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The 91 coins, dating back to AD 31 were found in a field at Wick by men using metal detectors in December 2014.
In a separate find, gold and silver finger rings, one 12th, the other 15th century were found at Llancarfan in December 2013.
The coroner for Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan declared both finds treasure.
Using metal detectors, Richard Annear and John Player found the coins, that had been scattered by ploughing.
They had been buried in a locally-made pot and contained some from the rule of Mark Anthony in 31 AD and periods of Emperor Nero (AD 54 to 68) and Marcus Aurelius (AD 161 to 180).
National Museum Wales' Edward Besly said the find, close to another at Monknash in 2000, point to a "prosperous coin-using economy in the area".
The silver 12th century ring was similar to one found in Worcester and the gold 15th century one had a pattern of half-flowers on it.
National Museum Wales' Mark Redknap said they were "important indicators of changing fashions in south Wales during the medieval period". | A hoard of Roman silver coins and two medieval finger rings found in the Vale of Glamorgan have been declared treasure. | 34924946 |
Willie O'Dea was reacting to the party's poor performance in two Irish parliament (Dáil) by-elections.
On Sunday, former Fianna Fáil minister Éamon Ó Cuív described the by-election results as a bad day for the party.
Mr O'Dea said a leadership contest would be divisive and that he supported the party's leader.
The reaction came after surprise results in the two by-elections on Saturday.
In Roscommon/South Leitrim, independent Michael Fitzmaurice won the seat on the seventh count. He defeated favourite Ivan Connaughton of Fianna Fáil.
Mr Fitzmaurice finished with 14,881 votes, 2,831 more than Mr Connaughton.
Paul Murphy of the Anti-Austerity Alliance won the seat Dublin South-West after a campaign that focused on the issue of water charges.
Sinn Féin's Cathal King had been the favourite for the seat and topped the poll.
However, Mr Murphy overtook him on vote transfers.
Fianna Fáil candidate John Lahart came in fifth. | A Fianna Fáil Irish parliament member has said the party is united behind its leader Micheál Martin. | 29595769 |
David Anderson QC said his "central concern" about the proposals first unveiled by David Cameron in early September was: "Where are the courts?"
Temporary Exclusion Orders are one of the measures in the counter terrorism bill published by Theresa May.
It also includes tougher powers to stop people going abroad to fight.
It will include plans to stop some British citizens returning to the UK, and others from leaving the country.
In other developments on Wednesday:
Analysis by Political Correspondent Robin Brant
The government proposes the law, parliament passes it, then David Anderson reviews it - and sometimes makes recommendations. That's the usual sequence of events.
But today the independent reviewer was criticising the process before the new Counter-Terror and Security Bill was published.
The QC used his customary polite, sometimes understated, tone - but this was a criticism of politicians whom he said hadn't fully thought through some of the proposals announced in early September.
Read more from Robin
Mrs May's new measures to tackle terrorism come days after she said the UK faces a "greater" terror threat than ever before.
The measures include requiring airlines to pass on details of their passengers and changes to the way TPIMs - Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures - work to monitor terror suspects who cannot be prosecuted.
But campaigners have condemned it, saying it threatens civil liberties.
'A more sensible way'
Mr Anderson - appointed by the government to be its independent reviewer of terrorism legislation - said the new anti-terror legislation was "nothing like as dramatic" as David Cameron had proposed earlier this year.
He told the Joint Committee on Human Rights the original plan to block suspected British jihadists returning from Iraq and Syria as "an announcement waiting for a policy".
But he said it soon became clear such a move would "neither legally or practically" work and the current plan was now much "closer to managed return".
He argued there could be "a more sensible" way of dealing with some people suspected of being involved in terrorist activities.
"One could look at it in terms of young, possibly vulnerable people caught up with the wrong crowd in Syria - didn't really know exactly what they were doing," he said.
"Do you want to throw the book at them straight away in terms of arrest and charge? Or is there something to be said, even though you do suspect them of having fought, of keeping them under a very light regime where they might have to report daily to a police station?
The new Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill includes:
"They might have to notify their residence; they might have to go along to meetings with probation or with some similar which perhaps might be for some people be a more sensible way of dealing with them than putting them straight into the criminal justice process."
Mr Anderson said the use of exclusion orders would require the cooperation of carriers, such as airlines and of states where these people might find themselves.
"But certainly presented with an order at the check-in desk, the person might say: 'I want to come home,' or decide not to come home," he said.
"The concern I have about this power and the central concern about it is: where are the courts in all of this?
"If the home secretary wants to impose a TPIM she has to go to the court first and if the court says she's got it wrong, it will say so.
"One will want to look very carefully to see if this is a power that requires the intervention of the court at any stage, or whether it's simply envisaged as something the home secretary imposes.
"If one is abroad when this order is served on you, then it's a little difficult to see in practical terms how a right to judicial review could be exercised."
Mr Anderson spoke out as a week-long counter-terrorism awareness campaign enters its third day.
'Changing threats'
The UK's terror threat level remains "severe" after it was upped from "substantial" earlier this year in response to conflicts in Iraq and Syria.
Speaking ahead of the bill's publication, Mrs May said: "We are in the middle of a generational struggle against a deadly terrorist ideology. These powers are essential to keep up with the very serious and rapidly changing threats we face.
"This bill includes a considered, targeted set of proposals that will help to keep us safe at a time of very significant danger by ensuring we have the powers we need to defend ourselves."
The government wants to "fast-track" the bill through Parliament, citing the need to tackle the direct threat posed by the group calling itself Islamic State (IS) and the increasing number of Britons travelling to Iraq and Syria to fight on its behalf.
But shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said more was needed to be done to stop British citizens from being radicalised and to deal with any threat this posed to national security.
Amnesty International called the powers "draconian", adding none of the measures seemed "properly thought through".
And Shami Chakrabarti, director of human rights group Liberty, said: "Yet again, politicians resort to high talk and rushed legislation in an attempt to look tough in the face of terrorism. Another chilling recipe for injustice and resentment by closing down the open society you seek to promote."
The Home Office says communications data has played a major role in "every Security Service counter-terrorism operation over the last decade" but gaps in the UK's access to such information need to be filled.
Mrs May has warned that even the new data retention powers will not fully address the threat, reiterating the need for a Communications Data Bill to bring in more wide-ranging web monitoring powers.
That bill - labelled a snooper's charter by critics - was scrapped following Lib Dem opposition.
Technology firms said there had been insufficient consultation on the more limited proposals in the bill requiring firms to keep information to help the authorities to match internet protocol (IP) addresses to an individual user or a device.
The Home Office said it had met internet service providers and other groups to discuss the measures but the Internet Services Providers Association said there had been "a distinct lack of engagement" with the industry.
Ministers want to amend legislation passed earlier this year to require firms to retain data, including that "required to identify the sender or recipient of a communication, the time or duration of a communication, the type, method or pattern of communication and the telecommunications system used".
However, the bill stresses that the content of messages and details that would "explicitly identify" what websites someone had visited would not have to be stored.
On Tuesday a report into last year's killing of Fusilier Lee Rigby raised questions about whether social network providers should have to report details of extremist activity.
David Cameron said companies had a "social responsibility" to act on terrorist material posted online after the report detailed how Michael Adebowale, one of two men convicted of Mr Rigby's murder, spoke on Facebook about wanting to murder a soldier.
Facebook said it did not allow terrorist content and aimed to stop it. | Concerns about plans to exclude people from the UK if they go abroad to fight with extremist groups have been raised by the UK's reviewer of terror laws. | 30206231 |
It is thought Jerrell Elie was at a party in Gordon Grove, Brixton, when a fight broke out and he was chased.
An Audi car also took off at speed towards Flaxman Road, where police later found the teenager, from Camberwell, with head injuries.
Moments later the car was seen driving down Gordon Grove, under the railway arches.
Two men, aged 29 and 30, have been arrested in Wandsworth on suspicion of murder.
A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as head injuries and Det Insp Brian Fitzpatrick said it was likely these were caused by being struck by a car.
He said: "We are keen to speak to anyone who saw what happened in Flaxman Road, or the events leading up to Jerrell's death.
"The party was well attended and it was a warm evening with a lot of people out and about - if you saw anything at all please contact us in confidence." | A 17-year-old boy who died after a fight in London over the weekend has been named. | 33851075 |
The debate, on 20 February, will also discuss a second petition calling for the visit to go ahead, signed by more than 100,000 people.
Mr Trump has put in place a temporary US travel ban on people from seven mainly Muslim countries.
This led to protests across the UK on Monday.
A state visit is the highest honour offered to foreign leaders by Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's head of state.
These are grand occasions, which aim to strengthen relationships between countries.
The Queen usually welcomes one or two heads of state a year. She has hosted 109 state visits since becoming monarch in 1952.
There has been no date yet announced for President Trump's state visit. | MPs will debate whether US President Trump should be given a UK state visit, as a petition against the idea nears 1.7 million signatures. | 38810984 |
In an emergency session, lawmakers said there had been a "rupture of the constitutional order".
They also threatened to put President Nicolas Maduro on trial.
The emergency session was called after the electoral authorities blocked opposition efforts to hold a referendum to remove Mr Maduro from power.
The opposition blames President Maduro and his socialist government for the economic crisis which Venezuela is experiencing.
The International Monetary Fund has predicted that inflation will rise to 1,660% next year.
The South American nation is already suffering from chronic shortages of many goods, including food and basic toiletries.
Public hospitals have reported running out of medicine and being barely able to function.
The opposition is calling for new elections as well as Mr Maduro's removal.
Under Venezuela's constitution, a recall referendum can be held once a president has served half of his term in office and the requisite steps are met.
So far, the opposition has completed step one of the process.
The opposition was scheduled to start stage two of the process on 26 October.
But last week, the electoral authorities announced that the signature drive had been suspended after allegations of fraud in the first stage.
The announcement was met with outrage by the opposition, which has long accused the National Electoral Council of doing the government's bidding and causing delays at every possible turn.
Election delay causes opposition anger
The National Assembly, which is controlled by a coalition of opposition parties, held an emergency session.
The Assembly approved a resolution which declares that Venezuela has suffered a coup d'etat and the constitutional order has broken down, and urges Venezuelans to stand up in defence of the constitution.
The resolution also advocates
Lawmaker Julio Borges also said that the opposition would bring a political trial against President Maduro "to get to the bottom of his role in the break with democracy and human rights here".
The session was tense and angry, with both government and opposition lawmakers giving fiery speeches.
Chaos erupted when a group of government supporters who had been demonstrating outside the Assembly building pushed past security guards and broke into the chamber.
The session had to be halted for 45 minutes while the protesters were removed.
The interruption was described in very different ways by the two rival sides.
Opposition lawmaker Julio Borges posted a video of the protests and called it "an attack on Venezuela's parliament".
Government lawmaker Diosdado Cabello on the other hand defended those who had interrupted the session, saying they had only been protecting the legitimate government and would do so another 1,000 times.
He also accused the National Assembly of carrying out its own coup d'etat.
President Maduro sent a video message from Saudi Arabia, where he was discussing global oil prices.
In it he said, "The revolution will continue to win despite the constant pretentions of the right which is trying to take over power by unconstitutional means."
President Maduro and his government have accused the opposition of having links to foreign states, and the US in particular, and of seeking to overthrow him to "lay their hands on Venezuela's oil riches".
The National Assembly has convened another session for 25 October in which it plans to discuss how to proceed next.
Analysts say the resolutions passed on Sunday are largely symbolic and unlikely to have much effect as the government and the Supreme Court have so far scuppered any attempts by the opposition to push through bills which President Maduro opposes.
The recall referendum, which has been the opposition's main strategy to drive Mr Maduro from office, is also stalled after the suspension of the second stage by the electoral authorities.
The opposition will likely look abroad for help in laying pressure on the government, in particular to the regional body Organization of American States (OAS).
OAS head Luis Almagro has previously threatened to invoke the Inter-American Democratic Charter, which could lead to sanctions being imposed on Venezuela.
The opposition has also called for nationwide protests for Wednesday. | Members of Venezuela's opposition-led National Assembly declared on Sunday that the government was engaged in "an ongoing coup d'etat". | 37747849 |
Martina Anderson brought defamation proceedings against Mr Paisley over an interview he gave about the closure of a County Antrim cigarette factory.
The case was due to be heard in the High Court in Belfast, but the judge was told the dispute has been settled.
Mr Paisley will donate to the Pink Ladies cancer charity in Londonderry.
Ms Anderson's defamation action began after she took part in a radio interview with him in October 2014, about the closure of Gallahers cigarette factory in Ballymena.
Hundreds of jobs losses had just been announced at the plant, which was one of the biggest employers in Mr Paisley's North Antrim constituency,
No details of the libel dispute were disclosed in court on Monday and neither Mr Paisley nor Ms Anderson attending the hearing.
However, the Sinn Féin MEP's solicitor, Padraig O Muirigh, said: "The claim was settled in Martina Anderson's favour.
"Costs are being paid by the defendant to include a payment to the Pink Ladies cancer charity in Derry." | DUP MP Ian Paisley is to make a charity donation as part of a libel settlement after he was sued by a Sinn Féin MEP over comments he made on radio. | 34902285 |
Mr Bowsher had previously come first overall in the event, which doubles as the Scottish Open Chainsaw Carving Championships, three times in a row.
Mr Ligocki took first place carving a sculpture depicting a hunched old man.
Only chainsaws are permitted in the contest at Carrbridge. Carvers are banned from using other tools.
Mr Bowsher did win the People's Choice and was second place overall.
Third was Michael Tamoszus, from Germany, and the Best New Entrant was won by Jonathan Sherwood, from Harrogate in Yorkshire.
More than 3,000 people turned out to see the carvers, who included Alice Buttress, from Carrbridge, and Sue O' Sullivan, from the USA. | Polish chainsaw carver Wladek Ligocki has brought to an end Moffat's Pete Bowsher run of wins in the Carve Carrbridge competition. | 37274982 |
Fifteen firefighters tackled the blaze, which began in Remembrance Road at about 03:40 BST.
Police said it was too early to confirm if it would be investigated as a hate crime.
Shop owner Norbert Krupan, who has lived in the area for 11 years and opened the premises a year ago, said he was "devastated".
Read more news for Coventry and Warwickshire
"We've had it confirmed that we've been targeted and someone's done this deliberately," he said.
"The police ask me if it was maybe a racial background, or maybe the competition, I really don't know." | A fire that destroyed a Polish food shop in Coventry is being investigated as a suspected arson attack. | 37653746 |
Sian Harkin, 54, used cheques from Llwyncelyn Infant School claiming the money was for a shelter for pupils' parents.
Merthyr Crown Court heard she gave them to Lee Slocombe, a convicted fraudster who had manipulated her.
Harkin, of Pontypridd, admitted fraud, theft and forgery charges.
The court heard that the teacher had fallen under the "spell" of the conman - who has since been jailed - and that she had believed his "sob stories".
Marion Lewis, defending, told the court that the head teacher was "devastated" and "thoroughly ashamed" of what she had done.
Prosecuting, Rachel Knight said: "She took it upon herself to dip into school funds. She abused her position of trust.
"She had significant financial responsibility but defrauded the school and thereby the community."
When questioned, Harkin said the money was to build a rain shelter for waiting parents - but the work was never ratified by governors.
On one occasion she forged the deputy head's name in order to cash a cheque, the hearing was told.
CCTV footage showed her cashing a cheque for £3,200 in a bank after forging the signature of her colleague.
Marion Lewis, defending, said: "The effects of her wrongdoing have been devastating. A successful career that she dearly loved has been destroyed. She is thoroughly ashamed.
"She knows the effect her actions have had on the school and deeply regrets them."
Jailing her for a year, Judge Richard Twomlow said: "You were so under his (Slocombe's) influence that you were prepared to do things you should not have to assist him."
Speaking after the case, her husband Anthony, a bank manager, said: "I want to stress that every penny of the money spent on our house came from my pocket and not from the school's funds.
"I am a bank manager and have proved to police that each pound and penny was met by us.
"What Slocombe did with the money from the school is a mystery. He is very plausible and a convicted fraudster.
He said his wife had given Slocombe the money to build a shelter at the school.
"We feel very let down by Slocombe over the two-and-a-bit years he worked with us," he added.
"He has conned many, many people out of thousands of pounds. We trusted him as did many other people and were bitterly let down."
Lee Slocombe was jailed in February for 43 months after defrauding customers of £43,000. | A head teacher who tried to defraud her school of £30,000 to help a builder working on her house has been jailed for a year. | 32531464 |
Ealing centre Joe Munro powered over for the opening try midway through the first half but the Reds hit back through Simon Kerrod's score.
Aaron Penberthy and Sam Katz traded penalties in the second period but the Trailfinders were never behind.
Ealing climb back into the play-off zone, while Jersey are in eighth spot.
"It was very frustrating," Jersey skipper James Freeman told BBC Radio Jersey.
"Credit to Ealing, I thought they played well, especially their line-out defence in the first half which kept us out of a few shots that we thought we had."
The visitors were the brighter of the two sides in the early stages and deservedly led 10-0 thanks to Penberthy's drop-goal and Joe Munro's try.
Fly-half Penberthy, facing his former club, dictated a lot of the early play but Jersey were just three points behind at half time thanks to Kerrod's try in the left corner and Sam Katz's superb conversion.
In a scrappy second half Penberthy extended the Trailfinders lead to six points on three occasions but Katz was accurate with the boot at the other end to keep his side in touch.
The Reds looked like they might snatch the win at the death, when they won two penalties and a free-kick at a scrum on the five metre line, but the penalty-try never came and Ealing eventually got the penalty themselves and, with it, took the victory.
Jersey: Adair; Watkins, Ma'afu, Stevens, Davies; Katz, Hardy; Thomas, Buckle, Kerrod; Campbell, McKern; Graham, Freeman (capt), Haining.
Replacements: Macfarlane, McCarthy, Tampin, Kolo'ofa'i, Argyle; Fisilau, Dudley.
Ealing: Daniels; Harries, Jones, Munro, Cordy-Redden; Penberthy, Carter; Gibbons, Walker, Thiede; Maddison, Townson; Murphy, Nagle-Taylor, Bright (capt).
Replacements: Cornish, Davis, Rodman, Casson, Preocanin, Walker, Peters.
Attendance: 1,596
For the latest rugby union news follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter. | Ealing Trailfinders kicked off 2017 with a narrow Championship win over Jersey Reds at St Peter, despite late pressure from the hosts. | 38450314 |
Police have not named the victim, found near the A16 at Newborough on Saturday morning, but said they were treating his death as murder.
He had not been seen since Friday. His Ford Mondeo had been found burnt out near a farm in Yaxley at 21:00 GMT and he was reported missing at 22:40 GMT.
Det Ch Insp Martin Brunning said officers were treating the man's death as an "isolated incident".
"I would appeal to anyone who was in the area of Newborough yesterday morning or who may have seen the Mondeo estate being driven in the Yaxley area on Good Friday to call police," he added.
"We are in contact with the man's family and will be keeping them up to date on our investigation." | A man's body has been found with stab wounds in a ditch near Peterborough. | 21989084 |
The investigation into Emstrey Crematorium in Shrewsbury will be led by former Dorset County Council chief executive David Jenkins.
It comes after the BBC found just one out of 30 sets of ashes were given to babies' families since 2004.
The inquiry, commissioned by Shropshire Council, is due to begin on Wednesday.
But parents said they should have been consulted over the appointment.
"All we are asking for is a fair hearing," said Glen Perkins, founder of the Action for Ashes campaign group, which called for the inquiry.
Mr Perkins's four-month-old daughter Olivia was cremated at Emstrey Crematorium in December 2007 but the family was told by the funeral director there would be no remains.
He said he did not trust the council investigation to be truly independent or rigorous.
"I think the hardest thing to presume is that we will get an answer about what happened to Olivia," he said.
"I don't think I will ever know.
"I can look at her picture but I can't go where she should be and that hurts."
Mr Jenkins, a solicitor who has led reviews of other authorities and public service organisations, was recommended for the role by the Local Government Association.
The inquiry findings are due to be published in April.
Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow said: "I'm really pleased that David has agreed to chair the inquiry and I'm confident that he is the right person to carry out this very important role.
"He has all the right experience and qualifications and, importantly, is independent."
Emstrey Crematorium has been managed by Co-Operative Funeralcare on behalf of Shropshire Council since 2009. | An ex-council chief has been appointed to head a probe into why a crematorium failed to recover ashes from baby cremations for more than a decade. | 30395466 |
Southern operator Govia Thameslink (GTR) said it would implement a new role for conductors from 21 August, with guards no longer opening and closing doors.
The RMT union has said their current role is vital for safety reasons.
Members will be asked to walk out on Tuesday 21 June.
The union's southeast organiser Paul Cox said: "It is not just about operating doors. Conductors will save lives in the event of emergency."
Southern said the proposed strike would have a significant effect on services, with no service on many routes and only a limited service on others.
It has repeated its call for the RMT to engage in talks.
Meanwhile, rail minister Claire Perry has said the recent high level of sickness absence by Southern conductors amounted to a "work to rule", which was "outrageous and unfair".
Last month GTR said illness rates had doubled since the first strike in April.
But the RMT insisted there was "no unofficial action" and blamed staff shortages on "gross mismanagement".
"Trying to lump the blame onto hard-working, frontline staff, who take the full force of passenger anger for cancellations and delays, is cowardly and despicable," it added.
Performance figures released by operator Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) showed fewer than one in seven Southern mainline services arrived on time on Monday.
Shares in GTR's parent company Go-Ahead fell 12% on Tuesday after it issued a profit warning, citing "very challenging performance and industrial relations environments".
GTR is in dispute with the RMT and ASLEF unions on three issues: the role of guards, the introduction of longer driver-only trains and closure of some ticket offices.
The operator insisted there would be no job losses or pay cuts. | A union has called for another 24-hour strike by conductors on Southern rail trains in an ongoing dispute about the introduction of driver-only trains. | 36528579 |
The cinemagoers, who were attending an international film festival in the city of Trivandrum in Kerala, were later freed but they face charges of "failure to obey an order issued by a public servant, thereby causing obstruction or annoyance to others".
And at a cinema in Chennai on Sunday, eight people who did not stand for the anthem were assaulted and abused, police said. The eight were later charged with showing disrespect to the anthem.
The arrests and reports of assault follow last month's Supreme Court ruling that the national anthem be played before every film and that audiences stand while it is played - and they make it clear that authorities are taking the ruling seriously.
"If we did not sit on chairs, I thought we would lose the seats," one detainee told the Indian Express.
The controversial ruling - cheered by the ruling Hindu nationalist BJP - comes at a time of routine demands on Indians to display patriotism, and this is not the first time people have been targeted for not respecting the national song.
