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He quit as deputy prime minister amid denials from the Kremlin that the step was connected to a row over the alleged embezzlement of state funds.
Mr Surkov had criticised an inquiry into a project he had been supervising.
He was once thought to be one of Russia's most powerful men, creating its system of "managed democracy".
But in December 2011, he was removed from his job as deputy head of the presidential administration.
That was soon after elections overshadowed by allegations of ballot-rigging and the biggest street protests in Moscow since Soviet times.
Mr Surkov was appointed deputy prime minister instead, first under President Dmitry Medvedev, then under Mr Putin when he returned to the Kremlin last year.
Put in charge of modernising the Russian economy, he publicly clashed with investigators last week over allegations of fraud against an official at the Skolkovo innovation hub, outside Moscow. He warned them against prejudicing the inquiry.
However, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov suggested Mr Surkov had resigned after Mr Putin criticised ministers for failing to carry out his orders.
In a Kremlin career spanning 12 years, Mr Surkov saw through controversial political reforms which cemented the grip of Mr Putin and his allies on power.
When Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov pulled out of the 2011 parliamentary election campaign, he famously blamed him, saying: "There is a puppet master in this country who long ago privatised the political system... His name is Vladislav Yurevich Surkov."
Mr Surkov, 48, told Russia's Kommersant newspaper on Wednesday he would explain his reason for resigning at the "appropriate" time. | Vladislav Surkov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's former political strategist, has resigned from the government without explanation. | 1.673533 | 2 |
Raif Badawi, who was sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in jail, was flogged 50 times. The flogging will be carried out weekly, campaigners say.
Mr Badawi, the co-founder of a now banned website called the Liberal Saudi Network, was arrested in 2012.
Rights groups condemned his conviction and the US appealed for clemency.
On Thursday state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki urged the Saudi authorities to "cancel this brutal punishment" and to review his case.
In addition to his sentence, Mr Badawi was ordered to pay a fine of 1 million riyals ($266,000; £175,000).
In 2013 he was cleared of apostasy, which could have carried a death sentence.
Last year Mr Badawi's lawyer was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of a range of offences in an anti-terrorism court, the Associated Press news agency reported.
The flogging took place outside a mosque in the Red Sea city of Jeddah after Friday prayers, witnesses said.
AFP news agency, quoting people at the scene, said Mr Badawi arrived at the mosque in a police car and had the charges read out to him in front of a crowd.
He was then made to stand with his back to onlookers and whipped, though he remained silent, the witnesses said.
The sentence was widely condemned by human rights groups.
"The flogging of Raif Badawi is a vicious act of cruelty which is prohibited under international law," said Said Boumedouha of Amnesty International.
"By ignoring international calls to cancel the flogging Saudi Arabia's authorities have demonstrated an abhorrent disregard for the most basic human rights principles."
Saudi Arabia enforces a strict version of Islamic law and does not tolerate political dissent. It has some of the highest social media usage rates in the region, and has cracked down on domestic online criticism, imposing harsh punishments. | A Saudi Arabian blogger has been publicly flogged after being convicted of cybercrime and insulting Islam, reports say. | 1.493443 | 1 |
The Crucible hosts snooker's annual world championships as well as being one of the UK's leading theatres.
The worlds of snooker and theatre will meet with the world premiere of The Nap, written by Richard Bean, who is best known for One Man, Two Guvnors.
O'Connell has made his name in films including Unbroken, '71 and Starred Up.
Those performances helped him win the rising star prize at the Bafta film awards earlier this year.
In The Nap, he will take the role of Sheffield-born snooker player Dylan Spokes who, according to The Crucible, has to contend with "his ex-con Dad, local gangster Waxy Chuff and the snooker corruption squad".
The play is described as a "comedy thriller" and will be staged next March, just before the snooker world championships, which take place every April.
The Nap will be directed by actor and The Crucible associate director Richard Wilson. Next week, Wilson will reprise his role as Victor Meldrew in TV sitcom One Foot in the Grave at a one-off fundraising event for the theatre.
The venue's new season also includes new musical Flowers for Mrs Harris, based on the 1958 novel of the same name by Paul Gallico; revivals of A Raisin in the Sun and Waiting for Godot; and the regional premiere of Contractions by Mike Bartlett, who wrote BBC One's recent drama Doctor Foster.
Sheffield Theatres artistic director Daniel Evans said: "This is, without doubt, our boldest season to date. We're announcing seven original productions: three new plays, a new British musical, a regional premiere and two major revivals of 20th Century classics." | Actor Jack O'Connell is to play a troubled snooker professional in a new play staged in the sport's spiritual home, Sheffield's Crucible Theatre. | 0.881588 | 1 |
Bento, 45, had been in charge since 2010 but failed to steer his side out of the group stages at this summer's World Cup in Brazil.
The Portuguese Football Federation say his replacement will be announced soon, though it gave no date.
Portugal's second Euro 2016 qualifier is against Denmark next month, after they play France in a friendly.
Under Bento, Portugal reached the last four at Euro 2012 before losing a penalty shootout to eventual winners Spain.
They qualified for the World Cup by beating Sweden in a play-off but were thrashed 4-0 by Germany in their opener and were eliminated at the group stage.
Media playback is not supported on this device | Portugal coach Paulo Bento has left his role by mutual consent after last week's 1-0 defeat at home to Albania. | 0.912339 | 1 |
Pujara, 26, part of India's well-beaten side in this summer's Test series against England, was not named in the squad for the forthcoming one-dayers.
He has since returned to India and is not currently due to join up with Derbyshire until early September.
That would leave him free to make his debut against Glamorgan on 9 September.
"Pujara joining us at this stage of the season is a real boost for the lads," said Derbyshire elite performance director Graeme Welch. "We're an ambitious team and have an exciting group of players who are developing fast.
"With Shivnarine Chanderpaul now back in the West Indies preparing for Test match action and Marcus North focusing on our one-day campaign, Pujara will bring an added dimension to the side as we look to finish our Championship season strongly."
Pujara has made 24 Test appearances for India, averaging 49.26, and scored centuries in successive Tests (206 not out at Ahmedabad and 135 at Mumbai) against England in November 2012.
But his form went downhill this summer as, after hitting a half century in the first Test at Trent Bridge, he averaged only 22.00 from 10 innings in the five-match Test series.
However, he impressed against Derbyshire in the tour game prior to the Test series, making 81,
Derbyshire, relegated a year ago, currently lie seventh in Division Two, with promotion hopes extremely slim as they stand 62 points adrift (with a game in hand) of second-placed Hampshire.
They are 35 points ahead of bottom club Leicestershire, who they play in their final game. | Derbyshire have signed India Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara on a short-term deal for their final three County Championship fixtures of the season. | 0.885926 | 1 |
The 43-year-old, who played 54 Test matches and 127 one-day internationals, replaces Paul Farbrace, who left at the end of last season.
"There is a great opportunity to be a part of something special," Adams told BBC Radio Kent.
"It will be good to be part of Kent's rich history and their successful days ahead."
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Adams, who has been president of the Federation of International Cricketers' Association since 2008, played international cricket for nine years and retired from the Test arena with a highest score of 208 not out, against New Zealand in 1996, and an average of 41.26.
Since retiring in 2004, Adams has coached the West Indies Under-19s team and has been technical director of Jamaica Cricket.
"I would like to make an assumption that all of them are looking to grow in the game. Once youngsters come with that impetus to move forwards, it makes the job of the coach that much easier," he continued.
"The main thing is the environment where they are not afraid to express themselves and have that confidence."
Since Kent parted company with former coach Farbrace in September, the club have endured an arduous selection process, narrowing the initial 50 applications to a shortlist of six.
From there, the applicants undertook psychometric tests and interviews before Adams was appointed on 22 December.
"We wanted to be thorough in our approach and play the percentages to get the best possible candidate," chief executive Jamie Clifford explained.
"Yes there have been things we've had to muddle through but everybody understood that it was important to run the process properly to get the right person."
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Adams will return to the Caribbean on Thursday to arrange his affairs and work visa, with the aim of beginning full time at Kent at start of February.
Kent chairman of cricket Graham Johnson added: "Jimmy has a strong desire to see young players develop and this shone through in our discussions with him.
"We welcome him to Kent and wish him the very best of luck." | Kent have appointed former West Indies captain Jimmy Adams as the county's new head coach from early February. | 0.818512 | 1 |
A band of rain and cloud sweeping in from the west in the evening could leave skywatchers in the rest of the country disappointed.
The Moon is making its closest approach to Earth since 1948.
To observers, it will appear about 7% larger than normal and about 15% brighter - although the human eye is barely able to discern that difference.
The Moon will actually be at its closest - only 221,524 miles (356,509km) away - at 11:21.
Many skywatchers will be hoping to see the Moon as it rises, when it can appear bigger still.
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Mike Alexander, from the Galloway Astronomy Centre, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "What you get when it's rising is a thing called moon illusion when it appears much, much bigger than it does when it's high in the sky.
"At moonrise it will look bigger and be a nice effect."
However, Mr Alexander cautioned against too much excitement among moon-watchers in Scotland.
"I've been watching the weather all week for Scotland. If you're very lucky you might catch it," he said.
Forecasters are predicting cloud and rain to come in from the west from about 15:00 on Monday. A second front bringing rain will arrive a few hours later.
BBC Scotland Weather forecaster Judith Ralston said: "It looks like there's a band of rain coming in this evening, but it should miss Aberdeenshire and Moray.
"The best place to see it will be the north-east corner of the country."
The Moon will not be this close to Earth again until 25 November 2034. | The Moray coast could be one of the best places to see the "supermoon" in Scotland, forecasters have predicted. | 2.739809 | 3 |
"Once we heard... Foo Fighters had been forced to pull out, there was only one person we wanted to call and that was Florence," said organiser Emily Eavis.
Florence Welch had already been confirmed to perform with her band before Foo Fighters on 26 June.
She last performed at the Somerset event in 2010.
Foo Fighters cancelled their Glastonbury appearance and a string of other dates after frontman Dave Grohl fractured his leg in a stage fall in Sweden.
Ironically, Welch's recent concerts have been hampered by her breaking her foot on stage at the Coachella music festival in April.
This summer will mark the 28-year-old's first performance on Glastonbury's famed main stage.
"Every time she has played here she's done something spectacular and we always knew she would headline the Pyramid one day," said Eavis, who runs Glastonbury with her father Michael.
"I'm delighted she's agreed to step up to it - she's going to smash it!"
Michael Eavis added: "I'm absolutely delighted. She's a fantastic girl, and she's English as well.
"It's a moment for her and she will be triumphant."
He added that he hoped to book Foo Fighters for next year's festival, but nothing was confirmed yet.
Kanye West is the headline act on 27 June, while The Who will close this year's festival the following night.
Organisers said revised Pyramid Stage set timings for 26 June would be announced soon. | Florence and the Machine will headline the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury this year, following Foo Fighters' withdrawal from the Friday night slot. | 0.989826 | 1 |
In remarks on Sunday, North Korea called President Park Geun-hye a "comfort woman", referring to sex slaves during World War Two.
It accused her of pandering to her "pimp", US President Barack Obama, who visited Seoul last week.
He and Ms Park warned Pyongyang against conducting a fourth nuclear test.
Their warning came after reports of increased activity at North Korea's nuclear test site.
In a statement, North Korea's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea accused Ms Park of catering to her "powerful pimp", Mr Obama.
It called Ms Park "a wicked sycophant and traitor, a dirty comfort woman for the US and despicable prostitute selling off the nation".
North Korean state media have carried personal attacks on South Korean leaders on many occasions in the past, but the rhetoric directed at Ms Park - the first female president - appears to be particularly vicious.
On Monday, Seoul's Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Eui-do urged Pyongyang to abide by an earlier agreement to stop the rhetoric.
He said the North's continuing "to issue unspeakable curses and foul words is an immoral act".
"If the North has the slightest feeling for its people... it should stop its senseless behaviour and take the path to co-operation and joint prosperity," he was quoted as saying.
Tensions have been high on the Korean peninsula amid reports based on satellite imagery that Pyongyang could be planning to conduct another nuclear test.
North Korea has carried out three such tests in the past, most recently in February 2013.
All resulted in the imposition of sanctions by the UN, which bars Pyongyang from nuclear tests under resolution 1718.
Last week, Mr Obama said that the US and South Korea stood "shoulder to shoulder, both in face of Pyongyang's provocations and our refusal to accept a nuclear North Korea". | South Korea has condemned North Korea's latest verbal attack on its president as "unspeakable", after it likened her to a prostitute. | 1.919947 | 2 |
Paul Hemming, 42, of Alderney Avenue, Milton Keynes, is accused of killing Natalie Hemming, 31, who was last seen in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, at about 15:00 BST on 1 May.
She was reported missing from her home in the Newton Leys area of Milton Keynes on Tuesday by a relative.
Mr Hemming was remanded in custody and is next due to appear in court in July.
Mother-of-three Ms Hemming, lived with her partner and their children.
Thames Valley Police said the search for her is continuing.
It is trying to trace the movements of a black Ford S Max - registration EJ12 UWG - between 21:45 on 1 May into the early hours of Bank Holiday Monday.
The car travelled towards Aylesbury on the A413, then south of Aylesbury on the A41 before returning to Milton Keynes on the A418, the force said. | A man charged with the murder of his partner who has been missing for six days has appeared in court. | 0.426596 | 0 |
Blades striker Che Adams nearly broke the deadlock early on, but his thunderous effort rattled the crossbar.
The visitors pressed for an opener and were unlucky not to find one as Rory Donnelly's overhead kick flew over.
Luke Norris went close toa winner for Gillingham, but his effort was blocked on the line by Jay McEveley.
The result meant Gillingham sit comfortably in the play-off places in fifth position, with United nine points outside the top six in 10th. | Gillingham strengthened their position in the League One play-off places despite a dour goalless draw against Sheffield United. | 0.471915 | 0 |
Annual house price inflation fell to 3.3% in June from 4.6% the month before, it said. Just a year ago, prices were rising by 11.8%.
However, house prices in Wales and Scotland have actually fallen over the last year, according to Nationwide.
Between May and June prices across the UK fell by 0.2%, taking the average cost of UK property to £195,055.
Robert Gardner, Nationwide's chief economist, said: "House price growth continues to outpace earnings, but the gap is closing, helped by a pick-up in annual wage growth, which moved up to 2.7% in the three months to April from 1.9% at the start of the year.
"The slowdown in house price growth is not confined to, nor does it appear to be driven primarily by, developments in London."
Last month, a survey by property services group LSL suggested that prices in parts of central London had fallen by up to 22% since last autumn.
Some economists had not expected to see house price inflation falling so consistently.
"While we are slightly surprised by June's dip in house prices, it does not fundamentally change our view that house prices are likely to be firmer over the second half of the year," said Howard Archer, chief UK and European economist at IHS Global Insight.
