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It was not alert enough to the impact of collapsing steel prices and failed to push for EU action on cheap Chinese imports, the business committee said.
A spate of closures in the UK industry has led to at least 4,000 job losses in the last few months.
In response to the report, the government said the issue was "complex" and it had met "key industry asks".
Steel plants in Redcar, Scunthorpe and Lanarkshire have closed this year, with a combination of factors being blamed: falling demand, competition from China, high electricity costs and a strong pound.
"For too long the government failed to be alert to the alarms raised by the industry and act at home to maintain a steel industry in the UK when other European countries were acting to safeguard their own strategic steel industries," said Iain Wright, chairman of the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Committee.
"Industry isn't looking for a hand-out, it's looking for a level playing field. For too long there was little action from the government, with some asks from the industry taking years, if at all, to deliver," he said.
He added that although measures were now being taken, they were focused more on those who had lost their jobs rather than trying to keep factories operating.
China has been accused of pricing its imports at unfairly low prices. The BIS committee report said not enough had been done to push for a solution to this at an EU level, and that this needed to be dealt with if the UK was to have a viable future in the industry.
However, the government said that the "steel industry has been subject to complex global challenges which no one simple solution can solve."
A spokesman said that the government was "doing all it can to help the industry" but could not "dictate the commercial decisions, operations or financial performance of private companies".
"We have taken clear action on relief for energy costs, anti-dumping, procurement and EU emissions directives, meeting key industry asks," he added.
Both the Unite union and the steelworkers' union Community welcomed the BIS committee's report.
Gareth Stace, director of UK Steel, called for the "dumping" of cheap Chinese imports to be tackled and for a commitment from ministers on the use of British steel in all major projects, such as rail, tidal barrages and airports. | "Little action" was taken by the government over the steel industry crisis, a committee of MPs has said. | 35146689 |
The Strategic Market Housing Assessment estimates between 1,522 and 2,053 properties need to be constructed each year in Guildford, Woking and Waverley.
It predicts the population in west Surrey will rise by 51,200 to 409,000.
The three councils that commissioned the report said it was helpful but the housing figures were not realistic.
Waverley Borough Council said it identified a housing need based on demographic trends but was only a "fraction of the picture"
Councillor Robert Knowles said there was nothing in the document about "how or where that need could be met".
"During our consultation last September, we tested a figure of 470 homes per year, residents raised many issues about infrastructure, roads, flood defences, power supplies, water and facilities such as schools and health services," he added.
"We simply can't plan for a number of homes that would be unsustainable for our towns and villages and must take into account infrastructure such as traffic, public transport, water and sewage as identified by our residents." | More than 30,000 homes need to be built by 2031 in west Surrey to keep up with the county's growing population, according to a new report. | 30546113 |
The patients had alopecia areata - a condition that can cause severe, patchy baldness that is difficult to treat.
But after five months of taking the medication ruxolitinib, all three saw total hair re-growth.
The findings from Columbia University Medical Center are published in the journal Nature Medicine.
Alopecia areata affects around two in every 1,000 people in the UK and is thought to be caused by the immune system attacking hair follicles.
The US scientists had previously identified a set of immune cells involved in the destruction of hair and conducted a number of successful trials in mice.
They then gave three patients with moderate to severe alopecia areata a twice daily dose of ruxolitinib.
This medication is already approved for use in bone marrow conditions in the United States and European Union.
All three patients had lost at least a third of their hair but saw dramatic hair growth within five months of therapy.
Lead researcher Dr Raphael Clynes said: "We've only begun testing the drug in patients, but if the drug continues to be successful and safe, it will have a dramatic positive impact on the lives of people with the disease."
Prof David Bickers, a dermatologist at Columbia University who has treated many patients with the disease, said: "There are few tools in the arsenal for the treatment of alopecia areata that have any demonstrated efficacy.
"This is a major step forward in improving the standard of care for patients suffering from this devastating disease."
Researchers say more work is now needed to see if the drug can be offered more widely.
Alopecia areata can occur at any age but is most often seen in teenagers and young adults.
It is not related to the more common male-pattern hair loss that is thought to be driven by hormones.
Scientists say as the mechanisms behind this condition are different, the therapy is less likely to prove effective for this more common problem. | Scientists have completely reversed hair loss in three people by giving them a drug normally used to treat bone marrow disorders. | 28834058 |
Train services run by Southern, Thameslink and ScotRail all missed punctuality targets, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said.
Network Rail maintains the rail system.
Rail passenger journeys have risen 59.1% since 2005, while freight is up 9.1%.
Passengers using Thameslink routes have had to deal with disruption caused by long-term work at London Bridge, while track and signalling failures have disrupted travellers on Southern lines.
Last year, travellers passing through north London during the Christmas period suffered delays as engineering work at King's Cross and Paddington stations overran.
Network Rail pointed out that passenger numbers had more than doubled in the last 20 years since privatisation.
It said the number of people travelling by train grew by 67.3 million to a record high of 1.65 billion passengers last year.
The ORR said 89.6% of trains were on time, well below Network Rail's 92.5% target.
Last year, the percentage of trains that ran on time fell to 90%, down from 90.9% in 2013.
Publishing its annual results on Thursday, Network Rail set aside £77m for fines related to missing its punctuality targets, £24m of which it said had been "released".
It also pointed to a £246m cut in funding from the ORR, which it said contributed to a 51% decline in pre-tax profits to £506m. Network Rail added that rail investment was not affected.
The ORR conceded the network had had to cope with a large rise in use over time.
Network Rail finance director Patrick Butcher added that there were "more than a million more trains on the network than 10 years ago".
Network Rail added: "There are clearly opportunities to improve following decades of under-investment in the rail network. However, it is worth highlighting that we operate the safest passenger network in Europe and the railway asset reliability is the best it has ever been.
"The increase in passengers means that more people are getting to their destination on time than ever before."
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "I expect the regulator to hold Network Rail to account, performance must and should improve. The industry has to work together to address these failings and deliver for passengers and the economy: that needs to start now."
Network Rail is spending £24bn over five years on a whole host of projects designed to make more trains run on time and ease overcrowding.
But this report from the regulator, the ORR, says that one year in, the timetable for improvements is slipping and some costs are going up.
For example, work to upgrade the signals around Cardiff will now finish 17 months later than planned, meaning more delays for passengers.
And a project to electrify lines between Manchester and Liverpool finished about a month late, forcing passengers to use smaller, overcrowded trains for longer.
There is some praise in the report, especially for the way Network Rail has improved punctuality on the East Coast mainline from London to Edinburgh, and for freight services.
Having said that, punctuality overall remains 3% below target, with problems singled out on Southern trains, Thameslink trains and services across Scotland. | The UK rail regulator is to investigate Network Rail, accusing the company of causing poor punctuality and reliability on some of the country's busiest commuter routes. | 33103854 |
Mr Trump introduced the New York Jets owner as "the ambassador Woody Johnson, going to Saint James", during a luncheon in Washington.
The 69-year-old billionaire philanthropist and heir of the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical giant has known Mr Trump for many years.
But he originally backed Trump rival Jeb Bush in the Republican primary.
"Congratulations, Woody," said Mr Trump in the presidential ballroom of Trump International hotel in Washington DC, on the eve of his swearing in as the 45th US president.
The plum diplomatic appointment - known formally as Ambassador of the United States to the Court of St James - has not yet been formally announced.
Kim Darroch, the UK ambassador to the US, was among the first to tweet his congratulations to Mr Johnson.
"Surely you can replicate the success of @NYJets in London 2015," Sir Kim added.
The people around Donald Trump
Although he's probably best known as the owner of the long-suffering New York Jets American football team, Johnson is quite familiar in conservative circles, having contributed millions of dollars to Republican causes.
Like many big-money donors, Johnson was an early supporter of Governor Jeb Bush's presidential campaign - and was once cited by Donald Trump as an example of how the former Florida governor was in the thrall of big-money interests. Mr Trump even fired off a tweet mocking the Jets' lack of postseason success.
The heir to the pharmaceutical and consumer products company Johnson & Johnson threw his support behind Mr Trump when it was clear he would be the party's nominee, however. He then served as a loyal fundraiser and adviser during the general election campaign.
It looks like that move will pay off with one of the top ambassadorships - a prize that is traditionally given to only the most prolific donors or best-connected political insiders.
With an NFL owner in the Court of St James, can a new team in London be far behind? | President-elect Donald Trump appears to have picked NFL tycoon Woody Johnson to be US ambassador to the UK. | 38685290 |
Kenichi Phillips, 18, was killed as he sat in a Seat Leon on St Marks Crescent shortly before 19:00 GMT on 17 March.
His father, who did not want to be named, said Kenichi "was loved and will not get the chance to see his son born".
A 22-year-old Birmingham man arrested on Friday has been released on police bail as inquires continue.
A post-mortem examination confirmed Kenichi died from a gunshot wound.
His father said: "Kenichi was only 18 years old. He was a great grandson, a grandson, a cousin, nephew, brother, son and friend."
West Midlands Police said several people are thought to have been in the area at the time and appealed for witnesses to contact the force or Crimestoppers.
Det Supt Mark Payne said: "This happened in the early evening at a time when people were returning home from work and children may have been playing outside. Innocent people going about their daily business could easily have been caught up in this.
"It's shocking, totally unacceptable. We need to get the person responsible, and the weapon used, off the streets as soon as possible.
"If anyone saw what happened, or suspects they know who is responsible, please call us so we can take action."
In January, officers expressed "great concern" over a spike in gun crime in Birmingham.
Chief Constable Dave Thompson said he had not known such frequent shootings during his five years with the West Midlands force.
However, overall gun crime figures for the city dropped from 524 in 2014 to 357 in 2015. | A teenager shot dead in a car in Birmingham was an expectant father, his family said. | 35855514 |
Knox, who triumphed in the World Golf Championships HSBC Champions, and Yorkshireman Willett, who shot a final-round 62, could both figure in the continent's defence of the Ryder Cup next year.
European Tour membership is now on Knox's mind because the American-based Scot has to join to become eligible for captain Darren Clarke's team.
Willett, meanwhile, has breathed new life into the Race to Dubai with his share of third place in China. He remains in Shanghai this week, knowing a top-25 finish at the BMW Masters would enable him to overtake Rory McIlroy at the top of the standings.
This sets up perfectly the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai the following week.
It is a scenario new European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley would want as he seeks to reinvigorate the Wentworth-based circuit.
Pelley is considering changes to the membership criteria to ensure the Tour attracts as many top names as possible. One idea is a restructure that would allow members to compete in only five regular tour events per season.
Currently, they are required to play in 13 with the four majors and four WGCs counting in that total. This works for players in the world's top 50 because they are guaranteed entry into the elite eight tournaments.
For the likes of Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell and Luke Donald, who are based in the United States but are no longer in the top 50, it becomes more difficult to satisfy the joint demands of the PGA and European Tours.
Knox was in a similar position until his maiden Tour victory in China on Sunday. It was arguably Scottish golf's biggest individual win since Paul Lawrie's Open triumph in 1999 and propelled the Inverness man firmly into the world's top 50.
The 30-year-old can now look forward to a Masters debut and entry into the game's most important events.
He remains firmly committed to American ways and the former Jacksonville University student, who still resides in the Florida city, intends to stay Stateside for the rest of his life.
However he also harbours ambitions to play for the continent of his birth. "Absolutely, what an honour it would be to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup," Knox told BBC Sport.
"It was kind of close but wasn't really close until this win happened, so I'll definitely have to sit back and look at all my options."
The prospect of making an Augusta debut next April has also been on the Scotsman's mind and, by his own admission, almost to a destructive degree in China last Sunday.
"It's amazing and actually I thought about that on one hole," he said.
"And I yelled at myself 'stop it, stop it, stop thinking about it.' I mean I've never been to the Masters and it'll be a massive dream come true to play there."
One of Willett's fondest memories is the arrival of his first Masters invitation at the start of this year. He greeted his postman with gleeful pride when the envelope was delivered.
Now he is thrilled to have consolidated his position among the game's top names with sustained excellence in 2015. This was his second top-three finish since winning the European Masters the week after finishing sixth at The Open at St Andrews in July.
By competing this week and then in the season finale in Dubai, Willett is playing four straight tournaments in an effort to land the title that reflects performances over a 12-month period.
"You keep working hard every day, every hour," Willett told me. "This proves what I did with scheduling and how I've planned the year has come through.
"We planned it so I had a good break in the middle of the season when the Ryder Cup qualifying points just started. A lot of people suggested I could fall a long way behind but that wasn't really on my mind.
"It was to try to prepare well so that we were fresh to be able to do five out of six weeks now."
Willett trails McIlroy by only 74,214 points heading into the final two tournaments on the European schedule.
Pelley and his management team will try to exploit the fact that the Race to Dubai is being contested by young and vibrant talent.
It plays into the psyche of the Canadian who took over George O'Grady's Wentworth office three months ago. Players, officials and sponsors have been impressed by the energy Pelley has brought to the role.
The European Tour boss, along with the new R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers, projected a fresher and more dynamic image when they appeared at last week's HSBC Golf Business Forum in Shanghai.
Slumbers talked of making the game more accessible at all levels, while Pelley was in bullish mood discussing the prospects of his tour.
"I believe that we are incredibly healthy right now," he said. "And we only have one way to go and that's up."
These are laudable sentiments but words have to be backed up by actions. In that regard, the likes of Knox and Willett provide an inspiring example. | British stars Russell Knox and Danny Willett provided a timely boost for European golf with their exploits in Shanghai last week. | 34761443 |
Patrick Rodgers set up a fake Facebook profile and engaged in sexual chats with the man before threatening to expose him as a paedophile.
A court heard that the victim was so intimidated by the fear of exposure that he paid Rodgers £300.
The 25-year-old, from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, previously admitted a charge of extortion.
Perth Sheriff Court was told that, following his arrest, Rodgers admitted being in financial difficulties.
He told officers: "I was needing the cash. The money has been spent.
"I was pretending to be a 15-year-old girl."
Rodgers admitted engaging in sexualised conversation on social media with the intention of menacing a named victim in Perth between 13 and 16 July 2014.
He also admitted issuing threats of violence and exposing the man as a paedophile and consequently extorting £300 from him.
Solicitor Linda Clark, defending, said: "He was in a relationship in this area, money was short, and between himself and his then partner they came up with this idea of setting up a profile on social media.
"The complainer was in a relationship and had four children and did not want the information to be made available to his partner, so he went along with the demands from Mr Rodgers."
Sheriff Gillian Wade said: "There is no alternative to a custodial sentence. Both charges would merit that on their own." | A man who posed online as a 15-year-old girl to blackmail a married father-of-four has been jailed for 25 months. | 40850618 |
The average annual comprehensive policy cost £462 in the last three months of 2016, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
Previously the highest figure was £443 in the spring of 2012.
The rise comes in spite of government attempts to limit compensation payments and cut court costs.
One reason for the increase is a rise in the cost of repairing cars that have been in accidents, because of their increasingly sophisticated electronics.
Buying in spare parts is also getting more expensive, due to the weakness of sterling.
The average repair bill has risen by 32% over the last three years to £1,678, the ABI said.
The ABI warned that premiums were likely to increase further, if the government went ahead with plans to review the so-called discount rate.
When accident victims are given a lump sum in compensation, the sum is discounted to make up for the extra investment return they are likely to receive.
Since 2001 the discount rate has been 2.5% - based on investment returns from government bonds.
If that rate is reduced, insurance companies will have to pay out more - thus increasing premiums.
"The sudden decision to review the discount rate has the potential to turn a drama into a crisis, with a significant cut throwing fuel on the fire in terms of premiums," said Rob Cummings, the ABI's head of motor and liability.
The government said it would make an announcement as soon as possible.
"The Lord Chancellor has decided to review the discount rate to ensure personal injury claimants are fairly compensated," said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice.
"Due to ongoing consultation it is not yet possible to announce the review's outcome."
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The cost of insurance has also risen because of a series of increases to Insurance Premium Tax (IPT).
IPT went up from 6% to 9.5% in 2015, to 10% in 2016, and will rise to 12% in June 2017.
Personal injury claims, such as whiplash, have also become more expensive, rising by 2.3% over the last year, the ABI said.
However, the government is currently consulting on plans to cap compensation payments to accident victims, which it says could reduce annual premiums by £40 a year.
It also wants more disputes settled in the small claims courts, which would reduce costs for insurance companies. | Car insurance premiums in the UK have hit a record high, partly because cars' increasingly complex electronics have made repairs more expensive. | 38841837 |
Staff voted by a three-to-one margin to accept a multi-year deal, with a below-inflation 2% rise for 2017.
The row began after the firm wanted a two-year pay freeze and led to talks with unions at the Labour Relations Agency.
In a statement on the deal, Bombardier said "significant challenges" remain for the business.
Its 4,500 workers received no rise last year.
However, they will receive 2% this year and next, with 2.75% in 2019.
After the dispute started in late 2015, Bombardier announced 1,080 redundancies at its Northern Ireland operations, as part of global cutbacks.
The company was forced to adopt a turn-around plan after serious financial problems caused by delays in its CSeries aircraft programme.
A Bombardier statement read: "'Following negotiations between the company and trade unions, the unions balloted their members on a four-year pay offer tabled by the company.
"We can confirm that that offer has been accepted by the workforce.
"We still have significant challenges to address in terms of improving our competitiveness, but we will continue to work with our employees to protect the long-term future of our business." | A long-running pay dispute is over at Bombardier, one of Northern Ireland's biggest employers. | 40289396 |
The Riesending cave is Germany's deepest and it took one of the man's companions up to 12 hours to return to the surface to raise the alarm.
Some 200 people are involved in the operation, near Berchtesgaden in southern Germany.
The first rescuers reached the man in the vertical cave on Monday.
A second group, including an Austrian doctor used to cave rescues, descended some hours later, Bavarian public TV said. Another team from Switzerland was also reported to be on its way.
The man, who was with two companions on a Whitsun-holiday trip in the Untersberg mountain range, suffered injuries to his head and torso in the rock fall in the early hours of Sunday. Although he was wearing headgear, it was unable to protect him from the weight of the rock.
"He is responsive but he's not doing well," an official told Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
The man was one of the researchers who discovered the cave a few years ago, German media report.
While one of his companions went to seek help, the other stayed with him. He is said to be from the Stuttgart area although authorities have not released his name.
The entrance was found in 1995, but it is only in the past dozen years that explorers have begun investigating the cave system, which is said to be full of ravines and vertical shafts.
The complex nature of the cave system, as well as its depth, is making the operation even more hazardous, officials say.
"We have shafts that go straight down 350m (1,150 ft), where you have to abseil down and climb back up on a rope," Klemens Reindl told German TV.
Bavaria's Riesending caves
The initial aim was for alpine experts to set up a base station at a depth of 300m and then establish communications with the rescue team.
Stefan Schneider from Bavaria's mountain rescue said bringing up the injured climber would be even harder than reaching him had been: "You have to imagine it's 1,000m almost vertically, where you have to climb up with ropes and crampons."
Very few specialists were equipped to deal with such depths, he added. | A team is trying to rescue a 52-year-old man injured in a rock fall in a 1,000m-deep (3,280ft) cave in Germany, in an operation that could take days. | 27759819 |
The 23-year-old will ride alongside fellow Welshmen Geraint Thomas and Luke Rowe in Australia's Tour Down Under from 14-22 January.
Doull left Team Wiggins to join Team Sky for the 2017 season.
"My big aim for the year is that big week in April in the Tour of Flanders," Doull told BBC Radio Wales.
The Olympic gold medallist says the race, which starts and finishes in Adelaide, will be "a big step up" for him.
He continued: "I've raced on the road to a decent level before, but never anything world tour.
"I'm looking forward to getting my first proper race with Sky under my belt and doing my job and trying to put a good performance in for the team."
Team Sky's leading riders for the southern hemisphere race, including Colombian Sergio Henao and Dutchman Danny van Poppel, will look to thrive in the race as well as Thomas and Doull.
"We'll be going into the race with multiple options with Sergio and G [Thomas] potentially for the overall title and Danny for the flat days, so there won't be any days off," Doull said.
"We're working hard for the whole period, but I think that's one of the aims of doing the race anyway is to get a good workload in before the bigger races later in the year."
Doull is aware of the impact the Tour Down Under can have on his career, much like how Thomas and Rowe have benefitted from their own experiences in the competition.
"Speaking to people like Luke and Geraint, they say it's a really good way to start your year," he said.
"You have to come out to Australia quite early, do a couple of weeks of training then obviously straight into the first world tour race of the year.
"It's going to be good to get a good one under my belt quite early. It's a nice way of doing it as well, getting away from the cold and the winter of Cardiff and escaping to the sun and getting a consistent block of work done.
"There's no distractions and no problems like ice on the road."
Find out how to get into cycling with our special guide. | Welsh cyclist Owain Doull hopes his first major race for Team Sky can help him win selection for the Tour of Flanders in April. | 38564953 |
Dawn Copley was one of several senior officers at Greater Manchester Police accused of "corrupt practice" by another officer who was later sacked.
Kent Police investigated the claim.
