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The 47-year-old died after falling from a window at the Central Hotel, near Central Station, on Gordon Street. The incident happened after officers attended the hotel, at 11:30 last Friday, as part of an ongoing inquiry. The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) is examining the circumstances surrounding the fatality. An initial appeal was issued on Monday for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward. Now a spokesman for the investigation team has asked anyone with video footage to contact them. "We would like to thank the public for the overwhelming response so far to our initial appeal, which has provided us with important information to assist with our inquiries," he said. "However, we are aware of the existence of crucial footage taken from mobile devices around the time of the incident and would urge anyone with this to come forward. "We are keen to speak to any witnesses who were in Gordon Street, near to the entrance of Glasgow Central Station, between 11.15 am and 11.30 am on Friday 11 November 2016 who may be in possession of such footage." Anyone in possession of video footage of the incident is asked to contact should contact the Pirc.
An investigation into how police handled an incident where a man fell to his death in Glasgow has appealed for witnesses with video footage.
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It finished 0-11 apiece after normal time and the teams will meet again in Ballybofey next week. Derry stunned holders Monaghan with a 3-10 to 1-11 victory at Iniskeen to take them into the semi-finals. Cavan hammered Fermanagh 2-19 to 0-4 while Armagh defeated Down 2-13 to 0-12 in the Athletic Grounds. Donegal were dominant in the first half but struggled to score while Tyrone were guilty of too many wayward passes. Michael Langan's point deservedly nudged Donegal in front before the interval, although their poor shooting meant they only led 0-5 to 0-4. Tyrone had their best spell in the third quarter with David Mulgrew pointing twice as they moved 0-9 to 0-7 ahead after 41 minutes. Langan's quality frees brought Donegal back into it and Tyrone keeper Benny Gallon pulled off a superb save from Michael Carroll. Donegal's total of 15 wides looked to have cost them when Fergal Meenagh bore down on goal, but the ball was somehow cleared. It finished all-square after normal time with the excellent Langan nailing his fourth dead ball chance of the half. Brennan had the final say in the extra-time, slotting over a 45 three minutes from the end. Lanagan finished with a total of 0-6 while Mulgrew was Tyrone's top-scorer with four points from play. Next week's winners will play Cavan in the semi-final on 29 March after the Breffni side crushed Fermanagh. Cavan, who won four Ulster U21 titles in a row between 2011 and 2014, scored the opening seven points at Brewster Park. Ryan Connolly hit four points as the visitors cruised to a 0-10 to 0-3 interval lead before Conor Smith and Peter Corrigan added second-half goals. Derry pulled off the biggest shock of the night, beating defending champions Monaghan. James Donaghy's 19th minute goal helped the Oak Leafers lead 1-5 to 0-5 at half time. Barry Kerr was sent off for Monaghan and Tiernan Flanagan was among the Derry goalscorers in the second half. David McAllister netted a late penalty for Monaghan but it was too little, too late. In the semi-final Derry will play Armagh, who beat Down 2-13 to 0-12 in the Athletic Grounds. Shea Loye starred with a personal haul of 2-7.
Lee Brennan levelled for Tyrone late in extra-time to secure a 0-14 to 0-14 draw with Donegal in the Ulster U21 quarter-final at Healy Park.
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Fans' groups planned to lay memorabilia at the statue outside the ground on Saturday but have alleged it was taken down to thwart the action. Demo organisers also said the club would take legal action to stop fans gaining access to the statue. Nobody from Blackpool FC or its owners the Oystons was available for comment. A demonstration against the way the Oyston family run the club is due to take place before the last game of the season on Saturday. This could see the already-relegated team finish with the least number of points recorded in the Championship. Fans group the Tangerine Knights said it had a witness who saw men in high-visibility jackets removing the statue on Tuesday. "To remove the statue of someone so beloved by the fans of the club that they themselves helped pay for, is beyond contempt," said a joint statement by the Tangerine Knights and the Blackpool Supporters Trust. "Stan Mortensen is a hero to tens of thousands, most of whom never saw him play, he is an icon of all that is good about BFC and the community to which it belongs." The Tangerine Knights said the police told the group the club would take legal action against anyone trying to place memorabilia at the statue. "We are sure that the club will have some legitimate reason for the removal, however the timing is very coincidental," said the group. Christine Seddon, of the Blackpool Supporters Trust, said: "I can't say I'm surprised, we don't know why it has gone but I suspect it has something to do with our demonstration." The statue was placed outside the ground in 2005 as a tribute to the Seasiders' centre forward who scored a hat-trick in the team's famous 1953 FA Cup Final victory. Fans raised part of the funds.
Blackpool fans have called on the club owners to restore a statue of legendary ex-player Stan Mortensen they claim was removed before a demonstration.
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Sarah Huckabee Sanders told media there had been an "erosion of confidence" in Mr Comey over the last year. The administration maintains he was removed on Tuesday for his handling of the Hillary Clinton emails inquiry. But US media report Mr Comey recently asked the Justice Department for more resources for his Trump-Russia inquiry. The US Senate Intelligence Committee has invited Mr Comey to testify next week. The White House is rejecting calls to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate allegations the Trump campaign colluded with the Kremlin in last year's US presidential election. "We don't think it's necessary," Ms Huckabee Sanders said on Wednesday. "No one wants this to be finished and completed more than us." If Donald Trump is trying to avoid comparisons with Richard Nixon's scandal-plagued presidency, welcoming Henry Kissinger - the man probably most closely connected with the former president - in the Oval Office probably isn't the best move. The whole group meeting with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak was a bit strange, starting with the fact that it happened at all. Given the allegations that Mr Trump fired James Comey because of the FBI investigation into Russia ties to the Trump campaign, meeting Moscow's envoy the very next day isn't exactly good optics, as they say. Neither is keeping US media out of the room and having Russian state photographers provide the only public images of the event - images that are sure to feature in Democratic campaign adverts in the not-too-distant future. During the campaign, Mr Trump famously joked that he could shoot somebody, and his supporters would stick by him. Smiling with the Russian ambassador in the midst of a growing Russian hacking controversy is the diplomatic equivalent - a brazen move sans firearms. Many in Washington will howl, but there's no guarantee it will move the needle among the president's legions. The White House insists it was because of how he handled the investigation into Mrs Clinton's use of private email while she was secretary of state. But many are sceptical that the FBI director would be fired because of actions that have been widely attributed for Mr Trump's shock election victory. The White House spokeswoman said Mr Comey had committed "atrocities, circumventing the chain of command" within the Justice Department. The White House said the "final catalyst" was Tuesday's letter from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein recommending Mr Comey be fired for "serious mistakes". Mr Rosenstein faulted Mr Comey's decision last July to announce the Clinton emails case was closed, and for revealing in October - 11 days before the election - that the inquiry had reopened. The deputy attorney general said Mr Comey's conduct had "usurped" the then-attorney general. Unnamed White House officials briefed Reuters news agency that Mr Trump finally lost patience with the FBI director last week over a perceived act of insubordination. They said Mr Comey had refused to preview for top presidential aides his planned testimony to a 3 May Senate hearing on the Clinton email issue. Critics accuse the Republican president of firing the nation's top law enforcement official because he was leading an inquiry into whether the Trump campaign colluded with the Russians in last year's election. On Wednesday, Democratic senators Dianne Feinstein and Richard Durbin told US media that Mr Comey had asked the deputy attorney general for more resources - mainly staff - for the FBI investigation. Justice Department spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores called those reports "totally false". Either way, Republicans and Democrats vowed the House and Senate Intelligence Committees' investigations into the Russia claims would continue. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said if Mr Trump believed replacing Mr Comey would halt the inquiries "he made a big mistake". The president stood by his actions on Wednesday during a surprise meeting with Nixon-era Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Mr Trump said Mr Comey was fired "because he was not doing a good job". His remarks preceded a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak - his first with any Russian official since taking power. Mr Trump later tweeted: "Dems have been complaining for months & months about Dir. Comey. Now that he has been fired they PRETEND to be aggrieved. Phony hypocrites!"
President Donald Trump had been considering firing former FBI Director James Comey since he was elected, a White House spokeswoman says.
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Roy Deeming's yacht, Desiree, was found drifting off La Corbiere, off the south-west coast, on Christmas Day, prompting a major search operation. He has been missing from his home in St Brelade since late on Christmas Eve. Searches were called off on Friday and were not restarting on Saturday, Jersey Police said.
Weather conditions are too dangerous for searches to continue for a missing man off Jersey, police say.
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The supermarket said like-for-like sales excluding fuel fell 2.1% in the 12 weeks to 6 June, slightly better than expectations. Including fuel, sales fell 3.7%. Sainsbury's recently opened its 300th petrol station. Chief executive Mike Coupe said trading conditions were also "being impacted by strong levels of food deflation". The firm said volume and transactions continued to grow, while it also remained committed to delivering its cost savings programme. In midday trade in London, Sainsbury's shares were up by 4.94%. Last month the grocer reported its first full-year loss for 10 years as competition within the UK grocery market continued, and warned the outlook for the rest of the financial year would "remain challenging". Those results were hit by a number of one-off costs, including a write-down in the value of some of its stores. In the previous quarter, sales had fallen by 1.9%, again due to price cuts and food deflation. Sainsbury's is the UK's third largest supermarket chain by annual revenue, after Tesco and Wal-Mart-owned Asda. Supermarkets in the UK are battling to win back market share from cheaper rivals Lidl and Aldi. Aldi recorded a record gain of market share over the last year, while Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons all experienced a decline in sales, according to Kantar Worldpanel. Bryan Roberts, an analyst at Kantor Retail, said: "On the face of it, a sixth consecutive quarter of declining like-for-likes is an obvious disappointment, indicative of the fact that Sainsbury's immunity to the discount menace is well and truly over. "With Morrisons back on the front foot and Tesco and Asda continuing to spar on pricing, things certainly won't be getting any easier. "However, the retailer has made some courageous moves on range, stores and promotion and we continue to assert that the Sainsbury's cloud has more silver lining than some."
Sainsbury's has seen sales drop for the sixth straight quarter in what it says is a "highly competitive" market.
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Singer Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page and Warner Music argue that the claimants have failed to make their case after three days of testimony. US District Judge R Gary Klausner is expected to hear arguments on the motion when the trial resumes later. The band are accused of basing Stairway on the 1968 Spirit song, Taurus. The case was brought by Michael Skidmore, who runs the estate of Spirit's late guitarist, Randy Wolfe. In court, Skidmore's lawyer, Francis Malofiy played both songs and attempted to establish that Page heard the song prior to writing Stairway to Heaven. The guitarist testified that he had not heard the Spirit track until a few years ago, and said the chord sequence was also similar to the Mary Poppins song Chim Chim Cher-ee. However, musicologist Dr Alexander Stewart told the court that the chord progressions in Taurus and Stairway "both skip the E before resolving on an A note in an unusual way". The claimants rested their case on Friday, and lawyers for Led Zeppelin filed to have the case dismissed on Monday. The defendants argue that Malofiy failed to put the copyright registration of Taurus into evidence; that the Wolfe Trustee does not own that copyright; and that he failed to establish that Led Zeppelin had heard Taurus before writing Stairway to Heaven. If the judge rules against the motion, the defence will start their case on Tuesday, with Robert Plant and bassist John Paul Jones expected to testify.
Lawyers for Led Zeppelin have asked a judge to throw out a case accusing the band of stealing the riff for Stairway to Heaven.
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Isaac Vassell's first-half opener was cancelled out by Michael Rose's penalty but Marriott's brace secured a third successive victory for Luton ahead of a play-off semi-final against Blackpool. The hosts missed a glorious chance after 19 minutes, Luke Gambin firing wastefully over from 15 yards, while Antony Evans went close for the visitors with a stooping header. Luton went in front in the 28th minute as Dan Potts' header was blocked on the line and Vassell tapped in. Jake Gray fired just wide for the hosts, while Vassell was denied a second by Aaron Wildig's outstretched leg. Morecambe levelled in the 58th minute as Scott Cuthbert brought down Paul Mullin in the area and Rose scored from the spot. Roche producing a stunning stop from Ollie Palmer's header, before Town regained the lead after 74 minutes when Marriott raced to fire into the net with virtually his first touch. Moore made a wonderful save from Mullin, who also fired over, before Marriott drilled home from 20 yards to seal Luton's win. Match report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Luton Town 3, Morecambe 1. Second Half ends, Luton Town 3, Morecambe 1. Substitution, Morecambe. Michael Duckworth replaces Aaron McGowan. Attempt missed. Pelly Ruddock (Luton Town) left footed shot from long range on the right is too high. Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Aaron McGowan. Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Ryan Edwards. Corner, Morecambe. Conceded by Ollie Palmer. Foul by Olly Lee (Luton Town). Alex Whitmore (Morecambe) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Isaac Vassell (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Michael Rose (Morecambe). Substitution, Morecambe. Ben Hedley replaces Aaron Wildig. Goal! Luton Town 3, Morecambe 1. Jack Marriott (Luton Town) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ollie Palmer. Attempt missed. Paul Mullin (Morecambe) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Foul by Lawson D'Ath (Luton Town). Andrew Fleming (Morecambe) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Corner, Morecambe. Conceded by Stuart Moore. Attempt saved. Paul Mullin (Morecambe) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Attempt blocked. Kevin Ellison (Morecambe) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Foul by Scott Cuthbert (Luton Town). Paul Mullin (Morecambe) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Ollie Palmer (Luton Town). Ryan Edwards (Morecambe) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Substitution, Luton Town. Lawson D'Ath replaces Luke Gambin. Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Alex Whitmore. Goal! Luton Town 2, Morecambe 1. Jack Marriott (Luton Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jake Gray. Pelly Ruddock (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Paul Mullin (Morecambe). Foul by Glen Rea (Luton Town). Paul Mullin (Morecambe) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Substitution, Luton Town. Jack Marriott replaces Isaac Vassell. Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Barry Roche. Attempt saved. Ollie Palmer (Luton Town) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Substitution, Morecambe. Andrew Fleming replaces Antony Evans. Stephen O'Donnell (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Lee Molyneux (Morecambe). Scott Cuthbert (Luton Town) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Kevin Ellison (Morecambe). Attempt saved. Pelly Ruddock (Luton Town) header from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Attempt missed. Pelly Ruddock (Luton Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Substitute Jack Marriott's late double ensured Luton ended the regular season on a high with a win at home to Morecambe.