He still expects house prices to rise by 6% this year, and 5% next year.
Matthew Pointon of Capital Economics said the monthly price fall did not mean the market was cooling.
"On an underlying basis prices are still rising, and with active housing demand finally recovering, annual house price gains have bottomed out," he said.
Nationwide said the region with the fastest price growth is now Northern Ireland, where prices rose by 8% over the year.
Prices across London rose by 7.3%.
In Scotland prices fell by 1% from a year earlier, and in Wales they were down by 0.8%.
However there are large variations between prices in individual cities.
Among the property hotspots are Reading, where prices have risen 13%, Oxford, where prices are up 12%, and Edinburgh, where they are up by 11%.
Places with falling prices include Sunderland, at -4%, and Nottingham, Highlands and Islands - and West Yorkshire, which have all seen falls of 2%. | The annual rate of house price growth fell to a two-year low last month, the Nationwide building society has said. | 1.456715 | 1 |
Damon was criticised after clashing with black film producer Effie Brown on his Project Greenlight show over who should direct a film being discussed.
He said diversity should be reflected "in the casting of the movie, not the casting of the show".
Damon said the comments were "part of a much broader conversation".
"I believe deeply that there needs to be more diverse filmmakers making movies," he said.
"I love making movies. It's what I have chosen to do with my life and I want every young person watching to believe that filmmaking is a viable form of creative expression for them too.
"My comments were part of a much broader conversation about diversity in Hollywood and the fundamental nature of which did not make the show."
Project Greenlight, which is broadcast on HBO, focuses on filmmakers who provide scripts to a panel of judges with the winner getting the 'green light' to make their film with a budget of $3m.
The project under discussion had a sole black character who was a prostitute, prompting Brown - who produced the critically-acclaimed Dear White People - to suggest the director would have to be carefully selected to handle the character "sensitively".
Damon's response that diversity is "what you do in the casting of the movie" drew an exasperated "Wow, okay," from Brown.
The comments were highlighted on social media and led to the coining of the term "Damonsplaining".
One user defined the term as "over talking and/or shouting down a person of colour to explain something about their own race or culture".
"I am sorry that they offended some people," said Damon in his statement. "But, at the very least, I am happy that they started a conversation about diversity in Hollywood. That is an ongoing conversation that we all should be having." | Actor Matt Damon has said sorry to people offended by his comments about diversity but said he is glad to have started a debate on race. | 1.572219 | 2 |
The Spanish football league body wants talks with the club about the agreement they came to with the Spanish Public Prosecutor's Office over the signing.
In June, Barcelona paid a €5.5m (£4.3m) fine over the 24-year-old's move from Santos. The La Liga club were accused of tax fraud, which they denied.
Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu had blamed the dispute on "a mistake... in tax planning".
Barcelona said it paid €57m (£43m) for the forward, with the player's parents receiving €40m and Santos €17m.
But investigators said the fee was closer to €83m and that Barcelona had concealed part of the deal. The club denied the claim.
Spain's La Liga has announced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Brazil star Neymar's 2013 transfer from Santos to Barcelona.
Bartomeu added at the time: "It was better to accept this agreement than continue on with the uncertainty that has dragged on for a long time over the Neymar case."
A La Liga statement on Thursday read: "Following widespread media reports, La Liga confirms an informative hearing will be launched with FC Barcelona in relation to the agreement reached between the club's board and the Spanish Public Prosecutor's Office in the Neymar legal case."
Neymar signed a new five-year contract with Barcelona in July.
The forward, who won Olympic gold with Brazil in Rio de Janeiro in August, has scored 55 goals in 94 La Liga games for his club. | Neymar's 2013 transfer to Barcelona is to be investigated by La Liga. | 0.980951 | 1 |
Jamie Chapman, who has also worked as a teaching assistant and sports coach, tricked the teenage boys into sending him naked images of themselves.
The 28-year-old from Solihull, West Midlands, has admitted rape and 21 offences of causing or inciting sexual activity with children.
He will be sentenced on Tuesday.
Birmingham Crown Court heard he duped 18 victims in all, with the offences taking place between 2011 and 2016.
He created fake Facebook personas of teenage girls and would use them to get boys to send him naked images.
The boys would then be urged to engage in sex acts and, if they they refused, he would blackmail them by threatening to send their photos to their friends or family.
Prosecutor Matthew Brook said Chapman's aims were to get the boys to send him naked pictures so he could blackmail them, and then to encourage them to meet up with a boy and, ultimately, to meet up with himself.
One blackmail victim agreed to meet a boy, who turned out to be Chapman.
Chapman, of Tamar Drive, raped him and filmed it on the boy's phone.
Police traced Chapman through internet addresses he left behind when logging into his fake profiles.
He is part-way through being sentenced and has also pleaded guilty to nine counts of taking, making and distributing indecent photos of children. | A former nursery worker raped a boy and tried to blackmail other teenage boys into taking part in sex acts, a court has heard. | 1.054504 | 1 |
A group of scientists drafted the letter with the initial aim of building a network of 500 women.
In the six days since its publication, 8,800 researchers have signed the pledge, which rejects the "hateful rhetoric that was given a voice".
Dr Kelly Ramirez, at the Netherlands Insitute of Ecology, was an author.
Dr Ramirez and co-authors Jane Zelikova, Theresa Jedd, Teresa Bilinski and Jessica Metcalf took aim at discrimination targeting "minority groups, women, LGBTQIA, immigrants, and people with disabilities".
Their letter states: "Many of us feel personally threatened by this divisive and destructive rhetoric and have turned to each other for understanding, strength and a path forward".
Dr Ramirez explained on the Scientific American website that she and a group of colleagues hoped to start a positive conversation in response to "fear that the scientific progress and momentum in tackling our biggest challenges, including staving off the worst impacts of climate change, [would] come to an abrupt stop" in the wake of Donald Trump's election victory.
Mr Trump promised, during his campaign, to cancel the Paris Climate Agreement.
Dr Ramirez added: "We asked ourselves, how can we take action?"
Dr Franciska De Vries, from the University of Manchester, is also involved in this project, which has quietly gathered momentum via social media.
She said she hoped it would develop into a "global network" of scientists who would support each other in research and to inspire young women to embark on careers in science.
"It's empowering for people to read that letter and to see the huge amount of signatures and support," Dr De Vries told BBC News.
"To share these feelings with a network - we have a voice."
The researchers now plan to convert this outpouring of support into practical measures that promote scientific research and career progression, including mentoring programmes for women scientists.
"We see this as the start of something bigger," said Dr De Vries.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science has also responded to the initiative, telling the BBC: "We commend efforts to stand up and speak out on behalf of women in science and engineering."
Follow Victoria on Twitter | Almost 10,000 women working in science have signed an open letter pledging to combat discrimination and "anti-science sentiment" following the US election. | 2.566008 | 3 |
Golden-Oldies will use it to set up intergenerational projects with schools and run singing sessions.
Thirteen groups in Wales have received £4.2m in the latest round of funding.
In north Wales, the Reader Organisation received £440,000 to deliver shared reading sessions with people with mental health issues.
Meanwhile, the RSPB received £500,000 to provide access to wildlife for schools and community groups under its Giving Nature a Home in Cardiff project.
And the Cardiff Wales Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Mardi Gras (Pride Cymru) has been given £235,000 in its work to provide "positive interaction with the wider community". | A project tackling isolation and loneliness among older people in mid and west Wales has just received a £250,000 boost from the lottery. | 1.386324 | 1 |
The 22-year-old will become Wigan's second marquee player, alongside full-back Sam Tomkins, under the new salary caps rules which start next season.
Warriors said they had turned down offers from Super League and NRL sides for the England international.
"Wigan is in my heart and where I want to be," said Williams.
"I was close (to leaving) but I kept coming back to this is where I want to be, this is where I want to win trophies."
Under the terms of the contract, Williams, who came through the club's academy and was named Super League's young player of the year in 2015, will be able to leave Wigan at the end of the 2020 season if a "pre-defined substantial transfer fee" is met.
Warriors chairman Ian Lenagan said: "The recently agreed additional changes to the current salary cap rules were designed specifically to help keep elite talent in Super League.
"We realise that George is a big part of our future moving further and look forward to seeing him in a Wigan shirt for many years to come."
Coach Shaun Wane added: "George is one of the best up-and-coming players in the sport. It's a huge shot in the arm, not only for Wigan but also for Super League." | Wigan stand-off George Williams has signed a new four-year deal keeping him at the Super League champions until at least 2020, with an option for 2021. | 0.863082 | 1 |
The English number one seed, 46, won 6-1 after Noppert booked his final spot with a 6-3 victory over Darryl Fitton.
Neither Durrant nor Noppert, 26, have won the BDO world title before.
In the women's final, England's Lisa Ashton secured her third title with a 3-0 win over Australian Corrine Hammond at Lakeside. | Glen Durrant will face Dutchman Danny Noppert in Sunday's BDO World Darts Championships final after beating Jamie Hughes in the last four. | 0.602117 | 1 |
The 25-year-old moved to Spotland in June 2013 and scored twice in 24 appearances during the 2015-16 season.
Eastham came through the youth system at Blackpool and had loan spells at numerous clubs, including at the Cody Army in 2012 where he featured twice.
"I've had chats with various people and it was a tough decision for me to leave Rochdale," he told the club website.
"I've had three fantastic years there but I needed a new start."
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | Fleetwood Town have signed defender Ashley Eastham from League One rivals Rochdale on a two-year deal. | 0.577005 | 1 |
The contraband in Aran Mohammed Saied's car was worth £10,100 in duty tax, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said.
Saied, 33, of Ellesmere Road, Newcastle, was found guilty of fraudulently evading excise duty.
He was sentenced to nine months in jail suspended for 12 months at Newcastle Crown Court and ordered to complete 150 hours unpaid work.
Saied, who is unemployed, had denied the offence but was found guilty at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, was also told to pay £400 in costs and a £140 victim surcharge.
Saied was pulled over by North Yorkshire Police on the A1 near Catterick in September because the car he was driving had no MOT.
Officers found 39,820 illicit cigarettes and £2,775 in cash hidden in boxes, the HMRC said.
Initially Saied told officers the boxes contained car parts he was transporting for a friend in Birmingham.
HMRC said he had previously been warned about duty evasion after attempting to smuggle 4,000 cigarettes and 30 cigars through Edinburgh Airport in April 2015. | A man who had almost 40,000 illicit cigarettes in his car has been given a suspended prison sentence. | 1.058905 | 1 |
Mr Sarkozy faces accusations that his party falsified accounts in order to hide 18m euros (£15m; $20m) of campaign spending in 2012.
Mr Sarkozy denies he was aware of the overspending, and will appeal against the order to stand trial.
He lost the 2012 race, and failed in his bid to run again in this year's upcoming presidential election.
What charges does Mr Sarkozy face?
The case is known as the Bygmalion scandal.
It centres on claims that Mr Sarkozy's party, then known as the UMP, connived with a friendly PR company to hide the true cost of his 2012 presidential election campaign.
France sets limits on campaign spending, and it is alleged the firm Bygmalion invoiced Mr Sarkozy's party rather than the campaign, allowing the UMP to spend almost double the amount permitted.
Employees at Bygmalion have admitted knowledge of the ruse and several UMP members already face charges.
The investigation into Mr Sarkozy centres on whether the ex-leader was aware of the alleged fraud.
Thirteen other people are also expected to be tried.
However, Mr Sarkozy's lawyer, Thierry Herzog, has said he will launch an appeal against the trial order, because only one of the two judges handling the case signed the order.
"The clear disagreement between the two magistrates in charge of the matter is such a rare event that it is worth underlining, as it illustrates the inanity of the decision," Mr Herzog said in a statement.
The development comes as other French politicians have faced questions over their financial dealings.
Francois Fillon, who beat Mr Sarkozy to become the centre-right's candidate for the presidential race, is accused of misusing public funds to employ his wife and two children.
Meanwhile, the European Parliament is demanding France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen return funds it says she has misspent, by paying an aide at the National Front party's headquarters in Paris.
Mr Sarkozy is the second French president to be put on trial since 1958, when the current French republic was established.
Former leader Jacques Chirac was given a two-year suspended prison sentence in 2011 for diverting public funds and abusing public trust.
Profile: Nicolas Sarkozy | A French judge has ordered ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy to stand trial in an illegal campaign finance case. | 1.374623 | 1 |
It happened when medics were called to Ruthin Road in the early hours, the Welsh Ambulance Service said.
Manager Karl Hughes said the ambulance, a "precious resource", had been taken off the road for repairs following the "malicious act".
Witnesses were asked to call North Wales Police on 101. | "Irresponsible" thieves vandalised an ambulance and stole its blue lights while paramedics were dealing with a medical emergency in Wrexham. | 0.477421 | 0 |
9 January 2016 Last updated at 13:03 GMT
The new music list, which aims to showcase the rising stars to watch in the year ahead, was put together by 144 UK based music industry experts from newspapers, magazines, blogs and commercial radio and TV.
It is not the first time the 24-year-old from Buckinghamshire has been tipped for glory, having picked up both the Brits Critics' Choice prize for 2016 and the BBC Introducing Award.
The BBC caught up with the rising star at his West London studio.
Video production by John Galliver and Alex Stanger | Jack Garratt has been named as the winner of the BBC Music Sound Of 2016. | 0.746387 | 1 |
The team at Duke University, in the US, showed immune cells which start attacking nutrients in the brain may be a trigger for the disease.
They say their findings could open up new avenues of research for a field that has not developed a single drug to slow the progression of the disease.
Experts said the findings offered new hope of a treatment.
The researchers indentified microglia - normally the first line of defence against infection in the brain - as major players in the development of dementia.
They found some microglia changed to become exceptionally adept at breaking down a component of protein, an amino acid called arginine, in the early stages of the disease.
As arginine levels plummeted, the immune cells appeared to dampened the immune system in the brain.
In mouse experiments, a chemical was used to block the enzymes that break down arginine.
They showed fewer of the characteristics of dementia such as damaged proteins collecting in the brain and the animals performed better in memory tests.
One of the researchers, Dr Matthew Kan, said: "All of this suggests to us that if you can block this local process of amino acid deprivation, then you can protect the mouse, at least from Alzheimer's disease.
"We see this study opening the doors to thinking about Alzheimer's in a completely different way, to break the stalemate of ideas in Alzheimer's disease."
However, the findings do not suggest that arginine supplements could combat dementia as the boosted levels would still be broken down.
Dr James Pickett, from the Alzheimer's Society said the study was "offering hope that these findings could lead to new treatments for dementia".
He added: "This study in animals joins some of the dots in our incomplete understanding of the processes that cause Alzheimer's disease, in particular around the role played by the immune system."
Dr Laura Phipps, from Alzheimer's Research UK, said the study was "interesting" and shed "more light on the mechanisms of immune system involvement in Alzheimer's".