South Yorkshire's Chief Constable David Crompton, who is suspended, previously said he had taken "appropriate advice" ahead of her appointment in October.
The force has been approached for comment.
While Assistant Chief Constable at Greater Manchester Police, Ms Copley was in charge of the force's professional standards branch.
The branch was investigating Chief Inspector John Buttress over alleged mortgage fraud.
A criminal case against Ch Insp Buttress was thrown out in 20 minutes, but the force pursued a case of gross misconduct against him and he was eventually sacked.
Mr Buttress claimed he was the victim of "corrupt practice" within the force's anti-corruption unit and complained about misconduct within the force.
Kent Police then conducted an investigation and its report has now been given to Greater Manchester Police for consideration.
In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: "We've received a copy of the report and sent it to the complainant as requested.
"The individual now has 28 days to appeal the findings."
Mr Buttress said he was yet to receive a copy of the report.
In October, Mr Crompton said he was aware of the Greater Manchester Police investigation when he appointed Ms Copley as his deputy and said he had taken "appropriate advice" and "taken these matters into account".
South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Billings revealed he was not made aware of the Greater Manchester Police investigation prior to her appointment.
Chief Constable David Crompton was suspended on Wednesday over his force's behaviour during the Hillsborough inquests. | The new Acting Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police has been appointed despite being investigated over her conduct with another force. | 36161530 |
The government argues it is simpler - and that over the next 15 years, most people will end up getting a higher pension.
It is currently worth £155 a week for those who qualify, or around £8,000 a year.
Women, and the self-employed, are among the groups that, on average, should benefit.
But there will be losers too - especially for those currently in their 20s and 30s. And in the long run the new system will save the government money.
So how does the flat-rate pension work?
If you retired before 6 April, 2016, you will continue on the old two-tier system. That is, you will receive a basic state pension, plus top-ups.
These consist of pension credit, for the low-paid, as well as payments from the second state pension (previously known as Serps), if you qualify.
Men born after 6 April 1951, and women born after 6 April 1953.
To qualify for any pension at all you will need to have 10 years of National Insurance contributions (NICs). Previously there was no minimum.
As a result of this, Age UK has calculated that 70,000 people will no longer qualify for any state pension.
NICs don't have to be paid in consecutive years, and some parents, carers and jobseekers have special exemptions. Each year of NICs will add £4.44 a week to your pension, at current prices.
To qualify for the full new state pension, you will need to have 35 qualifying years. Previously this was 30 years.
Check your own state pension age here
Yes. Anyone who contracted out of the second state pension before 6 April 2016. This will particularly be the case for millions of teachers, NHS workers, police officers and members of the armed forces - in other words public sector employees.
Such workers will have paid a lower rate of NICs. Instead they will have paid extra into a workplace pension scheme. As a result they will be paid a reduced state pension.
How much less will depend on how long they were contracted out for. Government figures show that only 45% of pensioners will get the full amount in the first five years of the new state pension. As many as two million people will not get the full amount.
Look on an old payslip. On the National Insurance line, the letter "D" or "N" means you were contracted out. "A" means you were not contracted out. However, from 6 April 2016, no-one will be contracted out, as contributions to the second state pension will end.
Those contracting back in will therefore go back to paying the standard - higher- rate of NICs. For most people their contribution rate will rise from 10.6% to 12% of qualifying salary - or around £37 a week on average.
Click here to get an estimate of your own state pension
Yes. Anyone who paid into the second state pension will retain that as a protected payment and could therefore earn more than £155. In some cases, part of the pension credit payment will also be retained.
No one will lose out in reality under the new system - in the early years - as in effect there will be transitional arrangements.
Over the long-term, younger people will lose out. Many will get less under the new system than they notionally would have received under the old system.
This is because they will pay standard NICs, yet they won't qualify for the second state pension, which is being abolished.
The Pensions Policy Institute has calculated that three quarters of those now in their 20s will lose a notional £19,000 over the course of their retirement.
Two-thirds of those now in their 30s will lose £17,000. However the remainder will gain an average of £10,000 in both cases.
Others with less than 35 years of NICs will also lose, as previously they would have qualified for a full state pension with just 30 years of contributions.
Over the first 15 years of the new state pension, the government says that three-quarters of those reaching state pension age will get a higher pay-out than they would have done under the old system.
That means that by 2030, three million men and three million women will benefit.
However, government documents show that the proportion of people doing well will gradually decline the further out you look.
By 2050, around half of retirees will get a higher pay-out, with half getting a lower pay-out. Assuming a pension age of 70 by then, you can make this generalisation:
People born before 1980 can, on average, expect to do better out of the new system. People born after that date are likely to fare worse. | The new flat-rate, or single-tier, state pension has come into effect for everyone retiring after 6 April, 2016. | 35928308 |
However, the cautious recommendations from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will, initially at least, insist on a fully licensed driver being behind the wheel, ready to take over in an emergency or if the technology fails.
California has been the testing ground for most of the development, and so regulations in the state are considered to be precedent-setting.
Prospective users of self-driving cars will need to undergo special training, and manufacturers would be required to monitor the cars' use.
Answering a common query, regulators said any traffic violations or accidents would remain the responsibility of the human driver.
Many firms are investing heavily in researching and creating self-driving vehicles, such as Ford, Uber and Tesla.
Google, which leads the research field, has made a self-driving car without any controls such as steering wheels or pedals.
But the DMV's proposals would mean such vehicles would not, for the foreseeable future at least, be made available for consumers.
A statement from the DMV read: "Given the potential risks associated with deployment of such a new technology, DMV believes that manufacturers need to obtain more experience in testing driverless vehicles on public roads prior to making this technology available to the general public."
Instead, any car offering self-driving capability must also be fitted with traditional controls - such as the adapted Lexus Google has been testing on roads already.
This slightly dampens hopes that self-driving technology would enable those who are currently unable to drive - such as people with disabilities - to get on the roads.
However, the DMV said it would reassess the safety of fully-autonomous vehicles in the future.
A public consultation on the draft will take place in the new year.
The draft also adds requirements for manufacturers to ensure that vehicles are protected from cyber attacks.
Follow Dave Lee on Twitter @DaveLeeBBC | Regulators in California have published draft proposals designed to pave the way for the public to start using self-driving cars on the roads. | 35117652 |
Luke Harding, a 29-year-old lorry driver from near Haverfordwest, was diagnosed with lung cancer that had spread in September.
He was previously a "fit and healthy lad".
The Welsh Government said it was committed to improving survival rates for cancer and reducing early deaths caused by the disease.
It launched its refreshed cancer delivery plan on Tuesday.
The plan focuses on delivering better results for lung cancer patients, such as Mr Harding, improving early detection through better access to diagnostic tests and ensuring the highest standards of care.
Mr Harding was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma (a malignant tumour) of the lung, shortly followed by a brain metastasis (cancer cells that have spread to the brain from primary tumours in other organs in the body). It means the cancer is classed as a Stage 4 disease, meaning the tumour has spread.
He described himself as "a fit and healthy lad" and enjoyed playing football with Solva and coasteering.
He said the only symptoms he experienced was "coughing up some blood," but did not feel unwell.
So far he has received stereotactic surgery on his brain, 20 sessions of radiotherapy and two chemotherapy sessions on his lung and chest, all carried out at Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff.
He said he was feeling "terrible" after the treatment, describing his chest as having the "worst kind of sunburn".
"It's just burnt to a crisp, so eating is like swallowing glass," he said.
But Mr Harding insists he has received the "very best NHS treatment available".
"There were no delays, my team have been super-efficient and understand the severity of my condition," he said.
Mr Harding also had high praise for ward 10 at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest.
He said the staff there "been instrumental and phenomenal throughout" and have been there "day and night" for him and his family.
He set up a fund raising page for ward 10, which raised almost £2,300 in less than a week.
Wrist bands bearing the slogans #teamHarding and #togetherstronger are also being worn by the hundreds of people supporting Mr Harding in his cancer battle.
On Thursday Mr Harding decided to shave his hair after losing some to his treatment.
"I dictate what happens to my body and when...not cancer," he said.
"This is all part and parcel of the journey I'm on. Just saddle up and keep pushing forward." | A cancer patient from Pembrokeshire has praised the NHS, saying he has received the "very best treatment." | 37989167 |
The firms are all thought to play a role in compiling and trading lists of names and numbers used by cold callers.
The ICO also said it would announce three fines this week.
One penalty will be for a company that sent more than one million text messages about PPI claims.
Another fine is being levied against a second company that was cold-calling individuals in a bid to sell them so-called "blocker" software it claimed could prevent similar unwanted calls in the future.
Once the latest fines are applied, the ICO said the penalties imposed in the past four months alone would be £1m.
The ICO expects the companies to set out exactly how they comply with the law, including what data they shared.
It will also ask for a list of the companies they recently worked with.
Information Commissioner Christopher Graham said the sector had prompted 180,000 complaints a year from consumers.
"That information has helped us to make some big breakthroughs in the nuisance calls business, alongside the intelligence we build up from elsewhere, from whistleblowers for instance, or from the network providers," he said.
"We see clear patterns building up and can identify who ... the truly bad actors are. This enables us to execute search warrants, and to drag people before the courts."
Bolton-based personal injuries claims group Direct Assist, which was the subject of more than 800 complaints to the ICO, went into liquidation in the summer after being fined £80,000 for making unsolicited calls.
However, Mr Graham conceded: "There's a danger that where we remove one of the hydra's head, two grow back in its place".
Richard Lloyd, executive director of consumer group Which?, welcomed the ICO response, but called for further action to eliminate nuisance calls.
"We now need to see much tougher penalties for senior executives of companies making unlawful calls, including board directors being held personally accountable." he said. | The Information Commissioners' Office (ICO) says it will be writing to 1,000 companies involved in buying and selling personal data to check they are acting lawfully. | 34895104 |
Manager Roy Hodgson says Tottenham striker Kane will start Tuesday's friendly in Turin.
Rooney, only two goals behind Sir Bobby Charlton's England record of 49, starts up front with the 21-year-old.
"I'm as excited as everyone else in the country about Harry. He's had an unbelievable season," said Rooney.
Kane won his first cap as a second-half substitute for Rooney in the 4-0 win against Lithuania at Wembley on Friday, and scored 79 seconds after coming on.
"Going into the season, there were even questions about whether he would start for Tottenham," added Manchester United captain Rooney, who also scored against Lithuania.
"He was starting Europa League games but not the Premier League games - but he gave his manager Mauricio Pochettino no option but to play him and he's not looked back, scoring goals every week."
The speed of Kane's development is illustrated by the fact that he did not make his first league start of this season until 9 November, when he played in Spurs' 2-1 home defeat by Stoke City.
However, he had scored 29 goals in all competitions for his club before getting his first England goal on Friday.
Rooney added: "It's exciting for this group of players to train with him. After his goal on Friday, I bet he can't wait to get out on the pitch and try to get another goal.
"It's great for English football to have someone scoring so regularly in the Premier League and getting a goal on his debut at full international level. It's an exciting time for him and all of us."
But Rooney said Kane faces a sterner test against battle-hardened Italy defenders such as Giorgio Chiellini, the player bitten by Luis Suarez during their World Cup defeat against Uruguay in Brazil last June.
He warned the Tottenham striker that Italy's defenders will use their experience and street-wisdom to try to frustrate him.
"They're clever defenders," said Rooney. "They do anything to try to stop you and you have to be aware of that and not get frustrated.
"Harry must continue what he is doing. He's taking the ball, running at defenders and getting shots at goal - that's all he has to do on Tuesday. If he does that the way he has been doing, he'll be fine." | England captain Wayne Rooney shares the country's excitement about Harry Kane, who will make his full international debut against Italy. | 32125498 |
British Transport Police are enforcing the dry trains following complaints of alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour.
Officers also said it would stop so-called "pre-loading" drinking before people reached their destination.
The prohibition applies on the Saturday 09:28, 10:28 and 11:28 services from Middlesbrough.
The 12:28 service is also subject to the same restriction.
Chief Inspector Derek O'Mara said: "There has been a noticeable increase in the number of complaints from passengers who have been travelling on these services.
"We have also seen an increasing trend of large groups of people from Teesside travelling down to York for the day to visit pubs and bars then returning in the early evening.
"A number of these people are pre-loading or bringing large quantities of alcohol with them to consume on the train prior to their arrival in York.
"Trains are not extensions of bars and clubs, they are used by everyone including families, young people and the elderly.
"Other passengers do not want to travel and be subjected to the drunk, intoxicated and often intimidating behaviour of others under the influence of alcohol." | Police have issued a ban on rail travellers drinking or carrying alcohol on morning train services between Middlesbrough and York. | 32091976 |
Ian Thomas worked at children's services at Derbyshire County Council and has taken over from Joyce Thacker, who resigned in September in the wake of the Jay Report.
Professor Alexis Jay estimated 1,400 children were sexually exploited in the town over a 16-year period.
Mr Thomas has been appointed on a one-year contract but said he would stay "as long as it takes".
He told BBC Radio Sheffield: "I'll stand up and be counted.
"If there was a problem in the past regarding political correctness or turning a blind eye that will not happen."
He said in the past there had been a lack of guidance and systems in place to manage performance well.
Ms Thacker's resignation was one of a series from the council. Other senior figures who left their posts included council leader Roger Stone, council chief executive Martin Kimber and South Yorkshire police commissioner Shaun Wright, who was the head of children's services in Rotherham between 2005 and 2010.
The report published in 2014 detailed the sex abuse, mainly by gangs of men of Pakistani heritage, from 1997 to 2013 and accused the council's leadership of "blatant" collective failures. | A new director of children's services has started work at Rotherham Council. | 30679325 |
The 27-year-old began to feel unwell on the journey back from the derby clash and the club doctor fitted a drip.
Football manager Stuart Duffy said: "Adrian's condition was giving cause for concern and the club doctor advised he should be taken to hospital.
"Our thoughts are with the player at this time." | Bradford Bulls centre Adrian Purtell was kept in hospital overnight on Sunday after being taken ill on the coach after the defeat by Leeds. | 18234922 |
A survey of Pope Francis's standing around the globe shows that he is seen positively by well over half the world. Some 54% say their opinion of him is favourable and just 12% see him unfavourably.
That means that his overall rating in the WIN Gallup International poll, or net score, this Easter is 41% (with rounding taken into account) - higher than any secular world leader.
US President Barack Obama topped a similar poll of political leaders by the same company. He was seen favourably by 59% but unfavourably by 29%, giving him a net score of only 30%.
Last weekend, Pope Francis joined Instagram with a photo of himself at prayer, adding to the followers he already enjoys on Twitter (8.9 million at time of writing).
Three years into his papacy, Francis has enjoyed enormous goodwill and positive PR around the globe, winning hearts and minds not just among Roman Catholics (85% have a favourable opinion of him), but also from other religions and non-religious people. He is regarded favourably by:
However, the one constituency that was not polled in this survey, but whose results would have made for interesting reading, was the Curia itself, the Vatican bureaucracy in Rome that Pope Francis promised to shake up at the start of his papacy.
Within the Curia, the Pope has polarised opinion, much as he has done between more conservative and liberal Catholics, even though he has not changed Catholic teaching and remains a staunch and vocal opponent of abortion, recently terming it a crime and "an absolute evil".
While his focus on mercy and interpreting the gospel with compassion have been welcomed by many, not all of Pope Francis's reforms are proving so popular and some are encountering stiff internal resistance. Any honeymoon period within the Curia for this pope is long since over.
Profile: Pope Francis
Outside the Curia, some - especially those on the more liberal side of the Church - say that more substantial and concrete progress will be needed in Francis's fourth year in office on the main challenges facing this papacy if there is truly to be a "Francis Revolution".
They cite the four most pressing issues as:
Pope Francis began his reforms by assembling a special commission of cardinals to advise him (the "C9"), a kind of papal cabinet, and is gradually pushing through the restructuring of parts of the Curia.
One of his first reforms was to the Vatican's own communications departments and more structural reforms or mergers of departments ("dicasteries") are due this year.
So far, such structural reform at the Vatican has remained incremental, although the clean-up under Cardinal George Pell of Vatican finances and the Vatican Bank is perhaps the most advanced of those changes, with Pope Francis recently setting new financial and accounting guidelines for the department that creates saints.
This pope has made very clear his dislike of clericalism and his wish for a "healthy decentralisation" of the Church is an idea that sends shivers down the spine of many within the Curia and the wider faithful.
His push for more power to go to the peripheries is far from popular with those who currently wield it, but is also feared by many Catholics who believe that greater devolution is a road down which the Church should not go, lest it dilute or break up its universal message and sow confusion among the faithful.
For others, dealing with the horrific legacy of child sex abuse is also proceeding too slowly.
Pope Francis has termed sexual abuse "an ugly crime" and has set up a commission to fight it, although the recent departure of Peter Saunders, one of only two survivors of such abuse on the commission, cast doubt on how effective it can be.
Mr Saunders and others believe that the Vatican is still not doing nearly enough to root out current child abuse by clerics or deal swiftly and transparently with perpetrators.
Likewise the Synod of Bishops, which was convened to discuss the family, raised hopes among more socially liberal Catholics that real changes might be afoot.
Those hopes centre on a change in the Church's attitude towards the divorced and remarried being allowed to take communion again, as many in Germany and elsewhere wish, and in a more welcoming attitude towards gay Catholics - although same sex marriage was pushed firmly off the agenda.
The papal exhortation - or what Pope Francis thinks should happen next as a result of those Synods - is due to be released any day now. Whatever the Pope says in it is likely to be claimed by both sides as a victory.
Yet some fear that its conclusions may risk further dividing a Church that is increasingly riven by internal disagreement over the direction that its own structure and hierarchy needs to take, even as well over half the globe cheers on this pope of extraordinary personal popularity. | Rarely has a pope been more popular with the people. | 35869656 |
The Jewish community had challenged the ban, introduced in 2013, saying that it was discriminatory.
The Constitutional Court had previously ruled that it was against Polish law to allow animals to be killed without first being stunned.
But to produce kosher and halal meat, animals must be uninjured before death.
The ban had been challenged by the Union of Jewish Religious Communities on the grounds that it impacted on their constitutional right to practise their religion and prevented minority communities from following their traditions.
The court ruled that the ritual slaughter of animals should be allowed on the grounds of religious freedom.
The ritual slaughter of animals had been practised in Poland for centuries by both Jews and Muslims, the court's judge said.
Under Jewish and Islamic law, animals must be healthy and uninjured at the time of death, which usually rules out normal stunning methods that involve electrocution or shooting the animal with a metal bolt.
Animals are traditionally slaughtered with a single, rapid cut to the throat in Muslim and Jewish communities.
Before the ban, Poland had been a major exporter of kosher and halal meat and poultry to the Middle East.
The reversal of the ban also allows for a resumption of exports, Jewish leaders say.
Animal rights groups had welcomed the ban, saying the practice caused animals unnecessary suffering.
Israel, however, criticised it, noting that the Nazis had done the same thing during their occupation of Poland during World War Two. | A Polish court has ruled that a ban on the ritual slaughter of animals for the needs of the Jewish community is unconstitutional. | 30412551 |
County led for a minute before conceding twice in four minutes to lose 2-1 and extend their winless streak to six matches in the league.
The Rams are in the bottom three, one point above bottom side Wigan, with just one league win all season.
"In the first half we looked as though we were paralysed with fear," Pearson told BBC Radio Derby.
"We have a group which undoubtedly at the moment are not living up to the expectations externally, certainly not living up to the expectations internally and that's my responsibility because I'm the manager," added former Leicester City manager Pearson, who took over at the iPro Stadium in the summer.
"If we don't get the basics out there and we don't get the level of commitment to the game out there, it remains a very tough ask of us to get the performances which warrant points.
"Given what happened, we are exactly where we should be in the league. We got what we deserved and that's the bottom line."
Pearson continued: "I can't keep hoping that players are going to bring their best games to the table week in week out, and then not do it, so I might have to start making changes.
"If that means introducing some of the younger players then so be it, but ultimately it's about getting a team on the field that want to play for us, want to show the levels of commitment and are prepared to go whatever distance it takes to get the result."
Former Leeds United captain Sol Bamba has been training with Derby.
The 31-year-old Ivorian is a free agent after leaving Leeds for personal reasons before the closure of the transfer window in August.
Bamba played for Pearson when the pair were at Leicester City, but the Rams boss says there has yet to be any talks over a possible contract.
"I don't think it's something to discuss openly when it's not been discussed internally," he said.
"I've worked with him before and he's been happy to come in and train with us, so we'll leave it at that." | Derby County were "paralysed by fear" during their Championship loss at home to fellow strugglers Blackburn Rovers. | 37464343 |
John Potts died from a head injury after a fracas with Gordon Robson outside NE38 Sports Bar in Barmston, Washington, in November 2014.
Robson, 26, of Waskerley Road, Barmston, admitted manslaughter at an earlier court hearing.
The judge said Mr Potts, of Sunderland, had been acting as peacemaker when he received a single blow. | A man has been jailed for three-and-a-half years after admitting killing another man outside a bar on Wearside. | 32160884 |
The arguments over increasing aviation capacity in South East England have "changed little in a quarter of a century", said the Transport Committee.
