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The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said there was a small risk of severe allergic reactions and this outweighed any perceived benefits.
Some people take the tablets to reduce the severity of cold and flu.
The MHRA said it was a precautionary measure and older children and adults could continue to use echinacea.
It said young children were at heightened risk of allergic reactions such as rashes, hives, difficulty in breathing and even potentially fatal anaphylactic shock.
Richard Woodfield, the head of herbal policy at the MHRA, said: "This is not a serious safety issue, but parents and carers need to be aware that children under 12 could have a low risk of developing allergic reactions.
"The measures being taken are precautionary in nature. Parents should not worry if they have given echinacea to children under 12 in the past."
Licensed products containing echinacea, some of which are aimed at children, will have to be labelled with the warning. | The herbal remedy echinacea should not be given to children under 12, the UK's drugs watchdog has warned parents. | 2.533868 | 3 |
One hundred of those jobs are already in place as the company has been recruiting for almost a year.
Its main business is selling books and online materials to higher education students in the United States.
The company employs about 35,000 people worldwide.
Its UK operations include the Edexcel exam board.
The business has undergone significant restructuring in recent years, selling the Financial Times and its stake in The Economist.
The company has also moved to simplify its business operations and the Belfast investment is part of that process.
It said the Belfast centre was a "further significant step in a major efficiency drive".
Invest NI is supporting the centre with grants of £1.5m with a further £460,000 of skills training from the Department of the Economy. | Pearson, the education publisher, has formally opened a finance centre in Belfast which will employ up to 300 people. | 1.128672 | 1 |
But Europol's Rob Wainwright warned access to its intelligence and security to crack such cases would be put at risk if Britain left the EU.
He said it would become a second tier member like Norway and Iceland without access to Europol's database.
But a former UK government minister dismissed the concern.
Speaking to the BBC's Sunday Politics Wales, Mr Wainwright said: "On child sexual exploitation we've had some great success dismantling the criminal networks.... operating online."
He said Europol had co-ordinated 18 operations that involved the UK this year to close down child sexual exploitation networks - "three of those started in Wales".
Mr Wainwright was sure that Britain would negotiate access to some Europol systems, which he said allow police forces to share information, if it chose to leave the European Union.
But he added: "I can tell you in the case of Europol it would become a second tier member like Norway and Iceland is at the moment. It wouldn't have access to our database.
"So you're putting at risk I think or at least giving some uncertainty about whether you can continue to have these systems you're currently relying on."
But former Wales Office minister and intelligence officer Rod Richards said: "When it comes to accessing information, Britain, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are in the premier division of gathering top secret codeword intelligence.
"The rest of Europe is not in the same league as us at all.
"So they wouldn't really want to make it difficult for us because they'd be making it difficult for the Americans and the other members of the agreement that we have to share and work with each other's intelligence." | Three Welsh child sexual exploitation networks have been stopped this year by the European Union's law enforcement agency, its director has said. | 1.463923 | 1 |
The 18-year-old disappeared as she walked to her parents' house in Coventry in December 1991. Her body has never been found.
Nigel Barwell and his brother-in-law, Thomas O'Reilly, deny her murder.
Marilyn Payne said Nicola was looking forward to Christmas in a new home with her partner and son.
"She would never have left her son," she told jurors at Birmingham Crown Court.
The court has heard Miss Payne's family received a number of anonymous phone calls after her disappearance.
Marilyn Payne said they were made by one person, whom she described as being "very vicious".
Prosecutors allege Miss Payne was abducted and murdered as she crossed wasteland known as the Black Pad in Coventry.
Mr Barwell, of Copperas Street, and Mr O'Reilly, of Ribble Road, Coventry, are now aged 51, but were both 27 at the time of her disappearance, on 14 December 1991.
In evidence, Miss Payne's father, John, said it was unusual for her to walk to their house.
He told the court he first called her boyfriend, Jason Cook, when his daughter did not reach their home and then started to search for her.
The trial continues. | The mother of missing Nicola Payne has told a murder trial her daughter was a devoted mother who would never leave her young son. | 1.121564 | 1 |
His comments came after Greater Manchester's 10 councils agreed to the creation of a so-called "metro mayor" earlier this week.
But Mr Osborne stopped short of suggesting a figurehead for the entire West Midlands region.
Birmingham City Council leader Sir Albert Bore said he "welcomed the chancellor's interest".
The council said it had been holding talks regarding the creation of a combined authority with other local boroughs, which currently have their own separately-governed councils.
Mr Osborne said talks would need to take place with Birmingham's civic leaders and MPs over which plan to pursue.
He added the move to a mayoral model could be "perhaps just in the city", off the back of proposals to give cities greater freedoms and more powers.
During Treasury questions, Edgbaston Labour MP Gisela Stuart asked the chancellor what he regarded as the "optimum size" for metropolitan areas.
"In the West Midlands would you look for a greater Birmingham and the Black Country metropolitan area or for the entire West Midlands?" she said.
Mr Osborne said he did not think "any one area is the same as any other area".
"There was a specific model for Greater Manchester and the Greater Manchester councils have worked well together as a combined authority," he added.
"Clearly Birmingham City Council is much larger than Manchester City Council alone."
Sir Albert has previously said a combined West Midlands authority is the best way forward for the region.
"We are in the process of developing proposals for a combined authority that will represent an economic powerhouse to rival that of Greater Manchester and the North," he said. | Chancellor George Osborne has indicated Birmingham could get an elected mayor to preside over the city. | 1.488083 | 1 |
Cerberus took control of the loans last year as part of its £1bn purchase of Nama's Northern Ireland loan book.
McGinnis Group, owned by John McGinnis, has now agreed new finance with two lenders in Dublin and New York.
Mr McGinnis said the deal was a sign of "increased optimism and confidence in the local construction sector".
The new lender is a joint venture between Dublin-based Earlsfort Partners and New York investment fund Garrison.
Earlier this year, the same joint venture refinanced the Newry-based property firm Parker Green International.
A company such as Cerberus is not a long-term lender, and when it buys loans it will expect the borrowers to pay them back quickly by seeking new finance or selling assets.
Mr McGinnis said that while the Nama assets formed only part of his group's interests, the refinancing deal "provides a more positive platform from which to advance".
"In the most challenging of business conditions, McGinnis has been able to maintain much-needed jobs throughout the region but now will have greater opportunity to not only secure these jobs longer term but create more," he said.
"The deal also leaves McGinnis Group better placed to undertake new projects and create fresh developments to meet enhanced demand in a resurgent economy." | The County Londonderry-based housebuilder McGinnis Group has refinanced its loans that were held by the Cerberus investment fund. | 1.02172 | 1 |
The video sharing site released a list of the top ten most popular games that have been streamed since it started in 2005 and the virtual game came out on top.
It's now been watched more than any other game in YouTube's ten year history.
Minecraft videos on YouTube range from builders showing off their creations to explorers taking a look at other people's virtual worlds.
Ryan Wyatt, YouTube's global head of gaming content said: ``It's crazy because Minecraft' is also the second most searched term on YouTube."
He added: "It's a testament to Mojang (Minecraft's developers) understanding the marketing capacity and power of our content creators.''
Minecraft is set in a virtual world where players build with blocks of different materials.
The game was originally released by Swedish studio Mojang and its popularity has grown and grown since it was first launched in 2009.
The company has sold millions of copies of game in different formats and was bought by Microsoft for $2.5bn (£1.5bn) in September 2014.
The football simulator game FIFA, The Sims, League of Legends and Puzzle & Dragons also made the top ten list of most streamed games on YouTube. | Minecraft has become the most streamed game on YouTube with more than 42 million videos on the internet site. | 1.420247 | 1 |
Ibrahim Halawa was detained with three of his sisters when they were caught up in the Al-Fath mosque siege in Cairo in July 2013.
The women were allowed home to Dublin in November 2013, but their 19-year-old brother remains in prison.
He is facing charges, along with many others in Egypt, over the protests.
Mr Halawa is due to appear in court on Sunday.
On Thursday, his sister Somaia told BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme she welcomed Mr Greste's release, and said the journalist had helped keep her brother's spirit up in the cells.
"In his letters he sent us, he told us how Peter taught him to cook as before he couldn't do that, but he would say, 'Peter taught me to do this, to do that'," she said.
"It was really great to have Peter inside with him."
Ms Halawa said her brother's prolonged detention had proved a difficult time for the family, and said Ibrahim's mental state was deteriorating by the day.
"He is very depressed, he doesn't want to see anyone, he doesn't know what's going to happen to him tomorrow," she said.
"We're on bail so we cannot visit Egypt, so if he's sentenced to however many years, we will not obviously be able to see him."
If convicted by an Egyptian court, Mr Halawa could face anywhere from six months in jail to the death penalty.
The Halawa siblings are Irish citizens whose family moved to the Republic of Ireland a year before Ibrahim Halawa was born.
Their father, Sheikh Hussein Halawa, is the Republic of Ireland's most senior Muslim cleric.
The family lives in south County Dublin, where Mr Halawa is the imam at Ireland's biggest mosque, in Clonskeagh.
The Irish government has provided diplomatic support to the family since the four were arrested by the Egyptian authorities on 17 August 2013 and campaigned for their release.
Ms Halawa told the BBC her family still feels the government should be doing more to free her brother, in light of Mr Greste's release from prison last weekend.
She said: "We appreciate everything the government has being doing, but we still believe it can do more, use its power to release Ibrahim in the same way Australia has done with Peter.
"I want Ibrahim home, I don't feel I was released from jail because I just feel my soul is still there with my brother." | An Irish teenager who has spent over a year in jail in Egypt shared a cell with freed Australian journalist Peter Greste, according to his family. | 1.690372 | 2 |
The Englishman, ranked 83rd in the world, tied for second at his home club Woburn to qualify alongside Toby Tree and winner Shiv Kapur.
"Going back to Birkdale after what happened in 2008 is special," said 41-year-old Poulter.
The Open will take place from 20-23 July.
Ryder Cup veteran Poulter was in danger of losing his PGA Tour card this year because he failed to earn the required points or prize money in the 10 events covered by his medical exemption following a foot injury.
However, a rule change allowed him to retain it for the remainder of the season.
Five events were held across the UK to fill the final 15 places at the Open.
At Gailes Links in Ayrshire, 21-year-old Scottish amateur Connor Syme on four under par shared top spot with American Julian Suri, with Australia's Ryan McCarthy taking the last place after a four-man play-off.
England's Matthew Southgate booked his ticket for the third time in four years thanks to a second straight victory at Royal Cinque Ports in Kent. Rounds of 71 and 65 saw Southgate finish three shots clear of Robert Dinwiddie, with Canada's Austin Connelly claiming the final place after a four-man play-off.
Haydn McCullen, 20, carded a course record of 64 to lead an English one-two-three at Hillside in Southport ahead of Nicholas McCarthy and Adam Hodkinson.
There were three more English qualifiers at Notts Hollinwell after Mark Foster and Joe Dean tied for first on 10 under par and Laurie Canter emerged from a three-man play-off on seven under. | Ian Poulter, the 2008 Open Championship runner-up, came through final qualifying to reach this year's tournament at Royal Birkdale. | 0.865853 | 1 |
On Tuesday, the DUP's Trevor Clarke admitted he did not know heterosexual people could contract HIV until a charity explained the facts to him.
Sir Elton was appearing on the Victoria Derbyshire programme on Friday.
She asked him about his charity foundation and a survey that showed many myths about Aids and HIV endure in the UK.
"I'm not surprised," Sir Elton replied. "A Northern Ireland politician said the other day he didn't know that heterosexual people could get Aids, or HIV.
"So, it's like: 'What planet are you living on?'"
Sir Elton did not refer to Mr Clarke by name.
Mr Clarke made the admission in a Northern Ireland Assembly debate calling for a new HIV awareness campaign.
He was later accused of "unconscious homophobia" by Foyle MLA Eamonn McCann.
This was after Mr Clarke claimed an amendment by Mr McCann, stressing the disproportionate impact on gay and bisexual men, added to "stigma" on HIV.
Addressing the assembly, Mr Clarke said: "When I came here in 2007, I would have dismissed the possibility that I would speak about HIV today, because I was one of those who did not understand the stigma attached to it."
The DUP MLA added: "I have to put on record my thanks to Jacquie Richardson from Positive Life. Meeting her for the first time was a turning point for me, having been ignorant of the fact that the disease also affects heterosexual people.
"For that reason, I have no difficulty supporting what the motion calls for," he said. "The work that Positive Life did in changing my opinion - not only my opinion but that of many others - helped to remove the stigma." | Sir Elton John has criticised comments about Aids by a Northern Irish politician. | 1.812145 | 2 |
Pallas's cats are found in Iran, Mongolia and China.
David Barclay, of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), has been in contact with a researcher in Iran since 2013.
In a new development, an abandoned Pallas's cat kitten could be radio-collared for the first time in Iran.
Efforts to capture images of the animals in Iran using camera traps have been unsuccessful so far.
Mr Barclay said putting a radio collar on a young cat and releasing it back into the wild could help uncover new information on the cats.
He said: "Should this happen we will be in a position to offer financial support and gain a valuable insight into the behaviour and ecology of Pallas's cats in their western range."
RZSS is also supporting a new Pallas's cat research project in the central Alborz Mountains of Iran.
Mr Barclay said: "It is clear that interest in the species is growing not just in range countries but throughout the zoo world.
"It is an exciting time for Pallas's cats and as long as I am breathing I will continue to support the conservation and research efforts and wave the Pallas's cat flag."
RZSS has Pallas's cats in its collection at its Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig near Aviemore.
They are also known as Manul, steppe and rock wildcat.
They are classed as "near-threatened", according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
The break up of their habitats are one of the biggest threats to the species. | Wild cat experts from Scotland are working with counterparts in the Middle East to better understand one of the world's rarest and most elusive cats. | 2.786853 | 3 |
The incident happened at Unst harbour about 06:50. There were no passengers on board, only four crew members and no-one was injured.
There was no loss of fuel from the vessel.