In October, a disabled man who had been carried from his wheelchair to a seat, described how he was assaulted by other members of the audience for not standing for the anthem.
In the past three years, people have been thrown out cinemas and even charged with sedition for not standing up for the anthem.
A 1971 law makes any obstruction to the singing of the song "or causing disturbances to any assembly engaged in such singing" punishable by a three-year prison term and/or a fine.
But October's Supreme Court ruling gives national authority to what was previously a rash of loosely-followed, state-specific laws.
The ruling says that the anthem must be played in all cinemas, accompanied by an image of the Indian flag, and everyone must stand. It also stated that the doors must remain closed to prevent people from entering or leaving. The court later amended the ruling to exempt disabled people.
Critics of the Supreme Court ruling have called it a case of judicial overreach and an attack on freedom of expression.
Political scientist Suhas Palshikar said the ruling threatened to turn "citizens into subjects". Gopalkrishna Gandhi, a former diplomat, wrote: "The national anthem is not a traffic signal that has to be respected. It is not a tax that requires compliance. It is not a test that has to be submitted to."
National anthems are seen as tests of patriotism around the world. In Japan, school teachers have been warned for not standing up during the anthem. In Mexico, a woman was fined for mixing up the words.
And in the US, the Star-Spangled Banner has a long-standing association with protest. In September, American football player Colin Kaepernick said he had received death threats over his refusal to stand for the anthem in protest against the treatment of black people by police.
"Some of the right, committed to nationalistic politics, naturally see the anthem as a vital issue," Kevin Kruse, a professor of history at Princeton University, told me. "This has been true in past moments too, especially in times of war - the anthem being politicised during the Vietnam era, for instance, leading to the 1968 Olympics protest."
But what is unsettling in India, said political scientist Suhas Palshikar, is that state-ministered patriotism "often tends to give way to unruly vigilantism or authoritarian state machinery, or both". | Twelve people were arrested on Monday evening at a cinema in India, after they remained seated while the national anthem played. | 38298821 |
Children at Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pairce in Edinburgh had been told they would not be automatically entitled to a place at James Gillespie's High because of the increasing school roll.
Now education bosses have agreed to accommodate pupils who wish to continue their education at the high school.
Officials are now looking at ways to cope with the extra pupils.
Edinburgh city council said the move would only cover next year.
Parents had objected to children, who do not live within Gillespie's normal catchment area, being offered a place at Tynecastle High School, which also has Gaelic facilities.
Critics claim the Gaelic facilities there are inferior to Gillespie's. Some have also highlighted the school's relatively poor academic performance, although its catchment area includes some of the most deprived parts of the city.
Currently Gillespie's can take 220 pupils from the Gaelic primary school, but predictions have shown that about 229 pupils would apply for next year.
Paul Godzik, Edinburgh city council's convener of the education, children and families committee, said: "Having received further advice from the head teacher we will ensure that all qualifying catchment P7 pupils, including those from Taobh na Pairce, are able to attend James Gillespie's High School for the August 2016/17 session.
"Also, given the pressures on Gillespie's in future years due to their rising school roll and other factors, we will also consult on arrangements for secondary Gaelic medium education from August 2017.
"Since we opened Taobh na Pairce in 2013 we have seen an increase in families choosing Gaelic medium education for their children and we now have to look carefully at how this is developed in a sustainable way." | Pupils at a Gaelic primary have been guaranteed a place at their preferred high school following a council U-turn. | 35711629 |
Following his Golden Globes triumph, Eddie Redmayne is expected to get a best actor nod for Stephen Hawking biopic The Theory of Everything.
Other British acting talent in the mix could include Benedict Cumberbatch, David Oyelowo, Felicity Jones, Rosamund Pike and Keira Knightley.
The shortlists are revealed in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, at 1330 GMT.
Under the current voting system, the best picture category could have anything between five and 10 films. For each of the last three years, nine films have made the cut.
The shortlist is likely to include dark satire Birdman, coming-of-age drama Boyhood, quirky comedy The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Theory of Everything and another British biopic, The Imitation Game.
Other films jostling for position include civil rights story Selma, jazz drumming indie hit Whiplash, Iraq war thriller American Sniper and wrestling drama Foxcatcher.
Caroline Frost, entertainment editor of The Huffington Post UK, says this year looks set to be a tight race, with some casualties among the early favourites.
"The whole vibe has changed going into awards season," she says.
"Films that people thought would have been shoo-ins - like Interstellar, Unbroken or Selma - set awards bells clanging.
"But instead more interesting, idiosyncratic films, like Boyhood, Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel, have put their noses in front."
Both Boyhood and The Grand Budapest Hotel were released in the first half of 2014 - long before the autumn/winter months, when movie bosses like to bring out their awards hopefuls.
"The fact that Boyhood and Grand Budapest came out so early in 2014 may give studio execs pause for thought about their distribution model," observes Frost.
"Maybe it's not such a guaranteed goal-scorer to save up your best films for November or December, because they get caught in the rush.
"As audiences and voters, we are so aware of being sold products these days that we feel warm towards films that we discover for ourselves, that don't have that awards ribbon wrapped round them."
In the acting categories, Redmayne is likely to find himself up against his friend and fellow Brit Cumberbatch, who plays computer pioneer Alan Turing in WW2 drama The Imitation Game.
Perhaps his biggest challenger will be Michael Keaton, who has resurrected his career in surreal dark comedy Birdman in the role of a washed-up superhero actor who is starring in a play on Broadway.
Both Redmayne and Keaton won Golden Globes for their roles this week in separate categories. At the Oscars they will be going head to head.
Other actors who could make the shortlist include David Oyelowo (Selma), Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler), Bradley Cooper (American Sniper) and Steve Carell (Foxcatcher).
Another Golden Globe winner hoping for Oscar success is Julianne Moore, who plays a linguistics professor diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's in Still Alice. Her powerful performance has made her the bookmakers' favourite to win an Oscar for best actress.
Her rivals could include Redmayne's co-star Felicity Jones, Gone Girl's Rosamund Pike and Reese Witherspoon, who plays a woman who undertakes a gruelling hike in Wild.
There's much speculation that Jennifer Aniston could appear on the shortlist for her role as a woman struggling with prescription painkiller addiction in Cake.
"If Jennifer Aniston has ever had a chance of winning an Oscar, it's got to be this year," says Frost.
"But I think it's Julianne Moore's year, because she's never won an Oscar before and it's her time, as they say, and she's done something worthy of it."
In the supporting actress field, Golden Globe winner Patricia Arquette (Boyhood) is almost guaranteed a nod, alongside Keira Knightley (The Imitation Game) and Birdman's Emma Stone.
If Meryl Streep makes the list for her turn as a fairytale witch in musical Into the Woods, it would be her 19th acting nomination - breaking her own Oscar record.
Expect to see JK Simmons, who plays a terrifying music teacher in Whiplash, in the mix for best supporting actor alongside the likes of Edward Norton (Birdman) and Mark Ruffalo (Foxcatcher).
After storming the Baftas with 11 nominations last week, though, will The Grand Budapest Hotel do as well with Academy voters?
"It will probably do very well," writes The Hollywood Reporter's Oscars analyst Scott Feinberg. "But I'm not sure that it will resonate nearly as much with the American-heavy Academy as it has with voters abroad.
"It has a very particular style and dry sensibility that I think Europeans appreciate more than Americans."
Feinberg thinks Richard Linklater's Boyhood is the one to beat in the race for best picture. "Quite simply, it stands out, with its unique narrative, in a year in which few other films do, and I'd be very surprised if its momentum stops anytime soon."
Frost agrees. "This film has been around for 12 years and there won't be a film like this to vote for again, possibly ever. It's a once-in-a-lifetime accomplishment."
The nominations in all 24 Oscar categories will be announced by actor Chris Pine, Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs and directors Alfonso Cuaron and JJ Abrams, on 15 January.
The two-part live news conference at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Beverly Hills will be streamed live on the BBC News website.
The Oscars ceremony takes place in Hollywood's Dolby Theatre on 22 February. | British talent is expected to figure strongly when the Oscar nominations are announced later. | 30782941 |
The 27-year-old denied the offence which happened in the 32-12 defeat on 23 September, but was found guilty by an independent Rugby Football League disciplinary tribunal on Tuesday.
Fifita, who was fined £300, can serve the suspension in pre-season matches.
The Tongan is out of contract having joined from Cronulla Sharks last June. | Wakefield prop David Fifita will serve a two-match ban for a dangerous tackle he made in last month's final Super League match at St Helens. | 37556836 |
The Dutchman side-footed home Massimo Luongo's cross at the far post after it had evaded team mate Matt Phillips.
Chery almost opened the scoring early on but his close-range effort from Charlie Austin's shot looped over.
Town's Tom Smith nearly scored a 12th-minute own goal as he deflected Phillips' goal-bound effort inches wide of his own post.
Huddersfield can feel hard done by not to get a point, but Chris Powell's side are still in search of their first win in any competition this season.
Premier League transfer target Austin was inches away from giving QPR the lead 12 minutes before half time as Chery's cross just evaded him.
But that was the only real chance Austin had in the final game before the transfer window shuts on Tuesday evening.
Town were the better side after the break as Martin Cranie had a header cleared off the line, while Ishmael Miller also went close.
But Chery's late winner, which was against the run of play, sent Rangers into fourth place, three points off league leaders Brighton, while Town drop into the relegation places.
Huddersfield manager Chris Powell:
"For us to concede like that, on the balance of the game we had, it's little more than daylight robbery.
"Joe Murphy has only had one save to make and we kept Charlie Austin quiet. It was a big blow to lose.
"It's just the way it's going for us now and our confidence will be low but we'll need each other and must rally round each other as we move forward."
QPR manager Chris Ramsay:
Media playback is not supported on this device
"It's an away win against a very difficult opponent and we kept ourselves in the game.
"We were mindful not to lose but we are always dangerous with the firepower we have up front.
"We didn't play particularly well and this is a hard, unforgiving league. Chery did us a favour and long may it continue." | Tjaronn Chery's late winner ensured Queens Park Rangers left Huddersfield Town with all three points. | 34024838 |
The child was one of 75 referred from Wales due to their gender confusion - almost double the previous year.
Seven years ago there was just one Welsh referral through the NHS.
The figures are from the Tavistock clinic - the only centre offering gender identity treatment to young people in England and Wales - which have seen a sharp rise in recent years.
About 2,000 children and young people were referred there through the NHS last year - an increase of 42% on 2015/16. The increase in referrals from Wales was 79%.
Experts say Wales is "catching up" and the rise is because of increasing awareness of gender identity issues.
Jamie Pallas from Gendered Intelligence, which works with transgender children and young people, said: "In general, there has been a great increase in awareness, so if young people are talking to their parents and have questions generally, their parents may be more aware in what they can do to help them. People know they can approach their GPs and ask for referrals.
"There is also a lot of information available on the internet and I think that has helped young people. Also, we are seeing schools support young people."
Llyr is among those to have been referred to the Tavistock and Portman Trust. The 16-year-old from Aberystwyth started dressing as a girl last year and has just started testosterone blocker injections.
The teenager, whose parents own a farm, said: "I was so excited at my first injection for testosterone blockers. As soon as the injection when in there was a burst of emotion, it is such a relief and emotion that it is done."
But the Tavistock and Portman Trust stressed that most users did not start the medical pathway to transition.
Dr Polly Carmichael, gender identity development service director and consultant clinical psychologist, said: "There is no single explanation for the increase in referral figures, but we do know in recent years that there has been significant progress towards the acceptance and recognition of transgender and gender diverse people in our society.
"There is also greater knowledge about specialist gender clinics and the pathways into them, and an increased awareness of the possibilities around physical treatments for younger adolescents.
"The majority of our users do not take up physical treatment through our service, and any decisions around hormone treatment needs time and considered thought.
"The long-term health and psycho-social wellbeing of young people is always our priority."
Kate Hutchinson, director of Wipe Out Transphobia, said there was no visibility, "no-one to talk to", and no trans youth organisations when she was a teenager in the 1980s.
"There were no fewer trans young people than today, we just had no-one to turn to for help.
"The only thing I ever saw about trans people were tabloid sensationalist stories that pushed your feelings deeper down and made you feel hopeless.
"Young trans people these days do not need to suffer like that, they see positive changes in attitudes and support, they have hope that they can show their authentic selves.
"Quite simply because of these shifts, they have more confidence and have more awareness of where to turn than previous generations to seek help at a younger age, instead of struggling on." | A five-year-old was referred to a specialist NHS clinic as a result of transgender feelings last year. | 39783011 |
The atlas, which dates back to the 19th Century, is the global reference book for observing and identifying clouds.
Last revised in 1987, its new fully-digital edition includes the asperitas after campaigns by citizen scientists.
Other new entries include the roll-like volutus, and contrails, clouds formed from the vapour trail of aeroplanes.
Since its first publication in 1896, the International Cloud Atlas has become an important reference tool for people working in meteorological services, aviation and shipping.
The first edition contained 28 coloured photographs and set out detailed standards for classifying clouds. The last full edition was published in 1975 with a revision in 1987, which quickly became a collector's item.
Now, embracing the digital era, the new atlas will initially be available as a web portal, and accessible to the public for the first time.
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) publishes the atlas, and also has the final say on the contents, including the addition of "new" clouds and cloud features.
This time around 12 new terms have been added. The best known of these is asperitas, meaning rough-like in Latin, as the clouds can look like the tossing of the waves at sea when viewed from below.
Got a great picture of clouds or other weather phenomenon you'd like to share? Sign up to be a BBC Weather Watcher.
These clouds were first recorded over Iowa in the US in 2006, but soon a torrent of similar images from around the world began to pour in to the Cloud Appreciation Society, a citizen science body.
They began to lobby the WMO for official recognition of the cloud type. But the fact that it has now been officially included came as something of a surprise.
"Back in 2008, I thought the chances of this becoming official were really minimal," said Gavin Pretor-Pinney, president of the society.
"At first the WMO were saying they had no plans to do a new edition, but over time I think they began to realise there is an interest among the public in clouds and there is a need for that interest to be an informed one, there's a need for this authoritative work."
Asperitas becomes the first addition of a new recognisable term since 1953. In addition several other supplementary features of clouds have also been added including cavum, cauda (known as a tail cloud), fluctus and murus (known as a wall cloud).
In terms of the way the WMO classifies clouds, they have also added one new "species" - the volutus, or roll-cloud, a low horizontal tube-shaped cloud mass that appears to roll about a horizontal axis.
A key element in the evolution of the atlas has been the impact of technology. People all over the world are able to capture and exchange images on their smart phones of fleeting cloud formations.
"People don't have to be an official weather observer, they don't have to be schooled in the finer points of the International Cloud Atlas, they just go 'that's amazing' and take a picture and send it to us, and being in the centre of that network we can spot a pattern," said Gavin Pretor-Pinney.
The atlas also includes a recognition of the processes that can lead to cloud formation, so the clouds that arise from wildfires are now classified as flammagenitus.
Similarly patches of cloud that are formed over forests and over waterfalls are classified, but also one of the most widely seen features in the sky, contrails formed from the exhausts of airplanes, are given greater recognition.
"In the modern day you will look up to the sky and see clouds made by airplanes. Once they are made they can linger for days," said BBC meteorologist John Hammond.
"It's one example of how crucial knowledge of cloud physics is - it's not just an aesthetic, our knowledge of clouds is still fairly limited."
The new atlas also recognises some weather features that not everyone might agree can be seen as clouds. These include rainbows, halos, snow devils and hailstones.
"There is a blurred edge between what is a cloud and what is a sheet of hail falling from the sky," said John Hammond.
"There are grey areas around the edge of this. All types of optical effects can be defined as clouds, be they halos or snow devils or rainbows, but I'm a little bit old-fashioned and I struggle with the inclusion of rainbows as clouds."
Hammond believes that there will be many new entries in the future as long as the public remains engaged in the subject and he believes the opening up of the atlas via a web portal is a very good thing towards that end.
Gavin Pretor-Pinney from the Cloud Appreciation Society agrees that opening up the atlas is a huge positive.
"The value of the atlas is that it draws our attention to the sky and by learning the name of the formations, that is the way we pay attention to and value what we see around us.
"By giving a language to the forms of our atmosphere we are helping people to value our atmosphere and to pay attention our impact on it."
Follow Matt on Twitter and on Facebook. | Twelve "new" types of cloud - including the rare, wave-like asperitas cloud - have been recognised for the first time by the International Cloud Atlas. | 39351843 |
Clodagh Hartley is accused of paying Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) official Jonathan Hall around £17,000 for tip-offs over three years.
One involved a tip that allowed the paper to run a story on Alistair Darling's Budget in 2010 before he delivered it, prosecutors claimed.
Miss Hartley denies all charges.
Prosecutor Zoe Johnson QC said: "As you would expect, the details of the Budget are a closely-guarded secret.
"You would expect the details would be announced to Parliament and not broadcast in advance in the newspapers and certainly not for money, for personal gain."
She said a financial trail revealed Mr Hall was paid £750 for the story at the request of Miss Hartley.
Prosecutors said Mr Hall gave Miss Hartley, the Sun's Whitehall editor, information that led to the double-page story that was printed before Mr Darling stood to deliver the Budget.
Prosecutors also said Mr Hall was paid £500 for another story about celebrities being paid to publicise a government website.
The court was told more than £4,000 was paid to Mr Hall by News International between April 2008 and May 2010.
More than £13,000 was also transferred to his girlfriend Marta Bukarewicz's account between June 2010 and July 2011 after Miss Hartley suggested it would "cover his tracks", the court heard.
Ms Bukarewicz kept £845 for her role and transferred the rest to Mr Hall, the court was told.
The jury was told Mr Hall accepts he supplied Miss Hartley with stories for which he was paid.
The prosecutor also told jurors: "This is not a trial involving whistle-blowing in a noble cause.
"It is a case in which Mr Hall, the HMRC press officer, was motivated by greed and Miss Hartley, the journalist, was motivated by acquiring the next big scoop or exclusive.
"Many of you will have sympathy for journalists who expose mismanagement and inefficiency in government departments but that is not what this case is about."
Ms Bukarewicz and Miss Hartley both deny conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. | A journalist at the Sun newspaper paid a government press officer £750 to leak secrets from the Budget, a jury at the Old Bailey has been told. | 29838307 |
Ken Gregory, 65, from Peterborough, suffered first and second degree burns to 14% of his body in April last year, leaving him scarred for life.
Former special constable Teresa Gilbertson, of Hayes, west London, was found guilty of grievous bodily harm.
The 60-year-old showed "no remorse", Peterborough Crown Court heard.
Mr Gregory met Gilbertson seven years ago after the death of his first wife of 30 years, Maureen.
On the day of the attack, Mr Gregory planned to visit his first wife's grave as it was her birthday, but instead he and Gilbertson argued and agreed to divorce.
She went to make a cup of tea but returned with a jug of boiling water which she poured over his head from behind.
Prosecutor Thomas Brown told the court the attack had been a "very deliberate attempt to boil her husband".
Her anger was sparked by underlying financial difficulties, the court heard.
Gilbertson had been demanding money for doing housework and to buy cars.
Mitigating, Roger Harrison said Gilbertson had been provoked by Mr Gregory suggesting they divorce.
She maintained the scalding water incident had been an accident.
During sentencing Judge Peter Murphy described it as a "very sad case" but said he saw "no trace of remorse" in her.
She was also handed a seven-year restraining order preventing her approaching Mr Gregory.
The couple are in the process of getting divorced.
Earlier this month, Mr Gregory spoke about the incident and agreed to show his scars to encourage other male victims of domestic violence to come forward. | A woman who tried to "boil her husband" by pouring scalding water over his head moments after they agreed to divorce has been jailed for four years. | 32038665 |
The Prison Officers' Association (POA) said the move comes after recent assaults on staff, and said the jail was "flooded with drugs, mobile phones and weapons".
A recent inspection report sparked claims of "Dickensian squalor".
The Prison Service said all inmates would remain in their cells and there was "no danger to the wider public".
Mike Rolfe, of the Prison Officers' Association (POA), said about 50 staff were outside the prison.
Wormwood Scrubs, located in Hammersmith and Fulham, was built between 1875 and 1891. It is a Category B prison and holds around 1,200 men. | Staff at Wormwood Scrubs prison have walked out in a row over health and safety. | 36225714 |
It happened on the Gortagammon Road at Tullyhogue, near Cookstown on Saturday between midnight and 01:00 BST.
A pedestrian and a vehicle were involved.
Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the crash to contact them. | One person has died in a road crash in County Tyrone. | 32264310 |
Photos of the banner - which displayed the word "murderers" and the date of the tragedy - were put on Facebook by Jay Cornforth and Ainsley Meanock.
It was hung over a bridge in Salford so Liverpool fans travelling to Old Trafford on 17 March would see it.
The two men were ordered to carry out 135 hours of unpaid work.
Cornforth, 20, of Ashton Old Road in Manchester, and Meanock, 24, of Millbank Close in Oldham, both admitted a crime under the Communications Act 2003 of sending by public communication network a message that was "grossly offensive".
Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court heard there was no evidence Cornforth or father-of-one Meanock had made or displayed the banner, which was attached to the bridge above the M602 ahead of the first leg of last season's Europa League clash.
Cornforth appeared in court on Friday while Meanock, who has 12 previous convictions including for theft, burglary and GBH, was sentenced last week.
District Judge John Temperley told Meanock: "If there was evidence that you had put up this banner yourself, then I would undoubtedly be sentencing you to custody."
Meanock's solicitor Charlotte Johnson said: "He fully admits that what he did was a completely stupid act. He is embarrassed and full of remorse."
The men were both ordered to pay £300 costs and a £60 victim surcharge. | Two Manchester United fans have been given community service orders over an "obscene" Hillsborough banner unfurled ahead of a game with Liverpool. | 37156360 |
A raft of NHS England targets missed again, including waiting times for operations and the A&E four-hour benchmark, led one senior health official to argue that the system was "unsustainable" without enough resources to deliver what the public expected.
New analysis shows that health spending in the UK expressed as a share of national income (GDP) is just above the average for the European Union.
So does that mean the UK is spending enough on the NHS? Or is there still a need for higher funding?
Comparisons between UK healthcare spending and other leading economies in the past have been difficult because of varying definitions.
Some countries include elements of what could be considered social care in their published health data. But these differences have been ironed out by the international economic organisation, the OECD.
Using the data compiled by the OECD, the Nuffield Trust think-tank has compiled a European league table for health spending.
It shows that the UK spent 9.8% of GDP on healthcare (including both the NHS and private health) in 2014. This was slightly above the average of 9.7% for the EU 15 (the member states before the new joiners in 2004).
On the face of it, this paints a rosier picture of UK health spending. Previous estimates suggested it was below the European average and that this was one of the main causes of the problems facing the NHS.