But she cautioned clinical trials in people were still needed and that "the findings do not suggest that supplementation of the amino acid could mirror the benefits seen in these mice". | Tweaking the brain's immune system with a drug has prevented mice developing dementia, a study shows. | 3.028152 | 3 |
On Friday, police received a report that a girl, missing from an independent care home, had been abused.
The girl, who had been moved to the home from another part of the UK, was reported missing again on Saturday.
Police found she had been taken to an address in the town and raped by a group of men. Officers believe the two incidents may be linked.
All six arrested men have been released on bail until 29 October.
The girl is being supported by police and specialist agencies.
In 2012, nine men from Rochdale and Oldham were jailed for crimes including rape, trafficking and child sex abuse, with sentences ranging from four to 10 years.
Five others were jailed in 2013 after an investigation in Rochdale into the sexual abuse of a girl was reopened.
Earlier this year, Greater Manchester Police apologised after a report highlighted failures "at individual and force level" into its dealings with victims from 2008-2010. | Six men have been arrested after a 14-year-old girl in care was raped on two separate occasions in Rochdale. | 1.298266 | 1 |
The Dons shipped three goals in a frantic opening 11 minutes before Jonny Hayes pulled one back.
"But for that 10 minutes, we could have won the game," McInnes said.
"As bizarre as it sounds - you can't give Celtic a three-goal head start and expect to get anything - we had chance after chance, so we actually could have."
Hayes' sumptuous strike came after Dedryck Boyata, Stuart Armstrong and Leigh Griffiths earned the visitors a quick-fire lead.
Aberdeen were also denied a penalty when Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon felled Graeme Shinnie in the away box.
"We should get a penalty - big decision, it needs a big referee to make that decision and we didn't have that tonight," McInnes told BBC Scotland.
"For me, it was a stonewall penalty and we had plenty of the game left to really go and rattle them further."
Aberdeen have now lost all four league encounters with the Scottish Premiership champions this season and were comfortably beaten by Celtic in November's League Cup final.
McInnes' men will have one last opportunity to topple the Glasgow side in the Scottish Cup final on 27 May.
"I think we've been gradually getting closer to them in terms of getting a result," the Dons boss added.
"There are acceptable ways of losing and tonight was one of them, because we did recover and the players deserve credit for that.
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"But we do need to learn from the start - it might be the difference between getting a winners' medal in our pocket or not.
"I feel that game will make us more confident going into the final, even though we've lost.
"It needed to be a performance where they knew we were there, they felt us, they knew we were making contact, they knew we weren't going to get pushed aside and we took them on." | Derek McInnes says his Aberdeen side had enough chances to finish on the right side of their 3-1 loss to Celtic. | 0.983565 | 1 |
Lamara Bell, 25, was found critically injured in a car three days after it crashed last July and died later in hospital.
Her partner John Yuill, 28, was found dead in the car.
Police had failed to follow up a call received about the crash.
The couple were eventually discovered in the vehicle, close to the motorway at Bannockburn on 8 July, 2015.
The case was subsequently referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc).
The Lord Advocate will consider the findings of the Pirc's supplementary report before deciding what action to take.
Outcomes could include initiating criminal proceedings or ordering a fatal accident inquiry to be held.
A Pirc spokesman said: "The commissioner's investigators pursued numerous lines of inquiry, including why a telephone call made to Police Scotland on 5 July, 2015, which reported a car off the road, was not followed up.
"The commissioner also examined the procedures used by Police Scotland to log the particular call made on 5 July, 2015.
"The investigation also looked at the robustness of Police Scotland's missing person enquiry and why this was not linked with the information received in the telephone call."
The spokesman said "many different facets" of the incident had been explored.
He said: "The commissioner recognises that it has been a difficult period for the families of Mr Yuill and Ms Bell whilst the investigation has been ongoing and has appreciated the opportunities to keep them informed of progress through our family liaison support."
A statement on behalf of the Bell family said: "The pain of losing Lamara in such tragic circumstances will never go away, but with the completion of this supplementary report from the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, we are another step closer to knowing what happened to Lamara and John on that fateful day."
A statement from the Yuill family said they were "pleased" that the supplementary report had been submitted.
It added: "It will hopefully take us nearer to some insight or answers as to what happened with John and Lamara on 5th July last year.
"We would again ask for our privacy to be respected and to allow all those involved in the investigation to continue to do their jobs." | The findings of an "exhaustive investigation" into the circumstances of the M9 crash which killed two people have been submitted to the Lord Advocate. | 0.741697 | 1 |
Arrests were made under Operation Damson after an officer codenamed "John" set up a cafe in Salford as an intelligence-gathering base.
He used it to get to know criminals - some violent - dealing in drugs, guns, stolen goods and contraband alcohol.
Eleven men and two women were jailed at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday.
Tony Lloyd, Greater Manchester's interim mayor and police and crime commissioner, praised the "brave" undercover officer, who had "put himself at risk to bring these gangsters and gun-runners to justice".
"John" converted the cafe into a protein and supplement shop. His customers included 45-year-old Terence Hamer who boasted about his drug dealing and introduced him to other criminals.
He also frequented the former Unicorn Pub in Broughton, where he witnessed deals to buy and sell guns, bullets and drugs.
The officer, who had constructed an elaborate back story, himself was sold a shotgun, a pistol, a silencer and ammunition by a family of firearms dealers in Heywood.
Operation Damson, involving 200 officers, culminated in a day of arrests in September 2015, and 24 people were charged with offences.
Greater Manchester Police also seized seven firearms, heroin, cocaine, MDMA, amphetamines and cannabis worth more than £100,000 from properties across Salford.
Ch Supt Mary Doyle said: "The operation has removed seven guns from the streets of Salford and directly stopped countless further criminal acts occurring.
"To remove one gun from the streets is good news, to remove seven is immense."
Jail sentences totalling 135 years were handed down to the 13 people convicted.
They include:
A further six people are due to be sentenced later this month. | Thirteen members of Greater Manchester's criminal underworld have been convicted after a police officer's three-year undercover operation. | 1.147829 | 1 |
Josh Todd's brace of strikes had Annan seemingly in control.
Lewis Guy appealed in vain for a penalty which could have finished the game before Sean Higgins headed one back for Clyde.
Strikes by Scott McLaughlin and Higgins turned the match on its head only for substitute Weatherson to curl in a superb 25-yard free-kick. | Peter Weatherson salvaged a draw for Annan Athletic after they had earlier let a two-goal lead slip against Clyde. | 0.025822 | 0 |
Muhammadu Buhari said he was prepared to swap militants who are in custody for the girls.
The more than 200 girls were seized during a raid on a school in the north-eastern town of Chibok in 2014.
Previous efforts by neighbouring Chad to broker a deal with Boko Haram to secure the girls' release failed.
Speaking on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly meeting in New York, Mr Buhari said that splits within the ranks of Boko Haram, which is affiliated to the Islamic State (IS) group, made it difficult to hold talks with them.
"Government had reached out, ready to negotiate, but it became difficult to identify credible leaders. We will welcome intermediaries such as UN outfits, to step in," Mr Buhari said.
The UN has not yet commented on his request.
In August, IS said that Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau had been replaced by the younger Abu Musab al-Barnawi.
Mr Shekau denied this, insisting he was still the leader.
The abduction of the schoolgirls led to the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, that was supported by US First Lady Michelle Obama and Pakistani Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai.
So far only one schoolgirl, Amina Ali Nkeki, has been found.
An army-backed vigilante group stumbled across her in May in the huge Sambisa Forest, close to the border with Cameroon, as she was looking for wood to make a fire.
She was with a baby, and a suspected militant who identified himself as her husband.
Boko Haram had previously said that some of the girls had been enslaved or "married off" to fighters.
Foreign governments, including those from the US and China, had promised to help Nigeria search for the girls when they were abducted while preparing for the school exams in Chibok in April 2014.
Boko Haram has been fighting since 2009 to create an Islamic state, but it has lost most of the territory under its control in the last 19 months following an offensive by a multi-national force. | Nigeria's president has called for the UN to mediate with militant Islamist group Boko Haram to secure the release of schoolgirls it is holding captive. | 1.531557 | 2 |
The 38-year-old, who has won the County Championship five times with Yorkshire and Notts, has taken 736 first-class wickets in his career.
"In any sport it's about winning and success - and right throughout my career I feel I've had my fair share," he told the club website.
Yorkshire could win a third successive title if they beat Middlesex this week.
"There would be no better place to do it than the home of cricket, in front of the TV cameras and we'll be giving it everything we can," Sidebottom added. | Former England seam bowler Ryan Sidebottom has agreed a new one-year contract with Yorkshire. | 0.6826 | 1 |
"Indian Muslims will live for India and die for India," Mr Modi told CNN in his first major broadcast interview.
Earlier this month, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri said al-Qaeda in India would "raise the flag of jihad".
India issued a security alert in several states after the announcement.
Correspondents say that although al-Qaeda has no presence on the ground in India, there is concern it is trying to reach out to disaffected Muslim youths, especially in Kashmir and Gujarat.
"My understanding is that they are doing injustice towards the Muslims of our country. If anyone thinks Indian Muslims will dance to their tune, they are delusional. Indian Muslims...will not want anything bad for India," Mr Modi told the news channel, which aired excerpts of the pre-recorded interview on Friday.
Islamic militant groups operating in India are mostly connected to Kashmiri separatists and have links, tenuous at best, to al-Qaeda via Pakistan-based groups.
Mr Modi said the threat from Islamist groups was a "crisis against humanity, not a crisis against one country or one race". | Indian PM Narendra Modi has dismissed al-Qaeda's plan to set up an Indian branch, saying that the group was "delusional" to think that Indian Muslims "will dance to its tune". | 1.431347 | 1 |
The 29-mile section runs from Hardmuir, near Nairn, to Fochabers.
It is expected the contract will be awarded in the spring, with the next stage of route assessment then getting under way.
The work forms part of a wider project to build 88 miles of dual carriageway between Inverness and Aberdeen.
Infrastructure Secretary Keith Brown said: "This major contract marks a further milestone towards the dualling of the A96 with all the investment and improvements that will bring to the Highlands and north east of Scotland."
Last year, a £30m contract was awarded to design 19 miles of dual carriageway between Inverness and Nairn. | Four bidders are in the running for a £50m contract to design a stretch of the proposed A96 dual carriageway in Moray. | 1.228922 | 1 |
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You can send us your questions about whatever interests you and BBC News will try to answer them. | What questions do you have about trade deals and globalisation that you would like BBC economics correspondent Andrew Walker to investigate? | 0.50527 | 1 |
The four-time champion did about 40 laps at Ferrari's Fiorano test track before Thursday's accident. Pirelli said he "simply lost control".
Vettel could give no further details of what happened, but said: "All good. I have no injuries or ailments."
The car, a 2015 model modified to simulate 2017 downforce levels, was too damaged to continue with the test.
That meant the plan for Ferrari reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi to have his first taste of an F1 car on Friday had to be called off.
The Pirelli spokesman said the company was evaluating potential technologies aimed at the 2018 season, including new tread patterns and rubber compounds.
Vettel's crash was on his first lap out of the pits after a break for lunch. The weather was cold - the temperature was 4C - and it has been suggested that a lack of temperature in the tyres could well have been a contributing factor.
F1 tyres have to be at the right temperature to operate effectively and the temperature in Maranello on Thursday was in the region of 10C cooler than F1 cars would ever normally encounter at even the coolest Grand Prix.
The Pirelli spokesman also said that one of the technologies the company was trying that day were tyres that operate without the use of the heating blankets that have been used in F1 for many years to ensure they are at close to operating temperature as possible when they leave the pits.
Pirelli has modified its wet-weather tyres for the 2017 season in response to widespread criticism from drivers of the 'extreme' tyre, which is used in the worst conditions.
Vettel described the tyre at last year's British Grand Prix as "basically just good enough to follow the safety car", adding that "no-one really has any trust in it".
The issue arose again following a number of crashes during the soaking race in Brazil in November.
The problems have led to F1 giving Pirelli more test days to try out tyre developments. One of the eight pre-season test days in Barcelona at the end of this month and the beginning of March has been dedicated to this. | Ferrari have been forced to cancel a Pirelli wet-weather tyre test following a heavy crash by Sebastian Vettel. | 1.103949 | 1 |
Now Priests, who include two women members, have issued a tongue-in-cheek response to the musical mistaken identity,
Photos of the three NI clerics appeared on music websites to promote a US tour by the band.
The US band said they "extend warm wishes to our brethren 'The Priests'".
The band added: "We appreciate that they recognize us as Priests despite the fact some of us are women."
The band's new album, Nothing Feels Natural, is released next January.
The record is described as "expanding on their lo-fi post-punk bona-fides with ideas drawn from pop, R&B and industrial noise".
The band's website uses the unholy URL of www.666priets666.com.
Northern Ireland group The Priests debut album in 2008 became the fastest selling debut album by a classical act in the UK and featured versions of Ave Maria, Pie Jesu and Abide With Me.
One of their members, Fr Eugene O'Hagan, told the BBC that fans had contacted the trio over how to get tickets for their non-existent US gigs.
"It would be a whole new audience if we walked out on stage. Or if they walked out on stage, with our fan base, there might be a few heart attacks in the audience."
He added: "They're a very different band from us. I Googled them the other evening to find that they're described as singing with tempered tension, thoughtful rage and relentless energy.
"I think the only thing we have in common with them might be the relentless energy."
Songkick, one of the websites involved in the mix-up, said the gig listings had been removed "with immediate effect". | They're the Washington DC punk band caught up in a bizarre mix-up with Northern Ireland religious music group The Priests. | 0.950773 | 1 |
Mr Justice Stephens awarded Tom Elliott £48,750 compensation following a tweet by Sinn Féin's Phil Flanagan.
The Fermanagh MLA posted the message after Mr Elliott appeared on a BBC radio programme in May 2014.
Mr Elliott served in the UDR for 10 years, between 1982 and 1992. He is now the MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone.
Mr Flanagan's tweet read: "Tom Elliott talks to @StephenNolan about the past.
"I wonder if he will reveal how many people he harassed or shot as a member of the UDR."
The tweet was taken down from Mr Flanagan's Twitter account within an hour being posted.
However, Mr Elliot said that, despite the tweet being removed, it remained accessible on the internet, social media sites and political blogs.
On Wednesday Mr Justice Stephens ruled that Mr Flanagan's tweet was grossly defamatory.
The judge said: "To state that a senior politician, who had been the leader of a political party in Northern Ireland, was responsible for harassing and shooting people during his service with the UDR (Ulster Defence Regiment)... is a most serious libel."
Deciding that the comments merited £75,000 in damages, the judge reduced that figure by 35% to reflect steps since taken by Mr Flanagan, including his ultimate apology and offer to pay damages.