The ferry is currently alongside in Unst with the fire brigade pumping out water which was taken on board during the accident. | Shetland Coastguard was called out after the inter-island ferry hit rocks on its way from Yell to Unst. | 0.509392 | 1 |
The woman was assaulted in Christchurch Road, Boscombe, near the Royal Arcade and Aldi supermarket between 03:45 and 04:15 GMT on Thursday, Dorset Police said.
The attacker has been described as black and 5ft 6in tall.
A 23-year-old man from Southwark, London has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.
Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Det Con Neil Third said: "I know members of the public often travel through the precinct at the time of the reported incident and I would urge anyone who saw a man matching the description given to please call 101." | A man has been man arrested after a woman was raped in a shopping precinct in Bournemouth. | 0.590741 | 1 |
The 30-year-old will join the club's Marbella training camp on Friday after completing a deal worth £5.5m that could rise to £7m if Boro are promoted.
Downing, capped 35 times by England, left the Riverside for Aston Villa in July 2009, before moving to Liverpool.
"Nobody expected him to come here," said Boro boss Aitor Karanka.
"He wants to be here and is completely committed to the club and the team. It's an amazing signing for us. He's more than just a player."
New West Ham boss Slaven Bilic said on Thursday night that he wanted to keep Downing at Upton Park and that he "was counting on him big time."
Downing, who joined the Hammers in 2013 and made 37 league appearances last season, said there were "other options on the table" but it was "great to be back home".
He added: "I always said I wanted to come back to this club. I didn't put a time limit on it, but now the circumstances are right.
"It would be the biggest achievement of my career if I could help us get back into the Premier League."
Since making his professional debut for the Teessiders in May 2002, he has made 493 appearances in all competitions, scoring 50 goals.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Woodgate, 35, has agreed a deal to remain with Boro after considering retirement at the end of last season.
Karanka said: "He knows his role will be a bit different. He wants to come here to help us get promotion."
Middlesbrough narrowly missed out on the Premier League last season as they were beaten by Norwich City in the Championship play-off final at Wembley in May. | Winger Stewart Downing has rejoined hometown club Middlesbrough on a four-year deal, stepping down a division from Premier League side West Ham. | 0.979647 | 1 |
The visitors led when Jordan White scored his first goal of the season.
Liam Nolan equalised when Wrexham failed to clear a corner, before Delial Brewster slotted home before the interval following Nolan's pass.
John Rooney then smashed home a penalty for Wrexham on 66 minutes after Ryan Higgins fouled Gerry McDonough, before Nolan's late stunner settled matters.
Wrexham manager Dean Keates told BBC Radio Wales Sport: "We shot ourselves in the foot three times.
"Possibly a draw would have been fair, but we were not streetwise enough and we didn't weather the storm.
"All being well we will strengthen the squad in January, we need one or two additions this week.
"One player turned us down last week, but all being well, we will get one in this week."
Match ends, Southport 3, Wrexham 2.
Second Half ends, Southport 3, Wrexham 2.
Substitution, Wrexham. Hamza Bencherif replaces Leo Smith.
Goal! Southport 3, Wrexham 2. Liam Nolan (Southport).
John Rooney (Wrexham) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution, Southport. Ben McKenna replaces Delial Brewster.
Declan Weeks (Southport) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution, Southport. Rory McKeown replaces Aaron Jones.
Goal! Southport 2, Wrexham 2. John Rooney (Wrexham) converts the penalty with a.
Substitution, Southport. James Caton replaces Jamie Allen.
Substitution, Wrexham. Chris Dunn replaces Shwan Jalal.
Second Half begins Southport 2, Wrexham 1.
First Half ends, Southport 2, Wrexham 1.
Delial Brewster (Southport) is shown the yellow card.
Goal! Southport 2, Wrexham 1. Delial Brewster (Southport).
Goal! Southport 1, Wrexham 1. Liam Nolan (Southport).
Substitution, Wrexham. Callum Powell replaces Paul Rutherford.
Josh Thompson (Southport) is shown the yellow card.
Goal! Southport 0, Wrexham 1. Jordan White (Wrexham).
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up. | Southport avenged their Boxing Day defeat at the Racecourse by winning a thriller against Wrexham. | 0.79434 | 1 |
The UK's bank branch network has halved to just over 8,000 in the past 25 years with more set to close, the Federation of Small Business (FSB) said.
It said that companies were being let down as they valued face-to-face interaction with staff.
A protocol among banks regarding branch closures is currently being reviewed.
FSB chairman Mike Cherry said that many small businesses needed over-the-counter banking facilities.
"Our members highly value the face-to-face interaction they receive in-branch, particularly when making complex financial transactions, with staff who often have a greater understanding of their business and the local economy," he said.
He added that the main reason for branch closures - the popularity of digital banking - presented its own challenges.
"Small businesses are keen to embrace the opportunities of the digital economy," he said.
"However, barriers towards digital inclusion, such as unreliable broadband connectivity and a lack of confidence in using digital services, create serious challenges."
A review is currently being conducted into the agreement signed by banks over what they should consider before closing the last bank branch in a town or village.
Banks must think about the proximity of alternative branches as part of a 12-week consultation before a closure. Proximity can be very different, depending on the mobility of customers, ranging from young car drivers to older people reliant on public transport, so the age profile of the branch's customers will be part of the review.
However, under the current agreement - which was signed by banks, the government and consumer groups - there is no punishment if banks fail to provide alternatives when the last branch closes.
The Campaign for Community Banking Services says many hundreds of communities in the UK have lost all their banks. | Small businesses - many of which deal in cash and cheques - face "tough challenges" owing to the closure of bank branches, a lobby group has said. | 1.804814 | 2 |
The city council said it had earned £4.72m between April 2016 and April 2017.
The RAC Foundation warned money being made from fines should not be seen as "a mark of success".
But the local authority stressed provisional figures showed it made just £390,325 profit, as the majority of the money went on enforcement costs.
According to the council, the average amount of money made in each quarter was £1.2m.
It received the most income between October and December 2016, a total of £1.4m.
A spokesman from the RAC Foundation said: "Councils shouldn't regard large sums of money being made from fines as a mark of success but possibly a symptom of things going wrong.
"Are the rules imposed on drivers fair and transparent? Why are so many motorists finding themselves on the wrong side of the law?
"It is hard to believe that people entering the city are purposefully setting out to wrack up big fines."
Matthew Wakelam, the council's head of infrastructure and operations, who manages the scheme, said the costs to deliver services were "often overlooked".
"These provisional figures - which will be audited - clearly show that the net financial gain for the last year is well under half a million pounds," he said.
"We ask all road users to abide by the Highway Code so we can keep Cardiff moving, reduce congestion and further improve public transport infrastructure across the city." | Drivers in Cardiff have been fined more than £4.5m for parking and motoring offences in the last year. | 1.475153 | 1 |
Police say the majority of issues were reported on Tuesday in the centre of Lowestoft, including around Whapload Road and Battery Green Road.
Devices can be bought which block signals for remote central locking, leaving a vehicle unlocked.
Suffolk Police said the source of the problem "had not yet been identified".
A spokesman said: "Owners of various makes of vehicle have reported experiencing problems, which include either being unable to lock their vehicles remotely and secure vehicles becoming unlocked."
The force advised people to manually lock their vehicles.
Michael Hollidge, who works nearby, said he regularly checked on his parked car since experiencing the problem.
"It's locking one minute, then it's not the next," he said.
"I try it with my key and the key's not working.
"I don't know what it is."
Driver Duncan Cole said he feared his insurance would not be valid if his car was unlocked at the pay-and-display car park, and so decided to return home.
Ofcom, the government agency with responsibility for radio communications, said it was keen to receive complaints about problems with electronic key fobs, which it could then investigate, but had so far received no complaints.
Similar issues in Southampton were found to be due to interference from a resident's faulty device which transmits a TV signal to other sets in the home.
BBC reporter Kim Riley visited a car park in Whapload Road earlier on Wednesday and said he was "rather sceptical" that there was any truth to the reports.
"Then something rather strange started happening," he said. "The key was still in the ignition and suddenly the car started to lock itself, and a few seconds later the alarm triggered.
"There is something in this.
"Police are taking a keen interest, and indeed officers came over to speak to us after a member of the public reported someone looking suspicious, sitting in a car, tapping away on a laptop.
"Fortunately I was able to do some smooth talking and satisfy them that it was only cameraman Shaun Whitmore, busy editing my report for tonight's BBC Look East." | About 50 drivers have reported being unable to remotely lock their cars, possibly due to someone using a signal jammer in part of Suffolk. | 1.385727 | 1 |
New signing Joe Mason poked the hosts ahead after Bolton keeper Ben Amos did not hold Bjorn Sigurdarson's shot.
Liam Feeney fired just over as Bolton dominated the rest of the first half.
James Henry cut inside and fired in to double Wolves' lead after the break, before Silva's header and Dobbie's free-kick earned the visitors a point.
Dobbie's goal was fortunate, deflecting off a player in the wall, but Bolton side were good value for the draw having controlled much of the game.
Mason scored on his Wolves debut inside three minutes with the hosts' first attack of the game, reacting quickly to prod home from the centre of the box.
Neil Lennon's side struggled to get shots on target despite having much of the possession thereafter, but Silva tested Carl Ikeme from distance just before the break.
Josh Vela drew Ikeme into another save as Bolton continued to press after half-time before Henry looked to have secured his side three points when he drifted in from the right to shoot left-footed into the far corner.
Media playback is not supported on this device
But an unmarked Silva took advantage of poor defending to head in Vela's cross, and Dobbie's right-footed strike earned the Championship's bottom side a much-needed point.
Wolves head coach Kenny Jackett:
"We need a heck of a run [to make the play-offs] and we know that. There are some very good sides ahead of us. So, we're looking at not a point gained, but two dropped.
"Bolton were in the ascendancy for too much of the game and I accept that.
"Having said that we were ahead early on and then we got a very good second goal.
"When you get into that type of position, you should be able to see it out."
Bolton manager Neil Lennon:
"It was an outstanding performance. I thought we dominated the game for long periods and I couldn't believe that we went 2-0 down.
"We thoroughly deserved a point out of the game and I got everything that I wanted from the performance.
"It gives us a huge lift going into a big game against Rotherham.
"It was important that we got something from this game in hand. Now we have to follow it up with hopefully a win at the weekend." | Late goals from Wellington Silva and Stephen Dobbie helped Championship strugglers Bolton come from behind to draw against Wolves at Molineux. | 0.832471 | 1 |
On Friday, the Court of Appeal ruled the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) did not have jurisdiction over the purchase of three ferries.
Eurotunnel bought the three ships from SeaFrance in 2012, when it went bust.
The CMA is asking the Supreme Court to rule that the acquisition by Eurotunnel should be treated as a merger.
The authority said it is seeking permission to appeal against the decision announced by the Court of Appeal on Friday.
The CMA says Eurotunnel has more than half the market share of Channel crossings with its rail services and MyFerryLink service between Dover and Calais.
MyFerryLink has been running up to 24 daily crossings using the three former SeaFrance ships.
In January, Eurotunnel was told it must cease its MyFerryLink cross Channel service following a ruling by the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
Court of Appeal judges overturned the decision on Friday with a two-to-one majority verdict. | The competition authority says it is looking to take the legal wrangle over Eurotunnel's cross-Channel ferry service to the Supreme Court. | 1.302179 | 1 |
Kingston Crown Court heard Runa Khan, 34, of Maple Road West, Luton, sent messages about the route from Turkey to Syria to an undercover police officer.
She pleaded guilty to four charges of disseminating terrorist publications between July and September 2013.
She is due to be sentenced on 9 September.
The court heard the mother of six posted a picture on Facebook of a suicide vest with the words "sacrifice your life to be in Islam" in July last year.
The court was told that in September she posted: "Sisters, if you love your sons, husbands and brothers, prove it by sending them to fight for Allah.
"Don't you want them to enter Jannah. Don't you want them to prepare for you a palace in Jannah."
The next day she posted: "Sisters' role in jihad off the battlefield", the court heard.
The hearing was also told that on 13 September Khan sent messages to an undercover officer describing a path into war-torn Syria and the name of a group in the country to join.
It heard she received details of the route from Mohammed Nahin Ahmed, who has admitted spending eight months in Syria fighting alongside an al Qaeda-linked terrorist group.
Ahmed and childhood friend Yusuf Zubair Sarwar, both 22, from Birmingham, went to the country last May after contacting Islamic extremists.
They each pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court to one count of engaging in preparation of terrorism acts, earlier this month.
Prosecutor Christopher Hehir said Khan had previously been of good character, but last week accepted a police caution for common assault.
She was granted bail with conditions including not to use Facebook "in any shape or form". | A woman has admitted inciting terrorism in Syria by posting a picture of a suicide vest and messaging details of a route into the country on Facebook. | 1.187732 | 1 |
The film took £4.5m between Friday and Sunday, about a third of the amount taken the previous weekend (£13.5m).
After 10 days, it has grossed £25.24m, overtaking The Wolf of Wall Street (£22.70m) to be the biggest 18 certificate film at the UK box office.
Disney animation Big Hero 6 came in second with £2.58m.
Aardman's Shaun the Sheep was not far behind with box office receipts totalling £2.42m.
Matthew Vaughn's Kingsman: The Secret Service, written by the director and Jane Goldman - writer of numerous screenplays including Kick-Ass and the Woman in Black and who is also wife to Jonathan Ross - took fourth spot with £1.2m.
The chart's highest new entry was The Wedding Ringer, which rounded up the top five with just under £1m in takings.
Teen sci-fi film Project Almanac was another new entry at six.
It was a similar tale for Fifty Shades at the North American box office, where it took an estimated $23.2m (£15m) over the weekend to stay top of the chart, despite takings falling by 73% from its record-breaking $85m (£55m) holiday debut.
The adaptation of EL James's best-selling erotic novel is directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and stars Jamie Dorman and Dakota Johnson.
James's trilogy of Fifty Shades books have reportedly sold more than 100 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 50 languages. | Fifty Shades of Grey has remained top of the UK box office in its second week, despite taking approximately £9m less than over its opening weekend. | 0.89394 | 1 |
Mr Rees, who was born in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, won Tony and Olivier awards in 1982 for his title role in the The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.
He played millionaire Robin Colcord in 1980s comedy Cheers and Lord John Marbury in US political drama The West Wing from 2000 to 2005.