The league table has the UK in the middle of the European pack, ahead of countries like Finland, Spain and Italy.
But being mid-table by definition means not being one of the leaders of the pack. The UK figure is below that of three comparable economies - France, Sweden and Germany - which each spend 11.1% of national income on health.
If their political and administrative leaders have all settled on the same level of spending, it is tempting to think there is a case to be made for that share of the cake to be allocated to the nation's health.
The difference between 9.8% and 11.1% may not sound a lot, but in cash terms it amounts to a tidy sum. Should the UK, through its four governments, decide to move up to that higher figure, it would add about £24bn a year to health spending.
That would mean at least a 4p in the pound increase in income tax, or significant alternative tax-raising or cost-saving measures in other departments.
Spending per head of population is another useful gauge.
On this basis, Germany and Switzerland are ahead of France with each spending the equivalent of about £3,700 per person, compared with an approximate £2,850 in the UK.
None of this proves that money is the answer. The case for greater efficiency in the NHS has been consistently made, with its advocates arguing that savings can be made in some areas and reallocated to front line care.
Other leading economies in Europe have insurance-based health systems with a different culture to the NHS. Arguably they are less efficient than the NHS, which topped a recent international health league table compiled by the Commonwealth Fund think-tank.
The authors of the analysis, written as an article for the British Medical Journal, were John Appleby of Nuffield Trust and Ben Gershlick of the Health Foundation. They argue that deciding what to invest is a complex process: "How much we spend on health is a political choice - informed by the preferences of the population and what we can achieve with different levels of spending, determined by the efficiency of the system."
Demands for money for the NHS will continue as winter approaches and the state of the health service rises up the political agenda. Thanks to the OECD and Nuffield, there is now some data to inform that debate. | The total waiting list for routine surgery in England rising above four million patients for the first time in a decade has focused minds again on whether more money should be invested in the NHS. | 40903924 |
Many experienced medical staff have been critical of the treatment of whistleblowers at ARI.
A letter to the minister claimed there was evidence of NHS Grampian targeting other staff.
The health board said it would not discuss matters involving individual members of staff.
Ms Robinson said: "The process in this case is underway and needs to be allowed to conclude without interference. It would be completely inappropriate for myself or any politician to become involved.
"Finally, you note there have been significant changes within the senior leadership at NHS Grampian and I welcome your view on the substance, experience and integrity of the Board's new Chairman and Chief Executive.
"I can assure you that I am satisfied the Senior Leadership of the Board has demonstrated these values in the management of the matters you raise."
A Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) review released in December warned that patient care at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary faced a "serious impact" if problems were not "urgently addressed".
It identified concerns about leadership and culture which were impacting on the quality of care, and made 13 recommendations for improvements
The review was one of three critical reports into health care in the north east of Scotland published on the same day.
A whistleblower subsequently told BBC Scotland that staff at Aberdeen Royal were being "stretched almost to breaking point".
NHS Grampian's refusal to publish in full a report In March into general surgery at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary was branded a "failure of transparency" by MSP Lewis Macdonald.
BBC Scotland was given a heavily redacted version following a Freedom of Information request.
A statement issued by NHS Grampian said: "NHS Grampian does not comment on specific circumstances surrounding the employment status of any member of staff. Our processes are full and robust and any decision about an individual's employment would never be taken lightly and only reached after a thorough analysis of the circumstances in each individual case.
It added: "Using locum doctors ensures that we can continue to provide a service to our patients and their use is driven by clinical imperative rather than by cost." | Health Secretary Shona Robison has rejected a new call for a judicial inquiry into the suspension of two surgeons at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. | 33203371 |
How does he convince businesses that he is on their side while at the same time hitting them up for more money to fund his deficit reduction plans?
Business is feeling pretty duffed up by the chancellor after increases to the national living wage and the new apprenticeship levy.
Then there's the raid on insurance companies and the time and expense of pension auto-enrolment.
You can perhaps understand why business lobbies are saying "enough, already".
He is unlikely to leave them alone. Pressure to hit his budget surplus holy grail by the end of the parliament while not adjusting the big three - income tax, national insurance and VAT - will see him forced to come back for another bite at business.
He will be loathe to raise headline rates so he needs to broaden the base - the amount available to be taxed.
So there may be limits on how much of the interest companies are paying on debt can be set against profits.
This is a key part of international attempts to avoid tax by stuffing UK companies full of debt - often borrowed from their own subsidiaries in lower tax jurisdictions.
However, lots of infrastructure projects (one of his favourite areas) rely on lots of debt financing so he'll have to proceed with care.
He's abandoned major reform of pension taxes but there are other things he could do.
The contributions employers make to pensions don't attract National Insurance - but it's a form of pay and maybe they should?
Charging full whack would raise nearly £15bn (and business would scream blue murder) but maybe a portion of it could be targeted and maybe at higher earners.
It would raise serious money for the chancellor but would be very unpopular with employers.
Expect more help for the North Sea. This is a no brainer because currently he is not making any tax out of oil and gas there as the companies are making losses and laying off thousands of highly paid (and taxed) staff.
Big tax cuts could slow that process.
If there is one big beef that businesses have it is rates.
For many larger companies this has overtaken corporation tax as a cost.
We will get a long promised review on rates and business will want promises of reform.
However, the chancellor has already said any reform will be fiscally neutral - in other words - the same total amount will be paid so the capacity for wowing businesses is small.
He could decide to change the rate at which rates go up from the hardly used Retail Prices Index currently at 1.3% to the more commonly used and usually lower Consumer Prices Index - currently at 0.3%.
But business rates produce £25bn a year and he'll be reluctant to put this golden goose on a diet.
One phrase you are guaranteed to hear is "Business Tax Roadmap".
He wants to make the UK competitive and corporation tax is already due to fall from 20% to 18% by the end of the parliament.
By presenting a clear path of where various taxes, reliefs and business rates are headed he hopes to widen the tax base while giving business a bit of confidence they won't be ambushed by surprise moves down the line.
He'll hope that his roadmap will help offset the uncertainty facing businesses as we approach the EU referendum.
The rather large elephant which will be sitting in the room with him tomorrow. | George Osborne has a tricky conundrum on his hands. | 35817386 |
The election of the first African-American US president led many Africans to believe that the continent might gain more prominence in US foreign policy.
While some high expectations remain unfulfilled, Mr Obama's eight years in office initiated a pivot to US-Africa policy, a little further away from aid and closer towards business.
An art studio in Kenya's capital, Nairobi offers a glimpse of the Obamamania that swept across Africa when the "son of the soil" became president.
Yegonizer, an artist, says his portraits of Mr Obama have sold well because "generally he's loved by many people, so quite a number of people who walk in are interested in the paintings".
He is now trying to move on to the President-elect Donald Trump, but with little success so far.
After his win in 2008, Mr Obama's portrait was painted on walls, buses and T-shirts across Africa. Restaurants, schools and even children were named after him.
During his two terms he went to seven countries in the four visits he made to Africa - more than any other US president.
He also became the first sitting American president to visit Kenya and Ethiopia.
His administration increased military support to Somalia, Cameroon and Chad to fight al-Shabab and Boko Haram respectively, and established military outposts in more than 10 African countries.
But it is America's intervention in Libya that attracted the most attention - and criticism, for leaving the country deeply unstable.
Mr Obama himself said that the aftermath of intervention in Libya was his "biggest foreign policy regret".
In a town hall meeting in 2016 he confessed: "I did a little too much counting on other countries to then stabilise and help support government formation, and now it's kind of a mess."
"Trade not aid" was the cornerstone of US policy for Africa under Mr Obama, a point he emphasised in an interview with the BBC in 2015 saying:
"People are not interested in just being patrons or being patronised and being given aid - they're interested in building capacity".
Perhaps in keeping with this sentiment, the $8bn (£6bn) of aid that the US spent in sub-Saharan Africa in 2015 is relatively small compared to other countries.
Afghanistan ($5.5 billion) and Israel ($3.1 billion) together received more aid from America than the 42 African countries south of the Sahara.
In 2013 President Obama launched the Power Africa initiative, to try to double access to electricity across sub-Saharan Africa using renewable sources.
The target is to add 30,000 megawatts by 2030. The project has only generated 2,000 megawatts so far, but energy businesses operating in Africa say the programme has boosted investor confidence.
Its future under a new administration is in some doubt.
In an apparent reference to the project, incoming President Trump tweeted his disapproval, saying: "Every penny of the $7 billion going to Africa as per Obama will be stolen — corruption is rampant!"
One of Mr Obama's biggest commitments on the continent was to its future leaders.
In 2010, he launched the Young African Leaders Initiative (Yali) to help youths on the continent prepare for leadership positions by providing training, networking, and skills building opportunities.
More than 250,000 people have since joined the network.
At a Yali programme graduation ceremony in Nairobi, the mood is optimistic that even as Mr Obama leaves office, his legacy will live on.
One of the graduates, Jerono Odhiambo says: "I feel like we'll be saying thanks to Obama even after he's left because he provided us with this network, and now he's telling us to do what he did - and we're inspired by that."
Farhan Yusuf, a programme fellow from Tanzania adds: "Yali has shown a lot of impact in terms of the stories that are being shared, and the networks that are being generated - the message here, the impact here is much bigger than any individual".
Kenyan entrepreneur Eric Muthomi is also a beneficiary of the US president's leadership initiative.
He says the training he got at a US college thanks to Yali has had a tremendous impact on his business, which manufactures nutritious flours.
"We have raised over $100,000 purely from the support of Yali, and we've been able to grow the business close to 10 times since I joined Yali in 2014."
Entrepreneurship, trade and investment were central to Mr Obama's expansion of US-Africa policy beyond foreign assistance and counter-terrorism.
However, much of the impact of his long-term initiatives will be subject to the policy orientation of the Trump administration.
The substance of Mr Obama's presidency may not have been what many in Africa had hoped for, but its symbolism remains strong.
In assessing his relationship with the continent as the president of the United States, the instruction he offered in Ghana in 2009 should be well considered - that "we must start from the simple premise that Africa's future is up to Africans." | As Barack Obama steps down as US president, the BBC's Nancy Kacungira looks back at his legacy in Africa. | 38649362 |
Last season's play-off semi-finalists, who opened the new campaign with a 2-1 triumph over Barrow, needed just three minutes to take the lead at Meadow Park when Fejiri Okenabirhie took advantage of a defensive mistake to beat home goalkeeper Grant Smith.
The Wood were only behind for five minutes, though, as Bruno Andrade drew them level from the penalty spot after the Portuguese himself had been brought down in the area.
In a frenetic start, Dagenham were back in front in the 18th minute when Corey Whitely curled a brilliant 25-yard free-kick into the top corner.
And that proved to be the winning goal as the visitors held on during a late Boreham Wood onslaught, which included the unlucky Andrade seeing a stoppage-time piledriver smash back off the crossbar.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Match ends, Boreham Wood 1, Dagenham and Redbridge 2.
Second Half ends, Boreham Wood 1, Dagenham and Redbridge 2.
Substitution, Dagenham and Redbridge. Jake Howells replaces Fejiri Okenabirhie.
Substitution, Boreham Wood. Bradley Sach replaces Paul Benson.
Substitution, Boreham Wood. Shaun Jeffers replaces Kieran Murtagh.
Substitution, Dagenham and Redbridge. Matt Robinson replaces Michael Cheek.
Substitution, Dagenham and Redbridge. Oliver Hawkins replaces Morgan Ferrier.
Second Half begins Boreham Wood 1, Dagenham and Redbridge 2.
First Half ends, Boreham Wood 1, Dagenham and Redbridge 2.
Jamie Turley (Boreham Wood) is shown the yellow card.
Goal! Boreham Wood 1, Dagenham and Redbridge 2. Corey Whitely (Dagenham and Redbridge).
Goal! Boreham Wood 1, Dagenham and Redbridge 1. Bruno Andrade (Boreham Wood) converts the penalty with a.
Kevin Lokko (Dagenham and Redbridge) is shown the yellow card.
Goal! Boreham Wood 0, Dagenham and Redbridge 1. Fejiri Okenabirhie (Dagenham and Redbridge).
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up. | Dagenham & Redbridge made it two wins from two at the start of the season with a 2-1 victory at Boreham Wood. | 40786076 |
The Island Line between Ryde and Shanklin, which can only run using old tube trains, could be dug up to be replaced with the "light rail" service.
With passenger numbers falling and annual £3.5m losses, trams would be more "efficient" and "low cost".
The report comes after the government announced plans to remove the service from the next regional train franchise.
The track and entire 1938 train stock on the Island Line needs replacing, but only London Underground trains can run on the line because of the height of Ryde tunnel.
The next second-hand tube trains small enough to fit through the tunnel will not be available for another decade.
The service, which costs an annual £4.5m to run for a £1m return, depends on subsidies from other profitable parts of the rail network.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said bidders for the next South Western rail franchise would be asked to turn the line into a self-sustaining business.
Author of the independent report, Christopher Garnet, a rail expert who lives on the island, was asked by the Isle of Wight Council to come up with cost-effective ways to keep the service running.
He said: "Trams are cheaper to operate than trains, and it might well be a low cost solution going forward."
He said overhead power wires, with simplified signalling, would cost no more than refurbishing the route to mainline standards.
Council leader Jonathan Bacon said the tram option would "significantly reduce costs but still make for an efficient and quick service that provides the link that we need".
The report's findings will be discussed by councillors this month.
The line runs 8.5 miles (13.7km) from Shanklin to Ryde Pier Head, where it connects with passenger ferries to Portsmouth Harbour.
Paul Clifton - BBC South transport correspondent
The tube trains are almost 80-years-old - twice the age of any other rolling stock in daily use. Spare parts are hard to come by, and these museum pieces really cannot rattle on much longer.
The track is rough: the trains bounce around. It wouldn't be acceptable anywhere else. For decades the policy here has been to patch and mend.
Christopher Garnett believes replacing ancient trains with second-hand trams is financially viable.
Overhead power lines would be needed, and fitting them in Ryde tunnel would be a tight squeeze. But trams would be much cheaper to run. So if the line has to be refurbished anyway, doing it for trams instead of trains makes sense. | Trams could be the answer to saving a dilapidated Isle of Wight rail line, a council-commissioned report has stated. | 35495934 |
Mr Barby, 69, from Rugby, was best known for appearances on BBC shows like Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip. He died in hospital on Wednesday.
Auctioneer Charles Hanson called him a "great friend" and said "no other expert... could rival his great human touch".
"He built up the great passion the public had for these programmes."
Mr Hanson, a former television colleague of Mr Barby, added: "More importantly he was a man of the people.
"Anybody could speak to him and he had time for so many members of the public to share their stories, memories, nostalgia and passion for old things."
Mr Barby first became interested in antiques as a boy growing up in Rugby.
He qualified aged 21 and began working for a local firm.
After a brief stint in London, Mr Barby returned to Warwickshire in 1978 to work at a Leamington auction house where he would eventually become a partner in the business.
He also founded a valuation company, David J Barby and Associates, in Rugby.
Mr Barby appeared in the first episode of Flog It in 2002.
A statement from the programme's team
read: "His sense of fun, gentle personality and great knowledge of and passion for antiques, endeared him to the hundreds of people he worked with and millions of viewers at home.
"David was an ambassador for antiques TV and loved every minute spent making the many, many episodes of Bargain Hunt, Flog It, Antiques Road Trip and more.
"We all remember David with great fondness, and send our condolences to his family and many friends in the antique trade and beyond." | Warwickshire-based television antiques expert David Barby has died following a short illness. | 19014927 |
The think tank said the project was "exceedingly poor value for money".
But the claims were rejected by Transport Minister Keith Brown, who insisted the line would provide a major economic boost to the Borders.
The railway link between Edinburgh and Tweedbank in the Borders is due to be completed by 2015 and will cost £294m to construct.
The IEA's criticism is focused on the benefit cost ratio (BCR) for the project contained in Transport Scotland's own business case.
The figure is 0.5, which means that for every pound of taxpayers' money invested in the scheme, there will be a return of only 50p.
Dr Richard Wellings of the IEA told BBC Scotland: "Even looking at the official figures, this is just about the worst value project you can find.
"The whole project's insane. The average strategic road scheme has a benefit cost ratio of around five, which is ten times higher than the Borders railway, so this is a gross misallocation of resources, particularly when there are still huge problems on the road network in Scotland."
The transport minister, Keith Brown, described the IEA as a "right-wing think tank", arguing the benefits to the wider economy generated by investing in public transport would outweigh the costs.
He said: "I think the clue is in the extreme language which is being used.
"In my view (the IEA) tend to put a price on everything, but don't understand the value of these things. We think there are far wider benefits and values to this project.
"Although the BCR is important, and we have to have regards to the return on investment, I think we also have to understand the wider benefits which we have."
There is already some evidence of an upturn in the property market along the route of the new railway, with buy-to-let investors showing interest in the type of homes which would appeal to commuters travelling to Edinburgh for work.
Carolyn Bowick of the property company, Orchard and Shipman, said: "Even with the railway a couple of years from completion, we're already having inquiries from landlords who're looking for portfolio investments in the Borders.
"There's a really strong demand because of the opportunities here to buy maybe 10, 12 or 15 properties and see an excellent return on your investment."
Transport experts have urged caution on claims that schemes like the Borders railway do provide a wider economic boost than the official calculations suggest.
Prof Tom Rye of Lund University in Sweden, who has given evidence to the Scottish Parliament on the subject, said: "It is immensely difficult to show empirically that investment in transport schemes leads to economic growth overall.
"It may redistribute growth towards certain areas by changing patterns of accessibility, but that depends on whether poor accessibility is the biggest constraint on economic growth in the area.
"Since the new railway will not radically improve the accessibility of the Borders, except to central Edinburgh perhaps, but not to other major employment locations such as West Lothian and West Edinburgh, then it is difficult to see how it will improve the Borders economy, even if accessibility is a major constraint on the area's economic growth."
But rail industry commentators have praised the Scottish government's transport policies, arguing it is important for politicians to look beyond benefit cost ratio calculations.
Nigel Harris, the managing editor of Rail magazine, said: "Wherever you get decisions made closer to the people, you get better railways and better transport.
"In Scotland you have a fantastic record on being bold on railway re-openings. You've built it and they have come.
"Scotland has been bold in the past and it should continue being so."
The Campaign for Borders Rail said it was "extremely sceptical of this grossly pessimistic forecast".
Chairman Simon Walton said: "I cannot think of any region or community that has failed to benefit from a rail project, and I cannot think of a rail project that has not gone on to greatly exceed expectations of patronage.
"The railway has overwhelming support in the Borders - business and community groups already express great anticipation." | The decision to build the new Borders railway has been described as "insane" by the Institute of Economic Affairs. | 25035749 |
Witold Sobkow was speaking during a two-day visit to Northern Ireland, during which he will meet the first and deputy first ministers.
Nearly 150 crimes were recorded against the Polish community in a 12-month period up to March 2015.
That is an increase of 39 on the previous year.
In April, three attacks were recorded in one weekend in an area of north Belfast.
Mr Sobkow said between 20,000 and 30,000 Poles had settled in Northern Ireland.
He called for a more co-ordinated response to the attacks and more integration for the Polish community.
"In general they feel at home, they find Northern Ireland an hospitable place. From time to time we have the attacks on the representatives of the communities," he said.
"This is bad for the community, but it is also bad for Northern Ireland because it creates the wrong image of the community that is, in general, hospitable.
"But I'm very grateful for the acts of solidarity of people who live here, for all the efforts of the city council and the executive, of the police.
"We hope the perpetrators of those attacks will be detained." | The Polish ambassador has called for action to be taken on hate crime in Northern Ireland, following an upsurge in attacks. | 32968724 |
The bans were imposed on some French resorts as a measure to protect public order, but one French court has already suspended one, saying it "breached fundamental freedoms".
Many of the most shared cartoons protest not only the ban but the challenges and criticism women across the world face over their choice of clothing.
An anonymous French artist drew a woman half clothed and half topless with notations showing the type of comments women can face. The original drawing was shared almost 10,000 times before another artist translated it into English.
Artist Khalid Cherradi said his work showed how the clash between eastern and western values tends to focus on how women dress.
Illustrator Nawak said the ban amounted to "hypocrisy on the beach". Two police officers are shown asking a nun dressed in a habit: "We are looking for ostentatious religious symbols - have you seen a burkini or a Muslim woman wearing a head scarf?" His cartoon was shared more than 12,000 times on Facebook but was also criticised by those who support the ban.
Another artist Maarten Wolterink, labelled this picture: "We're here to help you."
Artist Khalid Albaih tweeted this image, asking "Laws - to cover or uncover?"
The ban has ignited discussion across the world. Artist Amy Clancy in the UK added her views with the simple phrase "C'est ridicule!" | Artists in France have been protesting against the French burkini ban by drawing cartoons that have been shared widely on social media. | 37197701 |
Pawel Chwalinski, 35, died on Park View Road on 22 November after suffering blunt force trauma to the head and neck, according to post-mortem tests.
Kamil Czarnomski, 23, also from Poland, but of no fixed address, has been charged with murder and is due before Barkingside Magistrates' Court later.
Three men arrested in relation to the death have accepted cautions for theft.
Scotland Yard said a 28-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of murder, remains on bail. | A man has been charged with murder following the death of a Polish national in north London. | 34930858 |
She was speaking on a visit to Northern Ireland to campaign for a remain vote in Thursday's EU referendum.
She acknowledged that the British-Irish Common Travel Area pre-dated the EU.
But she said that if the UK pulled out of the EU, this would lead to tariffs requiring some form of controls.
Mrs May said peace in Northern Ireland is important and it would continue, whatever the result of Thursday's referendum.
However, she said there were good security reasons for remaining inside the EU, such as the access to European arrest warrants.
She had previously argued that the UK should withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, which is not connected to the EU but a treaty linked to the separate Council of Europe.
Mrs May stood by her comments but made the point that the Human Rights Convention is not what people are being called on to vote about on Thursday. | Home Secretary Theresa May has said it is "inconceivable" that there will not be any changes on border arrangements with the Republic of Ireland, if the UK pulls out of the European Union. | 36587809 |
The painting is to feature in the Dali/Duchamp exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.
It has been unframed to allow for inspection before being packed.
Henry Raeburn's Boy and Rabbit will go on show at Kelvingrove as part of a reciprocal loan agreement.
Cllr David McDonald said Christ of St John of the Cross would be one of the main attractions of the Dali/Duchamp exhibition, which opens on 7 October.
"Glasgow is proud of its extensive art collection, considered by many to be amongst the finest in Europe.
"By working with respected institutions such as the Royal Academy of Arts we continue to strengthen our reputation and are able to bring outstanding works of art, such as Raeburn's Boy and Rabbit, to Kelvingrove this autumn."