It urged ministers to end "years of political dithering" and to set out a clear timetable.
The government said it was important to get the decision right.
In December the Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed that the Airport Commission's shortlisted options - new runways at Heathrow or Gatwick, or extension of an existing runway at Heathrow - were "viable".
It also announced further work on noise, pollution and compensation would be carried out before it made a decision on which project to support. It expects this will be completed by the summer.
But the Transport Select Committee said government indecision had created "uncertainty" that would ultimately lead to "lost growth and jobs".
Labour MP Louise Ellman, chairwoman of the committee, said: "The government must make up its mind. The decision on location is not the end of the process, it is the start of one.
"Real progress cannot begin until the location is declared. Work on environmental issues can run in parallel with other pre-construction work."
She said more than 50 new runways were being planned around the world and "the months ticking by constitute time wasted for the UK's economic prosperity".
A DfT spokesman said: "The case for aviation expansion is clear, but it's vitally important we get the decision right so that it will benefit generations to come." | The government must stop putting off the "difficult" decision to expand Heathrow Airport rather than Gatwick, a Commons select committee has said. | 36195209 |
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Raonic led by a set and 3-0 before Murray became the first player this week to break the Canadian's serve, doing so twice in succession.
The top seed and defending champion went on to win 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-3.
The Scot overtakes the likes of John McEnroe, Boris Becker and Roy Emerson with five Aegon Championships titles.
McEnroe was courtside for the final in his role as coach to Raonic, with the American's old adversary Ivan Lendl in the opposite corner after rejoining the Murray camp this week.
"It was nice of him to stick around for the presentation," Murray joked after seeing that Lendl had quickly left the court.
"It was obviously a good first week back together."
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Murray, 29, had said beforehand that the final would come down to fleeting chances, and it was Raonic who was the more clinical early on.
Neither man could fashion a break point in an opening 12 games of high-class grass-court tennis.
Raonic, 25, took charge of the tie-break with three sharp volleys that suggested McEnroe is already having an influence, and despite Murray getting back to 5-5, the Canadian edged it with a forehand winner on his first set point.
Find out how to get into tennis in our special guide.
It was a blow to Murray having played a good first set and Raonic appeared to land the killer blow with a break at the start of the second.
But just as McEnroe was on his feet to celebrate, Lendl remained as predictably motionless over the next hour or so as his man turned the match around in spectacular style.
Raonic looked to have a 4-1 lead in the second set, only for Hawk-Eye to overrule a volley on game point, and Murray took charge from then on.
A brilliant backhand return winner by the Scot finally ended Raonic's run of service games, and two games later the Canadian was run ragged as Murray broke again with a forehand deep into the corner.
The Queen's Club crowd was now roaring on the champion, and with Raonic offering up more second serves to attack, Murray broke again at the start of the third with a magnificent drop shot in a 24-stroke rally.
As he had done all week, Murray grew stronger with the finish line in sight, serving superbly and breaking for a fourth time when Raonic dumped a volley in the net on the third match point.
"Coming out here to try and win for the fifth time I was really motivated," said Murray.
"It was frustrating to be down a set and a break but I started to return well, and my serve worked very well the last couple of sets. I played some good stuff."
When asked if he had let the match get away from him, Raonic said: "I'd definitely say so. Normally I'm pretty confident in a situation up a set and a break.
"He did a good job getting things going. I started to hesitate a little bit."
Seven-time Grand Slam doubles champion Peter Fleming: "Murray's done it in the last three matches at this tournament. In the third set he's raised his game. He broke Raonic four times. It was incredible. He dug deep and figured it out.
"He still has four and fives years left in him to make his mark and win more majors. Can he do it? That's a big question. He's in an era with at least one of the greatest players of all time. I think he's up for the challenge."
Former British number one John Lloyd: "What a match, it was a perfect contrast. I loved the way they both played, they were so aggressive. We saw Raonic's potential. Could he go one step further at Wimbledon? McEnroe thinks he can. He could be a big threat."
Media playback is not supported on this device | Britain's Andy Murray dismantled Milos Raonic's huge serve to become the first man to win the Queen's Club title five times. | 36568791 |
The Times reported on Monday that the party was considering changing its long-standing policy.
Instead, it said the SNP may campaign for an independent Scotland to keep access to the single market without being a full member of the EU.
Mr Salmond said there had been "confusion on The Times' part".
The newspaper report said senior SNP figures now wanted the party to pursue a Norway-style model, which would enable an independent Scotland to remain in the single market via the European Free Trade Area and European Economic Agreement, rather than full EU membership.
It said they believed the move would allow Scotland to retain all the benefits of the European single market while continuing to trade within the UK as it does now.
The Scottish government published a paper last year which argued that Scotland could remain in both the UK and the European single market even if the rest of the UK leaves, which the prime minister has said will be the case after Brexit.
Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme on Tuesday, Mr Salmond said the document also said that "our position is for full membership of the European Union".
When asked whether that meant the SNP would pursue full membership of the EU in the event of a Yes vote in any future independence referendum, the former first minister replied: "That is the policy.
"But the paper argues that in the current circumstances, where we can't get everything we want, where we are trying to reach a compromise agreement, the first minister has put forward a plan whereby Scotland could stay within the European Economic Area."
An SNP spokesman also said that it was clear that "remaining in the EU is the best position for Scotland, and that is what we are committed to."
Mr Salmond, who is now the MP for Gordon, was speaking as the House of Commons prepared to start two days of debate over the UK government's parliamentary bill to get the formal process of Brexit under way.
The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill would allow Prime Minister Theresa May to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, getting official talks between the UK and the EU started.
The SNP - which has said it will table 50 amendments to the bill - and Liberal Democrats will vote against it, but Labour's leadership is backing it, meaning the government is expected to win.
Speaking in Dublin on Monday, Prime Minister Theresa May said MPs would face a very clear choice when they came to vote on the bill.
She said: "The people of the United Kingdom voted on June 23 last year. They voted in a referendum that was given to them overwhelmingly by parliament.
"The people spoke in that vote. The majority voted to leave the European Union. I think it is now the job of the government to put that into practice.
"I hope that when people come to look at the Article 50 Bill they will recognise it is a very simple decision: do they support the will of the British people or not?" | Former SNP leader Alex Salmond has said the party still supports an independent Scotland being a member of the European Union. | 38808795 |
But Canadians flying to the UAE with its Emirates and Etihad airlines will be able to get their visas for much less than other Canadian travellers.
Up till now Canadians have not needed a visa to visit the UAE.
The visa requirement was announced after Canada refused to grant extra landing rights to the UAE airlines.
The website of the UAE embassy in the Canadian capital, Ottawa, now says that from 2 January a six-month, multiple-entry visa will cost $1,000, a three-month visa will be charged at $500, while a 30-day visa will cost $250.
The site says Emirates and Etihad can also issue visas to Canadians. Emirates said it would charge $72.50 for a 30-day visa along with a $272.50 deposit, refundable on leaving the UAE. It said it could not offer three and six-month visas.
Etihad charges a similar amount as Emirates for a 30-day visa.
No one was available for comment at the UAE's foreign ministry or at its Canadian embassy, nor at Emirates or Etihad's offices in Canada or the UAE.
A spokeswoman for Canada's foreign ministry, Melissa Lantsman, said it was not told in advance of the new charges, but that they would not make the government change its decision on landing rights for UAE airlines.
"Canada is a sovereign nation, and we make our decisions based on what is in the best interests of Canadians," she told the Associated Press news agency.
The AFP news agency quoted the ministry as saying UAE nationals visiting Canada are required to obtain a visa, which costs between $75 and $150.
The Canadian government feared that Canada's own airlines would suffer if Emirates and Etihad were able to offer more than their current total of six flights a week to and from Canada.
Its refusal of greater rights led to Canada being told to leave a key military base in Dubai, which it uses as a staging post for Canada's military mission in southern Afghanistan.
The BBC's Lee Carter in Toronto says the new visa rules will most affect the 25,000 Canadians living in the UAE.
He says some members of Canada's government expressed serious concerns about the potential damage of the refusal on relations between Canada and the UAE. It is Canada's largest trading partner in the Middle East with trade worth $1.5bn a year. | The United Arab Emirates is to charge Canadians up to 1,000 Canadian dollars (US$1,000; £650) for visas, amid a row over airline landing rights. | 12088449 |
Jerome scored City's consolation in a 5-1 thrashing at Sheffield Wednesday - their 10th away defeat this season.
Norwich have picked up 36 points at Carrow Road, but just 16 on their travels this term.
"You've got to be honest with yourself and as players we're not honest with ourselves," he told BBC Radio Norfolk.
"I think we lack respect for our team-mates, we're not fighting for each other.
"We lack respect for the coaching staff. All the things they do for us we don't follow our instructions or orders. It's like everyone plays for themselves."
The defeat left Norwich in eighth place, nine points adrift of the Owls in sixth - the final play-off spot - with 11 matches of the season remaining.
Jerome, the Canaries' leading scorer with 12 league goals, said it would be an "uphill task now to make the play-offs".
"We've not got enough about us as a squad to roll our sleeves up unfortunately and we've been found out on more than one occasion, that's why our away record's so poor," 30-year-old Jerome said.
"Ultimately we've been embarrassing, and a lack of everything on the pitch has let us down.
"We'll keep fighting, we'll keep going to the end. We owe it to ourselves, we owe it the fans, we owe it to the club." | Striker Cameron Jerome has said a "lack of respect" among his Norwich City team-mates is harming their Championship play-off hopes. | 39169945 |
Nicholas Slatten and three others were convicted last year for the killings in Baghdad's crowded Nisoor Square.
A further 17 Iraqis were injured as the private contractors opened fire to clear the way for a US convoy.
The shootings sparked international outrage and a debate over the role of defence contractors in warfare.
Slatten faced a charge of murder, while the other men faced multiple counts of manslaughter, attempted manslaughter and using firearms while committing a felony.
In a court in Washington DC, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard were all sentenced to 30 years in prison for their involvement in the killings.
The men had claimed that they were under fire from insurgents but prosecutors successfully argued what happened was an unprovoked ambush against civilians.
Dozens of victims and witness were flown from Iraq to the US for the trial.
Video monitors in the courtroom showed photos of the dead and wounded, and images of cars shot at and blown up with grenade launchers fired by the guards.
Mohammad Kinani Al-Razzaq's nine-year-old son Ali was killed in the attack.
A picture of the boy smiling was shown on court monitors as Mr Razzaq said: "What's the difference between these criminals and terrorists?''
The sentences were announced following a day-long hearing in which the defendants reaffirmed their innocence and their lawyers unsuccessfully argued for leniency.
Prosecutors argued that the sentences be made even harsher because the ex-guards had never expressed any remorse.
But US District Judge Royce Lamberth rejected both requests.
"Based on the seriousness of the crimes, I find the penalty is not excessive," Judge Lamberth told the court.
Responding to this, Slatten said: "The verdict is wrong, you know that I am innocent, sir."
Meanwhile, Slough's wife, Kirsten, told the BBC her husband made "reasonable judgements based on extensive training and experience".
"He certainly wished things happened differently... But he has not once told me that he thinks he made a wrong decision," she added. | A former Blackwater guard has been sentenced to life in prison and three others to 30 years over the killing of 14 Iraqi civilians in 2007. | 32292921 |
After Percival's early penalty, Lewis Tierney crossed for Wigan, but scores from Percival and Morgan Knowles put Saints 16-4 up at half-time.
Luke Walsh's drop-goal and James Roby's late try secured victory for the visitors in tricky, wet conditions.
Saints move up to fourth for the start of the Super 8s, as Wigan stay second.
With leaders Hull FC beating Salford, the Warriors missed the chance to stay level on points with the Black and Whites.
Wigan were on a nine-match winning run before their loss to Leeds last Friday, but will now go into their Challenge Cup semi-final against Hull FC next week following back-to-back defeats.
It was an impressive defensive effort throughout by Keiron Cunningham's St Helens side, highlighted when Joe Greenwood kept out Sam Tomkins' effort on the line in the second half.
New Zealand prop Frank-Paul Nuuausala was sent to the sin-bin on his home debut for Wigan for his strike on Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, who was also shown a yellow card.
Wigan forward John Batemen made his return after his eight-week ban and £10,000 fine for an alleged fracas with another player.
Wigan head coach Shaun Wane:
"I'm gutted, devastated. We didn't turn up and got what we deserved.
"The smartest team won. They were good on the floor and were allowed to be good.
"Our defence was very good for large parts of the game but our attack was off. Too many individual players had a poor game.
"We've got seven hard days of work ahead of us now. We need to make sure we turn up against Hull with the same commitment to defence but we've got to be better on attack."
St Helens head coach Keiron Cunningham:
"I'm just pleased for my players, they stood up to everything Wigan threw at us - they could probably still be playing now and not score.
"That's what self-belief brings to a side. We went through a tough spell but we're a real close-knit group and now we're heading in the right direction.
"Wigan are a great attacking side and were fully stacked tonight. They had lots of threats but I thought we stuck to the plan.
"We're not going to fall in love with ourselves, we give ourselves a good shot for the top four."
Wigan Warriors: S Tomkins; Tierney, Gildart, Sarginson, Manfredi; Williams, Smith; Sutton, Powell, Flower, Bateman, Isa, O'Loughlin.
Replacements: Crosby, Nuuausala, Mossop, Shorrocks.
St Helens: Lomax; Owens, Fleming, Percival, Swift; Turner, Walsh; Walmsley, Roby, Richards, Greenwood, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Wilkin.
Replacements: Amor, Vea, Thompson, Knowles.
Referee: Phil Bentham.
Attendance: 20,049. | Mark Percival scored 14 points for St Helens as they won a fiery derby against Wigan Warriors and secured a fifth straight Super League victory. | 36834860 |
Kaleb Amponsah stabbed Ade Afariogun twice in the stomach in front of three of the victim's friends in Plaistow Park, Newham, on 29 January.
The 27-year-old was attacked after getting into a scuffle with Amponsah, the Old Bailey heard.
The 18-year-old, of Robertson Road, Canning Town, had claimed he acted in self-defence but was found guilty.
Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow QC said Amponsah had "cycled past Ade Afariogun on several occasions and... stared angrily at him" before the pair got into an argument.
He then produced a large knife and stabbed Mr Afariogun in the stomach, leaving the victim with a 12cm (5in) wound in his abdomen.
The victim was taken to Royal London Hospital but died on 1 February.
Amponsah fled following the attack, leaving his bike and mobile phone in the park.
Police said the items were used to retrieve the teenager's DNA and he was arrested on 5 February.
A knife and the clothing worn by Amponsah during the attack were found in his bedroom.
Det Sgt Perry Benton said Mr Afariogun was "killed for reasons that we have been unable to ascertain".
"He was well loved by his family and friends, who miss him very much," he said. | A teenage drug dealer has been jailed for 22 years for murdering a man in an east London park. | 37197661 |
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The heavyweight, 25, beat USA's Jackie Galloway 14-4 in the +73kg category to seal victory in South Korea on Wednesday, which follows her maiden world gold in Russia in 2015.
Mahama Cho progressed to the men's heavyweight semi-finals to secure at least a bronze for Great Britain.
GB's Lutalo Muhammad suffered a second-round exit in the -87kg division.
Liverpool's Walkden made Wednesday's final after an impressive 9-3 defeat of home favourite Saebom An in the semi-final earlier in the day.
And she successfully defended her world title with a comprehensive victory over USA's Olympic bronze medallist Galloway.
Walkden was a bronze medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, beating Morocco's Wiam Dislam to win her +67kg bout.
But she was unlucky to miss out on the gold-medal match having lost 4-1 to China's Zheng Shuyin in a golden-point round.
"To be honest it hasn't sunk in, I'm just so happy," she told BBC Sport following her second world title.
"I played it down more than I thought I would and came out into the final and was thinking 'this is just the gym, I'll just try and kick everyone' like I do in practice.
"I was devastated after the Rio Olympics and it still burns me now and that has to be my goal for the future - to keep winning worlds, but to get that gold in Tokyo."
Rio Olympian Cho beat Iran's Sajjad Mardani 14-1 in the quarter-finals and has now secured the first major medal of his career - with the colour yet to be decided.
The 27-year-old, who lost the +80kg bronze medal match at Rio 2016, saw off 2013 World silver medallist Mardani to progress to the semi-finals.
"I had one job to do today and that's what I've done," he said.
"I'm really happy with the performance but I'm not done yet and I want that gold tomorrow.
"That major medal has been a long time waiting so it's just nice to be in this position. I'm going to come back with the same mind frame and play the game right."
Find out how to get into taekwondo in our special guide.
Olympic silver medallist Muhammad, 26, was beaten 6-21 by Kazakh Asian Championships silver medallist Smaiyl Duisebay in the -87kg division.
Muhammad was competing in his first event since his last-minute defeat in the -80kg final at Rio 2016 having taken a post-Games break for knee surgery.
As with previous major events outside the Olympics, Muhammad was competing in the heavier non-Olympic -87kg division.
He had looked strong in a convincing 36-1 defeat of Grenada fighter Fronzie Charles in the opening round, but was unable to avenge last year's agonising defeat in Rio.
Elsewhere Briton Jade Slavin was beaten in the last 16 by Mexico's Maria Espinoza on golden point in the -73kg category. | Bianca Walkden has become the first British fighter to successfully defend a World Taekwondo Championships title. | 40428001 |
Gundogan, 26, told BBC Sport he "can see the finishing line" after tearing cruciate knee ligaments in December, but will not rush his return.
The German missed the 2014 World Cup following back surgery that kept him out for a year, and sat out Euro 2016 because of a dislocated kneecap.
He said: "It is heavy mentally to accept that."
Gundogan will not be fit for the start of the Premier League season at Brighton on 12 August but said his recovery time is now being measured in "weeks" rather than months.
He told BBC Sport: "It is really hard always to fall and fight your way back. You feel good and feel ready, then you get the next kick.
"The worst part is behind me now. I want to feel ready when I am fully back. I want to feel safe and confident. I don't mind if it is two weeks or six."
Gundogan made 15 appearances and scored five goals in his debut season for City following his £20m move from Borussia Dortmund.
He is eager to get on the field again and was impressed at the club's 4-1 win over Real Madrid in a pre-season game in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Manager Pep Guardiola has made five new signings already this summer and continues to have an interest in Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez and Monaco's Kylian Mbappe.
Gundogan said: "Optimism for the season is big. It is huge, definitely.
"We felt that last year as well but it was a completely new experience for all of us. We know the Premier League a bit more now and can't wait for the season to start."
City complete their three-match tour of the United States against Tottenham in Nashville on Saturday.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said earlier this week he did not feel Tottenham were judged by the same standards as his own side, City and Manchester United.
Spurs have had the advantage in their recent meetings with City, winning three and drawing one of their last four Premier League games.
And Gundogan thinks they are a major threat.
He said: "Tottenham are a great team. They have the style of football. They have young English players. Our experience last season shows it is really tough to beat them.
"They are really uncomfortable to play against.
"I am pretty sure, even if they will not say it loud, the people who know the Premier League know Tottenham are definitely a competitor for the title." | Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan says it has been mentally tough to overcome a third major injury. | 40758845 |
The supporters of the Conference South side are hoping to raise a maximum of £1.25m in order to buy the club and and run it as a community-owned asset.
A fundraising campaign is taking place over the summer where people interested in investing can buy shares priced from £250 to £100,000.
Mr Loach said: "It needs the whole city to get behind the project."
The life-long fan of the club said the takeover bid could "set us on the road for a successful future, long-term."
"It seems a big challenge, but actually it's quite possible," he added.
Big Bath City Bid chairman Jon Bickley said: "We know that we are asking for a big investment from the local community - people will rightly expect to see a solid and sustainable business plan before they buy shares.
"We are confident that we have the right approach to return the club to profitability."
If the campaign is a success, a binding offer will be made towards the end of the fundraising period.
Bath City FC said it was broadly supportive of Big Bath City Bid's aims, but remains open to all options.
The campaign is being launched at an event at the Guildhall in Bath later. | Film director Ken Loach has backed a community buyout scheme by fans of cash-strapped Bath City Football Club. | 32972216 |
It will be Thomson's third spell at Easter Road and is head coach Alan Stubbs' second signing of the week, with striker Anthony Stokes joining on loan from Celtic.
The 31-year-old was a free agent after asking to leave Dundee on Friday.
"Kevin and Anthony have won league and cup medals and that experience will be important in the run in," said Stubbs.
Thomson started his career at Easter Road before leaving for Rangers in 2007.
He returned briefly in 2013 after a spell at Middlesborough but was one of a number of players released by then manager Terry Butcher following their relegation to the Scottish Championship.
How he will attempt to help Hibs reduce the five-point gap established at the top of the table by Rangers.
"He'll also be a strong addition to Eddie's coaching staff - I'm sure the kids coming through will pick up a lot from Kevin," Stubbs told the Hibernian website.
"I've got to thank the supporters, as well as the board, for their backing.