Mr Rees had lived in America for 25 years and died after a short illness.
He played a love interest to Cheers' Rebecca Howe, played by Kirstie Alley.
She tweeted: "He is the sweetest man in the world! Lucky to have had him as a friend and to have worked beside such greatness."
His other credits include an appearance as the Sheriff of Rottingham in Mel Brooks' slapstick comedy Robin Hood: Men in Tights and Sherlock Holmes in a 1988 adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Actor and director Samuel West tweeted: "Woke to the sad news of Roger Rees's death".
Choreographer Matthew Bourne wrote on Twitter: "RIP #RogerRees - a lovely, generous & kind man & an heroic & passionate actor. We all fell in love with him in #NicholasNickleby so sad."
Musician Rick Wakeman added: "Very sad to learn of the passing of Roger Rees. I saw him last year at a Water Rats Lodge. A truly lovely man and very talented too."
Mr Rees spent most of his childhood in south London where he acted in church and Boy Scout stage productions before studying art and painting.
His first job in show business was as a scenery painter before he turned to acting full-time in the mid 1960s.
Mr Rees's stage roles included playing Gomez Addams in a 2011 musical of The Addams Family and starring as Vladimir alongside Sir Ian McKellen in Waiting for Godot.
He lived in New York City with husband, playwright Rick Elice, whom he had been in a relationship with since 1982. | Welsh actor Roger Rees, star of Cheers and The West Wing, has died aged 71. | 1.163212 | 1 |
The Met is assessing the harvesting of postal votes in the east London borough and improper distribution of election literature, according to The Guardian.
The poll was called after mayor Lutfur Rahman was convicted of electoral fraud and removed from office in April.
Mr Rahman has been banned from standing again.
One of his aides, Alibor Choudhury, who was the councillor for the Stepney ward, was also found guilty of corrupt and illegal practices and ordered to vacate his seat in April.
Voters in the that ward will also be voting for a new councillor.
A Met Police spokesman said: "We are assessing 16 allegations of electoral malpractice, relating to the upcoming election on 11 June."
The full list of Tower Hamlets mayoral candidates is: | Officers are investigating 16 allegations of electoral malpractice in relation to this Thursday's Tower Hamlets election, police have said. | 0.719493 | 1 |
The A9 drops from 150m (492ft) to 20m (65ft) as it enters a valley at the Berriedale Braes.
Caithness Chamber of Commerce said it was taking too long starting construction work on the improvements and the problem was being ignored.
Transport Scotland said it was continuing to progress the design work.
The A9 provides a link to the far north mainland coast and the ferry services at Scrabster, Gills Bay and John O'Groats to Orkney.
Chamber chief executive Trudy Morris said: "For too long, the Scottish government has ignored the impact the Berriedale Braes has on those living and working in the North of Scotland and Orkney Isles."
She added: "While progress has been made in identifying a solution to this important issue, we are disappointed that the Scottish government is dragging its heels in moving towards a practical implementation of this.
"The project as it stands is effectively shovel-ready - all that remains is for Scottish government to commit the funding."
Last year, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce called for work to tackle the bend to be accelerated.
Government agency Transport Scotland said a significant step in the project should be taken later this year.
A spokeswoman said: "We are continuing to progress the design work for the Berriedale Braes improvement scheme following the publication of draft orders last year.
"We are currently working to resolve objections to the scheme and subject to completion of the statutory process we will look to publish made orders later this year."
Made orders mark the last stage in the development of a final design for a new road. | The Scottish government has been accused of "dragging its heels" on proposed improvements to a challenging hairpin bend on the A9 in Caithness. | 1.470089 | 1 |
Carroll, 24, joined Swansea for £4.5m in January to end a 16 year association with Tottenham.
The Swans, one place and one point above the Premier League relegation zone, host Spurs on Wednesday evening.
"It will feel a bit strange for me playing them because I was there from the age of eight," Carroll said.
"Even though I have had loan spells, including here at Swansea, obviously you are not allowed to play against your parent club.
"But I am looking forward to it because it is such an important game.
"They are pushing for the title and we are fighting ourselves. Anything can happen at this time of year.
"We have seen a fair few times that the sides at the top of the table can be upset, and we will be looking to do that ourselves having done it against Liverpool."
Carroll made his Spurs debut at the age of 19, but he found it difficult to establish himself as a first-team regular.
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Over half of his 25 starts came in the Europa League and he had various loan spells, including a successful stay at Swansea in the 2014-15 season, to gain first-team experience.
Carroll featured in exactly half of Tottenham's 38 Premier League games last season, albeit making only four starts for Mauricio Pochettino's side.
He has played all nine games since rejoining the Welsh club during the January transfer window a said he "loved it" at the Liberty Stadium.
"I am improving as a player every week and I have been happy with some of my performances," Carroll added.
"I realise there is a lot of improving to do, but it has been good.
"At the start of January we were rock bottom, so we have come a long way under the new gaffer.
"We have picked up a lot of points and we are looking forward to finishing the job." | Swansea City midfielder Tom Carroll says he will find it strange trying to dent former club Tottenham's Premier League title hopes. | 0.879871 | 1 |
Jessie Bellham admitted stealing the £48.99 blind from the Dunelm Mill store in St James Retail Park, Northampton, last October.
He was given a 12-month order for burglary by Northampton Crown Court.
Bellham, of Chaucer Street, must carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and also spend 20 days in rehabilitation for drug dependency.
Pictures of the 39-year-old leaving the shop with the stolen shade tucked into his clothing attracted global attention.
The item was found abandoned by shop staff on a nearby canal path, shortly after the theft. | A thief who stole a Venetian blind by stuffing it in his trousers and jacket has been given a community order. | 1.162039 | 1 |
First Minister Arlene Foster said the terms for an independent inquiry were worked out in consultation with the attorney general.
She said they were sent to Sinn Féin who, so far, had not responded.
However, Sinn Féin's MLA Conor Murphy said they were "insufficient".
"There has been no agreement with the DUP on the terms of reference of an independent investigation," he said.
"In order to restore public confidence in the political institutions we need an independent investigation, which is robust, transparent, timeframed and led by a senior judicial figure from outside the jurisdiction and with the power to compel witnesses and subpoena documents.
"Arlene Foster should step aside to facilitate that investigation pending a preliminary report."
Set up in November 2012, the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme was an attempt by the Northern Ireland Executive to help to increase consumption of heat from renewable sources.
It is approximately £490m over budget as businesses were receiving more in subsidies than they were paying for renewable fuel and the scheme became heavily oversubscribed. | Sinn Féin has said terms of reference drawn up by the head of the civil service for an investigation into the RHI debacle are short of what is required. | 1.640175 | 2 |
The fire broke out in the ground-floor flat in Baird Crescent, Leven, at about 11:10.
Police said they were trying to identify the person found in the house.
A spokesman appealed for anyone who was in the area at the time who may have information to contact them.
"Inquires are at an early stage but following a joint assessment of the house by the police and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, along with an investigation into the circumstances leading up to the fire being discovered, this would appear to be a tragic accident with no suspicious circumstances," the spokesman said.
"We are continuing to make inquiries to identify the person found within the house.
In a separate incident, a man was rescued by firefighters from a bungalow in Sydney Park, Edinburgh, just after 08:30 and taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. | Police have said a fire at a flat in Fife, in which a person died, appears to have been a "tragic accident" | 0.663078 | 1 |
The American struck five consecutive birdies from the 10th hole to move to six under in Old Westbury, New York.
He is joined by Dustin Johnson (69), Rickie Fowler (66) and Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas (65), one shot ahead of Matt Kuchar (64) and Bubba Watson (68).
Rory McIlroy followed up his first-round 73 with a 68 to go to one over.
England's Justin Rose, who carded a second successive 68, is one of three players on four under, along with American first-round leader Russell Henley (72) and Spain's Jon Rahm (68).
Another Englishman, Paul Casey, is on three under after also carding 68 in the first of the PGA Tour's four FedEx Cup play-off events. | A superb putting display from Jordan Spieth saw him card a five-under 65 and move into a four-way tie for the lead at halfway in the Northern Trust. | 0.732245 | 1 |
25 January 2017 Last updated at 11:04 GMT
Basil has befriended the lifeboat crew at Spurn Point.
Although he's not kept as a pet, the wild animal often pops by to say hello.
As you can see he's not camera shy, in fact staff say he's nearly as tame as a dog! | Watch Basil the fox in action, he's the new mascot of a RNLI Yorkshire lifeboat station. | 0.744423 | 1 |
The bank's chief executive officer David Duffy marked this year's Burns Night celebrations by officially signing the first note.
It features the Bard on the front and views of Edinburgh and its castle on the reverse.
The plastic notes are said to last 2.5 times longer than paper banknotes.
They have also been found to be cleaner and more secure.
They will survive a spin in a washing machine but will still melt under extreme heat such as an iron.
Last year the Clydesdale Bank brought a fully plastic note into circulation in the UK for the first time with limited edition £5 notes.
The Royal Bank of Scotland and the Bank of Scotland are also making the transition from paper to plastic notes.
Mr Duffy said: "It's a very exciting time for Clydesdale Bank and signing the new £10 note featuring Robert Burns underpins our commitment to building a strong stand-alone bank based here in Scotland that can provide a real challenge to the big UK banks.
"It's a privilege to see my signature alongside his portrait."
Clydesdale Bank is the largest issuer by volume of notes in Scotland. It introduces around £400 million worth of new notes every year. | A new Clydesdale Bank £10 polymer note will go into production later this year and should be ready for circulation in 2017. | 1.692617 | 2 |
Monmouth's Ancre Hill Estates supplies wholesaler Passion Vins in Pessac and it is also on show at Bordeaux's new wine attraction, La Cite Du Vin.
There are about 17 vineyards in Wales and the nation produces around 100,000 bottles of wine annually.
Wales beat Slovakia 2-1 in Bordeaux on Saturday in the Euro 2016 championship.
And off the pitch La Cite du Vin will be pitting the Welsh wine against a Slovakian opponent in a tasting "battle".
Mr Deltil said he "didn't know a lot" about Welsh wines two months ago, but after some online research he discovered Ancre Hill, which has been producing for 10 years.
He tried the firm's Blanc de Blancs 2009 and thought it was "very good", before making a modest first order.
"In France nobody knows Wales produces wine and wine of such quality," he said.
Richard Morris, of Ancre Hill, said the amount of business he gets from Bordeaux is very small at the moment but called it a "foot in the door".
He believes it is a sign of Welsh wine gaining ground and thinks the acreage of vineyards in Wales will have grown by 50% from 2014 to 2017.
Production of wine from Welsh vineyards is up 70% in the last decade. | While Wales' football team is hoping 2016 will be a vintage year, the nation's wine is also vying for recognition in Bordeaux. | 1.520676 | 2 |
A Pentagon official said about 50 Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired at a Syrian air base.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad should have no role in a future Syria.
His comments signalled a sudden shift in policy by the new US administration. | The US has carried out a missile attack against targets in Syria in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack on a rebel-held town. | 1.085354 | 1 |
Paul Hay, 51, of Innerleithen, pleaded guilty to the breach of the peace at the property in Horsburgh Street.
He admitted threatening others with violence, setting fire to the stairs and brandishing a can of petrol and two blow torches in September last year.
Sheriff Peter Paterson said the supervision order was a direct alternative to a prison sentence.
Selkirk Sheriff Court heard Hay also threw items from the house and threatened to kill police officers during the incident.
Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said a build-up of pressures over the past 12 months had got on top of his client. | A man who admitted setting fire to his own home with a blow-torch has been given a three-year supervision order. | 0.418405 | 0 |
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The Scot was in the stands, serving a one-match suspension, as he watched his 10 men win 2-1 at Bournemouth.
"This is for the manager and fans, who are unbelievable," said Defoe who scored the winner from the spot.
Anichebe added: "He's the one who has been getting the blame, even though we are the ones on the pitch."
The striker, who played under Moyes at Everton, said: "You could see by the reaction at the final whistle, we have wanted this result for so long. It was a must-win game and even when we were down to 10 men, we didn't sulk we grinded it out."
The Nigerian forward equalised in the first half after Dan Gosling had give the Cherries an early lead. However, the Wearsiders found themselves down to 10 men when midfielder Steven Pienaar was shown a second yellow card in the 59th minute.
Sunderland continued to press after the break and won a penalty when Anichebe was fouled by Adam Smith. Defoe fired in against his former club in the 74th minute and the visitors survived late pressure to secure a valuable three points.
They remain bottom of the table but are now only five points shy of 17th place West Brom.
"It is a big relief - I never had any questions over the support of the owner or board," said Moyes. | Sunderland's goalscorers Jermain Defoe and Victor Anichebe dedicated the club's first league victory of the season to manager David Moyes. | 0.97408 | 1 |
The 30-year-old will also miss the friendly in France on 13 June.
A Football Association statement said Vardy suffered the problem in training on Tuesday.
Manager Gareth Southgate will not call up a replacement, with Jermain Defoe, Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford the strikers in the squad.
England are four points clear of Slovakia at the top of Group F after five of the 10 games. | Striker Jamie Vardy has withdrawn from the England squad for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Scotland at Hampden with a "minor injury". | 0.561133 | 1 |
The Fusilier Museum in Bury, Greater Manchester, wants to show the medals in 2015 on the centenary of the landings.
It owns two and has been loaned three, but the remaining VC, won by a major from East Sussex, was last heard of at auction in the 1980s.
Col Brian Gorski said finding it would be the "last piece of the puzzle".
He added that the hope was to "re-unite" the VC, won by Maj Cuthbert Bromley, with the other five medals "so we can tell their story to this generation".
The major, who had been temporarily promoted from captain, received Britain's highest award for bravery along with Cpl John Grimshaw, Pte William Keneally, Sgt Alfred Richards, Sgt Frank Stubbs and Capt Richard Willis in recognition for their actions when the 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers landed at Gallipoli in Turkey on the morning of 25 April 1915.
The battalion lost more than half of its men as they landed on W Beach, which was later renamed Lancashire Landing.
Sarah Stevenson, collections officer at the museum, said the major's family was from Seaford in East Sussex, where he has been honoured in the local church, St Leonard's, and had a road named after him.