The Dali/Duchamp exhibition aims to throw light on the relationship between the father of conceptual art, Marcel Duchamp, and Surrealist Salvador Dali.
The exhibition, which will bring together more than 60 works, is to travel to The Dali Museum in St Petersburg, Florida, from February to May 2018.
Christ of St John of the Cross will return to the Kelvingrove in summer 2018 where it is expected to be on display for more than a year, before going on loan again.
It is due to go to Auckland Castle, County Durham, in autumn 2019.
The painting, which was bought by the City of Glasgow for £8,200 in 1952, will then return to Kelvingrove in spring 2020.
An image of the painting will remain in the space at Kelvingrove.
Boy and Rabbit will hang in the portrait section of the Looking at Art gallery in Kelvingrove from September until May 2018.
The painting is of the artist's grandchild, Henry Raeburn Inglis, with his pet rabbit.
The boy was deaf and the work is about the senses, particularly the importance of touch in the relationship between the child and his pet. | One of Scotland's most famous paintings - Salvador Dali's Christ of St John of the Cross, which usually hangs in Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery, is being prepared to go on loan. | 40849523 |
The year also saw a big recovery in exports into the European Union, up by more than a third on 2015.
But there was a warning about the impact on jobs if tariffs are introduced, and on the wider industry if migrant workers are cut back.
Sector leaders are in Brussels for the world's biggest fish industry expo.
The effort is seen as an important one for promoting Scotland's biggest food export, which was, in 2014, the biggest UK food export, above confectionery.
Much higher prices, due to a shortfall in supply, meant a sharp increase in profits for producers during the last year.
The new figures are from HM Revenue and Customs. They show that the tonnage of exported salmon fell by more than a quarter, from 100,000 tonnes in 2014 to 83,400 tonnes in 2015. And last year, it fell by 10%, to 74,600 tonnes.
The export value fell from £494m in 2014, to £386m. It then rose to £451m in 2016.
The decline is largely due to a fall in the supply of fish, and a reduced average size.
Much of this is explained by sea lice - what the industry calls "biological challenges".
The biggest producer, Marine Harvest, published figures recently showing that 69% of its farms last year breached levels when an outbreak of the parasite has to be notified. That was far higher than any other producing nation.
One response is to harvest fish quickly from an infected cage, long before they reach their optimum size. Over 7kg, the Atlantic salmon has a premium price in the US and Far East markets.
The industry has been strongly criticised by those who oppose intensive salmon farming, saying the sea lice problem has damaged eco-systems in sea lochs.
The industry body, the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO), claims that recent evidence suggests that the problem may now be reducing.
It expects an increase of 15,000 to 20,000 tonnes in production this year. If that happens, it could make 2017 a record export year.
Exports tend to soak up extra supply contracts after longer-term UK contracts have been fulfilled. Around 52% of salmon farmed in Scotland is consumed in the UK.
Exports of Scottish farmed salmon into the European Union was up 37% to £204m-worth last year. France is the biggest single EU market.
It fell the previous year because of the collapse in 2015 of the Norwegian krone, which made imports from Norway cheaper. Last year, the weakening of sterling helped with exports from Scotland.
Scott Landsburgh, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers Association, said: "We sell every fish we produce. There's never a shortage of demand. The price may not be as strong in 2016, but it will still be very strong this year. We hope we can get back to 90,000 tonnes of export.
"New production sites are being added, and fish health performance looks like it's turning the corner."
However, the industry warned of the impact of losing migrant workers who do much of the processing of salmon and other food.
If Scotland has to trade with the rest of the European Union on the same basis as Norway, that would mean a 2% tariff on exports of fresh fish and 13% on processed fish, including smoked salmon.
The industry chief said there would be even more of a concern about future delays due to paperwork at European borders, following Britain's exit from the EU. | Exports of farmed salmon from Scotland rose 17% by value last year, but there was another steep drop in the volume of fish sold overseas. | 39699830 |
Latics defender Maynor Figueroa was sent off in the 12th minute after he brought down Papiss Cisse in the box.
Ba smashed home the penalty and added a second eight minutes later when he pounced on an Ali Al-Habsi spill.
Wigan tried to fight their way back into the game but Gael Bigirimana wrapped up the win with a spectacular third in the 71st minute.
Roberto Martinez's side have now lost four of their last five games and are just two points above the relegation zone.
The visitors had started the game brightly and tried to put a nervy Newcastle under pressure with a couple of early snapshots, although they failed to trouble home keeper Tim Krul.
But home anxieties were eased in the 12th minute when Cisse was forced off the ball by Figueroa as he darted onto a clever pass from strike partner Ba, and referee Mike Jones immediately pointed to the spot before producing a red card.
Ba tucked the penalty beyond Al-Habsi and, before 10-man Wigan had properly reorganised, he then added a second.
Full-back Davide Santon cut inside and hit a fierce 25-yard strike, which Al-Habsi could only parry straight to the feet of Ba, who tapped the ball into the empty net.
Roberto Martinez reacted by replacing attacking midfielder Jordi Gomez with James McArthur in an attempt to stem the home attacks.
And the change worked as his side's slick passing had Newcastle on the back foot for long periods, despite their one-man advantage.
But the Latics still failed to seriously threaten the Newcastle goal, Al-Habsi remaining the busier keeper.
He reacted well to keep out Marveaux's 52nd-minute strike and a low effort from Bigirimana but he had no chance when the latter hit a brilliant third - his first ever goal in professional football.
The former Coventry midfielder cut inside to curl a dipping left-foot shot past inside the far post.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Ba missed the chance to complete his hat-trick, slicing his shot from close range, before limping out of the game late - the only negative on a night of huge relief for Newcastle manager Alan Pardew.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew: "It's been difficult for the players and staff and it was nice to get a break tonight, and it was a break - we got one tonight.
"I think it was a penalty. When the defender is coming across the striker and he's got a goal chance the referee has got a tough decision. I think it was a penalty and that gave us a great start to the game."
"Demba loves it here. It's a football city, we've tried to take the clause [£7.5m get-out in his contract] out but we haven't been successful with that and that is difficult for us and Demba."
Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.
Arouna Kone produces a right-footed shot from close range which goes wide of the left-hand post.
Long range effort by Sammy Ameobi goes wide right of the target.
Foul by James McArthur on Sammy Ameobi, free kick awarded. Vurnon Anita takes the free kick.
Centre by Ronnie Stam, save by Tim Krul.
Centre by Ronnie Stam, save by Tim Krul.
Shane Ferguson produces a cross, Shot by Papiss Cisse from 12 yards. Save by Ali Al Habsi.
Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Sylvain Marveaux from the right by-line, clearance made by James McArthur.
The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Adrian Lopez.
Danny Simpson challenges Callum McManaman unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jean Beausejour takes the free kick.
James McCarthy fouled by Sylvain Marveaux, the ref awards a free kick. David Jones takes the free kick.
Shane Ferguson delivers the ball, Ali Al Habsi makes a save.
Vurnon Anita fouled by James McCarthy, the ref awards a free kick. Vurnon Anita takes the indirect free kick.
Indirect free kick taken by James McArthur.
Booking Sammy Ameobi receives a caution.
Free kick awarded for a foul by Sammy Ameobi on Ronnie Stam.
Sammy Ameobi fouled by Ronnie Stam, the ref awards a free kick. Vurnon Anita takes the free kick.
Substitution Sammy Ameobi replaces Jonas Gutierrez.
The ball is sent over by Ronnie Stam, Tim Krul makes a save.
Shot from 18 yards from Arouna Kone. Blocked by Mike Williamson.
The assist for the goal came from Sylvain Marveaux.
Goal! - Gael Bigirimana - Newcastle 3 - 0 Wigan A goal is scored by Gael Bigirimana from just outside the penalty area to the top left corner of the goal. Newcastle 3-0 Wigan.
Effort on goal by Papiss Cisse from just inside the area clears the bar.
The ball is swung over by Arouna Kone, Mike Williamson makes a clearance.
The ball is swung over by Jonas Gutierrez.
Shot by David Jones. Vurnon Anita gets a block in.
Substitution Callum McManaman is brought on as a substitute for Franco Di Santo.
Booking Caution for Franco Di Santo.
A cross is delivered by Jean Beausejour.
A cross is delivered by Jean Beausejour, clearance made by Mike Williamson.
Inswinging corner taken by Sylvain Marveaux from the right by-line, Adrian Lopez makes a clearance.
Emmerson Boyce concedes a free kick for a foul on Demba Ba. Fabricio Coloccini takes the free kick.
The ball is sent over by James McCarthy, Danny Simpson makes a clearance.
The ball is crossed by Ronnie Stam, clearance by Fabricio Coloccini.
Ronnie Stam gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jonas Gutierrez. Indirect free kick taken by Shane Ferguson.
Effort on goal by Papiss Cisse from just inside the area clears the bar.
A cross is delivered by Shane Ferguson.
Gael Bigirimana takes a shot. Save by Ali Al Habsi.
The ball is swung over by Ronnie Stam, Danny Simpson makes a clearance.
Short corner taken by Ronnie Stam.
Jonas Gutierrez concedes a free kick for a foul on Ronnie Stam. Free kick taken by Emmerson Boyce.
Shot from 12 yards by Sylvain Marveaux. Ali Al Habsi makes a save.
Shane Ferguson delivers the ball, save made by Ali Al Habsi.
Substitution Shane Ferguson on for Davide Santon.
Franco Di Santo produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target.
The ball is swung over by Ronnie Stam, clearance made by Fabricio Coloccini.
The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
Substitution Adrian Lopez on for Gary Caldwell.
Substitution Gael Bigirimana replaces Cheick Tiote.
Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.
Mike Williamson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Arouna Kone. James McArthur takes the free kick.
Shot by Cheick Tiote from outside the box goes high over the crossbar.
Unfair challenge on Jonas Gutierrez by Ronnie Stam results in a free kick. Demba Ba restarts play with the free kick.
Danny Simpson sends in a cross, Gary Caldwell manages to make a clearance.
Unfair challenge on Demba Ba by James McCarthy results in a free kick. Sylvain Marveaux restarts play with the free kick.
Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Jean Beausejour from the left by-line, clearance made by Vurnon Anita.
Shot from long distance by Franco Di Santo misses to the right of the target.
Ronnie Stam produces a cross, save by Tim Krul.
Cheick Tiote takes a long range shot clearing the bar.
Shot by Cheick Tiote from 30 yards. Blocked by Jean Beausejour.
Foul by Gary Caldwell on Demba Ba, free kick awarded. Sylvain Marveaux crosses the ball in from the free kick.
Shot from 18 yards from Sylvain Marveaux. Save made by Ali Al Habsi. Corner taken by Sylvain Marveaux from the right by-line, clearance made by Arouna Kone.
Ronnie Stam crosses the ball, Fabricio Coloccini makes a clearance.
The ball is swung over by Danny Simpson, comfortable save by Ali Al Habsi.
Jonas Gutierrez sends in a cross.
Sylvain Marveaux restarts play with the free kick.
Booking Booking for Gary Caldwell for unsporting behaviour.
Free kick awarded for a foul by Gary Caldwell on Demba Ba.
The ball is sent over by Ronnie Stam.
Free kick awarded for a foul by Fabricio Coloccini on Franco Di Santo. Franco Di Santo takes the free kick.
Vurnon Anita has an effort at goal from outside the box missing to the wide left of the goal.
Unfair challenge on Davide Santon by Ronnie Stam results in a free kick. Jonas Gutierrez takes the indirect free kick.
Arouna Kone concedes a free kick for a foul on Cheick Tiote. Cheick Tiote takes the free kick.
The ball is swung over by Danny Simpson, clearance made by Ronnie Stam.
Foul by Davide Santon on Arouna Kone, free kick awarded. James McCarthy takes the indirect free kick.
Substitution James McArthur replaces Jordi Gomez.
Assist on the goal came from Davide Santon.
Goal! - Demba Ba - Newcastle 2 - 0 Wigan Demba Ba finds the back of the net with a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Newcastle 2-0 Wigan.
Davide Santon takes a shot. Ali Al Habsi makes a save.
The ball is sent over by Papiss Cisse, Emmerson Boyce fouled by Jonas Gutierrez, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Ali Al Habsi.
Jordi Gomez produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.
Sylvain Marveaux crosses the ball, save by Ali Al Habsi.
Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Demba Ba by David Jones. Free kick taken by Cheick Tiote.
Shot by Demba Ba from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.
Jordi Gomez is caught offside. Fabricio Coloccini takes the free kick.
Assist on the goal came from Papiss Cisse.
Booking Jean Beausejour receives a yellow card for dissent.
Goal! - Demba Ba - Newcastle 1 - 0 Wigan Demba Ba scores a placed penalty. Newcastle 1-0 Wigan.
Dismissal Red card for Maynor Figueroa.
Foul by Maynor Figueroa on Papiss Cisse, Penalty awarded.
Centre by Sylvain Marveaux, save by Ali Al Habsi.
Free kick awarded for a foul by Jean Beausejour on Papiss Cisse. Free kick crossed right-footed by Vurnon Anita, Jean Beausejour makes a clearance.
Free kick awarded for a foul by Papiss Cisse on Jean Beausejour. Maynor Figueroa takes the free kick.
Corner taken right-footed by Vurnon Anita to the near post, Maynor Figueroa makes a clearance.
The referee penalises James McCarthy for handball. Free kick taken by Sylvain Marveaux.
James McCarthy takes a shot. Ronnie Stam produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target. Fabricio Coloccini gets a block in.
Free kick awarded for a foul by Papiss Cisse on James McCarthy. Free kick crossed left-footed by David Jones, clearance by Vurnon Anita. Corner taken by Jean Beausejour.
Shot by Franco Di Santo. Tim Krul makes a save. David Jones takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, Danny Simpson makes a clearance.
Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jordi Gomez by Cheick Tiote. David Jones takes the indirect free kick.
Cheick Tiote concedes a free kick for a foul on Ronnie Stam. Maynor Figueroa restarts play with the free kick.
Cheick Tiote has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide left of the goal.
The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.
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Live text commentary | Demba Ba struck twice as Newcastle ended a run of four straight defeats with victory over 10-man Wigan. | 20491428 |
Trevor Joyce, 36, of Franklyn Close, Abingdon, is accused of killing Justin Skrebowski in the town shortly after 11:20 GMT on Monday.
Police said the victim had not been formally identified, but is believed to be the 61-year-old from Oxford.
Mr Joyce appeared at Banbury Magistrates' Court and is due to appear at Oxford Crown Court on Friday.
Updates on this story and more from Oxfordshire | A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a man who was stabbed to death in a Poundland shop. | 35049802 |
28 March 2017 Last updated at 15:43 BST
Cyclone Debbie, a 'monster' category four storm, has left at least 45,000 homes without power and damaged buildings, although it is too early to say how many.
The huge storm is moving inland with its power decreasing but could cause damage for hours yet.
Watch Leah's report to find out more. | A powerful cyclone carrying winds of up to 163 miles per hour has battered the coast of Queensland, Australia. | 39415652 |
The property is being converted into a luxury hotel by developer Galliard Homes.
The completed hotel will be owned by Mr Kader's Abu Dhabi-based Lulu Group International and operated by Steigenberger.
The 92,000 sq ft hotel will become the group's first UK property and is due to open in the first quarter of 2017.
The site, at 1- 5 Great Scotland Yard, was the location of the original Scotland Yard police station between 1829 and 1890.
The existing Edwardian building was constructed in 1910 and was an Army recruitment centre and Royal Military Police headquarters.
It was refurbished in 1982 and housed a Ministry of Defence library until 2004.
Lulu Group is a conglomerate that has interests in the retail, property, hospitality, and food and manufacturing sectors.
Mr Kader, who founded Lulu in 1973, is estimated to be worth £1.8bn.
Galliard acquired the site in late 2013 and had been in talks with Malmaison hotels, but its US private equity owners KSL Capital Partners sold the business and the deal fell through. | One of India's richest men, Yusuffali Kader, has bought the original Scotland Yard site in Whitehall for £110m. | 33675275 |
The 20-year-old fired in the opener from outside the box after 26 minutes, before the Buddies twice struck the woodwork.
Morgan doubled his side's lead three minutes into the second half with a curling effort into the bottom corner.
And former Ross County midfielder Ian McShane's first St Mirren goal sealed the win with 12 minutes to play.
Jack Ross' men join United and Queen of the South on nine points, and sit third in the Championship table, while the Terrors' inferior goal difference means they drop to fourth.
Match ends, St. Mirren 3, Dundee United 0.
Second Half ends, St. Mirren 3, Dundee United 0.
Stewart Murdoch (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Jordan Kirkpatrick (St. Mirren).
Mark Durnan (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Ross Stewart (St. Mirren).
Foul by Scott McDonald (Dundee United).
Gregor Buchanan (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, St. Mirren. Ross Stewart replaces Gavin Reilly.
Substitution, St. Mirren. Darren Whyte replaces Lewis Morgan.
Paul Quinn (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Gavin Reilly (St. Mirren).
Attempt saved. Stewart Murdoch (Dundee United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution, St. Mirren. Jordan Kirkpatrick replaces Liam Smith because of an injury.
Patrick Nkoyi (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Gregor Buchanan (St. Mirren).
Foul by Jamie Robson (Dundee United).
Lewis Morgan (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal! St. Mirren 3, Dundee United 0. Ian McShane (St. Mirren) right footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Lewis Morgan.
Attempt missed. Scott McDonald (Dundee United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick.
Billy King (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Gregor Buchanan (St. Mirren).
Foul by Stewart Murdoch (Dundee United).
Cameron Smith (St. Mirren) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt saved. Cameron Smith (St. Mirren) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by Mark Durnan.
Foul by Willo Flood (Dundee United).
Cameron Smith (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Cameron Smith (St. Mirren) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Attempt missed. Paul McMullan (Dundee United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right from a direct free kick.
Adam Eckersley (St. Mirren) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Paul McMullan (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Adam Eckersley (St. Mirren).
Substitution, Dundee United. Patrick Nkoyi replaces Fraser Fyvie.
Attempt missed. Samuel Stanton (Dundee United) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Attempt missed. Stephen McGinn (St. Mirren) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by Willo Flood.
Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by Fraser Fyvie.
Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by Jamie Robson.
Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Cameron Smith. | Lewis Morgan's double helped St Mirren end Dundee United's winning start to the Scottish Championship season. | 40984253 |
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A total of 11.1m people watched Jason Kenny win keirin cycling gold on BBC One, while BBC Two and BBC Four had their highest viewing figures of 2016.
BBC Sport's online coverage set new records, reaching 68.3m devices in the United Kingdom, and 102.3m globally.
The biggest single day for digital traffic was Sunday, 14 August - with 19m unique browsers across the world.
That date became known as 'Super Sunday' after Great Britain won five gold medals, making it the country's most successful day at an overseas Olympics.
Cyclist Mark Cavendish helped BBC Two reach a peak audience of 7.5m when he won silver in the omnium on Monday, 15 August, while BBC Four drew in a 2016 high of 3.4m viewers.
Britain were second in the medal table in Rio, with 27 gold medals, 23 silvers and 17 bronzes, as they finished behind only the United States.
Barbara Slater, the BBC director of sport, said: "We are delighted that so many people came to the BBC for our Olympics coverage and joined us in celebrating the extraordinary success of Team GB.
"We are incredibly proud to bring moments of national significance such as these magnificent Games to the widest possible audience."
A total of 29.3m global browsers have followed the Games in Rio via live pages on the BBC Sport website and app with streams, text updates, clips, medal tables, schedules and catch-up.
No fewer than 30.2m UK browsers have streamed the action on BBC iPlayer and on BBC Sport. The most popular streamed event was the men's singles tennis final, in which 1.9m browsers followed Britain's Andy Murray as he retained his Olympic title by beating Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina.
The total of 'unique browsers' is calculated by the number of devices - televisions, computers, mobile phones and so on - being used to view online coverage, which is why it was possible for the UK digital audience to total 68.3m, even though that is greater than the country's population.
Ben Gallop, BBC Sport's head of digital and radio, said: "With Team GB performing heroics, we wanted to deliver all the medal moments and breathtaking action to audiences wherever they were online - and in doing so we're delighted BBC Sport has cemented its position as the number one digital destination for sport."
Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox. | The BBC achieved a record television audience for an overseas Olympics as 45.24m people tuned in for Rio 2016. | 37156975 |
Budge, who recently joined the Scottish Professional Football League's board, said: "I think 42 senior clubs is too many for Scotland.
"You're looking at about half that number.
"We're not throwing people to the dogs and saying you don't matter. We should be saying this is what will work better for you, what fits your profile."
The Tynecastle chief executive, who made £30m selling her IT business and whose investment in Hearts lifted the ailing club out of administration, has also revealed she was advised not to join the SPFL board.
She told BBC Scotland: "A number of people said, 'Ann, you are already working however many hours a week, how on earth are you going to fit this in as well?'.
"That was both family members and, on a low-key basis, people within the club."
Budge, however, overcame fears of finding the role frustrating and of being as heavily criticised as previous board members.
She now sits beside SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster, chairman Ralph Topping, non-executive Karyn McCluskey, Celtic's Peter Lawwell, Partick Thistle's Ian Maxwell, Hibs' Leeann Dempster, Eric Drysdale of Raith Rovers and Ken Ferguson of Brechin City.
"I knew I wasn't going to be the only new kid on the block," she said.
"With a few new people going in then surely things will change in some shape or form. Who needs sleep anyway?"
In three years' time, Budge will stand down as owner and the Foundation of Hearts will become the majority shareholder of the club.
"Fan ownership is fine, fan management is not fine," she asserted.
"You can't have fans sacking managers. You need an empowered executive with fan involvement, as is the case now.
"The important thing is not that fans own 75% of the club, it's that fans own 25.1%, so they can stop things happening.
"That's all that fans want, I think. They want to know that they can prevent an owner selling the stadium for housing, they want to know that the history will be protected and that we won't suddenly change our colours from maroon to, dare I say, green.
"The key is strong management. If they asked me to stay on as chief executive after 2019 then, health-permitting, I would."
Budge is overseeing the £12m redevelopment of Tynecastle, which she says is on track, with a new stand to replace the historic Archibald Leitch structure the central development.
The building work is likely to necessitate Hearts playing away from home at the end of this season and at the start of the 2017-18 campaign. | Hearts owner Ann Budge believes there are twice the ideal number of senior clubs in Scotland. | 36999758 |
The play co-stars John Simm, Keith Allen, Ron Cook, Gary Kemp and John Macmillan.
Chan plays Ruth, the wife of Teddy, the eldest and most successful of three sons who has returned to London from the US where he is greeted by his physically and mentally abusive father and his brothers and uncle.