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Saints plan to make a full submission to the SFA on Tuesday. Manager Tommy Wright told the club's website: "We fully support the game's authorities as they attempt to clamp down on this aspect of the game. "In both these cases we feel that the players have been wrongly cautioned." The cards had come after Wright suggested Hearts players were guilty of going down too easily. Cummins was booked by referee John Beaton after 15 minutes at McDiarmid Park, but the Irishman went on to score the only goal of the game 12 minutes after half-time. He was replaced by Kane late in the match and the substitute was shown his yellow card eight minutes after coming on. Media playback is not supported on this device
St Johnstone will discover on Thursday if they have been successful in their appeal against the bookings for Graham Cummins and Chris Kane for simulation during Saturday's 1-0 win over Hearts.
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For the past week hundreds of members of the Guarani-Kaiowa tribe have been mourning the death of a 24-year-old man, Semiao Vilhalva. He was killed - shot in the face - during an invasion, or re-occupation, of three farms in the western state of Mato Grosso do Sul. I looked on as elderly members of the tribe chanted tributes in their native tongue and led mourners across fields they say have belonged to their people for centuries - long before their present white so-called owners arrived, cut down the trees and populated the area with cattle. Semiao was buried on this land, now occupied by the Guarani but also claimed as legally theirs by several influential and powerful farming families here in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Guarani men showed me the very spot, on the bank of a small river, where Semiao was shot and died. The gunman, say my guides, was a hired "pistoleiro" brought in by the farmers to intimidate and scare off the Guarani. But, if anything, the murder of their young leader has made these indigenous people even more resolute to remain. "This is a deliberate policy of genocide. It's a long legal process designed to kill our people, slowly but surely," says Guarani elder Tunico Benites. He goes on: "Our rights are being violated and we don't have even the basic conditions to survive. So we have no choice but to occupy, to retake our lands - otherwise we can't survive as a people." One of those farmers whose land is claimed by the Guarani, under a legal ruling dating back to 2005, is Roseli Ruiz. She is also the chairwoman of the local farmers' syndicate, or union, and is completely mistrustful of the way the dispute has been reported in the international media. In her office in the rural town of Antonio Joao, Roseli Ruiz dismisses any suggestion that farmers had a hand in the death of Semiao. Arguing that that there was no obvious gunshot wound on his body (in contrast to a video I was shown which suggested otherwise) the combative Ms Ruiz offered an explanation that the Indians themselves brought someone who had died earlier, and presented it as a murder, just to discredit the farmers and advance their claims to the land. Roseli Ruiz paints a picture of a hitherto mutually beneficial relationship between indigenous and farmer. "I was known as Roseli of the Indians," she cries. "I took them to hospital if they were ill and even built them a school." It was a relationship that, according to Roseli, only started to deteriorate when the Guarani began to pursue claims to the land - claims which she insists are baseless. Ranchers have long been part of Brazil's drive for development - deep into the interior of the country and into conflict with indigenous people. While some farmers have taken their cattle and moved on from the disputed land, others are refusing to move. Gino Ferreira, like many farmers, has legal titles to his fazenda - or farm. He blames the government for doing nothing while an inevitable conflict loomed. "This is my family's land," says Gino. "If the Indians arrive and take it over what do you think I'm going to do? Lose all I've worked for?" He too, dismisses any allegations that farmers had a hand in the death of the Guarani leader, Semiao. "We're not bandits and we don't hire gunmen," says the 50-year-old farmer. He goes on, "There are political reasons why they to try and make us look bad but none of it is true." But the Guarani's reputation for dogged determination and their struggle has attracted attention beyond this rugged border region between Brazil and Paraguay. Survival International, one of several pressure groups to criticise the hitherto unexplained death of the tribe's leader said, "What is particularly harrowing about this murder is that the Guarani knew their reoccupation was likely to end in bloodshed." The mood among the Guarani is militant. As other Brazilians this week celebrated their independence day, the land's original inhabitants mourned what they had lost. For now the Brazilian army is doing a good job of keeping the two sides apart - preventing new land invasions and more retribution. Occupying these 10,000 hectares the Guarani may have succeeded in recovering some of what was historically theirs. But it has come at a high price and their lives are still burdened by poverty and discrimination.
Genocide is an emotive and powerful accusation to make against anyone but it is exactly what some indigenous leaders in Brazil say is happening to their people because of their government's ignorance, if not its compliance.
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The 45-year-old, who is appearing at the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics, is politically close to Prime Minister David Cameron and is a popular and well-regarded figure on the Conservative benches in the House of Commons. But his career is hanging in the balance over claims that he privately supported attempts by News Corporation to take full control of BSkyB when he was meant to be acting in an impartial "quasi-judicial" way. The culture secretary is accused of being a "cheerleader" for the Murdoch empire and of having a cosy relationship with its executives. His special adviser, Adam Smith, has already been forced to quit over emails, released by the Leveson Inquiry, which revealed close contacts between Mr Hunt's office and News Corp when the firm was bidding to take over BSkyB. And the release of dozens of text messages, some of them in a chatty and familiar tone, between Mr Hunt and News Corp lobbyist Fred Michel has caused further embarrassment. Mr Hunt insists he acted with "total integrity" during the bid process and even asked Lord Justice Leveson if he could bring forward his scheduled appearance before the committee in order to put his side of the story. Listen to Radio 4's Profile of Jeremy Hunt. Listen via the Radio 4 website Download the Profile podcast Explore the Profile archive He has already been forced to explain himself to MPs - with Labour leader Ed Miliband calling for his resignation. Before the Murdoch allegations surfaced, Mr Hunt had led an almost charmed political life. The only previous hint of embarrassment was when James Naughtie, presenter of BBC Radio 4's Today programme, slipped and, instead of using the culture secretary's correct surname, let out an expletive which rhymes with it. Mr Hunt laughed off the faux pas, proclaiming on that most modern of forums - Twitter - that he had found the incident highly amusing. The eldest son of Adm Sir Nicholas Hunt, Jeremy Hunt was brought up in the Surrey town of Godalming. He was educated at Charterhouse School, where he became head boy and was known for his love of cross-country running. He went to Oxford University, gaining a first-class degree in philosophy, politics and economics, and serving as president of the Conservative Association. He later taught English in Japan, a country whose language he now speaks fluently. He is married to Lucia, who is from China, and they have two children. Mr Hunt had a successful career as an entrepreneur before entering Parliament, setting up the educational publisher, Hotcourses, which, as the name suggests, puts prospective students in contact with universities, colleges and other educational institutions. It now employs more than 230 people and has made him a wealthy man. But politics was always his paramount interest and, in 2005 he was elected as Conservative MP for the safe seat of South West Surrey, replacing former cabinet minister Virginia Bottomley. After becoming Tory leader, David Cameron, a contemporary at Oxford, made Mr Hunt the shadow disabilities minister. In a reshuffle in 2007 he was promoted to shadow culture secretary. When the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition entered government in 2010, Mr Hunt joined the cabinet as secretary of state for culture, media and sport - a key role in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympics. In October 2010, following negotiations led by him, the government froze the BBC's licence fee for six years, prompting the corporation to make large-scale cuts. In late 2010, secretly recorded comments made by Business Secretary Vince Cable that he had "declared war" on Rupert Murdoch, led to his removal as overseer of the mogul's proposed takeover of broadcaster BSkyB. The issue landed on the desk of Mr Hunt, who had never made a secret of his admiration for the Murdoch empire, but insisted in public that he was maintaining an impartial stance when it came to ruling on the planned takeover of BSkyB. But emails released by the Leveson inquiry suggest there were back-channel communications between Mr Hunt's office and Fred Michel, the chief lobbyist for James Murdoch, who was leading the bid for BSkyB. Some of the emails and texts from Mr Michel appear to suggest Mr Hunt was secretly backing the bid and "shared" the Murdochs' objectives. Mr Hunt insists the material provides a very one-sided account of what was actually happening at the time and he is determined to set the record straight. The 67 text messages between Mr Hunt and Mr Michel, sent during the period before Mr Hunt took over responsibility for judging whether the BSkyB takeover should go ahead, reveal a personal closeness between the two men, whose wives gave birth in the same hospital during May 2010. In one text Mr Hunt referred to French-born Mr Michel as "mon ami" and, in another, as "daddy". Separately, in December 2010, he told Mr Michel there was "nothing u won't like" in a forthcoming speech. The culture secretary is sure to be asked at the Leveson Inquiry whether there was an inappropriate level of contact between himself, his advisers and News Corp, before and during the takeover process, which was eventually stopped when Mr Murdoch decided to discontinue it following the phone-hacking scandal. Mr Hunt was left free to concentrate on making a success of the 2012 London Olympics. He promised that the event would not be a short-lived showcase for elite sport, but one which would leave a legacy for grassroots sport and of urban renewal in some of east London's most deprived areas. He also pushed ahead with his plan to set up a network of US-style local TV stations in towns and cities across the UK. The government hopes to license the first stations from this summer. But these and other plans have had to take a back seat for Mr Hunt, while he fights for his political survival against accusations of collusion with the Murdoch empire.
It seems a long time now since Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt was being talked of as the next Conservative leader.
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Last year the authorities learned of 946 victims, compared with 710 in 2010, the inter-departmental ministerial group on human trafficking said. Trafficking gangs in China, Vietnam, Nigeria and eastern Europe now pose the biggest threat to the UK , it said. The government said better co-ordination between its departments and with authorities abroad was key. But anti-slavery groups warned government "failures" had led to "significant steps back" in the fight. By Tom SymondsHome Affairs correspondent In Ilford, East London, the police moved in at 05:15 BST, smashing through the door of an end of terrace house, but without result. It was empty. The Met says it carries out two such raids every week, on average. Two miles away in a second house, they found a Lithuanian family living in one room. A stack of mail showed that a large number of people have stayed there before. They questioned the Lithuanians who said they were being paid below minimum wage to work in a recycling depot and building firm. The room costs £140 a week. There was a CCTV camera watching the door of the house. Are they victims of people trafficking? It's not clear, and often those involved haven't asked themselves the same question. But police say those who try to run are often subject to violence. There is currently no official figure for the number of victims trafficked into the country each year. However, the report said 712 adult victims and 234 child victims were reported last year to the National Referral Mechanism, the official body that identifies and looks after those caught up in trafficking. Of the victims referred in 2010, 524 were adults and 186 were children. It is thought the increase could be explained by improvements in identifying victims, although campaigners say the figures of those being trafficked could be far higher as many victims choose not to come forward for fear of being deported. The report suggested an increase in the number of children being forced into crime, including street begging. The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre estimates there are about 300 child trafficking victims in the UK every year. The report also detailed two cases of people trafficked for illegal organ removals, but they were detected and stopped before the operations were carried out. One involved the planned sale of a victim's kidneys. Det Insp Kevin Hyland, of London's Metropolitan Police - which sees the UK's highest rates of trafficking - said some victims travelled to the UK in lorries or containers but the majority arrived lawfully, often accompanied by their traffickers. "The vast majority of them think they're coming to a better life in the UK," he said. Mr Hyland said it was often "almost impossible" for border guards to spot victims because they often did not even know they were being trafficked. Many victims are promised jobs in the hotel or leisure industry, or as interpreters, but when they arrive they are "groomed or threatened" and used for sexual exploitation, forced labour or both, he said. In London, police deal with more than 100 cases of trafficking a year. Some will involve more than 400 victims but the majority involve about 10 to 15 people. The report revealed the largest number of referrals of potential victims of trafficking were Nigerian nationals. From within Europe, Romanian nationals were the biggest group referred. There are an estimated 92 organised crime groups in the UK with known involvement in human trafficking, it said. And 142 defendants were charged with offences related to human trafficking in 2011/12. By Philippa RoxbyHealth reporter, BBC News The two potential victims of organ trafficking in the UK in 2011 are the first people identified as being forced into giving up their internal organs for transplant. But it's still a small problem, with organ trafficking making up only 1% of all potential victims of trafficking last year, according to the Serious Organised Crime Association. Cases of illegal organ trading are rare in the UK because of safeguards in place. The Human Tissue Authority sees 1,200 cases a year of living organ donation - 95% involve kidneys and 5% liver lobes. These cases include people making altruistic organ donations and those coming from abroad to donate organs to family members. The HTA interviews all potential donors to make sure they are consenting freely and to ensure there is no reward or payment. The process can take up to six months with the donor required to sign a form stating no coercion was involved. Only when the HTA is satisfied would the operation be allowed to go ahead. Advice is being drafted for NHS staff to help them identify potential cases of organ trafficking. The report concluded intelligence sharing with international police forces was already "proving effective". Immigration minister Mark Harper said the results demonstrated UK professionals were getting better at "spotting" the crime due to "cross-government" cooperation. "We're doing a better job of cracking down people involved in the vile trade," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. But the number of those prosecuted was "not enough," he said. "One of the things we do is to prosecute people for the most serious offences we can, and sometimes that's not a trafficking offence." Mr Harper also said agencies needed to "make sure victims who are trafficked are treated as victims and not as offenders, which has happened in the past". Dr Aidan McQuade, director of Anti-Slavery International, said Mr Harper "must face up to the fact" that the problem was worsening "because of fundamental policy failures". He said the government viewed the problem "through the lens of immigration" and had allowed rights for migrant workers to slip from "best practice". "It would be helpful if the government appointed a national commissioner on trafficking to make sure policy on this issue was unimpeded by politics." The report revealed thousands of "front-line" workers, including border staff, police and healthcare workers, have been trained to better identify, support and protect victims over the past two years. Some airlines, including Virgin Atlantic and Thomas Cook, are also training cabin crew to identify those who engaged in trafficking and their potential victims. And a 24-hour confidential line has been set up for crew to report concerns to border officials before a plane lands in the UK.
The number of people being trafficked into the UK is rising, latest government estimates suggest.