She said there had been no trace of the medal since the late 1980s, but that "someone must still be in possession of the missing medal".
"Our mission is to find it so it can take its place alongside the other VCs in the exhibition."
Lord Ashcroft, who has loaned three VCs to the museum for the exhibition, said the "'Six before Breakfast' comprise one of the most celebrated batches of gallantry medals from any action of the entire Great War".
In total, 18 men from the Lancashire regiment were awarded the VC for their actions during World War One. | A museum's search for the last of six Victoria Crosses "won before breakfast" by the Lancashire Fusiliers in the WW1 Gallipoli landings has begun. | 1.871294 | 2 |
They were chosen from 16 applications and it is expected that 10 campuses will be created over the next five years.
The three projects are Moy Primary School and St John's Catholic Primary in Moy; St Mary's High, Limavday, and Limavady High School and Ballycastle High and Cross and Passion college.
In January 2014, Education Minister John O'Dowd launched the Shared Education Campuses Programme, with a deadline of 31 March for a receipt for expressions of interest.
On Tuesday, the minister said: "I believe shared education has the potential to deliver real educational benefits, to ensure best use of resources and to further community cohesion.
"The Shared Education Campuses Programme provides schools with the opportunity to build on existing sharing arrangements and access funding to help improve or provide shared facilities.
"We received a significant level of interest in this programme with 16 applications. I am pleased to be in a position to announce the first three projects to be supported."
Mr O'Dowd said: "The three projects selected will build on well established sharing arrangements between the schools involved and will help embed and enhance those sharing arrangements.
"This was the first call for projects and I am conscious that the limited time meant not everyone was able to have proposals worked up in time for the deadline.
"Therefore, as well as approving the three projects to be advanced through to a detailed business case, I am announcing that a second call for projects will open in September this year.
"Those that were unsuccessful in this announcement will receive feedback on their proposal and can resubmit it, if appropriate, to this second call."
The successful projects will now proceed to the planning stage. | Three sets of schools have been selected by the Department of Education in Northern Ireland for new shared campuses. | 1.358289 | 1 |
He told MPs in the Commons that more than £1bn had already been transferred out of pensions.
In theory, the new rules give pensioners the ability to withdraw money from their pension pots to do with as they wish.
But some pension firms are not offering full freedom to their customers.
Under the government changes introduced in April, those over the age of 55 have the ability to withdraw as much money as they like from their pension savings, subject to income tax.
However, some companies are only offering limited freedom, while others are charging hundreds of pounds for advice.
But Mr Osborne said the number of people who had taken advantage of the new rules was testament to their success.
"We on this side of the House believe we should trust people who have worked hard and saved hard with those savings in retirement," he said.
He acknowledged that "we have got to make sure people get the best advice, that the market responds, the companies up their game in helping customers make use of these freedoms and we will be watching these things very carefully".
One of the main changes under the new rules means pensioners are no longer forced to buy an annuity.
"Whilst the number of people taking money from their pensions has not significantly increased, the way they are doing so has, with less than one in 10 of people currently choosing to buy an annuity, compared to eight or nine in 10 only a couple of years ago," said Tom McPhail at Hargreaves Lansdown.
"This is a reform of equal magnitude to the Right to Buy council house sales revolution of the 1980s; in the same way that Margaret Thatcher introduced millions of people to home ownership, George Osborne is now introducing millions of people to pension ownership." | About 60,000 people have used new pension rules designed to give greater financial freedom in retirement, Chancellor George Osborne has said. | 1.786511 | 2 |
The captain hit 110 while Mohammad Shah (85) and Nasir Jamal (73) chipped in as Afghanstan closed on 357-6 after electing to bat.
Afghanistan were 318-3 but three late wickets brought the Irish back into the game in Great Nodia.
Table-toppers Ireland are 19 points clear of the second-placed Afghans.
As things stand, the team finishing top of the Intercontinental Cup - which is played over two years between 2015 and 2017 - will face the lowest-ranked Test side (currently Zimbabwe) in 2018, with the winning team earning Test status.
Afghanistan and Ireland both have two matches left after this game - but Ireland have the tougher remaining fixtures, against the Netherlands and Scotland, while Afghanistan will take on Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has agreed in principle to a structure which would see two teams - likely to be Ireland and Afghanistan - granted Test status, but this is set to be decided at the next ICC board meeting in April, before being ratified at its annual general meeting in June.
Impressive start
Ireland have won all four of their matches in the competition but they have an uphill task to make it five.
Afghanistan won the T20 series 3-0 against the Irish before clinching a 3-2 success in their one-day games.
They continued to hold the edge over the Irish on Tuesday, with opener Shahzad's 85 laying the foundation for an impressive total.
Rahmat Shah added 46 before Stanikzai and Jamal shared a 144-run partnership.
John Anderson (2-68) and Andrew McBrine (2-76) each took two wickets with one each for Peter Chase (1-70) George Dockrell (1-91).
Ireland struggled before the late wickets and will hope to restrict the Afghans to a sub-400 score before responding with the bat. | Asghar Stanikzai's unbeaten century put Aghanistan in control against Ireland on day one of the Intercontinental Cup game in India. | 0.868204 | 1 |
Its Mercedes-Benz cars actually saw a 39% sales increase in China in the third quarter, bucking the downward economic trend.
The firm's profits in the July-to-September period rose 31% to €3.6bn.
However, net profit fell 14%, because last year's figure was flattered by asset sales.
In 2014, Daimler benefited from selling a stake in ship engine maker Rolls-Royce Power Systems Holding.
Chief financial officer Bodo Uebber said the results showed the carmaker "has the right products in the market".
The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan and its SUV models made a strong contribution to Daimler's performance.
There had been fears that the Volkswagen scandal could lead customers to turn away from diesels in general.
Its competitor, fellow German carmaker VW, is facing fines and lost sales after the US Environmental Protection Agency said it had installed emissions control software that could detect when vehicles were being tested and reduce pollution levels.
However, Mr Uebber said Daimler was confident in its diesel technology. | Carmaker Daimler has seen a big increase in profits, despite fears that China's economic slowdown would hit demand for its luxury vehicles. | 1.37569 | 1 |
This amazing discovery was found in the 'Messel pit' in Germany - which used to be an ancient volcanic lake, where scientists have found some incredibly well preserved fossils from around 57 - 36 million years ago.
The fossil is a really well-preserved example of the food chain in action.
It shows that a bug was eaten by a lizard, who then shortly afterwards, became lunch for a giant snake!
Scientists think the snake must then have died soon after, and was preserved in the Messel pit for millions of years.
This fossil is incredibly rare, and scientists have only ever found one other fossil like it.
Krister Smith, who is the lead researcher on the project said that: "It's probably the kind of fossil that I will go the rest of my professional life without ever encountering again."
The fossil is really useful to scientists who can learn more about how ancient animals lived and what they ate. | Take a look at this incredible fossil which shows a bug inside a lizard inside a snake! | 3.054533 | 3 |
The pet had been swimming in the water at Portree's Sluggans Woodland Park before it died last week.
The park is a short distance from a recycling centre, a former landfill site and also a sewage treatment works.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has tested the water and found no traces of discharges from the sites or harmful blue-green algae.
As a precautionary measure, Highland Council has put warnings signs at the pond.
Sepa also plans to carry out further sampling.
A spokesperson for the agency said: "Sepa is not aware of any other activities which might have affected water quality in the area including the pond and we will continue to assist our local environmental health colleagues in their ongoing investigations."
Highland Council said: "Strict procedures are in place regarding the containment of discharges and these are fully adhered to.
"The council therefore considers that the source of any contamination in this pond or the surrounding area is not from landfilling activities past or present.
"We will fully co-operate with any further investigations SEPA plan to undertake." | The death of a dog has led to an investigation of the water quality of a pond in a park on Skye. | 1.786819 | 2 |
5 August 2015 Last updated at 06:36 BST
She's now 84 and has been telling Newsround the inspiring story of her life before and after that devastating and world-changing event.
This animation contains some sad moments that you might find upsetting.
You can find out more about what happened in Hiroshima here.
Watch 'Hiroshima: A Newsround Special' - Thursday 6 August at 5.30pm on the CBBC channel and on the Newsround website. | Bun Hashizume was 14 years old and lived in Hiroshima, in Japan, when a nuclear bomb was dropped on the city 70 years ago, at the end of World War Two. | 1.043969 | 1 |
The former New York Giants star had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a statement released by NBC said.
Dozens of former professional US football players have suffered from the same degenerative disease, which can only be diagnosed after death.
His family decided to have his brain assessed by medics.
He suffered unspecified "cognitive and behavioural symptoms" as he grew older, according to their statement.
They "made the difficult decision to have his brain studied in hopes of contributing to the advancement of medical research concerning the link between football and traumatic brain injury".
Gifford, whose widow is NBC's Today host Kathie Lee Gifford, died at his Connecticut home aged 84 in August.
He played for the New York Giants from 1952-64, selected as the Most Valuable Player in 1956 and an eight-time selection to the Pro Bowl.
In 1977, he was inducted into the American Football Hall of Fame, and he helped the Giants win the NFL title in 1956.
After his playing career he moved into TV commentary, working for ABC's Monday Night Football from 1971 to 1997.
"Frank Gifford was the ultimate Giant. He was the face of our franchise for so many years," Giants President John Mara said after his death.
The author of Concussion, which has inspired a new film starring Will Smith, spoke to the BBC's Babita Sharma about the dangers of American football. | A legend of American football, Frank Gifford, suffered from a concussion-related brain injury when he died, his family has said. | 1.564281 | 2 |
Stonehenge, the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls and the Great Barrier Reef are among 70 well-known sites made with the toy bricks.
Professional Lego builder Warren Elsmore is behind Brick Wonders, on show at Nottinghamshire's Harley Gallery for the next three months.
He said each of his creations took several months to complete.
Mr Elsmore sources some of the more obscure Lego pieces needed for his creations from online sellers.
His previous exhibition at the Harley Gallery featuring Lego versions of famous buildings was visited by more than 80,000 people in three months. | Famous landmarks from around the world have been built out of Lego for a new exhibition. | 1.277432 | 1 |
Bartle Frere is accused of arranging or facilitating the commission of child sex offences against boys in India, as well as abusing two boys in the UK.
Bournemouth Crown Court heard the 50-year-old met boys from the sub-continent in hotels and lavished them with money and gifts, such as iPhones.
Mr Frere denies a total of 25 sex charges.
A computer seized at his former home in Dorset in November revealed six years of online contact between the former pilot - who no longer works for British Airways - and teenage boys in India, the jury was told.
Prosecutor Elisabeth Bussey-Jones read out some of the messages Mr Frere had sent boys in India, including "I want a hug and have a bath with you and cuddle you in bed".
She said: "The conversations indicate Mr Frere was meeting these boys during the course of his role as a British Airways (BA) pilot and flying to various locations, including India."
The court heard Mr Frere was arrested on 10 November 2013 when he returned to the UK from taking a BA flight to Bangkok.
Before landing in Thailand he had typed into search engines on his smartphone "Where do you pick up underage boys in Bangkok?", the court was told.
Mr Frere is accused of five offences of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, which relates to his alleged conduct with boys in India.
He is also charged with five counts of indecent assault; one count of indecency with a child and two charges of serious sexual offences in relation to one of the boys from the UK.
With regard to the second UK boy, he is charged with one count of sexual activity with a child and one charge of attempting to record a person doing a private act.
The defendant also faces six charges of possessing indecent photographs of a child and four charges of making indecent photographs of a child.
The court heard that the two alleged British victims did odd jobs at Mr Frere's home.
The trial continues. | A former British Airways pilot used his job to meet underage boys, a jury heard. | 0.635176 | 1 |
The Mark 1 Sunderland sank in a violent storm in 1940 but was rediscovered by divers in 2006.
Parts of the aircraft are already on display in a museum.
Now the Sunderland Trust has launched a crowdfunding campaign to salvage the remainder of the wreck.
It hopes to raise £50k to pay for a new underwater survey to be carried out so the boat can go on public display as the main exhibit in the Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre, which tells the story of the Battle of the Atlantic.
Trust chair Gareth Mills told the BBC: "The divers have worked continuously for the last 10 years but the last survey on the T9044 in the dockyard was done six years ago.
"If we are going to realise the dream of lifting the Sunderland in one we need to have an updated survey done to ensure that we can do that safely."
The heritage centre has also announced it will be running a new flight experience from April where visitors can sit in a reconstructed Sunderland cockpit and take a simulated flight around Pembrokeshire. The replica has been created by a group of volunteers.
The Sunderland Flying Boats were an iconic World War II aircraft, and at one time 99 of them were stationed at the former RAF station in Pembroke Dock.
It was the largest wartime station for the Sunderland flying boats, which sought out and attacked U-boats.
The T9044 sank without casualties on its moorings in 1940 but was only discovered under 60ft (18.3m) of water by divers after a lobster pot became entangled on it, nearly 70 years later.
The heritage centre opened two years ago and rare artefacts on show there include a Bristol Pegasus engine complete with propeller and a restored tail gun, which is the only one in existence. | A heritage group is calling for the public's help to raise a unique World War II seaplane from the estuary seabed in Pembroke Dock. | 2.336105 | 2 |
Left-back Leighton Baines is Everton's regular penalty-taker, but ceded spot-kick duties to Mirallas and the Belgium winger struck the outside of the post.
"Kevin felt his hamstring was getting sensitive. It was a precaution," the Everton boss told BBC Radio 5 live.
"They are not related. The talking point is because we missed it."
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Martinez says Baines did not have a problem with Mirallas, who converted from the spot in Everton's penalty shootout defeat by West Ham in the FA Cup last week, taking the kick instead of him.
"Normally Leighton takes the penalties but we have a few players in the squad capable of taking them," Martinez added.
"Leighton was quite happy to let him take it because he felt confident and right in that moment.
"There is no big issue in that. It became an issue because he couldn't find the back of the net."
However England assistant manager Gary Neville, covering the game for Sky Sports, disagreed.
"What he's done there at 0-0, taking it off the major penalty taker, which is what it looks like has happened, is a despicable breach of team spirit," Neville said.
