrián Ramos tries a through ball, but Lukasz Piszczek is caught offside.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Ezequiel Schelotto (Sporting Lisbon) because of an injury.
Julian Weigl (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Adrien Silva (Sporting Lisbon).
Julian Weigl (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Adrien Silva (Sporting Lisbon).
Foul by Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund).
Gelson Martins (Sporting Lisbon) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution, Sporting Lisbon. Lazar Markovic replaces Bryan Ruiz.
Attempt missed. Bryan Ruiz (Sporting Lisbon) header from the left side of the six yard box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Ezequiel Schelotto with a cross.
Attempt missed. Sokratis (Borussia Dortmund) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Marc Bartra with a headed pass following a corner.
Corner, Borussia Dortmund. Conceded by Rui Patrício.
Attempt saved. André Schürrle (Borussia Dortmund) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Marvin Zeegelaar (Sporting Lisbon) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Lukasz Piszczek (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Marvin Zeegelaar (Sporting Lisbon).
Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Rúben Semedo (Sporting Lisbon).
Attempt missed. Adrien Silva (Sporting Lisbon) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Bryan Ruiz.
Adrián Ramos (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Sebastián Coates (Sporting Lisbon).
Substitution, Borussia Dortmund. Sebastian Rode replaces Mario Götze.
Substitution, Borussia Dortmund. Lukasz Piszczek replaces Gonzalo Castro.
Attempt missed. Adrien Silva (Sporting Lisbon) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund).
Adrien Silva (Sporting Lisbon) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund).
Gelson Martins (Sporting Lisbon) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Adrián Ramos (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Sebastián Coates (Sporting Lisbon).
Gonzalo Castro (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Adrien Silva (Sporting Lisbon). | Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel said the 27-year-old was left out for "internal reasons".
Tuchel said "the matter is now settled" and Gabon forward Aubameyang will return to the side for Saturday's Bundesliga trip to Hamburg.
His replacement Adrian Ramos scored the only goal against Sporting.
Former Hertha Berlin striker Ramos rose to meet Matthias Ginter's cross and looped a header into the corner of the net.
Aubameyang, dressed in a black coat, scarf and fedora hat, watched the match from the stands.
Match ends, Borussia Dortmund 1, Sporting Lisbon 0.
Second Half ends, Borussia Dortmund 1, Sporting Lisbon 0.
Sebastian Rode (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sebastián Coates (Sporting Lisbon).
Offside, Sporting Lisbon. Adrien Silva tries a through ball, but Gelson Martins is caught offside.
Offside, Borussia Dortmund. Adrián Ramos tries a through ball, but Lukasz Piszczek is caught offside.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Ezequiel Schelotto (Sporting Lisbon) because of an injury.
Julian Weigl (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Adrien Silva (Sporting Lisbon).
Julian Weigl (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Adrien Silva (Sporting Lisbon).
Foul by Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund).
Gelson Martins (Sporting Lisbon) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution, Sporting Lisbon. Lazar Markovic replaces Bryan Ruiz.
Attempt missed. Bryan Ruiz (Sporting Lisbon) header from the left side of the six yard box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Ezequiel Schelotto with a cross.
Attempt missed. Sokratis (Borussia Dortmund) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Marc Bartra with a headed pass following a corner.
Corner, Borussia Dortmund. Conceded by Rui Patrício.
Attempt saved. André Schürrle (Borussia Dortmund) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Marvin Zeegelaar (Sporting Lisbon) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Lukasz Piszczek (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Marvin Zeegelaar (Sporting Lisbon).
Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Rúben Semedo (Sporting Lisbon).
Attempt missed. Adrien Silva (Sporting Lisbon) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Bryan Ruiz.
Adrián Ramos (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Sebastián Coates (Sporting Lisbon).
Substitution, Borussia Dortmund. Sebastian Rode replaces Mario Götze.
Substitution, Borussia Dortmund. Lukasz Piszczek replaces Gonzalo Castro.
Attempt missed. Adrien Silva (Sporting Lisbon) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund).
Adrien Silva (Sporting Lisbon) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund).
Gelson Martins (Sporting Lisbon) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Adrián Ramos (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Sebastián Coates (Sporting Lisbon).
Gonzalo Castro (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Adrien Silva (Sporting Lisbon). |
Add punctuation: Muhammadu Buhari also called for a faster deployment of a regional military force to fight the Islamists.
The gunmen have been launching attacks on remote villages in the north-eastern Borno state since Tuesday, targeting people attending evening prayers.
Mr Buhari - who was sworn in in May - sees fighting Boko Haram as a priority.
According to Amnesty International, at least 17,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since 2009, when Boko Haram launched its violent uprising to try to impose militant Islamist rule.
Will new military HQ make a difference?
Why Boko Haram remains a threat
These are the worst Boko Haram attacks for many weeks, BBC Nigeria correspondent Will Ross reports.
In a statement on Friday, President Buhari said the recent attacks were "inhuman and barbaric."
He said they were "the last desperate acts of fleeing agents of terrorism".
The assaults began on Tuesday, when the militants shot dead 48 men after they had finished prayers in two villages near the town of Monguno, a resident told BBC Hausa.
He said he had heard gun shots at one of the villages attacked and saw it on fire.
"They were praying in the mosque when Boko Haram attackers descended on the village. They waited till they finished the prayers. They gathered them in one place, separated men from women and opened fire on them," he said.
On Wednesday, more than 50 gunmen killed 97 people in the village of Kukawa, near Lake Chad, eyewitness Babami Alhaji Kolo was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
"The terrorists first descended on Muslim worshippers in various mosques who were observing the Maghrib prayer shortly after breaking their fast [for the Muslim month of Ramadan]," he said.
"They... opened fire on the worshippers who were mostly men and young children. They spared nobody."
On Thursday, two female suicide bombers blew themselves up in another Borno village, police said.
No-one knows how many people were shot or had their throats slit by the jihadists who targeted several villages on Tuesday and Wednesday - it is impossible for people who are fleeing for their lives or rushing the injured away in wheelbarrows to stay back and count.
The fact that it took as many as 48 hours for any news of the atrocities to reach the main city in Borno State, Maiduguri, points to just how cut off and vulnerable these communities are.
Boko Haram may no longer hold territory but there is little to celebrate when large swathes of the north-east are clearly not under any kind of government control.
Latest African news updates
Boko Haram has carried out frequent bombings since it was weakened by a regional military offensive to recapture most of the territory it had controlled.
The group is still holding many women, girls and children captive, including 219 schoolgirls it kidnapped from a school in Chibok in April last year. | Muhammadu Buhari also called for a faster deployment of a regional military force to fight the Islamists.
The gunmen have been launching attacks on remote villages in the north-eastern Borno state since Tuesday, targeting people attending evening prayers.
Mr Buhari - who was sworn in in May - sees fighting Boko Haram as a priority.
According to Amnesty International, at least 17,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since 2009, when Boko Haram launched its violent uprising to try to impose militant Islamist rule.
Will new military HQ make a difference?
Why Boko Haram remains a threat
These are the worst Boko Haram attacks for many weeks, BBC Nigeria correspondent Will Ross reports.
In a statement on Friday, President Buhari said the recent attacks were "inhuman and barbaric."
He said they were "the last desperate acts of fleeing agents of terrorism".
The assaults began on Tuesday, when the militants shot dead 48 men after they had finished prayers in two villages near the town of Monguno, a resident told BBC Hausa.
He said he had heard gun shots at one of the villages attacked and saw it on fire.
"They were praying in the mosque when Boko Haram attackers descended on the village. They waited till they finished the prayers. They gathered them in one place, separated men from women and opened fire on them," he said.
On Wednesday, more than 50 gunmen killed 97 people in the village of Kukawa, near Lake Chad, eyewitness Babami Alhaji Kolo was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
"The terrorists first descended on Muslim worshippers in various mosques who were observing the Maghrib prayer shortly after breaking their fast [for the Muslim month of Ramadan]," he said.
"They... opened fire on the worshippers who were mostly men and young children. They spared nobody."
On Thursday, two female suicide bombers blew themselves up in another Borno village, police said.
No-one knows how many people were shot or had their throats slit by the jihadists who targeted several villages on Tuesday and Wednesday - it is impossible for people who are fleeing for their lives or rushing the injured away in wheelbarrows to stay back and count.
The fact that it took as many as 48 hours for any news of the atrocities to reach the main city in Borno State, Maiduguri, points to just how cut off and vulnerable these communities are.
Boko Haram may no longer hold territory but there is little to celebrate when large swathes of the north-east are clearly not under any kind of government control.
Latest African news updates
Boko Haram has carried out frequent bombings since it was weakened by a regional military offensive to recapture most of the territory it had controlled.
The group is still holding many women, girls and children captive, including 219 schoolgirls it kidnapped from a school in Chibok in April last year. |
Add punctuation: Carlin, 28, missed London 2012 because of illness, but has since won European and Commonwealth gold medals.
American Katie Ledecky is favourite for the 400m and 800m freestyle, but 1988 100m breaststroke champion Moorhouse believes Carlin can get on the podium.
"There's a medal up for grabs and Jazz is capable of doing it," he said.
"I think she'll have to drop [her time] a little bit more - she'll have to have the swim of her life.
"She'll be in the final so, if she's in the final, the question is if she can push for medals."
The 19-year-old Ledecky has dominated women's distance events since London 2012 when, as a 15-year-old, she took the 800m gold medal.
Moorhouse expects Ledecky to win and for the others to be racing for silver and bronze.
"I think what we all know is that particularly in the 800m is you have to swim your own race you have to pace it and not worry too much about what's going on around you but I think she needs to be in the fight," added Moorhouse.
"I'd like to see her get a really good qualifying time to get in the middle [lanes] - I'd like to see her be in lanes three or five if Ledecky's going to qualify in four, and then she's amongst the race."
Moorhouse has been impressed with the progress of Chloe Tutton in 2016.
The 20-year-old from Ystrad Rhondda came to prominence when she broke the national 100m breaststroke record at the British Championships in April and has since won a European gold medal as part of the British medley relay team.
Like Carlin, Tutton will be up against a dominant opponent in the shape of reigning Olympic champion Ruta Meilutyte, the Lithuanian who is based in Plymouth.
"Chloe's got a really strong time from the European Championships earlier this year and only her and her coach will know what she's got up her sleeve - how much more she can drop," said Moorhouse.
"I think she's still got time to improve on - the question is whether from May until now is enough time to do anything dramatic, but she's got a chance of a medal.
"She's not got to be intimidated, she's got to go out there and think it's the best year of her life really - which it probably is at the moment.
"The competition is tough, but if she can just be confident, not be worried about what everybody else is doing and just stick to what she's been doing she'll be great."
Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox. | Carlin, 28, missed London 2012 because of illness, but has since won European and Commonwealth gold medals.
American Katie Ledecky is favourite for the 400m and 800m freestyle, but 1988 100m breaststroke champion Moorhouse believes Carlin can get on the podium.
"There's a medal up for grabs and Jazz is capable of doing it," he said.
"I think she'll have to drop [her time] a little bit more - she'll have to have the swim of her life.
"She'll be in the final so, if she's in the final, the question is if she can push for medals."
The 19-year-old Ledecky has dominated women's distance events since London 2012 when, as a 15-year-old, she took the 800m gold medal.
Moorhouse expects Ledecky to win and for the others to be racing for silver and bronze.
"I think what we all know is that particularly in the 800m is you have to swim your own race you have to pace it and not worry too much about what's going on around you but I think she needs to be in the fight," added Moorhouse.
"I'd like to see her get a really good qualifying time to get in the middle [lanes] - I'd like to see her be in lanes three or five if Ledecky's going to qualify in four, and then she's amongst the race."
Moorhouse has been impressed with the progress of Chloe Tutton in 2016.
The 20-year-old from Ystrad Rhondda came to prominence when she broke the national 100m breaststroke record at the British Championships in April and has since won a European gold medal as part of the British medley relay team.
Like Carlin, Tutton will be up against a dominant opponent in the shape of reigning Olympic champion Ruta Meilutyte, the Lithuanian who is based in Plymouth.
"Chloe's got a really strong time from the European Championships earlier this year and only her and her coach will know what she's got up her sleeve - how much more she can drop," said Moorhouse.
"I think she's still got time to improve on - the question is whether from May until now is enough time to do anything dramatic, but she's got a chance of a medal.
"She's not got to be intimidated, she's got to go out there and think it's the best year of her life really - which it probably is at the moment.
"The competition is tough, but if she can just be confident, not be worried about what everybody else is doing and just stick to what she's been doing she'll be great."
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Add punctuation: The Dons had the best of a poor first half with Adam Rooney going close.
Derek McInnes' side bossed the second period, and the crucial goal arrived when Quinn diverted into his own net from Shay Logan's delivery.
The win takes Aberdeen up to fifth in the table and they are now just three points off top spot.
A victory would have taken County above Motherwell but the Highlanders remain in bottom spot with five points from their 12 outings.
The game started in driving rain and Dons defender Mark Reynolds made an unorthodox acrobatic clearance in front of his own goal in the opening seconds, with Yoann Arquin waiting to pounce on Graham Carey's deep cross.
At the other end Adam Rooney drew a decent save from Staggies keeper Mark Brown with a near-post header from Logan's centre.
And Brown was called into action again when Niall McGinn's floated free-kick picked out Ash Taylor at the back post. His header back across goal took a touch off County defender Scott Boyd but Brown reacted well to palm the ball away.
On a rare foray into the visitors' box, County's Quinn rose brilliantly but nodded just wide of keeper Scott Brown's right-hand post from Michael Gardyne's excellent delivery.
Rooney flashed a header narrowly wide from McGinn's cross late in the half and the sides went in all square at the break, no doubt delighted to escape the deluge in Dingwall for 15 minutes.
County looked sharper at the start of the second period with Gardyne the main architect of their good play going forward.
They still had to be alert at the back though and Darren Barr brilliantly headed clear from under his own bar after Jonny Hayes broke down the left and whipped a great ball into the box.
Minutes later the home side fell behind in calamitous fashion. Boyd's poor pass was pounced on by McGinn, who raced down the right and sent a ball into the box that Quinn fired into his own net from a few yards out.
Andrew Considine fired over the bar from 12 yards as Aberdeen chased a quickfire second, and the excellent Hayes continued to cause County problems down the left during a period of intense Dons pressure.
The second almost came following a superb move. Logan drove a ball into the area and Peter Pawlett took a glorious first touch to escape the attentions of Boyd, but his right-footed shot crashed off the angle of bar and post.
And the hosts almost cashed in on that piece of good fortune when Carey's dig from distance was palmed out by Brown, but substitute Liam Boyce could only lash the rebound well over the bar.
That was as close as the Staggies came to a leveller and the visitors could have increased their lead as Hayes and Willo Flood passed up good chances, but Quinn's horror moment was enough to secure the Dons' first competitive win over County in Dingwall.
Match ends, Ross County 0, Aberdeen 1.
Second Half ends, Ross County 0, Aberdeen 1.
Attempt missed. Willo Flood (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Jeffrey Monakana (Aberdeen) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Jeffrey Monakana (Aberdeen).
Lewis Toshney (Ross County) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt blocked. Graham Carey (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Foul by Ash Taylor (Aberdeen).
Jake Jervis (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Aberdeen. Jeffrey Monakana replaces Jonny Hayes.
Attempt saved. Willo Flood (Aberdeen) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved in the top right corner.
Attempt missed. Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Foul by David Goodwillie (Aberdeen).
Scott Boyd (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Aberdeen. Barry Robson replaces Peter Pawlett.
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Scott Boyd.
Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Darren Barr (Ross County).
Foul by Mark Reynolds (Aberdeen).
Lewis Toshney (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Aberdeen. David Goodwillie replaces Adam Rooney.
Attempt saved. Jake Jervis (Ross County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt blocked. Willo Flood (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Ryan Jack (Aberdeen) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Foul by Peter Pawlett (Aberdeen).
Filip Kiss (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Graham Carey.
Attempt missed. Peter Pawlett (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Attempt missed. Graham Carey (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Foul by Andrew Considine (Aberdeen).
Darren Barr (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Scott Boyd.
Attempt missed. Liam Boyce (Ross County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Attempt saved. Graham Carey (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution, Ross County. Liam Boyce replaces Michael Gardyne.
Peter Pawlett (Aberdeen) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Michael Gardyne (Ross County) is shown the yellow card.
Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Michael Gardyne (Ross County). | The Dons had the best of a poor first half with Adam Rooney going close.
Derek McInnes' side bossed the second period, and the crucial goal arrived when Quinn diverted into his own net from Shay Logan's delivery.
The win takes Aberdeen up to fifth in the table and they are now just three points off top spot.
A victory would have taken County above Motherwell but the Highlanders remain in bottom spot with five points from their 12 outings.
The game started in driving rain and Dons defender Mark Reynolds made an unorthodox acrobatic clearance in front of his own goal in the opening seconds, with Yoann Arquin waiting to pounce on Graham Carey's deep cross.
At the other end Adam Rooney drew a decent save from Staggies keeper Mark Brown with a near-post header from Logan's centre.
And Brown was called into action again when Niall McGinn's floated free-kick picked out Ash Taylor at the back post. His header back across goal took a touch off County defender Scott Boyd but Brown reacted well to palm the ball away.
On a rare foray into the visitors' box, County's Quinn rose brilliantly but nodded just wide of keeper Scott Brown's right-hand post from Michael Gardyne's excellent delivery.
Rooney flashed a header narrowly wide from McGinn's cross late in the half and the sides went in all square at the break, no doubt delighted to escape the deluge in Dingwall for 15 minutes.
County looked sharper at the start of the second period with Gardyne the main architect of their good play going forward.
They still had to be alert at the back though and Darren Barr brilliantly headed clear from under his own bar after Jonny Hayes broke down the left and whipped a great ball into the box.
Minutes later the home side fell behind in calamitous fashion. Boyd's poor pass was pounced on by McGinn, who raced down the right and sent a ball into the box that Quinn fired into his own net from a few yards out.
Andrew Considine fired over the bar from 12 yards as Aberdeen chased a quickfire second, and the excellent Hayes continued to cause County problems down the left during a period of intense Dons pressure.
The second almost came following a superb move. Logan drove a ball into the area and Peter Pawlett took a glorious first touch to escape the attentions of Boyd, but his right-footed shot crashed off the angle of bar and post.
And the hosts almost cashed in on that piece of good fortune when Carey's dig from distance was palmed out by Brown, but substitute Liam Boyce could only lash the rebound well over the bar.
That was as close as the Staggies came to a leveller and the visitors could have increased their lead as Hayes and Willo Flood passed up good chances, but Quinn's horror moment was enough to secure the Dons' first competitive win over County in Dingwall.
Match ends, Ross County 0, Aberdeen 1.
Second Half ends, Ross County 0, Aberdeen 1.
Attempt missed. Willo Flood (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Jeffrey Monakana (Aberdeen) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Jeffrey Monakana (Aberdeen).
Lewis Toshney (Ross County) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt blocked. Graham Carey (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Foul by Ash Taylor (Aberdeen).
Jake Jervis (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Aberdeen. Jeffrey Monakana replaces Jonny Hayes.
Attempt saved. Willo Flood (Aberdeen) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved in the top right corner.
Attempt missed. Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Foul by David Goodwillie (Aberdeen).
Scott Boyd (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Aberdeen. Barry Robson replaces Peter Pawlett.
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Scott Boyd.
Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Darren Barr (Ross County).
Foul by Mark Reynolds (Aberdeen).
Lewis Toshney (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Aberdeen. David Goodwillie replaces Adam Rooney.
Attempt saved. Jake Jervis (Ross County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt blocked. Willo Flood (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Ryan Jack (Aberdeen) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Foul by Peter Pawlett (Aberdeen).
Filip Kiss (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Graham Carey.
Attempt missed. Peter Pawlett (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Attempt missed. Graham Carey (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Foul by Andrew Considine (Aberdeen).
Darren Barr (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Scott Boyd.
Attempt missed. Liam Boyce (Ross County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Attempt saved. Graham Carey (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution, Ross County. Liam Boyce replaces Michael Gardyne.
Peter Pawlett (Aberdeen) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Michael Gardyne (Ross County) is shown the yellow card.
Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Michael Gardyne (Ross County). |
Add punctuation: Police suspect Simon Knights, 38, may be using the rail network to move around committing burglaries before getting the train home.
Five police forces - Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Essex and the Metropolitan Police - have been looking for him.
Surrey Police has joined the hunt after linking him to a burglary in Guildford.
Thousands of pounds worth of jewellery has been stolen in more than a dozen break-ins that police suspect Mr Knights is responsible for in Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, London and Essex.
Reward
It is thought he is stealing cash and jewellery to fund a gambling addiction, police said.
A £2,500 reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of him for at least one of the offences.
Det Insp Dave Wardley-Wilkins, of Sussex Police, said: "People might see him on trains along the south coast, possibly smartly dressed. He has links to Essex so could have returned there.
"In the CCTV recorded in Surrey, he appears to have hurt his arm, possibly while he was breaking the window. We believe he then got a train to Wimbledon but do not know where he went from there."
Police said the he is white, about 5' 8" with ginger hair and blue eyes. | Police suspect Simon Knights, 38, may be using the rail network to move around committing burglaries before getting the train home.
Five police forces - Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Essex and the Metropolitan Police - have been looking for him.
Surrey Police has joined the hunt after linking him to a burglary in Guildford.
Thousands of pounds worth of jewellery has been stolen in more than a dozen break-ins that police suspect Mr Knights is responsible for in Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, London and Essex.
Reward
It is thought he is stealing cash and jewellery to fund a gambling addiction, police said.
A £2,500 reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of him for at least one of the offences.
Det Insp Dave Wardley-Wilkins, of Sussex Police, said: "People might see him on trains along the south coast, possibly smartly dressed. He has links to Essex so could have returned there.
"In the CCTV recorded in Surrey, he appears to have hurt his arm, possibly while he was breaking the window. We believe he then got a train to Wimbledon but do not know where he went from there."
Police said the he is white, about 5' 8" with ginger hair and blue eyes. |
Add punctuation: The discomfort of the Hindu hardline right with Mahatma Gandhi became apparent once again when a senior leader of the governing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recently described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "bigger brand name" than the iconic leader of India's freedom struggle.
Anil Vij, a senior minister in the BJP government in the northern state of Haryana, also said that Gandhi's picture would eventually be phased out of the currency notes.
His comments came soon after a government department replaced Gandhi's pictures on its calendars and diaries with Mr Modi's. Critics perceived it as a move to slowly replace Gandhi with the prime minister.
The irony was not lost on anyone because the government department in question is responsible for popularising handmade cotton yarn or khadi - one of Gandhi's pet themes during India's freedom struggle.
As the controversy erupted and social media started buzzing with unfavourable comments, the BJP distanced itself from Mr Vij's anti-Gandhi statement.
The controversy died down after he agreed to retract his statement in the face of growing outrage.
But this was not the first time that a BJP politician has made anti-Gandhi remarks. Past examples show that many right-wing Hindu leaders never mince words when it comes to criticising Gandhi.
In recent times Sakshi Maharaj, a BJP MP from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, described Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as a "patriot". Godse's association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) - which has umbilical ties to the BJP - has been well documented.
The Hindu hardliners who see Modi as their own
Inside a far-right Hindu 'self defence' camp
Way back in 1998, then RSS chief Prof Rajendra Singh praised Godse for his commitment to the concept of Akhand Bharat - a unified India which includes Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and even Myanmar (Burma).
"His intentions were good but he used wrong methods," Mr Singh said.
The biggest issue the RSS has with Gandhi is that he advocated Hindu-Muslim unity while proclaiming himself to be a devout Hindu. The cornerstone of its worldview is Hindu supremacy.
Madhav Sadashiva Golwalkar, one of the founding fathers of the Sangh, described Muslims and Christians, along with the Communists, as an "internal threat to the nation".
Historian and author Ramchandra Guha puts the Hindu right-wing dilemma about Gandhi into perspective. "The RSS was deeply influenced by two Hindu thinkers - Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Madhav Sadashiva Golwalkar - and both of them deeply detested Gandhi."
In fact, Savarkar was made an accused in the Gandhi murder case - though eventually he was exonerated of all charges.
"His rivalry with Gandhi went back to 1909 when he openly abused Gandhi. While Savarkar believed in violent methods, Gandhi was a pacifist," Mr Guha told the BBC.
"It was much later when the RSS decided to expand into the political arena, that they started saying nice things about Gandhi and included him in their list of 'revered' leaders," he added.
But there is another, probably more serious, reason for their hatred of Gandhi.
Ten days before Godse killed Gandhi, a young Hindu refugee man from Pakistan, Madanlal Pahwa, exploded a bomb on 20 January, 1948, at Delhi's Birla Bhawan where Gandhi was participating in his routine evening prayer.
Delhi and many parts of north India were in the grip of Hindu-Muslim violence after the partition of India and Pakistan. A day after Pahwa exploded the bomb, Gandhi described him as a "mere tool" in the hands of Hindu fanatics.
He directly challenged the forces of Hindu hardliners saying, "Don't do this. The Hindu religion is not going to be saved by such acts. I insist that if the Hindu religion is to be saved, it can be saved only through the kind of work I am doing."
No wonder that Praveen Togadia, an important leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), an affiliated organisation of the RSS, declared during the height of anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat in 2002 that "terrorism came because Gandhi's ideology is being followed in this country".
Mr Togadia, like Mr Modi and Mr Vij, also learnt his politics in the shakhas - the morning military-style drills - of the RSS.
The only difference is that mainstream BJP leaders, especially those holding constitutional posts, avoid openly criticising Gandhi because of a variety of reasons: the compulsions of electoral politics, Gandhi's international stature and his place in the hearts of the Indian people as the "father of the nation".
Still, even though it has been nearly seven decades since Gandhi was assassinated, Hindu right-wing forces feel compelled to question his authority and challenge his idea of Hindu-Muslim unity.
And leaders like Sakshi Maharaj, Anil Vij and Praveen Togadia continue to eagerly oblige. | The discomfort of the Hindu hardline right with Mahatma Gandhi became apparent once again when a senior leader of the governing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recently described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "bigger brand name" than the iconic leader of India's freedom struggle.
Anil Vij, a senior minister in the BJP government in the northern state of Haryana, also said that Gandhi's picture would eventually be phased out of the currency notes.
His comments came soon after a government department replaced Gandhi's pictures on its calendars and diaries with Mr Modi's. Critics perceived it as a move to slowly replace Gandhi with the prime minister.
The irony was not lost on anyone because the government department in question is responsible for popularising handmade cotton yarn or khadi - one of Gandhi's pet themes during India's freedom struggle.
As the controversy erupted and social media started buzzing with unfavourable comments, the BJP distanced itself from Mr Vij's anti-Gandhi statement.
The controversy died down after he agreed to retract his statement in the face of growing outrage.
But this was not the first time that a BJP politician has made anti-Gandhi remarks. Past examples show that many right-wing Hindu leaders never mince words when it comes to criticising Gandhi.
In recent times Sakshi Maharaj, a BJP MP from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, described Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as a "patriot". Godse's association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) - which has umbilical ties to the BJP - has been well documented.
The Hindu hardliners who see Modi as their own
Inside a far-right Hindu 'self defence' camp
Way back in 1998, then RSS chief Prof Rajendra Singh praised Godse for his commitment to the concept of Akhand Bharat - a unified India which includes Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and even Myanmar (Burma).
"His intentions were good but he used wrong methods," Mr Singh said.
The biggest issue the RSS has with Gandhi is that he advocated Hindu-Muslim unity while proclaiming himself to be a devout Hindu. The cornerstone of its worldview is Hindu supremacy.
Madhav Sadashiva Golwalkar, one of the founding fathers of the Sangh, described Muslims and Christians, along with the Communists, as an "internal threat to the nation".
Historian and author Ramchandra Guha puts the Hindu right-wing dilemma about Gandhi into perspective. "The RSS was deeply influenced by two Hindu thinkers - Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Madhav Sadashiva Golwalkar - and both of them deeply detested Gandhi."
In fact, Savarkar was made an accused in the Gandhi murder case - though eventually he was exonerated of all charges.
"His rivalry with Gandhi went back to 1909 when he openly abused Gandhi. While Savarkar believed in violent methods, Gandhi was a pacifist," Mr Guha told the BBC.
"It was much later when the RSS decided to expand into the political arena, that they started saying nice things about Gandhi and included him in their list of 'revered' leaders," he added.
But there is another, probably more serious, reason for their hatred of Gandhi.
Ten days before Godse killed Gandhi, a young Hindu refugee man from Pakistan, Madanlal Pahwa, exploded a bomb on 20 January, 1948, at Delhi's Birla Bhawan where Gandhi was participating in his routine evening prayer.
Delhi and many parts of north India were in the grip of Hindu-Muslim violence after the partition of India and Pakistan. A day after Pahwa exploded the bomb, Gandhi described him as a "mere tool" in the hands of Hindu fanatics.
He directly challenged the forces of Hindu hardliners saying, "Don't do this. The Hindu religion is not going to be saved by such acts. I insist that if the Hindu religion is to be saved, it can be saved only through the kind of work I am doing."
No wonder that Praveen Togadia, an important leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), an affiliated organisation of the RSS, declared during the height of anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat in 2002 that "terrorism came because Gandhi's ideology is being followed in this country".
Mr Togadia, like Mr Modi and Mr Vij, also learnt his politics in the shakhas - the morning military-style drills - of the RSS.
The only difference is that mainstream BJP leaders, especially those holding constitutional posts, avoid openly criticising Gandhi because of a variety of reasons: the compulsions of electoral politics, Gandhi's international stature and his place in the hearts of the Indian people as the "father of the nation".
Still, even though it has been nearly seven decades since Gandhi was assassinated, Hindu right-wing forces feel compelled to question his authority and challenge his idea of Hindu-Muslim unity.