Yes it's full on, it doesn't let up at all - you can't drop your concentration for a second. It's a wonderful play because there's no fat on there. In every moment there is something going on, the power is shifting or the dynamics of the scene. I've not watched it from the outside but when you're in it, it's very full on.
It's wonderful writing and Pinter, in a way, these characters he created - particularly the male characters and their attitudes and the way they behave - it's still quite shocking. I can't imagine how shocking it would have been in 1965 but I think he created characters that are still incredibly interesting.
The traits that you see in certain characters you can still see in society today. I still think the play's got something to say and I love my character - she's been fascinating to explore and try and understand where she's coming from. A lot of people think she's controversial and ask why she behaves the way she behaves, and it's been really interesting trying to work that out.
There is a lot of ambiguity with the character and in [Pinter's] text, but as you work on it you have to make choices and decide what your truth is. It was interesting to work with [director] Jamie [Lloyd] and the other actors to say: "What is the truth with these characters, what's happened between Teddy and Ruth and their marriage?"
It could well change. We've got three months to go and I have my own ideas of what she might do next and I'm looking forward to getting to grips with that.
I've loved it. I love a pause and a silence so I will happily milk those. But Jamie said to us when we were rehearsing: "You've got to explore why the pause might be there, they're not just there by coincidence."
He's put them there for a reason - sometimes it might just be because he thinks there will be a laugh, other times there's something going on between the characters and you have to allow that to be alive on stage. It's been really technical but once you have examined it forensically, you can then just enjoy what he's written.
I'm the same age as John Macmillan (who plays amateur boxer Joey) but I can't compete with their anecdotes during rehearsal, they have a few between them. They have been wonderful - there are quite a few personalities in there but I can honestly say that we didn't fall out once, which was great. All the drama was in the scenes, there's been a lot of laughter.
I don't know, I haven't really got a master plan. After this, I have to do Humans series two and that's five months of next year. Then I'm open to to anything interesting that comes up.
Absolutely, I have a love/hate relationship with technology. It's frightening how much we rely on it but how little we understand it and when it breaks, we're screwed because we don't know how to fix it.
I hate that but at the same time, I couldn't live with without it. I think the show's resonated with people because of their dependence on and wariness of rapidly advancing technology.
I haven't, I've heard some rumours but they are keeping me in the dark too.
I'd love to see it expand and to see what's going on in other parts of the world. I'd love the characters to be moving on and exploring, particularly my character. I've heard that the scripts are very good though.
The Homecoming runs at the Trafalgar Studios until 13 February. | Humans star Gemma Chan is the sole actress in a 50th anniversary production of Harold Pinter's Homecoming, a darkly ambiguous look at issues including masculinity, abuse and repression surrounding the return of one of three brothers to his father's London home. | 34908579 |
John Soares, 51, was convicted of repeatedly firing an air gun at Martine Almansa at their Ashford home in 2003.
The BBC tracked Soares to the French Indian Ocean territory of Reunion after he posted images on social media.
On Tuesday, French judges rejected a European Arrest Warrant issued by Kent Police.
A spokesman for the force said it was due to "incompatibilities between the French and UK justice systems".
Soares was taken into custody in June and extradition was being sought by Kent Police.
Under French law, a defendant has an automatic right to appeal, whereas in the UK the appeal must be made on a specific point of law.
In the UK, Soares would have had no right to appeal his sentence due to the length of time that has elapsed since his 2012 trial.
Kent Police said the UK authorities would continue to try to secure Soares' arrest.
Soares told BBC South East's Colin Campbell he was seeking a lawyer to challenge his conviction, and remained in Reunion unable to afford to make the return journey to France.
He said he had evidence which he believed will help clear his name.
Soares had been released on bail before failing to appear for trial in 2004 and again in 2012.
He had been on the run until an arrest in 2011.
Following court delays, he was again released on bail in February 2012, surrendered his passport but managed to escape abroad.
In May 2012, Maidstone Crown Court tried Soares in his absence for grievous bodily harm and sentenced him to 12 years in jail. | A gunman on the run for a decade after shooting his partner has been released by French authorities after he was captured on a remote tropical island. | 37300399 |
A High Court judge said the cap was not intended to cover such households, had "no good purpose", and the failure to exempt them was discriminatory.
The government said it intended to appeal and there would be no change to the cap while this process was ongoing.
The cap limits the income households receive in certain benefits.
It stands at £23,000 for those in London and £20,000 a year outside London. Parents must work for at least 16 hours a week to avoid the cap.
The ruling was made in response to a judicial review brought by four lone parent families - including two who had been made homeless owing to domestic violence. Their solicitor said their benefits were, or were expected to be, cut as they were unable to work the 16 hours.
A judge in London ruled on Thursday that he was "satisfied that the claims must succeed" against the work and pensions secretary.
Mr Justice Collins said: "Whether or not the defendant accepts my judgment, the evidence shows that the cap is capable of real damage to individuals such as the claimants.
"They are not workshy but find it, because of the care difficulties, impossible to comply with the work requirement.
"Most lone parents with children under two are not the sort of households the cap was intended to cover and, since they will depend on DHP (Discretionary Housing Payments), they will remain benefit households.
"Real misery is being caused to no good purpose."
Solicitor Rebekah Carrier, who represented the claimants, said: "The benefit cap has had a catastrophic impact upon vulnerable lone parent families and children across the country.
"Single mothers like my clients have been forced into homelessness and reliance on food banks as a result of the benefit cap.
"Thousands of children have been forced into poverty, which has severe long-term effects on the health and well-being."
She said she thought around 17,000 families were affected.
A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said the government was "disappointed" with the decision and intended to appeal.
"Work is the best way to raise living standards, and many parents with young children are employed," he said.
"The benefit cap incentivises work, even if it's part-time, as anyone eligible for working tax credits or the equivalent under Universal Credit, is exempt. Even with the cap, lone parents can still receive benefits up to the equivalent salary of £25,000, or £29,000 in London and we have made Discretionary Housing Payments available to people who need extra help."
He said that households with young babies were among the groups that such housing payments were specifically aimed to assist.
The department said the benefits cap remained in place while the appeal process continued.
Alison Garnham, chief executive of Child Poverty Action Group, said: "We have the ridiculous situation where one part of the DWP has been telling lone parents with very young children that it understands they should not be expected to work, and another part of the DWP is punishing them severely for exactly the same thing." | Single parents with a child under two have won a court challenge as they face "real misery" from the government's benefits cap. | 40367686 |
The report, covering the last three months of 2013, was published by Ofcom.
The communications watchdog ranks the five biggest internet providers based on the number of complaints it receives about them adjusted according to the number of customers.
It marks the first time EE has not led the name-and-shame list in over a year.
Virgin Media had the lowest level of complaints, followed by Sky for the fourth quarter running. TalkTalk came third.
According to the figures, Ofcom received 32 complaints for every 100,000 BT fixed-broadband customers between October and December last year. They related to service faults and the way BT's staff had initially attempted to handle the reported problems.
The firm was also found to have generated the highest level of complaints about its subscription TV service: 31 per 100,000 customers. The category covers access to the facility and billing, but not the quality of its programmes.
"BT is disappointed with the results in broadband and TV, despite the fact that we've improved from last quarter," responded Libby Barr, managing director of BT customer service.
"BT is the fastest-growing business by far in the UK for both pay TV and broadband, and as we process more transactions we have unfortunately suffered more disruption than companies with static or declining customer bases."
In response to this claim, Virgin Media noted that it had increased both the number of its broadband and pay-TV customers over 2013.
The level of complaints about EE's broadband reported by the regulator was nearly 60% lower than for the same period a year earlier. But the firm said it still had room to improve after Ofcom reported receiving 29 complaints for every 100,000 subscribers over 2013's final quarter.
"We are of course disappointed by these latest results and will take on board the findings of the Ofcom report. We have an ongoing programme to improve service performance," said a spokeswoman.
Andrew Ferguson, editor of the Thinkbroadband news site, told the BBC there was plenty to be positive about.
"The general trend over time is that the average number of complaints is down, so broadband does seem to be a sector that is improving," he said.
"It may be a factor that people have become better at understanding the problems you can have with it and also the various regulations that have come out of Ofcom.
"For example, firms must now let customers walk away if they change prices." | BT has topped the UK's list of the most complained about broadband providers for the first time. | 26757049 |
Arsenal's 4-0 defeat at Liverpool on Sunday left them with one win from their first three Premier League games.
"It's an absolute nightmare," said Wright, who scored 128 goals for Arsenal.
"Why can't we get the players to play for us? Wenger carries the can," he told BBC Radio 5 live.
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Wright, a member of Wenger's league and FA Cup double squad of 1997-98, added: "It comes back to his door. We are three games in and are at crisis point.
"Do I think he should go? I'd like him to go because I do not believe now he can motivate the players. It's for himself and for his own sanity.
"It's an absolute nightmare - where does he go from here? That team has not played for Wenger for years."
Wenger signed a new two-year deal last May despite calls from supporters for him to leave as the Gunners finished outside the Premier League top four for the first time since he joined the club in 1996.
Meanwhile, former England forward Wright also said he was surprised by the reports that Arsenal had accepted an offer from Chelsea for winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and said forward Alexis Sanchez should be sold before the transfer windows shuts on Thursday.
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Former England and Blackburn striker Chris Sutton agreed with Wright's suggestion that the 67-year-old French boss was at fault.
"Wenger is to blame - he led everybody a merry dance," said the 44-year-old. "He mesmerised supporters like the Pied Piper.
"He was selfish staying on. Even the most optimistic fan, what are they thinking? Wenger was disrespectful to the supporters last season - he should have gone.
"I'd bin him now. I would have binned him last season." | Arsenal are in "crisis from top to bottom" and manager Arsene Wenger should leave, according to former Gunners striker Ian Wright. | 41077188 |
David Cameron is engaged in what seems to be an increasingly successful campaign to persuade the House of Commons to expand British military air strikes into Syria.
He gave more details of what had been billed as a "comprehensive plan", not just for bombs to fall on the so-called Islamic State's stronghold in Syria, but a billion pounds for reconstruction; a perhaps optimistic assessment that there are 70,000 moderate forces on the ground with whom we could work; and an increasing confidence that the time is right to join America, France and even Russia in air strikes.
But the government is reliant on some support from the Labour Party to get its way. And Jeremy Corbyn's party is embroiled in an enormous row of its own tonight.
It's no secret that he is a longstanding opponent of military intervention in the Middle East. After the debate today he met with his shadow cabinet to try to hammer out a common position.
After a difficult couple of hours, it was plain, despite the leader being opposed, most of the shadow team is in favour of strikes. So they agreed to disagree, and to talk again after the weekend.
Then to the astonishment of some of Mr Corbyn's own team, just a couple of hours later, his office published a letter that made it abundantly clear there is no chance he will back air strikes, and his position is set.
Making that move has, in the words of one shadow minister, "lit the blue touch paper" in the shadow cabinet. Another said members were so angry they had to be "scraped off the ceiling".
Many Labour MPs are furious that he took a step like that without consulting them. For their part, sources close to Mr Corbyn insist that he is taking a lead, communicating his position to the wider party as he is perfectly entitled to do.
Indeed, his views against military intervention are part of what won him the leader's job in the first place.
But there's a risk of a massive political bust-up, and perhaps the collapse of his front bench.
The crunch now is whether or not Mr Corbyn will allow MPs to vote as they see fit next week, perhaps as early as Wednesday. Or whether he will try to force them to agree with his position.
If he is intent on doing that, it is highly likely that members of the shadow cabinet will resign.
I understand some of them told him they would potentially back air strikes in Syria when they took on their jobs in the shadow cabinet in September - they knew this dilemma might come.
If, as now seems "inevitable" as one senior member of the shadow cabinet suggested, Mr Corbyn allows a free vote, the team will be bruised by all of this but probably intact. But if he tries to force his will, the political consequences for his leadership could be grave. | In Westminster, political battle is being waged on two fronts. | 34939970 |
The 46-year-old was attacked at about 01:00 on Friday in his house in Hoddom Court in Ecclefechan. The two men who assaulted him escaped with cash.
Their victim sustained minor injuries but was released after treatment at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.
Police have been carrying out door-to-door inquiries in the village and are CCTV images.
The suspects are described as being white. One is 5'9" to 5'10" tall, of stocky build and was wearing a dark jacket. The other man was slightly taller, of heavier build and was wearing a fluorescent yellow jacket.
Det Insp Scott Young said: "Officers are currently in the process of carrying out door to door inquiries as well as retrieving CCTV from a number of different locations throughout the village with a view of identifying who is responsible for this crime.
"This was a cowardly act which was made even worse due to the fact the victim's 11-year-old son was in the house at the time. He was not injured.
"Thankfully, incidents such as this are extremely rare in Annandale and Eskdale and we are determined to catch those who are responsible."
He added: "From our inquiries, we know that around 0100 hours on the Friday morning, three men were seen in a dark coloured vehicle in nearby Hoddom Road. We are keen to identify the make of this vehicle and those who were using it at the time." | A man has been assaulted and robbed in an overnight raid on his home in Dumfries and Galloway. | 38945214 |
The plan for the link between the A96 and Elgin's Edgar Road retail park was turned down by seven votes to six by the planning committee in November.
Officials have set out a new timetable for the road in a submission to the Scottish government.
They say construction could begin in the spring of 2016.
The road could be completed the following year.
The full council had reaffirmed its commitment to the project after the link road was rejected.
It is aimed at relieving congestion in the town.
However many residents opposed the development, on cost and safety grounds. | New plans for a multi million pound Elgin link road could be lodged this summer after earlier plans were rejected by Moray councillors. | 31145975 |
The victim, 55, had taken a man, who introduced himself as Lewi, for a test drive after posting an advert for his Audi RS4 on the online forum.
The pair met on Mallow Road in Hedge End at around 18:.30 GMT on Sunday 11 January.
When they got out of the car, the suspect pushed the victim to the ground, took the keys and drove off.
The suspect is described as aged between 28 and 30-years-old.
He was Asian in appearance, 5ft 7ins tall, with short black hair. He had pock marks on the left-hand side of his face and was wearing blue jeans and a dark, lightweight, waterproof jacket.
The victim suffered minor injuries.
Det Con Maryann Attard-Charrett said the car registration number was YK51 BBF.
"Have you spotted it or been offered it for sale, possibly at below its market value price?" she said. | A man who advertised a car on Gumtree was assaulted by the prospective buyer, who then drove off in the vehicle. | 30885938 |
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22 August 2015 Last updated at 12:18 BST
After a pregnancy lasting 22 months, Thi Hi Way, a 34-year-old Asian elephant at the zoo, gave birth to the female on Thursday afternoon.
Zookeepers said the calf, which is yet to be named, was on its feet within three minutes and is doing well. | The birth of an elephant calf has been captured on CCTV at Chester Zoo. | 34019193 |
Derek Telford, 33, killed James Kerr, 34, over a drugs dispute, at the victim's flat in Glasgow in April 2012.
He was convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh in March 2013 and jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years.
Telford's appeal against his conviction was rejected but appeal judges ruled his minimum jail term was "excessive".
A written judgement was issued at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh on Monday.
Lord Carloway, who heard the appeal with Lady Paton and Lord Bracadale, said in the judgement that Telford was guilty of a "particularly brutal murder in the deceased's own house, using weapons".
He said: "It was also aggravated by the steps taken to conceal the crime thereafter. Accordingly, a very significant punishment part, well in excess of the 16 years...was merited in order to meet the statutory requirements for retribution and deterrence.
"Nevertheless, this was a murder involving a single victim, who did not fit into any special category of vulnerability.
"In all the circumstances, the court does consider that the punishment part selected was excessive. It will quash the period of 25 years and substitute one of 20 years."
Following the trial in 2013, Telford's co-accused Lorraine Callaghan, 41, was cleared of murder.
Both were convicted of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by cleaning up blood and setting fire to Mr Kerr's body.
The murder charge against Callaghan was found not proven.
The court heard how Telford went to Mr Kerr's house in Glasgow's Knightswood area on 11 April 2012 apparently to buy drugs.
He is said to have attacked his victim after being told no drugs were in the house.
The court was told that Telford used a samurai sword, knives and a hammer to inflict 30 wounds on Mr Kerr during the attack.
Pathologists told the trial that Telford had continued to slash at Mr Kerr's face even after he was dead.
He and Callaghan then attempted to defeat the ends of justice by cleaning up blood before setting fire to a pile of the dead man's clothes and burning his body.
Telford also threw Mr Kerr's birth certificate into the flames before fleeing the scene. | A murderer who cut off his dying victim's ear and shouted "can you hear me now" has had his minimum jail term reduced by five years. | 30096798 |
Takings topped £528.3m in 2011 - up 3.1% on a like-for-like basis on the previous year.
Due to the closure of a number of theatres while new shows were set up, the overall attendance was 13.9m - down 1.73% on 2010.
According to Solt, though, the average audience at each performance was up.
The Society said the growth in sales could be attributed to sell-out productions such as Matilda the Musical and the continued success of Les Miserables, now in its 26th year.
Play revenue also received a 10% boost thanks to such sold-out productions as Frankenstein, Richard III, Jerusalem and One Man, Two Guvnors.
Last year saw several of London's bigger theatres welcome such major new productions as The Wizard of Oz, Shrek the Musical and Rock of Ages.
Solt said this led to an unusually high number of "dark" weeks - when theatres are closed to the public - while set installations took place, causing a fall in overall attendance.
Last year saw 146 dark weeks, when there were only 85 in 2010.
"We are extremely proud that our theatres have yet again gone on to achieve another record-breaking year of sales," said Solt president Mark Rubinstein.
"Despite the prevailing rigours of the economic climate, theatre-goers have acted with their feet and wallets."
The figures relate to the theatres represented in membership of the Society of London Theatre, which include all the commercial West End houses.
However, the Guardian's theatre critic, Michael Billington, sounded a warning about the figures, saying: "Dark weeks can be a convenient alibi for a slight drop in attendances.
"I hope we're not heading for a situation like Broadway, where revenues increase because of ever higher ticket prices while attendances slowly decline."
He added that the healthy state of London theatre might not be replicated elsewhere. "I was at the New Vic in Newcastle-under-Lyme last night where they told me they'd had a 10% rise in attendance," he told the BBC.
"Other theatres have seen a marked drop in box-office. It's in the regions, I suspect, that the recession is starting to bite."
Using the Solt figures, theatre website Whatsonstage.com illustrated how the rise in ticket prices between 1986 and 2011 compared to audience figures.
While attendances rose 26%, over the same time period box office takings rose by 347% - meaning the average ticket price in 2011 was £37.97 versus £10.95 in 1986.
Speaking to Whatsonstage.com, Rubinstein attributed rising costs to a variety of factors including: increased VAT receipts; costlier, more high-tech productions; and rising venue and ticketing technology expenses, as well as inflation.
"The profits in the average producer's pocket have not been getting fatter," he said.
Whatsonstage editor Terri Paddock told the BBC: "It is an expensive business, but the industry is aware that prices can't just rise inexorably. There is point at which the market will bear no more and we are all going to have to be looking at those issues over the next few years."
She added that the high number of "dark" weeks in 2011 did not reflect periods of inactivity.
At the Palace Theatre, where Whatsonstage.com is based, there is currently a changeover period between the Priscilla musical and Singin' In the Rain - which opens on 4 February.
"Those big shows take a long time to set up," she said. "There have been crew members and technicians getting the old show out and putting the new show in. It's a very large undertaking."
Adam Kenwright, is the managing director of aka - the marketing agency behind plays and shows such as War Horse, Shrek, Matilda the Musical and Jerusalem.
"The West End is a real success story for the UK," he said.
"These figures are a testament to the strength, quality and talent of London theatre and show that even in difficult financial times, millions of people are prepared to spend their hard-earned money on world-class entertainment." | The West End enjoyed record box office sales in 2011 for an eighth consecutive year, according to figures released by the Society of London Theatre (Solt). | 16795432 |
Pictures posted to Twitter show some of the tree's baubles damaged.
The structure is costing the council £10,000 a year. Lib Dem councillor Elizabeth Clark called it "expensive tat".
Cardiff council said it is contacting the supplier, MK Illuminations, for a solution.
The structure was installed just three weeks ago.
The council has already had to apologise after the tree - a pre-decorated "tree-shaped structure" ordered from China - turned out to be 40ft and not 40m high as had been expected.
Elizabeth Clark, Lib Dem councillor for Cardiff city centre, said: "The fact that parts of this already ridiculous tree are now breaking and peeling away is beyond belief.
"Cardiff is meant to have this for the next three years, yet it can't even last three weeks.
"It might look like cheap tat, but in reality it's very expensive tat."
The tree is on a three-year lease from UK-based company MK Illuminations.
In 2015, insurance company Admiral sponsored the main tree outside Cardiff Castle, which was up in time for the city's Step Into Christmas event.
A council spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the issue and are contacting the supplier to discuss a solution.
"The City of Cardiff Council has worked hard for many years - despite huge cuts to budgets - to deliver a Christmas offering in the city which both residents and visitors can enjoy alike.
"This year's tree costs £10,000 a year over a three-year lease and will save the council £5,000 per annum based on costs of last year's installation."
A Cardiff Labour group spokesman claimed the Lib Dems, when it had led Cardiff council, had spent £250,000 on Christmas decorations in 2012.
"We have cut that figure to £120,000," he added. | Cardiff council has said it is aware that some of the baubles on a controversial Christmas tree outside Cardiff Castle have been peeling. | 38332115 |
Jim Robertson, from Glasgow, who lost his wife to sepsis last year, is petitioning the Scottish Parliament to back a national awareness campaign.
Health boards are actively working on reducing sepsis, but some are wary of such an initiative.
One said it could lead to "unnecessary" attendance at GP surgeries.
Sepsis kills about 44,000 people every year in the UK - more than breast, bowel and prostate cancer combined.
It is caused when the body's immune system overreacts to infection.
Mr Robertson's wife Liz died in hospital from sepsis in February last year at the age of 61.
He said: "It still haunts me. In the last week, I would say, of Liz's life she was delirious, she was nauseous, she was constantly vomiting, she didn't know where she lived."
Sepsis is triggered by infections, but is actually a problem with our own immune system going into overdrive.
It starts with an infection that can come from anywhere - even a contaminated cut or insect bite.
Normally, your immune system kicks in to fight the infection and stop it spreading.
But if the infection manages to spread quickly round the body, then the immune system will launch a massive immune response to fight it.
This can also be a problem as the immune response can have catastrophic effects on the body, leading to septic shock, organ failure and even death.
Mr Robertson believes she could still be alive if she had been diagnosed sooner.
He said the first time he heard the word sepsis was after his wife's post mortem.