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Arshad Latif, 34, of Haydon Road, Aylesbury, was found guilty of trying to kill his former partner following a trial at Reading Crown Court. The woman, 29, was left with a 7cm (3in) wound to her neck and other injuries after the attack last August. Latif fled the scene and evaded officers for more than two weeks afterwards, Thames Valley Police said. "There is no doubt that Latif could have killed his former partner when he attacked her with an axe at her home in Aylesbury," Det Con Jayne Green said. He was sentenced to a further five years on licence once he is released.
A man who attacked his ex-girlfriend with an axe has been jailed for 20 years for attempted murder.
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New statistics show the number using services has risen by nearly a third in the last two years. There were 4,642 children and young people seen in the quarter ending June 2016, compared to 3,560 in the same period in 2014. That was a rise of 30%. A team led by Health Improvement Scotland is working in some of the board areas with the longest waits. For adult psychological therapies, there were 12,779 people seen in the quarter, with 81.2% seen within 18 weeks. Workforce statistics also show the number of psychologists working in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) has more than doubled since 2007. Maureen Watt, Minister for Mental Health, said: "The continued and substantial increase in demand for child and adolescent mental health services clearly show that in the past there were far too many children who were unseen and whose need was unmet for far too long. "To respond to this we have doubled the number of psychologists working in CAMHS. We are also investing an additional £150m over five years, and will be publishing a new mental health strategy at the end of the year. "I have been clear with boards that any falls in performance towards the challenging 90% target, or children experiencing long waits, is simply not good enough." A spokesman for Healthcare Improvement Scotland said a team was working with mental health teams to improve access and reduce waiting times.
More children and young people in Scotland are being seen by mental health professionals.
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The incident is said to have taken place on Tuesday in Sichuan province's Ganzi prefecture, also known as Kardze. Arrests were also made and some people fled, the activist groups said. The incident does not appear to have been reported in Chinese state media. Obtaining independent confirmation of events both in Tibet and in ethnic Tibetan areas in surrounding regions is extremely difficult. Both access to these areas and information flow out of them is tightly controlled. Chinese state media does confirm some of the incidents but not all. Accounts from activist groups have proved reliable in the past. According to UK-based group Free Tibet, a village leader named Wangdak was arrested on Monday over a dispute with local authorities. The group said the row related to alleged harassment of female members of a dance troupe at a celebration villagers had been ordered to stage for senior officials. The US-based International Campaign for Tibet said it also related to a dispute over official restrictions on a traditional gathering at a local horse festival. After Mr Wangdak was detained, a crowd of Tibetans gathered to protest. Both groups said armed police were deployed, used tear gas and then opened fire. Mr Wangdak's son was among those who were shot, both activist groups said. Free Tibet said at least two people were shot but the nature and cause of the other injuries was not clear. The village was now surrounded and many adults had gone into hiding, Radio Free Asia reported, citing a Tibetan exile monk. The Tibet issue: Two views Inside Tibet Many ethnic Tibetans live in Gansu and Sichuan provinces, which lie near Tibet. Activists say China enforces tight restrictions over Tibetans' religious and cultural activities. China argues its investment into Tibetan areas has greatly advanced standards of living. In recent years more than 100 young Tibetans have set themselves on fire in what activists say are protests against Chinese rule. Most of these incidents have taken place in Tibetan communities outside Tibet. There have also been other shootings. Last year, activist groups said Chinese police opened fire on Tibetans who had gathered to mark the Dalai Lama's birthday, injuring several.
Ten people were injured when Chinese police opened fire on Tibetan protesters demonstrating against the detention of a village leader, two activist groups and overseas news reports say.
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The All-Ireland champions made a superb start in Armagh with Oisin McConville's penalty and Aaron Kernan goal helping them to a 2-6 to 0-3 lead at half-time. Kilcoo hit back on the restart and Anthony Devlin netted as the gap was reduced to three points before Cross had Michael McNamee sent-off. Kyle Brennan's goal eased Cross nerves although Jamie Clarke saw red late on. Cross justified their favourites tag in the opening 17 minutes as they surged into an 11-point lead. McConville converted a fourth minute penalty after Stephen Kernan was tripped by Gerard McEvoy as he ran through on goal. Aaron Kernan burst through to score the second goal just 40 seconds later while Tony Kernan, Stephen Kernan, McConville, Kyle Carragher and Aaron Cunningham added points for the holders. However, Cross relaxed on their big lead and Kilcoo scored the last two points of the half through Darragh O'Hanlon and Paul Devlin. Aaron Kernan fired over the opening point of the second half before Kilcoo took a grip of affairs with three points without reply. And the comeback was definitely on when Anthony Devlin kicked low into the net on 41 minutes. McNamee was dismissed four minutes later for striking before O'Hanlon's free brought Kilcoo to within three points. That was the high point for Kilcoo as Cross held their nerve and points from Martin Ahern and McConville halted the comeback. Cross forward Clarke, who had a quiet game, was sent-off after picking up a second yellow card a minute from time, Brennan sealed victory in the final seconds of normal time with an easy fisted finish from McConville's pass after Kilcoo lost possession. Cross made hard work of securing a six-point win but they now look forward to an All-Ireland semi-final against St Brigid's. "From the 17th minute we stopped playing and we were lucky in the end," said Crossmaglen's Stephen Kernan. "Thankfully we got the scores in the last 10 minutes and we'll enjoy Christmas and look forward to the semi-final." Kilcoo manager Jimmy McCrory admitted his team's poor start proved decisive. "They blitzed us in the first half - they are a classy side and were worthy winners," he said. "We took the game to them in the second half but the damage was done and the goals killed us in the end."
Crossmaglen finished with 13 men but they did enough to beat Kilcoo and secure a third straight Ulster title.
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John Rudd contacted a fake profile set up by the group Dark Justice and arranged to meet a girl he knew was under age, Newcastle Crown Court heard. But when the 57-year-old from Stockton arrived to meet her he was confronted by men with a video camera. He was later charged with attempting to meet a child after sexual grooming. The court heard Rudd was arrested by police near the Millennium Bridge in Newcastle minutes after being confronted by the men in November. Rudd admitted the offence and, as well as being jailed for a year, was put on the sex offenders register for 10 years. Dark Justice, which describes itself as a group of concerned citizens, created a profile on the site Badoo in the name Donna. When Rudd was caught, Dark Justice filmed him saying: "I just feel stupid." Gavin Doig, prosecuting, said Rudd contacted "Donna" on the over-18s site and continued to do so after being told she was only 14. The court heard there were 130 pages of messages between Rudd and Donna in which he made several sexual references. Rudd talked about sharing a bath, asked intimate questions and suggested she did not wear underwear when they met. Judge Penny Moreland said Rudd's messaging was "a textbook example of sexual grooming". She said "You were attentive, flattering, kind and thoughtful and meanwhile you turned the conversation, when you could, to sexual matters. "I accept no child was actually harmed by what you did, but your behaviour was persistent and you believed yourself to be engaging in contact with a girl of 14." Paul Caulfield, mitigating, said Rudd had recently been bereaved, was drinking heavily and was "flattered" by the messages. Speaking after the case, Det Supt George Duff of Northumbria Police said the force did not advocate people carrying out their own investigations due to the "many risks associated". "These groups are not aware of full details of the person they are dealing with, they have no way of safeguarding potential child victims and their actions could jeopardise ongoing police investigations, not to mention the risks posed to themselves," he said. "They can also lead to the diverting of significant resources into protecting suspects, which would be better invested in investigating and prosecuting suspected offenders." Members of Dark Justice revealed outside the court they wear bullet-proof vests for their meetings. They were in court to watch the proceedings, and one of the activists, calling himself Scott, said outside: "I didn't think he would go to prison - it just shows what we do works. "I am upset his life has been destroyed but he would have destroyed a little girl's life."
A man who thought he was meeting a 14-year-old girl but was being tricked by a group of internet paedophile hunters has been jailed for a year.
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In 2010, Peter Robinson's instincts told him not to stand in the general election. He ignored them - and lost. It was a mistake he was unlikely to make again when it came to his other jobs as first minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). The "why now" question is easy. Firstly, the East Belfast seat was recaptured in May, even though it took a unionist pact to allow Gavin Robinson (no relation) to defeat Alliance's Naomi Long. Secondly, Tuesday's Fresh Start deal with Sinn Féin offers some stability to the Stormont institutions after a year of uncertainty. Certainly it should stave off fears of an early assembly election - which the DUP did not want - and allows the new leadership team time to get bedded in ahead of the poll which will now take place as planned in May. And last but not least, it allows Mr Robinson his valedictory moment at the DUP conference this weekend. The decision to announce his departure ahead of the conference takes the edge off the event and makes it more of a lap of honour. There was never much chance of Mr Robinson leading his party into the assembly election in any case. The past few years, both personally and professionally, have been turbulent for the 66-year-old leader. He has faced the trauma of his wife Iris's break-down and affair with a much younger man; and he faced major health problems, suffering a heart attack earlier this year. The way he dealt with both of those issues garnered widespread admiration. But there has been less admiration for the way he dealt with Stormont's most recent crisis, and, in particular, the rolling resignation policy of DUP ministers which was much criticised. Mr Robinson, however, may say it was better than the alternative - pulling down the institutions altogether. He has also had to deny allegations he was to benefit financially as a result of Northern Ireland's biggest ever property deal involving the Republic's so-called bad bank, Nama (National Assets Management Agency). If any of this caused rumblings behind the scenes none of it broke the surface of a party which Mr Robinson leaves as tightly disciplined as it was when he joined it. But it is bound to have caused disquiet and made some members wonder if the party might be safer to enter the assembly election under new leadership. Certainly it will be difficult for the DUP to match its result last time when they were generally felt to have over-achieved by returning with 38 MLAs. Add to that signs of resurgence in the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and there may never be a better time for Mr Robinson to bow out. Nevertheless, his unrivalled ability as a master strategist is still likely to be missed, whoever takes over. Just as his departure is not a surprise, neither will it be a shock if he is replaced by Nigel Dodds as party leader and by Arlene Foster as first minister. After all she has had on-the-job training when Mr Robinson stepped aside to deal with his personal problems and recently over allegations of IRA involvement in the murder of Kevin McGuigan. His legacy may be two-fold. The transformation of the DUP from a minority party of protest into a vote-winning machine which trampled all before it in the crowded electoral world of unionism. And secondly his transformation from the hardliner who once led a loyalist "invasion" of the County Monaghan village of Clontibret into the pragmatist who came to terms with - and set the terms for - going into government with Sinn Féin. Neither of these achievements is likely to make him any more loved by his many detractors but should surely secure him a significant place in the pantheon of unionist leaders.
In politics - as in other walks of life - it pays to trust your instincts.
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They also underline the delicate and highly risky relationship between the Ukrainian government and the volunteer militias, who are helping fight Moscow-supported militants in eastern Ukraine. On Saturday, in the city of Mukachevo, around 20 members of the ultra-nationalist Right Sector volunteer battalion exchanged gunfire with police and the security detail of a local politician. At least three people were killed, reports said, two of whom were from Right Sector, and 13 were wounded. Currently, officials in the capital, Kiev, have sent reinforcements as well as armoured vehicles to the area, which is next to Ukraine's borders with European Union members Hungary, Slovakia and Romania. Two Right Sector members have given themselves up, officials say, while authorities are searching for the remaining gunmen. Right Sector for its part has set up a roadblock outside of Kiev, and are demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov and other officials. Despite the stand-off, Kiev at the moment very much needs the volunteer battalions. They are often more motivated than the regular Ukrainian army and have engaged in some of the worst of the fighting. Most of the battalions have now placed themselves under Kiev's direct control. But a few, like Right Sector, are still wholly or to a large degree independent. And as the events in Mukachevo indicate, some of these groups follow their own agenda. Details are extremely murky over what happened in Mukachevo. Right Sector members say they were cracking down on the illicit export of contraband cigarettes into the European Union, which generates millions of dollars and contributes to local corruption. Others say that Right Sector is itself involved in the illegal cigarette trade, and has become entwined with criminal interests. Still others say the group has been infiltrated by Russian special services and is engaged in carrying out provocations to destabilise the country. None of the proponents of these scenarios have provided any conclusive evidence, however. What seems clear is that Right Sector possesses an impressive collection of firepower - which they were capable of employing in a corner of Ukraine furthest from the fighting in the east. Videos and reports from the fighting suggested they had a large number of automatic rifles, grenade launchers and a hand-fed machine gun. Another key question is how much support they enjoy. After Mukachevo, some volunteer battalions have come out in support of Right Sector. The group is also a political party - albeit on the extreme fringe, after receiving less than two percent of the popular vote in parliamentary elections last year. Still, even if they do not vote for them, many Ukrainians view them positively, as patriots who are defending the country from Russian aggression. President Petro Poroshenko promised this week to move against "illegally armed groups". At times, Right Sector seems as if it came straight out of the Kremlin's playbook to portray Ukraine as awash with ultra-nationalist extremists. Other times, when they attack LGBT rallies or sport white-power symbols, they seem very sincere indeed in their far-right convictions. Whatever the group's motives, for many, their weaponry and willingness to use them are sufficient cause for concern.
Clashes over the weekend in south-western Ukraine between members of a far-right volunteer militia and local authorities have raised fears that violence is spreading beyond the conflict in Ukraine's east and could further destabilise the country's fragile political balance.