He awarded £48,750, but put a stay on any payout until Mr Flanagan resolves his legal action with insurers used by assembly members over a refusal to indemnify him. | The High Court in Belfast has awarded almost £50k in damages to a former Ulster Unionist leader over a defamatory message posted on Twitter. | 1.147625 | 1 |
The six disabled people bringing the judicial review will question the legality of the move to close the Independent Living Fund from 2015.
More than 19,000 people in the UK get payments from the ILF.
The government says councils, which administer most social care, will take over funding this help.
The claimants fear disabled people could be forced out of independent living arrangements and into residential care, or trapped at home by the fund's closure.
Questioning the legality of the consultation and subsequent decision by the government, the court challenge will argue:
The Department for Work and Pensions says help for disabled people has been fundamentally changed by personal budgets, intended to give recipients more control, and that it makes sense to have a single system administered by local authorities.
The ILF was established in 1988, but the government decided in 2010 that it had become "no longer appropriate or sustainable" to keep running the scheme outside the mainstream social care system.
The fund closed to new applicants soon afterwards.
Richard Hawkes, chief executive of disability charity Scope, said councils could not afford to "pick up the tab".
"Local care and support for disabled people is already underfunded to the tune of £1.2bn and councils are already struggling to cope.
"Not getting the support to wash, dress and leave your home is unacceptable. The government needs to invest more in social care to prevent disabled people being condemned to a life without basic dignity and invisible from society."
The ILF pays out an average of £300 a week per recipient. | The High Court is to begin hearing a challenge to government plans to scrap a £320m scheme that helps people with severe disabilities live independently. | 1.784457 | 2 |
Karen Betts becomes the first woman in the organisation's 105-year history to take on the role.
Currently stationed in Rabat, the St Andrews University alumni has spent the past 16 years working for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
She is due to take over the post in May after David Frost stepped down from the job in November 2016.
The organisation, which is currently taking legal action to halt the Scottish government's plans for a minimum alcohol price, claims the whisky industry contributes nearly £5bn a year to the UK economy.
Ms Betts said she was thrilled to be representing one of Scotland's most important industries, at home and overseas.
She added: "It's an exciting and challenging time for the Scotch Whisky industry, and I am looking forward immensely to helping ensure its success into the future.
"I am also delighted to be moving back to Edinburgh with my family."
SWA chairman, Pierre Pringuet, said Ms Betts would bring "fresh leadership".
He added: "Her wide international experience will be particularly valuable as we work with government to grow the Scotch whisky industry globally and make a success of the UK's exit from the EU." | The British ambassador to Morocco has been named as the new chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association. | 1.059061 | 1 |
Two 10-second clips released on Twitter have stoked anticipation that they are a preview of the real thing.
Tweeted by @bouncing2016 and featuring a nodding boxer dog as he follows a bouncing girl, they have left people guessing.
They were publicised a day after a student's project on an advert for the chain caused confusion when it went viral.
The store's full-length ad is due to be released on Thursday, but a spokeswoman would not confirm any detail about the teaser clips.
The clips certainly had a warm welcome from many on Twitter, where student Jack Stevens tweeted: "This year's @johnlewisretail ad is already 1000x better than last year's because DOG. ðŸ | It may only be short, but the John Lewis Christmas advert is again the subject of lengthy seasonal speculation. | 0.712 | 1 |
The Indomitable Lions will be keen to avoid a repeat of the tepid start to their opening game of the tournament which they lost to Chile.
"I hope we start the game better than we did against Chile.
"The first 20 minutes were almost disastrous and if we didn't have a bit of luck on our side, we could have been 3-0 down.
"I hope against Australia that from the first second of the game we will seek to dominate," the Cameroon coach told a news conference on Wednesday.
Cameroon lost 2-0 to Chile in Moscow on Sunday, eventually giving up two late goals, and with Australia losing 3-2 to Germany on Monday in the other Group B tie, Thursday's clash in St Petersburg is a must-win for both countries.
"I've seen a few games of Australia and there is a lot of enthusiasm in the team, a fighting spirit, so it's a very difficult team to play against.
I hope against Australia that from the first second of the game we will seek to dominate
"It's a different style than three days ago when we played Chile.
"But again we'll need to be on our highest level if we are to beat them, and we have to beat them to keep up our chances to go further than the first round.
"If we don't have a victory against Australia it's finished for us.
"We know what to do but it'll be a tough game," Broos added.
Cameroon have also been warned by the coach not to regard the match against Australia as the easiest of the three group games they play at the Confederations Cup in Russia.
"We have already been warned not to treat Australia as the lowest ranked side in our group and anyway, often that sort of ranking can be decisive," added midfielder Sebastien Siani at the pre-match conference.
"Sometimes the team that is supposedly the weakest can upset the odds so we are not going to be complacent.
"We are taking it seriously because we know they also need a good result."
Cameroon play their last game in Group B against Germany in Sochi on Sunday.
The top two in the group advance to next week's semi-finals. | Cameroon will seek to impose themselves early on in Thursday's match against Australia at the Confederations Cup," said coach Hugo Broos. | 0.946516 | 1 |
22 April 2016 Last updated at 07:01 BST
Shakespeare expert Michael Rosen tells Leah why his plays are still so interesting - he tackles the big stuff like love, death, greed and hate!
We also learn all about the sayings and words we use today that he might well have been responsible for. | It's 400 years since the Shakespeare's death and his writings are still as popular as ever. | 1.376405 | 1 |
Andrew Whiteford, 31, had been free nine months when he robbed a village shop in Dumfriesshire at knifepoint.
He apologised after holding up the Co-op in Kelloholm in August.
Whiteford must serve 40 months before he is eligible for parole. The judge told him not to assume he would be released at the end of that period.
The lifelong restriction order, imposed by Lord Uist at the High Court in Edinburgh, means that Whiteford will be closely monitored if he is granted parole and can be returned to prison if he commits any further offences.
Whiteford, who was first jailed for robbery when he was 18, was assessed as posing a high risk to the safety of the public.
The judge said: "It seems that nothing will stop you committing armed robbery."
The drug addict had earlier admitted assaulting a shop assistant and robbing her of £300.42 while brandishing a knife.
The court had earlier heard that he bought a yoghurt before demanding the cashier put money in a bag.
As he left he said: "I'm sorry about that."
Whiteford's defence counsel said he robbed the shop to pay off a drugs debt.
He had robbed another employee at the same shop in 2011 and was sentenced to four years in prison. | An armed robber has been jailed indefinitely after targeting the same store that earned him his previous spell in prison. | 0.756583 | 1 |
The Bundesliga club announced on Monday that the midfielder was in Manchester and had not joined their pre-season training camp in Austria.
City manager Pep Guardiola confirmed on 21 July he wanted to sign Sane.
The 20-year-old helped Germany reach the semi-finals at Euro 2016, having made his international debut in November.
He told Schalke sporting director Christian Heidel earlier this summer that he wanted to leave the club, according to German media.
Sane, a product of the youth system at Schalke, made his senior debut for them in April 2014.
He scored eight goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances last season as Schalke finished fifth, missing out on Champions League qualification for the second year in a row.
Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox. | Leroy Sane is close to completing a move to Manchester City from Schalke for a fee of £37m plus add-ons. | 1.059709 | 1 |
More than 300 posts will be on offer from 30 employers at the SSI Task Force Jobs and Skills Fair at Middlesbrough College on Wednesday.
About 2,200 jobs were lost in October when Redcar's SSI Steelworks closed.
Chair of the SSI Task Force, Amanda Skelton, said it was a "great opportunity" to match people with jobs and to find retraining opportunities.
Previous job fairs held to help steel workers and contractors have resulted in more than 200 posts being filled. | A recruitment fair is being held in Middlesbrough in a bid to find jobs for hundreds of redundant SSI steelworkers. | 0.860127 | 1 |
"Aberdeen are a very direct team," said Scotland's manager of the year.
"There is no real sequence of passes. The ball from behind is in the air, the ball down the sides is in the air, so you're having to deal with a lot of long-ball football.
"I'm very proud of the team, how they stood up to it."
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In an astonishing start to the final league meeting between the teams who will contest the Scottish Cup final on 27 May, Celtic fired in three goals in the opening 11 minutes.
Dedryck Boyata's third-minute header, Stuart Armstrong's side-footer five minutes later and Leigh Griffiths' strike from outside the box looked to have all but sealed a 44th domestic match unbeaten for the league champions.
However, Jonny Hayes immediately curled a shot beyond Craig Gordon to spark life into the Dons as they looked to end Celtic's run of three league wins and one League Cup final victory over them this season.
Rodgers acknowledged that Hayes' goal had given the hosts "momentum" but added: "It wasn't a pretty game but it showed we had the courage to stand up to it and get the result. We showed a different side of our game tonight.
"It was an outstanding defensive performance, not one of our better football performances, but sometimes it is very difficult to do that, when a team is constantly going long with it.
"When we came here earlier in the season we had to cope with similar, the direct ball from behind.
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"They don't really construct the game and build it. It's a long ball forward, on to the sides and get the crosses into the box.
"It's a different way totally from how we will play the game but it's a game we have to play against and defend."
Prior to the match, the Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes had intimated that, with captain Ryan Jack absent from midfield, his team "might have to bypass the midfield area and get to Celtic a bit quicker". | Brendan Rodgers praised his players for meeting the challenge of Aberdeen's "long-ball football" as Celtic reached 100 points with a 3-1 win at Pittodrie. | 1.097856 | 1 |
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust came under fire following the death of Connor Sparrowhawk, who drowned in a bath at Slade House in Oxford.
Its boss Katrina Percy resigned last month after public pressure.
Previous interim chairman Tim Smart also stood down after he was criticised for creating a new job for Ms Percy.
Now Alan Yates, who is currently the trust's Improvement Director, has been appointed as his successor.
Anne Eden, executive regional managing director for the south at NHS Improvement, said he would lead a review into how the trust delivers services.
"The trust has some excellent staff working hard to improve services for patients," she said.
"We want to work with them, plus those who use the services and their families, to help design their future."
She added that Mr Yates has more than 35 years managerial experience within the NHS and has been chief executive of three different trusts.
The review is due to conclude early next year and a spokesperson said it could result in a "transformation" of the trust.
July 2013 - Connor Sparrowhawk, 18, drowns after an epileptic seizure at Oxford unit Slade House. An inquest later rules neglect contributed to his death
11 December 2015 - The BBC reveals details of a leaked Mazars report which highlights a "failure of leadership". Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt says he is "profoundly shocked"
17 December 2015 - The report is officially published and shows out of 722 unexpected deaths over four years, only 272 were properly investigated
6 April 2016 - The Care Quality Commission (CQC) issues a warning notice to significantly improve protection for mental health patients
29 April 2016 - A full CQC inspection report is published, which says the trust is continuing to put patients at risk
30 June 2016 - Following a review of the management team competencies, it is announced that Katrina Percy is to keep her job
29 July 2016 - The BBC reveals the trust paid millions of pounds in contracts to companies owned by previous associates of Ms Percy
30 August 2016 - Ms Percy announces she is standing down as chief executive, but is staying on in an advisory role
19 September 2016 - Interim chairman Tim Smart resigns after admitting he created a job for Ms Percy
7 October 2016 - Ms Percy resigns completely from the trust | An NHS trust criticised for failing to properly investigate hundreds of deaths has appointed an interim chairman to review its services. | 1.245961 | 1 |
Qiang Gao, 39, attacked the co-worker in the kitchen of the Szechuan Express takeaway in Thatcham, Berkshire in May.
The victim, 40, suffered severe head injuries including a fractured skull and had a finger partially severed.
Gao, of Acorn Drive, Thatcham was found guilty of attempted murder at Reading Crown Court.
Adrian Foster, chief crown prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: "There is no doubt that, with the force used, Gao intended to kill the victim.
"Gao clearly acted out of blind retaliation in a grossly disproportionate manner and is undoubtedly an extremely dangerous man."
Gao was arrested on 28 May and charged with attempted murder the following day.
He denied attempted murder, claiming self-defence, but was found guilty by a jury after a five-day trial. | A man who struck a colleague in the head with a meat cleaver after a row over a chicken has been jailed for 11 years. | 0.613218 | 1 |
Five bronze medals are guaranteed in the boxing with Lauren Price the first Welsh female boxer to medal.
Sean McGoldrick, Ashley Williams, Joe Cordina and Nathan Thorley are also guaranteed bronze.
Gold medal hope Robert Weale lost in his attempt to defend his singles lawn bowls title.
The 51-year-old has won six medals at previous Games, including singles gold at Delhi 2010, but lost 21-11 to Australia's Aron Sherriff.
Another Welsh defending champion lost in a preliminary round, as Dai Greene failed to reach the 400m hurdles final.
Reigning Commonwealth boxing champion McGoldrick won his bantamweight quarter-final.
He claimed a split points decision over South Africa's Ayabonga Sonjica to proceed to the semi-finals and guarantee at least a bronze medal.
Fellow boxers Williams, Cordina, Thorley and Price also secured bronze after winning their quarter-final bouts.
But Charlene Jones lost a split decision against India's Laishram Devi in the lightweight division.
Delhi gold medallist Greene trailed in fifth in his race after a build-up wrecked by injury.
Greene recently won on his return to competition after three hernia operations last year.
"I knew I was playing catch-up from a few months ago and to be honest I didn't expect to be here four months ago," said Greene.
Bowler Weale had got his campaign back on course with a 21-18 win over Dalton Tagelagi, but he failed to overcome Sherriff.
Wales women's pairs are through to the lawn bowls quarter-finals after beating the Cook Islands 14-13 and drawing with England 15-15.
The triples team narrowly lost to South Africa 14-13 but followed that up with a 14-13 win against New Zealand to qualify for the semi-finals.
In the athletics stadium, Brett Morse has qualified for the discus final. His throw of 59.85 metres was well below his personal best, but it was enough to get him through.
And Joe Thomas lines up in the semi-finals of the 800m.
Clinton Purnell finished seventh in the artistic gymnastics men's individual all-around final.
Wales' bronze-medal winning artistic gymnasts Georgina Hockenhull and Lizzie Beddoe finished sixth and eighth in the women's individual final. | Wales have reached their target of 27 medals and are guaranteed to win at least 32 after day seven of the Commonwealth Games. | 0.97228 | 1 |
Jennings batted through the entire day for 185 not out as the north-east county reached 452-8, a lead of 301.
He put on 117 with Paul Collingwood (61) and 156 with Usman Arshad, whose 84 was also a career-best.
Arshad was eventually caught behind off Ben Coad, the 22-year-old debutant's first wicket in Championship cricket.
Durham began the day on 98-3, still 53 in arrears after conceding a first-innings lead of 151, but by the close had ensured that all three results will be possible on the final day.