"I didn't really know anything about it at all, apart from that it was blood poisoning and I discovered there was a very, very low awareness of sepsis and the size of sepsis in Scotland - in fact in the whole of the UK."
Mr Robertson said he was "astonished" at some of the responses from NHS boards to his petition lodged with the Scottish Parliament.
He added: "Some, in fact, have come back with a response that if we make people aware of the early signs of sepsis, then it might cause a greater workload for our GPs, so they are not that keen, which I find very surprising and disappointing."
In its written submission, NHS Dumfries and Galloway said a public campaign specifically about sepsis "may actually cause alarm and increase unnecessary attendance at GP practices or A&E departments".
NHS Forth Valley's submission read: "It is necessary to consider the unintended consequences of inappropriately increasing public awareness."
Other boards including Tayside, Grampian and Greater Glasgow and Clyde all said they would welcome a national public awareness campaign - something experts believe would save lives.
Prof Kevin Rooney, a consultant in intensive care medicine at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, said: "I would definitely support an awareness campaign with the public.
"We have been working with health care professionals to date, but in the end we need you to help us.
"For every hour's delay in antibiotics, your mortality from sepsis increases by almost 8%, so if we can get people in the community to the hospitals quicker, that will surely make a difference."
The Scottish government said it would support any campaign to raise awareness of sepsis.
A spokesman added: "Our Scottish Patient Safety Programme is a unique national programme recognised as setting the benchmark for systemic approaches to health care improvement, including the treatment of sepsis.
"We have a long-standing commitment to raising awareness of sepsis, involving working closely with NHS Scotland and the Fiona Elizabeth Agnew Trust, supporting the Sock it to Sepsis campaign and promoting and participating in World Sepsis Day.
"We recognise that focusing on early identification of sepsis is critical - and treatment within one hour of recognition has led to mortality rates among those identified at this stage falling by 21% since 2012." | A widower campaigning to raise public awareness of sepsis has said he is "astonished" some health boards are wary that the move might cause "alarm". | 39472452 |
Robert Christie died on 7 June 2014 after the accident on a family friend's farm on Ballynaloob Road in Dunloy.
His father, Robert Christie senior, was left critically ill but made a partial recovery.
The coroner extended her deepest sympathy to the child's parents.
She said the death had again brought to the fore the risks arising with slurry tanks.
"I hope by highlighting this tragedy no other family will have to endure what they have had to go through with the death of poor Robert," the coroner said.
Robert Christie Snr told the inquest he and his son, who was known as Bob, had gone to crush grain at a neighbour's farm that Saturday morning.
The farmer, Robert Brownlow had asked Mr Christie if he would assist him with attaching the slurry pump in the shed.
Mr Brownlow said this was a normal procedure but that due to his age and health he was no longer "able to do it myself".
"I knew there was a danger, but there had been no problems doing it in the past," he said.
Mr Christie said he lifted the covers in the shed and reversed the tractor in.
"I attached the pump and saw Bob had got into the tractor cabin with me," he said.
"With the tractor straddling the two slats I turned on the pump and sadly that was my last memory of that day."
The father and son were found collapsed on the floor of the shed about four feet apart about 30 minutes later by Mr Brownlow who called for help.
A postman who was in the area at the time moved Bob from the shed into the house.
Despite extensive efforts by neighbours and emergency services he showed no signs of life.
He was airlifted to hospital in Belfast but medical staff were unable to resuscitate him.
In his report, David Lowe from the Health and Safety Executive said it was likely that both father and son lost consciousness at speed.
He told the inquest that he believed Mr Christie, in seeing his son in difficulty, went in closer to the tank to help.
"Precautions must be followed when dealing with slurry and in this case many of them were, Mr Lowe said.
"The slurry tank was particularly full and the initial stages of agitation (where the gases are mixed) the gases are the most potent."
The HSENI guidelines recommend that once the pump is started you remain out of the area for at least 30 minutes.
"Also there was very little movement in the air that day which left limited ventilation and led to this catastrophe," Mr Lowe added. | An inquest into the death of an eight-year-old boy has found that he died from asphyxia from the toxic gases released during the mixing of slurry at a farm in County Antrim. | 32087377 |
The visitors took the lead when Josh Windass burst down the right wing, before crossing for Scott Brown to turn in from close range.
Luton were unable to respond, and saw efforts from Windass and Terry Gornell go narrowly wide as they struggled to keep out the visitors.
Accrington sealed the win when Gornell met Tariqe Fosu's excellent cross with a glancing header.
Accrington rise into the automatic promotion places, two points clear of the play-offs with five games to go. | Accrington made it seven games unbeaten as they brushed aside Luton. | 35949032 |
They spent 10 hours at the scene of the fire at Carnsalloch House after the alarm was raised at 23:05 on Tuesday.
Initial reports suggested the woods at nearby Kirkton were on fire but officers said they found a single storey annexe of the building "well alight".
Two further teams of firefighters were sent to the scene.
Police are treating the fire as suspicious.
Station manager Ian Anderson said: "The fire had penetrated the roof of the annex and our crews were strategically positioned to tackle the flames from points outside the building.
"We had multiple jets in use to knock down the fire before our team undertook dampening down and cutting away operations to ensure it was fully extinguished."
He said one crew remained at the house until shortly after 09:00 on Wednesday to ensure the fire was completely out.
The A-listed property is on the national Buildings at Risk Register, but planners have so far refused permission for a scheme to save it which involves converting the house into flats and building additional houses in the grounds.
The proposals are set to go before Dumfries and Galloway Council's planning review committee next week. | Firefighters have revealed details of their efforts to tackle a blaze at a derelict mansion in Dumfries. | 31747206 |
The 34-year-old, capped 118 times for Italy, came on as a second-half substitute and appeared to direct a stamp towards Duncan Taylor's foot.
The suspension was given at a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday where the forward admitted to the offence.
Castrogiovanni will miss Italy's next Six Nations game against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, 12 March.
For the latest rugby union news follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter. | Martin Castrogiovanni has received a two-week ban for stamping during Saturday's 36-20 defeat by Scotland. | 35711395 |
Local media say that at least 950 people have died in Karachi, with tens of thousands being treated for heatstroke and dehydration.
Temperatures dipped to 38C (100F) on Thursday but the spokesman for a leading charity told AFP that the death toll could reach as high as 1,500.
Officials have been criticised for not doing enough to tackle the crisis.
Severe electricity cuts in Karachi have angered residents as they have been left without working air-conditioning units and fans.
Anwar Kazmi, a senior official of leading charity the Edhi Welfare Organisation, said that the refrigeration units in the morgues had also stopped working.
Medical officials have been overwhelmed with the number of bodies and have been forced to store body bags on the floor, said Mr Kazmi.
Wednesday was declared a public holiday by the administration in Sindh in the hope that people would stay indoors out of the sun and avoid heat stroke.
But medical workers have said that they are still struggling with the number of people needing treatment.
37-38C
Normal body temperature
39-40C Brain tells muscles to slow down
40-41C Heat exhaustion/heat stroke
42C Body shuts down
Doctor Qaiser Sajjad of the Pakistan Medical Association in Karachi told AFP that a lack of understanding of the symptoms of heat stroke had contributed to the high death toll.
"The main reason was a lack of awareness among the public," he said. "No-one knew how to cope in such a situation."
Matters have been made worse by the widespread abstention from drinking water during daylight hours during the fasting month of Ramadan.
Some clerics have issued statements and appeared on television reminding people they are not obliged to fast if they are weak, elderly or simply not fit to do so.
But Reuters reports that some shops have refused to sell ice or water during the day, citing religious laws that mean they can be fined.
Many of the victims are elderly people from low-income families.
Hot weather is not unusual during the summer months in Pakistan, but Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called for emergency measures on Tuesday when temperatures reached 45C (113F).
Heat stroke centres have been set up by the army, offering iced water and rehydration salts.
The all-time highest temperature reached in Karachi is 47C, recorded in 1979.
Last month, nearly 1,700 people died in a heatwave in neighbouring India.
There is hope that pre-monsoon rains will improve conditions but, although more rainfall is expected, it has not been significant so far.
The body's normal core temperature is 37-38C.
If it heats up to 39-40C, the brain tells the muscles to slow down and fatigue sets in. At 40-41C heat exhaustion is likely - and above 41C the body starts to shut down.
Chemical processes start to be affected; the cells inside the body deteriorate and there is a risk of multiple organ failure.
The body cannot even sweat at this point because blood flow to the skin stops, making it feel cold and clammy.
Heatstroke - which can occur at any temperature over 40C - requires professional medical help. If not treated immediately, the chances of survival can be slim.
There are a number of things people can do to help themselves. These include:
What happens to the body in extreme heat?
Eight low-tech ways to keep cool in a heatwave | The death toll from a heatwave in Pakistan's southern Sindh province has passed 1,000, reports say. | 33274171 |
The Brewers took the lead when Tom Naylor converted Mark Duffy's pass from three yards in the third minute, while John Mousinho twice went close.
There was a long delay at the end of the first half when Posh defender Harry Toffolo was carried off.
Posh rallied after the break and Chris Forrester's flicked header went just wide and Michael Smith also shot wide.
Burton, who surprisingly lost at home to Shrewsbury at the weekend, now have a three-point lead over second-placed Gillingham.
The visitors dominated the first half and after Naylor scored his third goal of the season, Duffy and Mousinho saw shots miss the target.
At the other end, Marcus Maddison's turn and shot was well saved by Jon McLaughlin.
As the half came to a close, Burton came close to a second as Mousinho's header was superbly saved by Posh keeper Ben Alnwick.
Peterborough, who drop to eighth, created better chances in the second half but Nigel Clough's side never looked in any real danger. | Burton Albion have gone back to the top of League One with victory at Peterborough United. | 35349291 |
Aged 38, the oldest player on the field marked his 300th one-day international with his 18th century to help the hosts to 302-6 in the final match in Colombo.
Dinesh Chandimal struck 55 not out and Thisara Perera flayed 54 off 26 balls.
Although Joe Root made 80 despite an ankle injury, England were bowled out for 215 with 4.1 overs unused.
The tourists never threatened to overhaul an imposing target, allowing Sri Lanka legends Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara to savour a comfortable victory in their final ODI on home soil.
Defeat was England's 11th in their last 15 completed ODIs, and leaves them palpably short of form and confidence with a maximum of five competitive matches - a triangular series against hosts Australia and India - before the World Cup starts in February.
The squad for the tri-series will be named on Saturday, but England's performances in Sri Lanka have done little to make the selectors' task easier.
Only twice in seven attempts did they pass 250, they were bowled out five times, they never fielded the same team two games in a row, and questions continue to be asked of captain Alastair Cook's place in the side.
"I would feel very wrong to walk away from it," Cook told Sky Sports. "If it's taken away from me, I'll feel very disappointed, but I certainly won't be giving it up."
Cook was dropped twice on Tuesday before he fell for 32, the third wicket in a top-order collapse to 78-5 from which England never recovered.
Moeen Ali was bowled first ball by off-spinner Dilshan, who had Alex Hales comfortably taken at long-on for seven.
After Cook edged Suranga Lakmal to slip, James Taylor gloved the seamer down the leg side and Eoin Morgan was lbw sweeping Dilshan.
Root, who turned his ankle while fielding, overcame obvious discomfort to take his tally for the series to 367 runs at an average of 73. Moeen was the only other batsman to score more than 185.
Root received fleeting assistance from Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes, who made 23 and 34 respectively, but the last four wickets tumbled for only 23 runs as England's tour ended on a sorry note.
Fittingly, Jayawardene and Sangakkara - the two greatest batsmen in Sri Lanka's history with 824 ODI caps between them - completed the rout when they combined to have James Tredwell stumped.
Root aside, no England batsman showed the application demonstrated by Dilshan after Sri Lanka chose to bat first on a pitch of little pace.
He struck nine fours and a straight six off 124 balls, and was largely content to play the supporting role in half-century stands with Jayawardene, Sangakkara and Chandimal.
Dilshan's departure in the 44th over - he swung a Chris Jordan full toss to deep mid-wicket - heralded the arrival of Perera, whose meaty half-century was central to Sri Lanka adding 93 in the last 10 overs. | Tillakaratne Dilshan hit 101 and took 3-37 to condemn England to a crushing 87-run defeat and seal a 5-2 series win for Sri Lanka. | 30489448 |
Walk through someone else's cloud, and it will "rain" bacteria on your skin and be breathed into your lungs.
The study on 11 people, published in the journal PeerJ, showed it was possible to identify people from their microbial miasma.
One microbiologist said the findings were simply "gross".
Studies have already shown that our microbiome - the collection of bacteria, viruses and fungi that live on our skin and in our bodies - outnumbers our own cells 10-to-one.
These can be spread through direct contact, airborne emissions and shed skin cells in dust.
People were kept in a sealed chamber for four hours with air pumped in through a filter to prevent contamination. Dishes and filters inside the chamber collected samples from the emanating cloud.
Scientists then analysed the bacteria collected.
One of the researchers, Dr James Meadow, said: "We expected that we would be able to detect the human microbiome in the air around a person, but we were surprised to find that we could identify most of the occupants just by sampling their microbial cloud."
Dr Ben Neuman, a microbiologist from the University of Reading, told the BBC: "You can smell someone's BO [body odour], and now you know these are all the things crawling on you - how marvellous.
"It's one of those things that make you feel sick about living next to other people, if you knew it went on."
He said the "gross" findings "make sense" in light of the growing understanding of the microbiome and showed that by exchanging bacteria we "are changing each other all the time".
Dr Neuman argued it would be useful to know which bacteria were able to "fly" through the air, but there was no reason to be worried about any health threat.
So should we all take extra showers?
"It wouldn't help, we just need to get over it or move into outer space," he added.
Groups of bacteria in the cloud included Streptococcus, which is common in the mouth, and the skin bugs Propionibacterium and Corynebacterium.
The researchers argue the mix may have a "forensic application" to detect whether someone had passed through a room.
However, it is not clear how much someone's microbial cloud changes over time.
Adam Altrichter, a research assistant on the project, told the BBC News website: "There is a germaphobe aspect to this, but we need to understand that we're not sterile and this is something completely natural and healthy."
He said the size of someone's cloud was still untested, but was likely to be a few feet. | Everyone is surrounded by a unique "cloud" of millions of their own bacteria, according to scientists at the University of Oregon in the US. | 34314065 |
The £60m plant planned for Desborough will burn landfill waste and convert it into heat and power.
Origin Renewable Energy, the company behind the plan, said it was a clean way to dispose of waste.
Protesters from Fresh Air Desborough said the plant emissions would be unsafe and added they would "fight on".
Councillors backed the plans after hearing speakers both for and against the project at County Hall in Northampton.
The campaign group's Alan Brooks said: "This technology is relatively new and has not been proven so we intend to fight on.
By Willy GilderPolitical reporter, BBC Northampton
We all have our recycling bins and boxes, and local authorities are trying to get us to sort out our waste as much as possible.
But, inevitably, each household will end up throwing out some "residual waste".
At the moment this goes to landfill. But the sites are filling up, and the cost of landfill taxes is steadily rising.
Gasification is seen as one answer to this problem.
Enthusiasts believe it is a safe way to heat local premises whilst disposing of waste, but local residents remain to be convinced.
They are concerned that emissions could be harmful to health, and say they're worried about the long-term ill effects.
"We are not sure how this will affect our families and children, especially in 20 years time.
"We wanted assurances that it would be safe but the company has not been able to give any guarantees."
The 1.7 hectare (4.2 acres) facility will be built off Eagle Drive near Magnetic Park in the town, which is 300 metres away from a housing estate.
It would generate power by a process known as advanced gasification, where household waste is turned into gas and burnt to provide electricity.
Origin Renewable Energy submitted the plans to the council in July.
Adam Buxton, the firm's managing director, said: "We are sympathetic to people's concerns but we can't please everyone.
"This plant would be of benefit to the people of Desborough and the county. People would have access to sustainable and cheaper forms of heat and power."
Construction work will start on the project in 2013 with completion expected in 2015, the company said.
The company will need to apply for a permit from the Environment Agency before starting operations. | Plans to build a waste recycling centre in a Northamptonshire town have been approved by the county council, despite protests from residents. | 20411220 |
He achieved that a long time ago, not by beating David Goffin in Ghent but by beating Novak Djovokic at Flushing Meadows in 2012 and again at Wimbledon in 2013.
Sunday was one of the most emotional days Murray has had in tennis, but it needs to be put in its proper place in the pecking order of his achievements.
Wimbledon and the US Open are arguably unrivalled at the top, then there's the Olympic gold and after that the Davis Cup.
Having ended a 76-year wait for a British male to win the US Open, a 77-year wait for a Briton to win Wimbledon, a 79-year wait for Britain to win the Davis Cup and a 104-year wait for somebody from these parts to win an Olympic tennis gold, Murray is rapidly constructing enough memories for a one-man museum.
There was a vast feel-good factor about what happened in Belgium. Even those of us watching on television could almost reach out and touch the atmosphere.
Almost as striking as the tennis itself was the emotional impact it had on Murray. Winning for your nation, with your brother and your mates by your side, lent the thing an unmistakable power.
Something else needs to be said, though. The Davis Cup is a peculiar animal. This past week it's been regularly described as the World Cup of tennis. It's clearly nothing of the kind.
For the elite of the game it's fifth on the list of events they would like to win every year - sometimes not even fifth during an Olympic year.
In golf terms, it's the Players Championship, the so-called fifth major. But even that doesn't quite cover it. Sometimes the elite give it a miss. All the world's leading golfers will turn up for the Players, but they don't for the Davis Cup. Not always.
That's not to denigrate Sunday's victory, but it's an attempt to put it into context - while whistling in the wind you suspect.
The Davis Cup World Group contained the top 16 nations. Spain have three players in the top 20 but they're not in the World Group because their marquee names don't play in the Davis Cup often enough. That's a weakness of the championship.
The Czech Republic, winners in 2012 and 2013, went out to Australia this year. A large part of the reason why the Czechs won back-to-back Davis Cups was because their star man, the current world number six, Tomas Berdych, was present and firing. Berdych didn't play in the 3-2 loss to Australia.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Switzerland were knocked out by Belgium 3-2. Roger Federer, the 17-time Grand Slam winner, and world number four Stan Wawrinka, weren't present for the Swiss.
Without world number one Djokovic, Serbia got trounced 4-1 by Argentina in the quarter-final, while France did without Wimbledon semi-finalist Richard Gasquet in their tussle with Britain at Queens. At the same stage of the championship, Belgium beat Canada, who were without their top man Milos Raonic.
The Davis Cup is different when the big boys make themselves available.
In 2014, Switzerland won because Federer and Wawrinka played. In 2013, the Czechs were pushed to the wire by the Serbs because Berdych and Djokovic both engaged with it and were immense. In 2011, Spain won because Nadal played and won every match and because he had David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez for company.
The issue with it is that it happens every year, so if you miss it once you don't have long to wait for it to come around again.
The Ryder Cup in golf is every two years, and all eligible players bust a gut to play in it. A football World Cup is every four years and you wouldn't find Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Neymar taking a sabbatical while it's on.
The Davis Cup exists in a category all by itself. It's big enough to provoke unforgettable scenes on court, and off, in its aftermath. But the fact remains that its status as a world-class event of global sporting significance is too often compromised by the roll call of elite players who, in the vernacular, can't fit it into their schedule.
Murray has ticked the box. And that's important to his story.
There's the Opens in Australia and France left and if they're captured then that's the full set and everybody else in the British sporting pantheon can step aside and let the big man through.
Murray is not just a great with a racquet in his hand, he's great with a microphone, too.
When, on Monday, he refused to bask in the glory of Ghent and instead lacerated the Lawn Tennis Association for its failure in developing young talent, the temptation was to rise up and applaud him all over again.
This is what winners do. They have a brief moment of elation and then they knuckle down and prepare for the next challenge.
Murray spoke with a mixture of bewilderment and disgust at what he saw - or didn't see - at the National Training Centre in Roehampton for two days in October.
There was nobody there, he said. Courts empty. No buzz and not a scintilla of a suggestion that the LTA are building on his success and the success of his brother, Jamie.
"It almost feels like you waste your time because nothing ever gets done," he said. He took photos of this tennis white elephant, a £40m echo chamber.
Murray knows what passion and hard work looks like. He knows what inspiration is all about. He has seen it in his mother, Judy, since he was in short pants and he still sees it now.
And, in the desire to drive tennis forward, maybe it's the only place he sees it. Judy travels the country with her van and her equipment and her huge ambition to bring tennis to the next generation.
From club to club, from school to school, all weathers and all areas, all months of the year. Knowing what his mother does, and what those at the LTA don't do, was surely on Murray's mind when he set about them on Monday.
In refusing to go with the flow and enjoy the afterglow of Ghent, Murray showed that his deft touch doesn't begin and end with the lines on the court. In a sense, his words were more powerful than any serve and more important than that sumptuous lob against Goffin.
The decision-makers in tennis love watching him. Some would say it's high-time they started listening to him. | Andy Murray didn't need the Davis Cup on his sideboard - or in his wheelbarrow - to put him in the pantheon of Britain's sporting greats. | 34977553 |
The hosts dominated early on but Ayr went in front when Gary Harkins evaded Falkirk keeper Danny Rogers to smash home from a tight angle.
Myles Hippolyte went close and John Baird missed a penalty before Peter Grant's powerful header levelled it.
Falkirk pressed hard for a winner but Tony Gallacher's header hit the bar.
They remain six points clear in fourth place, but are now three points behind Morton in third.
Falkirk had two early chances to take the lead, Hippolyte blasting over from six yards after good build-up play involving Mark Kerr and Bob McHugh, before Baird's left-foot strike was parried by Greg Fleming and Tom Taiwo's follow-up effort was blocked.
Harkins had a half-chance at the back post for the visitors from a Brian Gilmour free-kick from the right, but his effort from a tight angle was well saved by Danny Rogers.
But after 24 minutes Harkins found a way past the Bairns keeper to give the Honest Men the breakthrough.
Kevin Nisbet's head-flick caused hesitation in the home defence and Harkins pounced to round Rogers and blast home from the angle of the six-yard box.
Baird and McHugh both went close for Falkirk before an equaliser eventually arrived in dramatic circumstances in first-half stoppage time.
Falkirk were awarded a penalty after Scott McKenna bundled McHugh to the ground, but Baird's spot-kick was superbly saved by Greg Fleming, who turned it round his right-hand post.
But from the resultant corner kick, Kerr's delivery found Grant, who rose highest to send a powerful header into the net.
Nisbet twice came close to nudging Ayr back in front after the interval. He was thwarted by Rogers after a powerful run and shot before curling an effort inches wide of the target.
Bairns boss Peter Houston changed his main strikers, bringing on Lee Miller and Scott Shepherd for McHugh and Baird as he searched for a winner.