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Ucas urges parents and teachers to be more aware of other options, as rising numbers of students apply to university without the traditional three A-levels. Ucas figures show more UK students are taking alternative qualifications, such as BTecs, alone or alongside A-levels. In 2015, 15% of 18-year-old applicants took up a BTec, up from 11% in 2011. New statistics published by Ucas also show that more than a quarter (26%) of all students from England accepted on to degree courses last year held at least one BTec, compared with 14% in 2008. However, the study shows A-levels are still the most popular and successful route into university, with just under two-thirds (63%) of UK 18-year-olds applying for degree courses last year studying for three A-levels. In a foreword to the report, Ucas chief Mary Curnock Cook said there had been a shift in the types of qualifications with which many youngsters applied to university, with a significant minority applying with "newer and less traditional qualifications or through less straightforward routes". "It has become clear to Ucas that the opportunities and challenges of this change are not yet well understood by learners, parents, teachers or providers," she warns. In England, reforms have included the introduction of Tech levels, as well as the move to separate AS-levels from A-levels to form a stand-alone qualification, the report says. In Scotland, about 25%-30% of students are now studying for the Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Higher National Diploma (HND) qualifications, which come with a guarantee that students can go on to study for a full degree if they want to. Ucas sets out a series of recommendations for schools and universities, including calling for clearer higher education entry requirements and building partnerships between universities and schools and colleges to develop an understanding of the different qualifications and what they can lead on to. Prof Les Ebdon, director of Fair Access to Higher Education, said he was very pleased that Ucas was highlighting the issue. "I join Ucas in encouraging universities and colleges to look at what more they could do to support these learners, because non-traditional qualifications are an important route into higher education for disadvantaged students. "Universities and colleges will soon be preparing their access agreements for 2017-18, and they will want to consider how the changing qualifications landscape affects how they plan to support disadvantaged students as they move into and through higher education." James Kewin, deputy chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association, said: "Study programmes that combine BTec and A-level qualifications are becoming increasingly common and have proved to be a highly effective way of helping young people to progress to higher education and employment. "Overall, we think the take-up of applied general qualifications and the new Tech levels is likely to increase as schools and colleges adapt to the introduction of the new-style A-levels."
A-levels are not the only route to university, with a range of alternative qualifications securing a degree place, says the admissions service, Ucas.
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Sally Holland said some schools were reluctant to address the issue, for fear of looking bad. A report has warned that a lack of consistency in handling complaints leaves some children feeling isolated. The Welsh Government said all forms of bullying should be tackled vigorously and a school behaviour policy should be in place by law. But Dr Holland said in some cases, the anti-bullying guidance sits on shelves in schools and does not appear to have been read. "I want to see guidance which is really useful, that builds on the experiences of children and gives them some solutions but also tells schools how to monitor it and not to be scared of monitoring it," she said. "Some professionals were telling us there's a kind of reluctance to record bullying - they're reluctant to make their school look bad, that there may be some kind of league table or something like that. Of course that's not what I want to see. "I want to see schools having an honest conversation with their student population and the community around it, about how they're tackling bullying in school and what they're going to do about it." The report said there was confusion over what constitutes bullying and a lack of consistent recording. These issues were raised three years ago by the schools inspectorate Estyn, yet have still not been addressed. "Some things have changed, but yes, there are some fundamentals we still need to get right and of course it's frustrating, it's frustrating for children too, of course," said Ms Holland. "We do need to be recording bullying and make sure the best practice, which we know is out there, is available to schools. "Everyone should be owning this issue and everyone should be involved in tackling it. Let's not keep it in the corner as an embarrassing aspect of school life. Let's accept that it happens and positively move forward to tackle it." Two thousand children and young people contributed to the report "Sam's Story", asking for their experiences of bullying, along with the views of 300 professionals. Children highlighted differences like ethnicity, poverty, disability and gender stereotyping as key issues for bullies and said parents were often unresponsive. Dr Holland has now called on the Welsh Government to place a statutory duty on schools to record all incidences and types of reported bullying, and to come up with a clear definition of bullying. A Welsh Government spokesman said: "We will consider the children commissioner's report which will feed into our review of anti-bullying guidance. "We do not tolerate any bullying in the Welsh education system. We expect schools and education services to make it clear that all forms of bullying are entirely unacceptable and to tackle all incidents vigorously, ensuring that pupils are properly supported. "All schools in Wales must, by law, have a school behaviour policy in place. Effective strategies to tackle bullying should be central to this policy and put into practice by everyone in the school."
A "radical overhaul" is needed to tackle school bullying, the children's commissioner for Wales has said.
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The man was discovered unconscious by a member of the public at Shapinsay court in the Mastrick area of the city in the early hours of Tuesday morning. He was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where he later died on Wednesday. Det Insp Douglas Steele said: "The death is being treated as unexplained and inquiries are ongoing to establish how he came by his injuries." The man had left the Three Lums pub on Lewis Road at about 23:10 on Monday night.
A man found injured in Aberdeen has died in hospital.
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The event in Maguindanao, in Mindanao, was attended by President Benigno Aquino who hailed it as an important step forward. Seventy-five weapons will be deactivated as a gesture of MILF's commitment to peace. In 2012, the government and MILF agreed to a framework for a peace accord. About 145 of the estimated 10,000 members of the MILF's armed faction, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, will be integrated into mainstream society. "As I look at the faces of each of our 145 brothers here this morning, I see 145 stories of struggle, of pain, of hopelessness and even of death. Yet I also see 145 stories of hope and faith that indeed peace is near and that all the sacrifices have been worth it," MILF lead negotiator Murad Ebrahim said, in quotes carried by the AP news agency. The government will provide a cash handout of 25,000 Philippine peso ($555; £355) to each of the combatants to be used for education, training and livelihood, The Philippine Star newspaper said. It comes as a law implementing a peace deal between the government and MILF has attracted only lukewarm support in congress. Dozens of police commandos were killed in clashes with the rebels earlier this this year. President Aquino said that the number of weapons handed over on Tuesday was significant, AP reported. "We are not talking of just one or a couple or a dozen firearms. These are high-powered firearms, modern and have not aged. These arms can deal and have dealt extreme suffering," he said at the ceremony. The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process posted pictures of the weapons on Twitter. The weapons will be held and decommissioned by an independent body. "For the sake of peace, for the sake of having real peace in Mindanao and for the sake of the need for normalisation [of] the lives of the people including the combatants, we have to undertake decommissioning and put them [arms] beyond use," he said, The Star reported. The 2012 framework for a peace deal came after 17 years of negotiations. The Philippines government has agreed to give Muslims on Mindanao more autonomy in the Muslim-majority southern region. The rest of the Philippines is mainly Catholic. In March last year, the government and MILF signed the Comprehensive Agreement and are working on the Basic Law which will replace the autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao with a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. The Philippines has faced separatist movements for decades in Mindanao, where the MILF is based, and in Jolo, home to the radical Islamist Abu Sayyaf group, which is reputedly linked to al-Qaeda.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebel group in the Philippines has handed over its first batch of weapons as part of a peace process.
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Bolt was celebrating his win in the 200m sprint at the World Athletics Championships when the cameraman lost control of his motorised scooter as it rolled over a post and crashed into the runner's legs. The Jamaican did a backward roll and got back on his feet - he briefly rubbed his ankle before continuing to celebrate with fans. He later told reporters: "Accidents happen. I have a few cuts but it is nothing that I have never done to myself in training. I will be all right." Watch the incident (UK only) Cherish the supreme showman in Bolt The two men came face to face again on Friday when the cameraman presented Bolt with a gift, said to be a friendship bracelet, to apologise for the accident.
Usain Bolt was knocked down by a cameraman in Beijing on Thursday night, shortly after winning a race.
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The Campbell Sisters, by Lorenzo Bartolini, was commissioned in Florence around 1820. It was originally installed at Inveraray Castle. It was later lent to the Scottish National Gallery before being put up for auction by its owner. But a campaign to retain the Sisters raised enough to secure the sculpture. The Campbell Sisters shows Emma and Julia, the two youngest daughters of Lady Charlotte Campbell, dancing a waltz. The piece took its place at Inveraray Castle, which was the seat of Lady Charlotte's brother, the 6th Duke of Argyll. It had more recently been on display on loan at the gallery in Edinburgh for 20 years before being sold at auction to an overseas museum. However, it was then ruled that the export should be delayed for six months to allow time for a UK museum to match the auction price. National Galleries of Scotland and the Victoria & Albert Museum joined forces to try to buy the Sisters. The were able to match the price with help from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, The Art Fund and a generous private donation. The Campbell Sisters will be shown for equal periods in Edinburgh and London, rotating with the jointly-owned Three Graces by Antonio Canova.
A life-size marble sculpture of two dancing sisters has gone back on show in Scotland after being bought by the Scottish National Gallery.
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People have faced a 10-mile detour since Eastham Bridge in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, gave way in front of a school bus in May. Two pairs of steel beams, 33m (108ft) long and weighing 84 tonnes in total, have been lifted across the River Teme. The bridge is expected to open to traffic in two months. The 18th Century original collapsed after fast-moving water undermined its piers. The bus driver managed to reverse off the bridge as its apex crashed into the river below. Farmer Celia Adams said she was "very very pleased" to come on Saturday and "see that we're getting the bridge put up again". She said: "We farm either side of this river so we've had tremendous detours for months. "Now [we've] just started lambing so we've got all the upheaval of all the flock of ewes to be lambed and we're not able obviously to go to the other side unless we do the 10-mile detour." Worcestershire County Council said Saturday's work represented a "major milestone". Head of highways Jon Fraser said: "People have been very concerned... It's massively important for the local people. "It's a 10-mile detour with the bridge being down so we're keen to get the bridge connected as quickly as possible."
The base of a new river bridge to replace a Grade II listed crossing that collapsed last year has been put into place.
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A wider range of birth defects has been linked to the virus, said Dr Anne Schuchat of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the mosquitoes that carry the virus could travel to more US states than previously thought, she said. The current Zika outbreak began almost a year ago in Brazil. It has been linked to thousands of birth defects there and has spread widely through the Americas. "Most of what we've learned is not reassuring," said Dr Schuchat at White House briefing on Monday. "Everything we know about this virus seems to be scarier than we initially thought." Earlier this year, US President Obama asked the US Congress for $1.8bn (£1.25bn) in emergency funding to combat the virus. In the meantime it has been using money totalling $589m left over from the Ebola virus fund. Microcephaly: Why it is not the end of the world What you need to know Key questions answered about the virus and its spread Travel advice Countries affected and what you should do The mosquito behind spread of virus What we know about the insect Abortion dilemma Laws and practices in Catholic Latin America That was a temporary stopgap and inadequate to get the job done, said Dr Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health. The US now needs more money to fight the mosquitoes and to fund better research into vaccines and treatments, he said. "When the president asked for $1.9 billion, we needed $1.9 billion." He said there had been recent discoveries about how destructive Zika appeared to be to foetal brains. There were also reports of rare neurologic problems in adults, he said. The CDC announced that Puerto Rico is to receive $3.9m in emergency Zika funding as the number of cases there doubles every week. In February, the first US case of locally transmitted Zika was reported in Dallas, Texas - spread through sexual contact, not a mosquito bite.
The Zika virus is "scarier" than first thought and its impact on the US could be greater than predicted, public health officials have admitted.
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The Ministry of Defence is investing £135m in new facilities in preparation for the arrival of the F-35B Lightning II aircraft next year. The money will pay for a new hangar to house 12 of the jets and and provide vertical landing pads. Two existing runways and taxiways will be resurfaced. Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said: "This contract will ensure that RAF Marham has the facilities to match this world-class aircraft when it arrives next year. "Throughout the F-35 programme, British firms have won major contracts creating thousands of jobs. "The contract to improve the runways and taxiways as well as installing new landing pads will bring local jobs to Marham." Last year it was announced the government was investing £167m in centres for aircraft training and maintenance at RAF Marham. Due to open in 2018, three new buildings on the site will provide training facilities for pilots and ground crews.
A multimillion-pound contract to support the new fast jets at RAF Marham in Norfolk has been unveiled.
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The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) said it had received a complaint from solicitors after the photograph was published in December. The magazine printed an apology on its emails page . The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's main home is on Anglesey, where he is a search and rescue pilot at RAF Valley. The complaint was made under clauses in the editors' code of practice relating to privacy and harassment. The magazine said: "In our issue cover-dated 3 - 9 December 2011, we published a photograph of the Duchess of Cambridge, taken while she was shopping in a store. "We now accept that we should not have done so, and apologise to her for our actions." It will be printed in its edition for 26 May - 1 June.
Celebrity magazine Heat has apologised to the Duchess of Cambridge after publishing a photograph of her shopping at a supermarket last year.
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The fire crews were rushing to the scene of an accident on the B9006 Inverness to Nairn road shortly after 07:00 when the incident happened. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said five of the eight firefighters had been taken to hospital in Inverness. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Two of the crew had to be freed from the wreckage by their colleagues. An investigation is under way into the cause of the crash. It is not yet clear whether the engines collided or if the weather may have been a factor. A spokesman for the fire service said: "At 07.03 on Saturday 6 February, Inverness control were advised of a road traffic accident on the B9006 at Cantraybruich. They subsequently dispatched two appliances from Inverness fire station to attend. "At 07.16, while en-route to the incident under blue light conditions, both appliances left the road at Newlands of Culloden. "Six crew members were able to exit the vehicles. Two crew members were, however, trapped inside an appliance for a period before being released by colleagues." Fire service staff are at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness to provide support to the crew members and family and replacement engines have been drafted in to Inverness. There are no reports of serious injuries from the initial road crash.
Five firefighters have been injured after two fire engines came off the road on the way to a crash near Inverness.
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As one of the BBC's 100 Women 2015, we document her life through her art. 100 Women 2015 This year's season features two weeks of inspirational stories about the BBC's 100 Women this year and others who are defying stereotypes around the world. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram using the hashtag #100Women.
Iranian artist Monir Farmanfarmaian has been making work for more than five decades, both in the US and and in her native country.
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"April's Law" was debated on Monday after a petition reached more than 100,000 signatures. It calls for sex offenders to remain on the register for life. Home Office Minister Sarah Newton said a Supreme Court ruling meant they had the right to appeal against staying on the register for life. Five-year-old April was killed by paedophile Mark Bridger after being snatched from outside her home in Machynlleth, Powys, in October 2012. Bridger was not on the sex offenders list but indecent images of young children were found on his computer. The new petition follows one set up in 2013, which attracted 70,000 signatures. April's mother Coral Jones said they might have had April back if Bridger had been flagged up. "With the law, we're hoping if anything happens like this again, it'll flag up and save a child from going through what April did and a family from going through what we did," she said. April's sister Jazmin Jones said: "It could have been a different scenario. We could have had a life or a body". She is hoping April's Law could "bring something good out of something really negative". The family has also called for the internet to be better policed over images of child abuse. The debate took place in Westminster Hall and the campaign was backed by the family's local MP Glyn Davies. But Home Office Minister Sarah Newton said a Supreme Court ruling meant sex offenders had the right to appeal against staying on the sex offenders register for life. Ms Newton said at the time of that ruling the government was "very disappointed" and "remains disappointed today". "I am very sympathetic to the demands of the petition and the concerns of the Jones family," she said, "and I really understand why they feel this petition is necessary. "It is precisely because we are determined to do everything we can to protect the public from predatory sex offenders that we made the minimum possible changes to the law to comply with the ruling," she added.