"To go against team orders, you do not do that."
Meanwhile, Gary Brabin has left his role as manager of Conference side Southport to join Everton's coaching staff.
The 44-year-old began a second spell in charge of the Sandgrounders in October 2014 and guided them to the third round of the FA Cup this season, where they were beaten 1-0 by Derby County. | Kevin Mirallas was substituted at half-time in Everton's 0-0 draw with West Brom because of injury rather than his penalty miss, Roberto Martinez says. | 0.880381 | 1 |
Onyiwa Morris, 55, had digestive system complications after being admitted to hospital last week, his doctors said.
The other four men are still receiving treatment at the Kahama District Hospital, where doctors say their health is improving.
The miners survived on roots, soil, and insects after a shaft collapsed, blocking their exit from the mine.
Many Tanzanians have been touched by their survival story, turning up at the hospital with gifts.
These are likely to be gratefully received, given that many of the men's possessions had already been shared out among family members, who presumed they were dead, the BBC's Alice Muthengi reports from Tanzania's main city Dar es Salaam.
Many people search for gold in unregulated mines in remote areas of Tanzania in the hope of becoming rich.
The incident took place at a mine in the north-western Shinyanga region, 900km (500 miles) west of Dar es Salaam. | One of the five gold miners rescued in Tanzania after being trapped underground for 41 days has died. | 1.740522 | 2 |
The Premier League newcomers announced the reported £13.5m deal for the winger last week but he had to apply for work permit clearance in order to secure a UK work visa.
Izquierdo has now signed a contract until June 2021.
The 25-year-old scored 15 goals in the Belgian Pro League last term.
Boss Chris Hughton described Izquierdo as "one of the standout players" in Belgium over the past three years.
"This has been a very complex deal, but I am absolutely delighted we are finally in a position to confirm it is completed," he said.
"He's a very exciting player to watch, and along with that excitement, he will bring pace and creativity to the team; he also has an excellent goalscoring record."
Izquierdo won the Belgian Cup during his first season with Brugge in 2014-15, followed by the Belgian League title a year later - when he was named Belgium's player of the year.
His two international caps came in friendly matches against Cameroon and Spain in June.
Hughton's side broke their transfer record last Monday when they signed Dutch midfielder Davy Propper from PSV Eindhoven for around £6m.
They had already paid a reported £5m in June for Valencia's Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.
Brighton have also signed Soufyan Ahannach from Almere City this summer.
The 21-year-old winger joins from the Dutch second-tier club on a five-year deal, having scored 18 goals and provided 15 assists in 42 games last season.
Johnny Cantor, BBC Sussex Sport
Albion's spending before their Premier League bow has been gradual and measured across the summer. Having secured the services of dependable Pascal Gross and Markus Suttner from the Bundesliga, chairman Tony Bloom is starting to back Chris Hughton with real cash.
Australia international Mathew Ryan fills a huge void after the departure of goalkeeper David Stockdale, Izzy Brown provides flexibility in attack after agreeing a season-long loan from Chelsea and now Davy Propper has been joined by Colombian international winger Jose Izquierdo.
That transfer record for Izquierdo could still be broken with the arrival of a much-needed striker, or the club could opt for a high-profile loan signing.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | Brighton have broken their transfer record for the third time this summer by signing Colombian international Jose Izquierdo from Club Brugge. | 0.951067 | 1 |
The arm found on Dollymount strand in 2011 belonged to James Nolan.
The 46-year-old was originally from Finglas and had served jail sentences for rape and burglary.
He was last seen alive in November 2010.
The search at Tolka Valley Park in Finglas is expected to take three weeks.
An inquest found Mr Nolan's arm had been severed after his death. | Gardaà (police) are preparing to search an area of a Finglas park after receiving fresh information about the remains of a man whose dismembered arm was found on a Dublin beach. | 0.436143 | 0 |
The two, Cesar Rivera and Jonathan Diaz, were captured by the rebels in the eastern border region of Arauca.
Three others, including a Colombian general, were taken in a separate incident and remain captive.
The Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos, suspended peace talks until the captives were freed.
Mr Santos announced an agreement had been struck to free the five last week, but it is still unclear when the general will be released.
Ruben Dario Alzate is the first Colombian general to be abducted in 50 years of civil conflict.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) played a part in the handover of the two freed soldiers.
"An ICRC medic part of the mission checked on the soldiers to make sure they were fit to travel," said the ICRC in a statement.
"They were transported in a helicopter with the ICRC logo to Tame, Arauca, where they were handed over to representatives of the Army."
The Farc had accused the Colombian government of making the releases difficult by conducting military operations in the area.
President Santos said the talks would resume once all the captives had been set free.
But a top Farc commander, Timoleon Jimenez or "Timochenko", said it might not be that easy, since new rules for the talks might be necessary.
The government agreed to conduct negotiations without agreeing to a ceasefire, but the Farc insists a bilateral truce is more necessary than ever.
Peace talks began two years ago, aimed at ending a conflict that began with the Farc's founding in 1964.
More than 200,000 people have died and millions have fled the violence. | Colombia's Farc rebels have released two soldiers taken hostage earlier this month, the first step in a deal to revive peace talks. | 2.034158 | 2 |
Many streets were left under deep water after the torrential downpour,
More than half Aberdeen's expected July rain fell in just a few hours.
The council said staff should be commended for their efforts to combat the problems, which included more than 600 sandbags being distributed throughout the city.
Council leader Councillor Jenny Laing said: "Our teams worked extremely hard yesterday afternoon, through the night and into today to protect properties and keep people safe on the roads. They should be commended for their efforts.
"Our partners in Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are also to be thanked for their work too in helping people out during the floods.
"We can appreciate that flooding causes huge problems and inconveniences to residents and businesses which is why there are plans in place to alleviate the problems working in partnership with Scottish Water." | Aberdeen City Council is working with Scottish Water to improve drainage to alleviate the kind of flooding experienced in the city on Tuesday. | 1.431741 | 1 |
Raslan Fadl was sentenced in January 2015 over the death of Souheir al-Bataa, a 13-year-old girl who was subjected to the illegal procedure.
However, he avoided arrest and was said to have carried on working as a doctor.
Domestic and international pressure apparently prompted Fadl to surrender, campaign group Equality Now said.
FGM was banned in Egypt in 2008 but the country still has one of the highest rates of the practice in the world.
More than 90% of girls and women aged between 15 and 59 in the country have undergone the procedure in recent years, according to UN estimates.
Suad Abu-Dayyeh, Middle East and North Africa Consultant for Equality Now, said Egypt must adopt a "zero tolerance policy" towards FGM, which includes taking swift action against the health workers who carry it out.
Unless this is done, she said, "Egyptian girls will continue to face this extreme human rights abuse".
Fadl was convicted in January 2015 over the death of al-Bataa, who was from a small farming community on the outskirts of the Nile Delta city of Mansoura.
He was sentenced to two years in prison for manslaughter, as well as a further three months for performing FGM.
However, he reportedly reached a deal with the girl's family that means he will no longer have to serve the manslaughter sentence - and is only liable for the three-month term for FGM.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that al-Bataa had been forced to undergo FGM by her father.
Fadl denied carrying out the procedure, saying he had only treated her for warts and that her death had been caused by an allergic reaction to penicillin.
Both he and Suhair's father were cleared of any wrongdoing at an initial trial. But prosecutors appealed against the verdict and it was overturned in November 2015.
Fadl's clinic was ordered to close for a year. Suhair's father was meanwhile given a three-month suspended sentence.
However, Fadl continued practising intermittently after the conviction, according to Equality Now and a partner agency, the Center for Egyptian Women's Legal Assistance (CEWLA).
Following further pressure, his medical license was revoked earlier this year.
Typically FGM is carried out on girls aged between nine and 13 - but there are victims as young as six, anti-FGM campaigners say. | Campaigners have welcomed the arrest of Egypt's first doctor to have been convicted of carrying out female genital mutilation (FGM). | 2.089742 | 2 |
Affinity Water, which supplies parts of the home counties, north London and Kent, says many rivers in the region are low on water.
It said that since July last year, the region had received just more than half of its average rainfall.
Farmers across the country have also been affected by low moisture levels.
Affinity has asked its customers to save water to minimise the possibility of restrictions - such as hosepipe bans - later in the summer.
Among the ideas being suggested are:
Hosepipe bans have not been seen in the UK since 2012, when seven water companies introduced restrictions.
Farmers in the south-east and eastern England say they have had just 10% of the expected rainfall since the beginning of March.
Crops such as spring barley and sugar beet have been hit, because a lack of moisture in the ground has hindered germination.
The National Farmers Union said there was also concern about some fruit and vegetable farms.
The low rainfall has affected some livestock farmers as far north as the Midlands, where there has been a shortage of grass to feed beef and dairy herds.
A spokesman said it was too early to say whether agricultural production would be down, as that would depend on the weather over the next few weeks.
However, prices are unlikely to be affected, as they are determined by global markets.
Concern appears to be restricted to areas of the South East. Thames Water, which supplies nine million households in the region, has no problems at the moment.
It draws its water from rivers and reservoirs, while Affinity relies on ground water.
But Water UK, which represents the industry, said everyone should consider using water carefully.
"Following a dry winter, some rivers, groundwaters and reservoirs are lower than normal for the time of year," a spokesperson said.
"We always advise that everyone use water wisely - especially during a period of dry weather - and to follow the advice of their water company should water saving measures be required."
Customers of Affinity Water are being offered some free devices, such as economical shower heads, devices to save water in toilets, and shower timers for children. | Up to 3.6 million customers in south-east England have been told to save water, because of a lack of rainfall. | 2.427191 | 2 |
The Italian Olympic Committee's decision means the 43-year-old can return to the bench on 9 December.
Conte was banned in August for failing to report alleged match-fixing in two games when he was coach of Siena during the 2010-11 season.
He was later cleared in relation to one of these two matches.
Conte led an unbeaten Juventus side to the Serie A title last season, his first in charge, but had been set to miss the whole of the current campaign.
He took his case to the Italian Olympic Committee, the country's final appeal court for sports disputes, after being handed his original ban by the Italian Football Federation.
Under the terms of his suspension, he is excluded from the Juventus dugout and dressing rooms on matchdays, but can take training during the week.
Technical director Massimo Carrera is leading the team on matchdays during Conte's ban.
Conte was originally accused of wrongdoing over Siena's matches against Albinoleffe and Novara two seasons ago.
He was subsequently cleared over the Novara match, but remains guilty of failing to report alleged corruption regarding the Albinoleffe game.
By the time he returns, Conte will have missed 15 Serie A matches and all six of Juve's group games in the Champions League, including both Group E meetings with Chelsea.
Conte's assistant at Siena and Juventus, Angelo Alessio, had his original eight-month ban reduced to six months on appeal.
The bans handed to Conte and Alessio relate to the wide-ranging investigation into the 'Calcioscommesse' scandal, which has seen more than 20 Italian teams examined as part of a match-fixing inquiry. | Juventus coach Antonio Conte's ban for involvement in a match-fixing scandal has been cut from 10 months to four by an Italian sports tribunal. | 1.023244 | 1 |
15 January 2015 Last updated at 11:08 GMT
The 35% drop coincides with the government wanting to reduce the country's renewable energy targets.
It all means an uncertain future for wind farms in the state of South Australia, considered one of the industry's global leaders.
The BBC's Jon Donnison reports.
Watch more reports on Asia Business Report's website. | Australia has recorded its lowest investment in renewable energy since 2009. | 1.381479 | 1 |
When Juan Jasso challenged the trio's use of foul language, he was verbally attacked and had beer thrown at him. The incident on 28 June was filmed.
Aaron Cauchi, 19, of Little Hulton, Salford was sentenced to 16 weeks in jail, suspended for two years.
He was also banned from Manchester's Metrolink tram network for two years.
Cauchi was the last to be sentenced at Manchester Magistrates' Court over the incidents, which were widely viewed on social media.
Jobless Robert Molloy, 20, of no fixed address, was jailed for six months earlier this month for abusing Mr Jasso and two other people in separate incidents.
A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, was given a six-month referral order.
Sentencing of Cauchi, of Spa Crescent, was adjourned earlier this month when he was taken to hospital complaining of stomach pains.
He had previously admitted using threatening words or behaviour to Mr Jasso and another man, as well as the assault of a third man. | A man who admitted racially abusing a US Army veteran on a tram and abusing two other men has been given a suspended prison sentence. | 0.718787 | 1 |
The 25-year-old from Plymouth, who also dived at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and 2009 World Championship, has quit after a
"I just feel like my body is telling me to give up," the 10m platform diver told BBC South West Sport.
"I'm 25-years-old and knowing there's another four years until Rio, I just don't think my body will hold out."
My dream, even as a little girl, was to make an Olympic Games. Not making London was heartbreaking and my dreams were shattered
Graddon, who won a bronze medal at the 2009 European Diving Championship in Turin, cites 2008 as the best year of her career as a diver.
She said: "I'd come back from injury and illness and that year I was British champion and qualified for the Olympic place for Great Britain, although I didn't make Beijing."
Graddon, who trained alongside Tom Daley and Tonia Couch in Plymouth, says her biggest regret is never being selected for an Olympics, after also missing out on a place at London 2012.
"My dream, even as a little girl, was to make an Olympic Games," she added.
"Not making Beijing was sad and I was gutted not to make it, but I thought 'head down, London's in four years'.
"But not making London was heartbreaking and my dreams were shattered.
"I knew I probably wouldn't make Rio, so it was horrible and the worst feeling not getting what I wanted, but that's sport." | European bronze-medal winning diver Brooke Graddon has announced her retirement from the sport. | 1.025887 | 1 |
Fires in Camacha and Santa Cruz on Madeira are threatening homes, but there are no reports of casualties.
Dozens of people have abandoned their homes since fires began spreading in parts of Madeira on Wednesday.
The Tavira district is worst affected in the Algarve. Spain has sent a Canadair water-bombing plane to help.
High winds are said to be hampering efforts to contain the blazes. Portugal has been suffering from a heatwave, adding to a prolonged drought.
The area burnt in the Algarve is reported to be much bigger than the area hit by fire last year.