A late flurry almost produced it as Kerr had a shot cleared off the line before fellow full-back Gallacher watched his header come back off the crossbar.
Falkirk boss Peter Houston: "The frustrating thing for me is we are giving cheap goals away. We should win the first header and then Gary Harkins runs off of Peter Grant and that can't happen. It was the same last week we tippy-tappied about our box and we had to come from behind then.
"We keep shooting ourselves in the foot. We get back into it before half time and then probably upped the tempo and dominated the second half, although Ayr are always dangerous on the counter attack. But it just wouldn't go in for us today. Fleming made a few good saves but that's a game we should be looking to win at home."
Ayr United manager Ian McCall: "Falkirk have aspirations to finish in the top two or three, but I think we fully merited the draw.
"We're a bit disappointed with the goal we conceded. It was a penalty and the goalie made a great save from the penalty but then we switch off. To save a penalty and lose a goal like that we're gutted!
"I think the draw was probably fair and it was a good point for us."
Match ends, Falkirk 1, Ayr United 1.
Second Half ends, Falkirk 1, Ayr United 1.
Foul by David McCracken (Falkirk).
Gary Harkins (Ayr United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Lee Miller (Falkirk) header from very close range is saved in the top right corner.
Attempt blocked. Mark Kerr (Falkirk) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Substitution, Ayr United. Alan Forrest replaces Kevin Nisbet.
Attempt missed. Michael Rose (Ayr United) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
Corner, Ayr United. Conceded by Tony Gallacher.
Corner, Falkirk. Conceded by Scott McKenna.
Attempt saved. Gary Harkins (Ayr United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Attempt saved. James Craigen (Falkirk) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Attempt blocked. Myles Hippolyte (Falkirk) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Aaron Muirhead (Falkirk) is shown the yellow card.
Aaron Muirhead (Falkirk) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Nicky Devlin (Ayr United).
Attempt blocked. Michael Rose (Ayr United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Falkirk. Conceded by Patrick Boyle.
Substitution, Ayr United. Michael Rose replaces Brian Gilmour.
Attempt missed. Craig Sibbald (Falkirk) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
Attempt missed. Kevin Nisbet (Ayr United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
Attempt saved. Kevin Nisbet (Ayr United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Substitution, Falkirk. Scott Shepherd replaces John Baird.
Ross Docherty (Ayr United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by James Craigen (Falkirk).
Foul by Mark Kerr (Falkirk).
Robbie Crawford (Ayr United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Falkirk. Lee Miller replaces Robert McHugh.
Myles Hippolyte (Falkirk) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Nicky Devlin (Ayr United).
Attempt missed. John Baird (Falkirk) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right.
Attempt missed. Myles Hippolyte (Falkirk) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Myles Hippolyte (Falkirk) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Kevin Nisbet (Ayr United).
Hand ball by David McCracken (Falkirk).
Substitution, Falkirk. James Craigen replaces Tom Taiwo because of an injury.
Foul by Robert McHugh (Falkirk).
Patrick Boyle (Ayr United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt missed. Conrad Balatoni (Ayr United) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right.
Corner, Ayr United. Conceded by Tony Gallacher. | Falkirk were left frustrated as Ayr held on a for a draw to remain seven points clear of bottom side St Mirren in the Championship. | 38539506 |
Julian Sandham also said a third of all violent crimes were alcohol-related.
He was speaking at the launch of the North Wales Criminal Justice Integrated Substance Misuse Service.
Mr Sandham said the figures were from research into local offenders, with drug addiction a key cause of burglary offences.
He said: "From a dip sample of local (burglary) offenders, over 60 per cent were believed to have current or past links to drugs and this rose to 90 per cent for repeat offenders.
"Analysis also shows that 31 per cent of all violent crimes are alcohol-related with either the victim or the offender, or both, being under the influence of alcohol."
The new service will see different organisations working together to help offenders recover and to challenge their behaviour. | Six out of 10 burglaries in north Wales are linked to drugs misuse, according to the area's deputy police and crime commissioner. | 34219015 |
Townsend, who replaces the departing Vern Cotter in May, will lead the side on their three-match tour in June.
After the Italy game, which will be the first tier one international played in Singapore, Scotland face Australia in Sydney and Fiji in Suva.
"This time will be invaluable for our coaching team as we strive to further improve the squad," Townsend said.
Dominic McKay, Scottish Rugby chief operating officer, said: "Our first Test in Singapore sees the continuation of our long-term objective of further-globalising the Scottish Rugby brand in Asia-Pacific, as part of an exciting summer tour to the southern hemisphere for the Scotland team."
The three Tests will be played on consecutive Saturdays, with Italy on 10 June, Australia seven days later and Fiji on 24 June.
The second Test takes Scotland to Australia for the first time since 2012, when captain Greig Laidlaw kicked a match-winning penalty to secure a 9-6 triumph, the team's first win down under since 1982. | Scotland will take on Italy in Singapore in Gregor Townsend's first match as national head coach. | 39528323 |
Thousands of dairy farmers, accompanied by hundreds of tractors, descended on the Belgian capital on Monday for two days of demonstrations.
Disruption has continued, with EU officials hindered from reaching their offices by tractors blocking roads.
Farmers want an increase of up to 25% in their prices to cover costs.
EU milk is often sold at below production costs due to a drop in international demand and increased competition.
In pictures: Dairy farmers' protest
The European Milk Board (EMB), which is co-ordinating the protest, says small farmers are being forced out of business.
In Belgium, for example, the wholesale price for a litre of milk is 0.26 euros (£0.21; $0.34) but the cost of producing it is 0.40 euros, the board said.
Dairy farmers in Shropshire, England, recently won a price increase to £0.29 (0.36 euros) per litre from a leading processor but reported that the cost of production was still £0.31 (0.38 euros).
The EU is the world's largest milk producer and in 2010 nearly 47% of its 123bn euro budget went on subsidies and other forms of financial aid for farmers, including dairy producers.
Police guarding the European Parliament found themselves being squirted with jets of milk on Monday as protesters directed hoses at the building.
A trailer of hay was set alight on the nearby Place du Luxembourg, where a mock gallows was erected with what appeared to be a hanging dummy of a farmer.
"Politics are really killing us," Belgian farmer Julien Husquet was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.
"It has to change very quickly at the European level. The way it is going, we are in big trouble."
"It's very simple: you can't live off milk anymore," French farmer Leopold Gruget told AFP news agency.
"If I go on, it's thanks to European aid... If they do it [phase out subsidies] there will be no more small and medium producers here in five years."
Some of the largest farmers' contingents have come from Denmark, France, Germany, the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain, the EU Observer reports.
Erwin Schopges, head of the EMB in Belgium, said Tuesday's protests would be "symbolic" and calmer. | Angry farmers protesting at falling dairy prices in the EU have sprayed fresh milk at the European Parliament and riot police in Brussels. | 20508075 |
Jordy Hiwula almost put the Saddlers ahead but was thwarted by goalkeeper Joel Coleman, before Curtis Main shot wide from Tareiq Holmes-Dennis's cross.
Oldham striker Main then fired in the winner with 25 minutes to go, netting his third goal of the season from 12 yards into the bottom corner.
Hiwula had a chance to equalise for Walsall but his shot cleared the bar.
Walsall's second successive defeat means back-to-back losses for the first time in the league since February 2015.
They drop a place to sixth in the table, six points clear of seventh-placed Barnsley, although with two games in hand on a lot of the teams above them, having not played over Easter due to international calls.
John Sheridan's Oldham are now up to 18th, undefeated in four games and two points clear of the relegation zone.
Oldham manager John Sheridan told BBC Radio Manchester:
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"Obviously it's a relief to get out of the bottom four.
"It's my best result so far since I've come back. I don't think we've played well, but it just shows what character the players have got.
"It's about getting results at this moment in time.
"I thought we were really flat first half, too many players not on the game, so I had a little dig at half-time, and the most pleasing thing is, they responded."
Walsall interim head coach Jon Whitney told BBC WM 95.6:
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"I wasn't as disappointed as last week. The performance was OK. It's the result I'm obviously disappointed with.
"In the first half, we did really well. We tried to play it the right way on the pitch. In the second half, they pressed us.
"They got the one chance, that one chance went in and then they've got something to hold on to." | Oldham boosted their League One survival chances with victory over play-off chasing Walsall. | 35948872 |
Education Scotland's Bill Maxwell said large parts of the 20,000-page guidance was an "appropriate" at the time.
Concern about the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) advice was raised last year by teacher unions.
They believed the document had served to overwhelm teachers with unnecessary and unclear guidance.
Mr Maxwell defended its publication as MSPs quizzed representatives of the Curriculum for Excellence board on how such a high volume of advice had been allowed to build up.
Asked by Labour MSP Johann Lamont whether the thousands of pages were necessary, he said: "Large parts of it were."
He explained to Holyrood's education committee: "I would argue much of it was an appropriate response at that point in time when it was requested, and served a useful purpose for a period of time and then has a natural timespan.
"For example, in the very early days we were modelling learner journeys before the new curriculum model existed, so there was some guidance about what new pathways through a senior phase curriculum that didn't at that point exist might look like."
He said such models "can disappear" as "more practical" real life examples emerge.
Mr Maxwell added: "I won't pretend every piece of advice we've ever put out has absolutely hit the mark." | The boss of Scotland's national education body has told MSPs that a large online document for teachers about curriculum reforms was necessary. | 38665893 |
Babur Karamat Raja, 41, repeatedly stabbed Natalie Queiroz in Sutton Coldfield town centre on 4 March.
A court heard the 40-year-old and her child were ultimately saved by the intervention of four passers-by.
Raja carried out the attack, his barrister said, because his mother "literally drove him mad" through her disapproval of the relationship.
Birmingham Crown Court was told that Raja stabbed Ms Queiroz, who was eight months pregnant, after being forced to choose between his conservative Muslim mother's faith and the "love of his life".
The court heard that Ms Queiroz's breast implants "were probably what saved her life" during the frenzied assault.
Prosecuting barrister Benjamin Aina QC also said that had Raja plunged his knife just 2mm further into the abdomen of his helpless victim "it would have killed the (unborn) baby".
The court heard the child was born unharmed and was doing well.
Jane Humphryes QC said in mitigation that Raja's family turmoil "tipped him over the edge", leading to a temporary mental illness or "adjustment disorder", leaving him with little memory of what he had done.
She said: "His mother had not been happy he was in a relationship with a white woman, and told him he must leave her or she would not be in contact."
Ms Humphryes added: "This man of impeccable character is driven literally to distraction, forced by his own mother to choose between her and his chosen partner and their unborn baby."
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Ms Queiroz said: "I am destroyed, I feel deceived and betrayed. I cry every single day.
She said there were "dark days", adding: "I find it difficult not to be in constant fear."
Raja apologised to his victim in a letter to the judge and to those he injured as they tried to help her.
Sentencing Raja for his "merciless" assault on Ms Queiroz, Judge Simon Drew QC said: "Once you chose your mother over your partner and child, you resolved not only to terminate your relationship, but to terminate them."
In a statement released following the sentencing, Ms Queiroz said: "As far as myself, our families and all our friends were concerned, Bobby and I had an exceptionally happy and loving relationship, living together and looking forward to the birth of our child - a child which he very much wanted right from the start of our relationship.
"The attack he committed on me was completely unprovoked and totally unexpected. Luckily I was saved and my baby was born alive.
"I want to take this opportunity to give my heartfelt thanks and pay tribute to the courageous people who came to the aid of myself and my unborn child, along with the West Midlands Police officers who were at the scene, the paramedics, the crew of the Midlands Air Ambulance and the staff at both the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Birmingham Women's Hospital, without all of whom (my child) and I would not have survived."
Raja pleaded guilty last month to attempted murder and also admitted a charge of attempted child destruction, possession of a knife in public and the wounding and assault of two passers-by. | A man who tried to murder his pregnant girlfriend in a "horrifying" street attack has been jailed for 18 years. | 36610409 |
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Hannah was one of 57,000 people taking part in the 2016 Great North Run.
If you'd like to find out how to get into running, take a look at our special guide. | Hannah Phillips, author of 'No Run Intended', recites her special poem about excuses not to run. | 37324444 |
Hamilton was 0.09 seconds quicker than his team-mate but 0.310secs clear of the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen, who was 0.118secs ahead of Sebastian Vettel.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo were next, looking as if they have closed the gap to the top cars.
The top six were covered by less than 0.8secs, closer than so far this year.
Mercedes also appeared to have an advantage during the race-simulation runs later in the session, lapping consistently quicker than the Ferraris throughout the long runs.
The Ferraris did seem to be able to lap as quickly as the Mercedes in race trim on occasional laps but could not keep the pace up.
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All the teams have brought major aerodynamic upgrades to this race, but the one on the Mercedes is the most visually dramatic, with a new narrower nose and a number of other major changes. So far it appears to be having a significant effect.
Red Bull hoped their upgrade for this race would bring them closer to Mercedes and Ferrari and that, too, appears to be the case. Verstappen was just 0.6secs off the pace, with team-mate Ricciardo 0.1secs further adrift.
At the back of the field, it was a dismal day for home hero Fernando Alonso.
His McLaren-Honda broke down with a major engine failure on his first lap out of the pits in the first session, and he returned to his hotel to play tennis before that session was over.
Alonso was back at the track for the second session, but had to wait for nearly half an hour before he could get out on track while an engine change was completed.
When he did get out, he said the engine still felt down on power and he was slowest of all, 0.5secs slower than his nearest rival, and 1.4secs off the pace of team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne.
During first practice, Honda blamed the failure on an oil leak. Alonso said later: "The oil was coming out of a hole in the engine."
Alonso has failed to finish a race so far this season because of reliability problems, and he added: "It is not my career, my ability, my image. It is their career, their ability their money and their image, so I try to support the team and drive as fast as I can, but the problem is not entirely mine, it is much bigger for them."
Asked why he had left the track, he said he was trying to make up for training time lost because of his commuting back and forth to America to prepare for the Indy 500 after this race.
Hamilton said after the session: "First practice was very, very good but in second practice the track changed and shifted quite a lot, so it was slippery and quite a lot slower for everyone - especially with the gusts of wind.
"It was massively challenging, but still fun nonetheless. The team has done an amazing job with the upgrades and the car is working just as we expected. It's been a much better start to the weekend for me than in Sochi, so I'm very happy."
Vettel said: "I'm not happy. Struggling a bit to find the rhythm, with the conditions, probably more myself than the car.
"I didn't get everything together but I can feel the car is quick so that's good. I am not worried. I am just not happy with how the day went. I wasn't always feeling as if I was captain on board.
"Sometimes somebody else was steering my ship but I hope tomorrow whoever that was will disappear." | Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas secured a Mercedes one-two in second practice at the Spanish Grand Prix, comfortably clear of the Ferraris. | 39897407 |
Brandon Lewis, standing for Great Yarmouth, said the worst incident was outside Scratby where a poster had been cut to look like a swastika.
"These mindless people would rather vandalise election posters than engage in political discussion," he said.
Mr Lewis has reported the vandalism to police due to the scale of the attacks.
Swear words had also been scrawled across other posters.
His election agent is due to meet police officers.
"We are replacing the posters as soon as we find one has been vandalised and we have plenty of them," said Mr Lewis, who won the seat in 2010 and has been a local government minister.
Party workers discovered 22 defaced or destroyed banners over the weekend, with most on private land.
In addition, a further 31 have been attacked since posters were put up at the start of the election campaign.
Other candidates who have declared as standing in the constituency are Alan Grey (UKIP), Lara Norris (Labour), Harry Webb (Green Party) and James Joyce (Liberal Democrats). | More than 50 Conservative election posters have been vandalised in Great Yarmouth since the start of the election campaign, the party has said. | 32202718 |
Hendrie joined the Hammers from Hamilton for an undisclosed fee in July 2015, having made 117 appearances for the Scottish club.
The 21-year-old, who has won three caps for Scotland's under-21 squad, has yet to feature for West Ham's senior team.
Hendrie could make his debut for the Shrimpers when they visit Peterborough United on Saturday.
"I spoke to his former manager, Alex Neil, to ask about the type character we're bringing in," manager Phil Brown told the club website.
"He says he's a solid character, reliable, got bags of energy and probably his biggest asset will be his legs, as he can run all day.
"He brings a lovely left foot to the party, as Ben Coker does, so he's got a great opportunity to get his career going in England at Southend United."
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | League One side Southend United have signed West Ham left-back Stephen Hendrie on a one-month loan deal. | 35326112 |
20 June 2016 Last updated at 08:59 BST
However, the 13-year-old hasn't let that hold him back from his ambition to get behind the wheel.
Scientist Dr Jordan Nguyen has developed special technology to allow Riley to do it - using just his eyes!
Check out the incredible video to find out how he does it.
Pictures courtesy of ABC's Behind the News. | Riley was born with cerebral palsy, which can make it harder for him to do a lot of things other kids can. | 36573993 |
Gigot, 26, tested negative but was banned in February after an "inappropriate exchange" with an anti-doping officer in October.
Les Dracs have registered the France international in their 25-man squad and he could feature at Leigh on Friday.
He scored 12 tries in 30 games in 2016.
"We are stunned by this sanction," Dragons chief executive Christophe Jouffret said at the time of the ban.
The club's statement said that the procedure was carried out "in the presence of several witnesses who were able to confirm the good behaviour of our player". | Catalans Dragons full-back Tony Gigot has had a two-year suspension by the French Rugby League Federation doping department reduced to three months, meaning he can return to match action. | 39528333 |
Opposition lawmakers in the lower house of Congress failed to obtain the two-thirds majority needed to send the case to the Supreme Court.
Mr Temer welcomed the vote as "clear and incontestable".
The president has been accused of receiving $12m (£9m) in bribes from the boss of a giant meatpacking firm, JBS. He has denied the allegation.
In the 513-seat chamber, 263 voted against the motion to send the president for trial and 227 voted in favour, well below the 342 needed for the motion to pass.
"With the support the lower house has given me, we will pass all the reforms that the country needs," President Temer said, after the vote.
"Now it is time to invest in our country. Brazil is ready to start growing again."
He vowed to complete his term of office, which ends in December 2018.
The Congress session was marred by scenes of chaos and angry exchanges.
Lawmakers shouted abuse, pushed each other and threw fake bank notes at their opponents.
Julia Carneiro, BBC News, Rio de Janeiro
You know there's something serious happening in Brazil when the prime time soap opera is cancelled.
In its place, the voting session in Congress was shown on the main TV channel, with no lack of drama - from pushing and shoving to fake money flying in the air.
After the outcome, Brazilians turned back to the evening's live football match.
A recent poll suggested that more than 80% of the population wanted the investigations to continue, but the outcome of the vote in Congress was expected.
Over the past weeks, Brazilians followed news of Mr Temer's manoeuvres to muster support to save his government.
Unlike his impeached predecessor, Dilma Rousseff, Mr Temer is no beginner in politics, and showed his ability in forging alliances - even if this includes promising roles in ministries, funds for lawmaker's projects and other benefits.
President Temer is currently approved by only 5% of the population, but still has the backing of political elites and businesses due to the economic reforms he is pursuing - and has so far managed to resist the political scandal.
Left-wing Congressman Ivan Valente, of the Socialism and Liberty Party, demanded the ousting of Mr Temer and the holding of new elections.
"The Brazilian people do not want Temer, the Brazilian people want direct elections. We do not want to change six for half-a-dozen. Out with Temer! Direct (elections) now!" he said.
The lengthy session descended into chaos earlier, when both sides traded accusations of corruption.
Pro-government lawmakers displayed inflatable dolls depicting former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as a prisoner.
He was sentenced last month to nine years and six months in jail and is facing other charges of corruption.
Lula says all the accusations against him are politically-motivated.
Mr Temer's supporter argued his dismissal would cause instability and damage Brazil's ailing economy.
"I am in favour of all investigations, but the moment we are living in is very delicate and we need to recover the economy," said Luiz Claudio from the centre-right Republic Party.
Mr Temer became president last year following the impeachment of his predecessor, Dilma Rousseff.
She was found guilty of tampering with the government accounts in order to hide a growing deficit ahead of her re-election in 2014. | The Brazilian Congress has voted not to put President Michel Temer on trial for corruption. | 40809826 |
Jeremiah Mathis Thede, from the Alameda in Berkeley, California, seemed "angry and annoyed" on board a flight that diverted to Belfast after staff became worried about his behaviour.
An attendant said the 42-year-old alarmed parents during the flight from Rome to Chicago on 20 June last year.
Mr Thede denies the charge against him.
He was arrested after the plane's captain decided to abort the United Airlines flight and land at Belfast International Airport after concerns were raised about Mr Thede's behaviour.
More than 200 passengers had to wait 23 hours before resuming their journey to the US.
Flight attendant Carlos Pagan told Antrim Crown Court on Thursday that Mr Thede appeared "not happy" and "kind of intimidating".
He said the accused approached crew members to demand crackers while they were preparing for take-off.
"There was tension, people were nervous," Mr Pagan said.
"I felt people being nervous and kind of looking around, what was going on, and also I would say adrenalin was high as there were families with kids, the fathers were protective."
Mr Thede stood in the aisle, looking for something in his bags and made repeated visits to the toilet, the court heard.
Mr Pagan added: "I heard a guy told him to cut it off and he said: 'I am not afraid of you.'"
Sheila Wire, who was in charge of the flight crew, said she had received complaints from passengers before advising the pilot to ground the aircraft.
"I was concerned that they were so concerned," she said.
"The mothers moved their kids from that side. The lady behind him... put her children by the window."
The trial continues. | Tense passengers moved children away from an American man accused of endangering an aircraft, a County Antrim court has heard. | 35988232 |
The British Social Attitudes Survey has been tracking satisfaction since 1983.
The 2015 poll of nearly 2,200 people showed satisfaction with the NHS at 60% - down from a peak of 70% in 2010.
Some 23% said they were actively dissatisfied - a rise of eight percentage points on the year before and the biggest single jump in a year.
Waiting times were cited as the biggest reason for dissatisfaction - mentioned by over half of people - followed by there being not enough staff.
The findings come amid growing pressure on waiting times for cancer care, A&E and routine operations, such as knee and hip operations.
Patients reported highest satisfaction rates for GP services and lowest for social care, which is run by local authorities and covers home help for tasks such as washing and dressing, and care homes.
The survey - carried out by NatCen Social Research - covered Scotland, Wales and England. The differences between the three nations were not considered to be statistically significant.
Chris Ham, chief executive of the King's Fund think-tank, said that while overall satisfaction levels were still high by historical standards, the findings should act as a "real wake up call".
"What's gone wrong is the public's perception of the NHS under growing pressure. Money is tight, waiting times are getting longer, people are concerned that when they need the NHS it might not be there for them."