And leaders like Sakshi Maharaj, Anil Vij and Praveen Togadia continue to eagerly oblige. |
Add punctuation: The 66-year-old was convicted of nine charges at the Republic of Ireland's non-jury Special Criminal Court.
The three judges were told how he had significant dealings in cattle and land and received farming grants, but failed to submit tax returns for nine years.
The prosecution was brought after an investigation by the Irish Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).
Murphy, who lives at Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, County Louth, on a farm that straddles the border with Northern Ireland, had denied the charges.
After a trial lasting 32 days, presiding judge Paul Butler said the court was "satisfied beyond reasonable doubt" that he was guilty.
He was remanded on continuing bail ahead of sentencing in February. | The 66-year-old was convicted of nine charges at the Republic of Ireland's non-jury Special Criminal Court.
The three judges were told how he had significant dealings in cattle and land and received farming grants, but failed to submit tax returns for nine years.
The prosecution was brought after an investigation by the Irish Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).
Murphy, who lives at Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, County Louth, on a farm that straddles the border with Northern Ireland, had denied the charges.
After a trial lasting 32 days, presiding judge Paul Butler said the court was "satisfied beyond reasonable doubt" that he was guilty.
He was remanded on continuing bail ahead of sentencing in February. |
Add punctuation: Julian Myerscough, 53, formerly of Suffolk, absconded from Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday.
A European arrest warrant was issued at the court on Thursday.
The Irish police and the UK National Crime Agency are now arranging to bring Myerscough, who had been due to fly on to Hungary, back to Britain.
Myerscough, previously of Alexandra Road, Lowestoft, but whose current address was given by police as Bolton, was found guilty in his absence of 16 offences of making indecent images of children.
He was also found guilty of breaching a sexual offences prevention order.
The former University of East Anglia academic was given the order when he was sentenced in 2010 for similar indecent images offences for which he also received a 15-month jail term.
Suffolk Police believe he boarded the 13:43 BST train from Ipswich towards London on Wednesday.
The Irish Garda said Myerscough had travelled to Dublin on the ferry from Holyhead in Wales on Thursday lunchtime.
Officers established he had booked a flight to Budapest but he was arrested at a hotel in Dublin city centre earlier on Friday.
Myerscough has since appeared at the High Court in Dublin and was remanded in custody until his next appearance on 20 October.
Det Insp Paul O'Brien, from the Garda's Sex Offender Management and Intelligence Unit, said: "This is an example of close co-operation between the Irish and UK authorities." | Julian Myerscough, 53, formerly of Suffolk, absconded from Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday.
A European arrest warrant was issued at the court on Thursday.
The Irish police and the UK National Crime Agency are now arranging to bring Myerscough, who had been due to fly on to Hungary, back to Britain.
Myerscough, previously of Alexandra Road, Lowestoft, but whose current address was given by police as Bolton, was found guilty in his absence of 16 offences of making indecent images of children.
He was also found guilty of breaching a sexual offences prevention order.
The former University of East Anglia academic was given the order when he was sentenced in 2010 for similar indecent images offences for which he also received a 15-month jail term.
Suffolk Police believe he boarded the 13:43 BST train from Ipswich towards London on Wednesday.
The Irish Garda said Myerscough had travelled to Dublin on the ferry from Holyhead in Wales on Thursday lunchtime.
Officers established he had booked a flight to Budapest but he was arrested at a hotel in Dublin city centre earlier on Friday.
Myerscough has since appeared at the High Court in Dublin and was remanded in custody until his next appearance on 20 October.
Det Insp Paul O'Brien, from the Garda's Sex Offender Management and Intelligence Unit, said: "This is an example of close co-operation between the Irish and UK authorities." |
Add punctuation: However, the latest Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE) report found that the levels remained well below UK and European safety limits.
The findings are drawn from monitoring radioactivity levels in farm produce, soil and water samples.
Decommissioning of the power plant, near Annan, began in 2004.
The RIFE report found that the radiation dose to the surrounding population was low and had remained broadly similar since decommissioning work started.
Of the figure detected, the report said the total represented just 2% of the overall safety limit.
The report said: "The total dose from all pathways and sources of radiation is assessed to have been 0.022 mSv in 2015, which was approximately 2% of the dose limit, and up from 0.014 mSv in 2014...Total doses remained broadly similar from year to year, and were low."
The report also concluded that only a fraction of the radiation level was said to emanate from Chapelcross itself, with the majority of radioactivity locally attributed to discharges from the Sellafield nuclear complex in Cumbria.
Dr Paul Dale, principal policy officer for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said: "This year's report again demonstrates that Scotland's public is adequately protected against sources of radioactivity that could impact on our food and the wider natural environment.
"The report represents a collaborative effort by all agencies to carry out rigorous annual monitoring, to ensure dose levels are well within international limits and the 2015 report confirms that this remains the case."
Chapelcross was Scotland's first commercial nuclear power station.
After 45 years of continuous operation, electricity generation ceased in 2004. Final site clearance is expected to commence in 2085 and be completed by 2095, according to the report. | However, the latest Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE) report found that the levels remained well below UK and European safety limits.
The findings are drawn from monitoring radioactivity levels in farm produce, soil and water samples.
Decommissioning of the power plant, near Annan, began in 2004.
The RIFE report found that the radiation dose to the surrounding population was low and had remained broadly similar since decommissioning work started.
Of the figure detected, the report said the total represented just 2% of the overall safety limit.
The report said: "The total dose from all pathways and sources of radiation is assessed to have been 0.022 mSv in 2015, which was approximately 2% of the dose limit, and up from 0.014 mSv in 2014...Total doses remained broadly similar from year to year, and were low."
The report also concluded that only a fraction of the radiation level was said to emanate from Chapelcross itself, with the majority of radioactivity locally attributed to discharges from the Sellafield nuclear complex in Cumbria.
Dr Paul Dale, principal policy officer for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said: "This year's report again demonstrates that Scotland's public is adequately protected against sources of radioactivity that could impact on our food and the wider natural environment.
"The report represents a collaborative effort by all agencies to carry out rigorous annual monitoring, to ensure dose levels are well within international limits and the 2015 report confirms that this remains the case."
Chapelcross was Scotland's first commercial nuclear power station.
After 45 years of continuous operation, electricity generation ceased in 2004. Final site clearance is expected to commence in 2085 and be completed by 2095, according to the report. |
Add punctuation: Nigel Steel "breached fundamental principles and standards", a Nursing and Midwifery Council tribunal ruled.
Mr Steel, who worked for York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for seven years from November 2005, was seen watching the Open championship on a work computer on 21 July 2012.
The tribunal also heard he told a patient to soil himself.
Mr Steel was also said to have failed to record his interactions with that patient and to have failed to have recorded any details of care given to two other patients.
The panel heard evidence Mr Steel had "openly admitted" using the computer to watch the tournament online.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council said the suspension was "appropriate and proportionate" and all the facts were proved in the case.
It said the suspension would cause hardship to Mr Steel but it was in the public interest and was necessary to protect patients.
Mr Steel did not attend the hearing in London. | Nigel Steel "breached fundamental principles and standards", a Nursing and Midwifery Council tribunal ruled.
Mr Steel, who worked for York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for seven years from November 2005, was seen watching the Open championship on a work computer on 21 July 2012.
The tribunal also heard he told a patient to soil himself.
Mr Steel was also said to have failed to record his interactions with that patient and to have failed to have recorded any details of care given to two other patients.
The panel heard evidence Mr Steel had "openly admitted" using the computer to watch the tournament online.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council said the suspension was "appropriate and proportionate" and all the facts were proved in the case.
It said the suspension would cause hardship to Mr Steel but it was in the public interest and was necessary to protect patients.
Mr Steel did not attend the hearing in London. |
Add punctuation: The Peru international joined the Royals from Pacos de Ferreira last summer but only made five Championship appearances before signing for Vitoria on loan in January.
Hurtado scored once in seven appearances as Vitoria finished 10th in the Premeira Liga.
The 26-year-old has made 25 appearances for Peru, scoring two goals.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | The Peru international joined the Royals from Pacos de Ferreira last summer but only made five Championship appearances before signing for Vitoria on loan in January.
Hurtado scored once in seven appearances as Vitoria finished 10th in the Premeira Liga.
The 26-year-old has made 25 appearances for Peru, scoring two goals.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. |
Add punctuation: The unusual hog, named Burt, was admitted to the Secret World Wildlife Rescue at the end of September.
Burt, who was treated for ringworm, was due to be released in autumn but had "other plans", carer Trudi Howell said.
"He went into hibernation so spent the winter in our hedgehog hotel," she said. He has now been released at a secret location.
Described as one of the centre's "more unusual residents", the sick hedgehog was originally handed into a vet in Worle by a member of the public.
"He was covered in diarrhoea and very poorly," said Ms Howell.
"But he responded really well to his treatment.
"And now that the weather is mild enough, he is ready to return to the wild."
The centre said it would continue to feed the hog in the area where he was released until "he is able to fend for himself once again".
"I have found the perfect release site for Burt but we are keeping it a secret," said Ms Howell.
"As he is a bit of an unusual hog, we want to avoid him getting too much interest from the public which could compromise his welfare."
Blond or leucistic hedgehogs are usually only found on Alderney in the Channel Islands where they became common after a pair were released in the 1960s.
Their creamy-coloured spines are caused by a rare recessive gene. | The unusual hog, named Burt, was admitted to the Secret World Wildlife Rescue at the end of September.
Burt, who was treated for ringworm, was due to be released in autumn but had "other plans", carer Trudi Howell said.
"He went into hibernation so spent the winter in our hedgehog hotel," she said. He has now been released at a secret location.
Described as one of the centre's "more unusual residents", the sick hedgehog was originally handed into a vet in Worle by a member of the public.
"He was covered in diarrhoea and very poorly," said Ms Howell.
"But he responded really well to his treatment.
"And now that the weather is mild enough, he is ready to return to the wild."
The centre said it would continue to feed the hog in the area where he was released until "he is able to fend for himself once again".
"I have found the perfect release site for Burt but we are keeping it a secret," said Ms Howell.
"As he is a bit of an unusual hog, we want to avoid him getting too much interest from the public which could compromise his welfare."
Blond or leucistic hedgehogs are usually only found on Alderney in the Channel Islands where they became common after a pair were released in the 1960s.
Their creamy-coloured spines are caused by a rare recessive gene. |
Add punctuation: A source close to the case has told the BBC that Mr Murat, one of 11 people being interviewed by officers in Portugal, will be treated as a witness.
He has always denied any involvement in the disappearance and said that his conscience "is clear".
Madeleine was three when she went missing in Praia da Luz in May 2007.
Mr Murat was the first person to be declared a suspect or 'arguido' in the investigation and was later cleared by police in Portugal.
He won substantial damages from various media organisations and has always denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance.
Speaking to the BBC from the Algarve, Mr Murat said neither he nor his lawyer had received a formal request to appear, but said he "would do so freely".
He said: "My conscience is clear and I have no problem speaking to the police again."
Mr Murat's wife has also been listed as one of the four witnesses the Metropolitan Police wish to have questioned regarding Madeleine's disappearance.
Four of the 11 speaking to police are being interviewed as witnesses and seven as 'arguidos' - a status in the Portuguese judicial system referring to individuals whom police may reasonably suspect are linked to a crime.
British detectives had been scheduled to fly out to observe the questioning next week, but this was postponed on Tuesday night, believed to be due to legal technicalities.
British police can sit in on the interviews but are not allowed to ask direct questions.
In June, Portuguese and British police searched three sites in the Algarve resort but found no evidence relating to the case.
The following month, four suspects, all Portuguese citizens, were questioned by Portuguese detectives in Faro but this led to no new developments.
The interviews were observed by officers from the Met Police, which is conducting its own investigation.
The McCann family were staying in an apartment in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz when Madeleine went missing. Her parents had been at a restaurant near their apartment that evening.
The Met launched a fresh investigation into Madeleine's disappearance, codenamed Operation Grange, in July 2013.
The request to interview the 11 people of interest comes from Letters of International Request submitted to Portugal's Attorney General by British detectives from the operation.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Scotland Yard is not prepared to provide a running commentary." | A source close to the case has told the BBC that Mr Murat, one of 11 people being interviewed by officers in Portugal, will be treated as a witness.
He has always denied any involvement in the disappearance and said that his conscience "is clear".
Madeleine was three when she went missing in Praia da Luz in May 2007.
Mr Murat was the first person to be declared a suspect or 'arguido' in the investigation and was later cleared by police in Portugal.
He won substantial damages from various media organisations and has always denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance.
Speaking to the BBC from the Algarve, Mr Murat said neither he nor his lawyer had received a formal request to appear, but said he "would do so freely".
He said: "My conscience is clear and I have no problem speaking to the police again."
Mr Murat's wife has also been listed as one of the four witnesses the Metropolitan Police wish to have questioned regarding Madeleine's disappearance.
Four of the 11 speaking to police are being interviewed as witnesses and seven as 'arguidos' - a status in the Portuguese judicial system referring to individuals whom police may reasonably suspect are linked to a crime.
British detectives had been scheduled to fly out to observe the questioning next week, but this was postponed on Tuesday night, believed to be due to legal technicalities.
British police can sit in on the interviews but are not allowed to ask direct questions.
In June, Portuguese and British police searched three sites in the Algarve resort but found no evidence relating to the case.
The following month, four suspects, all Portuguese citizens, were questioned by Portuguese detectives in Faro but this led to no new developments.
The interviews were observed by officers from the Met Police, which is conducting its own investigation.
The McCann family were staying in an apartment in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz when Madeleine went missing. Her parents had been at a restaurant near their apartment that evening.
The Met launched a fresh investigation into Madeleine's disappearance, codenamed Operation Grange, in July 2013.
The request to interview the 11 people of interest comes from Letters of International Request submitted to Portugal's Attorney General by British detectives from the operation.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Scotland Yard is not prepared to provide a running commentary." |
Add punctuation: The event follows a 6km route in the city centre, including the stadium - home to the Premiership champions.
Janet Hudson of British Cycling said the cycling success at the Rio Olympics had also attracted many riders.
Sky Ride is a joint venture organised by Leicester City Council, British Cycling and Sky.
Councillor Adam Clarke, assistant city mayor for energy and sustainability, said: "We're seeing a year-on-year increase in the number of people choosing to commute into Leicester by bike. But we know that people don't start off by simply deciding to cycle to work.
"It's events like Sky Ride which help people to make that change and begin to cycle more regularly." | The event follows a 6km route in the city centre, including the stadium - home to the Premiership champions.
Janet Hudson of British Cycling said the cycling success at the Rio Olympics had also attracted many riders.
Sky Ride is a joint venture organised by Leicester City Council, British Cycling and Sky.
Councillor Adam Clarke, assistant city mayor for energy and sustainability, said: "We're seeing a year-on-year increase in the number of people choosing to commute into Leicester by bike. But we know that people don't start off by simply deciding to cycle to work.
"It's events like Sky Ride which help people to make that change and begin to cycle more regularly." |
Add punctuation: The Hollywood A-lister plays the title role in the new film adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy which is out in cinemas next week.
He stopped to talk to fans, sign autographs and pose for selfies as he made his way to the screening at the Festival Theatre.
Marion Cotillard, who plays Lady Macbeth, was not on the red carpet.
But David Thewlis, who takes on the role of King Duncan, and Paddy Considine, playing Banquo, were in attendance.
Fassbender said: "It is great being in Edinburgh, it's exciting to have the premiere here in Scotland.
"We were lucky enough to film a bit up here and I was here in 2006 doing a play at the Fringe Festival so I love being back.
"I love the city - its architecture and the really great people."
David Thewlis said: "It's called the Scottish play and Scotland is undoubtedly one of the stars of the movie. The reason it is so beautiful is because it's so damn beautiful up here. I'm glad to be here - I've not been up for six years and I always love being here. I could honestly live up here - I love it."
The movie, directed by Australian director Kurzel, features the landscape of the Isle of Skye and tourism bosses have hailed its potential to attract thousands more visitors to Scotland.
Tourism body VisitScotland has already produced a new online Macbeth locations guide highlighting places on Skye where filming took place as well as places associated with the play. | The Hollywood A-lister plays the title role in the new film adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy which is out in cinemas next week.
He stopped to talk to fans, sign autographs and pose for selfies as he made his way to the screening at the Festival Theatre.
Marion Cotillard, who plays Lady Macbeth, was not on the red carpet.
But David Thewlis, who takes on the role of King Duncan, and Paddy Considine, playing Banquo, were in attendance.
Fassbender said: "It is great being in Edinburgh, it's exciting to have the premiere here in Scotland.
"We were lucky enough to film a bit up here and I was here in 2006 doing a play at the Fringe Festival so I love being back.
"I love the city - its architecture and the really great people."
David Thewlis said: "It's called the Scottish play and Scotland is undoubtedly one of the stars of the movie. The reason it is so beautiful is because it's so damn beautiful up here. I'm glad to be here - I've not been up for six years and I always love being here. I could honestly live up here - I love it."
The movie, directed by Australian director Kurzel, features the landscape of the Isle of Skye and tourism bosses have hailed its potential to attract thousands more visitors to Scotland.
Tourism body VisitScotland has already produced a new online Macbeth locations guide highlighting places on Skye where filming took place as well as places associated with the play. |
Add punctuation: Neil Mahrer, from Jersey Heritage, is separating the hoard of about 70,000 coins, which have fused together after hundreds of years in the ground.
Jersey Heritage hopes to recruit more experts to help.
Mr Mahrer said if additional help could not be found it would limit how much could be achieved by one person.
He said: "We are hoping that we'll be allowed to get two new members of staff specifically to work with me on this and then we can do it as a three-year project.
"We want to put some of the material on show in an exhibition here [in Jersey] in 2014 so we have really got to make a start to try and free up some of this jewellery so we can see what we've got."
He also wants to examine a pottery vessel full of axe heads and other items found in Jersey earlier this year.
The two hoards of historic treasure are on display at the Jersey Museum this weekend, one for the first time and one for the last time.
The group of axe heads found in a pottery vessel has never been seen by the public before, and the hoard of Celtic coins will be seen for the last time before conservation experts take it apart.
While the hoard of coins has been on public display before, a Jersey Heritage spokesman said some islanders had still not seen it.
The coin hoard, discovered in a field, is thought to be worth about £10m.
Mr Mahrer said he would start separating the coins in the new year so this would be the last time anyone could see them as they were discovered. | Neil Mahrer, from Jersey Heritage, is separating the hoard of about 70,000 coins, which have fused together after hundreds of years in the ground.
Jersey Heritage hopes to recruit more experts to help.
Mr Mahrer said if additional help could not be found it would limit how much could be achieved by one person.
He said: "We are hoping that we'll be allowed to get two new members of staff specifically to work with me on this and then we can do it as a three-year project.
"We want to put some of the material on show in an exhibition here [in Jersey] in 2014 so we have really got to make a start to try and free up some of this jewellery so we can see what we've got."
He also wants to examine a pottery vessel full of axe heads and other items found in Jersey earlier this year.
The two hoards of historic treasure are on display at the Jersey Museum this weekend, one for the first time and one for the last time.
The group of axe heads found in a pottery vessel has never been seen by the public before, and the hoard of Celtic coins will be seen for the last time before conservation experts take it apart.
While the hoard of coins has been on public display before, a Jersey Heritage spokesman said some islanders had still not seen it.
The coin hoard, discovered in a field, is thought to be worth about £10m.
Mr Mahrer said he would start separating the coins in the new year so this would be the last time anyone could see them as they were discovered. |
Add punctuation: In a Twitter post, Mayweather wrote: "There haven't been any deals between myself and any other fighters.
"If any changes are to come, I will be the first to let the world know."
In reply, McGregor posted a photo of himself sitting on a throne with the caption: "I am in Las Vegas. Floyd has retired on my arrival."
And later Mayweather added: "Listen Conor McGregor, if you really want to get this fight done... take care of your business with the UFC and have your people get in touch with my people."
Mayweather, 39, retired from boxing for a second time in September 2015 after defending his WBC and WBA welterweight titles with a 49th win from his 49th fight, a victory that equalled Rocky Marciano's career record of 49-0.
The American, widely considered to be the best fighter of his generation, also retired in 2008 after 39 fights. In January he told ESPN he had offered McGregor $15m (£12m) to face him in the ring.
McGregor, 28, has never fought a professional boxing match and has said he wants $100m (£80m) to fight Mayweather.
The Irishman became the UFC's first dual-division champion in November and has previously challenged Mayweather to a fight under mixed martial arts rules.
His boxing licence was granted by the California State Athletic Commission in December, allowing him to box in the US state.
However, he is under contract with the UFC and any potential fight with Mayweather would require approval from the body.
UFC president Dana White has said he would pay each fighter $25m (£20m), but on Tuesday he told the Los Angeles Times: "No deal is even close to being done."
Speaking in February of last year, Mayweather said he had been offered "crazy numbers", "nine-figure" sums to fight again.
"If I do get the itch to come back, it really won't be for the money but I have to get paid. That's why the nickname is Floyd 'Money' Mayweather," he added.
Media playback is not supported on this device | In a Twitter post, Mayweather wrote: "There haven't been any deals between myself and any other fighters.
"If any changes are to come, I will be the first to let the world know."
In reply, McGregor posted a photo of himself sitting on a throne with the caption: "I am in Las Vegas. Floyd has retired on my arrival."
And later Mayweather added: "Listen Conor McGregor, if you really want to get this fight done... take care of your business with the UFC and have your people get in touch with my people."
Mayweather, 39, retired from boxing for a second time in September 2015 after defending his WBC and WBA welterweight titles with a 49th win from his 49th fight, a victory that equalled Rocky Marciano's career record of 49-0.
The American, widely considered to be the best fighter of his generation, also retired in 2008 after 39 fights. In January he told ESPN he had offered McGregor $15m (£12m) to face him in the ring.
McGregor, 28, has never fought a professional boxing match and has said he wants $100m (£80m) to fight Mayweather.
The Irishman became the UFC's first dual-division champion in November and has previously challenged Mayweather to a fight under mixed martial arts rules.
His boxing licence was granted by the California State Athletic Commission in December, allowing him to box in the US state.
However, he is under contract with the UFC and any potential fight with Mayweather would require approval from the body.
UFC president Dana White has said he would pay each fighter $25m (£20m), but on Tuesday he told the Los Angeles Times: "No deal is even close to being done."
Speaking in February of last year, Mayweather said he had been offered "crazy numbers", "nine-figure" sums to fight again.
"If I do get the itch to come back, it really won't be for the money but I have to get paid. That's why the nickname is Floyd 'Money' Mayweather," he added.
Media playback is not supported on this device |
Add punctuation: Anne Marie Cropper, 47, was found dead with head and chest injuries in the property on Royal Terrace, Southport, in September.
Ian Gordon, 52, also of Royal Terrace, changed his plea to guilty at Liverpool Crown Court, four days into his trial for her murder.
Gordon, was remanded in custody for sentencing on Tuesday. | Anne Marie Cropper, 47, was found dead with head and chest injuries in the property on Royal Terrace, Southport, in September.
Ian Gordon, 52, also of Royal Terrace, changed his plea to guilty at Liverpool Crown Court, four days into his trial for her murder.
Gordon, was remanded in custody for sentencing on Tuesday. |
Add punctuation: The newly elected International Olympic Committee (IOC) president confidently told me that after a successful reign by his predecessor Jacques Rogge, the Olympic movement needed mere evolution.
But as we approach four years of Bach's leadership - and with fresh hosting, doping and corruption controversies affecting confidence in his organisation - the demands for an Olympic revolution are growing louder by the day.
The recent withdrawal of Budapest's bid to stage the 2024 Games - the fourth city to pull out of the race - is highly embarrassing for the IOC and seems to have left the Olympics at a crossroads, in desperate need of a new vision.
And the knock-on effects of this latest blow to Bach could be extremely significant: a possible double announcement of hosts for both the 2024 and 2028 Games; and perhaps making it more likely that the IOC takes the unprecedented step of banning Russia from the next Winter Olympics, if that is deemed necessary to restore credibility at this critical time.
Despite reported opposition from within the IOC, it seems increasingly likely that when its members meet in Lima in September to decide which of the two remaining bidders, Los Angeles or Paris, is awarded the Games, the loser will be told it can host the following edition four years later.
This assumes the runner-up for 2024 will actually want to play host in 2028 of course - or indeed be able to. Neither is certain. Plans and partnerships for both bids are based on the cities hosting the event in 2024, and delaying these by another four years may not be possible. But with the IOC now admitting that without recent reforms it could have suffered the ignominy of having no bidders, it seems sensible to try to strike some kind of two-Games deal.
So, why are potential host cities turning their backs on the Games, and how much jeopardy is the Olympics really now in?
In 2014, after six cities had decided not to bid for the 2022 Winter Games - leaving just Almaty and Beijing to choose from - Bach hailed his Agenda 2020 reforms as the answer, designed to encourage flexible and cheaper bids from more potential hosts.
Yet three years on, here we are again, with just two bidders left for the 2024 summer Games. Earlier this month, a referendum in the Swiss canton of Graubuenden, which contains the cities of Davos and St Moritz, ensured there would be no bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The recent bleak images of Rio's abandoned and crumbling Olympic venues already falling into disrepair, just a few months after they hosted the city's iconic but chaotic Games, has reinforced fears that the size and cost of the global mega-event is out of control and places too great a burden on host cities.
At the same time, in London, an investigation is now under way into the spiralling costs of the 2012 Olympic stadium, now approaching £800m.
Meanwhile, in Tokyo, there are renewed concerns that the budget for the 2020 Games could leap to £21bn, four times the initial estimate, despite recent effort to rein in costs, with the city's governor, Yuriko Koike, admitting she had no idea how much money will eventually be spent on the event.
No wonder, perhaps, that Boston, Hamburg, Rome and now Budapest have all rejected the chance to stage the 2024 Games.
The IOC has blamed local politics for the withdrawal of the Hungarian capital, although Bach will hope to turn it to his advantage and use it to strengthen his case for more reforms.
Bach's latest idea is a change to the rules to allow cities bidding for the second time to pay less than those making their first attempt. Bach told German magazine Stuttgart Nachrichten that it was unfair to judge Rio's Olympic legacy so soon, and urged critics not to underestimate the transport and environmental benefits the Games had left the Brazilian city, while also reminding them of the regeneration of east London in recent years.
So as they enter the final crucial few months of campaigning, which of the two remaining candidate cities are most likely to benefit from Budapest's withdrawal and get to run the first leg of a possible 2024/2028 relay?
Some observers believe it has merely reinforced Paris' status as favourites. Given just how hard it clearly now is to attract bidders from Europe, sponsorship expert Tim Crow argues that it is easy to see why the IOC would be loathe to risk further alienating more potential candidates by rejecting the iconic capital for a third consecutive time - especially for 2024, which will mark 100 years since Paris last hosted the Games.
Add to this the obvious consternation caused in some Olympic circles by US President Donald Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric - and his recent travel ban - and Paris seems a logical choice.
Others disagree, however. Journalist Alan Abrahamson argues that the IOC must now turn away from government-backed bids based on large infrastructure or regeneration projects, where taxpayers often end up paying the price when budgets spiral out of control, and instead go for privately funded alternatives.
And that, he insists, means Los Angeles. Unlike in Paris, where 1.5bn euros of public investment is being spent on the construction of an athletes' village and a new aquatics centre, 97% of the American city's major facilities are already built, the kind of sustainability that Bach's Agenda 2020 is meant to be encouraging more of.
It has also not escaped attention that Etienne Thobois, the head of the Paris 2024 bid, was a key consultant for Tokyo 2020 - a bid whose original cost estimates now appear wildly optimistic. And at a time when the IOC is desperate to tackle ageing audiences, become more relevant among younger sports fans, and reboot the troubled Olympic brand, California's global reputation for digital technology and enterprise could make sense. It would also please the IOC's most lucrative broadcast partner, NBC, and its sponsors, most of which are based in the US.
In what is becoming a fascinating dilemma for the IOC, there are various other factors at play.
There is the possibility of anti-American resentment from some in the Olympic community at the US Anti-Doping Agency's (Usada) criticism of the IOC's failure to ban Russia from the Rio Games for state-sponsored doping. Usada is now one of the leading voices pushing for an overhaul of the anti-doping system, demanding a better resourced and independent World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) with real sanctioning powers. A US congressional hearing recently questioned the IOC's medical and scientific director Richard Budgett on anti-doping, with some wondering if the scrutiny could harm Los Angeles' chances.
But could all that be offset by the possible election of far-right politician Marine le Pen in the French presidential election in May? And could the continued threat of terrorism in France also damage Paris prospects?
All will be revealed in Lima in September. But before then, an even bigger decision must be taken by the IOC - on Russia. Despite recent admissions from Wada that there may not be sufficient evidence in last year's damning McLaren report to bring sanctions against certain Russian athletes, and the slow progress of two separate IOC investigations into the scandal, many want the IOC to now do what they failed to do last summer and ban the entire Russian team from Pyeongchang 2018.
My understanding is that despite the obvious threat of a major rift with Russia if such a step is taken, the argument is finally gaining traction among the upper echelons of the IOC, and there is a growing acceptance that it could help demonstrate some leadership at a time when it desperately needs to restore credibility.
Media playback is not supported on this device
The samples of more than 100 athletes from Beijing 2008 and London 2012 have now shown up as positive in retesting, and dozens of medals have been stripped. The IOC is trying to show it has teeth after all, and it may conclude that banning Russia would be the ultimate way of proving the point.
All this comes at a crucial time for the IOC, a time of both opportunity and challenge.
On the one hand, it appears in rude health. Despite continuing concerns over China's human rights record, Bach recently hailed the signing of a ground-breaking six-Games partnership worth a potential $1bn with Chinese conglomerate Alibaba, another major boost to its constantly growing revenues.