But a tour operator on Madeira told the BBC on Friday that hotels, golf courses, hiking routes and other leisure facilities were unaffected and open to tourists.
On Wednesday, TV images showed flames several storeys high right on the edge of Madeira's main town, Funchal. The area is now out of danger.
Two houses were destroyed and at least 25 more damaged in the town, according to officials quoted by the Associated Press.
At least 75 firefighters have been despatched from the Portuguese mainland to help the overstretched fire services.
On the Spanish island of Tenerife, officials say they have now contained forest fires that have been burning since Sunday.
Aircraft have been dropping water and people have been evacuated from Vilaflor, a town of about 1,800 people on the south side of the island. | Hundreds of Portuguese firefighters are battling forest fires raging in areas popular with tourists - the Algarve and the island of Madeira. | 1.966339 | 2 |
There is growing evidence for the environmental and health benefits of gardens and gardening.
Access to green spaces has been linked to reduced depression, anxiety and stress, as well as physical benefits.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield want to compile evidence on the therapeutic effects of gardens from the public.
"There's increasing evidence that access to green space in nature can provide a range of benefits in mental health, physical health and social cohesion," said Lauriane Suyin Chalmin-Pui, a PhD student at the University of Sheffield.
"But most of that evidence is centred around public green spaces rather than private gardens. That's the gap in knowledge - the contributions private gardens make to the health and well-being agenda. "
As part of the research, gardeners and non-gardeners are being asked to complete a survey.
The aim is to investigate the benefits of having a front garden filled with plants compared with one without any.
Nearly one in four front gardens in the UK is completely paved over.
"Participating in this research, in terms of the wider picture, everyone will be part of what can hopefully be - depending on the results, of course - part of the evidence needed to bolster the social case for more green spaces and gardens in cities," she added.
"That argument will hopefully be able to act in concert with the environmental ecosystem benefits, which we already know."
The ecological benefits of gardens are well-known. They include resilience to local flooding, habitat for wildlife and benefits for air quality.
More recently, researchers have started compiling evidence for the effects of green spaces and gardens on well-being.
This will be used to inform health and planning policy.
The research is being carried out in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society. | A project aims to investigate the social case for gardens and what impact they have on health and well-being. | 3.270214 | 3 |
The author of the acclaimed 1977 Glasgow detective novel Laidlaw had been ill for a short time.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: "Shedding a tear at news of Willie McIlvanney's death. His writing meant so much to me when I was growing up. RIP."
McIlvanney is survived by his partner Siobhan, daughter Siobhan and son Liam.
Rebus author Ian Rankin described his death as "dreadful news".
He said: "A truly inspired and inspiring author and an absolute gent."
Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh said: "Absolutely gutted to hear this. An inspirational writer and one of the loveliest guys you could hope to meet."
McIlvanney, describbed as The Godfather of Tartan Noir, was born in Kilmarnock and was the most-celebrated Scottish novelist of the 1970s.
His 1975 novel Docherty brought him widespread acclaim before Laidlaw was hailed for changing the face of crime fiction.
His older brother, renowned sports writer Hugh McIlvanney, has previously said William's writing always represented the voice and experience of ordinary folk but also their "great intelligence" and "vivid expression".
"If you were in a pub in Kilmarnock, evidence of intelligence or a capacity to use words properly actually meant more than being hard," he said.
"They had a lot of respect for hard men but they had even more respect for the word."
William McIlvanney went to Glasgow University in 1955 and left in 1959 "transformed" and with a desire to be a writer.
However, he spent most of the next two decades as a teacher at an Ayrshire high school before he pursued writing full-time.
His first novel Remedy is None came out in 1966 but it was Docherty, in 1975, which brought him into the limelight.
It earned him praise as "the authentic voice of the Scottish working class".
McIvanney once said: "I remember an old ex-miner shaking my hand and crying and saying 'you've written my story, son'." | Tributes have been paid to novelist William McIlvanney, who has died aged 79. | 1.619438 | 2 |
Acelarin is designed to stop patients becoming resistant to common therapies in treating cancer of the lung, ovary, breast, colon and pancreas.
Two phases of clinical trials show half of 78 patients responded to treatment.
The treatment was invented at Cardiff University and Prof Chris McGuigan said the drug's success was "remarkable".
It was tested on patients who had exhausted all other forms of treatment at London's Hammersmith Hospital.
"These were terminal cancer patients, all of whom had solid tumours that were growing," explained Prof Chris McGuigan from Cardiff University.
"Seventy-eight patients were given Acelarin - and remarkably half had their disease brought under control; the tumour growth was stopped, and in some cases reversed."
Dr Ian Lewis, director of research and policy for Tenovus Cancer Care said: "The great thing about this treatment is that it appears not only to be effective for patients who have become resistant to common therapies but also for patients with a range of different types of cancer. That makes it particularly exciting."
"The fact that it has come from Cardiff showcases a wider trend for some really world class cancer research here in Wales."
The drug was particularly effective against gynaecological tumours. In 13 out of 14 patients, the drug achieved disease control - the greatest success rate ever seen at Hammersmith Hospital.
The third and final round of clinical trials are now being planned and the drug has been licensed to Edinburgh-based pharmaceutical company Nucana for further development.
The results are being presented to 30,000 cancer specialists attending the Asco conference in Chicago.
Prof McGuigan believes the method his team invented to design the drug could be used more generally in medicinal research.
It works by adding new compounds to conventional therapies as a 'bolt-on', which helps the drug cut through any resistance the body has built up.
"Many companies have started to adopt this technology, to bolt it on to various drugs and improve them," Prof McGuigan said.
"I believe that this will change therapies for cancer and viruses forever - and it originated here in the labs in Cardiff." | The potential impact of a new cancer drug invented in Cardiff has been praised at the world's biggest gathering of oncologists in Chicago. | 2.355468 | 2 |
The 24-year-old from High Wycombe is chasing his first European Tour victory and a £640,380 winner's cheque.
Hatton's nearest challenger is compatriot Ross Fisher who is three shots back on 14 under par.
"This round is clearly the best round I've ever had," he said.
"I've never actually got to double digits under par before, so I'm very pleased with that.
"The goal now is to get a win. But then it's been a really consistent year, and it would be nice to have a good finish."
Hatton's 10-under 62 at the Old Course - his lowest score on the European Tour - is matched by six other players, including fellow Britons Paul Casey and Tommy Fleetwood.
Sweden's Joakim Lagergren and South Africa's Richard Sterne are four strokes behind on 13 under.
Danny Willett and Lee Westwood - part of Europe's defeated Ryder Cup team in Hazeltine last weekend - are well off the pace on six and 10 over respectively.
However Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello, who took two and a half points from his three matches against the Americans, is better placed on eight under. | England's Tyrrell Hatton will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Dunhill Links Championship after he equalled the St Andrews Old Course record with a 10-under-par 62. | 0.892584 | 1 |
The laundries were a network of Catholic-run workhouses that operated in Ireland from the 1920s to the mid-1990s.
Justice Minister Alan Shatter announced that he will receive what he called a 'substantial report' within 10 days.
He will then bring before the government.
An inter-departmental committee chaired by Senator Martin McAleese was set up to establish the facts of the Irish state's involvement with the Magdalene laundries and to produce a narrative detailing such interaction.
Survivors and representative groups, and the religious congregations, co-operated with the departmental committee.
Sinn Fein's deputy leader welcomed the announcement but said that the survivors "urgently need" an apology and redress.
"Survivors of the Magdalene laundries have literally waited their whole lives for a mere acknowledgement of the wrong perpetrated against them by the state and religious orders," said Mary Lou McDonald TD.
"The bottom line is that they should wait no more."
"Fine Gael and Labour ministers spoke fine words of support for the women when in opposition, now they must act on them."
In 2011 the UN Committee Against Torture called on the Irish government to set up an inquiry into the treatment of thousands of women and girls in the laundries. | The Republic of Ireland's justice minister has said a report on state involvement with Magdalene laundries will be published within four weeks. | 2.70534 | 3 |
If Snapchat had accepted, it would have been Facebook's biggest purchase.
Citing sources close to the matter, the Journal reported Snapchat was being pursued by others, including Chinese e-commerce company Tencent.
Popular with teenagers, Snapchat has doubled its usage recently.
According to the firm, more than 350 million images, or "snaps" are sent daily between mobile devices. Once received by users, they are erased after a few seconds.
Created in 2011, Snapchat raised more then $60m from investors last June, which valued the company at more than $800m.
However, the company has recently come under fire for claims that sent images delete themselves after being viewed.
Several hacks have been created that allow users to save snaps, posing potential privacy issues. | Image messaging firm Snapchat, founded by Evan Spiegel, 23, rebuffed a $3bn (£1.9bn) acquisition offer from Facebook, according to the Wall Street Journal. | 1.942895 | 2 |
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Australia needed to finish the 4x100m relay to take victory, but they were disqualified after a botched handover between Jack Hale and Fabrice Lapierre.
They misjudged the change from the second to the third leg and, after initial confusion, Australia were given a score of -10 for the mixed event.
Bolt's All-Stars won the relay to finish on 930 to Australia's 895.
A refereeing error initially awarded Australia the top ranking for the night.
Eight-time Olympic champion Bolt, who ran the third leg of the relay, told officials he was going to protest, before the result was corrected.
The Jamaican, in his farewell season, has only competed in the relays in the opening two nights of the series, but admitted he might run in the 150m on Saturday.
"I'll probably have to double up depending on how this meeting goes," he said.
"I'm not in the best of shape, but the more I run, the better I feel. I'm just taking it a month at a time, trying to enjoy that it's my last season."
Victory was the All-Stars' second in the three-event series, having also won Saturday's opener.
England are fourth in the table, ahead of New Zealand and Japan.
IAAF president Lord Coe has said Nitro Athletics will "revolutionise" the sport.
Full results and points tables from the first two events are available here. | Usain Bolt's All-Stars won the second day of the Nitro Athletics amid controversy in Melbourne. | 0.919461 | 1 |
Daniel Boylett, 35, of Eltham, south-east London, was arrested after trouble at a Palace home game against Charlton Athletic on 23 September.
Boylett was part of an "aggressive" group of fans that targeted the 25-year-old bird Kayla, the court heard.
He denies attempted criminal damage worth an estimated £20,000.
Crystal Palace, nicknamed the eagles, adopted Kayla as a mascot in 2010. She flies around the stadium at every home game.
Kayla's handler Chris Belsey had been walking her around the pitch on his forearm when a punch was thrown from the crowd, the jury heard.
Prosecutor Daniel Higgins said there "is no dispute" Boylett threw the punch, but questions may surround whether he intended worse to happen.
Kayla's delicate bone structure meant "if she had been hit with force, her bones could easily break" Mr Higgins added.
The game, which Crystal Palace won 4-1, had seen violent scenes before a ball had even been kicked.
Boylett appeared in the dock alongside Colin Kitto, 49, of Eltham, Andy McConville, 48, of Rochester, Kent, Billy Cowcher, 32, of Greenwich, south east London and Sam Donegan, 25, of Welling, Bexley, in south London.
Messrs Kitto, McConville, Boylett and Cowcher were "all present at the front of this aggressive and disorderly group which was led by Kitto", according to Mr Higgins.
Mr Boylett, Mr Kitto and Mr McConville each deny two counts of violent disorder. Mr Cowcher and Mr Donegan deny one charge each of violent disorder.
The case continues. | A football fan intentionally threw a punch at Crystal Palace's bald eagle mascot during a fractious derby game, a court has heard. | 1.274777 | 1 |
A police spokesman said the officers were shot dead when they tried to evict landless protesters who had occupied a property in the east of Paraguay.
The interior minister and chief of police have resigned over the incident.
The owner of the land in Canindeyu province said about 100 families had invaded his property three weeks ago; it is not clear how many remain.
Local doctors say dozens more police and farmers have been injured.
The farmers said the land was illegally taken during the 1954-1989 military rule of Gen Alfredo Stroessner and distributed among his allies.
"The police entered, trying to evacuate the place, to get the people out, and then there were shots at the police. From that point on, there were clashes," Interior Minister Carlos Filizzola told reporters before handing in his resignation. Police chief Paulino Rojas also stepped down.
According to police official Walter Gomez, the officers were ambushed in a wooded area.
He said they had not been expecting violence and had wanted to negotiate a "peaceful eviction".
Landless leader Jose Rodriguez told Paraguayan radio that those killed "were humble farmers, members of the landless movement, who'd decided to stay and resist".
Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo has ordered the military to intervene.
"All the forces are working towards re-establishing calm and security to the area," he said during a news conference.
The Paraguayan Congress and the Senate have convened an extraordinary session to decide whether to declare a state of emergency in the region. | Government officials in Paraguay say seven police officers and at least nine landless farmers have died in clashes. | 1.696883 | 2 |
Jersey skipper Luke Campbell hit a penalty over the bar before Scott Linton netted with a spot kick of his own to put the visitors ahead.
The hosts were level before half-time though through midfielder Cav Miley.
David Gormley's dipping effort after the break was fumbled by Jersey keeper Ryan Le Couteur but the referee ruled that the ball had not crossed the line.
Martin Cassidy and Paddy O'Toole took charge of the island side after former Aston Villa boss Brian Little stepped down from the job earlier in the month.
They had to watch on as Campbell blazed his penalty over after substitute Rupert Murray was pushed over in the box by Clyde defender Michael Oliver.
Linton's low penalty at the other end just about found the back of the net despite Jose Figuero getting a hand to it.
Jersey were not behind for long as good work from Murray set Miley through one-on-one with goalkeeper John Gibson and the Jersey midfielder kept his composure to slot the ball home.
The hosts found it harder to clear their lines after half-time, playing into a strong wind, and Clyde went closest to a winner when Gormley's awkward effort was fumbled towards his own line by Le Couteur but his blushes were spared by the referee and his assistant.
O'Toole and Cassidy had been assistants under Little, but remain unsure of their future roles, with the Jersey FA expected to name a new manager in the next few weeks.