"There's a very positive feeling about the place just now and we're doing everything we can to get back to the Premiership." | Hibernian have signed midfielder Kevin Thomson as a player-coach until the end of the season. | 35386921 |
The Scottish 5,000m runner says the testing is too "slack" in some countries, and that not enough is being done outside of competitions.
It comes after a Wada report on the anti-doping methods employed at Rio 2016 highlighted "serious failings".
"If I'm on the start line, am I sure that 99% of athletes are clean? Of course I'm not," she said.
"The testing procedures from country to country does vary and it's quite slack in certain places.
"It's not something to dwell on. I can't tuck other athletes in at night and tell them to be good."
The World Anti-Doping Agency said many athletes who had been targeted for testing in Rio "simply could not be found".
It added that, on some days, "up to 50% of tests were aborted".
"It's disappointing," McColgan told BBC 5 live's Friday Sports Panel. "I'd love to know the exact reasons the tests weren't carried out. It's a bit of a strange one.
"The logistics in general around the Olympic Games weren't the best. It was nothing compared to what London was. London was very slick.
"The general organisation in Rio was a bit trickier, I suppose. So it's not a huge surprise to me but it's a shame that the clean athletes are the ones missing out."
McColgan, who finished 13th in the women's 5,000m final after switching from the 3,000m steeplechase earlier this year, was not tested in Rio.
She believes testing at major events is insufficient and more needs to be done throughout the year.
"Testing at the championships is not the be-all and end-all; I don't think you're going to catch all the drug cheats there," said the 25-year-old.
"The majority of people have been working hard and training hard all year, and the people that have been cheating have been cheating hard all year.
"By the time they get to the Games their work has been done and it really needs to filter back to out of competition testing. I think that's really where you're going to start catching people." | Eilish McColgan says there needs to be standardised testing in all countries to catch out drugs cheats in athletics. | 37803503 |
The Aspar Ducati rider from Toomebridge was just one place outside the points in the final round of the season.
Laverty ended the 2016 series in 13th place on 77 points.
Jorge Lorenzo completed his nine-year stay at Yamaha by winning in Spain with champion Marc Marquez second and Andrea Iannone in third. | Eugene Laverty finished 16th in Valencia on Sunday in his last MotoGP race before returning to World Superbikes for the 2017 season. | 37969914 |
Councillors have approved plans for a community-owned "mutual" that would be commissioned by Devon County Council to run the service on its behalf.
In February, the authority approved £46m of cuts for 2015-16 after a drop in government funding.
But union Unison warned that job posts and libraries could still close.
Andy Bowman, from the union, which represents library staff, said: "The authority could cut back the amount of money it pays for the 'mutual' library service, forcing it to cutback on the number of libraries and staff.
"It's abdicating its responsibility to this new body and distancing itself from the bottom line decisions as to who has jobs and what libraries stay."
However, the Conservative-led council said that in response to "overwhelming support" from communities who wanted to work more closely with the libraries, the new organisation would "continue to deliver an affordable, sustainable and innovative library service".
Conservative councillor Roger Croad, cabinet member with responsibility for the library service, said: "We have seen library closures happening across the country, and we want to avoid that happening here."
The authority has cut £3m from its library service budget over the past three years. | Devon's entire library service is to be turned into an independent organisation in a bid to save £1.5m over the next two years. | 31846907 |
Union leaders had endorsed the proposed agreement, which would have allowed prison officers to retire at 65, but members voted against it by two to one.
The union said it wanted to address "issues of concern" with the government.
The Ministry of Justice said it was disappointed but would continue talks.
It comes after a 12-hour riot at HMP Birmingham last week, described by the Prison Officers Association as the worst since the Strangeways jail riot 26 years ago.
Up to 10,000 prison officers in England and Wales protested last month over claims of a "surge" in jail violence but returned to work after a High Court injunction ordered them to end their 24-hour protest.
Under the rejected deal, which was approved by the POA's National Executive Committee earlier this month, staff would be able to retire with an occupational pension at 65 - even when the state pension age rises to 68.
Pay was proposed to increase by between 0.5% and 1% in each of the next three years, with further loyalty payments of up to £1,000.
But almost two-thirds of union members who voted rejected the deal. There was a 52% turnout among the 19,000 eligible prison staff in England and Wales.
BBC Home Affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said some prison staff believe they should be allowed to retire with a full pension at 60, as police officers are allowed to do.
There are also concerns that pay is still not enough to attract sufficient staff, the correspondent added.
The Ministry of Justice said Justice Secretary Liz Truss intends to meet with union leaders in the New Year. | Members of the Prison Officers Association in England and Wales have "overwhelmingly" rejected an offer on pay and pensions, the union has said. | 38404883 |
American pair Johnson and Spieth and Kaymer of Germany start their rounds from the 10th on Thursday at 14:35 BST.
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, winner in 2011, 2013 champion Justin Rose of England and Australia's Jason Day who was runner-up to both, begin at 19:09.
Masters champions Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson and Adam Scott tee off at 19:36.
English duo Lee Westwood and Ross Fisher and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell go off at 14:02 while Scottish pair Russell Knox and Martin Laird are in the next grouping, which tees off 11 minutes later.
Full tee times. | World number one Dustin Johnson will begin the defence of his US Open title alongside the 2015 champion Jordan Spieth and 2014 winner Martin Kaymer. | 40243230 |
Margaret Ann Llewelyn, 53, was last seen at her home in Chepstow in 2002.
Her disappearance prompted a major search operation and relatives made several appeals.
Gwent Police were called to Beaufort Quarry on 24 February and said the remains have been identified as the grandmother. | Human remains found at a quarry in Monmouthshire belong to a woman who had been missing for 14 years, police have said. | 35729376 |
One of the mirrors shattered when Olivia Ward walked into it, cutting her legs and causing blood to pour out.
Her mother said there was so much blood "it looked like she had been bitten by a shark", adding she wants the maze to be closed.
The BBC has contacted Wheelgate Park in Nottinghamshire, but it has not commented.
The Health and Safety Executive is investigating to see if any laws have been breached, and whether the park could be prosecuted.
The nine-year-old's mother, Zoe Ward, believes the type of glass used is not suitable for a children's attraction.
"If it had been a little child running in there they would have got no eyes left; they would have had no face," she said.
"It was crazy, it was like she had been bitten by a shark or a dog.
"The cuts were so deep so she's got to rest up for the next week and try not to bend her legs.
"She needed about 20 stitches and they said she will be permanently scarred."
Olivia needed about 20 stitches to the wounds on her legs and is using crutches to walk.
Children are asked not to run through the maze, and Olivia's mother said she was definitely walking when it happened.
"I really don't know how it happened, unless it's just a weak piece of glass," she said.
"It's a maze so obviously you are going to walk into all sorts."
The park is required to report incidents like this to the HSE within 10 days. However, it has not done so yet.
The HSE started investigating when a member of the public contacted them.
A spokesman said: "We are aware of the incident and we have started an investigation." | A nine-year-old girl has been scarred for life after an accident in a maze made of mirrors at a theme park. | 37057899 |
The mother and father from King's Lynn, Norfolk, were questioned in March 2014 over the care of their 11-year-old son.
Norfolk Police said intervention at this level was "very rare" and the couple had been released from bail.
At the time of the arrests, the boy was 5ft 1in (1.56m) and 15 stone (95kg) with a body mass index (BMI) of 41.9.
Children with a BMI score of 40 or above are among the most overweight in the country.
"The child's welfare is of paramount importance and our priority has always been - and remains - the safety and protection of the child," the police said.
The arrests had been based on criteria set out by the Norfolk Safeguarding Children Board, he said.
These include the child's weight increasing disproportionately to age and the parents failing to take action.
"Following detailed inquiries and Crown Prosecution Service advice criminal proceedings are now closed," the spokesman added.
The safeguarding policy outlines the requirement for childhood obesity to be managed by parents and carers with support from health organisations and children's social care.
The family nor the child were identified and the investigation of the 50-year-old man and 45-year-old woman was in accordance with the Children's Act 1933, police said. | A couple arrested on suspicion of cruelty and neglect of their obese child will not be prosecuted, police have confirmed. | 33330823 |
They say Maj Gen Nelson Williams, who is now Sierra Leone's Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, is back at his base in the capital Abuja.
It was not immediately clear whether any ransom was paid for his release.
He was seized on Friday as he was travelling to the northern state of Kaduna for a military ceremony.
"He is in sound health," Nigerian police spokesman Don Awunah was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
Maj Gen Williams is believed to be the first Sierra Leone diplomat to be abducted anywhere in the world since the country became independent in 1961.
His seizure was hugely embarrassing for the Nigerian government, correspondent say.
Kidnapping for ransom is common in some parts of Nigeria. | The former head of Sierra Leone's army who was kidnapped in Nigeria last week has been freed, officials say. | 36719559 |
Curiosity, which has been on the Mars surface for two years, tweeted "Namaste @MarsOrbiter" and congratulated India on its first interplanetary mission.
@MarsOrbiter, in one of its first ever tweets, replied: "Howdy @MarsCuriosity? Keep in touch. I'll be around."
India is only the fourth nation or geo-bloc to have a probe at Mars.
Only the US, Russia and Europe have previously sent missions to Mars, and India has succeeded on its first attempt - an achievement that eluded even the Americans and the Soviets.
The latest US satellite, Maven, arrived at Mars on Monday.
The Mangalyaan - which means "Mars craft" in Hindi - will soon begin work studying the Red Planet's atmosphere.
It will take pictures of the planet, study its atmosphere and try to detect methane in the Martian air, which could be an indicator of biological activity at, or more likely just below, the surface.
Within the first fours hours of launching its Twitter account, @MarsOrbiter had more than 32,000 followers and #Mangalyaan, #IndiaAtMars, #marsorbitormission and #Martian were among the top 10 Twitter trends in India.
Mangalyaan - more formally referred to as Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) - was launched from the Sriharikota spaceport on the coast of the Bay of Bengal on 5 November 2013.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country had achieved the "near impossible". | India's Mangalyaan Mars probe has been welcomed into the planet's orbit by a friendly tweet from the US space agency Nasa's Curiosity Rover. | 29339555 |
Ian Murray wants to see Yvette Cooper replace Ed Miliband.
But he said if Mr Corbyn triumphed he would take on the shadow Scottish secretary role.
Voting in the election, being fought by Ms Cooper, Mr Corbyn, Andy Burnham and Liz Kendall has closed and the winner will be announced on Saturday.
Mr Murray told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that he had made clear in the past that he would "think about serving in a Corbyn shadow cabinet".
He said: "But I think anyone who asks me to serve as shadow Scottish secretary, I'll be accepting of that because we need a Scottish voice in that shadow cabinet. We need to work with the leadership."
Mr Murray added: "I would serve under Jeremy Cobryn's leadership if I'm asked to do so."
The contest has been plagued by internal rows over Labour's direction and concerns that non-party supporters have tried to influence the outcome.
The Labour leadership election was sparked by Mr Miliband's resignation following the party's poor performance at the general election.
The surprise emergence of left-winger Mr Corbyn, a last-minute addition to the race, has led to warnings from his rivals and senior Labour figures, including former prime minister Tony Blair, against a lurch to the left.
The party is also in the process of choosing a new deputy leader, with the result of the ballot also to be unveiled at the leadership conference on Saturday. | Scotland's only Labour MP has said he would serve in the shadow cabinet of left-winger Jeremy Corbyn if he were to win the leadership of the UK party. | 34206960 |
More than 100 Australian babies were hospitalised with parechovirus in 2013 and 2014.
One year later, doctors found that many of these babies had developmental problems, according to a study by the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (ASID).
No specific treatment or vaccine is currently available.
Babies infected with the virus suffered from symptoms such as seizures, irritability and muscle twitches, according to ASID.
"This is a new virus and we know very little about it. This study is helping improve our understanding of some of the long-term consequences of infection in children and the results are concerning," said ASID president Prof Cheryl Jones in a statement.
According to ASID, arechovirus was identified in Europe just over a decade ago.
However, Australia recently recorded one of the world's largest outbreaks, starting in Sydney in late 2013.
ASID said over 100 babies were hospitalised in Sydney alone during this outbreak, with 70% of these children suffering from neurological infection.
The new study successfully followed up on 46 out of 79 of the infants, with half of them showing some developmental issues at 12 months.
Nearly 20% of the children had developed significant neurological problems.
"This clearly illustrates just how vitally important it is that we follow up young infants with brain infections from this virus and remain on alert for emerging infectious diseases," Prof Jones said.
"It also highlights our need to develop an adequate response.
"There is currently no vaccination and no treatment for this virus. And whilst we are not anticipating a global epidemic we can certainly be confident that we will have further outbreaks in Australia," she said.
The virus is spread by contact with bodily fluids such as airborne droplets of saliva, in the same way as the common cold. | A new virus can cause developmental delays and brain damage, according to research. | 36108559 |
Eluned Morgan said without action "we risk facing a social crisis" not seen "since the days of the workhouse".
Care Forum Wales warned in August of a "triple whammy" of underfunding, staff pay and an ageing population.
The Welsh Government said it had worked for many years on "building a care service fit for the pressures of the modern world".
According to Public Health Wales, the number of people aged 85 or over will reach 184,000 by 2036 - up 145% since 2011.
Baroness Morgan, leading a short debate in the Senedd on Wednesday evening on future challenges for the care sector in Wales, said: "Care services are struggling to keep up, and the state is struggling to pay for it.
"Report after report has noted that something needs to be done - the amber lights have been flashing for a long time but they are about to turn red."
The AM for Mid and West Wales called for a cross-party consensus on developing a new funding model, relevant building policies and support for staff working in the social care sector.
She told the assembly she hoped for a national care service which would in time "become as loved and appreciated as the NHS".
Responding, Social Services Minister Rebecca Evans said: "This government has been strongly focused for a number of years now on building a care service fit for the pressures of the modern world.
"We have brought forward ground-breaking legislation to reform care based on a person-centred approach, we've protected social services budgets despite the austerity of the UK government, and we've led the sector towards new approaches of collaboration and integration." | A social care "time-bomb" requires the setting up of a national care service, a Labour AM has warned. | 37501230 |
A report to councillors next week has said the signs are not legally enforceable.
It also claims they are a deterrent to outdoor play.
The communities and housing committee will be asked to approve a plan to remove them when it meets next Thursday. | Aberdeen could become the first city in Scotland to remove all of its "no ball games" signs from public areas. | 34016886 |
Dyma'r pumed tro i'r Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol ddewis ffermwr ifanc i weithio ar dir yn Nant Gwynant ger Beddgelert.
Cafodd Teleri ei dewis gan banel o Gymdeithas y Clybiau Ffermwyr Ifanc a'r Ymddiredolaeth Genedlaethol, ar ôl iddi amlinellu ei chynlluniau ar gyfer y fferm.
Ym mis Medi, fe fydd hi a'i chi defaid, Roy, yn symud i fwthyn ar y tir, ac yn gyfrifol am 100 o ddefaid ac ŵyn ac ychydig o warthog duon Cymreig.
"Dwi mor gyffrous," meddai Teleri, sydd wedi dychwelyd adref ar ôl cyfnod yn gweithio ar ffermydd yn Ffrainc.
"Mae 'na gymaint o rwystrau i rywun sydd eisiau ffermio ond sydd ddim mewn sefyllfa i etifeddu fferm, fel fi, felly mae cael y cyfle yma i gymryd y cam nesa' yn y diwydiant yn wych.
"Does dim llawer o dir yn dod ar gael i'w rhentu, ac mae rhentu yn gallu bod yn eithriadol o ddrud. A does dim llawer o swyddi ymarferol ar gael allan yna chwaith."
Ychwanegodd "Flynyddoedd mawr yn ôl, pan o'dd fy nhaid am gychwyn ffermio, mi gafodd e afael ar ddarn o dir ac yna gosod defaid arnyn nhw. 'Di hynny ddim yn bosib dyddie yma.
"Mae angen llawer iawn o arian hefyd ar gyfer peiriannau, stoc, yn ogystal â chostau o ddydd i ddydd."
Dywedodd Teleri ei bod hi wedi derbyn llawer o gefnogaeth gan ffermwyr yn ardal Meifod dros y blynddoedd diwethaf.
"Maen nhw 'di bod mor wych 'efo fi, yn ogystal â chymorth ymarferol yn ystod y tymor wyna, ma nhw 'di fy helpu i ddewis ci, a'i hyfforddi. Mae hynna 'di bod o gymorth enfawr i mi, a dwi mor ddiolchgar am hynny."
Bydd Teleri Fielden yn etifeddu'r fferm oddi wrth James Evans o Faesyfed, a enillodd ysgoloriaeth Llyndy Isaf yn 2016. | Teleri Fielden o bentref Meifod yn Sir Drefaldwyn yw enillydd Ysgoloriaeth Llyndy Isaf ar gyfer 2017. | 40705649 |
A lawyer for PeWoBe said the emails had been quoted out of context and were never meant to be taken seriously.
Some PeWoBe managers joked about how to spend a €5,000 (£4,340) donation. A "child guillotine" was suggested.
Another email said residents would turn a sandpit into "an ashtray".
PeWoBe runs nine migrant hostels in the German capital, catering for about 3,100 asylum seekers.
Berlin's Social Affairs Senator Mario Czaja said the "inexcusable" email exchange between PeWoBe managers "makes it clear that any further work with PeWoBe is impossible".
He said shortcomings had also been found earlier in PeWoBe's hostel management.
It is not clear who could manage the hostels instead of PeWoBe, which remains under contract with the Berlin government.
German media say PeWoBe is likely to appeal against Mr Czaja's decision.
The unprecedented influx of migrants last year put German cities under huge pressure to find extra accommodation. About 1.1m migrants - many of them refugees from the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan - reached Germany.
A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants. | The Berlin authorities say they no longer want a private company, PeWoBe, to run migrant hostels in the city, after company emails denigrating migrants were leaked to German media. | 37093934 |
If found guilty, Peter Gardner, 25, could be executed. He told the court he did not know it was in his bags.
Mr Gardner was arrested last November in Guangzhou allegedly carrying over 30kg (66lb) of the drug in his luggage.
China has strict drug laws - anyone found carrying more than 50g of meth faces a potential death penalty.
China carries out more executions than the rest of the world put together, according to Amnesty International, but actual numbers are difficult to verify as the government does not release the figures.
Mr Gardner - who has joint New Zealand and Australian citizenship and was travelling on his New Zealand passport - was stopped at Guangzhou's airport while attempting to get on a flight to Sydney.
He was transporting two sealed pieces of luggage containing the drugs, said the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
His Australian girlfriend, Kalynda Davis, was also detained but was released without charge in December.
In a live online broadcast of the court proceedings on Thursday, Mr Gardner was heard testifying off-screen that he had made "a really big mistake" and brought "a big shame" to his family.
"I have broken the law and there's no getting out of it," he said.
He said he had come to China to buy muscle-building supplements, and indicated he did not know what he was carrying as he was told not to look inside the bags.
Mr Gardner also said he had no previous drug convictions and would be willing to help identify Chinese suspects in the case.
New Zealand's foreign affairs and trade ministry told the BBC that consulate staff in Guangzhou were supporting Mr Gardner.
Mr Gardner's case follows the high-profile executions of two Australians, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, in Indonesia for drug trafficking.
Last September, Australian officials said several of its citizens were facing the death penalty in China for drugs charges, with a number of them caught in Guangzhou, known as a methamphetamine hub.
China has been waging a crackdown on the illegal drug trade, which has found profitable routes to Australia and other parts of the region.
Authorities have made several high-profile arrests, including minor celebrities such as Jackie Chan's son, Jaycee.
Last year more than 168,000 suspects of narcotics crime were arrested and police seized nearly 70 tonnes of drugs, including about 26 tonnes of methamphetamine, according to state news agency Xinhua.
Australia, meanwhile, has said crystal meth presents the highest risk to Australian communities of any illegal substance.
It says increasing amounts of the drug's ingredients are being seized on its borders, much of it imported from India and China. | A New Zealand-born Australian man has gone on trial in southern China for attempting to smuggle crystal methamphetamine out of the country. | 32620181 |
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Centre Sene Naoupu and lock Sophie Spence crossed as the hosts led 15-3 at the break.
Two more penalties from home captain Niamh Briggs, who scored 11 points, were the only second-half scores.
Wales defended bravely for long periods, but could not add to Robyn Wilkins' early penalty.
Ireland benefitted from a string of penalties in the first half with Wales prop Megan York sin-binned.
Naoupu's run from 30 metres marked the stand-out moment before half-time.
But with heavy rain affecting the second half, Wales kept their line intact in the face of intense Irish pressure.
Ireland take on France in Perpignan on Saturday, 13 February, while the following day in Neath, Wales host Scotland, who lost 32-0 to England on Friday.
Ireland Women: Niamh Briggs; Elise O'Byrne-White, Aine Donnelly, Sene Naoupu, Mairead Coyne; Nikki Caughey, Larissa Muldoon; Ailis Egan, Zoe Grattage, Ruth O'Reilly; Sophie Spence, Marie-Louise Reilly; Paula Fitzpatrick, Claire Molloy, Heather O'Brien.
Replacements: Cliodhna Moloney, Lindsay Peat, Fiona Reidy, Ciara Cooney, Ciara Griffin, Mary Healy, Nora Stapleton, Jackie Shiels.