The Olympic channel has now been broadcasting for several months, signing deals with 47 federations to televise their sports. Last week, the Sports and Rights Alliance welcomed the IOC's decision to incorporate human rights principles in its revised host city contract.
On the other, however, Bach has faced scrutiny for his organisation's role in the alleged ticket-touting scandal that saw Irish IOC executive Pat Hickey arrested in Rio and detained for five months.
And now an IOC ethics committee is having to look into allegations that vote-buying helped secure the 2016 Games for Rio after a French newspaper reported that a Brazilian businessman made payments to Papa Massata Diack, son of disgraced former IOC member Lamine Diack, just before the crucial vote in 2009, and that current IOC member Frankie Fredericks also received money.
Frederick denies wrongdoing, while Diack Jr has refused to comment. But with French police already investigating payments made by the Tokyo 2020 bid to an account linked to the Diacks, the list of Games tainted by allegations of corruption is growing.
It is against this backdrop that the IOC is now operating - and being judged.
Budapest's withdrawal from the race to stage the next Games is far from being the only headache it has to contend with right now. But at a time when the IOC's reputation is on the line, the ramifications of this latest snub could be felt well beyond its headquarters in Lausanne. And especially in Los Angeles, Paris and in Moscow. | The newly elected International Olympic Committee (IOC) president confidently told me that after a successful reign by his predecessor Jacques Rogge, the Olympic movement needed mere evolution.
But as we approach four years of Bach's leadership - and with fresh hosting, doping and corruption controversies affecting confidence in his organisation - the demands for an Olympic revolution are growing louder by the day.
The recent withdrawal of Budapest's bid to stage the 2024 Games - the fourth city to pull out of the race - is highly embarrassing for the IOC and seems to have left the Olympics at a crossroads, in desperate need of a new vision.
And the knock-on effects of this latest blow to Bach could be extremely significant: a possible double announcement of hosts for both the 2024 and 2028 Games; and perhaps making it more likely that the IOC takes the unprecedented step of banning Russia from the next Winter Olympics, if that is deemed necessary to restore credibility at this critical time.
Despite reported opposition from within the IOC, it seems increasingly likely that when its members meet in Lima in September to decide which of the two remaining bidders, Los Angeles or Paris, is awarded the Games, the loser will be told it can host the following edition four years later.
This assumes the runner-up for 2024 will actually want to play host in 2028 of course - or indeed be able to. Neither is certain. Plans and partnerships for both bids are based on the cities hosting the event in 2024, and delaying these by another four years may not be possible. But with the IOC now admitting that without recent reforms it could have suffered the ignominy of having no bidders, it seems sensible to try to strike some kind of two-Games deal.
So, why are potential host cities turning their backs on the Games, and how much jeopardy is the Olympics really now in?
In 2014, after six cities had decided not to bid for the 2022 Winter Games - leaving just Almaty and Beijing to choose from - Bach hailed his Agenda 2020 reforms as the answer, designed to encourage flexible and cheaper bids from more potential hosts.
Yet three years on, here we are again, with just two bidders left for the 2024 summer Games. Earlier this month, a referendum in the Swiss canton of Graubuenden, which contains the cities of Davos and St Moritz, ensured there would be no bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The recent bleak images of Rio's abandoned and crumbling Olympic venues already falling into disrepair, just a few months after they hosted the city's iconic but chaotic Games, has reinforced fears that the size and cost of the global mega-event is out of control and places too great a burden on host cities.
At the same time, in London, an investigation is now under way into the spiralling costs of the 2012 Olympic stadium, now approaching £800m.
Meanwhile, in Tokyo, there are renewed concerns that the budget for the 2020 Games could leap to £21bn, four times the initial estimate, despite recent effort to rein in costs, with the city's governor, Yuriko Koike, admitting she had no idea how much money will eventually be spent on the event.
No wonder, perhaps, that Boston, Hamburg, Rome and now Budapest have all rejected the chance to stage the 2024 Games.
The IOC has blamed local politics for the withdrawal of the Hungarian capital, although Bach will hope to turn it to his advantage and use it to strengthen his case for more reforms.
Bach's latest idea is a change to the rules to allow cities bidding for the second time to pay less than those making their first attempt. Bach told German magazine Stuttgart Nachrichten that it was unfair to judge Rio's Olympic legacy so soon, and urged critics not to underestimate the transport and environmental benefits the Games had left the Brazilian city, while also reminding them of the regeneration of east London in recent years.
So as they enter the final crucial few months of campaigning, which of the two remaining candidate cities are most likely to benefit from Budapest's withdrawal and get to run the first leg of a possible 2024/2028 relay?
Some observers believe it has merely reinforced Paris' status as favourites. Given just how hard it clearly now is to attract bidders from Europe, sponsorship expert Tim Crow argues that it is easy to see why the IOC would be loathe to risk further alienating more potential candidates by rejecting the iconic capital for a third consecutive time - especially for 2024, which will mark 100 years since Paris last hosted the Games.
Add to this the obvious consternation caused in some Olympic circles by US President Donald Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric - and his recent travel ban - and Paris seems a logical choice.
Others disagree, however. Journalist Alan Abrahamson argues that the IOC must now turn away from government-backed bids based on large infrastructure or regeneration projects, where taxpayers often end up paying the price when budgets spiral out of control, and instead go for privately funded alternatives.
And that, he insists, means Los Angeles. Unlike in Paris, where 1.5bn euros of public investment is being spent on the construction of an athletes' village and a new aquatics centre, 97% of the American city's major facilities are already built, the kind of sustainability that Bach's Agenda 2020 is meant to be encouraging more of.
It has also not escaped attention that Etienne Thobois, the head of the Paris 2024 bid, was a key consultant for Tokyo 2020 - a bid whose original cost estimates now appear wildly optimistic. And at a time when the IOC is desperate to tackle ageing audiences, become more relevant among younger sports fans, and reboot the troubled Olympic brand, California's global reputation for digital technology and enterprise could make sense. It would also please the IOC's most lucrative broadcast partner, NBC, and its sponsors, most of which are based in the US.
In what is becoming a fascinating dilemma for the IOC, there are various other factors at play.
There is the possibility of anti-American resentment from some in the Olympic community at the US Anti-Doping Agency's (Usada) criticism of the IOC's failure to ban Russia from the Rio Games for state-sponsored doping. Usada is now one of the leading voices pushing for an overhaul of the anti-doping system, demanding a better resourced and independent World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) with real sanctioning powers. A US congressional hearing recently questioned the IOC's medical and scientific director Richard Budgett on anti-doping, with some wondering if the scrutiny could harm Los Angeles' chances.
But could all that be offset by the possible election of far-right politician Marine le Pen in the French presidential election in May? And could the continued threat of terrorism in France also damage Paris prospects?
All will be revealed in Lima in September. But before then, an even bigger decision must be taken by the IOC - on Russia. Despite recent admissions from Wada that there may not be sufficient evidence in last year's damning McLaren report to bring sanctions against certain Russian athletes, and the slow progress of two separate IOC investigations into the scandal, many want the IOC to now do what they failed to do last summer and ban the entire Russian team from Pyeongchang 2018.
My understanding is that despite the obvious threat of a major rift with Russia if such a step is taken, the argument is finally gaining traction among the upper echelons of the IOC, and there is a growing acceptance that it could help demonstrate some leadership at a time when it desperately needs to restore credibility.
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The samples of more than 100 athletes from Beijing 2008 and London 2012 have now shown up as positive in retesting, and dozens of medals have been stripped. The IOC is trying to show it has teeth after all, and it may conclude that banning Russia would be the ultimate way of proving the point.
All this comes at a crucial time for the IOC, a time of both opportunity and challenge.
On the one hand, it appears in rude health. Despite continuing concerns over China's human rights record, Bach recently hailed the signing of a ground-breaking six-Games partnership worth a potential $1bn with Chinese conglomerate Alibaba, another major boost to its constantly growing revenues.
The Olympic channel has now been broadcasting for several months, signing deals with 47 federations to televise their sports. Last week, the Sports and Rights Alliance welcomed the IOC's decision to incorporate human rights principles in its revised host city contract.
On the other, however, Bach has faced scrutiny for his organisation's role in the alleged ticket-touting scandal that saw Irish IOC executive Pat Hickey arrested in Rio and detained for five months.
And now an IOC ethics committee is having to look into allegations that vote-buying helped secure the 2016 Games for Rio after a French newspaper reported that a Brazilian businessman made payments to Papa Massata Diack, son of disgraced former IOC member Lamine Diack, just before the crucial vote in 2009, and that current IOC member Frankie Fredericks also received money.
Frederick denies wrongdoing, while Diack Jr has refused to comment. But with French police already investigating payments made by the Tokyo 2020 bid to an account linked to the Diacks, the list of Games tainted by allegations of corruption is growing.
It is against this backdrop that the IOC is now operating - and being judged.
Budapest's withdrawal from the race to stage the next Games is far from being the only headache it has to contend with right now. But at a time when the IOC's reputation is on the line, the ramifications of this latest snub could be felt well beyond its headquarters in Lausanne. And especially in Los Angeles, Paris and in Moscow. |
Add punctuation: The driver sped through the level crossing before the barriers came down, but reversed through the barrier and stopped in the middle of the tracks.
The "extremely dangerous" example of driving was captured on CCTV.
It happened at Pinxton level crossing, on the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire border, at 00:30 BST on Sunday 21 June.
Insp Anton Menzies from British Transport Police hopes someone will recognise the distinctive three-wheeled car from the video.
"This was extremely dangerous behaviour that put the driver and the passengers' lives at risk," he said.
"They were very lucky that a train was not coming through at the time or the consequences would be unthinkable."
The video shows a passenger getting out of the car while it is on the crossing.
Another person lifts the barrier, allowing the car to drive away.
The barriers were damaged by the car and will cost up to £15,000 to repair. | The driver sped through the level crossing before the barriers came down, but reversed through the barrier and stopped in the middle of the tracks.
The "extremely dangerous" example of driving was captured on CCTV.
It happened at Pinxton level crossing, on the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire border, at 00:30 BST on Sunday 21 June.
Insp Anton Menzies from British Transport Police hopes someone will recognise the distinctive three-wheeled car from the video.
"This was extremely dangerous behaviour that put the driver and the passengers' lives at risk," he said.
"They were very lucky that a train was not coming through at the time or the consequences would be unthinkable."
The video shows a passenger getting out of the car while it is on the crossing.
Another person lifts the barrier, allowing the car to drive away.
The barriers were damaged by the car and will cost up to £15,000 to repair. |
Add punctuation: Stephen Talbot, 58, from Wamphray, was last seen at about 16:00 on Monday.
He had been on a camping trip at Garrogill, near Moffat, where mountain rescue teams and a police helicopter had been carrying out extensive searches.
Police Scotland said the search has been suspended while identification of the body takes place. | Stephen Talbot, 58, from Wamphray, was last seen at about 16:00 on Monday.
He had been on a camping trip at Garrogill, near Moffat, where mountain rescue teams and a police helicopter had been carrying out extensive searches.
Police Scotland said the search has been suspended while identification of the body takes place. |
Add punctuation: Bottom side Notts, who began the day on 61-3 in pursuit of an unlikely 452 to win at Scarborough, lost Tom Moores in the first over the day.
They never recovered as Tim Bresnan finished with 5-36 and Jack Brooks 4-35 as Notts were bowled out for 146.
Defeat leaves Notts 35 points adrift of safety with with only three games left.
Yorkshire, who are chasing a third successive County Championship title, and Middlesex have four games to play and meet at Lord's in this season's final round of matches next month.
A Yorkshire victory looked unlikely when they slumped to 51-6 on the opening morning after being put in by Notts captain Chris Read.
But a fourth win of the season never looked in doubt after they recovered to post 282 in their first innings before skittling the visitors for only 94.
Moores, who resisted Yorkshire's bowlers on day three for an unbeaten 41, fell to the fourth ball of the final morning when he edged Bresnan to Adam Lyth at second slip.
Bresnan removed Samit Patel and Chris Read in quick succession to complete his first five-wicket haul of the summer before Yorkshire wrapped up victory shortly after lunch.
Ryan Sidebottom had Ben Hutton caught behind off the third ball after the interval, and in the next over Brooks had Brendan Taylor caught at cover and bowled Luke Fletcher with successive balls.
Imran Tahir survived the hat-trick ball but soon became the last man to fall when he fended Brooks to Alex Lees at short leg. | Bottom side Notts, who began the day on 61-3 in pursuit of an unlikely 452 to win at Scarborough, lost Tom Moores in the first over the day.
They never recovered as Tim Bresnan finished with 5-36 and Jack Brooks 4-35 as Notts were bowled out for 146.
Defeat leaves Notts 35 points adrift of safety with with only three games left.
Yorkshire, who are chasing a third successive County Championship title, and Middlesex have four games to play and meet at Lord's in this season's final round of matches next month.
A Yorkshire victory looked unlikely when they slumped to 51-6 on the opening morning after being put in by Notts captain Chris Read.
But a fourth win of the season never looked in doubt after they recovered to post 282 in their first innings before skittling the visitors for only 94.
Moores, who resisted Yorkshire's bowlers on day three for an unbeaten 41, fell to the fourth ball of the final morning when he edged Bresnan to Adam Lyth at second slip.
Bresnan removed Samit Patel and Chris Read in quick succession to complete his first five-wicket haul of the summer before Yorkshire wrapped up victory shortly after lunch.
Ryan Sidebottom had Ben Hutton caught behind off the third ball after the interval, and in the next over Brooks had Brendan Taylor caught at cover and bowled Luke Fletcher with successive balls.
Imran Tahir survived the hat-trick ball but soon became the last man to fall when he fended Brooks to Alex Lees at short leg. |
Add punctuation: An Israeli parole board ruled on Sunday that Katsav, 71, could walk free next week after serving five of his seven-year term.
Two previous parole requests had been rejected.
Katsav resigned from the largely ceremonial post in 2007 after being charged with rape and sexual harassment.
He has repeatedly professed his innocence.
Katsav's lawyer, Zion Amir, said his client burst into tears on hearing the news.
"It was a very long journey," he told Israeli army radio.
"Today that journey reached its end with a reasoned decision by the parole committee."
In November 2011, Israel's Supreme Court unanimously upheld Katsav's conviction for raping a former employee when he was a cabinet minister in the 1990s, and for sexually harassing two other women while president.
Katsav was born in Iran and became the first Israeli president to come from a Muslim country. He became a Likud party MP in 1977 at the age of 30. | An Israeli parole board ruled on Sunday that Katsav, 71, could walk free next week after serving five of his seven-year term.
Two previous parole requests had been rejected.
Katsav resigned from the largely ceremonial post in 2007 after being charged with rape and sexual harassment.
He has repeatedly professed his innocence.
Katsav's lawyer, Zion Amir, said his client burst into tears on hearing the news.
"It was a very long journey," he told Israeli army radio.
"Today that journey reached its end with a reasoned decision by the parole committee."
In November 2011, Israel's Supreme Court unanimously upheld Katsav's conviction for raping a former employee when he was a cabinet minister in the 1990s, and for sexually harassing two other women while president.
Katsav was born in Iran and became the first Israeli president to come from a Muslim country. He became a Likud party MP in 1977 at the age of 30. |
Add punctuation: Metal thieves stripped Linlithgow Palace, West Lothian, of copper taping used to conduct lightning strikes from its roof to the ground.
The former royal residence was among 17 historic sites to be targeted.
There were 30 thefts at stately homes, castles and churches in three years.
Thieves have taken heavy stone carvings, Roman artefacts and the fixtures and fittings from historic monuments across the country.
Dryburgh Abbey, in the Scottish Borders, was broken into in 2015 and lost two medieval stone carvings, while nearby Melrose Abbey was robbed of a Roman statuette of a stag and Roman pottery items.
Last year, thieves managed to make off with two heavy "Forest of Dean stone" carvings from Dunkeld Cathedral, while staff at Duff House in Aberdeenshire discovered that an antique toilet pull chain had been taken.
Scotland's historical sites were also the target of scrap metal thieves, who stripped lead from Deer Abbey in Aberdeenshire and Crossraguel Abbey in Ayrshire.
Metal hand rails were stolen from Dunstaffnage Castle, Argyll, and Kilchurn Castle on the banks of Loch Awe, while one thief made off with the main door padlock from Castle Campbell, Clackmannanshire.
In 2015, one thief set their sights slightly lower, making off with 12 packs of toilet roll from Castle Campbell.
Documents released by Historic Environment Scotland revealed thieves stripped the lightning protection tape from Linlithgow Palace in 2014.
It is understood the lightning tape, supplied to 37 HES-operated buildings across Scotland by a specialist contractor, was replaced before serious damage happened.
The documents, detailing items listed as missing or stolen between 2014 and 2016, also revealed that HES staff mislaid the keys to St Andrews Castle, Fife, and a set of internal keys for Dunblane Cathedral.
In 2012, HES set up a task force with police and amateur enthusiasts to crack down on the growing problem of crime at historic sites.
Heritage chiefs consulted with both police officers and insurance companies to reduce the levels of crime being committed at historic sites, while creating an "early warning" network to target criminals who are breaking into properties and ransacking historic sites. | Metal thieves stripped Linlithgow Palace, West Lothian, of copper taping used to conduct lightning strikes from its roof to the ground.
The former royal residence was among 17 historic sites to be targeted.
There were 30 thefts at stately homes, castles and churches in three years.
Thieves have taken heavy stone carvings, Roman artefacts and the fixtures and fittings from historic monuments across the country.
Dryburgh Abbey, in the Scottish Borders, was broken into in 2015 and lost two medieval stone carvings, while nearby Melrose Abbey was robbed of a Roman statuette of a stag and Roman pottery items.
Last year, thieves managed to make off with two heavy "Forest of Dean stone" carvings from Dunkeld Cathedral, while staff at Duff House in Aberdeenshire discovered that an antique toilet pull chain had been taken.
Scotland's historical sites were also the target of scrap metal thieves, who stripped lead from Deer Abbey in Aberdeenshire and Crossraguel Abbey in Ayrshire.
Metal hand rails were stolen from Dunstaffnage Castle, Argyll, and Kilchurn Castle on the banks of Loch Awe, while one thief made off with the main door padlock from Castle Campbell, Clackmannanshire.
In 2015, one thief set their sights slightly lower, making off with 12 packs of toilet roll from Castle Campbell.
Documents released by Historic Environment Scotland revealed thieves stripped the lightning protection tape from Linlithgow Palace in 2014.
It is understood the lightning tape, supplied to 37 HES-operated buildings across Scotland by a specialist contractor, was replaced before serious damage happened.
The documents, detailing items listed as missing or stolen between 2014 and 2016, also revealed that HES staff mislaid the keys to St Andrews Castle, Fife, and a set of internal keys for Dunblane Cathedral.
In 2012, HES set up a task force with police and amateur enthusiasts to crack down on the growing problem of crime at historic sites.
Heritage chiefs consulted with both police officers and insurance companies to reduce the levels of crime being committed at historic sites, while creating an "early warning" network to target criminals who are breaking into properties and ransacking historic sites. |
Add punctuation: The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) laid the new charges against the tourist attraction in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
In November, the animal welfare agency laid five similar charges against Marineland.
The latest charges relate to elk, red deer, and fallow deer being kept at the amusement park and zoo.
The charges include permitting an animal to be in distress and for failing to provide proper standards of care for the animals in question.
The park has an estimated 650 elk and deer on site.
Last year, the OSPCA cited the adventure park for failing to provide appropriate care for a peacock, guinea hens and American black bears, including not providing enough food and water for the bears being kept at there.
The animal welfare agency's deputy chief, Jennifer Bluhm, said the investigation, which is ongoing, stems from a complaint received by the general public.
No animals have been removed from the park.
Marineland is due in court on 26 January to face the 11 animal cruelty charges. The maximum penalty for these charges include a $60,000 (US$45,300/£37,300) fine and two years in jail.
In a statement, Marineland said it "looks forward to the OSPCA laying out their case in court, where facts matter and there is an objective measure of reality that has not been seen in the basis of their charges or the supporting documentation".
The company also expressed concerns it was being targeted by "a band of discredited" animal rights activists. | The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) laid the new charges against the tourist attraction in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
In November, the animal welfare agency laid five similar charges against Marineland.
The latest charges relate to elk, red deer, and fallow deer being kept at the amusement park and zoo.
The charges include permitting an animal to be in distress and for failing to provide proper standards of care for the animals in question.
The park has an estimated 650 elk and deer on site.
Last year, the OSPCA cited the adventure park for failing to provide appropriate care for a peacock, guinea hens and American black bears, including not providing enough food and water for the bears being kept at there.
The animal welfare agency's deputy chief, Jennifer Bluhm, said the investigation, which is ongoing, stems from a complaint received by the general public.
No animals have been removed from the park.
Marineland is due in court on 26 January to face the 11 animal cruelty charges. The maximum penalty for these charges include a $60,000 (US$45,300/£37,300) fine and two years in jail.
In a statement, Marineland said it "looks forward to the OSPCA laying out their case in court, where facts matter and there is an objective measure of reality that has not been seen in the basis of their charges or the supporting documentation".
The company also expressed concerns it was being targeted by "a band of discredited" animal rights activists. |
Add punctuation: Bala Chinda, 25, denies murdering 36-year-old Nkechi - also known as Jessica - McGraa at a flat in Union Terrace in Aberdeen in February.
Mr Chinda faces a separate accusation of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
It is claimed he stole two phones and disposed of them, as well as a handset he is said to have used to contact Ms McGraa.
At the High Court in Glasgow, judge Lady Rae set a trial for December. | Bala Chinda, 25, denies murdering 36-year-old Nkechi - also known as Jessica - McGraa at a flat in Union Terrace in Aberdeen in February.
Mr Chinda faces a separate accusation of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
It is claimed he stole two phones and disposed of them, as well as a handset he is said to have used to contact Ms McGraa.
At the High Court in Glasgow, judge Lady Rae set a trial for December. |
Add punctuation: The Most Reverend Justin Welby told the BBC's Songs Of Praise the killings had put a "chink in his armour".
He said his reaction to the attacks had been "first shock and horror and then a profound sadness", heightened because he and his wife once lived in Paris.
The gun and suicide bomb attacks on 13 November, carried out by so-called Islamic State, left 130 people dead.
Prime Minister David Cameron will meet French President Francois Hollande in Paris on Monday to discuss the fight against terror.
They will discuss how to co-operate on counter-terrorism and in the fight against IS in Syria and Iraq, UK officials said.
The archbishop said: "Saturday morning, I was out and as I was walking, I was praying and saying: 'God, why - why is this happening? Where are you in all this?'"
"He said 'in the middle of it' and also in answer from Psalm 56 - 'he stores up our tears in a bottle, none of our sufferings are lost,'" he added.
The archbishop said his shock had been made worse because he and his wife had lived in Paris for five years.
"It was one of the happiest places we have lived and to think of a place of such celebration of life seeing such suffering is utterly heart-breaking."
A bombing campaign against IS, particularly by French air forces, was launched in Syria shortly after the attack, but the archbishop warned against a potentially damaging instant reaction.
"Two injustices do not make justice. If we start randomly killing those who have not done wrong, that is not going to provide solutions. So governments have to be the means of justice," he said.
Archbishop Welby also said the way IS militants had perverted their faith in order to believe their acts glorified their God, was "one of the most desperate aspects of our world today".
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, told the programme it had taken him "quite a while" to come to terms with what had happened in Paris.
He said terrorists wanted to make people live in fear, breed hatred and strike divisions in society - but people had to try to resist this.
The terrorists' actions, he said, were a blasphemy against God, but had shown "the goodness of people" in Paris, quoting a newspaper which said: "Terrorists came to shed blood; Parisians stood in line to give blood."
"We really should be solid in our commitment to each other - to stand in the face of this evil," the cardinal said.
Strong action was needed but political and military judgement was required to decide how best to stop them, he added.
Songs of Praise will be shown on BBC One at 16:15 GMT on 22 November, and on BBC iPlayer. | The Most Reverend Justin Welby told the BBC's Songs Of Praise the killings had put a "chink in his armour".
He said his reaction to the attacks had been "first shock and horror and then a profound sadness", heightened because he and his wife once lived in Paris.
The gun and suicide bomb attacks on 13 November, carried out by so-called Islamic State, left 130 people dead.
Prime Minister David Cameron will meet French President Francois Hollande in Paris on Monday to discuss the fight against terror.
They will discuss how to co-operate on counter-terrorism and in the fight against IS in Syria and Iraq, UK officials said.
The archbishop said: "Saturday morning, I was out and as I was walking, I was praying and saying: 'God, why - why is this happening? Where are you in all this?'"
"He said 'in the middle of it' and also in answer from Psalm 56 - 'he stores up our tears in a bottle, none of our sufferings are lost,'" he added.
The archbishop said his shock had been made worse because he and his wife had lived in Paris for five years.
"It was one of the happiest places we have lived and to think of a place of such celebration of life seeing such suffering is utterly heart-breaking."
A bombing campaign against IS, particularly by French air forces, was launched in Syria shortly after the attack, but the archbishop warned against a potentially damaging instant reaction.
"Two injustices do not make justice. If we start randomly killing those who have not done wrong, that is not going to provide solutions. So governments have to be the means of justice," he said.
Archbishop Welby also said the way IS militants had perverted their faith in order to believe their acts glorified their God, was "one of the most desperate aspects of our world today".
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, told the programme it had taken him "quite a while" to come to terms with what had happened in Paris.
He said terrorists wanted to make people live in fear, breed hatred and strike divisions in society - but people had to try to resist this.
The terrorists' actions, he said, were a blasphemy against God, but had shown "the goodness of people" in Paris, quoting a newspaper which said: "Terrorists came to shed blood; Parisians stood in line to give blood."
"We really should be solid in our commitment to each other - to stand in the face of this evil," the cardinal said.
Strong action was needed but political and military judgement was required to decide how best to stop them, he added.
Songs of Praise will be shown on BBC One at 16:15 GMT on 22 November, and on BBC iPlayer. |
Add punctuation: Hundreds of people have been injured in three days of protests over high unemployment and perceived inability of politicians to improve the situation.
Police used rubber bullets and tear gas to quell unrest in the capital Sarajevo and the northern town of Tuzla.
Black smoke could be seen coming from the presidency building in Sarajevo.
A Bosnian Spring?
Sarajevo-based newspaper Dnevni Avaz says police used water to disperse the protesters who were throwing stones at the building. There were also reports of an attempted storming of the office.
On Thursday, clashes between police and demonstrators in Tuzla injured more than 130 people, mostly police officers.
"People protest because they are hungry, because they don't have jobs. We demand the government resign," Nihad Karac, a construction worker, told the AFP.
About 40% of Bosnians are unemployed.
The unrest began in Tuzla earlier in the week, with protests over the closure and sale of factories which had employed most of the local population.
Demonstrators in other towns, including Mostar, Zenica and Bihac, supported the Tuzla workers and criticised the government for failing to tackle the rampant unemployment.
By Guy DelauneyBBC News, Belgrade
This appears to be a case of simmering frustration boiling over.
Two decades on from the siege of Sarajevo, Bosnia has fallen off the international radar - and its people feel they have been forgotten. And not just by the wider world, but their own government.
The administration is split along ethnic lines - and seems incapable of agreeing on anything but its own above-average pay packets.
This has left the rest of Bosnia's citizens struggling to move forward.
Even practical matters like national identity cards, get mired in ethnic politics. At one point last year, desperate mothers formed a human chain around the main government building, begging for identity cards for their babies.
The economic situation is desperate. Four in ten are unemployed - in large part due to a series of botched privatisations.
That is what sparked the initial protests in Tuzla - but empathy with their cause brought demonstrators out in towns across Bosnia.
Hundreds of people also gathered in support in the Bosnian Serb capital, Banja Luka.
Local media are reporting that the premiers of two of Bosnia's cantons - Sead Causevic of Tuzla canton and Munib Husejnagic of Zenica-Doboj canton - are to resign.
'Exasperation'
The BBC's Balkans correspondent Guy De Launey says exasperation at years of inertia and incompetence in Bosnia is at the root of the protests.
Bosnia-Hercegovina is made up of two separate entities: a Bosniak-Croat Federation of Bosnia and Hercegovina, and the Bosnian Serb Republic, or Republika Srpska, each with its own president, government, parliament, police and other bodies.
The complex administrative framework and deep divisions have led to political stagnation and vulnerability to corruption.
The current chairman of the Bosnian presidency, Zeljko Komsic, said that politicians were to blame for the protests.
The problem "has been accumulating for several years, but the situation now escalated," he told FTV.
He was also quoted as saying he would be calling an urgent meeting of the top leadership. | Hundreds of people have been injured in three days of protests over high unemployment and perceived inability of politicians to improve the situation.
Police used rubber bullets and tear gas to quell unrest in the capital Sarajevo and the northern town of Tuzla.
Black smoke could be seen coming from the presidency building in Sarajevo.
A Bosnian Spring?
Sarajevo-based newspaper Dnevni Avaz says police used water to disperse the protesters who were throwing stones at the building. There were also reports of an attempted storming of the office.
On Thursday, clashes between police and demonstrators in Tuzla injured more than 130 people, mostly police officers.
"People protest because they are hungry, because they don't have jobs. We demand the government resign," Nihad Karac, a construction worker, told the AFP.
About 40% of Bosnians are unemployed.
The unrest began in Tuzla earlier in the week, with protests over the closure and sale of factories which had employed most of the local population.
Demonstrators in other towns, including Mostar, Zenica and Bihac, supported the Tuzla workers and criticised the government for failing to tackle the rampant unemployment.
By Guy DelauneyBBC News, Belgrade
This appears to be a case of simmering frustration boiling over.
Two decades on from the siege of Sarajevo, Bosnia has fallen off the international radar - and its people feel they have been forgotten. And not just by the wider world, but their own government.
The administration is split along ethnic lines - and seems incapable of agreeing on anything but its own above-average pay packets.