Cassidy confirmed after the final whistle that he will hold talks with the JFA this week and is keen on the job. | Jersey held Scottish League Two outfit Clyde to a 1-1 draw in a pre-season friendly at St Brelade. | 0.754092 | 1 |
The British Army regiment were thanked for their "loyalty and devotion" to the Queen and her mother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
The monarch granted the armoured cavalry regiment a suffix, making them "The Royal Lancers - Queen Elizabeths' Own" at a ceremony at Windsor Castle.
The Queen said the Lancers were a "force without match".
She symbolically touched the flag known as a Guidon to signal its handover.
"In the short time since I attended your amalgamation, you have established yourselves as a unified regiment and a force without match", the Queen said.
"It gives me much pleasure to present to you your new Guidon. The Guidon symbolises sacred loyalty to your Sovereign, your country and to all of the officers and men with whom you serve.
"Your loyalty and devotion to duty have been tested over more than 300 years and never found to be wanting."
The Queen's Royal Lancers and the 9th/12th Royal (Prince of Wales's), amalgamated to become The Royal Lancers in May 2015.
The 9th/12th Lancers were the last cavalry regiment in Afghanistan and The Queen's Royal Lancers the last regiment to operate Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance in Afghanistan. | The Royals Lancers have been renamed by the Queen in tribute to their service to the Royal Family. | 1.951425 | 2 |
Tora Betsi, two, has neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), which can cause tumours, development and other heath problems.
There are two specialist centres in England for NF1 patients with complex issues but none in Wales.
The Welsh Government said it was difficult to provide services for all rare conditions.
Tora's mum Lisa Thomas, who is a GP, first raised concerns about her daughter's health when she was born with a brown spot, which looked like a birthmark, on her body.
She told the Newyddion 9 programme her daughter now had 15 spots, her head is also larger than other children's, she is shorter than average and is unsteady on her feet.
NF1 can also cause tumours behind the eye, high blood pressure and patients are more likely to develop cancers such as leukaemia.
There is no cure for the condition and no way of knowing how it will affect Tora in future.
Ms Thomas said the only thing the family can do is to make sure Tora eats well and exercises regularly to stay healthy.
One in every 2,500 babies are born with NF1 and there are currently about 1,200 people in Wales living with it.
There are two specialist centres in Manchester and London, which offer advice and care, but patients in Wales must make a funding request to their health board to be seen there.
Ms Thomas said if Tora needed specialist care in future, she would like to see a centre in Wales.
Prof Gareth Evans, who works at the Manchester unit, agreed a specialist centre in Wales would be helpful.
But he said there were not enough specialists or enough complex NF1 patients living in Wales.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "It is difficult for any individual country to provide services for all rare conditions where there may be very small numbers of people affected.
"In some cases, people will need to travel to other centres in the UK for expert care and support." | The family of a toddler from Cardiff who has a genetic condition are calling for a specialist centre to be set up in Wales. | 2.239686 | 2 |
10 October 2014 Last updated at 04:21 BST
Darren Pidgeon, 27, had been driving in Essex when a stranger assaulted him, leaving him with life-changing injuries.
Police want help to trace his attackers.
BBC London's Alice Bhandhukravi spoke to Mr Pidgeon about his ordeal. | An east London man who was sprayed with acid through the window of his car in an unprovoked attack has spoken about his ordeal. | 0.280867 | 0 |
The Care Quality Commission report was compiled after a five-day announced visit and a surprise inspection.
Concerns included a high level of vacancies among front-line paramedics, the trust's complaints policy and mental capacity assessments.
But the inspection also praised three areas of "outstanding practice" and the trust's "exceptionally caring" staff.
The Chief Inspector of Hospitals, Prof Sir Mike Richards, said: "Inspectors found a number of improvements were needed at North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust."
He said there were "concerns surrounding staff training and whether the service had enough staff to meet the needs of the service and patients", adding that the trust's overall vacancy rate was "5.7% at the time of the inspection".
The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) covers Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and Cumbria. It operates around 1,000 vehicles on both emergency and non-emergency operations.
Sir Mike added: "It is vital that a busy service like NWAS has sufficient numbers of staff with the requisite knowledge and skills to meet patients' needs and we will be monitoring the trust's progress in securing additional staff as a matter of priority."
Additional inspection findings included:
However, areas of "outstanding practice" included the Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART) in Manchester and Merseyside, the way patient information is shared with ambulance clinicians and an app which allows call centre staff to direct callers to their nearest defibrillator location.
The report also noted: "All staff observed were exceptionally caring in their approach and went above and beyond the call of duty to provide compassionate supportive care."
NWAS chief executive Derek Cartwright said: "The last 12 months have been extremely challenging for the organisation, with unprecedented demand for our services, and it is unfortunate that by not reviewing policies and guidelines as often as we should, we are in the position we are now.
"We are determined to right this as soon as possible." | The North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust has been told it "requires improvement" by a health regulator. | 1.207101 | 1 |
A formal process of identification has yet to be completed but it is believed that the body found on Strandhill on Saturday morning is that of Stephen Martin.
The 29-year-old, whose stage name was Rainy Boy Sleep, went missing three weeks ago after his car was found parked at Fanad Lighthouse in County Donegal.
A post mortem examination is due to be carried out on Monday. | Irish police searching for a missing musician from Londonderry have recovered a body in County Sligo. | 0.031718 | 0 |
Yahya Jammeh is accused of withdrawing the money via a state telecoms company.
A court has ordered all his remaining assets in The Gambia to be frozen.
Mr Jammeh flew into Equatorial Guinea after 22 years in power. He lost an election in December and only agreed to step down after regional powers sent in troops threatening to force him out.
Luxury cars and other items were reportedly loaded on to a Chadian cargo plane as Mr Jammeh left the country.
The amount was initially suggested to be more than $11m (£8.8m) by Interior Minister Mai Ahmad Fatty then an aide to new President Adam Barrow.
But on Monday, Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou said that Mr Jammeh had withdrawn $50m between 2006 and 2016.
He accused Mr Jammeh of directing the "unlawful withdrawals" from accounts held at The Gambia's central bank, linked to state-owned Gamtel either "personally or under his instructions".
Mr Tambadou said a court order had frozen or temporarily held 88 accounts and 14 companies linked in some way to Mr Jammeh - amounting to all the politician's "known assets" remaining in The Gambia, as the country's new administration sought to prevent him "liquidating or dissipating" anything further.
It has also been reported livestock, cars and properties have been seized. Three of his cousins have been arrested after selling his cattle.
Mr Tambadou said the discoveries were "just a tip of the iceberg".
Mr Jammeh has been out of contact since he left The Gambia and has not responded to the allegations. | The Gambia's former president stole "at least" $50m (£38.4m) from the state before he left the country in January, the justice minister has said. | 1.067541 | 1 |
The West Indies all-rounder made nine from seven balls in Thunder's nine-wicket derby defeat by Sydney Sixers.
Players can use coloured bats in the Big Bash as long as it is the same as the club's primary colour, or black.
CA had originally approved Russell's bat before Monday's match, which was the 2016-17 tournament opener.
Head of the Big Bash Anthony Everard said: "The match officials provided feedback to Cricket Australia that the bat used by Andre left black marks on the match ball.
"As a result, we have decided to withdraw our approval for Andre to use the bat.
"Should Andre, or any other Big Bash or Women's Big Bash player for that matter, wish to use a bat with a different colouring solution that doesn't result in the discolouration of the match ball, they will be permitted to do so.
"This is subject to Cricket Australia being satisfied that the bat won't compromise the integrity of the game, which we believe discolouring the match ball does." | Cricket Australia (CA) has banned the black and pink bat used by Sydney Thunder's Andre Russell in the Big Bash after it left marks on the ball. | 1.350551 | 1 |
Kieran Ridley, 32, poured petrol onto a nearby bin and lit it, the High Court in Edinburgh was told.
He then left the property at Mallaig, Lochaber, having locked the front and back doors and some windows.
Mr Ridley denies the charges. His lawyers argue he was not criminally responsible due to mental disorder.
The court was told that 11 people were inside the property including four children between the ages of two and 16.
In a statement agreed by the Crown and Mr Ridley's defence team, the court heard that Mr Ridley turned on the gas valves on the kitchen cooker late on 27 October last year.
At some point between 23:00 and 23:30 he poured petrol onto a nearby waste bin and set fire to it, causing cladding and a skirting board to catch light.
He then left the house, having locked both front and rear doors and some of the windows.
The trial heard that Mr Ridley, whose address was given as HMP Inverness, was detained by police later that night at Cameron Avenue, Mallaig
The people in the house - called Mallaig Mhor- included his mother, brother, children aged two, eight, 15 and 16 and five other adults.
The trial, before judge Craig Scott QC continues on Monday. | A man accused of attempting to murder 11 people at a remote Highland holiday home started a fire after opening gas valves on a cooker, a court has heard. | 0.855144 | 1 |
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Thomson, from Gosport in Hampshire, finished second in this year's edition in January after a close battle with French winner Armel Le Cleac'h.
"I was third last time, I came second this time, so there's only one way to go isn't there?" Thomson said.
"But, it's a huge commitment and we're seeing if we can get the sponsors and the team back together for it."
The 42-year-old Wales-born sailor led for the early stages as he bid to become the first Briton to win the race at his fourth attempt.
But a broken hydrafoil around Christmas hampered the performance of his Hugo Boss boat and allowed Le Cleac'h to take a lead he never surrendered.
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"You just always have to fight," Thomson told BBC South Today as he reflected on how he broke two race records to close to within 30 nautical miles of Le Cleac'h towards the finish.
"With this race, you just have to expect the unexpected. Even when I got to the Scilly Isles to turn towards the finish, it was pretty done and dusted, but anything could've happened."
Thomson will ironically take a sailing holiday to the Caribbean with his wife next month before turning his attentions to racing again.
"The most important thing in the Vendee is the people," he said looking ahead to 2020.
"I've been very fortunate to work with some very talented people and if I can get the right team, we can challenge again." | Sailor Alex Thomson has confirmed he will go again for glory in the Vendee Globe round the world race in 2020. | 1.013334 | 1 |
United Parcel Service (UPS) spokesman Steve Gaut told the AP an employee opened fire on colleagues before drivers were sent out for deliveries.
The suspect shot himself when confronted by police and later died in hospital, NBC7 and ABC7 reported.
Police said the building was secure but did not offer details on the victims.
San Francisco assistant police chief Toney Chaplin said the suspected gunman was armed with an assault pistol and shot himself as he was confronted by police.
"UPS confirms there was an incident involving employees within the company's facility in San Francisco earlier this morning," the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
"We cannot provide information as to the identity of persons involved at this time, pending the police investigation." | A UPS employee has shot and killed three people before turning the gun on himself at a San Francisco depot, local media report. | 0.967664 | 1 |
The Arctic tern, which weighs less than an iPhone, covered 96,000km (59,650 miles) in its journey to its winter home in the Weddell Sea before returning to the Farne Islands.
It was part of a study carried out by scientists at Newcastle University for BBC's Springwatch.
Last year, 29 birds were fitted with geolocators by the researchers.
They have now returned to the islands to breed.
The previous record had been held by an Arctic tern that covered 91,000km (56,545km) on its flight from the Netherlands.
Dr Richard Bevan, from Newcastle University's School of Biology, said: "It's really quite humbling to see these tiny birds return when you consider the huge distances they've had to travel and how they've battled to survive.
"So far we've managed to catch 16 of our tagged birds from last year and we've seen at least another four birds with our geolocators attached."
They tracked the bird as it flew down the coast of West Africa, crossed into the Indian Ocean and eventually arrived in Antarctica, he said.
"Further analysis of the data from these trackers will allow us to get a better understanding of how the Arctic terns organise their migration and how global climate change may affect their routes."
The tern arrived in Antarctica four months after setting off from Northumberland. | A tiny sea bird has made the longest known annual migration, flying from Northumberland to Antarctica and back. | 3.003567 | 3 |
The man, from Peterstone, near Newport, was arrested by officers from Gwent Police's Operation Imperial team on Wednesday.
Operation Imperial is an ongoing investigation into serious offences against vulnerable adults.
Det Supt Paul Griffiths also appealed to an anonymous caller who called police on 27 May to contact the team. | A 62-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of slavery, servitude and forced labour offences. | 0.105863 | 0 |
Police said the Seat Leon Cupra came off the road and drove through railings before coming to a stop, nose down, at the foot of a block of houses.
The incident happened in Saxe Coburg Street at around 06:50. Nobody was hurt in the crash, but police said both the car and the property were damaged.
The vehicle was removed at around noon and the road remained open.
Snow and ice caused disruption across many parts of Scotland on Thursday, with driving conditions described as "hazardous".
The Met Office has forecast further wintry weather over the weekend. | A car has skidded on ice and fallen off the road into the basement area of a building in Edinburgh. | 0.728399 | 1 |
It is an artistic protest at the deepening political crisis in Brazil.
The anonymous artist said he wanted to protect national figures from Brazil's history from seeing the shameful state of the nation.
The artist said the work was not connected to protest marches against President Dilma Rousseff planned for Sunday.
The statues, which are scattered across the city, include one of Brazil's ex-President Getulio Vargas, the country's first dictator who ruled the country from 1930 to 1945 and sought to transform Brazil from a plantation-based economy into an industrial powerhouse.
Also blindfolded was a statue of Alberto Santos Dumond, the father of Brazilian aviation and Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil who as regent actively promoted and ultimately signed the "Lei Aurea" or Golden Law, emancipating all slaves in Brazil on 13 May 1888.
The artist who works under an art scheme called "Project Oraculo" said that he wanted to transmit that "protest is not just about street demonstrations".
On Sunday huge protests are planned by opponents to President Dilma Rousseff to demand her impeachment on charges of having mishandled the budget and the economy.
Brazil is suffering its worse economic recession in decades.
The artist said: "The idea is to blindfold the eyes of those who can no longer do anything for the country and to avoid them helplessly witnessing the economic and political crisis in the country, unable to do anything." | A hundred statues on the streets of Rio de Janeiro have had their eyes covered in red blindfolds. | 2.506458 | 3 |
UCAC has told BBC Wales the move would be "devastating" for schools and the standard of education they provide.
The Welsh government has sought to protect schools' budgets, as its own funding from Westminster has fallen.
Welsh ministers said they would set out their spending plans for 2016-17 in their draft budget, on 8 December.