A campaign by the family of murdered schoolgirl April Jones calling for tougher sentences for sex offenders has been debated in Parliament.
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The callback affects China-made models sold under a variety of brands and affects about 501,000 units. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said it followed at least 99 incidents where battery packs had overheated. In some cases they caught fire leading to burn injuries and property damage. Owners are being told to contact the companies responsible, which should fix the problem or issue a full refund. Models involved include: A spokeswoman for Swagway told the BBC that it would be retrofitting the X1s it received with new "UL-certified" battery packs. "UL-Certification means that the product has been tested by Underwriters Laboratories, one of the largest consumer products testing labs in the world," she explained. "Please note that this does not affect any of the other models made by Swagway." The Consumer Product Safety Commission said that the Chinese retailer Alibaba had given it a commitment that in the future it would require sellers to have safety check certificates for the hoverboards they sell via its sites. However, the recall is not limited to kit sold via AliExpress.com and Alibaba.com. The Overstock.com website, Boscov's department stores and Yuka Clothing shops also sold some of the recalled stock. Customers are also being asked to return a further 5,000 Swagway hoverboards distributed in Canada. This is not the first time the self-balancing scooters have been flagged as a safety risk. In December, the UK's Trading Standards agencies seized more than 38,000 hoverboards it said were at danger of overheating after several house fires were blamed on the products. The authorities had already said it was an offence to ride them on pavements and roads. In the US, Amazon pulled some boards from sale and began offering customers full refunds in January after the Consumer Product Safety Commission voiced its concerns. A month later it stopped selling all examples of the product, but later returned some brands to sale.
A major recall of hoverboards is under way in the US.
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Bristow Helicopters saw its overall revenue for the three months to the end of June fall from $440m (£335m) to $356m (£271m), a 19% drop compared to the same period last year. Earnings specifically via the offshore industry fell 27%. Bristow said it was partially offset by its UK search and rescue contract. The company said: "Our June 2016 quarter results reflect the challenging oil and gas industry conditions that continue to negatively affect offshore activity."
A North Sea helicopter operator has seen earnings from the oil and gas industry fall by more by more than a quarter.
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Media playback is not supported on this device The Irish hosts led 14-0 after as many minutes thanks to converted tries from Tiernan O'Halloran and Caolin Blade. Angus O'Brien's penalty cut the lead to 11 points at the close of the first half at the Sportground. O'Brien landed two more penalties to set up a tense but scoreless finish as Connacht held firm for victory. Connacht's willingness to run the ball in damp conditions led to a breathless first five minutes, at the end of which Jack Carty's long, flat pass freed up Matt Healy on the left wing and he linked inside with full-back O'Halloran for a well-worked opening try. Craig Ronaldson converted and also added the extras to Blade's 12th-minute effort, the scrum-half selling a dummy and darting through from the edge of the 22 after John Muldoon and Denis Buckley had combined to win turnover ball. Following his early entry into the game for Dorian Jones, young replacement O'Brien opened the Dragons' account with a 17th-minute penalty before a scrappy spell saw Connacht lose some hard-earned territory. Connacht should have added to their lead before the break, but Dragons kicker O'Brien reduced the arrears to eight points with an early penalty on the restart. Further opportunities went begging for Connacht - a maul infringement letting them down in the visitors' 22 , and O'Brien's boot kept Kingsley Jones' charges in it, notching a third penalty success after good work at the breakdown by replacement Cory Hill. There were try-saving interventions at both ends as the play became more loose. Dragons' Tyler Morgan was held up near the left corner before his centre partner Adam Warren had to react quickly to stop Healy from scoring via Farrell's kick through. Although their scrum grew in influence, Connacht's lineout let them down when Nick Crosswell produced a crucial steal. The hosts were left holding on to their five-point buffer as John Cooney's late kick-chase try was ruled out - replays showed he was ahead of kicker Healy. The Dragons, just a week on from their Cork hammering by Munster, came away with a deserved losing bonus point. Connacht: O'Halloran, Adeolokun, Farrell, Ronaldson, Healy, Carty, Blade, Buckley, Heffernan, Bealham, Dillane, Roux, O'Brien, Heenan, Muldoon. Replacements: Parata for Ronaldson (77), J. Cooney for Blade (57), McCartney for Heffernan (57), JP Cooney for Bealham (78), Fox-Matamua for Dillane (63), Cannon for Roux (69). Not Used: Loughney, Crosbie. Newport Gwent D'gons: Prydie, Hughes, Morgan, Warren, Howard, D. Jones, Knoyle, Hobbs, Dee, B. Harris, Crosswell, Landman, Griffiths, Cudd, Evans. Replacements: Beard for Morgan (68), O'Brien for D. Jones (15), Pretorius for Knoyle (77), T. Davies for Hobbs (61), Fairbrother for B. Harris (61), Hill for Landman (41), Keddie for Griffiths (77). Not Used: D. Harris. Ref: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Two early tries proved just enough for Connacht in a dour Pro12 encounter against the Dragons in Galway.
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The National Osteoporosis Society found that a fifth of under-25s were cutting out or reducing dairy in their diet, which can affect their bones. One diet that - in its extreme form - recommends avoiding dairy is "clean eating". The idea is to only eat "clean" foods by cooking from scratch, choosing foods in their natural state, and eliminating refined sugar. More extreme versions might exclude gluten, grains, dairy - or even encourage a raw food diet. Pippa Selby, a clean eater for three years, starts the day with a bowl of smoothie, frozen fruit, fresh fruit, oats and a nut butter. Lunch might be a homemade soup or a mozzarella salad. For dinner a sweet potato bake or grass-fed, free range meat and homemade chips. Other clean-eating classics are the kale smoothie, smashed avocado, chia seeds and quinoa. It's been around for about a decade, says dietician Catherine Collins. A-list celebrities Gwyneth Paltrow, Katy Perry, Miranda Kerr and Jessica Alba are all reportedly fans. But it's foodie vloggers and bloggers who have given the concept wings. Clean Eating Alice, also known as Alice Liveing, has half a million Instagram followers and two cookbooks to her name. In a recent interview with the Sun, she said she chose the term "clean eating" because it "perfectly encapsulated everything I wanted to do to my own diet - clean it up, get rid of a lot of the processed rubbish and begin eating real food again. "I never once thought about restricting whole food groups from my diet, or placing metaphorical labels on foods and seeing them as either clean or unclean." Food blogger Ella Mills - better known as Deliciously Ella - has distanced herself from the "clean-eating" label. In BBC documentary "Clean Eating: The Dirty Truth" she said the word "clean" had become too "loaded". "Clean now implies dirty and that's negative," she said. "When I first read the term, it meant natural, kind of unprocessed, and now it doesn't mean that at all. It means diet. It means fad." It's unclear. Catherine Collins says it's more of a lifestyle choice than a diet, which seems to appeal to teenage girls and women in their 20s. It requires attention to detail and a certain attitude - you won't find many 40-year-old mums with children doing it, she adds. Pippa Selby started clean eating after suffering joint pain and dizzy spells following the birth of her daughter. The 29-year-old picture researcher from east London says it was expensive changing her diet, but it has made a difference to how she feels. But there was a point when she had to "step away" from it. "It's easy to become obsessive about it," she says. "It can be so restrictive and there's so much on social media that you can feel under attack if you don't eat the right foods." Collins says the inference of "clean eating" is that a vegetable-based diet will make you slimmer, fitter, more attractive, and make you live longer. But she worries when bloggers recommend cutting out major food groups like dairy and wheat without suggesting an alternative. If you don't look like Miranda Kerr now, says Collins, it's probably not going to happen - her looks are down to good genes, a strict diet and exercise. "Outwardly, you can look vibrant and beautiful, but inwardly your body can be crying out for nutrition," she says. Collins points to Gwyneth Paltrow saying in 2010 she had the early stages of osteopenia, a precursor to the brittle bone disease osteoporosis, usually seen in women after the menopause. Osteopenia can occur when someone cuts out food groups such as dairy, especially if it is a lifelong habit. The most recent National Diet and Nutrition Study found the calcium intake of one in six women under 24 was deemed to be worryingly low. Collins advises young women to think about what's missing from those delicious-looking plates, posted on Instagram by the skinny and beautiful. It's a snapshot of their diet, she says. "There might have been a load of chocolate biscuits and purging in between." The best diet is a varied one, says Collins. A Mediterranean-style one of olive oil, vegetables, lean meat and a handful of nuts to snack on is a "nutritional blueprint for people of all ages". The more restrictive and the more caveats, the less healthy the diet, she concludes. The NHS website offers eight tips for healthy eating:
Young people are being warned that faddy diets are putting their health at risk.
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The blaze broke out in Spalding, shortly after 00:00 BST on Sunday. Lincolnshire Police said the cause of the fire was not yet known as it had been initially not safe for fire investigators to enter the house, in Tower Lane, off Cowbit Road. Police are working to establish the identity of the three deceased and to trace next of kin. Lincolnshire Fire Service said six crews were call in to deal with the fire. Station manager Matthew Perrin said it had spread from the ground floor to the first floor area before being brought under control. Officers managed to rescue one of the victims, but were unable to resuscitate them. A second casualty was found in the house in the early hours of Sunday, after the fire was put out.
A third body has been found in the wreckage of a house after a fire in Lincolnshire, police have confirmed.
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The 29-year-old's contract was due to expire in 2018, having joined Monchengladbach from Bundesliga rivals VFB Stuttgart in 2014. He has made 87 appearances for the club based in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany, scoring 13 goals. "I'm delighted to have been able to sort out my future early so I can concentrate on playing football for Borussia," said Traore. "I have been treated nicely by everyone here and by the fans, so I feel good. "I'm feeling at home every day and I could not think of going away and start a new life somewhere else, this is home." Capped 33 times by his country, Traore only made 14 league appearances in a season blighted by injury. He began his career in his country of birth France with Levallois SC, before switching to German side Hertha Berlin at the age of 18. His career in Germany has also taken him to FC Augsburg and VfB Stuttgart, where he played 99 matches over the course of three years.
Guinea international winger Ibrahima Traore has extended his stay with Borussia Monchengladbach until 2021.
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The SNP launched its youth manifesto at an event in Cumbernauld, while Labour insisted that a vote for the nationalists will "put Scotland on the road to a second referendum". Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson focused on her party's "biggest ever doorstep campaign". Deputy Lib Dem leader Sir Malcolm Bruce has been campaigning in the north east. Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy visited a school basketball court in Edinburgh and challenged Nicola Sturgeon to "come clean on her plans for a second referendum". He said: "The priority for SNP MPs after this election won't be improving the economy, it will be planning the second referendum campaign. "A vote for Scottish Labour will put Britain on the road to a fairer economy. With Scottish votes, Labour can get the Tories out of power, stop austerity, ban zero-hours contracts and end the need for food banks. "Only Labour can stop the Tories being the largest party. "The choice is simple - the road to a second referendum with the SNP or the road to a fairer economy with Labour." Meanwhile Ms Sturgeon joined actor Martin Compston to commit her party to policies "to support and empower our young people". The SNP youth manifesto states that 16 and 17-year-olds should be entitled to vote in all elections, as well as pledging to increase the minimum wage for under 18s by £1.20 an hour and create 30,000 modern apprenticeships each year. The party said it would also continue to oppose the introduction of tuition fees for Scottish students at universities north of the border, and that its MPs would vote in favour of reducing tuition fees across the UK. Ms Sturgeon said: "The biggest investment we can make in Scotland's future is in our young people - and as first minister I am determined to do everything I can to support and empower them. "We are doing all we can to strengthen and grow our economy to provide more opportunities for young people close to home. "In numbers at Westminster we go further - pushing for an increase in the minimum wage for under 18s by over £1.20 an hour to ensure more young people are better paid. "A strong team of SNP MPs will stand up for the rights of young people at every turn and deliver the progressive action that is needed to support more of our young people into work, education or training." Elsewhere on the campaign trail, Scottish Conservative leader Ms Davidson has been highlighting what she calls her party's "ground war". She said: "This is the biggest doorstep campaign ever run by Tories in Scotland and the best planned, regimented, resourced and recruited campaign we've had since 1992." Speaking on BBC Scotland's Sunday Politics Scotland programme, Ms Davidson also commented on the issue of a second independence referendum. She said: "I've been saying since January that Ed Miliband and Nicola Sturgeon are half way down the aisle to a deal, what's this going to mean, is there going to be second referendum? "And people in Scotland are genuinely worried about this. I have been doing street stalls all across the country and people have been walking up to me and saying they are genuinely scared about this." For the Liberal Democrats, Sir Malcolm has been campaigning in Aberdeen. He set out Lib Dem plans to build "a stronger, greener economy to create jobs and protect the environment". He said protecting the environment was "in Liberal Democrat DNA". Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie also appeared on the BBC's Sunday Politics Scotland programme. He accused the Conservatives of stirring up English nationalism. He said: "I think it is despicable what the Conservatives are doing in this campaign. "I think they way they are trying to use Alex Salmond and the SNP to represent Scotland, to demonise Scotland, is festering English nationalism." What are the top issues for each political party at the 2015 general election? Policy guide: Where the parties stand
Scotland's political parties are continuing to put their key messages to voters ahead of the general election.