Michael Richardson was soon run out by Coad from square leg but, crucially, Collingwood escaped on 19, when wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd was unable to hold a difficult high chance off Josh Shaw.
Jennings reached his fourth Championship hundred of the summer off 228 balls after Collingwood finally fell lbw to Kane Williamson, and also saw Ryan Pringle (20) bowled by Tim Bresnan with the new ball.
Yorkshire had to wait 36 overs for their next success when Arshad departed, but they could not find a way to dislodge Jennings, who has so far batted for eight hours and 43 minutes, faced 367 balls and hit 19 fours. | Opener Keaton Jennings made the highest score of his career as Durham turned their match against Yorkshire on its head on day three at the Riverside. | 0.630571 | 1 |
The 15th Century oil painting has been valued at £3.3m.
Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said: "This distinctive painting is the only example of St Luke drawing the Virgin Mary and Christ by a Northern European artist on display in this country."
An export licence application will be deferred until 26 February 2016.
The decision follows a recommendation by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest.
Spokesman Lowell Libson said: "This painting includes not only a painter making a drawing - a study from 'life' - but also a delightful passage which reveals a tantalising glimpse of a painter's studio."
The painting depicts St Luke drawing the Virgin Mary and Christ, a popular subject in 15th Century Netherlands.
Bouts was one of the leading and most influential painters of this period and is considered a pioneer of the oil painting technique.
The export bar may be extended until 26 June 2016 if a serious buyer in the UK is found. | The government has placed an export bar on a rare painting of St Luke Drawing the Virgin and Child by artist Dieric Bouts. | 1.519167 | 2 |
David Cowling, 76, committed the offences while he was the head teacher at Balnacraig School in Perth.
The court was told his relationship with one victim was so blatant he was forced to resign, but it was not reported as a crime for four decades.
The sheriff told Cowling he had "abused the trust" of vulnerable children.
Cowling admitted he had been involved in a sexual relationship with one of his pupils, but claimed that nothing of a sexual nature had taken place with her before she was 16.
He also admitted taking her to a hotel for the weekend of her 16th birthday.
However, the jury at Perth Sheriff Court unanimously found the former head teacher guilty of grooming the girl and becoming involved in a sexual relationship with her before she turned 13.
The woman, now in her 50s, said Cowling had sexually abused her at various locations, including a caravan which was parked in the school grounds.
Further incidents took place during trips to Glasgow and Arisaig in the early 1970s, the court was told.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said that she was made to feel special by Cowling and only realised it was wrong when she left the school.
His crimes came to light when a second woman, who is also now in her 50s, decided to report Cowling's attacks to police and a full investigation was launched.
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told him: "At the time you were the headmaster of the establishment. The children under your control were put there because they were in the care system.
"They were vulnerable individuals. You were in a position of trust and undoubtedly you abused that trust.
"It is very clear your behaviour towards the complainers undoubtedly had an effect on their day-to-day lives from that time onwards."
Cowling, from Perth, was found guilty of two sex offence charges at the Perth residential school.
His counsel Lucy Keane said: "As a result of a mistake and a lack of judgment he has paid a high price for it." | A head teacher who sexually assaulted pupils at a school for vulnerable children more than 40 years ago has been jailed for two years. | 1.06769 | 1 |
The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) said it expects Shared Services Connected Ltd (SSCL) to close offices in Cardiff, Sheffield and Leeds, with job losses elsewhere.
The firm is a joint venture between the Cabinet Office and Steria UK.
SSCL said it was "entering a consultation period" with employees.
The firm was formed last November by a deal between the UK arm of French IT services group Steria and the Cabinet Office, with the aim of cutting the costs of the UK government's back office functions.
The joint venture handles commercially sensitive documents in procurement and tendering, as well as finance and personnel services for departments including the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), Defra and the Environment Agency.
The PCS says all 105 former DWP staff in Cardiff will be made redundant as will the 239 former DWP staff at the firm's Sheffield office.
The office in Leeds will also close, with all 68 former Environment Agency workers being made redundant.
Job losses will also take place at SSCL offices in Blackpool, Newcastle, Peterborough and York, according to PCS.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "Not only is this devastating for the individuals who face being thrown out of work, it will be a major blow for local economies losing hundreds more jobs.
"Despite the government's recent claim that it wants businesses to bring jobs back to the UK, ministers appear happy to send civil service work overseas in a cynical move to exploit the inferior pay and employment conditions that workers abroad face."
PCS held a one-day strike outside the offices in October 2013 ahead of the announcement of the 10-year contract going to Steria.
Workers at the Cardiff office confirmed to BBC Wales that they had been told about its closure and the job losses, saying they were very upset about it.
In a statement, SSCL said: "We are entering a consultation period with our employees.
"We are looking at ways to mitigate job losses and the final number of job losses will not be confirmed until this process of consultation and exploration of redeployment opportunities has been concluded." | Five hundred former civil servants across England and Wales are to be made redundant as their new employer shifts the work overseas, claims a union. | 1.038605 | 1 |
Emily Benn, 24, has been selected to stand in next year's general election for Labour in Croydon South.
She was elected as a councillor in Croydon this year but will need to overturn a 15,818 Tory majority to join her uncle Hilary Benn in the Commons.
In 2010 she unsuccessfully contested the East Worthing and Shoreham seat.
Ms Benn's father, Stephen, is Tony Benn's eldest son. Her great-grandfather William Wedgwood Benn and her great-great-grandfathers, Sir John Williams Benn and Daniel Homes, were also MPs .
Sir Richard Ottaway, who is standing down next year, won Croydon South in 2010, with Labour coming third behind the Liberal Democrats.
Ms Benn said she was "delighted and honoured" to have been selected.
"It's obviously a challenge for Labour, but I firmly believe that there should be no 'no-go' areas."
She said it was "insulting" to suggest the local party selected her because of her famous surname or that there was extra pressure.
"The pressure and responsibility comes from the people who voted for me as their candidate and from Labour supporters," she added.
In the Commons last month, Prime Minister David Cameron referred to the fact that Will Straw, son of former Labour Home Secretary Jack Straw, and Stephen Kinnock, ex-party leader Lord Kinnock's son, were also seeking election in 2010.
He described Labour's political dynasties as the "same families with the same message". | The grand-daughter of the late Labour stalwart Tony Benn is to make a fresh attempt to become the fifth generation of her family to sit in the Commons. | 0.954766 | 1 |
Natalie Hemming, 31, was last seen alive in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, on 1 May. She was found dead on 22 May.
Jurors at Luton Crown Court were shown CCTV of Paul Hemming, 43, with the children at Whipsnade Zoo.
Mr Hemming, of Milton Keynes, admits manslaughter but denied murder.
He wept in the dock as the video footage was shown.
During a police interview on 4 May, soon after Miss Hemming was reported missing, he told officers: "I deny all allegations of murdering Natalie Hemming or causing her harm."
In another interview shown to the court, he told detectives the dog had soiled a rug missing from the house.
When asked about 13 spots of blood on the coffee table he answered that it could have come from any member of the family.
The court was told Mr Hemming was overheard in the cells saying "I suppose I'm going to be charged with murder now", but then refused to acknowledge he had said this.
The court also heard a statement from John Goalby, who found Miss Hemming's body in woodland at Tom's Hill, Chandler's Cross on 22 May, while he was cutting the meadow using a quad bike towing a grass cutter.
He said he could smell rotting flesh and thought it could have been a deer.
When Mr Goalby found the body he saw dark hair, arms and fingers. The body was in a position where it looked like it had been dragged.
Mr Hemming has admitted obstructing a coroner in the execution of his duty and preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body.
The trial continues. | A man accused of murdering his partner took her children to the zoo the day after he is alleged to have killed her, a court heard. | 0.843715 | 1 |
Will Strutt, 25, from Heybridge, Essex, posted on Tesco's Facebook page about his experience in the reduced fruit and veg aisle in the Maldon branch.
The supermarket replied with a poem, saying they were "not worthy to bask in your glory and fruitful findings".
The post has attracted hundreds of comments, the Essex Chronicle reported.
Read more on this story
Mr Strutt said his fruity bounty was put to good use as dessert for his family, with the remaining strawberries being frozen for use in breakfasts.
His post claimed "minstrels will write songs about this day", and went on to recount the rivalry he had with a "rival dad" who also had en eye out for the yellow sticker gun labelling items as reduced.
"Then I saw it, in all its golden aura, the promised land," he wrote.
"The previously empty reduced fruit and veg hotspot contained a tray of strawberries, not 25% off, not 50% off but 10p... a box!"
He told Tesco: "You enjoy that 80p, buy yourself something nice & treat yourself.
"For today you levelled me up and my newly upgraded bargain skills will no doubt allow me to live like a king for the rest of my days."
In response, Tesco made a poem out of the tale of his experience.
"But there is one question left / For bargaining is an art / With all the fruit you have now / Will you make Pimms or Tart?," it read.
Mr Strutt said he had not expected such a response, thinking he would "only get ribbed by friends and family".
The post went on to gain more than 2,400 Facebook likes and hundreds of shares and comments.
"We ended up having a bit of back and forth," he said. "I was very impressed with the way they handled it - it showed the less corporate side of things."
Mr Strutt is now planning on creating more posts as his regal bargain-hunting character with the aim of "making people smile and having fun". | A supermarket shopper has become the self-proclaimed "king of the yellow stickers" after purchasing punnets of strawberries worth £16 for 80p. | 1.465134 | 1 |
Whelan, 28, joined Notts in 2015 and has won three international caps.
"Fern has been a steady rock at the back and fits in perfectly back line," said manager Rick Passmoor.
The Spring Series sees teams play each other once in a one-off, six-week transitional competition before the WSL's switch to a winter calendar.
For top-flight teams, the Spring Series runs over six weeks, from 23 April until Saturday, 3 June. | England defender Fern Whelan has signed a new contract to keep her at Notts County Ladies until the end of the 2017 Spring Series. | 0.529842 | 1 |
Marvyn Iheanacho, 39, is accused of causing fatal head and stomach injuries to Alex Malcolm in Mountsfield Park, Catford, on 20 November last year.
Witnesses in the park heard a "child's fearful voice", loud banging and a man screaming about the loss of a shoe, Woolwich Crown Court was told.
Mr Iheanacho denies murder.
The jury heard the 39 year old, of Hounslow, was in a relationship with Alex's mother Lilya Breha and would often stay in her flat in Catford.
CCTV captured Mr Iheanacho taking Alex on three separate buses to the park where they arrived at about 17:12 GMT.
Prosecutor Eleanor Laws QC said the pair then went to the play area because Alex lost one of his trainers and Mr Iheanacho "lost his temper and violently assaulted the boy."
She told jurors there were no witnesses or CCTV footage of the attack but said there was "clear evidence...the defendant lost his temper with Alex before he sustained his injuries."
One witness described how she saw Mr Iheanacho bending down and "raging at the child who was very quiet", the court was told.
Ms Laws said the witness's partner also heard "loud banging and a male voice screaming about the loss of shoes and a child's fearful voice saying 'sorry'".
"At some point, whether during this confrontation or between this confrontation and the next sighting of the defendant... the boy had received extreme injuries," she said.
Judge Mark Dennis QC told jurors the main issue in the case was how Alex sustained the injuries.
The trial continues. | A five-year-old boy was battered to death by his mother's boyfriend in a south-east London park after he lost his trainer, a court has heard. | 0.529502 | 1 |
Carol Conway, 52, fell 20ft (6m) at Pontcanna House Care Home, Cardiff, in 2012 as she reversed May Lewis, 96, in her wheelchair.
Owner Dr Nasik Al-Mufti was fined £100,000 in August for breaching health and safety regulations.
Care Council for Wales said her actions were not deliberate or reckless.
Mrs Lewis, who had been at the home for just five days, broke 52 bones and died.
Mrs Conway, who had been a carer for 29 years, broke her back, ribs, left foot and punctured her lung and was left unconscious.
"I will be in pain for the rest of my life. I can't do anything like I used to," she said.
"The money doesn't mean a thing to me. The most precious thing we have is our health.
"I know I am very lucky to be alive but life has changed so much because of that terrible accident. I take 32 tablets a day and I am never free from pain.
"I still have terrible nightmares thinking of May and her family. I am constantly plagued by that terrible day.
"Poor May Lewis should have died peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her loved ones; not with 52 broken bones at the bottom of a dark, damp lift shaft."
Mrs Conway had worked at Pontcanna House for three years.
Dr Al-Mufti was the joint owner of the care home with her husband when in early 2012 there were problems with the home's platform lift.
A Care Council for Wales hearing in Cardiff last month was told an engineer had advised the doors on the second floor could not be used, but staff routinely used an emergency key to override it when they did not open.
The hearing was told Dr Al-Mufti "acquiesced but did not encourage" the use of the emergency key override. | A carer has been awarded more than £50,000 in compensation after plunging down a lift shaft at a nursing home in a fall where her patient died. | 1.209101 | 1 |
Julie Saunders said she alerted staff after her son spotted a mouse sticking its head out from under a door at Hull Royal Infirmary.
She said: "It was a bit of a shock really, you don't expect mice in a hospital."
A spokesman at Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust said a pest control team had been called in.
More on this and other local stories from across East Yorkshire and Hull
Mrs Saunders said staff put blankets along the bottom of the door to stop them getting in, while she put her legs up on the chair to avoid contact with the rodents.
She and her son spotted two mice, while other patients reported seeing four.
The trust said: "As a result of the incident we contacted our local pest control service immediately.
"The team are currently on site working hard to ensure any disruption is minimal and we are aiming to reopen the unit as soon as possible." | Mice have been spotted running around a ward of a hospital day surgery unit, forcing it to close for the day. | 1.180234 | 1 |
Gordon Strachan names his squad on Thursday for the friendly fixtures with Italy and France and midfielder McLean, 24, is keen to add to his one cap.
That is despite Aberdeen facing a Europa League qualifier on 30 June.
"If I'm selected I would jump at the chance," said McLean, who made his international debut in the 1-0 win over Czech Republic in March.
"Of course I want to be involved. Players pull out at this stage of the season but for me it's an honour to be in that category.
"It's something every young player should want to do. Every Scottish player should want to represent their country and I'm no different."
McLean will play his 45th game of the season for Premiership runners-up Aberdeen against Hearts on Thursday, with the Dons ending their season at home to Ross County on Sunday.
But the early start to next season means their summer break is likely to only last until the middle of June.
Scotland play Italy in Malta on 29 May, then France in Metz on 4 June.
"They're really exciting games to be involved with, so hopefully if I've been selected I'll be able to take part in the games," said McLean.
"If I'm not selected it'll make me want to work harder. Last time I got the opportunity and it was a great experience and I want more of that in the future.
"It's not long (the summer break) but we need to use it well. It's been a long season for us but there's still two games to go. I don't think there's too many heads thinking of the break, but when it comes it'll be nice."