Rob Webster, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, agreed the public needed reassurance about the future of the NHS.
But he said the "most important set of results" were on social care. He said the satisfaction levels were "deeply concerning" and said the system needed greater funding.
A spokesman for the Department of Health in England said: "There is pressure on the NHS as our population ages, and that's why the government is investing record amounts to transform care."
A Welsh government spokesman said it too was increasing the budget, and ministers were working hard to "improve patient care", while the Scottish Health Secretary Shona Robison said ministers were always "open to patient feedback".
Read more from Nick
Follow Nick on Twitter | The biggest ever rise in public dissatisfaction with the NHS was recorded last year, according to a long-running survey. | 35527318 |
Christian Taylor broke into a car dealership on Friday, prompting police to respond.
Arlington Police Chief Will Johnson called Officer Brad Miller's pursuit of the 19-year-old "questionable".
Surveillance video shows Taylor jumping on vehicles in a car park and driving a car through a window into the showroom.
Taylor's death is one of several cases under scrutiny in the US, in which an unarmed black person has died during an arrest or while in police custody.
Although Taylor - a student at Angelo State University in West Texas - failed to heed Mr Miller's orders, Chief Johnson said that there was no physical contact between the officer and Taylor.
Mr Miller, a recent graduate of the city's police academy, shot Taylor four times, killing him.
Chief Johnson said Mr Miller failed to follow police department policy and put himself and other officers in danger. The police chief said the officer "exercised poor judgement".
Mr Miller, 49, has not been charged with any crime. However, police are still investigating and will turn over evidence to a grand jury, which will decide whether to charge him.
It is uncommon for a police officer in the US to be dismissed so quickly after a shooting involving the police. The investigative process normally takes months, which has frustrated victims' families elsewhere.
However, amid months of nationwide protests over excess force by police, departments are becoming more aggressive in dealing with allegations of officer misconduct.
In April, North Charleston police officer Michael Slager was quickly fired and charged with murder after video surfaced showing him shooting a man in the back as he ran away. | Authorities in Texas have fired a white police officer who shot and killed an unarmed black college student. | 33872600 |
Trina Hibberd, from Mission Beach in Queensland, woke on Monday to find the 5.2m scrub python named Monty stretched from her lounge room to her bedroom.
Monty managed to turn on a light and knock over a lamp before snake-catcher Dave Goodwin arrived.
Mr Goodwin induced the snake to wrap around his forearm before capturing it inside a plastic home-brewing jug.
He told the BBC the 40kg snake was "choking [his] arm to death" before he transferred it into the tub.
"When you go near them they have this real deep gurgle in their throat, which means in other words don't come near me," he said.
To encourage the snake to grab hold of his arm, Mr Goodwin first grabbed it near the head with a pair of tongs.
"The tongs won't hold it, it's too big, so I use the tongs to divert its attention and grab it by the scruff of the neck," he said.
"That ensures that the snake lets go of everything else, wraps himself around my arm."
Ms Hibberd said a friend staying at her house first noticed the gargantuan reptile's presence.
"I guess he came in to have a bit of a feed or say hello, or he's gone a bit senile. I've no idea," she told the BBC.
But she thinks he has been living in the roof of her house for many years.
Monty has now been transferred to a sewage pond within the Cassowary Coast Regional Council area, where it is hoped he will take care of a rat infestation.
"I guess Monty has gone to snake heaven and he's going to be this big fatso," Ms Hibberd said. | A huge snake that has lived in the roof of an Australian home for 10 years has tried to upgrade to the master bedroom. | 36573623 |
Ms James had been regarded as the favourite to succeed Nigel Farage, who quit as leader following the UK's vote to leave the EU.
The MEP won with 8,451 votes. ahead of Lisa Duffy, who received 4,591.
She said UKIP was "the opposition party in waiting" and said the Tories "cannot be trusted with true Brexit".
"The threats to the referendum outcome are increasing by the day," she said, adding she would reject "Brexit-lite".
LIVE: New UKIP leader as Farage bows out
Profile: Who is Diane James?
Analysis: Can Diane James unite UKIP?
Farage: I have given UKIP my all
To applause at the UKIP conference, she said: "Yes to a 100% European Union exit. Can I be any clearer? Yes to a sovereign independent UK. Yes to a UK free to make trade deals with whoever and whenever we want and yes to an immigration policy that allows entry regardless of origin to those with the skills and the expertise and the social values that this country wants."
On the referendum vote, Ms James warned that "we have only just won a heat" in a "28-member state Olympic competition to leave the European Union".
She praised her predecessor and said she was "not Nigel-lite" and would not pretend to be so but would be "stepping into his leadership shoes" to try to continue his political success.
Later, in a news conference, she said Mr Farage would not be a "back seat driver" and she would be "making my own decisions" but she would seek his opinion on some matters: "Why wouldn't I? The legacy he bequeathed to this party, the experience, the knowledge he has got - I would be absolutely nuts to ignore that."
She was also asked about comments by outgoing deputy leader Paul Nuttall that he "fears for the very future of our party" if in-fighting that had plagued the party for more than a year could not be resolved.
Ms James said she was surprised he had said that as it was an "opposition narrative" that suggested UKIP was not united and she was happy with way UKIP MEPs had worked together.
She said UKIP had "moved mountains on the political landscape" and was the "change movement of the United Kingdom" and added: "I believe in UKIP's values of liberty, common sense, democracy and pragmatic approaches to the challenges this country faces."
She told the party conference in Bournemouth that she might use different language and be less frank than Mr Farage, but she would be honest and "uphold all the beliefs and values that this party stands for".
And, in a message to the prime minister, she said: "If you're watching this afternoon, you'll be watching the opposition party in waiting."
She accused Mrs May of stealing some of UKIP's policies - such as grammar school expansion - adding: "Mrs May: from one grammar school girl to another, stop the faff, stop the fudge and the farce, get on with it - invoke Article 50 and give UKIP the best Christmas present we could ever have."
She added later: "My view is the Tory Party cannot be trusted with true Brexit."
Asked about her decision, within an hour of becoming leader, to remove Neil Hamilton from the list of speakers at the conference on Saturday, she said it was "my prerogative and I chose to change the programme", but denied it was a "purge".
Mr Hamilton has been replaced on the agenda by Nathan Gill, the man he ousted as leader of the UKIP group on the Welsh Assembly.
Mr Hamilton said it was a "rather bizarre way" to unite a party and criticised another decision to reduce the time allocated to UKIP's sole MP, Douglas Carswell.
Earlier, Ms James said Mr Gill, who now sits as an independent member of the Welsh Assembly, "has my 100% support".
UKIP MEP Steven Woolfe, who had been expected to stand but was ruled ineligible after submitting his papers late, told BBC News that Ms James had been "very clear that she wants to make UKIP a winning machine".
"I hope and I believe that she will take the party forward," he said.
But Labour MP Pat McFadden, a member of Open Britain - born out of the unsuccessful Remain campaign during the referendum - said: "UKIP may have a new leader but the same questions apply about the UK's future outside the EU.
"Will she press for the £350m a week extra pledged by the Leave campaign for the NHS? Will she campaign for their other promises to be met?"
Mr Farage stood down following the UK's vote to leave the European Union, saying his "political ambition has been achieved".
The face of Euroscepticism in the UK for nearly two decades, he helped turn UKIP from a fringe party into the third biggest in UK politics - in terms of votes at the 2015 general election. He also helped persuade more than 17 million people to vote to leave the EU.
Ms James, a former businesswoman and healthcare professional, saw off four other contenders: Bill Etheridge, Lisa Duffy, Liz Jones and Phillip Broughton. | Diane James has been elected as the UK Independence Party's new leader and has told Prime Minster Theresa May to "get on with" getting the UK out of the EU. | 37387162 |
Let's start with the biggie - is there a Brexit effect that is frightening workers off from the British economy?
Anecdotally, many of us who report on this field have picked up these stories. I spoke to a lot of Eastern European workers around the time of the general election who were rather nervous but somewhat resigned to Brexit. But not many of them suggested to me they were going to get on the first budget flight back home.
But today's data gives us a really good glimpse into the thousands of individual decisions that ordinary people make about their future.
Net migration - that's the difference between the number of immigrants coming in for a year or more and the number of people who emigrate - has fallen substantially since the referendum. In March 2016, weeks out from the vote, it stood at almost 330,000.
Today it is 81,000 down at 246,000 people - the lowest it has been for three years.
The estimates from the Office for National Statistics show that two-thirds of this fall in net migration is accounted for by changes in EU migration, and particularly by citizens of Eastern and Central Europe.
In the year to the end of March, fewer EU nationals arrived to live in the UK than in the previous 12 months - and there was an acceleration in the numbers leaving.
81,000
decrease in net migration
246,000
net migration to the UK, lowest figure for three years
Net EU migration fell by 51,000
'EU8' emigration rose by 17,000
When you look at the figures for the 10 nations of Eastern and Central Europe, we can see that 62,000 of their citizens said "do widzenia" ("goodbye") to the UK while 26,000 fewer of them arrived.
When you drill down further, net migration from the A8 nations (Poland and others which joined the EU in 2004) has dropped very sharply. In the year to March 2016, 39,000 more of these citizens arrived than left. In the year to March 2017, that had crashed to just 7,000.
Interestingly, notes Prof Jonathan Portes of King's College London, these figures show, for the first time, a stabilising of arrivals from the eight Eastern European nations - and that suggests they no longer regard the UK as as attractive as it once was.
"Net migration from the A8 countries, which joined the EU in 2004, is now statistically insignificant for the first time since then," he says.
"Moreover, figures for National Insurance registrations, which measure new arrivals registering to work, also fell, with the number of EU nationals registering in April to June falling more than 12% on the same period a year earlier.
"These statistics confirm that Brexit is having a significant impact on migration flows, even before we have left the EU or any changes are made to law or policy."
For its part, the ONS is cautioning that it's too early to say this is a long-term trend. So are there other factors beyond a suspected Brexit effect?
Since the Brexit referendum, the falls in the pound on currency markets mean that money made in the UK buys less back home.
This is really important for workers who are sending cash back to their families - and a decisive factor in decisions to move all around the world.
Last June, the pound bought almost 6 Polish zlotys. Today, it buys only 4.6 zlotys.
What's more, when people choose to move to another country, they're not just looking at the circumstances there, but, fairly obviously, at the conditions at home.
And there is no doubt that for some EU workers, coming to the UK isn't the slam-dunk deal it once was.
The Polish economy, for example, has one of the strongest growth rates in the EU and its government is lobbying workers to stay at home, rather than take their skills elsewhere.
Whatever the precise factors, the government will want to present all this as a victory for its strategy and progress towards its net migration target.
And while campaigners for falls will be buoyed by the statistics - some are urging caution.
"This is a step forward but it is largely good fortune," says Lord Green, chairman of Migrationwatch UK.
"It is mainly due to a reduction in the huge net inflow of East Europeans from 100,000 to 50,000. This should not obscure the fact that migration remains at an unacceptable level of a quarter of a million a year with massive implications for the scale and nature of our society."
That's a pointer to the scale of the challenge ministers still face, if they are determined to stick to their target. Net migration from the rest of the world still stands at 180,000 people a year - and that is the one part of policy that the UK can currently completely control.
The August figures have also revealed some fascinating truths about migration, and people's intentions, that until now have been subjected to myth, fears and an awful lot of speculation - do people leave the UK when they should?
Well, we don't really know - or at least we didn't until now. The ONS uses a large rolling survey at ports to estimate immigration and emigration - but it's only as good as a survey can be - it has limitations.
Now, we have "exit checks" data - figures derived from the scans of passports and so on as people leave the UK at our ports.
And the figures from the Home Office show, for the first time, that the vast majority of visitors to the UK who require a visa leave the UK when they should.
Some 1.34 million visas granted to non-EEA nationals expired in 2016-17. Of those people who had not already secured a legal reason to stay on, 96.3% departed in time. A further 0.4% left after their visa expired. It's not quite clear what happened to the remaining 3.3%.
So, of all those visas, around 40,000 overstayed.
And what's even more interesting are the figures around students. International students have been a hot topic in the migration debate with some claiming that they habitually overstay their visas. Some of the predictions for student over-stayers have been enormous.
The exit check data shows the rate of compliance - those who play by the rules - was 97.4%. And that suggests that assumptions about mass overstaying are either simply wrong or, alternatively, a thing of the past after a crackdown on bogus colleges. | There are so many important headlines in the August migration data that it is difficult to know where to begin. | 41037021 |
Dimitry Kozak told state news agency Tass that organisers have agreed a new contract, which will replace a deal that was due to expire in 2020.
Sochi hosted the first Russian Grand Prix in 2014 on the same site that was used for some of the events at that year's Winter Olympics.
This year's race is on 30 April. | The Russian Grand Prix is to remain on the Formula 1 calendar until 2025, according to the country's deputy prime minister. | 39120886 |
David Hill, 57, died at Grimsby's Victoria Street police station after being arrested for affray in 2013.
A Humberside Police disciplinary panel found PC Emily Turner and Sgt Nicholas Mortimer had breached police rules.
A third officer, PC Mark Gowan, was found guilty of misconduct. The force said the officers had received written warnings.
Humberside Police's Assistant Chief Constable, Lee Freeman, who chaired the panel, said: "Mr Hill was not shown the level of respect, dignity or professionalism expected of Humberside Police."
The panel was told Mr Hill, of Peaks Lane, New Waltham, had died from acute alcohol intake. | Two police officers have been found guilty of gross misconduct over the death of a man in a police cell. | 35943201 |
Ward hopes the injury will not threaten his hopes of appearing at Euro 2016 in France, which starts in June.
The 29-year-old was forced to come off during the first half of his side's 2-1 home defeat.
The problem will be assessed by his club's medical team on Tuesday.
Forest head coach Paul Williams said: "Jamie has a hamstring problem, which is not great.
"We will see how he is after the medical staff see him. Hopefully it will not be too bad."
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill will be without West Bromwich Albion defender Chris Brunt for this summer's tournament because of an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
O'Neill's men begin their Group C campaign against Poland on 12 June, followed by fixtures against Ukraine on 16 June and Germany on 21 June. | Northern Ireland striker Jamie Ward faces an anxious wait to find out the extent of a hamstring injury sustained while playing for Nottingham Forest in a Championship game on Monday night. | 36023312 |
Things started badly for the Minstermen when Simon Heslop fouled Craig Eastmond in the box. Defender Jamie Collins stepped up to send Scott Flinders the wrong way.
Daniel Nti however responded quickly for York, dinking a beautiful shot over Ross Worner from a tight angle.
Substitute Danny Galbraith put Gary Mills' men in front from 25 yards, courtesy of a deflection over Worner.
Sutton's Dean Beckwith was sent off for receiving two yellow cards in the latter stages, but his side salvaged a draw when Eastmond was fouled in the box for the second time, and again Collins placed in calmly.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Match ends, York City 2, Sutton United 2.
Second Half ends, York City 2, Sutton United 2.
Goal! York City 2, Sutton United 2. Jamie Collins (Sutton United) converts the penalty with a.
Shaun Rooney (York City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Gomis (Sutton United) is shown the yellow card.
Sean Newton (York City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Second yellow card to Dean Beckwith (Sutton United) for a bad foul.
Substitution, Sutton United. Brandon Haunstrup replaces George McLennan.
Substitution, Sutton United. Gomis replaces Adam May.
Dean Beckwith (Sutton United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Substitution, York City. Kaine Felix replaces Richard Brodie.
Goal! York City 2, Sutton United 1. Daniel Galbraith (York City).
Clovis Kamdjo (York City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Substitution, Sutton United. Maxime Biamou replaces Roarie Deacon.
Substitution, York City. Daniel Galbraith replaces Jack Higgins.
Second Half begins York City 1, Sutton United 1.
First Half ends, York City 1, Sutton United 1.
Goal! York City 1, Sutton United 1. Daniel Nti (York City).
Goal! York City 0, Sutton United 1. Jamie Collins (Sutton United) converts the penalty with a.
Jack Higgins (York City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up. | York's winless run was extended to 10 matches as two Sutton penalties frustrated the hosts in a 2-2 National League draw. | 37737851 |
The sale of so-called "fully loaded Kodi boxes" has been called a "top priority" by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (Fact).
The five traders were arrested in early morning raids.
Fact said it believed the suspects had made in the region of £250,000 selling the devices online.
Kodi is free software built by volunteers to bring videos, music, games and photographs together in one easy-to-use application.
Some shops sell legal set-top boxes and TV sticks, often called Kodi boxes, preloaded with the software.
The developers behind Kodi say their software does not contain any content of its own and is designed to play legally owned media or content "freely available" on the internet.
However, the software can be modified with third-party add-ons that provide access to pirated copies of films and TV series, or free access to subscription television channels.
The sale of these so-called "fully loaded" boxes is currently the subject of a legal test.
The five arrests were made in Bolton, Bootle, Cheadle, Manchester and Rhyl.
Kieron Sharp, director general of Fact, said the arrests "should send out a clear warning to anyone involved in the sale and distribution of illegal set-top boxes".
"Set-top boxes loaded with apps and add-ons allowing access to copyright infringing material are very much illegal and anyone involved in selling these boxes should not be surprised to receive a knock on the door," he said.
Fact said it had co-ordinated its "day of action" on behalf of the Premier League and subscription television providers BT, Sky and Virgin Media.
The five have been released on bail following questioning. | Five people have been arrested, accused of selling set-top boxes modified to stream subscription football matches, television channels and films for free. | 38906561 |
Thousands of miners and police clashed at the South Yorkshire coking site.
Hundreds of trade unionists, supporters and former miners joined the Westminster demonstration earlier.
In October, Home Secretary Amber Rudd turned down calls for an inquiry into the policing of the bitter year-long miners' strike.
What was the 'Battle of Orgreave'?
Orgreave: The battle that's not over
Joe Rollin, Unite union official and chair of Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, said: "We want to send a clear message... that we aren't going away and that our fight for the truth will go on."
Chris Skidmore, Yorkshire area chairman of the National Union of Mineworkers, who was at Orgreave, said: "We want to heighten awareness of what happened and the justice of our case for an inquiry."
Eighteen newly-declassified files released to the National Archive last week showed Margaret Thatcher's government feared a "witch hunt" would ensue if a public inquiry was held.
At Monday's protest, Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott said: "Labour fully supports the demand for justice for the striking miners at Orgreave and their families.
"The truth must be told, but the Tories are refusing to hold a proper inquiry." | A "noisy protest" has been held outside the Home Office in London by campaigners calling for an inquiry into the 1984 Battle of Orgreave. | 39259609 |
That result left First Minister Carwyn Jones - a staunch Remainer - in a tricky situation.
Despite the first minister's pre-referendum position, the Welsh Government has accepted the referendum result - but argued that Wales must retain full single market access.
Both the Labour Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru published a Brexit White Paper setting out what Wales wants post-Brexit.
They feel there are still plenty of battles left to fight.
Mr Jones' latest concern is over the future of economic aid (worth £2bn to Wales between 2014-20) and farming subsidies (£250m a year) - the concern being that there may be no money at all after 2020.
But the first minister does not think Prime Minister Theresa May is listening to him, accusing her in an article in the Guardian newspaper of having a "tin ear" on matters of devolution.
But Mrs May is more likely to need a tin hat when it comes to her relationship with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the relationship between the prime minister and the Welsh first minister is not so tense.
The number 50 has been prominent in Carwyn Jones's thoughts in recent weeks.
Last week he turned 50 - eight days ahead of the triggering of Article 50.
He told me at the Welsh Labour Conference in Llandudno on Sunday that despite rumours he will step down before the next Welsh election in 2021 he had given "no thought" to the idea.
"I just turned 50," he said. "I'm still much younger than Theresa May, younger than David Cameron.
"There's a lot of work to do, particularly with Brexit."
There is support for Brexit in the assembly - the Conservatives have 11 seats and their leader Andrew RT Davies was arguably the loudest pro-Brexit voice in Wales during the referendum campaign.
UKIP entered the Senedd in Cardiff Bay for the very first time last May after winning seven seats in the assembly election.
There is no doubt Carwyn Jones would rather the UK was not leaving the EU- but his top priority in the post-Article 50 discussions will be to secure Welsh access to the single market. | Wales voted for Brexit - the result here roughly mirrored the UK result with 52.5% of people in Wales voting for the UK to leave the EU and 47.5% to remain. | 39424034 |
The 33-year-old singer said the baby, born on Wednesday weighing 7lb 9, was "an incredibly beautiful, healthy baby boy" and was "looking like a dream".
She said they had not named him yet, but he was "already stealing hearts".
"We are all madly in love and overwhelmingly happy with out little arrival," she wrote on Instagram beside a picture of Liam cradling the newborn.
She went on to wish all the mothers around the world a Happy Mother's Day, saying the day would now have "a different meaning to her forever".
In a message on his own Instagram page, Liam, 23, said he was "incredibly happy to welcome our new baby boy into the world".
"It's a moment that I will never forget for the rest of my life and my favourite memory I have so far."
He also said he was "completely in awe" of Cheryl and how she had been "the whole way through this", saying "she's really made my dreams come true".
Cheryl's former Girls Aloud bandmate Nadine Coyle tweeted: "I am so so happy for you and your precious little boy & family!"
Last year Cheryl, who has been married twice, said she wanted to be known just by her first name.
Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning | Former X Factor judge Cheryl has announced the birth of her first child with One Direction star Liam Payne. | 39395996 |
Plans drawn up by the city council would allow it to issue fines or prosecute those who fail to comply with its code of conduct for street performers.
Musicians at a demonstration on Thursday said the proposals were too strict.
The council has said it "encourages" busking in the city centre.
Performers currently require a free licence to perform in Oxford, and agree to abide by guidelines first drawn up about a decade ago.
The rules, which state music should not be audible from more than 50m (164 ft) away, are not legally enforceable, the council said.
However, if the authority obtains an order under anti-social behaviour legislation introduced last year, fines of £100 could be issued to those deemed to be breaking the code.
If a case is taken to court the penalty could rise to £1,000.
Source: Oxford.gov.uk
Jonny Walker started a petition against the proposals which states the plans could make "street music, art and performance in Oxford a potential criminal offence and subject to strict, arbitrary controls."
He said the plans could do "immense cultural damage" to Oxford and its reputation.
"It is not good for streets that are vibrant and open to the arts so we are asking them to come up with a new code of conduct," he added.
Council leader Bob Price said the code has been reviewed and "compares well" with those in other English cities.
Applications for public spaces protection orders are submitted under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, which enables local authorities to outlaw certain activities.
Critics say the legislation risks creating a "patchwork" of laws, with variations in "acceptable behaviour" from town to town. | Buskers in Oxford have staged a musical protest against proposals they say will "criminalise" the activity. | 32828555 |
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