Speaking on Radio Cymru's Post Cyntaf, Rebecca Williams from UCAC, said: "What we're hearing from local authorities is they're preparing their schools for cuts in the region of 16% over the next three years.
"If that's true it would be really devastating for schools and the standard of education that they can provide to children and young people.
"The impact would be severe because the only way you can make that level of cuts is by making staff redundant."
Gethin Thomas, head teacher of Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant in Llanelli, confirmed that Carmarthenshire council had told his school to expect a 16% budget cut.
"If we look over the next three years, there could be a cut in out budget of £250,000," he said.
"Redundancies are obviously something that we will have to focus on.
"No school, I think, in Carmarthenshire would have the reserves to pay for the cuts that we are faced with."
The overall level of reserves held by schools in Wales was £64m on 31 March 2015, the equivalent of £141 per pupil.
This is an increase of 6.6% compared with 2014, but that year's figure was the lowest since 2001.
A Welsh government spokesman said: "Following the Spending Review we will consider the implications for Wales before setting out our own spending plans for 2016-17 in our Draft Budget on 8 December." | Councils across Wales have warned schools to prepare for budget cuts of around 16% over the next three years, a teaching union has said. | 1.606277 | 2 |
The woman was found at St David's Church, Carmarthen, in the early hours of Tuesday.
Dyfed-Powys Police said a 29-year-old man has been charged with rape and attempted grievous bodily harm.
He appeared at Llanelli Magistrates' Court on Saturday and was remanded in custody. | A man has appeared in court charged with rape after an injured woman was found in a graveyard in Carmarthenshire. | -0.000156 | 0 |
Skipper Barry Middleton, making his 380th international appearance, opened the scoring in the 11th minute at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre in London.
Mark Gleghorne added a penalty stroke moments later to double the lead.
Scotland took an early lead through captain Chris Grassick but lost 4-1 to India in their opening Pool B match.
As well as attempting to reach the World League Finals later in the year, the top five teams qualify for the 2018 World Cup in India.
Scotland next come up against Netherlands while England face Malaysia, both on Saturday. | Hosts England moved top of Pool A after beginning their campaign in the men's Hockey World League semi-finals with a comfortable 2-0 victory over China. | 0.823247 | 1 |
Large numbers of barrel bombs have reportedly been dropped on the area in the Qalamoun mountains north-west of Damascus, close to the Lebanese border.
Zabadani has been under attack for weeks by the Syrian army and fighters from Lebanon's Hezbollah movement.
It is the last significant town held by rebel forces in the Qalamoun region.
Its capture is seen as crucial to consolidating the government's control over the border zone between Lebanon and Syria.
The army and Hezbollah launched an offensive to drive the rebels out of Zabadani on 3 July. Earlier this week, they advanced deeper into the town after having besieged it from all sides.
Citing local sources, Mr de Mistura said in a statement late on Tuesday that the Syrian air force had been dropping barrel bombs - large cylindrical containers filled with explosives and shrapnel - on areas in and around Zabadani.
It has caused "unprecedented levels of destruction and many deaths among the civilian population," he was quoted by Reuters as saying.
An alliance of Islamist and jihadist rebel groups had retaliated by firing rockets and heavy mortar shells on the villages of al-Foua and Kefraya, near the northern city of Idlib, where a large number of civilians were trapped, Mr de Mistura added.
"In both cases, civilians are tragically caught in the middle of the fighting."
Overnight, there were fierce clashes and air strikes in the Zabadani area, causing casualties on both sides, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Wednesday morning.
The Syrian state news agency, Sana, meanwhile reported that soldiers had destroyed a 70m (330ft) tunnel used by rebel fighters to smuggle supplies from Zabadani to nearby Madaya.
More than 230,000 people have been killed since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011. Four million others have fled abroad to escape the fighting and more than seven million have been displaced internally.
Earlier this month, the head of the UN's refugee agency, Antonio Guterres, called it the "worst humanitarian crisis of our generation". | The UN envoy for Syria says Syrian government air strikes have caused "unprecedented levels of destruction" and death in the town of Zabadani. | 1.847669 | 2 |
Campaigners have been calling for Baverstock Academy in Druids Heath, Birmingham to be saved but the Department for Education (DfE) confirmed the decision on Thursday.
The DfE said "financial irregularities" were uncovered in November 2015.
The school will close on 31 August 2017 so pupils can finish the school year.
More on this and other Birmingham and Black Country stories here
In February 2017, a former interim principal of the academy, said the school had "no future in its current state" and "should close as quickly as possible".
The DfE said it will work closely with Birmingham City Council to "identify alternative local school places for students."
The school is "undersubscribed", with a capacity of 1,330 but as of October 2016 there were 417 pupils at the school.
The MP for Selly Oak Steve McCabe said the decision to close Baverstock Academy "is nothing less than a complete betrayal of my constituents." | A school that has been in special measures since November 2014 will close later this year, the Government has confirmed. | 1.410989 | 1 |
Conte, who had a year remaining on his contract, led the Turin club to the Serie A title in each of the past three years.
But the 44-year-old said he felt it "may be more difficult to keep winning with Juventus" in the future.
"Conte was like a man possessed, the very essence of Juventus burned deep into his soul."
Venom, vision and victory: How Conte revived Juve
"I have matured with time and my feelings led me to make this choice," he added.
Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli said the news of Conte's departure, which was announced on the club's website, "saddens me greatly".
Conte is a former Italy international who made over 500 appearances for Juventus in his playing days, winning five league titles.
He returned to Juve as coach in 2011 and went on to preside over one of the most successful periods in the club's history.
He won Serie A at the first attempt with his side going unbeaten throughout the season. A second title followed but the summer of 2012 saw him embroiled in a corruption row after he was charged with failing to report attempted match-fixing during his time as coach of Siena.
Conte pleaded his innocence but was banned for 10 months - a sentence reduced to a four-month touchline suspension last August.
He returned to the dugout midway through last season to lead Juve to another title. | Antonio Conte has quit as coach of Juventus just a day after the squad reconvened for pre-season training. | 1.051651 | 1 |
The 33-year-old aggravated a recurring foot injury during a pre-season training session on Friday.
He will miss the first four to six weeks of the 2017 campaign.
"I'm looking forward to getting back onto the playing field as soon as possible and contributing to a successful team," Azharullah said. | Northamptonshire pace bowler Muhammad Azharullah has been ruled out of the start of the County Championship Division Two season. | 0.212764 | 0 |
The annual rate of house price inflation fell to 7.2% in February - down from 8.4% in January, and the lowest rate for more than a year.
However, in the short term, between January and February, prices rose by 0.6% on a seasonally-adjusted basis.
The average house price across the UK is now £268,000, the ONS reported.
Separate figures show that mortgage lending fell significantly in February, according to the Council for Mortgage Lenders (CML).
The number of loans advanced to borrowers during the month was 40,600 - a 1% fall from January, and a 16% fall compared with February 2014.
Paul Smee, the CML's director general, said seasonal factors had not helped the market.
"This typical seasonal trend may also be exacerbated by uncertainty ahead of the general election, but we still expect to see an upturn in the spring and summer months," he said. | House prices across the UK are continuing to cool down, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). | 1.535904 | 2 |
A Saudi-led coalition of nine countries has been heavily criticised over the civilian death toll from a bombing campaign in Yemen.
The parliament called on EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to "launch an initiative aimed at imposing an EU arms embargo".
The motion passed by 449 votes to 36.
There were 78 abstentions.
Although the vote is not legally binding, lawmakers hope it will pressure EU governments to agree to an embargo, following a petition of 750,000 European citizens.
Scottish MEP Alyn Smith, who led the motion, said EU-made weapons were being exported to Saudi Arabia "in breach of international law".
Mr Smyth said: "Having grown up in Saudi Arabia I am sensitive to the realities of the Saudis and appreciate that the Saudis have concerns in their neighbourhood.
"But our duty is to the civilians in Yemen, and given widespread and very valid concerns over the conduct of the war by Saudi forces, our call for an EU-wide arms embargo is proportionate and necessary."
Anna MacDonald, director of campaign group Control Arms, said the group welcomed "this first step towards preventing European arms from being used to further human suffering in Yemen and elsewhere".
Nearly 6,000 people have been killed since the Saudi-led coalition entered the conflict in March 2015, almost half of them civilians, according to the United Nations.
The US is the largest international supplier of arms to Saudi Arabia. The UK and France are the main European suppliers, while Germany has also licensed arms exports to the kingdom.
Correction 26 February 2016: This report has been amended to change incorrect figures given for the European Parliament vote. | The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling for an arms embargo on Saudi Arabia over alleged breaches of international law in Yemen. | 1.952603 | 2 |
State-owned Radio Nauru (88.8 FM) carries programming from Radio Australia and the BBC, and Nauru TV carries programmes from Australia and New Zealand as well as local output.
Affordable public internet access is available, and there are around 340 internet users (Internetworldstats, December 2011).
Bulletin - weekly
Central Star News - fortnightly
The Nauru Chronicle
Nauru Television (NTV) - government-owned
Radio Nauru - non-commercial, run by government-owned Nauru Broadcasting Service | Nauru has no daily newspaper. | 1.626883 | 2 |
The Spaniard, who is attempting to win a 10th title at Roland Garros, dropped the first two games against the world number 99 but then won 18 of the next 22 to ease through.
He will play either Marcel Granollers or Nicolas Mahut in round three.
Roger Federer tops the all-time list of Grand Slam matches won, with 302.
Novak Djokovic also made light work of his opponent, beating Belgium's Steve Darcis 7-5 6-3 6-4 to advance.
It means the world number one, who has never won the tournament despite reaching the final three times, will play Britain's Aljaz Bedene next.
Serena Williams - the three-time winner and defending champion - destroyed Brazil's Teliana Pereira 6-2 6-1 with another clinical display to follow her first-round demolition of Magdalena Rybarikova in just 42 minutes.
The 34-year-old American will face the winner of the tie between France's Kristina Mladenovic and Timea Babos of Hungary for a place in the last 16.
Eighth seed Timea Bacsinszky impressed in beating Canada's Euguenie Bouchard 6-4 6-4 while Ana Ivanovic also won in straight sets in her tie against Japan's Kurumi Nara.
Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro beat Wang Qiang of China 6-1 6-3.
Keen observers will have noticed a number of the players at this week's tournament wearing zebra-inspired kit.
Stars including former champion Ivanovic, 2014 runner-up Simona Halep and ex-Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych have all sported the black-and-white stripes - the brainchild of Adidas' Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto.
But opinion is split.
Andre Agassi's former coach Brad Gilbert tweeted a comparison with employees of a high-street clothing chain: "What's up with so many players looking like FootLocker employees on safari? U digging the Zebra shirts?"
However, Ivanovic defended the outfits which she believes are "beautiful" - and compared them to the football kit of her favourite club, Partizan Belgrade.
Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox. | Rafael Nadal registered his 200th Grand Slam victory with a crushing 6-3 6-0 6-3 win over Facundo Bagnis in the second round of the French Open. | 0.933317 | 1 |
Ruabon-based GHA Coaches ceased trading on 15 July, with the loss of 320 jobs.
Wrexham council said some commercial services used by children not eligible for free school transport have not been replaced for the new term in September.
Those affected are St Joseph's School, The Maelor School, Ysgol Rhiwabon and Ysgol Dinas Bran.
Wrexham council's lead member for transport, David Bithell, said: "Due to the difficult situation since the collapse of the private transport company GHA coaches, we wished to alert students, parents and carers of the loss of previously operated commercial services that some pupils used for transport to and from school.
"Whilst the council has issued a number of tenders for new replacement bus services, these are not a complete duplicate of the previous services."
The council is not providing transport for any sixth form students starting year 12 in September.
GHA operated public and school services across Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire and parts of Cheshire and Shropshire.
Meanwhile, 200 buses and coaches belonging to GHA are to be sold off.
Administrator Grant Thornton has organised a three-day online auction, starting on Tuesday, with money raised from the sale expected to go towards paying creditors.
Further auctions will be held in October and November.
The collapse has led to local councils seeking new contractors to run the routes but some areas are still without buses, leaving passengers facing disruption. | Parents in Wrexham have been told to make new arrangements to get their children to school after the collapse of a coach firm. | 1.179289 | 1 |
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The club were relegated in 2016 and handed various points penalties, after seeking financial help from the England and Wales Cricket Board.
However they have retained key players from 2016, including Keaton Jennings, within the squad.
"We'll take that on the chin," Botham told BBC Newcastle.
"What's gone has gone, I think we're good enough to get past that [the deduction] anyway.
"I genuinely believe we can be back, if not this season, which I think we can do if we have a little bit of luck with the weather and the fixtures.
"But it certainly won't take us much longer than that."
Having cleared their financial issues as part of negotiated deals with Durham County Council and the ECB, Durham's long-term future has been secured in spite of their on-field handicaps for 2017.
Botham is confident the team can be challengers, bolstered by overseas players in Stephen Cook and Tom Latham for various stages, and senior pros Paul Collingwood, Graham Onions and Chris Rushworth also remaining at the Riverside.
"It's two wins," Botham said in the press conference. "The team are more than good enough to get those two early wins and then in Division Two they'll be the best side by a distance.
"It's down to the players. We could be playing minor counties, we're not, we're still playing first-class cricket and we have a club - a club that will prosper." | Durham can overcome their 48-point deduction in Division Two and achieve success in 2017, says newly appointed chairman Sir Ian Botham. | 0.843177 | 1 |
After a cagey first half Jamille Matt gave Argyle the lead as he rammed in his third goal in as many games.
Exeter drew level with their first shot on target when Watkins drilled a shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
But he topped that effort by blasting a brilliant shot into the top corner from 25 yards out to seal the win.
The victory saw Exeter do a league double over Plymouth for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
Argyle drop out of the top three on goal difference after Bristol Rovers' comfortable 3-0 win over Crawley Town, while Exeter's hopes of making the play-offs stay alive as they move up to 10th place, two points off a spot in the top seven. | League Two Player of the Month Ollie Watkins' sensational stoppage-time winner saw Exeter City come from behind to beat Devon rivals Plymouth Argyle. | 0.724137 | 1 |
Subsets and Splits