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The cell generates electricity and is much smaller than conventional ones. The technology could be used in future to power bases on the moon or Mars, experts have said. They also believe it could be used as a renewable source of energy on Earth. The device is currently flying 450 miles (724km) up, travelling at 17,000mph (27,359km), and circumnavigating the globe once every 90 minutes. The solar cell is just 0.1mm thick and it is part of a tiny satellite measuring just 30cm by 10cm by 10cm. It was developed by the UK Space Agency and the Algerian Space Agency. Dr Dan Lamb, from Swansea University's College of Engineering's Solar Energy Research Centre, said the project was already offering a tantalising glimpse into the future. He said that "with every kilogram put into orbit costing thousands of pounds, this new approach to space solar power could offer significant cost-reductions". Over the course of the satellite's estimated year-long life, Dr Lamb and his team are hoping to measure how much electricity is being produced in the face of radiation in space and rapid temperature changes, and away from the protection offered to ground-based solar cells by Earth's electromagnetic field. "There are pros and cons to having a space-based solar cell," he said. "Outside of the Earth's atmosphere there's approximately 30% more sunlight, and therefore 30% more energy; as well as the fact that, in orbit, the cell is in darkness for far less time than it is on Earth. "Weighed against that, what we're not yet sure of is how the complex solar materials will stand up to the sun's radiation when it's not being shielded by the Earth's atmosphere." If the experiment is successful, then Dr Lamb believes the technology could revolutionise space exploration. "The main potential we're looking at is for use in electric propulsion of spacecraft, and to power future manned lunar or Mars bases." But even more important could be the technology's potential back on Earth. "Hypothetically, there's no reason why we couldn't use this technology to create orbiting solar arrays which beam electricity back down to Earth. "It would be a green and completely renewable way of meeting the planet's power demands." The test satellite launched from Southern India on 26 September, and has already begun feeding data back to scientists in Swansea and their colleagues at the University of Surrey and Qioptiq Space Technology Ltd with whom they have collaborated on the project. By this time next year, they are hoping to have a better understanding of the technology's potential.
If you saw something scooting across the sky on Christmas Eve, it might have been Santa, or it might have been a test satellite carrying Swansea University's revolutionary solar cell technology.
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Luke Shambrook, who has autism, was spotted from the air about 3km (1.8 miles) from where his family had been camping beside Lake Eildon in Victoria. He was taken to hospital with hypothermia, but police said he appeared otherwise unharmed. Dozens of holidaymakers had joined the search for Luke over the weekend. In a statement, police thanked all those involved for the "immense amount of community support". Luke had wandered away at around midday on Friday from the Candlebark Campground in the Fraser National Park, a popular recreation area. His family raised the alarm, saying he liked to hide in small spaces and had a fascination with water. Police on horseback, motorbikes and foot were joined by campers and other volunteers, searching in abandoned mine shafts, animal burrows and beneath trees. Police divers were also scouring the lake and surrounding waterways while the Air Wing of the Victoria police searched from the sky. On Monday, search teams found his black beanie hat lying on a track. Then on Tuesday, a police helicopter spotted him in bush from the air, and directed paramedics to him. He was treated at the scene before being carried out on a stretcher. Victoria Police posted a video on Instagram showing the moment a police officer reached Luke, lying on a hill on rough ground. 10 News reporter Trent Dann tweeted pictures of Luke being reunited with his parents and said rescuers had been "reduced to tears of joy". Acting Cmdr Rick Nugent said Luke's parents had described their "absolute relief". "An 11-year-old boy, challenged as he is with his autism, he's a courageous, resilient, strong young man," ABC News quoted him as saying. "To find him safe and well, is just wonderful news."
An 11-year-old Australian boy who went missing during a family camping trip five days ago has been found alive.
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Seoul claims Beijing is retaliating economically over its deployment of a US anti-missile defence system. South Korea's Trade Minister Joo Hyung-hwan told parliament China "may be in violation of some trade agreements". China opposes the deployment, saying it will affect the regional security balance and allow the US to spy on it. Washington and Seoul say the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) system is designed to protect against threats from North Korea. But it has caused significant tension with China, which is South Korea's largest trading partner. "The Chinese government may not admit that they took retaliatory measures against the Thaad decision, but we have to point out the possibility," Mr Joo said according to Yonhap news agency. "We are collecting evidence and will also deal with issues that South Korean companies are treated unfairly in China." South Korea complained about China to the WTO over the issue on Friday, Mr Joo said. What impact will S Korea's expanded missile defence system have? China's leaders have voiced serious displeasure over the Thaad system and its deployment has generated anti-South Korean sentiment. The row has coincided with a number of economic measures being imposed on South Korea. China's National Tourism Administration ordered local travel agencies to stop selling tour packages to South Korea starting 15 March, according to Korea's Tourism Organisation. "Some estimates suggest that Beijing's travel ban could reduce the number of Chinese visitors to South Korea by up to 70%, resulting in billions of dollars in lost tourism-related revenue," Scott Seaman, director of Asia at the Eurasia Group, said. China froze the sale and distribution of some South Korean television dramas, music and products starting last October. Nearly all shows or music concerts starring Korean artists have been suspended. Chinese authorities have also closed dozens of stores belonging to South Korea's Lotte Group, which has signed a deal to provide land to host the Thaad system, for allegedly violating safety regulations. China denies the recent moves are related to the Thaad deployment. In a separate development, the Lotte Group's 93-year-old founder and three other family members went on trial in Seoul on Monday for alleged embezzlement, tax evasion and fraud. Tong Zhao, a fellow from the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy, believes China's economic pressure may ultimately prove counter-productive. "Threats of economic sanctions are part of coercive diplomacy, but they may not be useful in addressing the Thaad issue," he wrote in a 2016 report. "These forceful measures would likely be seen as a sign of disrespect and a direct threat to South Korea's interests - which could ultimately push South Korea to bolster its military alliance with the United States".
South Korea has appealed to the World Trade Organization to determine if the Chinese government is treating South Korean companies unfairly.
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Huge debates rage about human origins, but the broad consensus among scientists is that all the different species of human that have ever existed were descended from ape-like creatures that walked upright in Africa more than six million years ago. These creatures had many descendants, most of which became extinct, but the first creature we would recognise as human first appeared in Africa two million years ago. Known as Homo ergaster, they made tools and were proficient hunters. Their bones suggest they would have been powerful runners, capable of speeds that would rival a modern Olympic athlete. H. ergaster seems to have evolved during a long period of terrible drought which dried out tropical rainforests and created vast deserts. Planet of the Apemen This human species was equipped to cope with heat. They would have been smooth and largely hairless, allowing them to sweat more efficiently. H. ergaster could also travel and hunt in the middle of the day, when most animals rest. And we know that they travelled long distances because they did not stay in Africa. A hungry meat eater, ergaster became the first human to leave Africa and colonise Asia. Here, in a new and lush environment, they evolved and got a new name, Homo erectus. Archaeological records show they spread over an area ranging from Turkey to China, but the population may not have been that large. "These were small groups of hunters and gatherers," says Professor Chris Stringer, an anthropologist at the Natural History Museum. "These are people that are being very mobile, in open country, to get to their food ahead of the competition. So in that sense, they're very like us in terms of their overall body shape and body build." Recent findings suggest that Homo sapiens also left Africa, around 120,000 years ago. We travelled in small numbers, possibly no more than 100 in the first wave. Then we spread out, with some eventually reaching Europe, then occupied by the Neanderthals, while others moved east until they reached India. There is archaeological evidence that they arrived just in time for a truly cataclysmic event. About 74,000 years ago Mount Toba, a volcano in South East Asia erupted in spectacular fashion, the biggest explosion in the last two million years. Because of its magnitude it is classed as a supervolcanic eruption. The volcano spewed enough sulphur into the atmosphere to lower world temperatures by several degrees and enough molten rock to cover an area the size of Britain to a depth of 10 metres. It also produced vast amounts of ash. Driven by the winds, clouds of white Toba ash covered huge swathes of Asia, including much of the Indian subcontinent. It can still be found today. Whether it was the effects of Toba, or the arrival of modern humans, the eruption marks the high tide of erectus' occupation of Asia. Over the next 40,000 years they were slowly driven out, probably by a combination of climate change and the effects of being out-competed for scarce food by the spread of modern humans. Stiff competition Yet Homo erectus was slightly bigger and more powerful than Homo sapiens, so why did we thrive when they did not? The most obvious answer is that we had bigger brains - but it turns out that what matters is not overall brain size but the areas where the brain is larger. "The Homo erectus brain did not devote a lot of space to the part of the brain that controls language and speech," said John Shea, professor of palaeoanthropology at Stony Brook University in New York. "One of the crucial elements of Homo sapiens' adaptations is that it combines complex planning, developed in the front of the brain, with language and the ability to spread new ideas from one individual to another.. " Planning, communication and even trade led, among other things, to the development of better tools and weapons which spread rapidly across the population. The fossil records suggest that H. erectus went on making the same basic hand axe for more than a million years. Our ancestors, by contrast, created smaller, more sophisticated weapons, like a spear, which can be thrown, with obvious advantages when it comes to hunting and to fighting. The same advantages helped Homo sapiens outcompete another rival human, the Neanderthals, who died out about 30,000 years ago as the Ice Age limited available food supplies. "Even 100,000 years ago, we've still got several human species on Earth and that's strange for us. We're the only survivors of all of those great evolutionary experiments in how to be human," says Stringer. H. erectus hung on in Asia until 30,000 years ago. Although they went extinct, they appear to have left descendants on the island of Flores in Indonesia. These humans, Homo floresiensis, also known as "Hobbits", survived until around 12,000 years ago. And then they went, leaving us as the last human species on the planet. "There's such a huge gulf between ourselves and our nearest primate relatives, gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos," said Dr Shea. "If that gap were populated by other hominids, we'd see that gap as not so much a gulf but rather a continuum with steps on the way. We'd still think of ourselves as special, but maybe not so special - a little dose of humility wouldn't hurt. Planet of the Apemen is on BBC1 at 2000BST on Thursdays from 23 June or catch up afterwards via iPlayer at the above link.
Not so very long ago, we shared this planet with several other species of human, all of them clever, resourceful and excellent hunters, so why did only Homo sapiens survive?
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Brownie Samukai told the UN Security Council that the international response to the crisis was "less than robust". The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that thousands more cases could occur in Liberia, which has been worst hit by the West Africa outbreak. Some 2,288 people have died from Ebola in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. The WHO says half of these deaths occurred in the three weeks running up to 6 September. In Nigeria, eight people have died out of a total 21 cases. In Senegal, the only person to have been diagnosed with Ebola last month has recovered, a health official has said. The patient, a Guinean student, tested negative after receiving treatment, the official said. Source: WHO Mr Samukai warned on Tuesday that the disease was "devouring everything in its path" in Liberia. The country's weak health system was already overwhelmed by the number of cases, he said. Mr Samukai told UN Security Council members that Liberia lacked "infrastructure, logistical capacity, professional expertise and financial resources to effectively address this disease". "Liberia is facing a serious threat to its national existence. The deadly Ebola virus has caused a disruption of the normal functioning of our state," he said. Separately on Tuesday, the UN's envoy in Liberia said that at least 160 Liberian health workers had contracted the disease and half of them had died. Karin Landgren described the outbreak as a "latter-day plague" that was growing exponentially. She added that health workers were operating without proper protective equipment, training or pay, in comments to the UN Security Council. "Liberians are facing their gravest threat since their war," Ms Landgren said. "I don't think anybody can say right now that the international response to the Ebola outbreak is sufficient," US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said after the Security Council briefing. Ebola spreads between humans by direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids or organs, or indirectly through contact with contaminated environments. Unlike other West African nations affected by the outbreak, efforts to contain the virus in Liberia were not working well, the WHO has said. The reason for this remains unclear; however, experts say it could be linked to burial practices, which can include touching the body and eating a meal near it. There are also not enough beds to treat Ebola patients, particularly in the capital Monrovia, with many people told to go back home, where they may spread the virus. The WHO is calling on organisations combating the outbreak in Liberia to scale up efforts "three-to-four fold" to control the outbreak. The US says it will help the African Union mobilise 100 African health workers to the region and contribute an additional $10m (£6.2m) in funds to deal with the outbreak. The announcement comes as a fourth US aid worker infected with the deadly virus was transported to a hospital in Atlanta for treatment. The identity of the aid worker has not yet been revealed. Two other aid workers who were treated at the same hospital have since recovered from an Ebola infection. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says he will hold a meeting on the international response to the Ebola crisis on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly this month.
Liberia is facing a "serious threat" to its national existence as the deadly Ebola virus "spreads like wildfire" there, its defence minister says.
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If passed into legislation, the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Bill, proposed by the DUP's Lord Morrow, would make Northern Ireland the lead in the UK on human trafficking law. The bill aims to enhance services for victims as well as making it an offence to pay for sexual services from a prostitute. The consultation period ends on 18 October. Buying or selling sex is legal across the UK, however, many activities related to prostitution, including kerb crawling, running a brothel and pimping, are all outlawed. Lord Morrow said it was illegal to pay for sex in Northern Ireland from someone who has been coerced. "The majority of rescued victims of trafficking in Northern Ireland are those brought here for sexual exploitation and I believe that we can do better," he said. "For instance, in Sweden, there's a very clear message of zero tolerance for the purchase of sex that has had a clear impact on trafficking." Other points in the Stormont bill include extending the definition of 'other exploitation' to include forced begging; defining a victim of trafficking and outlining compensation procedures for victims. It proposes allowing courts to take aggravating factors into consideration when passing sentence. The bill also aims to ensure child victims have a legal advocate to support them through the relevant criminal, immigration and compensation procedures, and provide special measures for trafficking victims if they act as witnesses. It will also set out what assistance and civil legal services are available to victims of trafficking, and ensure no prosecution is brought for a criminal offence committed by a trafficking victim as a direct consequence of being trafficked. Lord Morrow's bill also proposes training for police and prosecutors. It urges the Department of Justice to produce an annual strategy on raising awareness of and reducing trafficking. Public consultation is currently taking place in the Republic of Ireland about the future of legislation on prostitution. It is due to be referred to an Oireachtas committee at the end of this month. Irish Justice Minister Alan Shatter said that while there was a clear consensus on the "evils" of child prostitution and sex trafficking, there are "differing and genuinely held views" on how criminal law should deal with prostitution.
Proposed changes to the laws on prostitution and human trafficking in Northern Ireland are due to go out to public consultation later.