The Dons have made it as far as the Europa League third qualifying round in the previous two seasons before succumbing to Real Socieded in 2014 and Kairat Almaty in 2015.
"When we come back the European games will be there for us and it's a great occasion," added McLean.
"I think we'll be confident going into it, we've done well the last couple of years in Europe but we want to go that step further.
"The group stages will be what we want. We'll see how the draw is and we'll take it from there." | Aberdeen's Kenny McLean is willing to shorten his summer break in order to be part of Scotland's upcoming matches. | 0.807072 | 1 |
Mixu Paatelainen succeeded Jackie McNamara but United are 13 points adrift at the foot of the table.
Thompson apologised to supporters for "abysmal" performances.
"We have failed miserably on the pitch with only three wins in 25 league matches and an early exit from the League Cup," said Thompson.
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"The current position [in the league] is wholly unacceptable."
United fell to a 3-0 home defeat by Motherwell at Tannadice on Tuesday and have 13 league games remaining this season.
Paatelainen took up the managerial reins in October and described as "wonderful" returning to manage a club he starred for as a player.
Thompson, in a statement on the club's website, challenged the playing squad to preserve their top-flight status and restore their reputations.
"It is not where Dundee United should be under any circumstance," the chairman added.
"The board and myself have made certain decisions in the last 18 months which in hindsight were incorrect but were made for the greater good of the club and with the ambition of maintaining our position at the top of Scottish football, something we have done successfully for the last eight years.
"This included supporting a playing squad that commands the third highest wage bill in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
"However, we have failed miserably on the pitch with only three wins in 25 league matches and an early exit from the League Cup. Performances such as last night simply cannot be tolerated.
"The current playing squad now have 13 matches to preserve the club's Premiership status and redeem their own professional reputations."
Speaking following Tuesday's defeat by Motherwell, Paatelainen said: "We were very flat and that performance was not acceptable.
"The first two goals were set-pieces and it's cost us. It's been the story of the season conceding goals like that and it's simply not good enough." | Stephen Thompson says Dundee United's squad have "13 matches to preserve the club's Premiership status and redeem their own professional reputations". | 0.925408 | 1 |
The attack took place in a flat in Waterside Place at about 06:30 on Monday 9 January.
The man in the image is described as white, in his 20s, of slim build, with short brown hair.
He is about 5ft 8in tall and was wearing a green polo shirt under a dark jumper and a black Lacoste jacket.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland. | Police have released a CCTV image of a man they want to trace after a woman was seriously assaulted in the Gorbals area of Glasgow. | 0.280962 | 0 |
At least 80 people died in the fire on 14 June, although the final toll will not be known for many months.
Nearly 400 holidays have been offered by the Grenfell Tower Holiday Appeal Facebook Group, set up by Angie Mays and Kay Gilbert from Devon.
The man and his family will have a week in a cottage in Marsden, Yorkshire.
More on the holiday offer for Grenfell victims and other Devon news.
The firefighter's wife, who wishes to remain anonymous to protect her husband, said: "What Kay and Angie have done from the kindness of their hearts will help so many families at such a distressing time in their lives.
"This has been the most horrific job of my husband's career and he has been utterly broken by it - as we all have - trying to support him emotionally, and trying to understand what he has been through, not to mention praying he comes home in one piece.
"Thanks to the utter kindness of these wonderful ladies and all of the generous donations to this cause, we will be able to go away for a week as a family for some much needed R&R.
"This means the world to me that I can take them away from it all, if just for a moment."
Ms Mays, a fundraiser from Ilfracombe, said short-stay offers have come mainly from small businesses, B&Bs and guesthouses all over the UK, but also in Spain and Cyprus, adding that other firefighter families are also in the process of taking up offers.
Other donations include counselling sessions, beauty treatments and meals.
Separate Facebook groups have been also set up to provide holidays in Cornwall and the Highlands. | A firefighter "utterly broken" by the Grenfell Tower blaze is to take up the offer of a free holiday with money raised by members of the public. | 1.123939 | 1 |
The former Champion Chase winner (10-3), trained by Gary Moore and ridden by his son Jamie, passed the post first.
However, there was a lengthy stewards inquiry after he clashed with runner-up Special Tiara as they jumped the final fence.
The pair battled it out to the line but Moore's mount hung on for victory and the stewards ruled in his favour.
Sire de Grugy, whose last win had come at Chepstow in February, had looked strong from way out after challenging Special Tiara, who set the early pace.
However, the 2013 victor jumped strongly left at the last fence and clashed with his rival in midair, leaving connections with some anxious moments before the result was confirmed to continue the trainer's recent good run of form.
"He always jumps left, he's jumped a bit left again at the last," said the winning jockey. "I thought Special Tiara was going to get by me, but he's toughed it out. He went again when Special Tiara got to me.
"This horse is my best mate."
Nina Carberry, who was bidding to become the first woman to win a Group 1 steeplechase in the United Kingdom, finished fourth on Somersby.
Earlier at Aintree, Highland Lodge (20-1) won the Becher Handicap Chase in the first race of the season over the Grand National fences at Aintree.
The Jimmy Moffat-trained horse, ridden by Henry Brooke, was victorious on his first start since being acquired by owners Bowes Lodge Stables last month.
"Jimmy Moffat did the hard work, and it was my job just to keep hold of his head," Brooke told Channel 4 Racing.
"I thought he had a good chance on that ground. I got to two out and thought: 'He's got some engine on him'."
Pineau De Re, the 2014 Grand National winner, and, at the age of 12, the oldest horse in the race, was an early faller at the second fence.
The brave effort of Highland Lodge provided a major pot for the small Cumbrian training operation of Jimmy Moffat who rides the nine year-old himself most days.
Moffatt hopes to return to the big fences at Aintree "for the big one" in April though he might need a hike up the official ratings to get in.
An indication of the unpredictability of these obstacles came when Pineau de Re (12th and first in the last two Grand Nationals) fell at the second here.
Happily, like all the rest, he and his jockey were fine. | Sire de Grugy showed a return to winning form with a second victory in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown. | 1.08947 | 1 |
The 23-year-old England player led fans in three chants which mocked rivals Tottenham. He later apologised.
Wilshere was found guilty by the FA of making and/or inciting comments which brought the game into disrepute.
He had a similar outburst last year, and has been "severely warned" by the FA about his future conduct.
Wilshere admitted a misconduct charge after taking to the microphone during the parade last month.
He was spoken to by Arsenal staff after this latest incident but the club said they would not be taking action.
The Gunners secured a record-breaking 12th FA Cup win by beating Aston Villa 4-0 at Wembley on 30 May. | Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has been fined £40,000 after singing offensive songs during the club's FA Cup victory parade in London. | 0.46943 | 0 |
Roedd Mr Corfield, 19 oed, wedi mynd ar goll yn ystod y Sioe Frenhinol yr wythnos ddiwethaf.
Fe wnaeth Tîm Achub Mynydd Aberhonddu ganfod ei gorff mewn pwll dwfn yn Afon Gwy dros y penwythnos.
Doedd neb wedi gweld Mr Corfield ers iddo adael tafarn Y Ceffyl Gwyn yn Llanfair-ym-Muallt yn ystod oriau mân fore Mawrth, Gorffennaf 25.
Gydol wythnos y Sioe bu plismyn, timau achub a gwirfoddolwyr yn chwilio am y gŵr ifanc o Drefaldwyn.
Dywedodd yr heddlu fod ei deulu yn cael cefnogaeth swyddogion arbennig ers cael gwybod am y darganfyddiad.
Dywedodd y teulu mewn datganiad: "Roedd James yn ddyn ffarm ac yn ddyn teulu - ffermio oedd ei fywyd, ac roedd e'n caru anifeiliaid yn angerddol.
"Roedd ei ymweliad â'r Sioe Frenhinol yn uchafbwynt iddo - ac roedd gweld y defaid a'r ieir yn cael eu barnu'n rhywbeth yr oedd yn edrych ymlaen yn arw ato.
"Aeth i'r Sioe Frenhinol bob blwyddyn drwy gydol ei fywyd, ac mae gennym atgofion melys o fynd ag ef yn blentyn y byddwn ni'n eu trysori am byth
"Roedd James yn gricedwr brws a dawnus, ac roedd e'n chwarae i Glwb Criced Trefaldwyn.
"Yn ddiweddar, derbyniodd wobr Cricedwr y Flwyddyn Rhanbarth Dau Swydd Amwythig, a gwobr chwaraewr ifanc y flwyddyn y gynghrair yn 2016, sy'n gamp aruthrol ar gyfer rhywun o'i oed ef, ac yn rhywbeth yr oedd yn falch iawn ohono.
"Byddwn ni'n gweld eisiau James yn ofnadwy, ac mae ein calonnau wedi torri."
Fe wnaeth y teulu hefyd ddiolch i'r gwirfoddolwyr fu'n helpu chwilio amdano ac am y negeseuon caredig, gan ofyn hefyd am breifatrwydd. | Mae Heddlu Dyfed Powys wedi cadarnhau mai corff James Corfield gafodd ei ddarganfod yn Llanfair-ym-Muallt ddydd Sul. | 0.579359 | 1 |
Derbyshire chairman Chris Grant said the findings came from market research conducted by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) into the game's popularity.
"More kids these days can recognise a WWE wrestler than the England captain," Grant told BBC Radio Derby.
"Only a third could recognise Alastair and I think we've got to improve that."
He added: "That was a fascinating statistic they gave us."
English cricket is poised to get a new eight-team Twenty20 competition, which, if approved, could start as early as 2018, in an attempt to boost the profile of the sport.
The tournament would run alongside the existing 18-team T20 Blast and would be held at city-based Test grounds, but Grant is unfazed by the potential impact on one of English cricket's smallest counties.
"I think a lot of the negativity surrounds the fact that people feel that this will be the death of Derbyshire County Cricket Club," he said.
"I really don't see it that way. I think actually it could lead to 18 counties becoming stronger, a lot stronger and certainly more financially sustainable.
"The devil will be in the detail, there's a lot of work at the ECB still to be done. We don't know where these teams will be based, we don't know what they'll be called.
"In principle I think it's the right way to go and gives Derbyshire the best chance of preserving their first-class status long-term."
Encouraging people to play and watch cricket should be a priority for those involved in taking the game into a new era, according to Grant.
"The game has got some real challenges, participation is falling really dramatically and we've got to unlock a new audience," he continued.
"At the moment there are 990,000 people in this country who have attended a game in the recent past, but there are 9.4m people who describe themselves as a cricket follower.
"We're not really unlocking that extra 8.5m, and I think we've got to come up with something fresh and new to actually get them involved and get them to come and attend a game." | WWE wrestlers are more recognisable than England Test captain Alastair Cook, according to new research. | 1.253137 | 1 |
It happened as the lorry drove under a 19th Century stone bridge known as The Cut.
PSNI Banbridge posted a photo of the damage on Tuesday, with the caption: "Looks like we are going to need a bigger sign. The Cut 3, Lorries 0'.
"Usually people exaggerate their height, not think they are smaller."
The lorry in question appears to have some damage to its roof.
In November a prison service van hit the bridge and lost its roof. The following day a second lorry became stuck under the bridge.
At the time officers used the image as a warning to drivers of other high-sided vehicles, advising them to know the height and dimensions of their lorries before passing under bridges. | A low bridge in Banbridge, County Down, has been hit by a vehicle for the third time in less than a year. | 1.575444 | 2 |
The bank announced a net profit of 5.35bn euros ($7.05bn; £4.48bn) for 2011, down from 8.18bn euros in 2010.
It said it had made a 1.8bn euro provision against property exposure in Spain and had written off 600m euros relating to its businesses in Portugal.
Spain has struggled since its property bubble burst in 2008.
Banks took on land holdings from bankrupt developers, but have struggled to offload most of their property assets.
Economy minister Luis de Guindos has said new provisions to cover losses on real estate assets could cost Spanish banks up to 50bn euros.
Santander is better-placed than other Spanish banks to absorb greater provisions as it has thriving businesses outside its home market.
Group revenues increased by 5% to 44.3bn euros.
Santander also reiterated that it had already achieved the 9% core capital ratio required by the European Banking Authority, six months ahead of schedule.
The provisions were made in the fourth quarter, meaning that its profit for the last three months of 2011 fell 98% to 47m euros from 2.1bn euros in the last quarter of 2010.
In the UK, pre-tax profit for the year fell 42% to 1.57bn euros (£1.32bn), after the bank put aside £538m post-tax for compensating customers who were mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI). | Santander has revealed a 35% fall in annual profits after the group took extra provisions for deteriorating real estate assets in Spain. | 1.20004 | 1 |
Stena Line said two flagship vessels used on the Cairnryan-Belfast service were included in the upgrade.
Most of the work was carried out at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast.
Paul Grant, the company's Irish Sea north route manager said: "Over the last five years alone Stena Line has invested more than £250m in its Irish Sea business."
He added: "The latest investment commitment of £6m is to help keep our Belfast fleet operating at optimum performance levels and ensures that our leisure and freight customers continue to benefit from award winning facilities and service."
In addition to the Cairnryan route, the ferries also sail from Liverpool and from Heysham to Belfast. | A £6m refit of seven ferries used on Irish Sea crossings is due to be completed over Easter. | 0.936108 | 1 |
The watchdog says Unique International College misled students about loan repayments and the cost of courses, calling its conduct "unconscionable".
Media reports say it will ask the college to repay A$57m (40.6m; £26.6m) in government funding.
The college has not yet commented.
A claim against the college has been filed in the federal court following an investigation by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and New South Wales Fair Trading.
According to a statement on the ACCC's website, the college enrolled more than 3,600 students in diploma courses during the 2014-15 financial year, which earned it A$57m in government funding.
But fewer than 3% of students graduated in the second half of last year.
The ACCC alleges that college sales agents went door-to-door and offered free laptops as an incentive to sign up for online courses.
Many of the people it targeted were from Aboriginal communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of New South Wales. Some were illiterate or with disabilities.
Those alleged to have been targeted include a 19-year-old disabled man, under the care of his grandmother, who was signed up for a student loan despite not being informed of the course or the college, Fairfax media reports.
According to court papers, students would be asked to sign forms that some did not understand, and were not made aware that they would be liable for up to A$25,000 in debt repayments under the government's VET FEE-HELP scheme once they were earning more than A$54,000.
The ACCC accuses the college of engaging in "misleading or deceptive or unconscionable conduct" when selling the diploma courses.
"It is important that colleges are upfront with prospective students and clearly explain the price of the courses they are offering," said NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe.
"Consumers need to be able to fully understand what they are agreeing to before making a decision to sign up to a course. The VET FEE-HELP loan incurred by students is a lifetime debt." | A private college in Sydney has been accused by Australia's consumer watchdog of mis-selling diploma courses to vulnerable students, earning itself millions of dollars in federal loans. | 1.631461 | 2 |
The move had been expected in the wake of the UK's vote to leave the European Union, which Mr Abe had warned would have a negative impact on Japan's economy. But this amount far exceeds earlier estimates.