Wales Women: Adi Taviner; Elen Evans, Kerin Lake, Hannah Jones, Bethan Dainton; Robyn Wilkins, Keira Bevan; Megan York, Carys Phillips, Amy Evans, Rebecca Rowe, Sioned Harries, Rachel Taylor, Sian Williams, Shona Powell-Hughes.
Replacements: Amy Price, Catrin Edwards, Cerys Hale, Siwan Lillicrap, Alisha Butchers, Elinor Snowsill, Gemma Rowland, Dyddgu Hywel. | Holders Ireland opened their Women's Six Nations campaign on a confident note with a comfortable win over Wales on the artificial pitch at Donnybrook. | 35492047 |
The last nuclear reactor was switched off at Wylfa on the island in December 2015.
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has served an enforcement notice on Magnox Ltd to improve its management of asbestos at the site.
There is no risk of exposure to the public. Magnox Ltd said it had already started improvements.
The company, charged with removing nuclear fuel from the decommissioned site, said there was no suggestion that any staff had been exposed to asbestos fibres.
It has until 28 July to make changes.
An inspection of the site, carried out by the ONR, found that while the company had committed to making improvements, action was needed to make sure legal standards were met for managing asbestos-containing materials.
Chief nuclear insp Dr Richard Savage said it had "no impact on nuclear safety".
"We do require improvements to ensure that any arrangements to manage the risk arising from the presence of asbestos are adequate and appropriate," he said.
A statement from Magnox said the Wylfa site contained "significant quantities of asbestos in a wide range of forms" and had an asbestos management plan, as required by law.
It reads: "Since this issue was first identified we have mobilised significant additional resources to ensure that it is dealt with as a priority.
"We are also reviewing the asbestos management plans across our business to ensure that they are all of the appropriate standard." | Safety concerns have been raised over the handling of asbestos during the removal of nuclear waste on Anglesey. | 39666461 |
Under changes that came into effect on Monday, grants for students from low-income homes are replaced by loans.
Previously, students from families with annual incomes of £25,000 or less received a full grant of £3,387 a year.
The National Union of Students said the move was "disgraceful" and meant poorer students would be saddled with a lifetime of debt.
The switch from grants to maintenance loans was announced in July 2015 by the then Chancellor, George Osborne, in his Budget.
Mr Osborne said at the time that there was a "basic unfairness in asking taxpayers to fund grants for people who are likely to earn a lot more than them".
Speaking in January, the then Universities and Science Minister, Jo Johnson, said the maintenance grant change "helps balance the need to ensure that affordability is not a barrier to higher education, while ensuring that higher education is funded in a fair and sustainable way".
NUS vice-president Sorana Vieru told BBC Breakfast: "It's a disgraceful change that basically punishes poorer students simply for being poor, so they have to take a bigger loan than those students from privileged backgrounds.
"It could put off students from underprivileged backgrounds from applying, who might not understand how the loan system works, or are very debt-averse.
"We also know that mature students are way more debt-averse than younger students and BME [black and minority ethnic] students perceive student debt on a par with commercial debt."
The change in funding comes as a report questions politicians' assertions that having a degree leads to higher earnings.
The report, by the Intergenerational Foundation lobby group, says having to pay back student debts will wipe out any graduate premium for most professions.
The government says going to university boosts employability and earnings. | Students starting university courses in England will no longer be able to apply for grants towards living costs. | 36940172 |
Three cats from Ty-Nant sanctuary in Cymmer were found dead while another three were later found unharmed after a break-in on Saturday.
Frank Lewis appeared at Swansea Magistrates' Court charged with two counts of burglary and causing suffering to a protected animal.
He was released on bail until 2 September.
A 15-year-old was also charged and will appear at Swansea Youth Court on 11 August.
Three dead cats were found mutilated following the break-in.
A post on the sanctuary's Facebook page said three cats were found in a cage in a ditch on Sunday and had been safely returned to the centre. Five are still missing.
Ty-Nant said it was still looking for a tortoiseshell and white cat, three black and whites and one large tabby male.
A fundraising website set up for the sanctuary has raised more than £11,000 since Saturday.
A sanctuary volunteer posted on the centre's Facebook page saying: "The injuries they had sustained has left all of us heartbroken and angry.
"There are still cats that are unaccounted for and we hope that they will somehow be found and returned safely." | An 18-year-old has appeared in court in connection with a burglary at a cat sanctuary in Neath Port Talbot. | 36939284 |
Anas Abdalla, Mahamuud Diini and Gabriel Rasmus from Birmingham wanted to join the group, a jury was told.
But they were arrested after being discovered hiding in the back of a lorry at Dover port in April 2015.
Mr Abdalla and Mr Diini, both 26, deny preparing for acts of terror. Rasmus, 29, admits the same charge.
Somalia-born Mr Abdalla and Mr Diini claim their covert bid to get out of the UK had nothing to do with terrorism.
In a defence statement, Mr Abdalla, an IT technician and former asylum seeker, said the secret services had made his life in Britain "intolerable".
He said his university career, job prospects and financial affairs in the UK had been "adversely affected".
Part-time labourer Mr Diini, a Dutch national, said in his defence statement he had rebuffed attempts by MI5 to recruit him.
He claimed his brother Ahmed had been arrested and tortured in Egypt and he was on his way to find him in Turkey after his release.
But prosecutor Sally Howes QC told jurors "The evidence you will hear during this trial will show that their intention was to join forces with Islamic State to offer their services, together with their lives if needs be, to engage in acts of terrorism."
She went on to say how undercover officer "Muhamed" had befriended the trio and secretly recorded their conversations.
Rasmus repeatedly referred to "being out there" in Syria and said: "September 11 was so good" she claimed.
Mr Abdalla said: "Paradise, paradise, I swear to God I cannot wait," the court heard.
On 2 April 2015, they returned to Birmingham following a first failed attempt to leave in the back of a lorry and they told Mr Muhamed they had paid £900 and needed the money back, the jury was told.
Mr Abdalla, of Fox Hollies Road, Acocks Gardens, Birmingham, and Mr Diini, of Coventry Road, Small Heath, Birmingham, deny the charge against them.
The trial continues. | An undercover officer infiltrated a jihadi group and scuppered their plan to join so-called Islamic State in Syria, the Old Bailey heard. | 35236082 |
Written in the local Hausa language by women for women, Kano city's equivalent of the Mills and Boons industry, known as "Litattafan Soyayya", is a booming business.
"I read these novels to know how to handle complex life issues, like courtship and what life is in the matrimonial home," says 23-year-old Hadiza Ibrahim Kabuga.
One of the bestsellers, A Daren Farko, meaning "On the First Night", is especially popular with girls and young women about to be married - detailing what they can expect on their first night in the marriage bed.
The novels are a way for women to talk about issues not openly discussed in northern Nigeria.
I give more attention to women's issues, like marriage, polygamy and education
Girls are often treated differently from boys, with some parents believing they do not need an education as their early years are just a preparation for marriage.
"In my writing I give more attention to women's issues, like marriage, polygamy and education," says Fauziyyah B Suleiman, who has written 32 novels and makes enough money to live by her writing.
Three of them have proved so successful that they have been turned into locally produced movies.
One called Rumaysah deals with polygamy and the complications that come with it.
Rumaysah is a woman driven by jealousy who is determined to stop her husband from taking a second wife and ends up murdering him.
The trickery and subterfuge of life in a polygamous family is also raised by many of the novels.
Others will, for example, chronicle the rise of an illiterate child bride who rebels against her family to get an education - ending with her becoming aware of her rights within and outside the family.
"Such novels bring to the fore the much-needed change in the way women are treated in Hausa society," says literary critic Murtala Abdullahi.
It allows women not only to express themselves but be viewed in a different light, he adds.
"Hausa romance novels often present the image of women not only as housewives and mothers, but also as breadwinners or political activists or professionals."
43% of girls are married off before their 18th birthday
17% get married before they turn 15
The novels sell for about 300 naira ($1.50, £1) each and can be bought at book stalls in all markets.
"Every week at least five new novels come on to the market - some selling in their thousands," says Ali Mai Litattafai, who runs a bookshop in old Kano city.
"In the past people had the wrong impression of issues such novels raise, but now people have realised that they are for the good of the society."
At one of the shops I met a boy who came to pick up the latest novels for his mother - some women here stay at home as they are not allowed to mix with men in public.
Most of Mr Litattafai's customers are married women, some of whom buy in bulk and then loan out copies of the romances in their neighbourhoods for a small fee.
It is usually about $0.70 to borrow three books for a week.
The novels are also serialised on the radio.
When Express FM in Kano airs its romance novel slot at 09:00 every weekday morning, many homes comes to a standstill for the next 30 minutes.
It can also be heard outside the city in rural areas, where literacy is lower. Kano State as a whole has female literacy rates of between 35% and 50% - in much of the rest of northern Nigeria it is lower than 35%.
Some teachers have complained that the books interfere with girls' concentration at school.
"I used to have to frequently confiscate the romances when I caught students secretly reading them on their laps," says Naziru Mikailu, a BBC journalist who used to teach at a school in Kano.
Some Islamic scholars have had more of an issue with what they consider the vulgar and erotic content of the novels.
The Kano governor in 2007 led a widely publicised burning of thousands of the novels.
A censorship board was then set up, requiring writers to present their works for scrutiny before publication.
This has now been relaxed after some writers won a civil court case which upheld their freedom of expression.
But the Hisbah religious police - who are tasked with upholding Islamic law - are still touchy about them.
In February, they stopped a popular narrator of the novels, Isa Ahmed Koko, from visiting Kano to meet his adoring fans.
This was in response to a Facebook campaign set up by men upset by the prospect.
"Many married women will abandon their homes and tell their husbands they are maybe going to the hospital only to end up at the meeting," one of them posted.
The authors often put their mobile numbers on the cover of their novels, allowing direct feedback from readers who sometimes get in touch to offer them gifts.
But some have received threatening messages, urging them to stop writing.
Maryam Salisu Maidala, a teacher who has written two romance bestsellers, says she has never been on the receiving end of a threatening call, except from fans urging her to hurry up with a sequel to her popular book Kainuwa.
"I reflect reality to the extent that sometimes readers call my mobile to ask me if my novels were based on real life stories that had happened."
She writes her novels by long hand, because of Nigeria's erratic electricity supply, and says that the serialisation of her books on the radio has helped boost sales.
Social media, on the other hand, is posing a problem for the writers as groups have been formed on Facebook or WhatsApp where whole novels are uploaded.
"Social media is gradually eroding readership of Hausa novels because people can now share electronic copies of a novel. This affects our sales," says Ms Suleiman.
But it is not an ideal reading experience, so for the moment Kano's literature of romance looks secure.
"After school I read such novels in my free time. We girls don't get out of our homes much - so it's my way of relaxing," says 18-year-old Sadiya Hussaini, who like the other romance fans did not want her photo taken.
"Many of the stories teach you how to handle boys - and I learn how complicated life is.
"The suspense also keeps me excited, gives me something to look forward to." | Women and girls in northern Nigeria have a voracious appetite for romantic fiction that is taking on conservative attitudes in this largely Muslim region. | 36172123 |
Georgia are at the front of that waiting list, climbing above Italy in the world rankings and attracting crowds of more than 50,000 in Tbilisi.
They have already qualified for the 2019 World Cup and beaten the likes of Tonga and Fiji, while they will face Wales for the first time in November.
Yet it might be some time until their case for inclusion will be properly heard.
Six Nations chief executive John Feehan has dismissed the notion of relegation, defending Italy's permanent place in the competition despite them propping up the table 11 times in the 17 tournaments since they joined in 2000.
The idea of expanding of the Six Nations to seven teams or more has also been met with derision, with those in charge of the global game seemingly content with the status quo.
Georgia will not be deterred, however, as head coach Milton Haig explains.
"We can't control the decision-making process and we understand we won't be able to influence that apart from being consistent on the rugby field," he tells BBC Wales Sport.
"If it's going to cost us a certain amount of money [to join the Six Nations], tell us what it is and we will be able to come back to you with an answer.
"It can be frustrating but our job is to create a conversation and if we can keep the conversation alive then hopefully we can get a bit of support, not only from the media but within the internal structures of the Six Nations."
Providing the necessary financial support for a team in the Six Nations costs millions, but that would not be a problem for Georgia.
Backed by their government and the billionaire and former prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia have the financial muscle to compete with any other nation in world rugby.
The Georgian Rugby Union is investing in its infrastructure and grassroots game and, should the dream of entering the Six Nations become a reality, Haig believes the country could blaze a trail for others.
"If you're looking at potential, one thing we do know is we'll be bringing an Eastern European market to the table," the New Zealander adds.
"Not only would we be watched by our own fans, you can bet other Eastern European nations like Russia and Romania will more than likely tune in too.
"It will be for the greater good of Eastern European rugby. With the support of Mr Ivanishvili and the government, we think we can be sustainable.
"We'd be happy to sign up for a five-year deal. Even if it's three years, give us three years to prove ourselves on the pitch and commercially, and we'd be pretty confident we could do both."
Having spent the majority of his coaching career in New Zealand, Haig took on a major project when he moved to Georgia in 2011.
The former scrum-half is an enthusiastic ambassador for Georgian rugby, eager to expose his team to more occasions like their 2015 World Cup encounter with New Zealand in front of 69,187 at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.
One of Georgia's senior players, prop Anton Peikrishvili, strikes a more cautious note.
Asked about his country's prospects of joining the Six Nations, the Cardiff Blues player is a little unsure.
"To be honest, all of the players, we are scared to play against the big teams," he tells BBC Wales Sport.
"When you see Italy they have a good team but always they are struggling - conceding 50 or 60 points - the players we are like 'Oh, maybe we are not ready'.
"We need some more Test matches to improve our power but our coach is from New Zealand so he is really ambitious.
"We are just soldiers. We try to follow the general. So, if he [Haig] says this, he thinks the team is ready to play the big games, so the day is coming and we have to be prepared well."
If Georgia are to establish themselves as an elite rugby nation, they will need to strengthen their domestic game.
The Georgian Rugby Union has held talks with the Pro12 and the southern hemisphere's Super Rugby about entering a team - similar to Argentina's Jaguares Super Rugby franchise - and Haig says he is "hopeful" of making that a reality in the long-term future.
That could pose logistical difficulties, according to Newport Gwent Dragons head coach Kingsley Jones, who faced Georgia during his time in charge of Russia's national team between 2012 and 2014.
"I think they'd be a great addition in terms of a place for the supporters to travel to - but it would be a very difficult thing, to play in Tbilisi," he says.
"You fly from Istanbul and Istanbul to Georgia - that's a hell of a trip.
"It would be good for their development and they're certainly a side World Rugby, at national level, are looking to develop. And their club game needs to be involved in a tournament of a high level to help the national team evolve, and also help the leakage of their players into France and other countries."
Cardiff Blues prop Peikrishvili is an example of that player drain, moving to France to forge his career with Castres and Brive before spells with Ulster and the Blues.
The 29-year-old may be uncertain about his country's short-term ambitions of playing in the Six Nations but, looking further ahead, he would love to represent a Georgian team in a top-tier domestic competition.
"Because all of the Georgian players play in France or even in the UK, when it's a game we have a camp for maybe one week, so we are not well prepared," says Peikrishvili.
"We'll see what happens next, maybe, we are not ready for Pro12, or the company is not ready to add some new teams. If one day it happens I'll be lucky to say that I can play against them or I can play in the team. We'll see." | The Six Nations is the exclusive club for European rugby's elite, and there is a queue of outsiders eager to force their way in. | 39050894 |
Farmer Robert Fidler, 66, hid the castle behind bales for four years when he built it in Redhill, Surrey.
A High Court judge has ordered him to demolish it by June. If he fails to do so he will be jailed for three months.
A petition, with 1,200 signatures, calls on Reigate and Banstead Council to stop the "wasteful" enforcement.
Maddie Stocker, who began the petition and has a background in property, said she thought the decision to demolish the home was "absolutely ridiculous".
"It was like the council were robots and couldn't see the bigger picture," she said.
"Of course, I understand the council had been misled and that's not the right way to do things.
"But I think it's a piece of art, an amazing structure that he built by himself for only £50,000."
Other people have agreed, with former X Factor winner Steve Brookstein tweeting: "Reigate is a few miles from Gatwick which wants to expand but the council want to destroy a castle."
On Ms Stocker's petition Daniel Barratt wrote: "The council need to concentrate on getting homeless people off the streets not creating more."
And Mel Dawson wrote: "To demolish this property would be an act of vandalism for the sake of sour grapes mentality."
The house was built on greenbelt land between 1999 and 2006. The council first ordered its demolition in 2007.
During a hearing at the High Court, Mr Fidler claimed it could not be demolished because bats, which are protected by law, were roosting in the property.
However, a High Court judge said he would be jailed for his "defiance" if the property was not demolished by next June.
A council spokeswoman said: "If the petition is submitted to the council, has over 400 valid signatures and meets our petition criteria it would be eligible for discussion at a full council meeting.
"However the High Court's ruling that the house and other unauthorised structures must be removed by 6 June 2016 is binding." | More than a thousand people have backed calls to halt the proposed demolition of a mock-Tudor castle built without planning permission. | 34903224 |
Just under 10,000 proxy votes were cast in the last Assembly election in March.
That figure was almost double the figure for the Westminster poll in 2015. The biggest increases came in mainly nationalist constituencies.
Fermanagh and South Tyrone topped the list with more than 1,500 proxy votes recorded and it was followed by Newry and Armagh with just over 1200.
Lagan Valley had the lowest number of proxy votes at 136. By comparison in the last Assembly election in Wales, there were just 3,000 proxy votes.
Professor of politics Rick Wilford said the increase in proxy voting was significant.
"We don't know which parties were the beneficiaries of the proxy votes but as a means of getting the vote out, I think all the parties are recognising their significance, some parties more than others," he said.
"I think it is going to matter a lot in some of the constituencies like South Belfast, Fermanagh South Tyrone and South Antrim where the parties are going to pay particular attention to this aspect of the electoral process."
Prof Wilford believes proxy votes could mean the difference in winning and losing a seat at Westminster.
"The most marginal seat of all is Fermanagh and South Tyrone where the winning margin last time for Tom Elliott was just over 500 votes," he said.
"I think all the parties are going to throw everything including the kitchen sink at getting all their votes out. I think the effort that is going into mobilising and galvanising supporters will include voting by proxy."
To vote by proxy you must complete an application form setting out the reason why you cannot vote in person at a polling station.
The Electoral Office of Northern Ireland said all applications are checked to ensure the applications are genuine.
A spokeswoman said: "Electorate may choose to vote by post or by appointing a proxy to make their vote for them.
"Both processes require an application to the Electoral Office where various checks are carried out on the authenticity and appropriateness of the request.
"For example, in an application due to illness, the signature of a doctor may be required.
"Outside of family members, a person may only act as proxy for two other people and the Electoral Office runs checks against this electronically to ensure these legal obligations are met."
The closing date for applications is Thursday 18 May. | There has been a surge in the number of people in Northern Ireland allowing others to vote on their behalf. | 39916171 |
Her attacker is believed to have followed her home on Monday after she had collected her pension from Sea Mills Post Office in Shirehampton Road.
She suffered "nasty head injuries" and is recovering in hospital after being hit several times, police said.
The victim's son, 45, was inside the home and ran to her aid. He fought with the attacker and was also struck.
An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman described the man as white, of medium-build, 25 to 29 years old, with stubble on his face and wearing a light-coloured baseball cap, and a grey long-sleeved top and jeans.
Investigating officer Det Con Andy Jones said: "This was an horrific attack on an elderly woman who was arriving home after collecting her pension.
"We believe the offender may have followed the woman from the Post Office back to her home.
"She suffered nasty head injuries and although she is recovering in hospital this attack could easily have had more serious or even fatal consequences." | An 81-year-old woman was repeatedly hit over the head with a hammer during a failed robbery at her Bristol home. | 26933857 |
The opposition-controlled lower house overwhelmingly approved the move.
The Senate quickly followed suit and announced it would hold the trial on Friday, giving the left-wing president 24 hours to prepare his defence.
Mr Lugo has faced severe criticism over his handling of a forced land eviction in which seven police officers and at least nine farmers were killed.
He has said he will not resign but will "face the consequences" of the trial.
Speaking on national television, Mr Lugo said: "This president announces that he is not going to present his resignation and that he will fully respect the constitution and the law to face the impeachment trial and its full consequences."
The Senate, the body which will decide whether or not to remove the president from office, is controlled by the opposition. Reports suggest only five out of 45 senators support Mr Lugo.
Following emergency talks, the Union of South American Nations said it would send an urgent mission of foreign ministers to Paraguay to "ensure the right to defend democracy".
BBC regional analyst Leonardo Rocha says South American countries are worried that Mr Lugo, Paraguay's first left-wing president, is the victim of a political trial by right-wing groups which held power for 61 years before his election in 2008.
The clashes in eastern Canindeyu province last Friday which sparked the impeachment proceedings left seven police officers and at least nine farmers dead.