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Speaking on the second day of his visit to Kenya the Pope linked trafficking to "organised crime and terrorism". He also warned world leaders not to let special interests prevail over common good in next week's climate talks. The Pope earlier addressed a Mass in Nairobi where he urged people to create a "just" and "inclusive" society. He turned his attention to environmental issues when he was talking at the headquarters of the UN Environment Programme in the Kenyan capital. In his fourth speech of the day, the pontiff said that "Africa offers the world a beauty and natural richness" which inspired people to praise God. But that was being threatened, by "human selfishness of every type" as people's poverty was being exploited to push them into the illegal trade of diamonds, rare metals, timber and ivory, he said. "We cannot be silent about forms of illegal trafficking which arise in situations of poverty and in turn lead to greater poverty and exclusion," Pope Francis said. The pontiff, in Kenya on the first stop on a three-nation tour of Africa, also had a hard hitting message ahead of next week's climate talks in Paris, saying it would be "catastrophic" if the needs of poorer nations were ignored. Repeating a warning from earlier this year he said: "The climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all." Earlier on Thursday the Pope celebrated Mass at a university campus with tens of thousands of people who had waited in the rain from the early hours of Thursday morning. Pope Francis made a plea for traditional values and urged Kenyans to work for peace and reconciliation on his first trip as pontiff to Africa, amid a rise in militant violence. Religion in sub-Saharan Africa: Profile: Pope Francis Source: US-based Pew Research Center 2011 survey Before the Mass, Pope Francis met religious leaders from other faiths and other Christian denominations, who he said should be "prophets of peace" in a violent and hate-driven world. Referring to attacks carried out by the militant Islamist group al-Shabab in Kenya, he said that God's name "must never be used to justify hatred and violence". The BBC's Anne Soy said that security was very tight for the Mass, but the pontiff played down security fears, joking that he was "more worried about the mosquitoes". Pope Francis's five-day visit to Africa will also see him go to Uganda and Central African Republic, which has been hit by Christian-Muslim conflict.
Pope Francis says that the illegal trade in ivory and diamonds fuels conflict and could destroy Africa's environment.
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In total, 275 vehicles were left over the Easter weekend in West Drayton, about 15 minutes from the airport. One woman said she was "horrified" to find her vehicle was left in a public car park after she spent more than £100 for it to be left in a secure facility. Both Hillingdon Council and Heathrow Airport have begun an investigation. Companies offering meet and greet services meet customers at the airport then take their vehicle to a secure parking facility, and return it when the owner gets back from their trip. When the BBC visited the council car park, some cars had up to five parking tickets on their windscreens. Many also had Heathrow "short stay" parking vouchers inside them, which is the area where meet and greet firms pick up their customers' cars. David and Julia O'Neill, from Lichfield, found out their car had been issued with a parking ticket after they returned from a two-week trip to Vietnam. Ms O'Neill said the couple were "horrified to find out our car had been parked here" having been told it would be left in "a secure car park". "We'll just wait and see now if the council get in touch about our parking ticket," she said. In a statement, Hillingdon Council said it was "aware of reports that some vehicles were parked in the car parks" which had not been left by the vehicle owners. "Our trading standards team has launched an investigation and will be contacting the people who have received the parking tickets in due course," they said. A Heathrow spokesperson said the airport was working with "police and the local community to investigate this matter further".
More than 200 cars left with Heathrow Airport parking firms were left in a council car park and issued with parking tickets.
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Officers seized the drugs from a property in Bellefield Avenue, on Tuesday, after executing a search warrant. Two men, aged 27 and 25, have been charged and are expected to appear at Dundee Sheriff Court. The search was part of Police Scotland's intelligence-led initiative to tackle drug-related criminality. Det Insp Stewart Forsyth, of Police Scotland's specialist crime division, said: "A significant amount of heroin and cocaine was recovered, highlighting our ongoing commitment to remove controlled drugs from our communities and reduce the harm caused by illegal substances. "I want to thank our communities for their support. By providing information to us about drug-related criminality we can take positive action to search properties under warrant, seize controlled drugs and arrest those involved in their supply. "Report it and we will take action."
Heroin and cocaine with an estimated street value of £220,000 have been recovered from an address in Dundee.
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Daniel Shaver of Texas was killed in January after police came to his hotel room, responding to a report of a man pointing a rifle out a window. "Please don't shoot me," Shaver cried before Officer Philip Brailsford shot him five times. Mr Brailsford has been charged with second-degree murder. He was also fired from his job at the Mesa Police Department. The prosecutor said that Mr Brailsford was "manifesting an extreme indifference to human life recklessly causing the death of another". Mr Brailsford said he thought Shaver was reaching for a weapon in his waistband when he was shot, according to the the police report. Authorities released police reports, emergency services recordings and other information this week. Video and audio recordings from a police body camera exist, but were not released. Shaver, a 26-year-old father of two, was in Mesa on business and had befriended two others travellers - a man and a woman - at the hotel. The three were drinking in Shaver's room when one of them pointed out a case, which contained Shaver's rifle. Shaver told them that he used the rifle for work, killing birds that accidentally fly inside Walmart stores. He showed the pair the rifle and at one point handled the weapon near the window. When police arrived, the man had left the room and gun had been put to the side, leaving the woman and Shaver, the report said. The woman was apprehended without incident. Shaver was ordered to get on his knees and put his hands on his head, which he initially did. "Shaver was co-operative, but sometimes confused by the commands and because of his possible intoxication," according to a court document released earlier this month. "The sergeant told Shaver that if he put his hands behind his back then he would be shot." Prosecutors said Shaver may have been trying to pull up his shorts when he was shot. Shaver's wife, Laney Sweet, has taken to social media to express her frustration with the case. She said authorities were reluctant to provide details. "I can't bring him back, but I will fight for justice for him," Ms Sweet said. "My kids are absolutely heartbroken and I can't fix it."
An unarmed man was shot and killed by a police officer in the US state of Arizona as he begged for his life, according to newly released reports.
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"London Bridge will never fall down" and "I love London" are just some of the slogans being shared alongside the hashtag #prayersforLondon. Cartoonist Lesco Griffe posted this illustration bearing the famous British motto, while novelist Tony Parsons was among those who posted this "quote of the day" sign from a London Tube station. Many Brits on Twitter also took exception to a report from the New York Times that the UK was "reeling" after being the victim of two terror attacks in two weeks. Author JK Rowling warned people not to "confuse grief with lack of courage", while others turned to photographs from the aftermath of the Blitz air raids in London during World War Two to show what they thought. Twitter users responded to the New York Times with British wit. The hashtag #ThingsThatLeaveBritainReeling began trending with people describing inane things that angered them. Guardian journalist Olivia Solon wrote: "People who stand stand to the left on the Tube escalator." Kate Devlin wrote: "A pause longer than four seconds on Radio 4." Others posted messages of solidarity and love for the city alongside tributes to the emergency services. Many vowed they would not be put off from visiting the capital. Jim Crozier from south-east London wrote: "I am going to a concert in central London tonight. I am not afraid to go. I will not be put off. #staystronglondon #LondonAttacks." Canadian expat Lisa Durbin, who lives in Cambridgeshire, said: "We are going into London today with the kids. I want to say "I am not afraid", but having to explain this to my kids? My stomach hurts." Londoner Caterina Giordo, who is originally from Rome, tweeted: "London gives an opportunity to everyone. It doesn't matter where you come from. It will always be open. LONDON IS NOT AFRAID. We are London."
People have taken to social media to post defiant messages of solidarity after the London Bridge attack.
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Evie and Ossie, rescue cats from the Celia Hammond Trust, have been given the run of four floors at the Whitehall office. Downing Street has its own mouser - Larry - who was tasked in 2011 with ridding No 10 of a rat problem. In April, the Foreign Office took on its own mouser, Palmerston, while the Treasury recruited Gladstone in July. Evie and Ossie are the first to come from the Celia Hammond Animal Trust - Larry, Gladstone and Palmerston came from the better-known Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. Evie is Ossie's mother - a Cabinet Office spokeswoman said the cats would be looked after with donations from staff and were "settling in really well". Much of Whitehall seems to have a rodent problem. Larry was first bought after a rat was spotted scuttling past Downing Street's famous front door on live TV. The Foreign Office and Treasury recruited their own mousers this year. The Cabinet Office has named Evie after Dame Evelyn Sharp, the first female permanent secretary, while Ossie is named after Sir Edward Osmotherly - author of the rules followed by civil servants in giving evidence to select committees. A spokesman said the cats had arrived a couple of weeks ago, in time for the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Cabinet Office. "Everybody's been really enthusiastic. They are a very welcome presence in the office," she said. "They have been settling in and getting familiar with the building." The cats will be kept indoors and will have four floors to roam around.
The Cabinet Office is the latest government department to turn to cats to try to rid it of its resident mice.
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Holroyd, 30, arrives on a one-year deal from Macclesfield Town, having scored 13 goals last season - his best return in four years with the Silkmen. Left-back Jennings, 29, played the second half of last season on loan at Wrexham from Cheltenham Town. His performances persuaded boss Dean Keates to make the move permanent and Jennings joins on a two-year contract.
Wrexham have strengthened for next season by signing forward Chris Holroyd and defender James Jennings.
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The men's 470 class sailor was banned when his name appeared in the World Anti-Doping Agency report into state-sponsored cheating in Russia. But after new guidance from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the sport's international federation said it was unsure Sozykin had cheated. His case now goes to the three-person IOC panel making the final decision on all of the country's athletes in Rio. World Sailing issued a statement which revealed Sozykin had passed two subsequent anti-doping tests and said although he was named in last week's Wada-commissioned McLaren report, it "did not include specific information as to whether the positive test occurred in-competition or out-of-competition". It added: "Further, the substance for which he tested positive is not prohibited out of competition and, if the sample had been taken out of competition, would not have resulted in a sanction."
Russia's Pavel Sozykin has had his doping ban overturned by World Sailing.
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He replaces Phil Blake and is making the switch from New Zealand along with new head coach Aaron Mauger. Coaches Geordan Murphy and Richard Blaze have extended their contracts, with all four signing three-year deals. "Aaron knows Scott very well and comes very highly recommended as a coach," Cockerill told the club website. "He has worked in some top-class environments and we look forward to sharing that experience and knowledge with the playing squad here." Blake is leaving the Premiership club, who are fourth in the table and will play Wasps and leaders Northampton in their final two games of the season. "Aaron has already had a lot of input on our plans for next season, while he has continued to work with the Crusaders in New Zealand, and we look forward to having him here as we build up to next season," added Cockerill. "We're delighted that Richard and Geordan have agreed new contracts, because they are outstanding young coaches with a big future."
Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill has confirmed that Scott Hansen will join the club as a defence coach this summer.
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When it is ready next year the Gothic-style tower will stand 135m (443 feet) tall, the firm says, dwarfing other clock towers around the world. Currently the tallest free-standing clock tower is thought to be the 100m-high Old Joe in Birmingham in the UK. Big Ben in London is just 96m in height (and is not free-standing anyway). It is not clear if the Infosys clock will chime on the hour, as Big Ben does. Infosys, which employs tens of thousands of people around the globe, says it should aspire to be the biggest and best in the world. "Clock towers symbolise perfection, discipline and the way we do our work," the company's Executive Vice-President Ramadas Kamath told the BBC Tamil Service. The firm claims its corporate training campus in Mysore is the largest such facility on the planet. When built, the new clock tower will have 19 stories which will include meeting rooms, a visitor lounge, dining facilities and viewing galleries. It will also be digital, unlike its clockwork rivals. Well actually, it is. The face may look old-fashioned but it is all underpinned by state-of-the-art digital technology. Both types of display are possible with a digital face, the company says. "The advantage with the digital clock tower is that we can display messages on national days and religious events like Christmas," Mr Kamath told the BBC. The Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower - known as Old Joe - is widely thought to be the tallest of its kind at the moment. With its own Twitter page, it is a famous landmark at Birmingham University in England. But it is not a record holder - Guinness World Records says it has a record for largest clock but no record for clock tower, free-standing or otherwise. "We have recorded applications over the years for the world's tallest clock tower, but none have been approved," Guinness said. The Mysore tower will be a third taller than Old Joe, and Guinness says it would welcome an application from India. It says if Infosys applies for a record and submits evidence according to its guidelines, "our adjudicators will review and make a decision on whether a record can be granted". Other famous clock towers include the 85m Rajabai Tower in Mumbai and the 94m Sather Tower in Berkeley, California. Many, such as at Moscow State University, are not free-standing. The tower will be built on a 22x22m base in the Gothic style and is designed to match the classical look of other buildings on the campus, Infosys says. The proposed design will apparently be a marriage of traditional architecture and modern technology, at an estimated cost of nearly $10m (£6.8m). It will be prefabricated in Tamil Nadu before being assembled in Mysore in neighbouring Karnataka state - and should be complete in about 20 months.
Indian IT giant Infosys has said it plans to build the world's largest free-standing clock tower at its campus in the southern city of Mysore.