This has left the rest of Bosnia's citizens struggling to move forward.
Even practical matters like national identity cards, get mired in ethnic politics. At one point last year, desperate mothers formed a human chain around the main government building, begging for identity cards for their babies.
The economic situation is desperate. Four in ten are unemployed - in large part due to a series of botched privatisations.
That is what sparked the initial protests in Tuzla - but empathy with their cause brought demonstrators out in towns across Bosnia.
Hundreds of people also gathered in support in the Bosnian Serb capital, Banja Luka.
Local media are reporting that the premiers of two of Bosnia's cantons - Sead Causevic of Tuzla canton and Munib Husejnagic of Zenica-Doboj canton - are to resign.
'Exasperation'
The BBC's Balkans correspondent Guy De Launey says exasperation at years of inertia and incompetence in Bosnia is at the root of the protests.
Bosnia-Hercegovina is made up of two separate entities: a Bosniak-Croat Federation of Bosnia and Hercegovina, and the Bosnian Serb Republic, or Republika Srpska, each with its own president, government, parliament, police and other bodies.
The complex administrative framework and deep divisions have led to political stagnation and vulnerability to corruption.
The current chairman of the Bosnian presidency, Zeljko Komsic, said that politicians were to blame for the protests.
The problem "has been accumulating for several years, but the situation now escalated," he told FTV.
He was also quoted as saying he would be calling an urgent meeting of the top leadership. |
Add punctuation: Mr Mozgovoi led the "Prizrak" (Ghost) battalion which was based in the Alchevsk area of Luhansk.
Reports said a bomb struck his car, which was then targeted by gunfire that killed Mozgovoi and six others.
Mr Mozgovoi was a critic of the Russian-backed separatist leadership and the Minsk accord signed with Kiev.
He took control of Alchevsk as part of the uprising that began last April in eastern Ukraine's Luhansk and Donetsk regions following Russia's annexation of Crimea.
There are no details on who may have carried out the attack, which was said to have taken place on the road from Luhansk to the city of Alchevsk.
One report said the attack took place near the spot where Mr Mozgovoi had survived another assassination attempt in March.
His press secretary and three security officers were reportedly among the dead.
Last May he allowed the BBC's Panorama exclusive access to his militia's training camp.
Mr Mozgovoi told our reporter the conflict was "in full swing... The east of Ukraine is moving steadily towards Russia, and that's a fact".
Last November Mozgovoi was seen at the head of a summary court system.
He is heard issuing a warning to residents: "Too many women go to restaurants. What kind of example do they show to their children? From now on, we will arrest all women we find in restaurants and cafes."
The Minsk ceasefire agreement came into effect on 15 February, but there has been regular sporadic fighting and both the pro-Russian separatists and the Ukrainian government accuse the other of preparing a major offensive.
The Ukrainian government and Western leaders say there is clear evidence Russia is helping the rebels with heavy weapons and soldiers - an accusation Moscow denies.
But the rebels are also not a single coherent force in eastern Ukraine and there have been reports of power struggles. | Mr Mozgovoi led the "Prizrak" (Ghost) battalion which was based in the Alchevsk area of Luhansk.
Reports said a bomb struck his car, which was then targeted by gunfire that killed Mozgovoi and six others.
Mr Mozgovoi was a critic of the Russian-backed separatist leadership and the Minsk accord signed with Kiev.
He took control of Alchevsk as part of the uprising that began last April in eastern Ukraine's Luhansk and Donetsk regions following Russia's annexation of Crimea.
There are no details on who may have carried out the attack, which was said to have taken place on the road from Luhansk to the city of Alchevsk.
One report said the attack took place near the spot where Mr Mozgovoi had survived another assassination attempt in March.
His press secretary and three security officers were reportedly among the dead.
Last May he allowed the BBC's Panorama exclusive access to his militia's training camp.
Mr Mozgovoi told our reporter the conflict was "in full swing... The east of Ukraine is moving steadily towards Russia, and that's a fact".
Last November Mozgovoi was seen at the head of a summary court system.
He is heard issuing a warning to residents: "Too many women go to restaurants. What kind of example do they show to their children? From now on, we will arrest all women we find in restaurants and cafes."
The Minsk ceasefire agreement came into effect on 15 February, but there has been regular sporadic fighting and both the pro-Russian separatists and the Ukrainian government accuse the other of preparing a major offensive.
The Ukrainian government and Western leaders say there is clear evidence Russia is helping the rebels with heavy weapons and soldiers - an accusation Moscow denies.
But the rebels are also not a single coherent force in eastern Ukraine and there have been reports of power struggles. |
Add punctuation: It was originally agreed in 2008 and has been renewed on a two-year basis since then.
On Monday, it was renewed for a further three years.
The bilateral agreement signed between the Irish and US governments relates only to the 12-month J1 visa.
It does not apply to the four-month programme, which many Irish students use to spend a summer working in the US.
There have been concerns about the future of the J1 programme given previous remarks from US President-elect Donald Trump that he plans to end the scheme.
In August 2015, in a position paper posted on his website, Mr Trump said: "The J1 visa jobs programme for foreign youth will be terminated and replaced with a résumé bank for inner city youth provided to all corporate subscribers to the J1 visa programme."
However that paper is no longer available on his website and the same pledge is not contained in his latest policy paper on immigration.
Despite the signing of Monday's agreement, uncertainty still hangs over the programme as Mr Trump could shut it down by executive order once he takes office on 20 January.
In 2015, 1,319 Irish people availed of the 12-month J1 visa, and around 7,000 took part in the four-month J1 Summer Work Travel Programme.
About 300 Americans availed of the reciprocal arrangement and travelled to Ireland for a 12-month period of travel and work. | It was originally agreed in 2008 and has been renewed on a two-year basis since then.
On Monday, it was renewed for a further three years.
The bilateral agreement signed between the Irish and US governments relates only to the 12-month J1 visa.
It does not apply to the four-month programme, which many Irish students use to spend a summer working in the US.
There have been concerns about the future of the J1 programme given previous remarks from US President-elect Donald Trump that he plans to end the scheme.
In August 2015, in a position paper posted on his website, Mr Trump said: "The J1 visa jobs programme for foreign youth will be terminated and replaced with a résumé bank for inner city youth provided to all corporate subscribers to the J1 visa programme."
However that paper is no longer available on his website and the same pledge is not contained in his latest policy paper on immigration.
Despite the signing of Monday's agreement, uncertainty still hangs over the programme as Mr Trump could shut it down by executive order once he takes office on 20 January.
In 2015, 1,319 Irish people availed of the 12-month J1 visa, and around 7,000 took part in the four-month J1 Summer Work Travel Programme.
About 300 Americans availed of the reciprocal arrangement and travelled to Ireland for a 12-month period of travel and work. |
Add punctuation: The Brazilian president is ideologically driven, intelligent and committed to her mandate.
But, compared to the tact and political nous of her predecessor, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the current incumbent of the presidential palace in Brasilia casts a lonely figure, reluctant to immerse herself in the deal-making, opportunistic world of Brazilian politics.
Even some of her allies agree that, although re-elected as president two years ago, Ms Rousseff has not been a particularly great or successful leader.
Brazil's first female president is going through one of the most difficult periods of her political life.
This week she walked out slowly, barely managing a smile, before the foreign media in Brasilia.
The make-up could not conceal the tired lines on the face of a woman who feels she is being wronged and betrayed by a misogynistic, treacherous Congress.
She looks down, but Dilma Rousseff insists she is not out.
"More than 50 million people voted for me so my political enemies, who couldn't accept defeat at the polls, have been plotting against me from day one," said Ms Rousseff in a long defence of her record.
The formal charges against the president are that she used a series of (well-established) financial tricks to conceal the size of the budget deficit in the run up to elections.
During the cut and thrust of the three-day-long Congressional debate on impeachment and the subsequent vote, Dilma Rousseff was hardly seen in public.
She cancelled a scheduled appearance at a rally in Brasilia, disappointing many of her supporters who had travelled extremely long distances (mainly by bus) to keep vigil outside Congress as the results of the impeachment vote came in.
The official reason for impeachment was mentioned by barely a handful of deputies as they voted.
Few observers were left in any doubt that this was, in reality, a vote of confidence in Dilma Rousseff's inability to tackle Brazil's worsening economic crisis.
Now, in the days following her humiliating defeat by more than two-thirds of the 513-member Congress, the woman who could be in the last weeks of her presidency and is facing the probability of a full impeachment trial in the Senate, has belatedly been giving a detailed rejection of the charges against her.
But it all feels rather too late.
The irony is that someone who insists she is not corrupt and has not gained personally or financially from the corruption scandal that is engulfing Brazil, is the one being led to the gallows.
Under President Lula, Brazil's economy had boomed, millions were brought out of poverty and everyone was happy to share in the good times.
Dilma Rousseff's mistake when things started to go wrong was that she was unwilling, or unable, to play by the rules - the shady deal making with big business and political opponents - that had served President Lula so well.
Thomas Traumann, former minister of social communication under Dilma Rousseff, paints a picture of an indecisive leader.
"There was no mea culpa" over the country's economic crisis, Mr Traumann told the BBC.
"Now it's far too late," added the former minister who had warned of impending chaos before he left the government last year.
Speaking to the foreign media, Dilma Rousseff would not even mention by name her Vice-President, Michel Temer, or the Speaker of the lower house of Congress, Eduardo Cunha.
Both men belong to the broad and ideologically loose PMDB party and both would benefit from Ms Rousseff's departure.
Mr Temer, the first in line to succeed a suspended Ms Rousseff, is theoretically liable to the same charges as she is, given his role as her deputy.
Mr Cunha, an ice-cold operator who orchestrated the impeachment vote in Congress, has been accused of serious corruption charges, which he denies.
He has, with limited success, tried to divert attention with his attack on President Rousseff.
Another Congressman that Dilma Rousseff could not bring herself to name, for much more personal reasons, was Jair Bolsonaro.
Hugely popular with right-wing voters, the anti-gay former military officer dedicated his vote in Congress to one of the former dictatorship's most feared torturers and human rights abusers, Carlos Brilhante Ustra.
Ms Rousseff was tortured as a political prisoner in the 1970s, so I asked her about the attacks in Congress.
"It is regrettable," said Ms Rousseff.
"I was a prisoner and I knew the man he is referring to quite well. He was one of the biggest torturers Brazil has had.
"It's lamentable that this moment in our history has opened the door to intolerance and hate," she added.
It is often said of a country that you get the leaders you deserve.
Dilma Rousseff may not have been a great president but she surely deserves to be treated with more respect and dignity.
She could be replaced by any one of several male politicians who are accused of far more serious corruption offences, or even by the man who mocked the abuse she received as a prisoner in the 1970s.
Then perhaps, Brazil and its sullied political system - of which the governing Workers' Party is a fully paid-up member - will get the government that it deserves. | The Brazilian president is ideologically driven, intelligent and committed to her mandate.
But, compared to the tact and political nous of her predecessor, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the current incumbent of the presidential palace in Brasilia casts a lonely figure, reluctant to immerse herself in the deal-making, opportunistic world of Brazilian politics.
Even some of her allies agree that, although re-elected as president two years ago, Ms Rousseff has not been a particularly great or successful leader.
Brazil's first female president is going through one of the most difficult periods of her political life.
This week she walked out slowly, barely managing a smile, before the foreign media in Brasilia.
The make-up could not conceal the tired lines on the face of a woman who feels she is being wronged and betrayed by a misogynistic, treacherous Congress.
She looks down, but Dilma Rousseff insists she is not out.
"More than 50 million people voted for me so my political enemies, who couldn't accept defeat at the polls, have been plotting against me from day one," said Ms Rousseff in a long defence of her record.
The formal charges against the president are that she used a series of (well-established) financial tricks to conceal the size of the budget deficit in the run up to elections.
During the cut and thrust of the three-day-long Congressional debate on impeachment and the subsequent vote, Dilma Rousseff was hardly seen in public.
She cancelled a scheduled appearance at a rally in Brasilia, disappointing many of her supporters who had travelled extremely long distances (mainly by bus) to keep vigil outside Congress as the results of the impeachment vote came in.
The official reason for impeachment was mentioned by barely a handful of deputies as they voted.
Few observers were left in any doubt that this was, in reality, a vote of confidence in Dilma Rousseff's inability to tackle Brazil's worsening economic crisis.
Now, in the days following her humiliating defeat by more than two-thirds of the 513-member Congress, the woman who could be in the last weeks of her presidency and is facing the probability of a full impeachment trial in the Senate, has belatedly been giving a detailed rejection of the charges against her.
But it all feels rather too late.
The irony is that someone who insists she is not corrupt and has not gained personally or financially from the corruption scandal that is engulfing Brazil, is the one being led to the gallows.
Under President Lula, Brazil's economy had boomed, millions were brought out of poverty and everyone was happy to share in the good times.
Dilma Rousseff's mistake when things started to go wrong was that she was unwilling, or unable, to play by the rules - the shady deal making with big business and political opponents - that had served President Lula so well.
Thomas Traumann, former minister of social communication under Dilma Rousseff, paints a picture of an indecisive leader.
"There was no mea culpa" over the country's economic crisis, Mr Traumann told the BBC.
"Now it's far too late," added the former minister who had warned of impending chaos before he left the government last year.
Speaking to the foreign media, Dilma Rousseff would not even mention by name her Vice-President, Michel Temer, or the Speaker of the lower house of Congress, Eduardo Cunha.
Both men belong to the broad and ideologically loose PMDB party and both would benefit from Ms Rousseff's departure.
Mr Temer, the first in line to succeed a suspended Ms Rousseff, is theoretically liable to the same charges as she is, given his role as her deputy.
Mr Cunha, an ice-cold operator who orchestrated the impeachment vote in Congress, has been accused of serious corruption charges, which he denies.
He has, with limited success, tried to divert attention with his attack on President Rousseff.
Another Congressman that Dilma Rousseff could not bring herself to name, for much more personal reasons, was Jair Bolsonaro.
Hugely popular with right-wing voters, the anti-gay former military officer dedicated his vote in Congress to one of the former dictatorship's most feared torturers and human rights abusers, Carlos Brilhante Ustra.
Ms Rousseff was tortured as a political prisoner in the 1970s, so I asked her about the attacks in Congress.
"It is regrettable," said Ms Rousseff.
"I was a prisoner and I knew the man he is referring to quite well. He was one of the biggest torturers Brazil has had.
"It's lamentable that this moment in our history has opened the door to intolerance and hate," she added.
It is often said of a country that you get the leaders you deserve.
Dilma Rousseff may not have been a great president but she surely deserves to be treated with more respect and dignity.
She could be replaced by any one of several male politicians who are accused of far more serious corruption offences, or even by the man who mocked the abuse she received as a prisoner in the 1970s.
Then perhaps, Brazil and its sullied political system - of which the governing Workers' Party is a fully paid-up member - will get the government that it deserves. |
Add punctuation: A statement on Ratdog Live, his band's website, said "circumstances have necessitated" the move.
The 66-year-old had been due to play a one month tour in the US, plus a concert in Jamaica in January 2015.
Last year he cancelled a run of gigs with his other band, Furthur, after an onstage fall.
He had to be helped off stage at the concert in April 2013, before returning to finish playing the Grateful Dead song, Unbroken Chain.
But he didn't see out the performance.
'Important guy'
Furthur had been booked to play a US music festival in September, but the band's Facebook page posted the same cancellation message which appeared on RatDog's website.
Weir's former manager, John Scher told Rolling Stone Weir had "been having health problems for a while", but "there are plenty of people who support him and want to help him get the care he needs".
"He's an extremely talented and very underrated musician, he's an important guy," Scher said.
Weir started playing in the band that would evolve into the Grateful Dead as a 16-year-old in 1963.
Starting out with co-founder Jerry Garcia as Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions, the band was later renamed The Warlocks before settling on its eventual name.
RatDog became Weir's main band after Garcia died in 1995. | A statement on Ratdog Live, his band's website, said "circumstances have necessitated" the move.
The 66-year-old had been due to play a one month tour in the US, plus a concert in Jamaica in January 2015.
Last year he cancelled a run of gigs with his other band, Furthur, after an onstage fall.
He had to be helped off stage at the concert in April 2013, before returning to finish playing the Grateful Dead song, Unbroken Chain.
But he didn't see out the performance.
'Important guy'
Furthur had been booked to play a US music festival in September, but the band's Facebook page posted the same cancellation message which appeared on RatDog's website.
Weir's former manager, John Scher told Rolling Stone Weir had "been having health problems for a while", but "there are plenty of people who support him and want to help him get the care he needs".
"He's an extremely talented and very underrated musician, he's an important guy," Scher said.
Weir started playing in the band that would evolve into the Grateful Dead as a 16-year-old in 1963.
Starting out with co-founder Jerry Garcia as Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions, the band was later renamed The Warlocks before settling on its eventual name.
RatDog became Weir's main band after Garcia died in 1995. |
Add punctuation: Ruhul Amin, 26, died in the Syrian town of Raqqa following the strike.
Stephen Marvin said he spoke to Amin on the phone after he went to Syria to ask him why he joined the group.
Mr Marvin told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programe: "He said 'if I die, I'll be with Allah'."
Cardiff-born Reyaad Khan, 21, was also killed in the precision strike on 21 August by a remotely-piloted aircraft "after meticulous planning", David Cameron told MPs on Monday.
Mr Marvin said: "On the phone he still spoke to me as if he was exactly the same person, as if we were sitting in front of each other speaking.
"But you could tell there was something completely different about him.
"He had absolutely no fear of death. When I was on the phone with him the first time I heard gunshots and I asked 'are you not scared of what's going on?'
"He said 'no, it was rebel fighters at the other side of a river'. He said 'if I die, I'll be with Allah'.
"He said 'two of my brothers died previously and they still had a smile on their face for three days and their body, when it started to decompose, still smelled like roses and that's because Allah is protecting them'."
He also said Amin told him: "We only attack people who will attack us.
"He assured me there were no plans to come to Scotland, anyway.
"It's kind of hard to have sympathy with him.
"I wouldn't say the government should be just going over and annihilating each and every one of them, but surely he knew what he was getting into."
Muslim leaders in Aberdeen have called on young members of the community to learn lessons from the deaths.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has said the UK would "not hesitate" to launch more secret drone strikes in Syria to thwart potential terror plots.
He described the RAF strike which killed the two British jihadists as a "perfectly legal act of self defence".
One of the men was planning an attack on a "major event" in the UK, he said.
The strike was the first targeted UK drone attack on a British citizen. | Ruhul Amin, 26, died in the Syrian town of Raqqa following the strike.
Stephen Marvin said he spoke to Amin on the phone after he went to Syria to ask him why he joined the group.
Mr Marvin told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programe: "He said 'if I die, I'll be with Allah'."
Cardiff-born Reyaad Khan, 21, was also killed in the precision strike on 21 August by a remotely-piloted aircraft "after meticulous planning", David Cameron told MPs on Monday.
Mr Marvin said: "On the phone he still spoke to me as if he was exactly the same person, as if we were sitting in front of each other speaking.
"But you could tell there was something completely different about him.
"He had absolutely no fear of death. When I was on the phone with him the first time I heard gunshots and I asked 'are you not scared of what's going on?'
"He said 'no, it was rebel fighters at the other side of a river'. He said 'if I die, I'll be with Allah'.
"He said 'two of my brothers died previously and they still had a smile on their face for three days and their body, when it started to decompose, still smelled like roses and that's because Allah is protecting them'."
He also said Amin told him: "We only attack people who will attack us.
"He assured me there were no plans to come to Scotland, anyway.
"It's kind of hard to have sympathy with him.
"I wouldn't say the government should be just going over and annihilating each and every one of them, but surely he knew what he was getting into."
Muslim leaders in Aberdeen have called on young members of the community to learn lessons from the deaths.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has said the UK would "not hesitate" to launch more secret drone strikes in Syria to thwart potential terror plots.
He described the RAF strike which killed the two British jihadists as a "perfectly legal act of self defence".
One of the men was planning an attack on a "major event" in the UK, he said.
The strike was the first targeted UK drone attack on a British citizen. |
Add punctuation: Kalvinder Singh died 16 days after he was beaten by a group of men at the premises in Cheetham Hill in 2004.
Alfred Kurti, 31, was arrested by police in the Irish Republic on Thursday and has been remanded in custody while his extradition is sought by Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Two men have previously been jailed for the murder of Mr Singh, known as Bob.
In November 2005, Albanian Marjan Semaj, now aged 31, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Emirjan Hysaj, now 39, was sentenced in 2010 to life imprisonment and told he must serve a minimum of 16 years.
Mr Kurti has been the subject of a European Arrest Warrant for more than 10 years. | Kalvinder Singh died 16 days after he was beaten by a group of men at the premises in Cheetham Hill in 2004.
Alfred Kurti, 31, was arrested by police in the Irish Republic on Thursday and has been remanded in custody while his extradition is sought by Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Two men have previously been jailed for the murder of Mr Singh, known as Bob.
In November 2005, Albanian Marjan Semaj, now aged 31, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Emirjan Hysaj, now 39, was sentenced in 2010 to life imprisonment and told he must serve a minimum of 16 years.
Mr Kurti has been the subject of a European Arrest Warrant for more than 10 years. |
Add punctuation: When Apple released its iOS9 mobile operating system it included a new feature - the ability for women to log their sexual activity alongside details of their menstrual cycles.
An earlier version of its HealthKit software - which tracks everything from electrodermal activity to chromium intake - had lacked the facility.
Other apps existed that could pick up the slack, but it had led to claims that Apple - and other phone companies - had not focused closely enough on women's health.
Samsung's S Health and Android's Google Fit have yet to add this feature into their health apps, but it's likely to only be a matter of time before they do.
Women who are trying to get pregnant often track a number of health signals in order to fully understand their monthly cycle and therefore catch their most fertile times - much as a marathon runner would track their fitness metrics.
According to Apple, users decide which information will go into the Health app and which third-party apps can access the data.
Those third-party apps must have a privacy policy.
When phones are locked, the health and fitness data is encrypted. If users choose to back up health data to iCloud, that is encrypted as well.
"A lot of people are monitoring data that helps them plan for a family," says Ricky Bloomfield, a doctor at Duke University who is currently engaged in trials for HealthKit with his patients.
"The impact here can be quite significant in giving users tools to do that more accurately."
The categories people can track include sexual activity, including whether protection was used, basal body temperature, cervical mucus quality, menstruation, ovulation test results and spotting.
Dr Nathaniel DeNicola, a gynaecologist at the University of Pennsylvania, said the sex-tracking technologies had the power to help people take more charge of their health care and communicate better with their doctors.
Gynaecologists take the last menstrual period as a vital sign and when women can log it in their phones, they are much more likely to have accurate dates on hand, said Mr DeNicola.
"It's almost ubiquitous now that women will have an app to track their pregnancy," he said.
He does not always recommend patients track their reproductive health via an app, but he asks patients about it and tells them it can be useful.
There are no studies proving that these apps improve the chance of getting pregnant, or cure diseases, but this kind of digital recording can enhance patient memory, he said.
Often, questions asked at the gynaecologist's office can turn into a "guessing game".
Patients used to do a diligent job with pen and paper, tracking activity when trying to get pregnant. Now it has gone digital.
"It's pretty clear if they're putting it in the phone, it'll increase recall, and help us in dating pregnancies," he said.
Mr DeNicola notes that apps to track health are "inherently fraught with limitations".
"I think we always see tech as having risks...but since the evolution seems inevitable, we may as well find the positive," he said.
Tara Culp-Ressler, a Washington, DC-based journalist who tracks reproductive health issues closely, said the tech giant's announcement was a welcome change to views on women's health in 2015.
"Regardless of whether women think it's a useless app compared to other tracking apps - it is a good step to see such a huge company, especially one that's been criticised in the past, really stepping up and making a statement that women's health and hygiene is integral part of healthcare," says Ms Culp-Ressler.
Reproductive organs are just another part of the body one might want to track like heartbeat or sleep patterns and that message coming from Apple is an important one, Ms Culp-Ressler said.
Megan King, who lives in New York City, had used Clue - one of the other reproductive health trackers - for about a year before iOS9 was released.
Such apps are a good way to track menstrual cycle and fertility, she said.
"This is the year of females owning their feminine hygiene," she added.
"Apple integrating is a huge step forward because it's showing its support of women being aware of what's going on in their own body, and they want it to be something important to everyone." | When Apple released its iOS9 mobile operating system it included a new feature - the ability for women to log their sexual activity alongside details of their menstrual cycles.
An earlier version of its HealthKit software - which tracks everything from electrodermal activity to chromium intake - had lacked the facility.
Other apps existed that could pick up the slack, but it had led to claims that Apple - and other phone companies - had not focused closely enough on women's health.
Samsung's S Health and Android's Google Fit have yet to add this feature into their health apps, but it's likely to only be a matter of time before they do.
Women who are trying to get pregnant often track a number of health signals in order to fully understand their monthly cycle and therefore catch their most fertile times - much as a marathon runner would track their fitness metrics.
According to Apple, users decide which information will go into the Health app and which third-party apps can access the data.
Those third-party apps must have a privacy policy.
When phones are locked, the health and fitness data is encrypted. If users choose to back up health data to iCloud, that is encrypted as well.
"A lot of people are monitoring data that helps them plan for a family," says Ricky Bloomfield, a doctor at Duke University who is currently engaged in trials for HealthKit with his patients.
"The impact here can be quite significant in giving users tools to do that more accurately."
The categories people can track include sexual activity, including whether protection was used, basal body temperature, cervical mucus quality, menstruation, ovulation test results and spotting.
Dr Nathaniel DeNicola, a gynaecologist at the University of Pennsylvania, said the sex-tracking technologies had the power to help people take more charge of their health care and communicate better with their doctors.
Gynaecologists take the last menstrual period as a vital sign and when women can log it in their phones, they are much more likely to have accurate dates on hand, said Mr DeNicola.
"It's almost ubiquitous now that women will have an app to track their pregnancy," he said.
He does not always recommend patients track their reproductive health via an app, but he asks patients about it and tells them it can be useful.
There are no studies proving that these apps improve the chance of getting pregnant, or cure diseases, but this kind of digital recording can enhance patient memory, he said.
Often, questions asked at the gynaecologist's office can turn into a "guessing game".
Patients used to do a diligent job with pen and paper, tracking activity when trying to get pregnant. Now it has gone digital.
"It's pretty clear if they're putting it in the phone, it'll increase recall, and help us in dating pregnancies," he said.
Mr DeNicola notes that apps to track health are "inherently fraught with limitations".
"I think we always see tech as having risks...but since the evolution seems inevitable, we may as well find the positive," he said.
Tara Culp-Ressler, a Washington, DC-based journalist who tracks reproductive health issues closely, said the tech giant's announcement was a welcome change to views on women's health in 2015.
"Regardless of whether women think it's a useless app compared to other tracking apps - it is a good step to see such a huge company, especially one that's been criticised in the past, really stepping up and making a statement that women's health and hygiene is integral part of healthcare," says Ms Culp-Ressler.
Reproductive organs are just another part of the body one might want to track like heartbeat or sleep patterns and that message coming from Apple is an important one, Ms Culp-Ressler said.
Megan King, who lives in New York City, had used Clue - one of the other reproductive health trackers - for about a year before iOS9 was released.
Such apps are a good way to track menstrual cycle and fertility, she said.
"This is the year of females owning their feminine hygiene," she added.
"Apple integrating is a huge step forward because it's showing its support of women being aware of what's going on in their own body, and they want it to be something important to everyone." |
Add punctuation: In a statement released on Saturday, the rebel group said that it had already begun the handover process.
"We hope that the weather will be on our side on this humanitarian mission," the Farc said.
Gen Alzate's abduction on 16 September prompted President Juan Manuel Santos to suspend peace talks with the rebels being held in Cuba.
He was captured along with Cpl Jorge Rodriguez and a lawyer, Gloria Urrego, in Choco province, an isolated jungle region in Colombia's Pacific Coast.
On Tuesday, the Farc released two soldiers - Paulo Cesar Rivera and Jonathan Andres Diaz - it had kidnapped on 9 November in the eastern border region of Arauca.
Mr Santos had said that he expected Gen Alzate and the two other hostages to be freed earlier in the week.
But the Farc cancelled the operation, blaming "heavy military presence" in the region where the hostages are being held for the decision.
On Saturday, the rebel group announced in Havana that the "special humanitarian protocol" to free the three hostages had already been activated.
The protocol is well known in Colombia from the release of previous Farc hostages.
Usually, the Farc gives the government the co-ordinates for the handover point.
The Colombian president orders military activities in the area to cease for a short period of time - no longer than 48 hours.
The hostages are then handed over to the Red Cross, which does a quick health check before taking them to safety elsewhere.
The hostages undergo further health tests and are debriefed before being allowed to meet their relatives.
The left-wing rebel group also called on the government to be inspired by its decision to release its hostages.
"We wish that other prisoners, arrested for political or social reasons, are also able to enjoy their freedom. That would be an easy, humanitarian gesture from the government," says the statement released in Havana.
The Farc said previously that it kidnapped Gen Alzate because it was unhappy at the continuation of Colombian military activities during peace talks.
It had called for a ceasefire, but this was rejected by the government.
Mr Santos has suspended the peace talks, which began two years ago in Cuba, and said they would only be resumed once Gen Alzate was released.
The negotiations are aimed at ending five decades of a conflict that has killed an estimated 220,000 people. | In a statement released on Saturday, the rebel group said that it had already begun the handover process.
"We hope that the weather will be on our side on this humanitarian mission," the Farc said.
Gen Alzate's abduction on 16 September prompted President Juan Manuel Santos to suspend peace talks with the rebels being held in Cuba.
He was captured along with Cpl Jorge Rodriguez and a lawyer, Gloria Urrego, in Choco province, an isolated jungle region in Colombia's Pacific Coast.