Shares in Tokyo jumped on the news, but economists have raised concerns about whether it will have any real impact.
Full details of the package won't be released until next week, but the impact may not be felt immediately.
Some media reports say that almost half of the funds will include spending by local and national governments. That could mean building new infrastructure projects - which won't directly affect economic growth.
Japan has been in a two-decade-long slump of low prices and low wage growth, and consumer spending accounts for 60% of the economy.
But many consumers feel nervous about spending their money because they're insecure about their financial future.
That's despite three years of Abenomics - the term coined to describe Mr Abe's three-pronged fiscal, monetary and structural approach to fixing the country's economic woes. The three elements are:
Even a controversial move in January to push interest rates below zero by the Bank of Japan failed to stimulate the economy, and get people spending again.
Economists say Japan's problems are much bigger and more complicated than the government is willing to acknowledge - and that Mr Abe needs to implement tough reforms, like getting more women in the workforce and allowing more foreign workers in, to boost growth in the world's third largest economy.
News about the stimulus package comes as speculation mounts that Japan's central bank - the Bank of Japan - could push interest rates even further below zero when it holds its monetary policy meeting this week. | Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said his government will introduce a 28tn yen ($265bn; £200bn) package to boost the flagging economy. | 2.068603 | 2 |
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The American recorded his first victory since taking charge in October to lift the Swans off the bottom of the table and on to nine points from 13 games.
He said: "I see the win as a turning point in so many ways.
We felt pure ecstasy today
"Sometimes you feel like you need something crazy and maybe this game can be that moment."
Bradley added: "It has been a difficult season and a lot of things have not bounced the right way.
"But we still show up every day with a great mentality and I couldn't be happier for that group."
Swansea had led 3-1 but trailed 4-3 before Fernando Llorente scored twice in stoppage time to earn their second win of the season.
"I have been on both sides of games like that, so I understand how Palace feel," added the former USA coach.
"As far as we are concerned, it was a huge victory and one which the group thoroughly deserves.
"However, when I see the deflection off Jack Cork's head [for Palace's third goal], there is a moment when you think we just need some luck to turn things around.
"In the end the character of the players shone through and I am very happy for them."
Dutch midfielder Leroy Fer, who scored twice in two minutes to give Swansea a 3-1 lead, said: "This result is a good springboard, we have to keep going and moving forward.
"It was heartache for us when Everton equalised late on last week, but we felt pure ecstasy today." | Swansea's dramatic 5-4 win against Crystal Palace can revitalise the Welsh side's Premier League campaign, says manager Bob Bradley. | 0.825906 | 1 |
Elaine Davison, 55, from Pontefract, was fatally injured in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, in November 2010.
Edward Davison told an inquest the branch, which was about 4m (13ft) long, fell into the road in front of them during heavy gales.
He said his wife told him: "Don't let me die, will you?"
"I said 'no, I won't'. That's one of the hardest things.
"It's the first time I've ever had to lie to her and I can't take it back," he said.
More news from across Yorkshire
Mrs Davison was injured as the tree hit their Vauxhall Zafira on the A642 Aberford Road on 11 November.
A statement by Mr Davison was read out in court by Coroner David Hinchcliff which described the difficult driving conditions as the couple of 30 years returned from visiting their daughter in hospital.
It recounted how Mrs Davison "appeared nervous" before there was a "banging and crashing sound" as the branch fell.
Mr Davison said the windscreen collapsed inwards and he could see something "wood-like" pressing against his wife's stomach.
He went into a "blind panic" as his wife struggled for breath and she held onto the branch and implored him to "get it off".
Wakefield Coroner's Court heard he "frantically" broke off small branches to get to his wife before flagging down a passing ambulance.
Attempts were made to resuscitate Mrs Davison as she was taken to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
A post-mortem examination found she died from injuries consistent with her abdominal wall being pierced.
The inquest was adjourned until Tuesday. | A man has recalled how his wife pleaded with him to save her life when she was impaled on a tree branch that had smashed through their car windscreen. | 0.99946 | 1 |
Wales, showing 14 changes from the 39-21 defeat to New Zealand, lost 40-7 to a Chiefs side missing eight All Blacks.
"Players were given a chance to make a statement and put their hand up for selection for Saturday," said Gatland.
"A few questions were answered for us in terms of fringe players and where they're at at the moment."
Wales take on the world champions in Wellington, before another Test match against Steve Hansen's side in Dunedin on 25 June.
The Chiefs, two-time Super Rugby champions, outscored Wales by six tries to one in Hamilton.
Lock forward Jake Ball was helped from the field midway through the second half to compound the misery for Wales.
Gatland admitted the midweek game was "disappointing", having billed it as an opportunity for his squad players to push for a starting place this weekend.
"We created some chances, particularly in that first half, but we weren't clinical enough in terms of finishing," said the Kiwi.
"They defended well and when the chances came their way they were excellent. They dominated us at collision time.
"I think a number of players will have learned a lot from that experience."
Wales have conceded 16 tries in three games and Gatland says everyone in the camp must think about how they can improve.
"There is no doubt the players in that changing room are hurting and not just the players that took to the pitch, but the players that were watching as well - and all the staff," the 2013 Lions coach said.
"The challenge is how we respond to that and that's what we've got to do on Saturday.
"They've got to be honest about looking themselves in the mirror, look at that performance and [think about] what they learned and how do they apply it to be better players in the future.
"And we've got to do exactly the same as coaches too." | Wales coach Warren Gatland says fringe players missed a chance to push their selection claims for the second Test with New Zealand against the Chiefs. | 1.030101 | 1 |
Speculation regarding a new league came after Tuesday's meeting of officials from the Gunners and Premier League rivals Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United.
A representative from the International Champions Cup series was also involved.
An Arsenal spokesman said: "Discussions were primarily around the ICC and formats of European competitions."
The ICC involves matches between several high-profile European clubs played, predominantly, as pre-season tournaments worldwide.
Any impetus for a breakaway league is believed to come from clubs in mainland Europe due to the current financial strength of the Premier League.
"Not Arsenal, nor any clubs at the meeting, are seeking changes to the Premier League and European landscape and no conversations surrounding displacing the Premier League or starting a European super league took place," added the Arsenal spokesman.
Uefa, European football's governing body, said it had no concrete proposals to change the format of its European competitions, but was constantly reviewing the situation.
"We have just gone into a new three-year cycle for Champions League and Europa League, so we cannot offer any further comment at this stage," said a Uefa spokesman.
The Premier League's new broadcasting deals, worth more than £8bn in total and due to take effect from the beginning of the 2016-2017 season, will dwarf the current financial rewards on offer for a successful European campaign.
The Premier League declined to comment. | Arsenal say they are "strongly opposed" to the formation of a breakaway European super league. | 1.277942 | 1 |
The Home Office has been looking at a legal aid funding request for the families ahead of inquests into the 21 deaths and a decision is expected to be made this month.
But campaigners said without legal aid they would not have representation.
A pre-inquest review is due to be held next month.
The relatives want their lawyers, who have so far worked free of charge, to be paid out of public funds, in the same manner as police and other agencies who will be in involved in the inquests.
Q&A: Birmingham bombings inquests
Campaigner Julie Hambleton, from Justice 4 the 21, said: "All families involved in this horrendous atrocity should be able to effectively participate but without funding, without our legal team, we won't be able to do that so we may have to either just not attend or ask for an adjournment."
Twenty-one people died and 222 were injured when the bombs exploded at the Mulberry Bush and The Tavern in the Town in 1974.
Six men were convicted and then acquitted of the atrocity and no-one has since been convicted of involvement in the bombing, which is widely attributed to the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
In June, Birmingham's senior coroner ruled there was evidence that still needed to be heard and gave the go-ahead for fresh inquests. | Relatives of the Birmingham pub bombing victims say they may not take part in forthcoming inquests if they do not get public funding for their legal team. | 1.513131 | 2 |
Surman, 28, arrives back at Dean Court having previously spent two spells on loan at the Championship club.
He spent last season with Bournemouth, making 39 appearances, and was also at the Cherries during the 2005-06 season.
The former England Under-21 international started his career at Southampton before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2009.
Surman joined Norwich in 2010 and made 58 appearances for the Canaries. | Bournemouth have signed Norwich midfielder Andrew Surman for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal. | 0.465022 | 0 |
It was addressed to "Marconi Operator, RMS Titanic" and stamped on 11 April 1912 - the day after the ill-fated ship set sail from Southampton.
What the parcel originally contained is unknown, but it is believed to have missed the sailing by a few hours.
A spokesman for the auctioneers said there had been a lot of interest in what was "a piece of history".
An internet bidder from the UK eventually paid £3,100 ($4740) for the label, after John Nicholson's Auctioneers in Fernhurst, West Sussex, opened bidding at £50 ($764).
The parcel was sent by the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company in Chelmsford to the radio operator of the White Star liner.
Unsuccessful bidders included a group hoping to turn the old Marconi building in Hall Street, Chelmsford, into a museum.
The auctioneer's spokesman said the item was of interest to both Titanic and Marconi enthusiasts.
"It's a pleasing result - it's got the story behind it, the only thing we don't know is what was in the parcel".
Also included in the lot were photographs of Marconi telegraph operator, Alec Bagot, and the telegraph equipment from on board Titanic's sister ship RMS Olympic.
The label was given to the vendor's mother, who lived in Southampton, by the first officer of the Olympic. | The label from a parcel destined for an officer on the Titanic has been sold at auction for more than £3,000 ($4590). | 1.94385 | 2 |
About 200,000 letters will be included in bills sent out to council tax payers.
The SNP called for the letters to be pulped but the coalition backed the move to send them.
Labour council leader Barney Crockett insisted it was the right decision.
He said: "We are completely confident that what we are doing is not political campaigning."
SNP and Lib Dem councillors walked out the meeting after it was decided to hold the discussion on the letters in private.
SNP group leader Callum McCaig said: "It's beyond pathetic, this is an out of control administration."
Aberdeen City Council is run by a coalition of Labour, the Conservatives and independents. | The Labour-led administration on Aberdeen City Council is to press ahead with sending out letters endorsing a "No" vote in September's independence referendum. | 0.842731 | 1 |
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1 July 2014 Last updated at 16:43 BST
The country's largest union, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), claims that more than 200,000 members are striking. | Engineering and metal workers in South Africa have gone on strike after talks on Monday failed to reach an agreement over pay. | 0.66774 | 1 |
The 23-times Isle of Man TT winner will again ride Honda machinery as he moves ever closer to the late Joey Dunlop's all-time record of 26 wins.
Speaking at the event's launch in Douglas, he said he would be "disappointed" not to add to his tally.
The 43-year-old won both the Senior race and TT Zero class in 2015.
On his way to victory in a shortened four-lap race Senior race, he also set a new absolute course record of 132.701mph in the process.
His victory took him level with Mike Hailwood's record of seven Senior race triumphs.
McGuinness, who turns 44 this week, said: "I feel strong. I'm not the fittest guy in the world but when I get on the bike I feel 21 again".
"I spoke to Joey's wife last week and she gave me the family's blessing. Joey was a national treasure and it might upset some if I caught his record, but records are there to be broken.
Joey Dunlop died in Tallinn, Estonia, in 2000 while leading a 125cc race - his death coming just weeks after he secured a hat-trick of TT wins - aged 48.
McGuinness will be competing in six races at this year's event, which will be his 20th year of competing.
He added: "Even with all my experience, I will still have butterflies - you never know what will happen and the quality of the field is getting better every year."
"I 100% want to win and I believe I can. I will be disappointed if I don't reach the top step this year." | Morecambe rider John McGuinness has said he is still hungry for success as he prepares for another tilt at Isle of Man TT glory next month. | 0.95254 | 1 |
His son Ned told the Hollywood Reporter he died at his home in Los Angeles on Christmas Day.
The actor also played Harry the barkeeper in the US sitcoms All in the Family and Archie Bunker's Place between 1976 and 1983.
Wingreen provided the voice of the bounty hunter Boba Fett in The Empire Strikes Back.
He only had four lines of dialogue but the character has become a favourite with his own fan club.
But in 2004 when director George Lucas re-released the original trilogy, Wingreen's voice was was replaced by actor Temuera Morrison, who played Boba's father, Jango Fett, in the prequel films.
The role of Boba Fett was physically played by English actor Jeremy Bulloch.
Wingreen also appeared in many US TV series. He was a regular on The Untouchables and appeared in the original Twilight Zone and Star Trek series.
He also had a recurring role in Matlock and appeared in Mission: Impossible, Ironside, Kojak, Dr Kildare, The Fugitive, The Man from UNCLE and Seinfeld. | Jason Wingreen, a character actor who voiced the Star Wars character Boba Fett, has died aged 95. | 1.095138 | 1 |
Eight people were hospitalised with smoke inhalation after the blaze at Lendel Place in the Govan area.
Police said a 42-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman were critical, while the other six are in a stable condition.
The fire service said 15 people were rescued from the four-storey property after a blaze in a basement flat spread at about 04:10 on Sunday.
About 25 firefighters tackled the blaze.
A fire service spokesman said some people on the upper floors were "attempting to escape smoke and flames" when firefighters turned up.
Eyewitness Tahir Aman told BBC Scotland: "There was just chaos. People who live up there were standing on the ledge, about five or six of them, waiting to jump out.
"But the lady from the ambulance told them not to."
Sana Mobeen, who lives next door, was treated for smoke inhalation.
She said: "My husband was up making milk for our wee one and suddenly he saw, through the kitchen window, fire coming out and the window exploded of a neighbour's house."
"We were sleeping, me and my son, and the lower window in our basement was just outside the house that actually caught fire so there was smoke coming inside where we were sleeping."
Ten residents of the flats were taken to a council rest centre until it is safe for them to return home.
Police said the affected people were taken to Ibrox Library before alternative accommodation was found.
Some of those rescued were taken down by ladders, the fire service said. Crews from six fire engines from across the city extinguished the blaze.
Brian Winter, the incident commander for Scottish Fire and Rescue, said: "The fire crews were met with a well-developed fire in a basement, which made conditions very challenging for them.
"Given the severity of this fire and the complications it presented, the quick actions of the crews in carrying out these rescues ensured that casualty numbers were kept to a minimum and the fire damage to the building itself was mainly restricted to the basement property."
The cause of the fire is unknown and a joint investigation between the fire service and Police Scotland is under way.
Paisley Road West reopened around 09:40 on Sunday. | Two people are in a critical condition in hospital after a fire at a block of flats in Glasgow. | 1.329103 | 1 |
Police said the man was being held over alleged offensive behaviour. He is understood to be among those pictured in a recent police CCTV images appeal.