More than 300 police officers tried to evict 150 landless farmers from an estate owned by a wealthy businessman who is also a political opponent of Mr Lugo.
The eviction escalated into violence and the farmers opened fire on the police.
Nine farmers involved in the clashes were charged with murder.
The farmers have argued the land was illegally taken during the 1954-1989 military rule of Gen Alfredo Stroessner and distributed among his allies.
Land disputes are not unusual in Paraguay, where a small fraction of the population owns about 80% of the land.
According to the Paraguayan Truth Commission, 6.75 million hectares of land were sold or handed over under "irregular circumstances" during military rule.
When he was elected in 2008, Mr Lugo campaigned for the needs of the poor and had promised land for some 87,000 landless families.
On Wednesday, in an attempt to calm tensions over the incident, Mr Lugo said he would open an investigation into what happened.
The interior minister and the chief of police have already resigned over the clashes.
Mr Lugo, who heads a coalition government, was elected four years ago.
Paraguay's constitution states that when a president is impeached, the vice-president must take over for the remainder of the original term in office.
His term ends in August 2013 and the next presidential elections are due in April of that year. | Paraguay's parliament has voted to have President Fernando Lugo impeached after deadly land clashes last week. | 18535552 |
Midfielder Woodyard, who scored just one goal for the club last season, fired Danny Cowley's side in front with a sublime curling effort.
Carlisle looked more threatening at the start of the second half, but it was Woodyard who scored the crucial second goal for the Imps, the former Braintree man slotting home after exchanging passes with Matt Rhead.
Rhead scored Lincoln's third goal from the spot in the 67th minute, strike partner Matt Green winning the penalty after being hauled down by Tom Parkes, who was sent off after receiving his second booking.
Reggie Lambe pulled a goal back for the Cumbrians, but substitute Billy Knott restored City's three-goal lead late on.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Match ends, Lincoln City 4, Carlisle United 1.
Second Half ends, Lincoln City 4, Carlisle United 1.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Luke Waterfall (Lincoln City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Sam Cosgrove (Carlisle United).
Corner, Lincoln City. Conceded by Tom Miller.
Corner, Carlisle United. Conceded by Neal Eardley.
Corner, Lincoln City. Conceded by Michael Jones.
Attempt blocked. Ollie Palmer (Lincoln City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Alex Woodyard (Lincoln City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Goal! Lincoln City 4, Carlisle United 1. Billy Knott (Lincoln City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner.
Attempt blocked. Billy Knott (Lincoln City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Jamie Devitt (Carlisle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Alex Woodyard (Lincoln City).
Attempt missed. Billy Knott (Lincoln City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
Foul by Michael Jones (Carlisle United).
Ollie Palmer (Lincoln City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal! Lincoln City 3, Carlisle United 1. Reggie Lambe (Carlisle United) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Shaun Miller.
Substitution, Lincoln City. Harry Anderson replaces Matt Green.
Attempt missed. Michael Bostwick (Lincoln City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
Substitution, Lincoln City. Ollie Palmer replaces Matt Rhead.
Substitution, Carlisle United. Sam Cosgrove replaces Richard Bennett.
Substitution, Carlisle United. Nicky Adams replaces Hallam Hope.
Substitution, Carlisle United. Shaun Miller replaces Gary Liddle.
Goal! Lincoln City 3, Carlisle United 0. Matt Rhead (Lincoln City) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Tom Parkes (Carlisle United) is shown the red card.
Penalty Lincoln City. Matt Green draws a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty conceded by Tom Parkes (Carlisle United) after a foul in the penalty area.
Attempt missed. Tom Parkes (Carlisle United) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
Attempt blocked. Reggie Lambe (Carlisle United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Goal! Lincoln City 2, Carlisle United 0. Alex Woodyard (Lincoln City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Matt Rhead.
Corner, Carlisle United. Conceded by Luke Waterfall.
Attempt blocked. Michael Jones (Carlisle United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Sean Raggett (Lincoln City) header from very close range is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Corner, Lincoln City. Conceded by Hallam Hope.
Tom Parkes (Carlisle United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Matt Green (Lincoln City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Tom Parkes (Carlisle United).
Substitution, Lincoln City. Billy Knott replaces Jordan Maguire-Drew.
Attempt missed. Hallam Hope (Carlisle United) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. | Two rare goals from Alex Woodyard propelled Lincoln to a comfortable victory over 10-man Carlisle in League Two. | 40983808 |
Signaller Tyler Pearson of York-based 2nd Signal Regiment, entered the River Ouse near The Lowther pub in the early hours of 3 April.
North Yorkshire Police believe he was trying to swim to the far bank at Queen's Staith during a night out with friends.
The 18-year-old is the third young person to have died in the city's rivers this year.
Signaller Pearson's body was found on Thursday near Skeldergate Bridge, about 1,500ft (480m) downstream from where he was last seen.
His death follows that of Ben Clarkson, 22, who was found in the River Foss on 21 March, three weeks after he was last seen outside a York nightclub.
Mr Clarkson disappeared on the same day the body of 20-year-old Megan Roberts was found in the River Ouse.
Miss Roberts, a York St John University student from Wetherby, went missing in January after a night out drinking with friends in the city.
North Yorkshire's police and crime commissioner Julia Mulligan said: "My heart goes out to Tyler's family.
"The recent spate of fatalities highlights the importance of staying safe near York's rivers, particularly when alcohol has been consumed.
"Work is currently under way with groups across York and families of recent river victims to make some short films to highlight the dangers of the river.
"In the longer term we will devise a sustained and powerful campaign to help prevent more lives being needlessly cut short." | A body found in a river in York has been identified as a missing soldier. | 27078053 |
UK holidaymakers in the EU benefit from caps on the cost of making calls, sending texts and downloading data.
However, watchdog Consumer Focus is warning that such limits to not apply to those travelling further afield.
Football fans uploading 10 photos at a game could be charged up to £80.
Using a phone in the UK to connect to the internet usually has no effect on the bill as most home tariffs include unlimited downloads.
But, taking a smartphone, such as an iPhone, on your travels can have expensive consequences.
The watchdog said that the cost of using mobile internet - increasingly popular as people visit social networking sites on smartphones - can be up to £8 for every megabyte downloaded. That is the equivalent of sending one e-mail with a photo attachment.
Charges to make calls ranged from 80p to £1.50 a minute, and texts cost from 25p to 50p, Consumer Focus said.
"England fans need to be on the ball to make sure they do not get caught out by hundreds of pounds of hidden mobile phone costs at the World Cup," said Nick Hutton, of Consumer Focus.
"We want to see mobile phone firms play fair by customers travelling abroad and cut these extremely high fees.
"In the meantime consumers should check their network rates before they fly and look into the add-ons or bundles on offer, which could save them much needed cash."
Holidaymakers travelling in the EU have a maximum tariff of 43 cents (37p) a minute when making a call, 19 cents (16p) a minute when receiving a call, 11 cents (9p) a minute to send a text, and, from July, 50 euros (£42.50) for data roaming - unless an alternative limit is set.
Users receive a warning when they are approaching 80% of their limit, and are cut off once the limit is reached.
Consumer groups want the limits to be extended to the rest of the world.
Matthew Wheeler, of price comparison website Uswitch, said travellers should do their homework before leaving, if they intended to use their mobile. Tips included:
"While some networks are offering special deals, roaming abroad is still far from cheap," he said.
Financial information service Moneyfacts also warned travellers to take care when changing money for a trip.
Exchange rates can be high at airports, as can some services overseas. Commission-free changing can have worse exchange rates.
Credit card providers often charge for the purchases and cash transactions every time a card is used.
The same might be true of debit card usage, and some charge a fee to take money out of a cash machine - unlike in the UK.
"Customers taking out cash need to be aware of minimum charges. If you withdraw lots of small amounts you will be hardest hit, so it may be worth planning a few days ahead for your financial requirements," said Michelle Slade, of Moneyfacts. | Holidaymakers leaving the EU - including football fans going to the World Cup - are being warned about the risks of running up huge mobile phone fees. | 10214993 |
It relates to testimony given to the Finance Committee on 23 September 2015.
The BBC understands the individuals questioned were former Sinn Féin MLA Daithí McKay, loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson and Sinn Féin activist Thomas O'Hara.
A file has been sent to the Public Prosecution Service.
The £1.2bn sale by Nama - the Republic of Ireland's "bad bank" - of its Northern Ireland property loans portfolio to US firm Cerberus in 2014 was Northern Ireland's biggest ever property deal.
It is now the subject of criminal investigation and a parliamentary inquiry. Here is a guide to some of the institutions and key figures in the story.
The Stormont Nama inquiry, then chaired by Mr McKay, was set up in the wake of political controversy surrounding the sale.
It followed an allegation made in the Dáil (Irish parliament) that a politician or political party in Northern Ireland stood to profit from the loan sale.
Last August, Sinn Féin suspended Mr O'Hara and Mr McKay resigned from the party. | Three men have been interviewed by police as part of an inquiry into allegations around evidence given to Stormont's Nama inquiry. | 38834453 |
Twenty-two people were killed and 64 injured when Salman Abedi blew himself up at the venue on Monday.
Toure's representative Dimitri Seluk told BBC Sport: "We want to help the victims - the families of the dead or those who are now in hospital.
"I spoke to Yaya on Tuesday and he was very shocked by the terrible news."
Seluk added: "We have arranged with the Manchester Evening News to help us get the money to the people who really need it.
"We don't want to send it somewhere and nobody knows where it will end up - we want to make sure it goes to people for whom every penny helps.
"I think it will take a few days to organise it, but Yaya is in England and can come and present the cheque whenever it is needed.
"Yaya loves Manchester and has a big affinity with the city and its people.
"This fund is a chance for us to get the money to the right people, which is very important." | Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure and his agent will donate £100,000 to help the victims of the Manchester Arena attack. | 40028571 |
Surrey Police confirmed a property in Oxshott was burgled last weekend.
John Terry is reported to live in a seven-bedroom property in a half-acre country estate in the county.
A spokesman for Surrey Police said: "We can confirm that a burglary took place at a property in Moles Hill, Oxshott, overnight 25/26 February."
Thieves are said to have forced their way into the house and escaped with valuables while the 36-year-old Chelsea player was away with relatives, including his wife Toni, according to reports in the Sun. | Burglars are believed to have broken into the Surrey mansion owned by former England captain John Terry while he was on a family skiing holiday. | 39165777 |
The politics of all this point in contradictory directions.
On the one hand, the Tories - against almost everyone's expectations, including the Prime Minister's - won a clear overall majority. And there was never any ambiguity during the General Election campaign that the Conservatives would cut harder and faster than the other parties.
On the other, the eccentricities of the British electoral system mean that the Tories' overall majority was won with three quarters of eligible voters not actually voting for them - and their lead in the Commons is slim.
Given the rise of the SNP and UKIP, and the increased fragility of those bonds that hold our nations together, there is an argument that it would not be prudent to give those who hate this government a cause for taking to the streets.
Also, in the plans to make it harder for trade unions to strike, the government has already readied an army of potential protestors against benefit and public-service cuts.
That said, George Osborne might argue that there is momentum in the private sector at the moment, maybe enough to absorb relatively smoothly the negative impact on growth from deeper, earlier public spending cuts.
And it is all very well for the OECD to argue, as it implicitly did yesterday, for a smoother, longer path to deficit reduction. But that could turn into a path to nowhere, if - as can't be ruled out - there is an economic shock in a year or two that would have the automatic effect of swelling the UK's public sector deficit again (through higher unemployment-related benefits and lower taxes).
Better surely, Osborne might say - employing his cliche of choice - to fix the bloomin' roof in sunshine that may be a little cooler than normal but is preferable to the frosts of winter.
Maybe the lesson of the last Parliament - and indeed of Spain right now - is that if you cut deep and early, you create room for the private sector to expand.
And before I am savaged (as I always am) by the Krugman crew of Keynesian economists for even allowing George Osborne's argument an airing, I am not saying that the net negative impact on our national income and living standards of cutting the deficit faster is less than their alternative route of slower so-called fiscal consolidation.
I am simply pointing out that there is a debate here (though Krugman, Wren-Lewis and Portes are utterly persuaded they've won this match - and take the somewhat patronising view that voters who think differently are ignorant sheep led astray by a malign or blinkered media).
All of which is why I regard the emergency budget planned for 8 July, and the spending review of the early Autumn, as the defining economic - and arguably political - events of this parliament.
To remind you what is at stake.
According to calculations by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (which as it happens, the IFS will update today), the Tories' current plans require cuts of 18% to the budgets of unprotected government departments (that is everything apart from health, schools and overseas aid).
Which is a similar scale of shrinkage to the last Parliament.
But that may not be reassuring for this government's new ministers, who have to find these additional savings, because they know the so-called easy cuts have already been made.
Also there is a commitment to make cash reductions to benefits over two years of £10bn - which is less than £15bn of cuts made in the whole of the last Parliament, but the most that was ever saved over two years was £8bn.
And, again, the easy welfare cuts - such as from changing benefits uprating from RPI inflation to lower CPI inflation - have already been made.
So, to tell you what you already know, making further cuts, without being perceived to be harming the innocent and vulnerable, will be a challenge.
Now this plainly matters to all of us. And with David Cameron already announcing that this will be his last term as Prime Minister, it will also probably define how he is remembered - as an Etonian Thatcher, forcing the country to take medicine it may not think it wants or needs, or as the so-called One Nation premier of his recent rhetoric. | The big economic and political question for the Prime Minister and Chancellor is whether to get the pain of slashing the deficit out of the way as early as possible in the parliament, and risk significant strife and protest, or adopt a smoother path to putting the public finances on a more sustainable footing. | 33003955 |
Scott Dores was found dead at Keyhow, between Santon Bridge and Eskdale Green, at lunchtime on Saturday.
His Yamaha bike was spotted at the side of the road by police community support officers and his body at the bottom of a hill.
Elsewhere in the county, an 82-year-old man died after being struck by a vehicle in Penrith town centre.
He was hit on King Street at about 23:00 GMT and taken to Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary but later died. The driver of a Volkswagen Golf, a man aged 22, was not injured.
Mr Dores's family said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that Scott has so tragically been taken from us. He was a much loved partner to his fiancée, Holly, and doting dad to Connie Mae.
"He was a lifelong Norwich supporter and enjoyed being creative in his job as a chef. He will be sorely missed by all that knew him and he will never be forgotten."
Mr Dores had been reported missing on Friday after failing to turn up for a shift at work. Officers conducted a search of his usual route.
No other vehicles were involved in the crash. | The body of a teenage motorcyclist has been found in a stream after his bike was seen at the roadside. | 35145045 |
The 53-year-old has been in caretaker charge since Claudio Ranieri was sacked on 23 February, nine months after winning the Premier League title.
Shakespeare, who has never managed full-time, was Ranieri's assistant after being brought to the club by the Italian's predecessor, Nigel Pearson.
Leicester have won both of their games with him in charge.
Foxes vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said: "We always knew the team would be in good hands when we asked him to take charge a fortnight ago.
"He has initiated the type of positive response that we hoped change would bring, showing great leadership qualities and composure under considerable pressure to produce two very important results.
"We have asked him to continue to lead the team this season and we are very happy that he has accepted."
Shakespeare's first match as caretaker manager was a 3-1 league victory over Liverpool, and they beat Hull City by the same scoreline.
The Foxes are three points clear of the relegation zone in 15th.
Leicester host Sevilla in the second leg of their last-16 Champions League tie on Tuesday. The Spanish side won the first leg 2-1.
BBC Radio 5 live's Pat Murphy
There are interesting challenges ahead of Shakespeare now - trying to get into the quarter-finals of the Champions League while trying to stave off Premier League relegation.
He made no bones about wanting the job. The players and the fans, in a local newspaper poll, were overwhelming in favour of him getting the job until at least the end of the season. So let's see what sort of fist he makes of it.
He knows very well that stepping up from the number two role is light years away from letting someone else take the unpopular decisions and determine the tactics.
So will he manage to step back from his previous, harmonious working relationship with the players and show a tougher edge?
Will Shakespeare make the grade, so he gets the job beyond this season, or will he be another Sammy Lee or Brian Kidd?
Hugely respected, acknowledged as a fine coach, but ultimately an assistant? | Craig Shakespeare has been appointed Leicester City manager until the end of the season. | 39228304 |
Israelis are outraged by two attacks by Palestinians - a drive-by shooting on a road between two Jewish settlements near the Palestinian city of Nablus and a stabbing in the crowded streets of the Old City of Jerusalem.
The heightened tensions can be traced a few weeks ago to the start of the Jewish High Holiday, when an increase in incidents involving rocks thrown at Israeli cars on the West Bank began to be reported.
Palestinians are incensed not just at the severity of the security crackdown which has followed - including the death of demonstrators, reportedly during clashes - but at the increase in Jewish religious activity in the Old City which comes with the festival of Sukkot - a traditional time of pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Jews.
That pilgrimage to the Western Wall, a holy place of prayer in Judaism, brings the visitors into close proximity with the al-Aqsa mosque, which is sacred to Muslims.
In both Palestinian society and in the wider Arab world, the increased religious activity is viewed as a kind of attack on the Islamic identity of the place where Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad ascended body and soul into heaven.
Jews revere the compound which contains the mosque as their holiest place and those competing religious convictions have proven repeatedly over many decades they have the power to trigger sudden and deadly upsurges in violence.
Israel has been in control of the Old City of Jerusalem since it captured it from Jordan in the war of 1967, but it handed control of the compound almost immediately to an Islamic agency - the Waqf - in what was an explicit recognition of the incendiary potential of the issue.
Since then a status quo has prevailed under which Jews are allowed to visit the site but not to pray there.
There are two problems with that.
First there is a minority within Judaism that wants to challenge that arrangement and assert a Jewish right of prayer at the site; second, many people in the Arab world simply do not believe repeated Israeli assurances that there are no plans to change that status quo.
So the anger felt on both sides is easy to explain. But the pervasive sense of anxiety is more complex.
One Israeli newspaper, Yediot Ahronot, reflecting on the attacks, declared baldly that a third Palestinian intifada (uprising) is under way.
Others are slightly more cautious - a columnist in Haaretz asks the same question but concludes that it is too early to say.
It is clear though that a new style of attack is emerging to which Israel is struggling to formulate a convincing response.
The stabbings in the Old City at the weekend are a good example.
The 19-year-old attacker Mohannad Halabi may or may not have been a member of a militant organisation, but he equipped himself to kill simply by taking a knife from his home.
Other attacks have consisted simply of Palestinian drivers aiming their cars at pedestrians they assume to be Israeli Jews.
Israel has powerful military forces in the West Bank, sophisticated surveillance techniques at its disposal and an extensive network of informers.
But none of those things can guard against an individual making a personal decision to stage an attack at a time of his own choosing and carrying out with whatever tools come to hand in his ordinary daily life.
Extremist groups make themselves vulnerable when they store and transport firearms or pass communications between members, however attacks which involve none of those weak points are difficult for security forces to disrupt.
On the Palestinian side there is a persistent sense of resentment at continuing Israeli occupation which is intensified not just by the circumstances around the al-Aqsa compound but also by the widespread sense that the whole issue of the two-state solution has been allowed to drift off the international agenda.
It is hard to remember a time when so little diplomatic effort was put into the search for a solution to the long-running issue between Israel and the Palestinians.
In part of course it has simply been overshadowed by events in Syria and by nuclear diplomacy with Iran, which tended to suck the oxygen out of other political issues in the region.
But the truth is that what used to be called "The Peace Process" simply feels moribund.
Few believe that the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will ever make the kind of compromises necessary to reach a deal.
The Palestinian Authority still operates a security co-operation agreement with Israel, but that arrangement could be vulnerable if the political atmosphere continues to deteriorate.
Repudiating the arrangement, as he has threatened to, would be a big step for Mr Abbas, but he cannot afford to appear to be too far out of step with his own people on the issue.
It would be hard for him to explain why his security officials are working so closely with the same Israeli forces that Palestinian demonstrators are confronting on the streets in the West Bank.
The truth is that no-one can really predict what will happen next.
The sudden uptick of violence over the course of the last few days may subside equally suddenly or it may trigger a further escalation.
The real reason for that sense of anxiety on both sides perhaps is the sense that, as so often in the Middle East, politicians and security officials do not appear to be in control of events but are rather at their mercy. | After a week which has seen a sharp and sudden escalation of violence in Jerusalem and the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the mood on both sides of the deep and bitter political divide is both edgy and angry. | 34446614 |
Former murderers, sexual offenders and thieves have all been Uber drivers, allege court papers filed by district attorneys in California.
They started legal action against Uber last year, saying it had misled customers about its screening systems.
Uber said its driver checking system was "more effective" than those used by other taxi firms.
The court papers claim that Uber did not spot the criminal backgrounds of 25 drivers that it employed in San Francisco and Los Angeles - the two cities behind the legal action.
At a press conference, George Gascon, district attorney in San Francisco, said problems with the data that Uber relied on to check drivers meant it could miss some former criminals. For instance, he said, 30,000 registered sex offenders were not in the database Uber used.