On Tuesday, the Farc released two soldiers - Paulo Cesar Rivera and Jonathan Andres Diaz - it had kidnapped on 9 November in the eastern border region of Arauca.
Mr Santos had said that he expected Gen Alzate and the two other hostages to be freed earlier in the week.
But the Farc cancelled the operation, blaming "heavy military presence" in the region where the hostages are being held for the decision.
On Saturday, the rebel group announced in Havana that the "special humanitarian protocol" to free the three hostages had already been activated.
The protocol is well known in Colombia from the release of previous Farc hostages.
Usually, the Farc gives the government the co-ordinates for the handover point.
The Colombian president orders military activities in the area to cease for a short period of time - no longer than 48 hours.
The hostages are then handed over to the Red Cross, which does a quick health check before taking them to safety elsewhere.
The hostages undergo further health tests and are debriefed before being allowed to meet their relatives.
The left-wing rebel group also called on the government to be inspired by its decision to release its hostages.
"We wish that other prisoners, arrested for political or social reasons, are also able to enjoy their freedom. That would be an easy, humanitarian gesture from the government," says the statement released in Havana.
The Farc said previously that it kidnapped Gen Alzate because it was unhappy at the continuation of Colombian military activities during peace talks.
It had called for a ceasefire, but this was rejected by the government.
Mr Santos has suspended the peace talks, which began two years ago in Cuba, and said they would only be resumed once Gen Alzate was released.
The negotiations are aimed at ending five decades of a conflict that has killed an estimated 220,000 people. |
Add punctuation: The concession follows an out-of-court deal with the country's competition watchdog.
In addition, Google has promised to develop a tool to make it easy for users to change their device's default search engine.
Shares in Google's local Russian rival, Yandex, rose more than 7% on the news.
It brings to an end a long-running battle between the US firm and Russia's competition regulator, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS).
Google had argued the regulator had no case because manufacturers could develop their own versions of Android or pre-install other apps of their choice.
But the FAS had argued that, despite its denials, Google was indeed "prohibiting" rival software to its own YouTube, Maps and Photos apps to be pre-installed alongside its own dominant version of Android.
The agency became involved after Yandex filed a complaint in February 2015.
Despite the nature of the settlement, Google will still have to pay a 438m rouble ($7.8; £6.2m) fine imposed after it failed to appeal the case last August.
"We are happy to have reached a commercial agreement with Yandex and a settlement with Russia's competition regulator, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS), resolving the competition case over the distribution of Google apps on Android," a spokeswoman for Google told the BBC.
Yandex's chief executive Arkady Volozh declared the settlement "an important day for Russian consumers".
"I am thankful to the Federal Antimonopoly Service for applying the law in a manner that effectively and efficiently restores competition to the market for the benefit of Russian users, as competition always breeds innovation," he added.
The EU continues to pursue similar claims against Google, saying the firm is "requiring and incentivising" Android hardware manufacturers to exclusively use its services. | The concession follows an out-of-court deal with the country's competition watchdog.
In addition, Google has promised to develop a tool to make it easy for users to change their device's default search engine.
Shares in Google's local Russian rival, Yandex, rose more than 7% on the news.
It brings to an end a long-running battle between the US firm and Russia's competition regulator, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS).
Google had argued the regulator had no case because manufacturers could develop their own versions of Android or pre-install other apps of their choice.
But the FAS had argued that, despite its denials, Google was indeed "prohibiting" rival software to its own YouTube, Maps and Photos apps to be pre-installed alongside its own dominant version of Android.
The agency became involved after Yandex filed a complaint in February 2015.
Despite the nature of the settlement, Google will still have to pay a 438m rouble ($7.8; £6.2m) fine imposed after it failed to appeal the case last August.
"We are happy to have reached a commercial agreement with Yandex and a settlement with Russia's competition regulator, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS), resolving the competition case over the distribution of Google apps on Android," a spokeswoman for Google told the BBC.
Yandex's chief executive Arkady Volozh declared the settlement "an important day for Russian consumers".
"I am thankful to the Federal Antimonopoly Service for applying the law in a manner that effectively and efficiently restores competition to the market for the benefit of Russian users, as competition always breeds innovation," he added.
The EU continues to pursue similar claims against Google, saying the firm is "requiring and incentivising" Android hardware manufacturers to exclusively use its services. |
Add punctuation: The second estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) for April to June put growth at 0.4%, up from the first estimate of 0.3%.
The European statistics agency Eurostat also revised growth in the first quarter, from 0.4% to 0.5%.
Also on Tuesday it was announced that German imports and exports had both reached record levels.
Boosted by the continuing weakness of the euro, exports rose 2.4% to €103.4bn ($115.5bn; £75.1bn) in July, the federal statistics office Destatis estimated, after adjusting for seasonal and calendar effects.
Imports also rose, but not by as much, meaning the trade surplus grew to a record €25.0bn.
The upward revision to GDP for the first quarter is a result of the inclusion of Ireland, which had not been counted in earlier estimates.
The Irish economy grew 1.4% in the first three months of 2015, compared with the previous quarter, making it the fastest-growing eurozone country.
With the Irish figures not yet included, the fastest-growing eurozone member in the second quarter was Latvia at 1.2%. | The second estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) for April to June put growth at 0.4%, up from the first estimate of 0.3%.
The European statistics agency Eurostat also revised growth in the first quarter, from 0.4% to 0.5%.
Also on Tuesday it was announced that German imports and exports had both reached record levels.
Boosted by the continuing weakness of the euro, exports rose 2.4% to €103.4bn ($115.5bn; £75.1bn) in July, the federal statistics office Destatis estimated, after adjusting for seasonal and calendar effects.
Imports also rose, but not by as much, meaning the trade surplus grew to a record €25.0bn.
The upward revision to GDP for the first quarter is a result of the inclusion of Ireland, which had not been counted in earlier estimates.
The Irish economy grew 1.4% in the first three months of 2015, compared with the previous quarter, making it the fastest-growing eurozone country.
With the Irish figures not yet included, the fastest-growing eurozone member in the second quarter was Latvia at 1.2%. |
Add punctuation: Bell, 34, is to leave in mid-December to play for Perth Scorchers, alongside several former Aussie opponents, including paceman Mitchell Johnson.
He has taken up the winter contract after being overlooked by England.
But Snowball insists that Bell's Test career is not yet over, admitting: "Part of you still wonders."
He continued: "Just look at Gareth Batty being called up at 39. If they can pick him, there's still got be hope for Belly.
"You ask him and he would still want to do it. I have got know him very well over the last year. He's totally thrown himself into the job of being Warwickshire captain, bearing in mind that he was still fighting to get back into the England Test side. But he's been terrific to work with."
Snowball also acknowledges that, while Justin Langer's Scorchers will be getting a 128-times capped Test player and a great dressing room contributor, there will be fringe benefits for the Bears too.
With a view to next summer's T20 Blast campaign for the Birmingham Bears, the 2014 champions, he added: "It's a bonus two fold.
"Justin Langer wanted him on merit as a player. After all, he had a fantastic record in T20 in England this year, He made 489 runs and he was one of the competition's top five run scorers.
"But he's going to go out there and experience a completely different approach to T20 cricket. He can pick up a whole new skill-set, and hopefully he can apply some of that next year with us.
"He's also going to be rubbing shoulders with some of the best players in the world. And if he comes back with a tall Aussie all-rounder in his suitcase, that would be great."
The majority of Warwickshire's players, including Bell, returned to training this week at Edgbaston, where they remain without a director of cricket following Dougie Brown's departure on 5 October.
But, after an end-of-season review of their whole off-field structure, Snowball hopes to make an appointment prior to Christmas, with a view to having someone in place to start in January.
Bell's commitments in Western Australia will take him up to at least 21 January, when the Scorchers play the last of their eight group matches, prior to the knockout stages in the final week of January.
Several other England Test hopefuls will be playing against Bell in the Big Bash.
Surrey opener Jason Roy has signed for the first five matches with the Sydney Sixers, who have also brought in Nottinghamshire's Michael Lumb.
Yorkshire and England leg-spinner Adil Rashid has signed for Jason Gillespie's Adelaide Strikers, while Melbourne Stars have both Luke Wright and former England star Kevin Pietersen.
Bell will also be up against two former Bears team-mates, Kumar Sangakkara (Hobart Hurricanes) and Brendon McCullum (Brisbane Heat).
The semi-finals are on 24/25 January, with the final on Saturday 28 January. | Bell, 34, is to leave in mid-December to play for Perth Scorchers, alongside several former Aussie opponents, including paceman Mitchell Johnson.
He has taken up the winter contract after being overlooked by England.
But Snowball insists that Bell's Test career is not yet over, admitting: "Part of you still wonders."
He continued: "Just look at Gareth Batty being called up at 39. If they can pick him, there's still got be hope for Belly.
"You ask him and he would still want to do it. I have got know him very well over the last year. He's totally thrown himself into the job of being Warwickshire captain, bearing in mind that he was still fighting to get back into the England Test side. But he's been terrific to work with."
Snowball also acknowledges that, while Justin Langer's Scorchers will be getting a 128-times capped Test player and a great dressing room contributor, there will be fringe benefits for the Bears too.
With a view to next summer's T20 Blast campaign for the Birmingham Bears, the 2014 champions, he added: "It's a bonus two fold.
"Justin Langer wanted him on merit as a player. After all, he had a fantastic record in T20 in England this year, He made 489 runs and he was one of the competition's top five run scorers.
"But he's going to go out there and experience a completely different approach to T20 cricket. He can pick up a whole new skill-set, and hopefully he can apply some of that next year with us.
"He's also going to be rubbing shoulders with some of the best players in the world. And if he comes back with a tall Aussie all-rounder in his suitcase, that would be great."
The majority of Warwickshire's players, including Bell, returned to training this week at Edgbaston, where they remain without a director of cricket following Dougie Brown's departure on 5 October.
But, after an end-of-season review of their whole off-field structure, Snowball hopes to make an appointment prior to Christmas, with a view to having someone in place to start in January.
Bell's commitments in Western Australia will take him up to at least 21 January, when the Scorchers play the last of their eight group matches, prior to the knockout stages in the final week of January.
Several other England Test hopefuls will be playing against Bell in the Big Bash.
Surrey opener Jason Roy has signed for the first five matches with the Sydney Sixers, who have also brought in Nottinghamshire's Michael Lumb.
Yorkshire and England leg-spinner Adil Rashid has signed for Jason Gillespie's Adelaide Strikers, while Melbourne Stars have both Luke Wright and former England star Kevin Pietersen.
Bell will also be up against two former Bears team-mates, Kumar Sangakkara (Hobart Hurricanes) and Brendon McCullum (Brisbane Heat).
The semi-finals are on 24/25 January, with the final on Saturday 28 January. |
Add punctuation: The natural foods and organic retailer, which has outlets in the UK, is said to have overstated weights of pre-packaged meat, dairy and baked products
New York's Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) commissioner Julie Menin said it was "incredibly troubling".
Whole Foods said it rejected the DCA's "overreaching allegations" and that customers were its number one priority.
The New York City consumer affairs office said on Wednesday it had found mislabelled weights on 80 types of pre-packaged products it tested.
"As a large chain grocery store, Whole Foods has the money and resources to ensure greater accuracy and to correct what appears to be a widespread problem,'' Ms Menin said.
Last year, Whole Foods agreed to pay $800,000 in penalties and improve pricing accuracy after an investigation into alleged pricing irregularities in California.
Whole Foods dismissed the allegations, saying that it cooperated fully with the consumer affairs department until it made "grossly excessive monetary demands" to settle the dispute.
The company has a reputation for high prices, with some people referring to it as "Whole Paycheque". However, Whole Foods has announced plans for a new chain of smaller stores with lower prices. | The natural foods and organic retailer, which has outlets in the UK, is said to have overstated weights of pre-packaged meat, dairy and baked products
New York's Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) commissioner Julie Menin said it was "incredibly troubling".
Whole Foods said it rejected the DCA's "overreaching allegations" and that customers were its number one priority.
The New York City consumer affairs office said on Wednesday it had found mislabelled weights on 80 types of pre-packaged products it tested.
"As a large chain grocery store, Whole Foods has the money and resources to ensure greater accuracy and to correct what appears to be a widespread problem,'' Ms Menin said.
Last year, Whole Foods agreed to pay $800,000 in penalties and improve pricing accuracy after an investigation into alleged pricing irregularities in California.
Whole Foods dismissed the allegations, saying that it cooperated fully with the consumer affairs department until it made "grossly excessive monetary demands" to settle the dispute.
The company has a reputation for high prices, with some people referring to it as "Whole Paycheque". However, Whole Foods has announced plans for a new chain of smaller stores with lower prices. |
Add punctuation: Song has not played for his national team since Cameroon's poor 2014 World Cup campaign in Brazil where he lashed out at Croatia's Mario Mandzukic off the ball during their Group A defeat in Manaus.
Song's inclusion in new coach Hugo Broos' first squad is a surprise after the 28-year-old announced his international retirement last year.
Broos has named two newcomers in the squad with Sochaux forward Karl Toko, 23, and Anatole Abang of the New York Red Bulls included.
Malaga goalkeeper Idriss Carlos Kameni was hoping to be fit for the match following knee surgery, but Broos has not taken a risk on him and has turned to Ajax's Andre Onana instead.
The qualifier against South Africa takes place on 26 March at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium.
Cameroon are currently top of Group M with maximum points from their first two games.
Cameroon squad:
Goalkeepers: André Onana (Ajax); Guy Roland Ndy Assembe (Nancy;) Fabrice Ondoa (Tarragona)
Defenders: Allan Nyom (Watford); Nicolas Nkoulou (Marseille); Aurélien Chedjou (Galatasaray); Henri Bedimo (Lyon); Bitolo Ambroise Oyongo (Montreal Impact); Adolphe Teikeu (Sochaux); Sébastien Bassong (Norwich)
Midfielders: Jonathan Ngwen II (Unisport Bafang); Stéphane Mbia (Heibei, China); Alex Song (West Ham); Franck Kom (Etoile du Sahel); Landry N'Guemo (Akishar); Dany Ndi (Sporting Dijon); Sébastien Siani (KV Oostende); Tony Tchiani (Colombus Crew); Marvin Matip (Inglostadt)
Forwards: Vincent Aboubakar (Porto); Christian Bekamenga (Metz); Eric Maxime Choupo Moting (Schalke); Benjamin Moukandjo (Lorient); Jacques Zoua (GFC Ajaccio); Edgard Sali (St. Gallen); Anatole Abang (New York Red Bulls); Karl Toko (Sochaux) | Song has not played for his national team since Cameroon's poor 2014 World Cup campaign in Brazil where he lashed out at Croatia's Mario Mandzukic off the ball during their Group A defeat in Manaus.
Song's inclusion in new coach Hugo Broos' first squad is a surprise after the 28-year-old announced his international retirement last year.
Broos has named two newcomers in the squad with Sochaux forward Karl Toko, 23, and Anatole Abang of the New York Red Bulls included.
Malaga goalkeeper Idriss Carlos Kameni was hoping to be fit for the match following knee surgery, but Broos has not taken a risk on him and has turned to Ajax's Andre Onana instead.
The qualifier against South Africa takes place on 26 March at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium.
Cameroon are currently top of Group M with maximum points from their first two games.
Cameroon squad:
Goalkeepers: André Onana (Ajax); Guy Roland Ndy Assembe (Nancy;) Fabrice Ondoa (Tarragona)
Defenders: Allan Nyom (Watford); Nicolas Nkoulou (Marseille); Aurélien Chedjou (Galatasaray); Henri Bedimo (Lyon); Bitolo Ambroise Oyongo (Montreal Impact); Adolphe Teikeu (Sochaux); Sébastien Bassong (Norwich)
Midfielders: Jonathan Ngwen II (Unisport Bafang); Stéphane Mbia (Heibei, China); Alex Song (West Ham); Franck Kom (Etoile du Sahel); Landry N'Guemo (Akishar); Dany Ndi (Sporting Dijon); Sébastien Siani (KV Oostende); Tony Tchiani (Colombus Crew); Marvin Matip (Inglostadt)
Forwards: Vincent Aboubakar (Porto); Christian Bekamenga (Metz); Eric Maxime Choupo Moting (Schalke); Benjamin Moukandjo (Lorient); Jacques Zoua (GFC Ajaccio); Edgard Sali (St. Gallen); Anatole Abang (New York Red Bulls); Karl Toko (Sochaux) |
Add punctuation: David Cameron was in Edinburgh addressing a gathering of party members.
He claimed Labour had wrapped itself in the Union flag during the referendum campaign - but was now prepared to work with the SNP, who he said would "rip up that flag given half a chance".
Voters in the UK will go to the polls on 7 May to choose their MPs.
Polls are indicating that Labour would be the party with the largest number of MPs, but unable to form a government on its own.
They also suggest that Scottish Labour MPs would lose a significant number of seats to the SNP.
In the light of those polls, Mr Cameron speculated that a vote for "anyone other than the Conservatives" risked Labour leader Ed Miliband becoming prime minister, "leading an unstable minority government".
He continued: "A vote for the SNP is a vote for Labour in government.
"Nicola Sturgeon has made clear she is up for a coalition with Ed Miliband."
Mr Cameron added that votes to the SNP and Labour would allow former nationalist leader Alex Salmond come in "through the back door".
He told the one-day conference: "Like a horror movie - he's back. Only this time he's not running Scotland, he would have the decisive say in running a country he wants to see abolished - our United Kingdom.
"Isn't it appalling that Labour won't rule out this outcome - that they would wrap themselves in the flag one minute, and the next be prepared to work with a bunch of people who would rip up that flag given half a chance?
"Spineless. Weak. Unprincipled. Short-termist. That, my friends, is all anyone needs to know about today's Labour Party."
Earlier, Mr Cameron visited BAE Systems on the Clyde where he spoke about new investments to develop the Type 26 warship.
He said 600 jobs would be safeguarded in Scotland, along with "many more across the UK".
Mr Cameron told workers: "Investing in these warships will ensure we continue to keep our country safe, at home and abroad.
"As part of our long-term economic plan, we're not just building the most advanced modern warships in the world - we are building the careers of many young people with apprenticeships that will set them up for life."
His conference speech also touched on what the Conservatives planned to do in the future.
Mr Cameron said next on the agenda was "getting Britain back to work".
He explained: "Above all - work must always pay. That's what the benefit cap is about. That's what Universal Credit is about. And it's working.
"Across our country, there are 900,000 fewer people on the main out of work benefits.
"Here in Scotland - unemployment is down - lower than the UK as a whole."
The Tory leader finished his speech by saying "we have the brilliant team, we have the record, we have the long-term economic plan to secure Scotland's future".
He added: "We've won for Britain before - now let's win for Britain again. " | David Cameron was in Edinburgh addressing a gathering of party members.
He claimed Labour had wrapped itself in the Union flag during the referendum campaign - but was now prepared to work with the SNP, who he said would "rip up that flag given half a chance".
Voters in the UK will go to the polls on 7 May to choose their MPs.
Polls are indicating that Labour would be the party with the largest number of MPs, but unable to form a government on its own.
They also suggest that Scottish Labour MPs would lose a significant number of seats to the SNP.
In the light of those polls, Mr Cameron speculated that a vote for "anyone other than the Conservatives" risked Labour leader Ed Miliband becoming prime minister, "leading an unstable minority government".
He continued: "A vote for the SNP is a vote for Labour in government.
"Nicola Sturgeon has made clear she is up for a coalition with Ed Miliband."
Mr Cameron added that votes to the SNP and Labour would allow former nationalist leader Alex Salmond come in "through the back door".
He told the one-day conference: "Like a horror movie - he's back. Only this time he's not running Scotland, he would have the decisive say in running a country he wants to see abolished - our United Kingdom.
"Isn't it appalling that Labour won't rule out this outcome - that they would wrap themselves in the flag one minute, and the next be prepared to work with a bunch of people who would rip up that flag given half a chance?
"Spineless. Weak. Unprincipled. Short-termist. That, my friends, is all anyone needs to know about today's Labour Party."
Earlier, Mr Cameron visited BAE Systems on the Clyde where he spoke about new investments to develop the Type 26 warship.
He said 600 jobs would be safeguarded in Scotland, along with "many more across the UK".
Mr Cameron told workers: "Investing in these warships will ensure we continue to keep our country safe, at home and abroad.
"As part of our long-term economic plan, we're not just building the most advanced modern warships in the world - we are building the careers of many young people with apprenticeships that will set them up for life."
His conference speech also touched on what the Conservatives planned to do in the future.
Mr Cameron said next on the agenda was "getting Britain back to work".
He explained: "Above all - work must always pay. That's what the benefit cap is about. That's what Universal Credit is about. And it's working.
"Across our country, there are 900,000 fewer people on the main out of work benefits.
"Here in Scotland - unemployment is down - lower than the UK as a whole."
The Tory leader finished his speech by saying "we have the brilliant team, we have the record, we have the long-term economic plan to secure Scotland's future".
He added: "We've won for Britain before - now let's win for Britain again. " |
Add punctuation: The 43-year-old will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
Jack Mallon, 46, from Winchburgh, and Charlene Wilson, 36, from Kirkliston, appeared separately at the court on petition on Tuesday.
No plea or declaration was made and their cases were continued for further inquiry. Both were remanded in custody.
Meanwhile, Mr MacKay's family have paid tribute to their "handsome, brave boy".
"Our boy, Jordan William MacKay, was a born-and-bred Kirkliston lad, a joiner to-trade, with huge talent," they said.
"Jordan was and will continue to be a huge presence in all our lives forever.
"We, his mum, dad and whole family have sat and thought of how to describe Jordan and we came up with a list of words that help us do that. Handsome, hardworking, loveable, witty, charming, loyal, strong-minded but soft-hearted.
"Jordan was taken from us on 13 July 2014, aged 20. We were not ready to lose our perfect boy and words cannot explain the devastation this mindless act of violence has caused us.
"We, his family, ask for privacy at this time to mourn the loss of our handsome brave boy who hung on strong with all his might to the very bitter end." | The 43-year-old will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
Jack Mallon, 46, from Winchburgh, and Charlene Wilson, 36, from Kirkliston, appeared separately at the court on petition on Tuesday.
No plea or declaration was made and their cases were continued for further inquiry. Both were remanded in custody.
Meanwhile, Mr MacKay's family have paid tribute to their "handsome, brave boy".
"Our boy, Jordan William MacKay, was a born-and-bred Kirkliston lad, a joiner to-trade, with huge talent," they said.
"Jordan was and will continue to be a huge presence in all our lives forever.
"We, his mum, dad and whole family have sat and thought of how to describe Jordan and we came up with a list of words that help us do that. Handsome, hardworking, loveable, witty, charming, loyal, strong-minded but soft-hearted.
"Jordan was taken from us on 13 July 2014, aged 20. We were not ready to lose our perfect boy and words cannot explain the devastation this mindless act of violence has caused us.
"We, his family, ask for privacy at this time to mourn the loss of our handsome brave boy who hung on strong with all his might to the very bitter end." |
Add punctuation: It turns out I have been unwittingly saying sexist things for years.
I have not been running around calling women "feminazis" and "bitches".
Unknowingly, though, I have been accidentally reinforcing gender stereotypes - by calling women "guys", describing my deputy as my "right-hand man" (she is definitely a woman) and suggesting my husband "call a man in" to fix a leaky tap.
That is despite editing Stylist, a feminist magazine which promotes equality in everything from sport to pay.
OK, so I feel a bit silly now, but it proves a point. There are many ways in which we use gendered language without a second thought.
It is those words and expressions, which we accept as normal, that are the concern.
From the innocuous sounding "hey guys", "manpower" and "oh, man", to the never-withering "mankind", our language is littered with expressions referring to men as the powerful collective.
Adjectives used to describe women play a part too.
Bridget Christie, or under her gendered title, The Feminist Comedienne Bridget Christie, writes of this in her autobiography, A Book For Her.
"When a female comic talks passionately about issues, she is perceived as "whingeing" or "moaning", she writes.
"A man doing the same thing is principled, committed and passionate."
She's right.
100 Women 2015
This year's season features two weeks of inspirational stories about the BBC's 100 Women and others who are defying stereotypes around the world.
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram using the hashtag #100Women.
Adjectives used to describe outspoken women of status are designed to demean: we "yelp", "screech", "bleat", "bitch" and "nag", while men in the same position have "passion", "enthusiasm", "guts" and "force".
I agree with Christie when she says: "I look forward to a time when a woman's voice, publicly expressing an opinion, isn't compared to that of a sheep or a goat."
There are too many examples to list, but I have never heard George Osborne described as a "male MP", nor Michael McIntyre as "a man comedian" nor David Beckham as "a bloke footballer".
Gender does not come into it. Why should it?
With women, it is different. For some reason, we must call Karren Brady a "celebrity businesswoman".
Why does it matter? Why should I not stick with my "hey guys" and concentrate on female genital mutilation and the gender pay gap?
It matters because language defines just about everything we say and do.
If language is a mirror, then the reflection we see says: "Women, we can't see you" or, perhaps even more terrifyingly, "Women, we see you, but you're not like us men."
Sherryl Kleinman is a lecturer in the Department of Sociology at the University of North Carolina.
In her article, Why Sexist Language Matters, she writes: "All those 'man' words - said many times a day by millions of people every day - cumulatively reinforce the message that men are the standard and that women should be subsumed by the male category.
"'Man' is a high-status term, and women want to be included in the 'better' group. But while being labelled 'one of the guys' might make us feel included, it's only a guise of inclusion."
Kleinman cites an article by the philosopher Douglas Hofstadter, entitled A Person Paper on Purity in Language, in which he evoked an imaginary world where generic terms were based on race not gender.
In it, the word "whitepower" replaces "manpower" and "chairwhite" replaces "chairman".
Through satire, he showed that defining people by gender is as offensive and outdated as defining people by race.
Countless studies have shown the impact language has on our development, confidence and status in society.
The words we use can influence, incite us to fight wars, hurt, undermine, demonise and demean.
Subconsciously, they can also influence our mood or our politics.
A Google search on "negative self-talk" produces more than 14 million results for why the activity can create issues with confidence and mental health.
Yet our negative collective vernacular on gender remains unchallenged.
Kleinman concludes: "If women primarily exist in language as 'girls' (children), 'sluts' and 'guys,' it does not surprise me that we still have a long list of gendered inequalities to fix."
That's why I say it is time we collectively call time on gendered language.
If we all chose our words more carefully, we could make a difference to the way women are treated, and reflected, in society.
So let's forget about the "guys" and start talking about "people".
Lisa Smosarski edits the editor-in-chief for Stylist.co.uk | It turns out I have been unwittingly saying sexist things for years.
I have not been running around calling women "feminazis" and "bitches".
Unknowingly, though, I have been accidentally reinforcing gender stereotypes - by calling women "guys", describing my deputy as my "right-hand man" (she is definitely a woman) and suggesting my husband "call a man in" to fix a leaky tap.
That is despite editing Stylist, a feminist magazine which promotes equality in everything from sport to pay.
OK, so I feel a bit silly now, but it proves a point. There are many ways in which we use gendered language without a second thought.
It is those words and expressions, which we accept as normal, that are the concern.
From the innocuous sounding "hey guys", "manpower" and "oh, man", to the never-withering "mankind", our language is littered with expressions referring to men as the powerful collective.
Adjectives used to describe women play a part too.
Bridget Christie, or under her gendered title, The Feminist Comedienne Bridget Christie, writes of this in her autobiography, A Book For Her.
"When a female comic talks passionately about issues, she is perceived as "whingeing" or "moaning", she writes.
"A man doing the same thing is principled, committed and passionate."
She's right.
100 Women 2015
This year's season features two weeks of inspirational stories about the BBC's 100 Women and others who are defying stereotypes around the world.
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram using the hashtag #100Women.
Adjectives used to describe outspoken women of status are designed to demean: we "yelp", "screech", "bleat", "bitch" and "nag", while men in the same position have "passion", "enthusiasm", "guts" and "force".
I agree with Christie when she says: "I look forward to a time when a woman's voice, publicly expressing an opinion, isn't compared to that of a sheep or a goat."
There are too many examples to list, but I have never heard George Osborne described as a "male MP", nor Michael McIntyre as "a man comedian" nor David Beckham as "a bloke footballer".
Gender does not come into it. Why should it?
With women, it is different. For some reason, we must call Karren Brady a "celebrity businesswoman".
Why does it matter? Why should I not stick with my "hey guys" and concentrate on female genital mutilation and the gender pay gap?
It matters because language defines just about everything we say and do.
If language is a mirror, then the reflection we see says: "Women, we can't see you" or, perhaps even more terrifyingly, "Women, we see you, but you're not like us men."
Sherryl Kleinman is a lecturer in the Department of Sociology at the University of North Carolina.
In her article, Why Sexist Language Matters, she writes: "All those 'man' words - said many times a day by millions of people every day - cumulatively reinforce the message that men are the standard and that women should be subsumed by the male category.
"'Man' is a high-status term, and women want to be included in the 'better' group. But while being labelled 'one of the guys' might make us feel included, it's only a guise of inclusion."
Kleinman cites an article by the philosopher Douglas Hofstadter, entitled A Person Paper on Purity in Language, in which he evoked an imaginary world where generic terms were based on race not gender.
In it, the word "whitepower" replaces "manpower" and "chairwhite" replaces "chairman".
Through satire, he showed that defining people by gender is as offensive and outdated as defining people by race.
Countless studies have shown the impact language has on our development, confidence and status in society.
The words we use can influence, incite us to fight wars, hurt, undermine, demonise and demean.
Subconsciously, they can also influence our mood or our politics.
A Google search on "negative self-talk" produces more than 14 million results for why the activity can create issues with confidence and mental health.
Yet our negative collective vernacular on gender remains unchallenged.