Several appeals for information were made after toilets were vandalised at the game and offensive effigies of Rangers fans were hung from the stands.
The match, which Celtic won 5-1, took place at Celtic Park on 10 September. | A 23-year-old man has been arrested in connection with disorder at the recent Celtic v Rangers game in Glasgow. | 0.591031 | 1 |
Thirty firefighters tackled a blaze at a terraced house in Culdee Drive which was extensively damaged.
The man has been named locally as Barry Toal.
Neighbours put a ladder against a rear bedroom window in a bid to rescue Mr Toal who was inside the property, but he died in the fire.
Crews were called to the scene at 20:40 GMT on Friday. The ambulance service said two people were treated for the effect of smoke and fumes.
The NI Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) confirmed that five appliances were in attendance.
NIFRS Group Commander Mark Smyth said it was an "intense fire" and investigations as to how it started were ongoing.
The fire service said crews started operations on the first floor and roof space of the property.
It added that firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and using jets "were able to bring the fire under control quickly and prevent fire spread to adjoining properties, but unfortunately they discovered that a person had lost their life in the incident".
Crews attended from Armagh, Keady, Portadown and Lisburn. | A 55-year-old man has died following a house fire in Armagh city. | 0.849289 | 1 |
Mrs Cox had started work on the cross-party campaign before she was killed in her constituency last year.
The commission, in her memory, will work with 13 charities including Age UK and Action for Children to come up with ideas for change.
They will provide findings as part of monthly campaigns on people such as new mums, carers and the elderly.
'Sociable but lonely' - how it feels when loneliness strikes
The campaigners will put together a manifesto of the charities' findings and ask the government to look into ways of reducing the problem.
Research by the partners shows over nine million people say they are "always or often lonely", but two-thirds of those would not talk about it in public.
MPs want the report to be a call to action to encourage people to chat and start conversations. The commission is asking people to do more, for example knocking on a door or picking up a phone.
Mrs Cox's sister, Kim Leadbeater, said she wanted to continue the MP's legacy "by ridding society of loneliness one conversation at a time."
Mrs Cox, who was the Labour MP for Batley and Spen, suffered from loneliness when she went to university and was split up from her sister.
"It was one of those issues where she felt she could make a real difference," she told the BBC News Channel.
"I can't go back to normality because there is no normality without Jo, but what I can do is try and work to continue the good stuff that she did and try and make her proud."
Despite the family's "dark days", Ms Leadbeater said she would not be beaten by what had happened and that she would "come out fighting".
"I'm going to try and make some of the change and difference Jo can't make for herself anymore", she added.
The co-chairwoman of the campaign, Conservative MP Seema Kennedy, said loneliness could be "profoundly detrimental" on mental and physical health.
"If you are chronically lonely, it is as bad as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. You might have an increased risk of high blood pressure."
Mrs Cox was determined to shine a spotlight on how loneliness affects people of ages, Ms Kennedy said. | Colleagues and family members of the murdered Labour MP Jo Cox have launched a campaign to tackle loneliness. | 1.595845 | 2 |
An outline planning application to develop the Oxstalls/Plock Court sites in Longlevens has been handed in to Gloucester City Council.
It includes proposals for new sports facilities at the sites and accommodation for 200 students.
The university's business school will relocate from Cheltenham to the Oxstalls site as part of the scheme.
The allotments at Estcourt Park would be relocated to Debenham's Field, and traffic lights would be installed at the junction of Cheltenham Road and Oxstalls Lane.
A controlled parking zone on residential streets around the campus has also been proposed.
The plans have been submitted to the council after months of consultation.
Vice-chancellor, Stephen Marston, said: "This outline planning application presents an ambitious vision for the university, working with our partners, to achieve a major development of academic, sporting and amenity facilities for the city of Gloucester.
"The university is committed to playing an active part in promoting the economic, cultural and social wellbeing of the city and the county.
"These plans would enable us to achieve a step change in the contribution we can make."
A public consultation into the plans has been launched by the city council. | Plans for the University of Gloucestershire to develop sites in Gloucester have been submitted. | 1.046341 | 1 |
The 30-year-old had picked up two men and a woman in Hamilton Road, Cambuslang, and taken them to an address in Altyre Street at 02:00.
At the address one of the men produced a knife.
The taxi driver got out of the car, at which point a group of people came out of a property. They surrounded him before attacking him.
The group then went back inside the property.
The victim got back into his taxi and drove a short distance before stopping and calling an ambulance.
He was taken to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary for treatment to a stab wound. Medical staff have described his condition as stable.
The first male passenger is described as short, in his late 20's, of medium build and spoke with a Glasgow accent. The other male passenger also had a Glasgow accent.
Police described the female passenger as being about 5ft 4in and of slim build. They also said the trio were involved in the assault.
Det Insp Tom McKean said: "Why a group of people would target an innocent man in this brutal fashion is beyond me and we are currently working to establish the motive for this horrendous incident.
"This type of behaviour is disgraceful and simply will not be tolerated and our officers will do everything they can to find the people responsible for this despicable crime.
"I would appeal to anyone who was in Altyre Street or the surrounding area in the early hours of this morning, who may have witnessed a disturbance or saw anything suspicious, to get in touch." | A taxi driver has been stabbed in an attack by a group of men and woman who tried to rob him in Glasgow. | 0.745367 | 1 |
The competition, based in the north west of Northern Ireland, is aimed at teenagers and has grown in popularity over the years.
Its organisers estimate it is worth almost £2m to the local economy.
Ex-Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez said the cutbacks, in the same year that Northern Ireland qualified for the Euro finals, is disappointing.
"With Northern Ireland obviously in the Europeans this summer you would want a competition like the Foyle Cup to be growing and ever expanding and to find it financially cut at this moment in time seems like a bit of an absurdity," he said.
The grant the competition receives from Tourism NI has been cut from £20,000 to £10,000.
The organisers said the cut means the tournament will not be able to attract the same calibre of teams from abroad as in previous years.
A Tourism NI spokesperson said the majority of applicants seeking grants this year received less than they applied for. | Funding for this year's Foyle Cup youth football tournament has been cut by 50% by Tourism Northern Ireland. | 1.072788 | 1 |
Two sources told Reuters the company is leaning towards the UK plant, where it has invested heavily in recent years.
The company makes about 60% of its approximately 360,000 compact cars at the Cowley factory.
A BMW spokeswoman said: "A final decision has not been taken."
As well as Oxford, the company has built up an alternative manufacturing base in the Netherlands amid concerns about Brexit.
Reuters said its sources were "familiar with the company's thinking" and a final decision is due in September.
Between 2012 and 2015, BMW Group invested £750m to upgrade manufacturing sites in Oxford, Hams Hall and Swindon.
One source said: "If Mini became a fully electric brand in the long run, and Oxford only knew how to build combustion-engine variants, the plant would lose its relevance."
In March, the head of BMW in the UK, Ian Robertson, said the UK was "in a strong position but it's not the only production facility we have".
The company said it could also build the vehicle at a plant in the Netherlands, where a plug-in hybrid version of the Mini is already being built, or a plant in Regensburg, Germany.
The threat of further strikes at the Oxford plant ended last month when Unite members accepted a revised offer over the closure of their final salary pension scheme. | BMW's Oxford factory is the favoured location for building an electric version of the Mini, sources have claimed. | 1.224772 | 1 |
Bale scored his penalty as Real beat rivals Atletico in a shoot-out, having drawn Saturday's final 1-1.
The 26-year-old's next assignment will be the European Championship in France, his first major international tournament with Wales.
"We will be going for that title as well. Why not," Bale told BT Sport.
Victory in Milan gave Real their 11th European Cup title and Bale's second, after the Wales forward scored in their 2014 final win over Atletico.
There were concerns for his club and country when he struggled with cramp during extra time and appeared to hold his groin after scoring his penalty.
But Bale was fit enough to stay on the pitch for the whole match and join Joey Jones and Ryan Giggs in the list of Welshmen to win two European Cups.
"I can't feel a lot, I am cramping up," Bale said in the immediate aftermath of the game.
"What an amazing feeling. In extra time we showed resilience, what we are made of and winning the 11th [title].
"The boys gave everything. The club, the fans have been amazing on this journey and deserve it.
"Atletico gave it a great game and we feel a little bit sorry for them but you have to win a final.
"Some of their players were struggling but we tried not to show it too much. I was nervous after the penalty, not while taking it."
Bale's involvement in the Champions League final meant he missed Wales' training camp in Portugal as they prepare for Euro 2016.
Chris Coleman's side visit Sweden for a pre-tournament friendly on Sunday, 5 June, before kicking off their campaign against Slovakia in Bordeaux on 11 June. | Gareth Bale is targeting winning Euro 2016 with Wales after claiming his second Champions League title with Real Madrid. | 1.055965 | 1 |
Somali nationals are among those banned from travelling to the US under the executive order issued on Friday.
That had applied to Farah, who was born in Somalia, until the announcement by the UK Foreign Office late on Sunday.
Farah, 33, called Trump's policy "divisive and discriminatory".
Trump's executive order halted the entire US refugee programme and also instituted a 90-day travel ban for nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson held conversations with the US government on Sunday.
The Foreign Office then advised British travellers that dual citizens were only affected if travelling to the US from one of the seven banned countries.
"We understand from the statement released this evening by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that the executive order will not apply to Mo, and we are grateful to the FCO for urgently clarifying the situation," said a spokesperson for Farah, who has lived in Oregon for six years with his family.
"Mo is relieved that he will be able to return to his family once his current training camp concludes."
The statement added that Farah "still fundamentally disagrees with this incredibly divisive and discriminatory policy".
Writing on his Facebook page earlier on Sunday, Farah had said: "On 1 January this year, Her Majesty The Queen made me a Knight of the Realm. On 27 January, President Donald Trump seems to have made me an alien."
Farah said he believed Trump's policy "comes from a place of ignorance and prejudice" and that his own story was "an example of what can happen when you follow polices of compassion and understanding, not hate and isolation".
Farah, who moved to Britain aged eight, is at a training camp in Ethiopia as part of his preparations for August's World Championships in London, and is not planning to return to the US for a number of weeks. | Britain's four-time Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah says he is "relieved" he can return to his US home after it was clarified that President Donald Trump's travel ban did not apply to him. | 1.780769 | 2 |
Brendan Rodgers' side had already lifted the Scottish League Cup before securing the Premiership title with a 5-0 thrashing of Hearts on Sunday.
Celtic are in the Scottish Cup semi-finals, so a clean sweep is possible.
"It's our main goal now," Lustig told BBC Scotland. "We play for Celtic and every game we want to win."
Celtic are unbeaten domestically in both cup and league since the start of the season and face city rivals Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final on 23 April.
Asked if finishing the season unbeaten is realistic, despite Rodgers promising to rest some players before the end of the campaign, Lustig said: "Absolutely. It is going to be tough and we have to stay humble and remain focused, but we've got a big squad and people coming in who can do the job."
Previous manager Ronny Deila won two successive titles and Lustig believes performances have improved this season under Rodgers.
"The players got a lot more confident and the main thing is the manager and backroom staff work with us every day to keep us focused," said the Sweden defender.
"We knew we had really good players in the squad and we took in some players for this season who made a really big impact.
"But, even with the same players as last season, the confidence is much higher now."
Celtic also began their league campaign with a 2-1 win against Hearts at Tynecastle.
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"It has been a brilliant season and it's really nice to settle it here," said Lustig.
"We set up some goals before the season and the first game of the season was against Hearts here and it's really nice to win the title here as well."
Celtic have another Glasgow derby to contend with before the cup semi-final, with in-form Partick Thistle visiting on Premiership duty.
"It doesn't matter that we have won the league," said Lustig.
"We will focus again on Partick Thistle on Wednesday and getting three points there." | Celtic will target a domestic treble now they have secured a sixth successive league title, according to right-back Mikael Lustig. | 0.844212 | 1 |
The workers, all of them Dalits - formerly known as untouchables - collect garbage, sweep the city streets, clean the gutters, load and unload garbage trucks and work in the dumping grounds.
And "without exception, all of them despise their work", says photographer Sudharak Olwe who documented their lives over a period of a year. | About 30,000 conservancy workers, also known as sweepers, are employed by the civic authorities in the Indian city of Mumbai. | 1.342524 | 1 |
Two teams of celebrities will meet on 5 June to raise money for Unicef.
Mourinho will be assisted by Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce, with Soccer Aid co-founder Robbie Williams as coach.
"I want to be the first one to win the Soccer Aid trophy for both teams," said the Portuguese, who coached Rest of the World to a 4-2 win in 2014.
"Sam and I will make a very good partnership and it will be a great feeling for Claudio to finally lose a match."
Ranieri, manager of Premier League leaders Leicester City, added: "It is a great honour that Robbie Williams has asked me to manage the Rest of the World XI and I'm looking forward to helping them defend their title." | Jose Mourinho will manage England against Claudio Ranieri's Rest of the World side for this summer's Soccer Aid match at Old Trafford. | 0.760467 | 1 |
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29 October 2014 Last updated at 19:23 GMT
WHO's latest figure for infections is 13,703, mostly in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, with 70% of those infected dying.
South Africa's first black billionaire, Patrice Motsepe, donates $1m (£620,000) to Guinea to help the country fight Ebola.
Here is the latest Ebola news for Wednesday 29 October - in 15 seconds. | The rate of Ebola infections appears to be slowing in Liberia, the World Health Organization (WHO) says. | 1.285794 | 1 |
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The referee stopped the contest at the Titanic Exhibition Centre in the fourth round after the outclassed Slavchev lifted the Belfast man off his feet.
Flyweight Barnes, 29, had been on top against the Bulgarian who had lost 24 of 33 previous bouts.
Light-flyweight Jamie Conlan beat Hungarian David Koos on points.
The Belfast boxer was the victor on a unanimous decision and now awaits a final eliminator for a world title fight.
Marco McCullough defeated Luis Ligo in his fight for the vacant WBO Intercontinental featherweight championship when his opponent failed to come off his stool for the fifth round.
Barnes's professional bow was much anticipated after a distinguished career in the amateur ranks.
"It was hard to pin him down," said Barnes after the strange conclusion. "I was trying too hard to impress. You didn't see the best of me."
Earlier, Belfast's Steven Ward, 26, marked his professional debut with a points win over 31-year-old Bulgarian Merdjidin Yuseeinov.
Ward, who won silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, produced a steady display and was declared the winner by 40 points to 36.
Tyrone McKenna won the Celtic super-lightweight belt by stopping Dublin opponent Sean Creagh.
Unbeaten McKenna, 26, was well on top when Creagh's corner retired their man before the sixth and final round. | Double Olympic bronze medallist Paddy Barnes won his pro debut fight in unusual circumstances when opponent Stefan Slavchev was disqualified. | 1.049874 | 1 |
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