An alternative screening system used by other cab firms called Livescan did catch people who were on the sex offenders list, said Mr Gascon.
He added that Uber's screening only covered the last seven years and omitted biometric checks that would uncover people who had falsified their identity to avoid being spotted by screening.
"We are learning increasingly that a lot of the information that Uber has been presenting the consumer has been false and misleading," Mr Gascon told the New York Times.
In response, Uber said it agreed with the two district attorneys that safety was a priority - but took issue with whether Livescan was a better way to check backgrounds.
Neither process was 100% foolproof, it said in a statement, adding that it had put "hundreds" of people registered as taxi drivers through its own checks and found that many who were driving cabs, but were not Uber drivers, had convictions for rape, attempted murder, child abuse and violence.
"We look forward to resolving this issue, just as the DAs settled an almost identical case with [rival cab firm] Lyft last year," it said.
In the UK, Uber said its drivers were subject to the same strict checks that covered those operating black cabs or other licensed vehicles. | Cab firm Uber has been accused of not doing enough to check the backgrounds of its drivers in the US. | 34002051 |
Organisers of the Little Stoke Parkrun said they were given until 28 May to reach an agreement with Stoke Gifford Parish Council or "leave the park".
They have decided to cancel Saturday's free-for-all run "on safety grounds".
Last month councillors voted to charge Parkrun saying it was "unfair" to expect residents to pay for the event.
The decision was met with widespread criticism with Parkrun saying it would search for a new venue as its ethos remained to offer weekly 5k (3.1m) runs at no financial cost to each entrant.
However, on Wednesday Parkrun said it had yet to determine the long term future of the Little Stoke gathering but had to cancel the final scheduled run on the 28th.
"We appreciate that this will be frustrating to our runners and volunteers, but the last thing we want is the strength of feeling to boil over from either parkrunners or local residents," a statement online said.
"We hope to provide you with a further update next week," said the organisation.
The council said its original statement still stood which was that the three-year-old event had led to "increased wear on the park" and Parkrun had refused a request to contribute "a small monetary amount towards the upkeep". | The final Parkrun has been cancelled at the site near Bristol where a council became the first to request a contribution towards the park's upkeep. | 36377559 |
Yn ôl adroddiadau disgynnodd Thomas o dîm Sky oddi ar ei feic wrth ddod lawr disgyniad serth.
Ddoe yn dilyn yr wythfed cymal roedd Geraint Thomas yn parhau i fod yn yr ail safle.
Yn ôl gwefan Tour de France mae 'na ofnau fod Geraint Thomas wedi torri pont ei ysgwydd.
Thomas enillodd gymal cyntaf y Tour De France eleni ac fe gadwodd y crys melyn tan i Froome ei gipio oddi arno ar ôl cymal pump.
Digwyddodd y ddamwain ar ddisgyniad Col de la Biche - ychydig yn llai na hanner ffordd o'r cymal mynyddig rhwng Nantua a Chambery. Fe geisiodd e barhau â'i daith ond roedd hynny yn amhosib.
Dyma bedwerydd cwymp Thomas yn y Tour - fe gwympodd e hefyd yn yr ail gymal ac yng nghymalau pedwar ac wyth.
Fe gafodd e ddamwain arall ym mis Mai yn Giro d'Italia a gorfod rhoi gorau i'r ras.
Bydd ei absenoldeb yn ergyd i Froome sy'n ceisio ennill ei drydedd fuddugoliaeth o'r bron yn y Tour a'i bedwerydd teitl.
Ddydd Sul yn Velothon Cymru yng Nghaerdydd a'r cyffiniau roedd 'na anogaeth i seiclwyr wisgo lliw melyn i gydnabod camp anhygoel Geraint Thomas i fod y Cymro cyntaf i wisgo'r crys melyn. | Mae'r Cymro cyntaf i wisgo'r crys melyn yn y Tour de France wedi cael ei orfodi i adael y ras wedi iddo gael damwain yng nghymal naw. | 40550018 |
Goals from Geoffrey Kondogbia and Dimitar Berbatov put Monaco in control of the last-16 first-leg tie.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave Arsenal hope, but Yannick Ferreira Carrasco added a third for the visitors.
"It is just not right to give goals away the way we did," said Wenger.
"We missed chances and were suicidal defensively."
Arsenal must now score at least three goals when the sides meet at Stade Louis II on 17 March if they are to avoid exiting at the last-16 stage for the fifth straight season.
No side has lost a European Cup or Champions League first-leg knockout tie at home by two goals and progressed since Ajax in 1969.
Wenger warned Monaco, who conceded just once and scored only four goals in their group, would play on the counter-attack.
But his team were caught on the break early in the second half as Berbatov added to Kondogbia's deflected opener and substitute Ferreira Carrasco netted another breakaway goal in added time.
"On the second and third goals, it was suicide," said the Gunners boss. "It looks like we have lost our nerve and our rationality. The heart took over the head and at this level that doesn't work.
"Mentally we were not sharp enough. We rushed our game. We knew coming back in at half-time it was important not to concede the second goal, but we were too impatient. It was more heart than brain."
Wenger admitted Monaco's third goal could be decisive: "The task is massive now. The third goal makes it even more difficult."
He substituted compatriot Olivier Giroud on the hour mark after he missed the target with six efforts: "It looked like it was not one of his best days."
Former Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov: "It was a great success. We fought like a team, we scored our chances and it's a great result.
"Probably the only people who believed we could do something good today was the players and the coach. I know how the good players are that we have. They are young players, but they have good quality.
"It is a big step but nothing is over because Arsenal are a very dangerous team. When the next game comes, we will try to prepare and not allow them to score the goals they need to score."
Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim: "No-one really thought that this result would have been possible, but we achieved it. However, Arsenal are a great side and we are only halfway through this knockout tie.
"Football is a team game and we know individual players are important. We were able to nullify their threat. We were very organised and, as I said we would, we were also able to attack with a lot of quality."
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown on BBC Radio 5 live: "The team is not professional enough. They get too caught up in the moment.
"It's one thing to identify the problems, but it's another thing to make the necessary changes. Big decisions have got to be made, but Wenger loves every player and treats every player like his son. He's got to be ruthless for the benefit of the team." | Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger accused his players of losing their nerve and blamed "suicidal" defending after a 3-1 home defeat by Monaco left them on the brink of Champions League elimination. | 31633927 |
Stiaan van Zyl (149) fell early on day three but wicketkeeper Michael Burgess (76) and a brisk 70 from Jofra Archer pushed the hosts up to 668 all out.
Durham, starting 381 runs behind, lost opener Stephen Cook to the first ball of their second innings.
England's Keaton Jennings also fell cheaply as the visitors closed on 97-4.
South Africa seamer Vernon Philander removed compatriot Cook, who edged a swinging delivery to Chris Jordan at first slip, before bowling batsman Jennings for just five.
Durham captain Paul Collingwood (31 not out) and Ryan Pringle (18 not out) steadied things with an unbroken stand of 51 which lasted almost two hours, but the visitors will surely need to bat out the final day to earn a draw.
Earlier, Sussex had continued their dominance with the bat to gain a mammoth first-innings advantage.
Building on the 258 scored by Luke Wells on day two, both Burgess and Archer registered their third half-centuries in first-class cricket.
Archer's innings, which contained six fours and five sixes, took Sussex to their highest first-class total since setting their all-time record - the 742-5 declared they made against Somerset at Taunton in 2009. | Sussex posted the fifth-highest first-class score in their history as they closed in on a crushing innings win over Durham at Hove in Division Two. | 40006807 |
Christopher Laskaris, 24, was found dead at his flat in St John's Close, Hyde Park, on 17 November.
Philip Craig, 37, and 22-year-old Dempsey Pattison, both from Leeds, have been charged with his murder.
Police said they want to locate the red Fender Jaguar and blue Flying V guitars as well as an Orange Crush 35RT amplifier and a Lenovo laptop computer.
Read more about this and other stories from across West Yorkshire
Detective believe the items were taken from Mr Laskaris' flat. | Police want to trace two electric guitars missing from the home of a man who was killed in Leeds. | 38135243 |
Islwyn MP Chris Evans told BBC Wales' Sunday Politics Wales he feared strikes would create more refugees.
MPs backed UK military action by 397 votes to 223 on Wednesday.
All of Wales' 11 Conservative MPs supported the air strikes. Leader Andrew RT Davies said they were necessary for national security.
Stephen Doughty, the Labour MP for Cardiff South and Penarth, backed the action but his constituency assembly colleague Vaughan Gething said he was undecided.
Mr Gething said: "I don't think anyone with hand on heart can say we are absolutely guaranteed we are safer for action or that we can guarantee that we are safer than if we don't take action given that we are already a target." | A Welsh Labour MP has warned air strikes against so-called Islamic State in Syria could radicalise more young Muslims in the UK and Europe. | 35010116 |
Approval for the energy plant, on the site of the former Bilsthorpe Colliery, was granted in November.
However, Mark Spencer, Conservative MP for Sherwood, asked Eric Pickles to review the decision on environmental and community grounds.
The county council's planning chairman said he was surprised by the decision.
Mr Spencer opposed the plans at a meeting on 18 November saying concerns over the technology had not been properly addressed.
The proposals were given the go-ahead but Mr Spencer then wrote to the communities secretary.
He said he was "delighted" the application will now be fully scrutinised by Mr Pickles.
However, councillor John Wilkinson, chairman for planning at Nottinghamshire County Council, said he was disappointed the secretary of state did not give a reason for calling the project in.
He said: "For a planning application to be refused, there needs to be sound, material planning reasons for doing so.
"The application was examined in great detail by professional planning officers and the committee, who came to the same view that no such grounds existed."
The firm behind the plans, Peel Environmental, said the site would handle about 120,000 tonnes of non-hazardous waste each year and create enough power for about 23,000 homes.
It added the centre would use the latest gasification methods to recover energy from rubbish, which previously would have been buried at landfill sites.
The project is expected to create 46 jobs at the site, which ceased coal production in 1995. | Plans for a £70m waste-burning power station in Nottinghamshire have been called in by the communities secretary for further inspection. | 30573198 |
The 26-year-old was taken to hospital following the shooting in the Lady Street area at about 20:55 GMT on Tuesday evening.
Police have said two men dressed in dark clothing made off on foot in the direction of McDonnell Street.
The victim's injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
Detectives have appealed for information. | A man has been shot in each leg in a paramilitary-style attack in west Belfast. | 32143693 |
Saturday's 1-0 victory over local rivals Hamilton means the Fir Park side's fate remains in their own hands.
"It's almost impossible [to take the pressure off]. The players know the importance of it however you dress it up," Robinson said.
"We out-scrapped and out-battled them, which was a real pleasing aspect."
Robinson has stressed to his players the need to build on the Hamilton result when they face Kilmarnock at Fir Park on Tuesday night.
If Motherwell win and their Lanarkshire neighbours Accies fail to win, then Robinson's side will have secured their Premiership status.
With only four victories at Fir Park all season, the manager acknowledges the side's home form has been poor.
"It's solely in our hands, that's what we wanted to come out of Saturday's game, but we have to follow that up on Tuesday," Robinson said.
"There's still pressure, but it will be a little bit more of a relaxed atmosphere on a better surface where we can get the ball down and play.
"We just have to put the same level of commitment in as we did on Saturday and add a little bit of quality to that. I believe it will be different on our own patch, we'll play more football, but it's paramount we take the game to them.
"The pressure's completely off Kilmarnock now, so they can relax and play. You do make decisions under pressure that you wouldn't normally make as footballers. I'm not going to worry too much about Kilmarnock. We're aware of their threats, they have a great record away from home and they have the best defensive record in the bottom six, so we're well aware it will be a tough game.
"Our home form hasn't been good enough. Things haven't gone for us, we've actually played well in the last three or four home games, but the harder you work sometimes the luckier you get. I don't think there's any fear of playing at home or a problem with fans getting on players' backs. In the main they've been very much behind the players given the situation and we ask for the same again."
Motherwell goalkeeper Russell Griffiths admits there was a "big sigh of relief" from the players following the full-time whistle at Hamilton on Saturday.
The 21-year-old is on loan at Fir Park from Everton and is playing for his future, with his contract at Goodison ending in the summer.
"I'm a free agent at the end of the season, so if everything went well here I could hopefully sign here, but I'm still waiting to hear back from Everton what their plans are," Griffiths said.
"We'll get the next few games out the way and then see where we stand from there. Depending on how I perform will contribute a lot to what happens to me next season." | Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson believes his players have responded to the pressure of fighting to stay in the Scottish Premiership. | 39923333 |
A road from Turkey used by the World Food Programme to reach eastern Aleppo was blocked last week after the government launched a major offensive.
The agency currently has an alternative route, but it may soon be severed too.
The UN is also calling on Turkey to let in some 30,000 people stranded on its border who have fled the fighting.
Aid workers say facilities at the border have been overwhelmed, with people forced to sleep outside in the bitter winter weather.
Separately, Medecins Sans Frontieres said air strikes had hit a hospital supported by the aid agency near the southern city of Deraa, killing three people and injuring six others, including a nurse.
The strike on the Tafas field hospital, some 12km (7 miles) from the Jordanian border, took place on the night of 5 February. It caused partial damage to the hospital building, and put its ambulance service out of action.
Aleppo, once Syria's commercial and industrial hub, has been roughly divided since 2012, with the government controlling the western half and rebel factions holding the east.
Eight days ago, the Syrian army and allied militias, backed by Russian air strikes, began an offensive north-west of Aleppo that swiftly broke a long-running siege of two pro-government towns and severed a key rebel supply route into the city.
They then advanced towards the Turkish border, and by Monday were reportedly only 25km (16 miles) away - the closest they have been since late 2013.
March 2011: Anti-government protests erupt across Syria, but Aleppo is initially untouched as a result of a state crackdown
February 2012: As the rebellion turns into a conflict, clashes between rebels and the government are reported with increasing frequency in Aleppo province
July 2012: The battle for Aleppo begins. Rebels make swift advances, but are unable to consolidate their gains and the city becomes divided
2013: The government begins bombarding rebel districts with barrel bombs, causing thousands of casualties
September 2015: Syria launches a fresh offensive in the wake of Russia's intervention in the conflict
February 2016: The government captures towns north of Aleppo, threatening to encircle the city
Military and political significance of Aleppo
In pictures: Stranded refugees
Meanwhile US Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday warned that Russia's aerial bombardment of Syrian opposition targets could destroy efforts to bring Syria's civil war to a conclusion.
"Russia's activities in Aleppo and in the region right now are making it much more difficult to be able to come to the table and... have a serious conversation," Mr Kerry said.
"We call on Russia again to join in the effort to bring about an immediate ceasefire and to bring about full humanitarian access."
Mr Kerry is due to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Munich on Thursday at a gathering of the 17-nation contact group which is being convened with the aim of getting peace talks on track.
Syria for its part has insisted that it will continue with its objective of securing the border with Turkey and recapturing Aleppo, a top adviser to President Bashar al-Assad told the Reuters news agency on Tuesday.
Bouthaina Shaaban said that her government had little optimism that diplomatic efforts would succeed in ending the five-year civil war.
She said that support for a ceasefire came from countries that did "not want an end to terrorism" and instead wanted to help insurgents who are losing territory.
Rebels and opposition activists said they feared the government would soon attempt to sever their last route into eastern Aleppo from Turkey, which runs from the western Bab al-Hawa crossing.
The government has employed so-called "starve or surrender" tactics elsewhere in the country to regain rebel-held territory, most notably in the central city of Homs.
The UN Office for the Co-ordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) that such a move might leave up to 300,000 people cut off from humanitarian aid, unless access could be negotiated.
A spokeswoman for the World Food Programme reporters in Geneva that it was "extremely concerned about the situation on the ground".
The UN refugee agency has meanwhile called on Turkey to immediately allow them in.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said it had so far let in 10,000 of those waiting at Bab al-Salam, and would continue to do so in a "controlled fashion".
Turkey has accepted 2.5 million refugees since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad almost five years ago. | Up to 300,000 people could be cut off from food supplies if Syrian government forces encircle rebel-held parts of the northern city of Aleppo, the UN says. | 35531178 |
Full-back Josh Law, 26, arrives on a one-year deal after leaving Fir Park by mutual consent in the summer.
Keeper Connor Ripley, 23, has agreed a season-long loan from Middlesbrough after spending last season in Scotland.
Leeds United striker Lee Erwin, 23, has also joined on loan 12 months after moving to Elland Road from Motherwell.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | New Oldham manager Stephen Robinson has agreed deals for three players who previously worked with him at Scottish Premiership club Motherwell. | 36754620 |
Devon County Council reversed traffic flow through Totnes in 2013 to make the area safer.
But some traders began legal action claiming their businesses had suffered.
The council wanted to contest a decision that the scheme should be dropped but a judge at Exeter County Court said it could not appeal.
The authority could take the case to the Supreme Court, but will still have to reinstate the original traffic flow in the meantime.
In March, the decision to reverse traffic flow through Totnes town centre was quashed in the High Court.
BBC presenter Jonathan Dimbleby was among campaigners who marched with protesters against the traffic changes which meant vehicles could no longer be driven up the High Street from the bottom of the town.
The changes reversed the previous system, in which traffic was allowed up the High Street and brought in alternative routes.
Devon County Council said: "We are disappointed by today's decision and will now consider our options." | Traffic flow through a Devon town centre is set to change after a judge decided a council cannot appeal against a ruling to scrap the scheme. | 32386096 |
A banner proclaiming "Manchester remembers" marked the loss of life after the bombing on 22 May.
Thousands of people attended the event, which also honoured the work of the emergency services after the attack.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said it was a chance to celebrate the city's "incredible spirit".
"It's right and fitting that Manchester Day is devoted to those who lost their lives and those that continue to live with the aftermath of last month's attack."
Crowds up to six-deep lined Deansgate in the heart of the city for Manchester Day.
Their response was as warm as the positively unMancunian weather.
Special applause was reserved for members of the emergency services who, nearly a month ago, responded to the devastating suicide bomb attack at Manchester Arena.
References to the aftermath of that atrocity were everywhere, from the bees which symbolise the city to the Iâ | Twenty-two children holding balloons have led the annual Manchester Day parade in a commemoration of the 22 victims of the Manchester attack. | 40320800 |
Goodes, an Indigenous Australian who plays for the Swans, has been plagued by booing whilst on the field - especially during last Sunday's clash at Perth's Subiaco Oval where a rival fan was removed for allegedly telling him to "get back to the zoo".
The unidentified man said his ejection was an "overreaction", and described the current uproar as "political correctness gone mad".
"It was a flippant, off-the-cuff remark and the players would not have heard it for all the booing and banter coming from the crowd," he said.
Critics say the jeers are because Goodes just is not liked, but supporters say the 2014 Australian of the Year is being punished for being vocal on indigenous issues.
Olympic gold medal winner and Australia's first indigenous woman to be elected to Federal Parliament, Senator Nova Peris, said the animosity aimed at Goodes is obvious, and he is being targeted due to his stance against racism.
"Aboriginal people are a minority in this country and it is almost like when the minority is screaming out for help, when you voice your opinion, you get shouted down for it," Senator Peris told ABC radio.
"It's confronting racism and it is alive and well and happening everyday and I know that because I live every day as an Aboriginal person and I see it. He should not stop being a proud Aboriginal man."
In 2013, Victoria Police interviewed a 13-year-old girl after she called Adam Goodes an "ape" during a match against the Collingwood Magpies.
"It's not the first time on a footy field that I've been referred to as a 'monkey' or an 'ape', it was shattering," Mr Goodes said at the time.
The young girl phoned Mr Goodes to apologise, but the incident sparked a media storm, with Goodes accused of singling out the young girl and dragging her into what became an apparent media circus.
The head of the AFL has urged supporters to consider the toll the booing has taken on Goodes, as the code commits to a campaign to try and stamp out racism in the sport.
"Racism has no place in our game, and while I respect that people may have different views about what is happening to Adam, it is impossible to separate this issue from the issue of race," AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said.
"Our game has a proud history of tackling racism and vilification, of creating awareness of differences, and of celebrating indigenous culture."
On Sunday, Goodes's Swans teammate Lewis Jetta responded to the crowd's boos by performing an indigenous spear-throwing war cry after he scored a goal.
The war dance is seen as symbol of cultural pride, and Australia's version of the New Zealand haka.
Jetta said it was his way of showing support for Goodes: "He's a superstar of the game, and a superstar for the Swans. Fans need to show more respect for what he's done for the game. All this booing stuff... needs to be thrown out the window."
Two months ago, Goodes performed a war cry during the AFL's Indigenous Round, and said he was inspired by a group of young AFL players, the Flying Boomerangs.
At the time he said he was "surprised" by some people's negative responses: "I haven't had an opportunity to show that passion, and that pride about being a warrior and representing my people and where I come from.
"For everybody else, take a chill pill, understand what I was doing. Is this the lesson we want to teach our children that when we don't understand something we get angry and we put our back up against the wall [and say] 'Oh that's offensive?' No. If it's something we don't understand, let's have a conversation."
After the attention Goodes' war dance garnered, leaders from another football code, Australia's National Rugby League (NRL), are pushing for Indigenous Australian players to perform a war dance at next year's Anzac Test.