Kleinman concludes: "If women primarily exist in language as 'girls' (children), 'sluts' and 'guys,' it does not surprise me that we still have a long list of gendered inequalities to fix."
That's why I say it is time we collectively call time on gendered language.
If we all chose our words more carefully, we could make a difference to the way women are treated, and reflected, in society.
So let's forget about the "guys" and start talking about "people".
Lisa Smosarski edits the editor-in-chief for Stylist.co.uk |
Add punctuation: The North has moved two missiles to its east coast and South Korea is on alert.
Speaking in Seoul, Mr Kerry reconfirmed the US's commitment to protecting itself and its allies.
But he played down a US report that the North has a nuclear warhead, saying it was "inaccurate" to suggest it has "a working and tested" device.
Later, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Pyongyang had "not demonstrated the capability to deploy a nuclear-armed missile".
A declassified section of a report from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report had warned there was "moderate" confidence that Pyongyang had developed the technology to mount a nuclear warhead on a missile.
By Kim GhattasBBC News, Seoul
'Stern test' for Kerry over Korea
Japan readies for N Korea attack
Chinese media on North Korea
North Korea has increased its warlike rhetoric following fresh UN sanctions imposed after its third nuclear test in February and joint military manoeuvres by the US and South Korea.
The North has said it will restart a mothballed nuclear reactor, has shut an emergency military hotline to the South and has urged countries to withdraw diplomatic staff, saying it cannot now guarantee their safety.
On 15 April, North Korea will mark the birth of national founder Kim Il-sung , a date which could be used for a missile launch.
North Korean TV has been showing preparations for the birthday celebrations, which include displays of "Kimilsungia" flowers, parades, and models of missiles.
By Ian Pannell,BBC News, Washington
Does North Korea have a nuclear weapon capable of being fired on a ballistic missile? Someone in America's vast intelligence community thinks the answer is "Yes" - well "probably Yes", as analysts do not like absolutes.
They also think it would not be very reliable.
This is a deeply sensitive area and with recent history in mind, no-one wants to be accused of "sexing-up" intelligence.
The honest answer is that no-one outside of a small group of people in Pyongyang actually knows what capability North Korea has. It is also true that, as with most conflicts, there are always hawks and doves and people with competing agendas. For now at least this probably remains one of former US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's infamous "known unknowns".
Recently, the North reportedly moved two Musudan ballistic missiles to its east coast. Estimates of their range vary, but some suggest the missiles could travel 4,000km (2,500 miles).
That would put US bases on Guam within range, although it is not believed that the Musudan has been tested before.
In a joint news conference with his South Korea counterpart, Mr Kerry said that if Northern leader Kim Jong-un decided to go ahead with a launch it would be "a provocative and unwanted act that will raise people's temperature".
"It is a huge mistake for him to choose to do that because it will further isolate his people ... who are desperate for food not missile launches, who are desperate for opportunity not for a leader who wants to flex his muscles in this manner," he said.
"Kim Jong-un needs to understand - and I think he probably does - what the outcome of a conflict would be," he added.
Mr Kerry said that in his talks with South Korean President Park Geun-hye she had made clear her "bright vision" of a peaceful Korean peninsula free of nuclear weapons.
"We are prepared to work with conviction that relations between the North and South can improve and can improve very quickly," he said.
"The world will be much better off if the leaders of the North, and one leader in particular, can make the right decision."
Russia, which has expressed growing concern over North Korea, said on Friday that it had issued "an urgent appeal" to Pyongyang "to refrain from actions which could lead to further escalation of tension".
Missile defences in the region
North Korea's missile programme
On Saturday Mr Kerry will move on to China. He said he would urge leaders there to use their influence to rein in Pyongyang's aggression. He will then travel to Japan.
Mr Kerry said it was "clear to everybody in the world that no country in the world has as close a relationship or as significant an impact on [North Korea] than China", and that talks there would aim to "lay out a path that will defuse this tension".
China, like the US, wanted denuclearisation, he said, adding: "If that's your policy, you've got to put some teeth into it."
On Thursday, China carried out a civilian emergency drill in a town near its border with the North.
China's state media said the half-hour exercise covered evacuations and responses to an air raid and was aimed at raising public awareness of disaster prevention and relief. | The North has moved two missiles to its east coast and South Korea is on alert.
Speaking in Seoul, Mr Kerry reconfirmed the US's commitment to protecting itself and its allies.
But he played down a US report that the North has a nuclear warhead, saying it was "inaccurate" to suggest it has "a working and tested" device.
Later, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Pyongyang had "not demonstrated the capability to deploy a nuclear-armed missile".
A declassified section of a report from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report had warned there was "moderate" confidence that Pyongyang had developed the technology to mount a nuclear warhead on a missile.
By Kim GhattasBBC News, Seoul
'Stern test' for Kerry over Korea
Japan readies for N Korea attack
Chinese media on North Korea
North Korea has increased its warlike rhetoric following fresh UN sanctions imposed after its third nuclear test in February and joint military manoeuvres by the US and South Korea.
The North has said it will restart a mothballed nuclear reactor, has shut an emergency military hotline to the South and has urged countries to withdraw diplomatic staff, saying it cannot now guarantee their safety.
On 15 April, North Korea will mark the birth of national founder Kim Il-sung , a date which could be used for a missile launch.
North Korean TV has been showing preparations for the birthday celebrations, which include displays of "Kimilsungia" flowers, parades, and models of missiles.
By Ian Pannell,BBC News, Washington
Does North Korea have a nuclear weapon capable of being fired on a ballistic missile? Someone in America's vast intelligence community thinks the answer is "Yes" - well "probably Yes", as analysts do not like absolutes.
They also think it would not be very reliable.
This is a deeply sensitive area and with recent history in mind, no-one wants to be accused of "sexing-up" intelligence.
The honest answer is that no-one outside of a small group of people in Pyongyang actually knows what capability North Korea has. It is also true that, as with most conflicts, there are always hawks and doves and people with competing agendas. For now at least this probably remains one of former US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's infamous "known unknowns".
Recently, the North reportedly moved two Musudan ballistic missiles to its east coast. Estimates of their range vary, but some suggest the missiles could travel 4,000km (2,500 miles).
That would put US bases on Guam within range, although it is not believed that the Musudan has been tested before.
In a joint news conference with his South Korea counterpart, Mr Kerry said that if Northern leader Kim Jong-un decided to go ahead with a launch it would be "a provocative and unwanted act that will raise people's temperature".
"It is a huge mistake for him to choose to do that because it will further isolate his people ... who are desperate for food not missile launches, who are desperate for opportunity not for a leader who wants to flex his muscles in this manner," he said.
"Kim Jong-un needs to understand - and I think he probably does - what the outcome of a conflict would be," he added.
Mr Kerry said that in his talks with South Korean President Park Geun-hye she had made clear her "bright vision" of a peaceful Korean peninsula free of nuclear weapons.
"We are prepared to work with conviction that relations between the North and South can improve and can improve very quickly," he said.
"The world will be much better off if the leaders of the North, and one leader in particular, can make the right decision."
Russia, which has expressed growing concern over North Korea, said on Friday that it had issued "an urgent appeal" to Pyongyang "to refrain from actions which could lead to further escalation of tension".
Missile defences in the region
North Korea's missile programme
On Saturday Mr Kerry will move on to China. He said he would urge leaders there to use their influence to rein in Pyongyang's aggression. He will then travel to Japan.
Mr Kerry said it was "clear to everybody in the world that no country in the world has as close a relationship or as significant an impact on [North Korea] than China", and that talks there would aim to "lay out a path that will defuse this tension".
China, like the US, wanted denuclearisation, he said, adding: "If that's your policy, you've got to put some teeth into it."
On Thursday, China carried out a civilian emergency drill in a town near its border with the North.
China's state media said the half-hour exercise covered evacuations and responses to an air raid and was aimed at raising public awareness of disaster prevention and relief. |
Add punctuation: Media playback is not supported on this device
Sir Elton appointed Taylor as Watford manager in 1977, a year after the singer took ownership of the club.
Within five years, Taylor took the Hornets from the old Fourth Division to runners-up in the top flight, going on to reach the 1984 FA Cup final.
"We will cherish Graham and drown our sorrows in the brilliant memories he gave us," Sir Elton wrote on Instagram.
"This is a sad and dark day for Watford. The club and the town. We went on an incredible journey together and it will stay with me forever.
"I love you Graham. I will miss you very much."
Media playback is not supported on this device
Taylor, who managed England between 1990 and 1993, died on Thursday morning following a suspected heart attack, his family said.
He was a highly successful club manager who also worked at Lincoln, Wolves and Aston Villa, guiding the latter to second place in the First Division in 1990.
After resigning as England boss in 1993 following the team's failure to qualify for the 1994 World Cup, he managed Watford for a further five years, between 1996 and 2001.
He retired from football in 2003, later becoming a respected BBC pundit.
Sir Elton sold his stake in Watford in 1987, the year Taylor left for Villa, but he returned again as chairman in 1997.
"I am deeply saddened and shocked to hear about Graham's passing. He was like a brother to me," he added.
"He took my beloved Watford from the depths of the lower leagues to uncharted territory and into Europe. We have become a leading English club because of his managerial wisdom and genius."
Media playback is not supported on this device
Watford will hold a minute's applause in honour of their former manager before Saturday's home Premier League match against Middlesbrough, and their players will wear black armbands.
They will also organise additional tributes, involving officials and supporters from the club.
The club say they are "inviting supporters to tweet their tributes to the club's most successful manager by using the hashtag #thankyouGT".
The EFL said a minute's applause will be held before this weekend's fixtures, while clubs will have the option of wearing black armbands.
Football Association chairman Greg Clarke described Taylor as "a hugely popular and respected figure in the game".
He added: "He had an exceptional knowledge and a love for the game that never diminished over the years. He will be much missed by us all at Wembley and St George's Park."
Match of the Day host and former England international Gary Lineker said Taylor was "an outstanding manager, lover of football and thoroughly decent man".
He added: "He made me his England captain and I will be eternally grateful to him for giving me that honour."
Former England striker Alan Shearer, who made his international debut under Taylor in 1992, said he was "completely shocked" by the news of Taylor's death, adding he "held him in the very highest regard".
Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore said: "You will struggle to find a more decent individual in football, one who cared passionately about all levels and aspects of the English game."
Howard Wilkinson, chairman of the League Managers' Association - of which Taylor was the first president, paid tribute to his "lifelong friend".
"I greatly admired Graham for his honesty, tenacity, professionalism and his capacity for innovation, which earned him richly deserved success," he said.
"Football has lost one of its greatest servants and our thoughts and condolences are with his wife Rita, his daughters Joanne and Karen, and the rest of his family."
Burnley manager Sean Dyche, who was given his first managerial job by then Watford chairman Taylor, said: "For such a legend at Watford to be helping you have that chance, and helping me along the way as a young manager, I'm absolutely devastated."
Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne said Taylor's "enthusiasm for life and football was incredible".
Professional Footballers' Association chairman Gordon Taylor said he had known Graham Taylor since they were both aged 15 at England schoolboy trials.
"He was a real quality human being. He cared about his fellow pros and the good of the game. He should be remembered as a man who added to the game, who really showed his ability as a manager," he said.
"I'm proud and privileged to have been able to call him a friend." | Media playback is not supported on this device
Sir Elton appointed Taylor as Watford manager in 1977, a year after the singer took ownership of the club.
Within five years, Taylor took the Hornets from the old Fourth Division to runners-up in the top flight, going on to reach the 1984 FA Cup final.
"We will cherish Graham and drown our sorrows in the brilliant memories he gave us," Sir Elton wrote on Instagram.
"This is a sad and dark day for Watford. The club and the town. We went on an incredible journey together and it will stay with me forever.
"I love you Graham. I will miss you very much."
Media playback is not supported on this device
Taylor, who managed England between 1990 and 1993, died on Thursday morning following a suspected heart attack, his family said.
He was a highly successful club manager who also worked at Lincoln, Wolves and Aston Villa, guiding the latter to second place in the First Division in 1990.
After resigning as England boss in 1993 following the team's failure to qualify for the 1994 World Cup, he managed Watford for a further five years, between 1996 and 2001.
He retired from football in 2003, later becoming a respected BBC pundit.
Sir Elton sold his stake in Watford in 1987, the year Taylor left for Villa, but he returned again as chairman in 1997.
"I am deeply saddened and shocked to hear about Graham's passing. He was like a brother to me," he added.
"He took my beloved Watford from the depths of the lower leagues to uncharted territory and into Europe. We have become a leading English club because of his managerial wisdom and genius."
Media playback is not supported on this device
Watford will hold a minute's applause in honour of their former manager before Saturday's home Premier League match against Middlesbrough, and their players will wear black armbands.
They will also organise additional tributes, involving officials and supporters from the club.
The club say they are "inviting supporters to tweet their tributes to the club's most successful manager by using the hashtag #thankyouGT".
The EFL said a minute's applause will be held before this weekend's fixtures, while clubs will have the option of wearing black armbands.
Football Association chairman Greg Clarke described Taylor as "a hugely popular and respected figure in the game".
He added: "He had an exceptional knowledge and a love for the game that never diminished over the years. He will be much missed by us all at Wembley and St George's Park."
Match of the Day host and former England international Gary Lineker said Taylor was "an outstanding manager, lover of football and thoroughly decent man".
He added: "He made me his England captain and I will be eternally grateful to him for giving me that honour."
Former England striker Alan Shearer, who made his international debut under Taylor in 1992, said he was "completely shocked" by the news of Taylor's death, adding he "held him in the very highest regard".
Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore said: "You will struggle to find a more decent individual in football, one who cared passionately about all levels and aspects of the English game."
Howard Wilkinson, chairman of the League Managers' Association - of which Taylor was the first president, paid tribute to his "lifelong friend".
"I greatly admired Graham for his honesty, tenacity, professionalism and his capacity for innovation, which earned him richly deserved success," he said.
"Football has lost one of its greatest servants and our thoughts and condolences are with his wife Rita, his daughters Joanne and Karen, and the rest of his family."
Burnley manager Sean Dyche, who was given his first managerial job by then Watford chairman Taylor, said: "For such a legend at Watford to be helping you have that chance, and helping me along the way as a young manager, I'm absolutely devastated."
Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne said Taylor's "enthusiasm for life and football was incredible".
Professional Footballers' Association chairman Gordon Taylor said he had known Graham Taylor since they were both aged 15 at England schoolboy trials.
"He was a real quality human being. He cared about his fellow pros and the good of the game. He should be remembered as a man who added to the game, who really showed his ability as a manager," he said.
"I'm proud and privileged to have been able to call him a friend." |
Add punctuation: The claim: The six strongest pro-Leave constituencies and the six strongest pro-Remain constituencies all have Labour MPs.
Reality Check verdict: The best estimates available suggest that two of the six most pro-Remain constituencies have SNP MPs, while three of the six most pro-Leave constituencies have Conservative MPs.
The EU referendum vote nationwide was close, with 48.1% voting Remain and 51.9% Leave.
But Remain voters tended to be clustered in big cities and in Scotland and Northern Ireland, while the Leave vote was more evenly spread.
This means that while a small majority of the country voted Leave, a large majority of the country's 650 parliamentary constituencies did so.
The votes in June were counted by council, of which there are far fewer - about 400.
This is because cities tend to have one council but several Westminster constituencies.
This means in most cases we cannot say exactly how each parliamentary constituency voted.
However, Chris Hanretty, an academic at the University of East Anglia, has used the results for local authorities to make detailed estimates for each constituency.
These are based on other things we know about the area, such as age, education, ethnicity and income, and how strongly those factors correlate with a vote for Brexit in the places where we know the vote at constituency level for sure.
Mr Hanretty estimates that most constituencies where Remain support was the highest did indeed vote Labour in 2015, although Glasgow North and Edinburgh North, both represented by the SNP, are exceptions.
But that's not the picture in the areas that most passionately backed Leave.
The Brexit vote was strongest in parts of eastern England, especially Lincolnshire, which backed the Conservatives in 2015.
Mr Hanretty estimates that Conservative-held Boston and Skegness was the constituency with the highest Leave vote.
It covers the Boston council area, which recorded the strongest vote to leave the EU of any local authority, and part of East Lindsey, another overwhelmingly pro-Brexit area.
It's true that some places where Leave support was strongest voted Labour in 2015, such as Doncaster North, Ed Miliband's constituency. But the Leave vote was highest in Conservative parts of eastern England.
Read more from Reality Check | The claim: The six strongest pro-Leave constituencies and the six strongest pro-Remain constituencies all have Labour MPs.
Reality Check verdict: The best estimates available suggest that two of the six most pro-Remain constituencies have SNP MPs, while three of the six most pro-Leave constituencies have Conservative MPs.
The EU referendum vote nationwide was close, with 48.1% voting Remain and 51.9% Leave.
But Remain voters tended to be clustered in big cities and in Scotland and Northern Ireland, while the Leave vote was more evenly spread.
This means that while a small majority of the country voted Leave, a large majority of the country's 650 parliamentary constituencies did so.
The votes in June were counted by council, of which there are far fewer - about 400.
This is because cities tend to have one council but several Westminster constituencies.
This means in most cases we cannot say exactly how each parliamentary constituency voted.
However, Chris Hanretty, an academic at the University of East Anglia, has used the results for local authorities to make detailed estimates for each constituency.
These are based on other things we know about the area, such as age, education, ethnicity and income, and how strongly those factors correlate with a vote for Brexit in the places where we know the vote at constituency level for sure.
Mr Hanretty estimates that most constituencies where Remain support was the highest did indeed vote Labour in 2015, although Glasgow North and Edinburgh North, both represented by the SNP, are exceptions.
But that's not the picture in the areas that most passionately backed Leave.
The Brexit vote was strongest in parts of eastern England, especially Lincolnshire, which backed the Conservatives in 2015.
Mr Hanretty estimates that Conservative-held Boston and Skegness was the constituency with the highest Leave vote.
It covers the Boston council area, which recorded the strongest vote to leave the EU of any local authority, and part of East Lindsey, another overwhelmingly pro-Brexit area.
It's true that some places where Leave support was strongest voted Labour in 2015, such as Doncaster North, Ed Miliband's constituency. But the Leave vote was highest in Conservative parts of eastern England.
Read more from Reality Check |
Add punctuation: Ethan Matthews, from Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, was told in December 2014 he needed the non-functioning organ removed.
He was put on an urgent waiting list at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales without success until his parents were given the date of 17 May on Tuesday.
Ethan's father Robert Matthews said the family were "over the moon".
Mr Matthews said the family missed a phone call on Monday and when they rang back on Tuesday, they were told they could have the operation.
Ethan will have tests at his GP surgery beforehand, with the information sent to the hospital so any potential infections can be treated ahead of his surgery.
Mr Matthews said: "We're over the moon. Ethan was really pleased, really happy with it. We can't wait for it - we've had such a stressful time over the last two-and-a-half years.
"We can't wait to have it done so Ethan can get on with his life and be a normal teenager.
"Your teenage years are some of the best of your life, he's missing out on so much. He'll lead a perfectly normal life with one kidney, he just needs the one removed."
Ethan's operation was originally due to take place in January, but had to be cancelled because he had a urine infection.
Before Ethan was given his date for surgery, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said the time a patient waited was based on factors such as clinical urgency and the type and complexity of the surgery required.
Ethan is fitted with a tract in his side after suffering from a build up of fluid and visits his GP up to three times a week to have his dressing changed.
At the moment, he is unable to play contact sports or go swimming with his friends.
"If he gets bumped playing football, it causes him a lot of pain and with swimming there's a risk of infection," said his father.
Ethan's family will take him into hospital on 16 May for last-minute checks before his kidney is removed the following day. | Ethan Matthews, from Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, was told in December 2014 he needed the non-functioning organ removed.
He was put on an urgent waiting list at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales without success until his parents were given the date of 17 May on Tuesday.
Ethan's father Robert Matthews said the family were "over the moon".
Mr Matthews said the family missed a phone call on Monday and when they rang back on Tuesday, they were told they could have the operation.
Ethan will have tests at his GP surgery beforehand, with the information sent to the hospital so any potential infections can be treated ahead of his surgery.
Mr Matthews said: "We're over the moon. Ethan was really pleased, really happy with it. We can't wait for it - we've had such a stressful time over the last two-and-a-half years.
"We can't wait to have it done so Ethan can get on with his life and be a normal teenager.
"Your teenage years are some of the best of your life, he's missing out on so much. He'll lead a perfectly normal life with one kidney, he just needs the one removed."
Ethan's operation was originally due to take place in January, but had to be cancelled because he had a urine infection.
Before Ethan was given his date for surgery, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said the time a patient waited was based on factors such as clinical urgency and the type and complexity of the surgery required.
Ethan is fitted with a tract in his side after suffering from a build up of fluid and visits his GP up to three times a week to have his dressing changed.
At the moment, he is unable to play contact sports or go swimming with his friends.
"If he gets bumped playing football, it causes him a lot of pain and with swimming there's a risk of infection," said his father.
Ethan's family will take him into hospital on 16 May for last-minute checks before his kidney is removed the following day. |
Add punctuation: Detectives were granted a 48-hour extension on Friday evening by a judge.
Mr Adams, 65, denies allegations that he was involved in the abduction and murder of the mother-of-ten.
He has been held for questioning since voluntarily presenting himself at Antrim police station on Wednesday.
Mr Adams is the former MP for West Belfast and is currently an elected representative for County Louth in the Republic of Ireland.
An initial 48-hour deadline to either charge or release him was due to expire at 20:00 BST on Friday, but the police successfully applied for more time to question him.
Mr Adams appeared in court via video link, as his lawyers contested the police's application for an extension under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Detectives could have asked for five more days to question Mr Adams, but instead applied to hold him until Sunday evening.
Earlier on Friday, his party colleague Martin McGuinness told a news conference: "Yesterday, I said that the timing of the arrest of Gerry Adams was politically motivated.
"Today's decision by the PSNI to seek an extension confirms me in my view."
Mr McGuinness, who is Northern Ireland deputy first minister, said the detention of Mr Adams was "a very, very serious situation".
He said Sinn Féin supported the progressive elements within the PSNI.
However, he added: "There is a cabal within the PSNI who have a different agenda, a negative and destructive agenda to both the peace process and to Sinn Féin."
He said Sinn Féin had been told this by "very senior members of the PSNI" who had coined the phrase the 'dark side'.
"Am I angry? Yes I am, but it's a very controlled anger," he said.
In regards to Sinn Féin's support for policing in Northern Ireland, he said that would continue if the situation with Mr Adams is resolved in a satisfactory manner.
"If it doesn't, we will have to review that situation."
When pressed if this meant Sinn Féin would withdraw support for the police if Mr Adams was charged, he said: "We're not taking any decision at this time, about anything."
Mr McGuinness added: "I believe Gerry Adams will be totally and absolutely exonerated."
Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford of the Alliance Party said: "If there are dark forces within policing, I can see no sign of dark forces."
Mr Ford, who was first appointed minister when policing and justice powers were devolved to Stormont in 2010, said: "I see a police force with very high levels of confidence, higher than the Garda Síochána (Irish police) or many forces in Great Britain.
"I see a police force carrying out its duties properly and appropriately, following up evidential opportunities where they present themselves and operating in conjunction with the community across a range of issues."
Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt said: "It is one thing to scrutinise the police - it is totally unacceptable for their support for police to be conditional on getting political policing in relation to republicans, which Martin McGuinness seems to be suggesting."
Dolores Kelly of the nationalist SDLP said: "For Sinn Féin to threaten to withdraw support from the PSNI because an investigation is not going the way they want it completely unacceptable."
On Thursday, Northern Ireland First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson said: "I would suggest to you that it would be political policing if the PSNI had not questioned those that were deemed to have been involved in any way."
Mrs McConville, a 37-year-old widow and mother of 10, was abducted and shot by the IRA. Her body was recovered from a beach in County Louth in 2003.
She is one of Northern Ireland's Disappeared, those who were abducted, murdered and secretly buried by republicans during the Troubles.
She was kidnapped in front of her children after being wrongly accused of being an informer - a claim that was dismissed after an official investigation by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman.
The widow was held at one or more houses before being shot and buried in secret.
The IRA admitted in 1999 that it murdered and buried at secret locations nine of the Disappeared.
Sixteen people are listed as "disappeared" by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains, which was established in 1999 by a treaty between the British and Irish governments.
Despite extensive searches, the remains of seven of them have not been found.
Last month, Ivor Bell, 77, a leader in the Provisional IRA in the 1970s, was charged with aiding and abetting the murder.
There have also been a number of other arrests over the murder recently. | Detectives were granted a 48-hour extension on Friday evening by a judge.
Mr Adams, 65, denies allegations that he was involved in the abduction and murder of the mother-of-ten.
He has been held for questioning since voluntarily presenting himself at Antrim police station on Wednesday.
Mr Adams is the former MP for West Belfast and is currently an elected representative for County Louth in the Republic of Ireland.
An initial 48-hour deadline to either charge or release him was due to expire at 20:00 BST on Friday, but the police successfully applied for more time to question him.
Mr Adams appeared in court via video link, as his lawyers contested the police's application for an extension under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Detectives could have asked for five more days to question Mr Adams, but instead applied to hold him until Sunday evening.
Earlier on Friday, his party colleague Martin McGuinness told a news conference: "Yesterday, I said that the timing of the arrest of Gerry Adams was politically motivated.
"Today's decision by the PSNI to seek an extension confirms me in my view."
Mr McGuinness, who is Northern Ireland deputy first minister, said the detention of Mr Adams was "a very, very serious situation".
He said Sinn Féin supported the progressive elements within the PSNI.
However, he added: "There is a cabal within the PSNI who have a different agenda, a negative and destructive agenda to both the peace process and to Sinn Féin."
He said Sinn Féin had been told this by "very senior members of the PSNI" who had coined the phrase the 'dark side'.
"Am I angry? Yes I am, but it's a very controlled anger," he said.
In regards to Sinn Féin's support for policing in Northern Ireland, he said that would continue if the situation with Mr Adams is resolved in a satisfactory manner.
"If it doesn't, we will have to review that situation."
When pressed if this meant Sinn Féin would withdraw support for the police if Mr Adams was charged, he said: "We're not taking any decision at this time, about anything."
Mr McGuinness added: "I believe Gerry Adams will be totally and absolutely exonerated."
Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford of the Alliance Party said: "If there are dark forces within policing, I can see no sign of dark forces."
Mr Ford, who was first appointed minister when policing and justice powers were devolved to Stormont in 2010, said: "I see a police force with very high levels of confidence, higher than the Garda Síochána (Irish police) or many forces in Great Britain.
"I see a police force carrying out its duties properly and appropriately, following up evidential opportunities where they present themselves and operating in conjunction with the community across a range of issues."
Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt said: "It is one thing to scrutinise the police - it is totally unacceptable for their support for police to be conditional on getting political policing in relation to republicans, which Martin McGuinness seems to be suggesting."
Dolores Kelly of the nationalist SDLP said: "For Sinn Féin to threaten to withdraw support from the PSNI because an investigation is not going the way they want it completely unacceptable."
On Thursday, Northern Ireland First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson said: "I would suggest to you that it would be political policing if the PSNI had not questioned those that were deemed to have been involved in any way."
Mrs McConville, a 37-year-old widow and mother of 10, was abducted and shot by the IRA. Her body was recovered from a beach in County Louth in 2003.
She is one of Northern Ireland's Disappeared, those who were abducted, murdered and secretly buried by republicans during the Troubles.
She was kidnapped in front of her children after being wrongly accused of being an informer - a claim that was dismissed after an official investigation by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman.
The widow was held at one or more houses before being shot and buried in secret.
The IRA admitted in 1999 that it murdered and buried at secret locations nine of the Disappeared.
Sixteen people are listed as "disappeared" by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains, which was established in 1999 by a treaty between the British and Irish governments.
Despite extensive searches, the remains of seven of them have not been found.
Last month, Ivor Bell, 77, a leader in the Provisional IRA in the 1970s, was charged with aiding and abetting the murder.
There have also been a number of other arrests over the murder recently. |
Add punctuation: Motorsport bosses want to increase unpredictability amid criticism that race weekends can become too formulaic.
The plan was approved in principle, but teams have gone away to analyse the potential impact.
The rule-making F1 commission has also approved plans to introduce improved cockpit head protection in 2017.
The move is designed to help protect drivers from being hit by debris.
All the changes still need to be rubber-stamped by the FIA World Council.
Plans to make cars wider and faster with bigger tyres have also been confirmed.
Fans will also be able to vote for a driver of the day after each race.
The idea to change the format of qualifying came from the FIA and is an attempt to increase unpredictability.
A decision on whether to adopt it this year could be made in the next week or so after the idea has been fully analysed.
It was approved in principle, with the intention of introducing it this year, but the teams have gone away to analyse the potential impact.
There will still be a three-part qualifying session but the plan is to adapt it as follows:
It is worth noting that the final elimination in each session occurs when the relevant drivers pass the chequered flag, not when time is up.
The FIA told teams earlier this month that it wanted to introduce head protection in 2017.
A device called a 'halo' has been deemed the best compromise, given it has the fewest side-effects, such as compromised vision or extrication in the event of an accident.
The Grand Prix Drivers' Association made it clear it felt it was time for the device to be introduced after years of research into the project.
The halo features two arms protruding from behind the cockpit, forming an elliptical shape above the driver's head, and is supported by a narrow forward strut.
It will be a standard part, with all teams using the same design.
The FIA said it would continue to evaluate other options, such as a jet-fighter style canopy.
It is thought unlikely the halo would have prevented the injuries suffered by Frenchman Jules Bianchi, who died last July, nine months after his Marussia collided with a recovery vehicle during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.
But it might stop incidents such as the one that killed English IndyCar driver Justin Wilson, who was struck by debris from an earlier crash last year.
F1 bosses have been working for a year on making cars faster and more dramatic-looking for 2017.