Now Indigenous leaders want all AFL players to perform the war dance during this week's games.
"If non-Indigenous players join in, people love that - our mob love it, that there's a mob of non-Indigenous players joining in with our dancers, we think that's just great," Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda said. | Australian Football League (AFL) star Adam Goodes says he is taking time off, as a row over racism in the game shows no sign of dying down. | 33685103 |
Brown, 31, came out of international retirement to feature in the qualifying defeat by England in November, with the Scots struggling in Group F.
Dundee boss Hartley, who won 25 Scotland caps, insists a play-off place remains a realistic possibility.
"You'd like to see Scott finish the [qualifying] campaign," he said.
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Brown, who has earned 51 caps, decided to return to the Scotland fold in an effort to revive their World Cup qualification campaign.
However, he was unable to prevent a 3-0 defeat at Wembley as the Scots slipped to second bottom of the group on four points, six behind leaders England.
He has yet to confirm whether he will continue to make himself available for selection for Gordon Strachan's side.
"He's having a fantastic season again and he looks strong and fit," said former midfielder Hartley. "It looks like he's over his injuries - he's a key player for Scotland.
"There's no room for error and we need to win as many games as we can. And it's important we have our best players available; if Scott's available then that's an added bonus for us."
Regarding Scotland's World Cup qualification campaign, Hartley said: "It's been a slow start but we've still got a chance. We've got to get behind the manager and the team."
Celtic midfielder Stuart Armstrong and Rangers winger Barrie McKay could come into contention for Scotland's next World Cup qualifier against Slovenia at Hampden in March, Hartley added.
"The form of Stuart this year and Barrie McKay. You've got Matt Phillips at West Brom - we've still got enough good players here," said Hartley, who scored his only international goal against Slovenia in 2005.
"Stuart's having an outstanding season, as is Barrie. Last season Stuart didn't feature a lot but you look at the transformation in the player since Brendan Rodgers has come in [at Celtic] - he's a player in great form who is scoring goals.
"He's a box-to-box midfielder who is having a brilliant season. Same as Barrie, who had an outstanding game against Celtic in the Old Firm derby, he's a player on form. It's important we've got good players in form coming into the Slovenian game." | Scotland can still qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia with Scott Brown featuring for the national side, according to Paul Hartley. | 38494552 |
The UK Office for National Statistics report estimated about 86,000 Poles were living in Scotland in 2015.
The next most common nationalities in Scotland were India and the Irish Republic, both with 16,000. Poland was also the top country of birth for migrants living in the UK.
In total, an estimated 393,000 people in Scotland were born outside the UK.
This was an increase of about 12,000 over the previous year - 7.4% of the overall population.
A total of 203,000 of those non UK-born residents were born outside the European Union (EU) (51.7%).
An estimated 295,000 (5.6%) of the usually-resident population of Scotland held non-British nationality, an increase of 13,000 on the previous year. Of those non-British nationals usually resident in Scotland, 113,000 held non-EU nationality (38.3%).
The estimates show a significant difference over the past 10 years in the number of people living in Scotland who were born outside the UK.
In 2005, the figure was estimated to be 221,000 compared with 393,000 in 2015 - an increase of 172,000.
The number of people with non-British nationality living in Scotland was estimated to have grown from 137,000 in 2005 to 295,000 in 2015, an increase of 158,000.
The figures - for the period before Britain voted to leave the EU - differ from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) mid-year population estimates as the ONS excludes students in halls who do not have a parent resident in the UK and people in most other types of communal establishments such as hotels, boarding houses, hostels, care homes, prisons and mobile homes. | One in five of the non UK-born population in Scotland is Polish, new figures have shown. | 37185308 |
The tie-up will create one of the largest exchange companies in the world with a combined value of about £21bn.
Under the terms of the deal, LSE shareholders will own 45.6% of the new holding company, while Deutsche Boerse shareholders will own 54.4%.
LSE chief executive Xavier Rolet said the two firms were "creating an industry-defining combination".
The two companies said together they should be able to make cost savings of €450m (£354m) a year, about 20% of the combined group's operating costs of €2.2bn last year.
The LSE group already owns Milan-based Borsa Italiana.
The two exchanges said the "combination of London, Frankfurt and Milan will provide a platform for financing and promoting economic growth of European companies and be an attractive offering to Asian and US companies looking to access investors and capital".
The newly-merged company will keep both the London and Frankfurt headquarters. The new holding company, UK TopCo, will be incorporated in the UK.
The merger is expected to be completed by the end of this year or early next year.
When it goes through, Mr Rolet will step down from his role as LSE chief executive, but will stay on for about a year to advise on the transition.
LSE chairman Donald Brydon will become chairman of UK TopCo and Deutsche Boerse chief executive, Carsten Kengeter, will become chief executive.
The boards of both the LSE and Deutsche Boerse have said they will recommended that their shareholders accept the offer.
However, earlier this month, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), which owns the New York Stock Exchange, said it was considering making an offer for the LSE. It is not yet known whether it will go ahead with a hostile bid.
The LSE and Deutsche Boerse have set up a referendum committee to consider what impact a Leave vote in the EU Referendum might have.
At this stage, though both companies say the outcome of the Referendum is not a condition of the merger because they believe the combined group would be "well positioned to serve global customers irrespective of the outcome of the vote".
However, they added: "The outcome of that vote might well affect the volume or nature of the business carried out by the Combined Group. "
About 30% of the new group's revenue would come from the UK, 15% from Germany, 30% from the rest of Europe, 19% from North America and 6% from the rest of the world, mainly Asia.
The merger would mean the group is "better positioned to compete against large US peers in North America", as well as boosting its position in China and Asia generally," said the LSE in its statement. | The London Stock Exchange Group (LSE) and Deutsche Boerse have agreed terms for a "merger of equals". | 35818997 |
Seren Bernard, who was in the care of Pembrokeshire council at the time, died in Milford Haven in April 2012.
Coroner Paul Bennett said there had been "communications issues" over her care but found they did not "cause or contribute" to her death.
He recorded a conclusion of suicide.
Mr Bennett said text messages sent by Seren were like a suicide note, and had shown an "unequivocal intention to take her own life".
The inquest heard the teenager was being assisted by social workers, a drug and alcohol worker and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) after an earlier suicide attempt.
Mr Bennett said a social worker's message about her low mood was "not flagged as urgent", an invite for a child protection meeting had been misplaced and CAHMS had not been included on a correspondence list.
However, he found there to be "no causative link" between these issues and the 14-year-old's death.
Organisations involved have been given until the end of next week to submit reports outlining what action they intend to take to address communication issues.
The coroner said he would relate his findings to the relevant authorities.
In a statement, Pembrokeshire County Council said it would "reflect upon all of the issues that have been raised... and consider what lessons can be learned". | A 14-year-old girl who died while under the care of social services had "intended to kill herself", a coroner has concluded. | 33189833 |
Suarez's goal helped Barcelona beat Las Palmas to extend their lead at the top of La Liga to nine points, as both Atletico Madrid and Real could only draw.
Fortunately for Ronaldo, his spot-kick was not the miss of the weekend. Elsewhere, Juventus ended a 15-match winning streak in Serie A while Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain continued to steamroll their way towards domestic titles.
But what else happened in Europe this weekend? Here we look at the stories you may have missed.
It's already being labelled 'miss of the season' by stunned viewers of Roma's 5-0 win over Palermo in Serie A.
Step forward Edin Dzeko, whose inability to locate an open goal from no more than three yards out has to be seen to be believed.
The former Manchester City striker, 29, has not found life easy in Italy, scoring just four league goals before Sunday's game.
He had managed just one since November and the Bosnia-Herzegovina international must have thought he would never score again when he managed to meet Maicon's low cross with his heel and direct the ball back across goal and wide of the post.
But to Dzeko's credit, he got straight back on the horse and buried a far more difficult chance two minutes later before heading Roma's final goal to further banish what could have been an horrific memory.
You may recall an episode in the mid 1990s where former England international Paul Gascoigne was playing for Rangers and spotted that the referee had dropped his yellow card, and before handing it back held it up to the official.
The referee, Dougie Smith, had a humour bypass and booked Gazza for his efforts.
On Sunday in a controversial game at Galatasaray, Trabzonspor substitute Salih Dursan went a step further.
With Trabzonspor already down to nine men and hanging on to a 1-1 draw, the referee awarded a 86th-minute penalty to Galatasaray which infuriated Trabzonspor defender Cavanda so much that he charged into the official. Cue another red card.
That was enough for Dursan to literally see red. As the much-used card fell to the floor amid protests, Dursan held it up to the referee and quickly became the fourth Trabzonspor player to be dismissed. He had only been in the pitch for 25 minutes.
Just to rub salt in the wounds, Selcuk Inan kept his cool for Galatasaray and slotted in the penalty for a 2-1 win.
Outgoing Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola might have guided his side closer to a third straight Bundesliga title on Saturday but there are signs the relationship with fans is already over.
During the 3-1 home win over Darmstadt, supporters held up a banner which said: "Pep was never our thing anyway" following the announcement that he will join Manchester City next season.
It was another one-sided affair as Bayern had 36 shots and 81% possession, extending their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to 11 points.
But should they win the Bundesliga or the Champions League, will Guardiola be given the credit he maybe deserves?
Guardiola has already delivered five trophies during his time at Munich but with the break-up now looking rocky, maybe he needs to have words with Chris Martin and Gywneth Paltrow for tips on conscious uncoupling?
Speaking of tiffs, did you see the referee Felix Zwayer suspend the Bundesliga game between Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund after not getting his way?
No-one can stop the onset of age, but many people have a hard time dealing with it, including Roma striker Francesco Totti.
At the age of 39, Totti's powers are fading, and he is struggling to cope. Having been a part of Roma's first-team picture since his debut way back in March 1993, he finds himself being cast to the sidelines. And it hurts him.
The striker - a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006 - has made just two starts this season, having been a regular during the last campaign. Even the return to Roma last month of boss Luciano Spalletti, who transformed Totti into a false nine during his first spell in charge at the club, has not brought the veteran more game time.
Totti has had enough. "I can't stay at Roma like this," said a man who has been with Roma since before Justin Bieber was born. The striker's contract expires in June; he turns 40 in September. Is a great era about to come to an end?
But Spalletti has offered some hope. He said: "Totti is the best player in the post-war era and deserves respect, but so do all the other lads.
"There are rules in place for managing the group and I had to deal with Totti's reaction. The situation is in the past. and he'll train with us on Monday."
Do you want to know how young Monaco striker Kylian Mbappe is? He is so young that he was not even born when The Corrs released 'So Young' in October 1998.
Mbappe, born in December that year, secured a place in the record books on Saturday by becoming the youngest goalscorer in Monaco's history - displacing Thierry Henry in the process.
At the age of 17 years and 62 days, the forward scored a stoppage-time goal as his team beat bottom club Troyes 3-1. He will be all right if he goes on to have a career anywhere near as good as that of Henry, who was 17 years and 254 days when he struck his first goal for the club against Lens in April 1995.
Henry went on to win the World Cup with France in 1998. Not that Mbappe is old enough to remember. | Luis Suarez became the first player to reach 25 goals in Europe's top five leagues on a weekend when Cristiano Ronaldo's missed penalty proved costly for Real Madrid. | 35623020 |
The Republican presidential nominee said the women making the allegations were "horrible liars" and the media was colluding with rival Hillary Clinton.
Several women say he groped them or forcibly kissed them.
First Lady Michelle Obama earlier said Mr Trump's boasts about groping women were "shocking and demeaning".
"Leaders should meet a basic standard of human decency," she said during a campaign appearance in New Hampshire.
Seeing Mr Trump make lewd comments about women, on a video leaked last week to the Washington Post, "has shaken me to my core in a way that I cannot have predicted," Mrs Obama said, her voice cracking with emotion.
The rally was packed with students from across the political spectrum, including a young Republican who told me he was disgusted by Donald Trump, but yet to be convinced by Hillary Clinton.
As Michelle Obama entered the room, the deafening screams were at the sort of ear piercing level, usually reserved for rock stars.
And it was to this backdrop, the First Lady expressed her revulsion at Donald Trump's comments about women, as heard on that recently released tape.
She spoke with emotion, energy, and from the heart, but didn't name Mr Trump once - referring to him instead, as the candidate.
But aside from expressing her distaste at the Republican nominee's tone this election- she had another important message to those in the room.
That they must vote. Turnout, she said, was key. It's what helped her husband win this state of New Hampshire, and will be crucial for Hillary Clinton too.
In some precincts her husband won by an average of only 66 votes. Every ballot can make a difference, she urged the crowd.
If Mrs Obama really is a secret weapon for the Clinton campaign, then the true measure of how powerful her sermon was, will be tested in how she manages to rally the Democratic base.
Two women told the New York Times that the Republican presidential candidate groped or kissed them.
A People magazine reporter also said she was forcibly kissed, while another woman said Mr Trump grabbed her bottom.
Making his first public appearance since the allegations were made, Mr Trump told a rally in West Palm Beach these stories were "a conspiracy against the American people" by the political and media establishment.
He said he had evidence the accusations were unfounded and would release that at the "appropriate time".
The media, he said, "will seek to destroy your career and your family".
He has threatened to sue the New York Times, which published accusations from two women on Wednesday evening.
The newspaper has responded by saying it would welcome the opportunity to make its case in court.
Asked during last Sunday's televised presidential debate whether he had kissed or groped women without their consent, Mr Trump said: "No, I have not", and stressed that he respected women.
Many of the women said Mr Trump's denial during the second presidential debate prompted them to come forward.
Last week's emergence of a video tape in which Mr Trump boasted that his fame meant he could "do anything" to women has sparked a crisis that has engulfed his campaign.
Dozens of Republicans have said they can no longer back him and he has fallen further behind Mrs Clinton in national and state polls.
Which Republicans have deserted Trump?
Inside the tortured mind of an anti-Trump Republican
Five issues where Trump and Ryan clash | Donald Trump has rejected a slew of accusations of sexual misconduct, telling supporters in Florida they are "totally and absolutely false". | 37650500 |
Iain Duncan Smith's resignation has put the issue at the heart of the government's approach to the economy - whether George Osborne's announcements in the Budget last week were "fair".
Mr Duncan Smith told the Andrew Marr programme on Sunday morning that the Budget was "deeply unfair", as it proposed restrictions to increases in the disability payments budget whilst at the same time provided an effective tax cut for those with higher incomes.
The first, Mr Duncan Smith suggested, was being used to fund the second.
To analyse the impact of the Budget on different income groups, economists turn to what is called a "distributional analysis" which aggregates the effect of tax and benefit changes.
By way of such an analysis, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) says that last week's Budget left the richest 10% of households about £260 a year better off.
The poorest 10%, the IFS says, were no better off and could actually see their net income fall slightly as benefits are reduced.
To understand the differential impact it is worth going back to the pledges made in the Conservative manifesto - to increase the personal allowance before those in work start paying income tax.
And second, to increase the threshold at which the higher 40p tax rate kicks in.
Both policies have a tendency to benefit the better off for two reasons.
If you earn under the new personal allowance announced in the Budget of £11,500 then the tax changes have no effect.
And you only receive the benefit of the increase in the 40p tax threshold if you earn more than £45,000.
Using the IFS's model, many would say that the Budget was "unfair" in that the richest gained more than the poorest.
Which appears to contradict George Osborne's big point in the Spending Review way back in 2010 that those with "the broadest shoulders should bear the greatest burden".
But - the Treasury looks at distributional analysis in a radically different way.
Looking back to 2010, it argues that it is more revealing to consider the proportion of taxes paid and public services received.
On that basis, the top 20% of wealthy households will be paying 52% of all taxes by 2019-20, compared with 49% in 2010/11.
The amount of public spending they receive has remained static at about 11%.
As the IFS says: "The very highest earners - those on over £100,000 a year - have seen significant tax increases."
The Treasury analysis then goes on to argue that the lowest 20% of households will be paying about 6% of total taxes by 2019-20 - the same as 2010-11.
For that, they will receive 25% of all public spending, up a percentage point from 2010-11.
Those figures, the Treasury argues, show that despite the "pie" - the amount of government spending - being smaller the effects have been fairly distributed.
Whether you agree with the pounds and pence approach or the distribution of the pie approach, the argument about Budget "fairness" has also hung on the issue of the disability payments budget.
My Treasury sources tell me that this issue is more to do with controlling a ballooning budget than hitting an overall public spending surplus by 2020.
Digging through the Office for Budget Responsibility's analysis of the government's spending, the rising cost of the disability Personal Independence Payment (PIP) does stand out.
The OBR says that the cost of PIPs has risen by £1.4bn since its November forecast, and by £3bn since its June forecast.
The OBR makes it clear that the "transition from the Disability Living Allowance to PIP has saved less money than expected" and that average awards have been "revised up by 16% to £100 a week".
The government argues that it is "fair" to look at a budget that is rising so rapidly.
Critics say that disabled people are being targeted at the same time as tax cuts are helping higher income groups.
And pensions are being protected.
Whatever the arguments, since the controversy of the Budget the government has agreed to delay any reforms, thereby abandoning plans to cut £1.3bn from disability benefits in 2019-20, the year Mr Osborne has pledged to produce a public spending surplus of £10.4bn.
Does that, as some have suggested, blow a "hole" in the Chancellor's economic plans for 2019-20?
Hardly. In that year alone the government is expected to spend a total of £810bn.
So, £1.3bn is, in macro-economic terms, small change.
A small revision upwards of economic growth projections or tax receipts would easily cover the costs.
Although, of course, those forecasts could go in the other direction - creating a real headache for the resident of Number 11.
My Treasury sources tell me that far from Mr Duncan Smith's former Department of Work and Pensions having to find that £1.3bn saving elsewhere from their budget, the whole issue will be looked at "in the round" at the time of the Autumn Statement towards the end of the year.
And by then, of course, we will know the outcome of the European Union referendum.
Which will put a whole different complexion on the state of the UK economy - for better or worse. | Fairness - a word as easy to shout about as it is difficult to define. | 35863668 |
Stuart Howatson, 37, from Warwickshire, ordered expensive computer security systems, offered an engineer a job and duped hotel staff to get free rooms.
Sentencing him, Recorder Derek Sweeting QC told him the the real purpose of the fraud was to make him feel better and more powerful.
The court heard he has a variety of personality disorders.
He previously admitted 12 counts of fraud and theft. The court heard he had been jailed in 2010 for pretending to be a royal protection police officer.
More updates on this story and others in Coventry and Warwickshire
Howatson's lawyer, Nick Devine, told Coventry Crown Court: "The plain fact of the matter was that he was enjoying the fact that he was dealing with these big figures, and the fact he was pretending to be someone with the kind of authority to enter into such contracts.
"It was all about what he got out of the pretence of being somebody in a considerable position of authority in a glamorous line of business."
Prosecutor Sharon Bahia said one of four people Howatson lied to was was an engineer who flew to Cologne with his wife to meet him after being promised a job as an operations director with Mercedes.
Ms Bahia said the man described Howatson as being very knowledgeable about Mercedes-Benz, and offered him Bupa health care and software to learn German.
The court was also told that Howatson, of Fisher Road, Bishops Itchington, used false email accounts purporting to belong to his assistants at Mercedes to book hotel rooms in Bewdley and Kidderminster.
Passing sentence, Recorder Sweeting told Howatson: "You carried off the deception with a great deal of persuasive skill." | A man who admitted pretending to be a Formula 1 racing boss has been jailed for two years. | 35661658 |
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is proposing to close Broomhill House in Gedling and another unit at Heather Close in Mansfield.
The trust said patient feedback showed most preferred to be cared for at home.
However, Isabel Wodrow, whose 44-year-old son is treated for a psychotic illness at Broomhill House, said he will be badly affected by the closure.
Ms Wodrow said her son would quickly "disengage" from community outreach services.
"It will be a slippery slope down to the kind of situation that we were in for 18 years of him disappearing...disengaging from services, from family, and it's not something I intend to happen," she said.
"I will fight this to the end."
Simon Smith, of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, said community teams already support hundreds of people in their own homes.
"That works really successfully and we would expect that will work for the vast majority of people that we support," he said.
A public meeting will be held to discuss the closure of the unit at All Hallows Corner, in Gedling, on 17 August. | About 2,000 people have signed a petition against the closure of a mental health unit in Nottinghamshire. | 33784625 |
The Magpies, relegated in 2015, have lost their past four League Two games to slip to 19th in the table.
The club did not comment on whether the team selection plan was related to their recent run of results.
Chesterfield had planned to field a mixture of reserve and youth players.
Following Saturday's 3-2 defeat by Barnet, County assistant manager Mark Crossley told BBC Radio Nottingham that "the performances of late have not been good enough".
He added: "The players have got to show us what they're made of. At the moment they're showing us they're not made of anything."
Last month, manager John Sheridan claimed his team would not have beaten a pub side after a 4-0 loss to Blackpool. | Notts County were unable to go through with their plan to play "all first-team players" in a reserve fixture against Chesterfield after the game was called off because of a frozen pitch. | 38130816 |
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