It is all in response to a perceived waning interest in the sport, although agreeing the detail has proved problematic.
Nevertheless, bodywork dimensions have been defined after months of discussions:
Some details still need to be resolved and the deadline for doing so by a majority has been extended by two months to the end of April.
There was also "significant further progress" on plans to make engines cheaper, louder and closer in performance, with all teams supplied. | Motorsport bosses want to increase unpredictability amid criticism that race weekends can become too formulaic.
The plan was approved in principle, but teams have gone away to analyse the potential impact.
The rule-making F1 commission has also approved plans to introduce improved cockpit head protection in 2017.
The move is designed to help protect drivers from being hit by debris.
All the changes still need to be rubber-stamped by the FIA World Council.
Plans to make cars wider and faster with bigger tyres have also been confirmed.
Fans will also be able to vote for a driver of the day after each race.
The idea to change the format of qualifying came from the FIA and is an attempt to increase unpredictability.
A decision on whether to adopt it this year could be made in the next week or so after the idea has been fully analysed.
It was approved in principle, with the intention of introducing it this year, but the teams have gone away to analyse the potential impact.
There will still be a three-part qualifying session but the plan is to adapt it as follows:
It is worth noting that the final elimination in each session occurs when the relevant drivers pass the chequered flag, not when time is up.
The FIA told teams earlier this month that it wanted to introduce head protection in 2017.
A device called a 'halo' has been deemed the best compromise, given it has the fewest side-effects, such as compromised vision or extrication in the event of an accident.
The Grand Prix Drivers' Association made it clear it felt it was time for the device to be introduced after years of research into the project.
The halo features two arms protruding from behind the cockpit, forming an elliptical shape above the driver's head, and is supported by a narrow forward strut.
It will be a standard part, with all teams using the same design.
The FIA said it would continue to evaluate other options, such as a jet-fighter style canopy.
It is thought unlikely the halo would have prevented the injuries suffered by Frenchman Jules Bianchi, who died last July, nine months after his Marussia collided with a recovery vehicle during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.
But it might stop incidents such as the one that killed English IndyCar driver Justin Wilson, who was struck by debris from an earlier crash last year.
F1 bosses have been working for a year on making cars faster and more dramatic-looking for 2017.
It is all in response to a perceived waning interest in the sport, although agreeing the detail has proved problematic.
Nevertheless, bodywork dimensions have been defined after months of discussions:
Some details still need to be resolved and the deadline for doing so by a majority has been extended by two months to the end of April.
There was also "significant further progress" on plans to make engines cheaper, louder and closer in performance, with all teams supplied. |
Add punctuation: Police Commander Mohammad Dawood told the BBC via satellite phone that he was surrounded by Taliban fighters and that he needed urgent help.
Otherwise, he added, he and his men couldn't hold for long as they were running out of ammunition.
Helmand's governor says the whole province could fall to the Taliban.
"The bazaar is closed; we have been surrounded for the past two days," Commander Dawood told the BBC's Mahfouz Zubaide.
"I have casualties lying around me; we haven't eaten for the past two days. If we don't get support in the next hour or so, our fighters will be captured alive.
"We only have the police HQ under our control and have a battalion of the national army with us. The district office and the intelligence directorate are under enemy control."
Earlier, the deputy governor of Helmand complained of a lack of government support in an open letter on Facebook to President Ashraf Ghani.
Mohammad Jan Rasoulyar warned that the province could fall to the Taliban.
He said at least 90 soldiers had been killed in the latest fighting and claimed Mr Ghani's entourage was not telling him the reality of the situation.
"Helmand will collapse to the enemies and it's not like Kunduz, where we could launch an operation from the airport to retake it. That is just impossible and a dream," he said.
The Taliban hunters
Who are the Taliban?
Why Taliban special forces are fighting Islamic State
Mr Rasoulyar used the Facebook post to appeal to the president for direct intervention in the province.
"Be quick and act on this! Protect Helmand from this life and death situation and distance yourself from the circle of those lawyers who tell you everything is OK and the situation is normal," he wrote.
In recent months, Taliban insurgents have launched multiple offensives, stretching the Afghan army, which is short of reinforcements, fuel and ammunition.
The fact that a senior Afghan official is addressing the president on Facebook reflects significant internal divisions within the administration, says the BBC's World Service South Asia Editor Ethirajan Anbarasan. | Police Commander Mohammad Dawood told the BBC via satellite phone that he was surrounded by Taliban fighters and that he needed urgent help.
Otherwise, he added, he and his men couldn't hold for long as they were running out of ammunition.
Helmand's governor says the whole province could fall to the Taliban.
"The bazaar is closed; we have been surrounded for the past two days," Commander Dawood told the BBC's Mahfouz Zubaide.
"I have casualties lying around me; we haven't eaten for the past two days. If we don't get support in the next hour or so, our fighters will be captured alive.
"We only have the police HQ under our control and have a battalion of the national army with us. The district office and the intelligence directorate are under enemy control."
Earlier, the deputy governor of Helmand complained of a lack of government support in an open letter on Facebook to President Ashraf Ghani.
Mohammad Jan Rasoulyar warned that the province could fall to the Taliban.
He said at least 90 soldiers had been killed in the latest fighting and claimed Mr Ghani's entourage was not telling him the reality of the situation.
"Helmand will collapse to the enemies and it's not like Kunduz, where we could launch an operation from the airport to retake it. That is just impossible and a dream," he said.
The Taliban hunters
Who are the Taliban?
Why Taliban special forces are fighting Islamic State
Mr Rasoulyar used the Facebook post to appeal to the president for direct intervention in the province.
"Be quick and act on this! Protect Helmand from this life and death situation and distance yourself from the circle of those lawyers who tell you everything is OK and the situation is normal," he wrote.
In recent months, Taliban insurgents have launched multiple offensives, stretching the Afghan army, which is short of reinforcements, fuel and ammunition.
The fact that a senior Afghan official is addressing the president on Facebook reflects significant internal divisions within the administration, says the BBC's World Service South Asia Editor Ethirajan Anbarasan. |
Add punctuation: The four-minute video shows the collision of three cars, with viewers able to see it from 360 degrees.
Some road safety charities said it helped to show the dangers of drink driving, but others said it could have been more powerful.
Unlike some VR apps which put people in charge of the simulated experience, the viewer is not driving the car.
The video follows three cars: one with a woman celebrating a career breakthrough; another with two new parents; and the third a group of friends on their way to a party.
It builds up to the crash, which comes after the woman, who has been drinking with work colleagues, tries to overtake one of the other cars.
Diageo, whose brands include Smirnoff and Guinness, released the video through Facebook 360, YouTube 360 and a VR app integration with The New York Times.
It is also compatible with VR headsets, including Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Google Daydream and Google Cardboard.
To feel the full impact of the crash, Diageo will provide a D-Box chair at some events which shakes as the cars collide and spin out of control.
The initiative has launched in the US and is targeted at those old enough to drink alcohol.
The Campaign against Drinking and Driving (Cadd), an independent UK charity, said the use of VR would help to show the risks.
"Anything that makes people stop and think has got to be a good thing," Carole Whittingham of Cadd told the BBC.
But she added it "could have gone further" on the message that people are killed by drinking and driving, as the main character survives the crash.
She also thought the US-produced video might be less relatable for British audiences.
Drink Driver Education Plus, which provides advice and training to deal with drug and drink diving, was critical of the use of "scare tactics" in the video.
Dr Lucia Valmaggia, head of the Virtual Reality Lab at King's College London, said: "VR has been shown to trigger a response which is similar to a real life experience."
She said it would be for a drink-drive expert to comment on the video's effectiveness, but that it was "quite immersive when watched in 3D".
Dr Ashley Conway, a psychologist who treats phobias with VR, said watching the Diageo video through a VR headset would be more "visceral and absorbing" than a 2D clip.
"It gives you more than a flat image or an Imax cinema with 3D glasses. With a VR headset your heart will beat faster, you will sweat, you will feel fear much more," he said.
Diageo first announced in June that it would create the VR campaign, shortly after signing a two-year partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (Unitar) to raise awareness of drink driving.
The campaign will help to spread the "message that drink driving is completely unacceptable", said Jack Kushner, a spokesman for Brake, a UK road safety charity which includes Diageo as a corporate sponsor.
"Even drinking a small amount of alcohol can have significant, adverse effects on reactions and judgement, which is why we call for a zero tolerance drink drive limit," he added.
Brake was not involved in this initiative. | The four-minute video shows the collision of three cars, with viewers able to see it from 360 degrees.
Some road safety charities said it helped to show the dangers of drink driving, but others said it could have been more powerful.
Unlike some VR apps which put people in charge of the simulated experience, the viewer is not driving the car.
The video follows three cars: one with a woman celebrating a career breakthrough; another with two new parents; and the third a group of friends on their way to a party.
It builds up to the crash, which comes after the woman, who has been drinking with work colleagues, tries to overtake one of the other cars.
Diageo, whose brands include Smirnoff and Guinness, released the video through Facebook 360, YouTube 360 and a VR app integration with The New York Times.
It is also compatible with VR headsets, including Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Google Daydream and Google Cardboard.
To feel the full impact of the crash, Diageo will provide a D-Box chair at some events which shakes as the cars collide and spin out of control.
The initiative has launched in the US and is targeted at those old enough to drink alcohol.
The Campaign against Drinking and Driving (Cadd), an independent UK charity, said the use of VR would help to show the risks.
"Anything that makes people stop and think has got to be a good thing," Carole Whittingham of Cadd told the BBC.
But she added it "could have gone further" on the message that people are killed by drinking and driving, as the main character survives the crash.
She also thought the US-produced video might be less relatable for British audiences.
Drink Driver Education Plus, which provides advice and training to deal with drug and drink diving, was critical of the use of "scare tactics" in the video.
Dr Lucia Valmaggia, head of the Virtual Reality Lab at King's College London, said: "VR has been shown to trigger a response which is similar to a real life experience."
She said it would be for a drink-drive expert to comment on the video's effectiveness, but that it was "quite immersive when watched in 3D".
Dr Ashley Conway, a psychologist who treats phobias with VR, said watching the Diageo video through a VR headset would be more "visceral and absorbing" than a 2D clip.
"It gives you more than a flat image or an Imax cinema with 3D glasses. With a VR headset your heart will beat faster, you will sweat, you will feel fear much more," he said.
Diageo first announced in June that it would create the VR campaign, shortly after signing a two-year partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (Unitar) to raise awareness of drink driving.
The campaign will help to spread the "message that drink driving is completely unacceptable", said Jack Kushner, a spokesman for Brake, a UK road safety charity which includes Diageo as a corporate sponsor.
"Even drinking a small amount of alcohol can have significant, adverse effects on reactions and judgement, which is why we call for a zero tolerance drink drive limit," he added.
Brake was not involved in this initiative. |
Add punctuation: Rigondeaux, who has been training in Russia, will "not be arriving in the UK" before the fight, according to Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions.
A statement added that the 35-year-old Cuban is currently in Miami "for some unexplained reason".
"We are all extremely disappointed by the situation," it read.
Queensberry Promotions says Rigondeaux applied for his UK visa in Moscow on 29 February and that five working days were required for the process to be completed.
It said it was told by the application centre that the visa would be issued by Wednesday at the latest and Rigondeaux "would then arrive in the UK shortly thereafter".
Queensberry Promotions claims that Rigondeaux boarded a flight to Miami on Tuesday.
It added: "We have yet to establish how and why he flew to the USA and, further, how he managed to fly anywhere when the normal practice is, when applying for a visa, that you hand your passport in and get it back when the visa is issued."
WBA and IBF champion Carl Frampton has been ordered to fight Rigondeaux after beating Scott Quigg in February.
WBA bosses said former champion Rigondeaux - a two-time Olympic champion who is unbeaten in 16 professional bouts - must face the Northern Irishman before 27 July. | Rigondeaux, who has been training in Russia, will "not be arriving in the UK" before the fight, according to Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions.
A statement added that the 35-year-old Cuban is currently in Miami "for some unexplained reason".
"We are all extremely disappointed by the situation," it read.
Queensberry Promotions says Rigondeaux applied for his UK visa in Moscow on 29 February and that five working days were required for the process to be completed.
It said it was told by the application centre that the visa would be issued by Wednesday at the latest and Rigondeaux "would then arrive in the UK shortly thereafter".
Queensberry Promotions claims that Rigondeaux boarded a flight to Miami on Tuesday.
It added: "We have yet to establish how and why he flew to the USA and, further, how he managed to fly anywhere when the normal practice is, when applying for a visa, that you hand your passport in and get it back when the visa is issued."
WBA and IBF champion Carl Frampton has been ordered to fight Rigondeaux after beating Scott Quigg in February.
WBA bosses said former champion Rigondeaux - a two-time Olympic champion who is unbeaten in 16 professional bouts - must face the Northern Irishman before 27 July. |
Add punctuation: An, 28, won three gold medals for South Korea in Turin in 2006 before being given Russian citizenship in 2011.
This has been the best experience of my sporting career and I will never forget Sochi.
He won Russia's first ever short track speed skating gold medal in the 1,000m before winning the 500m and the relay.
Only Norway's Ole Einar Bjoerndalen and Bjorn Daehlie have won more gold medals at a Winter Olympics, with eight.
Having won a bronze in the 500m in 2006 and the 1,500m in Sochi, An's eight medals move him level with American Apolo Anton Ohno with the most medals in short track history.
He beat China's Wu Dajing into second with a time of 41.312 seconds in the 500m.
After helping beat the United States with a record time of six minutes 42.1 secs in the relay win, An said: "I'm very happy we were able to win a medal as a team. I wanted one thing, which was for all of us to be smiling together.
"This has been the best experience of my sporting career and I will never forget Sochi. Before the competition started, I just wanted to concentrate on doing my best and show what I could be on the Olympic stage."
An is also the first person to win gold in all four short track events in Winter Olympics history. | An, 28, won three gold medals for South Korea in Turin in 2006 before being given Russian citizenship in 2011.
This has been the best experience of my sporting career and I will never forget Sochi.
He won Russia's first ever short track speed skating gold medal in the 1,000m before winning the 500m and the relay.
Only Norway's Ole Einar Bjoerndalen and Bjorn Daehlie have won more gold medals at a Winter Olympics, with eight.
Having won a bronze in the 500m in 2006 and the 1,500m in Sochi, An's eight medals move him level with American Apolo Anton Ohno with the most medals in short track history.
He beat China's Wu Dajing into second with a time of 41.312 seconds in the 500m.
After helping beat the United States with a record time of six minutes 42.1 secs in the relay win, An said: "I'm very happy we were able to win a medal as a team. I wanted one thing, which was for all of us to be smiling together.
"This has been the best experience of my sporting career and I will never forget Sochi. Before the competition started, I just wanted to concentrate on doing my best and show what I could be on the Olympic stage."
An is also the first person to win gold in all four short track events in Winter Olympics history. |
Add punctuation: The 66-year-old South African, who stepped down as Edinburgh boss in September, has previously coached Northampton Saints and Ulster.
He arrives with Bristol bottom of the top flight, six points below Worcester.
"Alan is a hugely experienced operator who understands the game," head coach Mark Tainton told the club website.
"With seven games remaining, it's vital that Bristol rediscover our form from over the Christmas period and Alan's arrival as a consultant should give everyone a boost."
Meanwhile, Tainton - who has worked as interim boss since Andy Robinson's departure in November - is to become Bristol's chief operations officer at the end of the season, overseeing the club's recruitment policy.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Connacht boss Pat Lam has already been appointed as Bristol's new head coach from the start of next season.
Chief executive Steve Gorvett will also step down at the end of the current campaign.
Gorvett has been with Bristol for 12 season, initially arriving in 2005 as finance director before taking on the chief executive role in 2008.
"I took the decision to step down at the end of the season after 12 enjoyable years at Bristol," Gorvett said. "It's been a period of huge transition for the club and we have faced a series of significant challenges along the way.
"At the end of the season, we aim to still be in the Premiership with a world-class head coach already committed, a stadium that we are proud to call home and a state-of-the-art training ground on the way." | The 66-year-old South African, who stepped down as Edinburgh boss in September, has previously coached Northampton Saints and Ulster.
He arrives with Bristol bottom of the top flight, six points below Worcester.
"Alan is a hugely experienced operator who understands the game," head coach Mark Tainton told the club website.
"With seven games remaining, it's vital that Bristol rediscover our form from over the Christmas period and Alan's arrival as a consultant should give everyone a boost."
Meanwhile, Tainton - who has worked as interim boss since Andy Robinson's departure in November - is to become Bristol's chief operations officer at the end of the season, overseeing the club's recruitment policy.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Connacht boss Pat Lam has already been appointed as Bristol's new head coach from the start of next season.
Chief executive Steve Gorvett will also step down at the end of the current campaign.
Gorvett has been with Bristol for 12 season, initially arriving in 2005 as finance director before taking on the chief executive role in 2008.
"I took the decision to step down at the end of the season after 12 enjoyable years at Bristol," Gorvett said. "It's been a period of huge transition for the club and we have faced a series of significant challenges along the way.
"At the end of the season, we aim to still be in the Premiership with a world-class head coach already committed, a stadium that we are proud to call home and a state-of-the-art training ground on the way." |
Add punctuation: Victoria Gayle, 32, pleaded guilty at Kingston Crown Court to preventing the lawful and decent burial of a body.
The offence, which relates to a son born in 2004, only came to light after the death of Gayle's young daughter last year.
Investigations are under way into possible failings by the police and local authorities.
There is no record of any official agency having seen Gayle's son after he left hospital with her in February 2004, the BBC understands.
He is thought to have died when he was 10 to 15 months old.
On 31 May this year homicide detectives found a boy's skeleton at the home of Gayle's parents in West Hendon, north London.
The body had been placed in a box and wrapped up.
Gayle had been arrested a day earlier on suspicion of murder.
Following the discovery of the body, detectives re-arrested Gayle on suspicion of preventing a lawful and decent burial.
An investigation had started following a case review after the death of Gayle's two-year-old daughter in 2015.
She had died after swallowing a battery at the home of Gayle's parents.
The BBC understands that, over several years, Gayle told official agencies that her son had moved away, but that the agencies failed to establish whether or not this was true.
During court proceedings in 2014 Gayle had provided a statement that said her son had gone away with his traveller father.
But her son had already died and his father was not a traveller.
Tests, which are attempting to show how the baby died, are ongoing.
Three other people arrested in connection with the investigation remain on police bail.
Gayle has pleaded not guilty to two counts - perjury and perverting the course of justice - which have been left to lie on file.
In a statement, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it was directing an investigation by the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards.
"The IPCC investigation is to establish what interaction, if any, officers from the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] had with the family of the child and whether there were any missed opportunities, either before or after the death."
A serious case review, which started in October, is looking at the circumstances relating to both deaths.
A Barnet Council spokesperson said: "The death of any child is tragic and we are working with Barnet Safeguarding Children's Board to provide information for their Serious Case Review and to establish any learning from our involvement with the family."
Gayle was bailed ahead of sentencing at Kingston Crown Court on 3 February 2017. | Victoria Gayle, 32, pleaded guilty at Kingston Crown Court to preventing the lawful and decent burial of a body.
The offence, which relates to a son born in 2004, only came to light after the death of Gayle's young daughter last year.
Investigations are under way into possible failings by the police and local authorities.
There is no record of any official agency having seen Gayle's son after he left hospital with her in February 2004, the BBC understands.
He is thought to have died when he was 10 to 15 months old.
On 31 May this year homicide detectives found a boy's skeleton at the home of Gayle's parents in West Hendon, north London.
The body had been placed in a box and wrapped up.
Gayle had been arrested a day earlier on suspicion of murder.
Following the discovery of the body, detectives re-arrested Gayle on suspicion of preventing a lawful and decent burial.
An investigation had started following a case review after the death of Gayle's two-year-old daughter in 2015.
She had died after swallowing a battery at the home of Gayle's parents.
The BBC understands that, over several years, Gayle told official agencies that her son had moved away, but that the agencies failed to establish whether or not this was true.
During court proceedings in 2014 Gayle had provided a statement that said her son had gone away with his traveller father.
But her son had already died and his father was not a traveller.
Tests, which are attempting to show how the baby died, are ongoing.
Three other people arrested in connection with the investigation remain on police bail.
Gayle has pleaded not guilty to two counts - perjury and perverting the course of justice - which have been left to lie on file.
In a statement, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it was directing an investigation by the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards.
"The IPCC investigation is to establish what interaction, if any, officers from the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] had with the family of the child and whether there were any missed opportunities, either before or after the death."
A serious case review, which started in October, is looking at the circumstances relating to both deaths.
A Barnet Council spokesperson said: "The death of any child is tragic and we are working with Barnet Safeguarding Children's Board to provide information for their Serious Case Review and to establish any learning from our involvement with the family."
Gayle was bailed ahead of sentencing at Kingston Crown Court on 3 February 2017. |
Add punctuation: In an interview ahead of his Asian tour, Mr Obama said the US would oppose any attempt to undermine Japan's control over the islands.
US officials have made such comments in the past, but this is the first time Mr Obama has given such explicit support.
He arrived in Japan on Wednesday ahead of stops in three other Asian nations.
China's foreign ministry has said it opposes the islands being covered by the defence treaty.
"The so-called US-Japan alliance is a bilateral arrangement from the Cold War and ought not to harm China's territorial sovereignty and reasonable rights," spokesman Qin Gang said in Beijing during a regular press briefing.
By Celia HattonBBC News, Beijing
Would China fight for disputed islands?
Mr Obama is not going to Beijing, but relations with China are expected to dominate his meetings with regional leaders.
The trip was an opportunity to reinforce the importance the US placed on Asia, former US Assistant Secretary of State PJ Crowley told the BBC.
"Many traditional allies... [also] value a strong US presence in the region to balance against an assertive China," he said.
The visit comes amid a "period of very significant tension among American allies, and between American allies and China", he added.
Mr Obama's trip - from 23-29 April - comes nearly seven months after he cancelled a visit to the region due to a government shutdown.
He will have a private dinner with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as well as bilateral meetings with the South Korean, Malaysian and Philippine leaders.
Ties between Tokyo and Beijing were expected to be high on the agenda as Mr Obama touched down in Tokyo on Wednesday evening.
Relations are severely strained over a raft of issues, including East China Sea islands - called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China - that both claim.
Japan controls the islands but Chinese ships have sailed repeatedly in and out of what Japan says are its territorial waters as Beijing presses its claim. Last year, China declared an air defence identification zone over the islands, drawing widespread criticism.
Ahead of his visit, Mr Obama said in a written response to Japan's Yomiuri newspaper that the US opposed "any unilateral attempts to undermine Japan's administration of these islands".
"The policy of the United States is clear - the Senkaku Islands are administered by Japan and therefore fall within the scope of Article 5 of the US-Japan Treaty of Mutual Co-operation and Security," he wrote.
Japan depends on the US for its security, under a decades-old alliance that dates back to the end of World War Two.
The US, however, is keen for Japan to take on greater responsibility for its own security - an area where Mr Obama and Mr Abe are likely to be in general agreement.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade deal which requires each country to strike an agreement with other prospective members.
A rift between Japan and the US over agriculture product tariffs has proved a major sticking point.
By Carrie GracieBBC China editor
Mr Obama is also expected to have to balance bolstering US ties with each Asian ally with improving communication among them, particularly between South Korea and Japan.
The two Asian nations are at odds over a separate set of disputed islands, as well as historical issues linked to Japan's war history.
The Japanese prime minister's views on World War Two have poisoned relations to the point where Tokyo and Seoul are now barely on speaking terms, reports the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo.
On Tuesday, Seoul accused Mr Abe of romanticising "Japanese colonialism and its war of aggression" after he sent an offering to the Yasukuni Shrine, where Japan's war dead - including convicted war criminals - are enshrined.
But the US - which last month brokered a meeting of the Japanese and South Korean leaders - wants the two to co-operate on North Korea, amid long-term deadlock in moves to end Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.
On Tuesday, South Korea's defence ministry said that it had detected "a lot of activity" at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site.
North Korea could be planning to hold a "surprise nuclear test or just pretend to stage a nuclear test", a spokesman said.
Mr Obama arrives in Seoul on Friday. A state department spokeswoman said the US was "closely monitoring the situation". The test, if it went ahead, would be North Korea's fourth. | In an interview ahead of his Asian tour, Mr Obama said the US would oppose any attempt to undermine Japan's control over the islands.
US officials have made such comments in the past, but this is the first time Mr Obama has given such explicit support.
He arrived in Japan on Wednesday ahead of stops in three other Asian nations.
China's foreign ministry has said it opposes the islands being covered by the defence treaty.
"The so-called US-Japan alliance is a bilateral arrangement from the Cold War and ought not to harm China's territorial sovereignty and reasonable rights," spokesman Qin Gang said in Beijing during a regular press briefing.
By Celia HattonBBC News, Beijing
Would China fight for disputed islands?
Mr Obama is not going to Beijing, but relations with China are expected to dominate his meetings with regional leaders.
The trip was an opportunity to reinforce the importance the US placed on Asia, former US Assistant Secretary of State PJ Crowley told the BBC.
"Many traditional allies... [also] value a strong US presence in the region to balance against an assertive China," he said.
The visit comes amid a "period of very significant tension among American allies, and between American allies and China", he added.
Mr Obama's trip - from 23-29 April - comes nearly seven months after he cancelled a visit to the region due to a government shutdown.
He will have a private dinner with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as well as bilateral meetings with the South Korean, Malaysian and Philippine leaders.
Ties between Tokyo and Beijing were expected to be high on the agenda as Mr Obama touched down in Tokyo on Wednesday evening.
Relations are severely strained over a raft of issues, including East China Sea islands - called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China - that both claim.
Japan controls the islands but Chinese ships have sailed repeatedly in and out of what Japan says are its territorial waters as Beijing presses its claim. Last year, China declared an air defence identification zone over the islands, drawing widespread criticism.
Ahead of his visit, Mr Obama said in a written response to Japan's Yomiuri newspaper that the US opposed "any unilateral attempts to undermine Japan's administration of these islands".
"The policy of the United States is clear - the Senkaku Islands are administered by Japan and therefore fall within the scope of Article 5 of the US-Japan Treaty of Mutual Co-operation and Security," he wrote.
Japan depends on the US for its security, under a decades-old alliance that dates back to the end of World War Two.
The US, however, is keen for Japan to take on greater responsibility for its own security - an area where Mr Obama and Mr Abe are likely to be in general agreement.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade deal which requires each country to strike an agreement with other prospective members.
A rift between Japan and the US over agriculture product tariffs has proved a major sticking point.
By Carrie GracieBBC China editor
Mr Obama is also expected to have to balance bolstering US ties with each Asian ally with improving communication among them, particularly between South Korea and Japan.
The two Asian nations are at odds over a separate set of disputed islands, as well as historical issues linked to Japan's war history.
The Japanese prime minister's views on World War Two have poisoned relations to the point where Tokyo and Seoul are now barely on speaking terms, reports the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo.
On Tuesday, Seoul accused Mr Abe of romanticising "Japanese colonialism and its war of aggression" after he sent an offering to the Yasukuni Shrine, where Japan's war dead - including convicted war criminals - are enshrined.
But the US - which last month brokered a meeting of the Japanese and South Korean leaders - wants the two to co-operate on North Korea, amid long-term deadlock in moves to end Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.
On Tuesday, South Korea's defence ministry said that it had detected "a lot of activity" at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site.
North Korea could be planning to hold a "surprise nuclear test or just pretend to stage a nuclear test", a spokesman said.
Mr Obama arrives in Seoul on Friday. A state department spokeswoman said the US was "closely monitoring the situation". The test, if it went ahead, would be North Korea's fourth. |
Add punctuation: The BBC understands that 27 of the organisation's 59 posts will move to Extern.
Staff at Fasa, that offers support to people with drug and alcohol addiction, were not paid in March.
A creditors' meeting is due to take place in Belfast later this afternoon.
Fasa announced in March that it was facing "the prospect of immediate and terminal financial insolvency" and was being investigated by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
Before suspending its services, it said it helped more than 2,000 people facing suicide, self-harm, substance abuse and mental health issues at five sites in Northern Ireland.
Fifty-nine people worked for Fasa, while 70 volunteers helped provide its services.
Extern said it would take responsibility for the "harm reduction service", a key Public Health Agency (PHA) funded project held by Fasa "until recent weeks".
The PHA said contracts between the agency and Fasa to provide a range of services had now transferred to Extern.
It said no changes had been made to the contracts and "adults in need of mental health or drug and alcohol support, or young people in need of information, advice and support, will still be able to access and receive the same services as before".
Extern chief executive Charlie Mack said that following "detailed discussions", the Fasa board had "endorsed a proposal from Extern to take on the services provided".
"Whilst Extern had hoped to secure all 59 jobs and service delivery to clients, the complexity of some contracts meant this was not possible," he added.
"However, we are thrilled to be able to deliver this essential contract, secure 27 jobs, and, most important of all ensure continuity of service to clients.
"We remain hopeful that the remaining contracts held by other funders including the Department for Social Development can be considered for procurement as soon as possible to ensure service provision is available to those who are most vulnerable at the point where they need support." | The BBC understands that 27 of the organisation's 59 posts will move to Extern.
Staff at Fasa, that offers support to people with drug and alcohol addiction, were not paid in March.
A creditors' meeting is due to take place in Belfast later this afternoon.
Fasa announced in March that it was facing "the prospect of immediate and terminal financial insolvency" and was being investigated by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
Before suspending its services, it said it helped more than 2,000 people facing suicide, self-harm, substance abuse and mental health issues at five sites in Northern Ireland.
Fifty-nine people worked for Fasa, while 70 volunteers helped provide its services.
Extern said it would take responsibility for the "harm reduction service", a key Public Health Agency (PHA) funded project held by Fasa "until recent weeks".
The PHA said contracts between the agency and Fasa to provide a range of services had now transferred to Extern.
It said no changes had been made to the contracts and "adults in need of mental health or drug and alcohol support, or young people in need of information, advice and support, will still be able to access and receive the same services as before".
Extern chief executive Charlie Mack said that following "detailed discussions", the Fasa board had "endorsed a proposal from Extern to take on the services provided".
"Whilst Extern had hoped to secure all 59 jobs and service delivery to clients, the complexity of some contracts meant this was not possible," he added.
"However, we are thrilled to be able to deliver this essential contract, secure 27 jobs, and, most important of all ensure continuity of service to clients.
"We remain hopeful that the remaining contracts held by other funders including the Department for Social Development can be considered for procurement as soon as possible to ensure service provision is available to those who are most vulnerable at the point where they need support." |
Add punctuation: Home goalkeeper Carl Ikeme's handling error gifted Maikel Kieftenbeld the opener, before David Davis curled in the Blues' second before half-time.
Nouha Dicko's first league goal since 2015 gave Wolves hope after Blues' Paul Robinson was shown a straight red card.
But the visitors survived late pressure to grab a morale-boosting victory.
Victory ended Birmingham's three-match losing run and delivered Zola a second win from his 15 games in charge, while Wolves slipped to 20th in the table following Burton's draw with Blackburn.
The opener came when Kieftenbeld was in the right place to pounce as Ikeme spilled Craig Gardner's right-wing cross, sliding in to net his first goal of the season.
Former Wolves midfielder Davis' finish for Birmingham's second required far more technical skill, as he curled the ball in first time from the edge of the area as Che Adams' ball was deflected into his path.
Those were the only two shots on target in a first half which saw Wolves twice miss headed chances from set-pieces, but the hosts applied significant pressure after the break.
Robinson was dismissed after he was deemed to have swung an arm at Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, and Dicko - who had not netted in the league since the final day of the 2014-15 campaign - swept in Helder Costa's low cross to halve the deficit.
Wolves went close through Matt Doherty and Birmingham were grateful to substitute Krystian Bielik for two last-ditch challenges in the closing stages.
Wolves boss Paul Lambert: "We know that we are in a fight. You have to realise what you are involved in. We can't keep dominating games and come away with nothing. That has to stop.
"We are a really talented group when we are on song. Sometimes when you go through these things it makes you stronger.
"I think you have to be streetwise. It is not an individual blame game, we win together and lose together. You have to do the right things and we will come through it.
"We are above the line and everyone thinks you are okay. But we are not okay. You have to eat, sleep and drink it to make sure you are never in this position again."
Birmingham manager Gianfranco Zola: "I am delighted because of the win and the performance. We have had tough times. In the second half we played very well. We looked like we were stronger.
"The sending-off could have killed a lot of teams but we showed a lot of character.
"The players are relieved, happy and excited because we have been through a lot of suffering in the last few weeks. It is not easy to pick the players up when there are so many bad results.
"This is a break that they deserve as they work very hard and believe in what we are doing. No-one can question the attitude and the passion that everyone has at this club and we will work even harder as we want this to be the beginning of things."
Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Birmingham City 2.
Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Birmingham City 2.
Attempt missed. Danny Batth (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Hélder Costa with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Cheick Keita.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Krystian Bielik (Birmingham City) because of an injury.
Attempt missed. Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Conor Coady with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Danny Batth (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jack Price.
David Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Maikel Kieftenbeld (Birmingham City).
Attempt blocked. Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Conor Coady.
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Josh Cogley.
Tomasz Kuszczak (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Hélder Costa (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
David Davis (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. David Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Nouha Dicko (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Maikel Kieftenbeld (Birmingham City).
Attempt missed. Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jack Price with a cross following a set piece situation.
Hélder Costa (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by David Davis (Birmingham City).
Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Danny Batth tries a through ball, but Richard Stearman is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Danny Batth (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jack Price with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Tomasz Kuszczak.
Attempt missed. Nouha Dicko (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from very close range misses to the left. Assisted by Hélder Costa with a cross following a set piece situation.
Greg Stewart (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Hélder Costa (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Greg Stewart (Birmingham City).
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Cheick Keita.
Substitution, Birmingham City. Greg Stewart replaces Nsue.
Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card.
Attempt missed. David Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Conor Coady with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Richard Stearman (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Birmingham City 2. Nouha Dicko (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Hélder Costa with a cross.
Foul by Danny Batth (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Che Adams (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Cheick Keita (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Danny Batth (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Ryan Shotton (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. | Home goalkeeper Carl Ikeme's handling error gifted Maikel Kieftenbeld the opener, before David Davis curled in the Blues' second before half-time.
Nouha Dicko's first league goal since 2015 gave Wolves hope after Blues' Paul Robinson was shown a straight red card.
But the visitors survived late pressure to grab a morale-boosting victory.
Victory ended Birmingham's three-match losing run and delivered Zola a second win from his 15 games in charge, while Wolves slipped to 20th in the table following Burton's draw with Blackburn.
The opener came when Kieftenbeld was in the right place to pounce as Ikeme spilled Craig Gardner's right-wing cross, sliding in to net his first goal of the season.
Former Wolves midfielder Davis' finish for Birmingham's second required far more technical skill, as he curled the ball in first time from the edge of the area as Che Adams' ball was deflected into his path.
Those were the only two shots on target in a first half which saw Wolves twice miss headed chances from set-pieces, but the hosts applied significant pressure after the break.
Robinson was dismissed after he was deemed to have swung an arm at Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, and Dicko - who had not netted in the league since the final day of the 2014-15 campaign - swept in Helder Costa's low cross to halve the deficit.
Wolves went close through Matt Doherty and Birmingham were grateful to substitute Krystian Bielik for two last-ditch challenges in the closing stages.
Wolves boss Paul Lambert: "We know that we are in a fight. You have to realise what you are involved in. We can't keep dominating games and come away with nothing. That has to stop.
"We are a really talented group when we are on song. Sometimes when you go through these things it makes you stronger.
"I think you have to be streetwise. It is not an individual blame game, we win together and lose together. You have to do the right things and we will come through it.
"We are above the line and everyone thinks you are okay. But we are not okay. You have to eat, sleep and drink it to make sure you are never in this position again."
Birmingham manager Gianfranco Zola: "I am delighted because of the win and the performance. We have had tough times. In the second half we played very well. We looked like we were stronger.
"The sending-off could have killed a lot of teams but we showed a lot of character.
"The players are relieved, happy and excited because we have been through a lot of suffering in the last few weeks. It is not easy to pick the players up when there are so many bad results.
"This is a break that they deserve as they work very hard and believe in what we are doing. No-one can question the attitude and the passion that everyone has at this club and we will work even harder as we want this to be the beginning of things."
Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Birmingham City 2.
Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Birmingham City 2.
Attempt missed. Danny Batth (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Hélder Costa with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Cheick Keita.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Krystian Bielik (Birmingham City) because of an injury.
Attempt missed. Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Conor Coady with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Danny Batth (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jack Price.
David Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Maikel Kieftenbeld (Birmingham City).
Attempt blocked. Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Conor Coady.
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Josh Cogley.
Tomasz Kuszczak (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Hélder Costa (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
David Davis (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. David Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Nouha Dicko (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Maikel Kieftenbeld (Birmingham City).
Attempt missed. Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jack Price with a cross following a set piece situation.
Hélder Costa (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by David Davis (Birmingham City).
Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Danny Batth tries a through ball, but Richard Stearman is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Danny Batth (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jack Price with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Tomasz Kuszczak.
Attempt missed. Nouha Dicko (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from very close range misses to the left. Assisted by Hélder Costa with a cross following a set piece situation.
Greg Stewart (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Hélder Costa (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Greg Stewart (Birmingham City).
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Cheick Keita.
Substitution, Birmingham City. Greg Stewart replaces Nsue.
Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card.
Attempt missed. David Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Conor Coady with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Richard Stearman (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Birmingham City 2. Nouha Dicko (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Hélder Costa with a cross.
Foul by Danny Batth (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Che Adams (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Cheick Keita (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Danny Batth (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Ryan Shotton (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. |
Add punctuation: Shareholders will receive 0.045 cents (£0.03) per share each quarter, the first dividend since United floated on the US Stock Exchange in 2012.
The Glazer family, which owns 83% of United shares, will receive $24.5m (£15.79m) annually.
"This is rubbing salt into the wound," said Manchester United Supporters' Trust vice-chairman Sean Bones.
"Profits from the club should go back into it."
A United spokesman said the Glazers were committed to investing in the team and that the dividend underlined the club's strong financial position.
United estimate they will save $10m annually in interest payments following a refinancing of their debts this year.
The announcement came on the same day United said they were considering selling a further 24 million "Class A" shares.
In total, there are about 164 million shares in United. Around 83% are Class B shares, which are owned by the Glazer family, while the remainder are Class A shares.
"The Glazer family have already cost us £1bn in interest payments," said Bones. "They are sitting on an asset worth £2bn, which still has debts of over £400m, yet are now milking it for even more. How greedy can you get?"
United spent £113.7m on six new players this summer, recouping £74m, including £44.3m from Paris St-Germain for Angel Di Maria.
United released their financial figures on Thursday, in which they recorded a £38m fall in total revenue in the year to 30 June 2015.
It is estimated they lost £35m through their failure to qualify for last season's Champions League.
They qualified for the 2015-16 competition, but lost their opening group game to PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.
Asked about financial projections, head of corporate finance Hemen Tseayo said: "We have not changed our assumptions." | Shareholders will receive 0.045 cents (£0.03) per share each quarter, the first dividend since United floated on the US Stock Exchange in 2012.
The Glazer family, which owns 83% of United shares, will receive $24.5m (£15.79m) annually.
"This is rubbing salt into the wound," said Manchester United Supporters' Trust vice-chairman Sean Bones.
"Profits from the club should go back into it."
A United spokesman said the Glazers were committed to investing in the team and that the dividend underlined the club's strong financial position.
United estimate they will save $10m annually in interest payments following a refinancing of their debts this year.
The announcement came on the same day United said they were considering selling a further 24 million "Class A" shares.
In total, there are about 164 million shares in United. Around 83% are Class B shares, which are owned by the Glazer family, while the remainder are Class A shares.
"The Glazer family have already cost us £1bn in interest payments," said Bones. "They are sitting on an asset worth £2bn, which still has debts of over £400m, yet are now milking it for even more. How greedy can you get?"
United spent £113.7m on six new players this summer, recouping £74m, including £44.3m from Paris St-Germain for Angel Di Maria.
United released their financial figures on Thursday, in which they recorded a £38m fall in total revenue in the year to 30 June 2015.
It is estimated they lost £35m through their failure to qualify for last season's Champions League.
They qualified for the 2015-16 competition, but lost their opening group game to PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.
Asked about financial projections, head of corporate finance Hemen Tseayo said: "We have not changed our assumptions." |
Add punctuation: The French finance minister had been an early favourite to replace Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who resigned last week to fight sex assault charges in New York.
Ms Lagarde has the support of much of Europe but emerging countries have called the tradition of a European always leading the IMF "obsolete".
All 10 of the IMF's managing directors since its inception have been European.
"If elected, I will give the IMF all my experience as a lawyer, a director of enterprise, a minister and a woman," Ms Lagarde told a news conference in Paris.
If chosen, she would be the first woman to head the IMF in its 65-year history.
The 24 members of the IMF's executive board will elect the next chief.
Under a long-standing agreement, the top job at the IMF goes to a European while an American leads its sister organisation, the World Bank.
European diplomats have spoken favourably of Ms Lagarde's candidacy.
European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso said Ms Lagarde had the "indispensable qualities to ensure the IMF's mission and its vital contribution to international economic stability".
Many European countries are especially keen to retain the post at a time when the IMF is deeply involved in the eurozone's debt crisis, with programmes for Greece, Ireland and Portugal.
Ms Lagarde said she had the full support of both French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois Fillon.
She stressed she was not leaving her post in the French government, merely announcing that she was running for the IMF job.
"There are other candidates and I am looking forward to a very good debate between us," she said.
So far, the only other official candidate is Agustin Carstens, the head of Mexico's central bank, after the Mexican finance ministry said on Monday that it would nominate him.
On Wednesday, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said both Ms Lagarde and Mr Carstens were "credible" candidates.
"They're very talented people. Christine Lagarde is an exceptionally capable person, and excellent mix of financial and economic knowledge, talent, and the kind of political skills you need. Agustin has that as well."
"We want to see a process where we look to the candidate who can command the broadest support."
Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty also praised the two "highly qualified" candidates.
Other names in the frame include Germany's former banking chief, Axel Weber, and former South African finance minister Trevor Manuel.
As well as being widely backed in Europe, Ms Lagarde is expected to receive the support of the US.
But Ms Lagarde said: "Being a European should not be a plus; it should not be a minus either."
On Tuesday, the French government also said that China would support Ms Lagarde's candidacy, although Beijing declined to comment.
And later on Tuesday, the so-called Brics countries - which includes China, as well as Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa - released a statement expressing concern at comments from senior Europeans that the IMF should continue to be led by a European.
But on Wednesday, Brazil's Finance Minister Guido Mantega said he welcomed competition for the top job.
According to Reuters, he said his country would seek commitments to bolster the role of emerging markets within the international institution.
In France, Ms Lagarde is involved in a legal row about her decision to settle a dispute between the state and tycoon Bernard Tapie, a personal friend of President Sarkozy.
Commenting on the judicial investigation currently taking place, Ms Lagarde said: "I have every confidence in the procedure because my conscience is at ease."
Ms Lagarde also paid tribute to the work done by Mr Strauss-Kahn.
"The IMF has taken up the challenges of the [financial] crisis thanks to the actions of the director general Dominique Strauss-Kahn and to his team as well." | The French finance minister had been an early favourite to replace Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who resigned last week to fight sex assault charges in New York.
Ms Lagarde has the support of much of Europe but emerging countries have called the tradition of a European always leading the IMF "obsolete".
All 10 of the IMF's managing directors since its inception have been European.
"If elected, I will give the IMF all my experience as a lawyer, a director of enterprise, a minister and a woman," Ms Lagarde told a news conference in Paris.
If chosen, she would be the first woman to head the IMF in its 65-year history.
The 24 members of the IMF's executive board will elect the next chief.
Under a long-standing agreement, the top job at the IMF goes to a European while an American leads its sister organisation, the World Bank.
European diplomats have spoken favourably of Ms Lagarde's candidacy.
European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso said Ms Lagarde had the "indispensable qualities to ensure the IMF's mission and its vital contribution to international economic stability".
Many European countries are especially keen to retain the post at a time when the IMF is deeply involved in the eurozone's debt crisis, with programmes for Greece, Ireland and Portugal.
Ms Lagarde said she had the full support of both French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois Fillon.
She stressed she was not leaving her post in the French government, merely announcing that she was running for the IMF job.
"There are other candidates and I am looking forward to a very good debate between us," she said.
So far, the only other official candidate is Agustin Carstens, the head of Mexico's central bank, after the Mexican finance ministry said on Monday that it would nominate him.
On Wednesday, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said both Ms Lagarde and Mr Carstens were "credible" candidates.
"They're very talented people. Christine Lagarde is an exceptionally capable person, and excellent mix of financial and economic knowledge, talent, and the kind of political skills you need. Agustin has that as well."
"We want to see a process where we look to the candidate who can command the broadest support."
Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty also praised the two "highly qualified" candidates.
Other names in the frame include Germany's former banking chief, Axel Weber, and former South African finance minister Trevor Manuel.
As well as being widely backed in Europe, Ms Lagarde is expected to receive the support of the US.
But Ms Lagarde said: "Being a European should not be a plus; it should not be a minus either."
On Tuesday, the French government also said that China would support Ms Lagarde's candidacy, although Beijing declined to comment.
And later on Tuesday, the so-called Brics countries - which includes China, as well as Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa - released a statement expressing concern at comments from senior Europeans that the IMF should continue to be led by a European.
But on Wednesday, Brazil's Finance Minister Guido Mantega said he welcomed competition for the top job.
According to Reuters, he said his country would seek commitments to bolster the role of emerging markets within the international institution.
In France, Ms Lagarde is involved in a legal row about her decision to settle a dispute between the state and tycoon Bernard Tapie, a personal friend of President Sarkozy.
Commenting on the judicial investigation currently taking place, Ms Lagarde said: "I have every confidence in the procedure because my conscience is at ease."
Ms Lagarde also paid tribute to the work done by Mr Strauss-Kahn.
"The IMF has taken up the challenges of the [financial] crisis thanks to the actions of the director general Dominique Strauss-Kahn and to his team as well." |
Add punctuation: In a speech on Saturday, the Cambridge University scientist is expected to accuse Jeremy Hunt of "cherry-picking" evidence to support his policies.
And he will also say he is concerned about the involvement of the private sector in the NHS in England.
But the government has defended its record on the health service.
A statement released by the Department of Health after the text of the speech was given to the BBC in advance, pointed out that extra money was being invested in the NHS and it had recently been ranked as a top-performing health system.
Prof Hawking, who has had motor neurone disease for most of his adult life that has impaired his movement and ability to speak, will deliver the speech at a conference at the Royal Society of Medicine in London organised to air concerns about the future of the NHS.
The author of A Brief History of Time, who is a Labour supporter, will say he has been motivated to speak because of the role the health service has played in his life, saying if it was not for the NHS he "wouldn't be here today".
In the speech, Prof Hawking will list a number of occasions on which the NHS was there for him.
They include an episode in 1985 when he caught pneumonia in Switzerland.
Doctors there suggested his ventilator be turned off to end his life, but his wife refused and he was flown back to Addenbrooke's hospital in Cambridge where he received treatment and recovered.
Fourteen years after that, he had pioneering throat reconstruction surgery in London after his condition worsened and he was struggling to eat and breathe.
"I have had a lot of experience of the NHS and the care I received has enabled me to live my life as I want and to contribute to major advances in our understanding of the universe," he will say, referring to his theories on black holes and the origin of the Universe.
His speech is then expected to list some of the developments in the NHS that concern him, including the move towards what he calls a "US-style insurance system".
He will say he believes there has been an increase in private provision of care, including the use of agency staff, that was leading to profit being extracted from the health service.
"The more profit is extracted from the system, the more private monopolies grow and the more expensive healthcare becomes. The NHS must be preserved from commercial interests and protected from those who want to privatise it," he will say.
He will also say that a publicly provided, publicly run system is the "most efficient" and so those who say we cannot afford the NHS are wrong.
"We cannot afford not to have the NHS," he will add.
The speech will also mention Mr Hunt by name, the BBC understands.
In a section about the move towards a seven-day NHS, Prof Hawking will say while he would like there to be more services available at weekends, the government has failed to carry out "proper due diligence", particularly with regard to whether there would be enough staff.
He is expected to quote from a letter he put his name to last year explaining how Mr Hunt "cherry-picked" research to put his case.
But the Department of Health responded by pointing out that the numbers of staff working in the NHS were increasing and it "makes no apology" for tackling the weekend effect.
The statement pointed out that only about 8% of NHS funding goes to the private sector.
It also goes on to point out that "despite being busy", the NHS had been ranked as the "best, safest and most affordable healthcare system out of 11 wealthy nations" in a recent study by the Commonwealth Fund.
"The government is fully committed to a world-class NHS, free at the point of use now and in the future - that's why we're backing it with an extra £8bn of investment over the next five years," the statement said. | In a speech on Saturday, the Cambridge University scientist is expected to accuse Jeremy Hunt of "cherry-picking" evidence to support his policies.
And he will also say he is concerned about the involvement of the private sector in the NHS in England.
But the government has defended its record on the health service.
A statement released by the Department of Health after the text of the speech was given to the BBC in advance, pointed out that extra money was being invested in the NHS and it had recently been ranked as a top-performing health system.
Prof Hawking, who has had motor neurone disease for most of his adult life that has impaired his movement and ability to speak, will deliver the speech at a conference at the Royal Society of Medicine in London organised to air concerns about the future of the NHS.
The author of A Brief History of Time, who is a Labour supporter, will say he has been motivated to speak because of the role the health service has played in his life, saying if it was not for the NHS he "wouldn't be here today".
In the speech, Prof Hawking will list a number of occasions on which the NHS was there for him.
They include an episode in 1985 when he caught pneumonia in Switzerland.
Doctors there suggested his ventilator be turned off to end his life, but his wife refused and he was flown back to Addenbrooke's hospital in Cambridge where he received treatment and recovered.
Fourteen years after that, he had pioneering throat reconstruction surgery in London after his condition worsened and he was struggling to eat and breathe.
"I have had a lot of experience of the NHS and the care I received has enabled me to live my life as I want and to contribute to major advances in our understanding of the universe," he will say, referring to his theories on black holes and the origin of the Universe.
His speech is then expected to list some of the developments in the NHS that concern him, including the move towards what he calls a "US-style insurance system".
He will say he believes there has been an increase in private provision of care, including the use of agency staff, that was leading to profit being extracted from the health service.
"The more profit is extracted from the system, the more private monopolies grow and the more expensive healthcare becomes. The NHS must be preserved from commercial interests and protected from those who want to privatise it," he will say.
He will also say that a publicly provided, publicly run system is the "most efficient" and so those who say we cannot afford the NHS are wrong.
"We cannot afford not to have the NHS," he will add.
The speech will also mention Mr Hunt by name, the BBC understands.
In a section about the move towards a seven-day NHS, Prof Hawking will say while he would like there to be more services available at weekends, the government has failed to carry out "proper due diligence", particularly with regard to whether there would be enough staff.
He is expected to quote from a letter he put his name to last year explaining how Mr Hunt "cherry-picked" research to put his case.
But the Department of Health responded by pointing out that the numbers of staff working in the NHS were increasing and it "makes no apology" for tackling the weekend effect.
The statement pointed out that only about 8% of NHS funding goes to the private sector.
It also goes on to point out that "despite being busy", the NHS had been ranked as the "best, safest and most affordable healthcare system out of 11 wealthy nations" in a recent study by the Commonwealth Fund.
"The government is fully committed to a world-class NHS, free at the point of use now and in the future - that's why we're backing it with an extra £8bn of investment over the next five years," the statement said. |
Add punctuation: The brief will be folded into an expanded Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy under Greg Clark.
Ed Miliband, the former energy and climate secretary under Labour, called the move "plain stupid".
It comes at a time when campaigners are urging the government to ratify the Paris climate change deal.
In his statement, Mr Clark appeared keen to calm concerns about the priority given to tackling global warming.
He said: "I am thrilled to have been appointed to lead this new department charged with delivering a comprehensive industrial strategy, leading Government's relationship with business, furthering our world-class science base, delivering affordable, clean energy and tackling climate change."
Meanwhile, Andrea Leadsom, who ran against Theresa May for the Conservative leadership, is the new Environment Secretary.
Ms Leadsom succeeds Liz Truss, who is taking over as Secretary of State for Justice after a two-year tenure at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
One of the most pressing items on the environment agenda is the ratification of the Paris climate deal, which was inked last year.
The climate "sceptic" group Global Warming Policy Forum has long demanded the demise of Decc, so alarm bells are ringing loudly for some green groups.
But in truth, the decision to subsume Decc into an expanded business department could be read as either a positive move for climate policy, or a negative one.
The Green Party and Friends of the Earth, for instance, see the move as potentially a major downgrade for climate as a government priority.
Decc has made the UK a world leader in climate policy, and scrapping the department removes the words "climate change" from the title of any department. Out of sight, out of mind, in the basement, perhaps.
But here's an opposite scenario: the UK is already bound by its Climate Change Act to step-by-step cuts in greenhouse gases through to 2050.
The new Defra Secretary Andrea Leadsom has re-iterated that there will be no deviation from long-term carbon targets.
Greg Clark, the man in charge of the expanded department, was a Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate and has written papers on achieving a Low Carbon Economy.
If you really intend climate change to drive an industrial transformation, why not embrace it within a powerful department that's developing the sort of industrial strategy needed to forge a genuine Low Carbon economy?
Mr Clark's opening remarks suggest this may be the case. But the department faces formidable problems getting the UK on track with its long-term carbon-cutting ambitions.
Decisions on Hinkley Point nuclear station and the government's Low Carbon strategy due later this year will offer genuine pointers to the significance of the death of Decc.
Labour's former leader and one-time climate secretary Ed Miliband has been among those urging the government the agreement as soon as possible.
Although the UK has signed up, it needs to formally join the agreement with a communication to the UN.
Mr Miliband had been concerned that "climate sceptics" might try to derail the deal if they gain positions of power in the new administration.
On the changes at DECC, he tweeted: "Abolition just plain stupid. Climate not even mentioned in new dept. title. Matters because depts shape priorities shape outcomes."
Friends of the Earth chief executive Craig Bennett described the news as "shocking".
"Less than a day into the job and it appears that the new Prime Minister has already downgraded action to tackle climate change, one of the biggest threats we face," he said.
"If Theresa May supports strong action on climate change, as she's previously said, it's essential that this is made a top priority for the new business and energy department and across government."
However, David Nussbaum, chief executive of WWF-UK, commented: "The new Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy can be a real powerhouse for change, joining up Whitehall teams to progress the resilient, sustainable, and low carbon infrastructure that we urgently need."
Dr Benny Peiser, director of the Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF), said: "Moving energy policy to the new Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy should give ministers a fresh impetus to ensure that the costs for consumers and businesses are driven down, not pushed further up."
One pressing item in Mr Clark's in-tray is the possible effect leaving the EU could have on the £18bn Hinkley Point nuclear power station project.
French energy giant EDF is a key investor in the project and there are concerns that the uncertainty over Brexit could undermine its commitment.
Speaking earlier, Angus Brendan MacNeil, chair of the Commons energy and climate select committee, has pointed out that pre-referendum, "EDF was investing in another EU member state". Now, he added, "that is no longer the case". However, EDF officials have said they remain committed to the project.
There will also be big changes to the way farming operates - something for Ms Leadsom's in-tray at Defra. The impact on food prices and the effects of losing direct subsidies are among the questions the department will need to address.
Follow Paul on Twitter. | The brief will be folded into an expanded Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy under Greg Clark.
Ed Miliband, the former energy and climate secretary under Labour, called the move "plain stupid".
It comes at a time when campaigners are urging the government to ratify the Paris climate change deal.
In his statement, Mr Clark appeared keen to calm concerns about the priority given to tackling global warming.
He said: "I am thrilled to have been appointed to lead this new department charged with delivering a comprehensive industrial strategy, leading Government's relationship with business, furthering our world-class science base, delivering affordable, clean energy and tackling climate change."
Meanwhile, Andrea Leadsom, who ran against Theresa May for the Conservative leadership, is the new Environment Secretary.
Ms Leadsom succeeds Liz Truss, who is taking over as Secretary of State for Justice after a two-year tenure at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
One of the most pressing items on the environment agenda is the ratification of the Paris climate deal, which was inked last year.
The climate "sceptic" group Global Warming Policy Forum has long demanded the demise of Decc, so alarm bells are ringing loudly for some green groups.
But in truth, the decision to subsume Decc into an expanded business department could be read as either a positive move for climate policy, or a negative one.
The Green Party and Friends of the Earth, for instance, see the move as potentially a major downgrade for climate as a government priority.
Decc has made the UK a world leader in climate policy, and scrapping the department removes the words "climate change" from the title of any department. Out of sight, out of mind, in the basement, perhaps.
But here's an opposite scenario: the UK is already bound by its Climate Change Act to step-by-step cuts in greenhouse gases through to 2050.
The new Defra Secretary Andrea Leadsom has re-iterated that there will be no deviation from long-term carbon targets.
Greg Clark, the man in charge of the expanded department, was a Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate and has written papers on achieving a Low Carbon Economy.
If you really intend climate change to drive an industrial transformation, why not embrace it within a powerful department that's developing the sort of industrial strategy needed to forge a genuine Low Carbon economy?
Mr Clark's opening remarks suggest this may be the case. But the department faces formidable problems getting the UK on track with its long-term carbon-cutting ambitions.
Decisions on Hinkley Point nuclear station and the government's Low Carbon strategy due later this year will offer genuine pointers to the significance of the death of Decc.
Labour's former leader and one-time climate secretary Ed Miliband has been among those urging the government the agreement as soon as possible.
Although the UK has signed up, it needs to formally join the agreement with a communication to the UN.
Mr Miliband had been concerned that "climate sceptics" might try to derail the deal if they gain positions of power in the new administration.
On the changes at DECC, he tweeted: "Abolition just plain stupid. Climate not even mentioned in new dept. title. Matters because depts shape priorities shape outcomes."
Friends of the Earth chief executive Craig Bennett described the news as "shocking".
"Less than a day into the job and it appears that the new Prime Minister has already downgraded action to tackle climate change, one of the biggest threats we face," he said.
"If Theresa May supports strong action on climate change, as she's previously said, it's essential that this is made a top priority for the new business and energy department and across government."
However, David Nussbaum, chief executive of WWF-UK, commented: "The new Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy can be a real powerhouse for change, joining up Whitehall teams to progress the resilient, sustainable, and low carbon infrastructure that we urgently need."
Dr Benny Peiser, director of the Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF), said: "Moving energy policy to the new Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy should give ministers a fresh impetus to ensure that the costs for consumers and businesses are driven down, not pushed further up."
One pressing item in Mr Clark's in-tray is the possible effect leaving the EU could have on the £18bn Hinkley Point nuclear power station project.
French energy giant EDF is a key investor in the project and there are concerns that the uncertainty over Brexit could undermine its commitment.
Speaking earlier, Angus Brendan MacNeil, chair of the Commons energy and climate select committee, has pointed out that pre-referendum, "EDF was investing in another EU member state". Now, he added, "that is no longer the case". However, EDF officials have said they remain committed to the project.
There will also be big changes to the way farming operates - something for Ms Leadsom's in-tray at Defra. The impact on food prices and the effects of losing direct subsidies are among the questions the department will need to address.
Follow Paul on Twitter. |