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Media playback is not supported on this device The 35-year-old Swiss won 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3 to claim his fifth Melbourne title and extend his lead at the top of the all-time men's major winners' list. Nadal, 30, remains tied in second with Pete Sampras on 14 Grand Slams following his first final since 2014. Federer's previous major title came at Wimbledon in 2012. "I've been coming here for almost 20 years now," he said. "I've always enjoyed it and now my family does too. "Thanks again for everything, to everybody. I hope to see you next year. If not, this was a wonderful run here and I can't be more happy to win." Federer's achievement in ending his drought is all the more remarkable given this was his first tournament since Wimbledon last July, after which he took the second half of the season off to recover from a knee injury. He becomes the first man in history to win five or more titles at three different Grand Slam events - five Australian Opens, five US Opens and seven Wimbledons. Nadal was also on the way back from injuries that curtailed his 2016 season, but the Spaniard could not improve his winning record against Federer - the Swiss has now won 12 of their 35 matches and three of nine major finals. "I worked very hard to get where I am," said Nadal. "I fight a lot, probably Roger deserved it a little bit more than me. "I'm just going to keep trying. I feel I am back at a very high level." The return of one of the great tennis rivalries to the Grand Slam final stage led to huge anticipation, and it lived up to the billing over three hours and 37 minutes. A match of wild momentum swings ended with a purple patch from Federer that saw him win the last five games, and clinch the title thanks to confirmation from a Hawk-Eye challenge. Federer leapt in the air in celebration and, after consoling close friend Nadal, broke down in tears as his wife Mirka and his team celebrated in the stands. "Tennis is a tough sport," said Federer. "There are no draws. If there were I would have been happy to accept one and share it with Rafa. "Everybody says they work very hard - I do the same - but I try not to shout about it. I'd like to thank my team. It's been a different last six months. I didn't think I'd make it but here I am." The injury lay-offs meant Federer was seeded 17th in Melbourne and Nadal ninth, but the Swiss will now return to the world's top 10 and Nadal will move up to sixth. There were moments of genius from both players - a stunning forehand angled winner from Nadal as he dominated the fourth set, a breathtaking 26-stroke rally in the fifth that ended with a crushing Federer forehand - but in the end the attacking instincts of Federer held sway. He dropped just four points on serve in the first set, breaking serve after a brilliant drive volley in game seven, only for Nadal to race 4-0 clear in the second. Federer recovered one of the breaks but it was not enough as Nadal served out to love to level the match, and then heaped on the pressure early in the third. With the momentum slipping away, Federer came up with three aces on break points to nudge ahead in the first game - and it proved to be a decisive moment. A magical half-volley forehand helped Federer get the break in the next game and he rolled through the set for the loss of just one game. Neither had been able to produce their very best consistently and it was Federer's turn to leak forehand errors as he fell behind in the fourth set, and Nadal appeared the stronger as they headed into a decider. Federer needed an off-court medical time-out, just as he had before the fifth set of his semi-final against Stan Wawrinka, and he had treatment to his thigh on the changeover as he fell 3-1 behind. Despite his physical issues, Federer continued to press on the Nadal serve, earning break points in each game until he finally converted a sixth to level at 3-3. The Rod Laver Arena crowd roared as the Swiss swept through a service game and then broke again in a dramatic game, winning a 26-stroke rally that will rank among the best ever. Closing out a Grand Slam final was never going to be easy after five years, and Federer had to recover from 15-40 before firing a forehand onto the line and waiting for Hawk-Eye to confirm it was a historic winner. 2006: French Open - Nadal won 1-6 6-1 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 2006: Wimbledon - Federer won 6-0 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 2007: French Open - Nadal won 6-3 4-6 6-3 6-4 2007: Wimbledon - Federer won 7-6 (9-7) 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 2-6 6-2 2008: French Open - Nadal won 6-1 6-3 6-0 2008: Wimbledon - Nadal won 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (8-10) 9-7 2009: Australian Open - Nadal won 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-2 2011: French Open - Nadal won 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 5-7 6-1 2017: Australian Open - Federer won 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3
Roger Federer won his 18th Grand Slam title and first for five years with a thrilling five-set victory over Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final.
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Three women were sexually assaulted on different buses in the city centre between 19 and 27 November last year. Officers have appealed for anyone who recognises the man, or who may have witnessed the attacks, to contact them. The man was said to be about 5ft 9in tall and of medium build with short brown hair and a receding hair line. He was described as being in his mid-30s, and occasionally wears glasses with a thick frame. The first incident took place on 19 November on a number 57 bus at Jamaica Street around at about 14:45. The second attack happened on 24 November on a number 6 bus at Argyle Street, in the city centre, at about 15:15. The final incident took place on 27 November on a number 61 bus at Maryhill Road at about 08:50.
Police have released CCTV images of a man they want to trace in relation to a series of sex attacks on Glasgow buses.
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They were struck near the junction of Kenton Road and Claremont Avenue in Brent, at 19:40 BST on Friday. The boy and his 59-year-old grandfather were taken to hospital with the child in a life-threatening condition. The man's injuries were not critical. A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, the Met Police said. He has been bailed until October.
A two-year-old boy is critical after he was hit by a car when out walking with his grandfather in north-west London.
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Many events will be held across the UK to commemorate these landmark moments, which underpinned the establishment of parliamentary democracy and the legal system in the UK and around the world. Protests, dissent, discussion and debate are an integral part of democracy around the world - from Martin Luther King Jr leading the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963 to the recent JeSuisCharlie rallies in Paris and around the world where millions took part in unity marches. In collaboration with the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the BBC will broadcast a special Democracy Day on Tuesday 20 January. There will be live events, discussions and debate inside Westminster and at the BBC Radio Theatre in London broadcast across the BBC, including on all 27 BBC language services. Across radio, TV and online, the BBC will look at democracy past and present, how democratic we really are, and encourage debate about the future of democracy. You can get involved by sharing your photos and show us what images you think reflect the true spirit of democracy. Take a look at some of your images: Democracy Day: Your protest posters and Democracy Day: A week in protests
This year sees the 750th anniversary of the first Westminster Parliament and 800 years since the sealing of Magna Carta.
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In stark language the health minister said the system is at breaking point and that it is not sustainable. The former health minister of the Basque country, Professor Raphael Bengoa, said that Northern Ireland is more than capable of delivering. He said we should be leading the way in delivering first class health care. Considering Professor Bengoa's world wide status there is little need for any more reports. What is required now is action. Professor Bengoa also called for political maturity. He said that is paramount for the Minister's plan to work. It may be a 10-year vision but short-term fixes in the past have failed. The £40m announced in November 2015 to fix waiting lists clearly did not work. The system could not deliver on time and most of the money was redirected into other areas. That is because the system could not cope. There were too few staff, hospital beds and even operating theatres. Such a huge problem cannot be fixed overnight. It will take time. But for some patients, time is not an option. To get the public on board, and to show goodwill, the minister might have to tackle the current waiting list problem - not later, but now. Such a move will also establish her as being in control. An ancient Chinese saying goes: "Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. " For Michelle O'Neill that step was getting the executive's support - but now the rest has to follow.
Not one but indeed two reports have made a compelling case for changing how health and social care services are delivered in Northern Ireland.
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Policemen are being trained to use the weapons, despite concerns over their safety for crowd control. Abhishek Jorwal, chief of police in Haryana's Jind district, told the BBC that the slingshots "were made after a lot of research and development". The "specially-designed" slingshots would be in addition to batons, tear gas and other weapons currently in use. Mr Jorwal said the "idea is to avoid the use of lethal weapons against the protesters". "Officers have been instructed to use slingshots and tear gas shells, and keep guns and bullets as the last option." Marbles and chilli balls, packed in small bags carried by the policemen, will be used as ammunition for the slingshots. "Marbles and chilli balls won't cause any permanent damage but will pack enough punch to push protesters back," he said. Handmade weapons, such as slingshots, are rarely used as a weapon by security forces in India. But the use of non-lethal weapons, such as pellet guns, in trouble-hit areas such as disputed Kashmir has resulted in serious injuries to protesters and bystanders. Correspondents say there are concerns marbles and other objects fired from police catapults could also badly injure civilians.
Police in India's Haryana state say they will soon begin using slingshots to control violent protesters.
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The blower pump overheated, filling St John the Baptist Church in Peterborough with "acrid smoke" . Canon Ian Black said it was "very dramatic" but no-one was injured. He said a grand piano had been brought in for Easter "as there's no way we'd let something like this stop us celebrating Christ's resurrection". "That is the heart of our faith so that will go ahead regardless," the canon said. More on this and other stories from Cambridgeshire The fire was caused by an electrical fault but the extent of damage to the organ is not yet known. "There was smoke pouring out of the [blower pump] chamber and clearly the fire brigade was called and we had to evacuate the church as there was too much smoke inside," he said. Canon Black said he hoped the organ would be covered by the church's insurance, however, repairs could cost as little as £1,000 or as much as £80,000 depending on what needed to be done. "We were going to have an appeal anyway to do some work on the organ, so we need to do that a bit more quickly now." The church is asking people to help by sponsoring an organ pipe. A "flute" will cost £10, he said. "If you feel like a big fanfare you can sponsor a 'trumpet' for £50 and if you really want the big parade you can have all 76 [pipes] for £5,700."
A 100-year-old church organ that went up in smoke, causing a Palm Sunday congregation to be evacuated, could cost up to £80,000 to fix or replace.
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They brought back an impressive medal haul of two gold, three silver and three bronze medals. In his debut World Games, skier Caolan McConville from Aghagallon won two medals despite having only hit the snow for the first time in January. The County Antrim 13-year-old is Ireland's youngest athlete. He said winning two medals was a lot of fun. "It was shocking that I won. It was very exciting and just a lot of fun. I can't wait to go back to the Olympics," he said. Caolan was shocked by the amount of support that he received when he came home to Aghagallon. "I didn't expect it one bit. I felt like a bit of a celebrity," he said. Caolan's mother, Edel, said she was extremely proud of him: "He started two years ago in the Ski-ability club in Craigavon. "He then went in January for a week's training and loved it. It's just his sport. "We're still all coming down to earth, because it's hard to believe that he achieved so much. "Caolan always said never let your dreams be dreams, never let anybody think that you can't do it." It was also the debut World Games for Carryduff teenager Sean McCartan who claimed gold and bronze. Cyril Walker, from Markethill, County Armagh, had high hopes for his second World Winter Games, having achieved Bronze at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Japan in 2005. On the slopes of Schladming, the 46-year-old clinched silver and bronze.
Ireland's Special Olympics team are on home soil after a great Winter Games in Austria.
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Ancient settlements were found on the nature reserve off the Pembrokeshire coast using a number of techniques, including taking "X-rays" of the land. Tests on a mound of stones used for cooking date one site to around 500 BC. Experts from the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW) said the island appears to have been "well settled and farmed". Skomer, famed for its bird life and particularly its puffins, also has some of the best preserved prehistoric field systems and hut settlements anywhere in Britain. A geophysical survey carried out in 2012 used technology to measure through the earth, creating an "X-ray" picture of what is under the ground. It found that unrecorded prehistoric fields and settlements survive beneath the modern fields in the centre of the island. In April 2014 a small team had permission to cut an excavation trench at a prehistoric mound of burnt and fire-cracked stones outside the remains of a roundhouse on north Skomer. Such mounds are found at these dwellings as the stones were heated in a fire and then dropped in a trough of water to bring it to boil for cooking purposes. Dr Toby Driver from the RCAHMW said: "Despite half a century of modern archaeological interest, we still had no scientific dates for the roundhouses and fields on Skomer. "Our excavation discovered a cattle tooth from within the mound of stones, which has now been radiocarbon dated to the late Iron Age. "Beneath the mound we found a sealed land surface containing Neolithic or Bronze Age worked flint tools. "A second radiocarbon date from blackthorn charcoal in the upper soil layers gave an early Iron Age date." The tests - dating the mound to between 520-458 BC - are accurate to within 62 years, he said. Dr Driver added: "These new dates confirm pre-Roman settlement on Skomer. "Even so, the burnt mound covers a substantial earlier field wall showing that the island was already well settled and farmed in previous centuries."
Prehistoric remains on Skomer Island date from at least the early Iron Age, say archaeologists.
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The actual number, identified in the final three months of 2014, is probably much higher, says the report, co-authored by the Brookings Institution. It said typical IS supporters were located within the militants' territories in Iraq and Syria. Three-quarters of them tweet in Arabic and about one-in-five use English. They have on average about 1,000 followers. Islamic State has become well known for its use of social media, especially Twitter, to propagate its message. The study, called The Isis Twitter Census, was written by JM Berger of Brookings and Jonathon Morgan, a technologist. Jihadists will exploit any kind of technology that will work to their advantage, said Mr Berger, but IS is much more successful than other groups. Most of these IS accounts were created in 2014, suggesting that the numbers are climbing very steeply, despite more than 1,000 IS-related accounts being shut down by Twitter in the final months of 2014. Mr Berger's report put a maximum estimate of pro-IS accounts at 90,000 but concluded that the "best" estimate was 46,000. Even that lower figure would put their reach into the millions, said Aaron Zelin, an expert on jihadist groups, and a fellow of the Washington Institute. But it would also include multiple accounts held by any one individual, he warned, a practice aimed at combating account terminations. The top Twitter feeds associated with Islamic State, he said, would disseminate the message of those at the top - the military operations, the organisation's activities and videos featuring everyday life under IS rule. Below that, said Mr Zelin, you have people who are not directly connected to IS but who retweet its communications. What you don't often find, he says, is evidence of direct recruitment of fighters. "Recruitment is not overt on Twitter. Most of that happens on applications like Kik, WhatsApp and Skype, which are peer-to-peer. What they are doing publicly on Twitter is to draw people in." Twitter can sometimes be used as an initial means of contact between a radicalised person and someone who could recruit them, says Mr Zelin, but the conversation would very quickly migrate to direct messages or other platforms. Islamic State, he notes, has made social media a central part of its strategy, and the age of its supporters coincides directly with the young demographic that uses social media. The threat of these new technologies in the hands of IS was this week underlined by the new US Pentagon chief, Ashton Carter. "This is a social media-fuelled terrorism group in a way we haven't seen yet," he told senators in Washington. "People who are very distant from any battlefield, from any experience of radicalism, are suddenly becoming enticed through social media." Thousands of foreign fighters have joined the battlefields of Iraq and Syria, mostly from neighbouring countries in the Middle East.
There are at least 46,000 Twitter accounts operating on behalf of Islamic State (IS), a new US study claims.
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The striker, 27, apologised on Twitter after two posts on Sunday expressing his frustration. He complained about sitting in the stand at Inverness and insisted playing was more important than money. Manager Ronny Deila said that Stokes' remarks "showed a lack of respect" to his team-mates. Deila also revealed prior to the 3-1 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle that the matter would be dealt with internally. Capped nine times by the Republic of Ireland, Stokes moved to Celtic from Hibernian in 2010 and has scored 76 goals for the Scottish champions. The striker, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has started just once during this campaign, making one other appearance as a substitute.
Anthony Stokes has been suspended by Celtic for two weeks following his social media comments about being left out of the team.
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Ho Chio-meng is accused of setting up a criminal syndicate, abuse of power, and money laundering. Relatives and colleagues of the prosecutor - who was once tipped to become Macau's leader - have also been charged. Macau, a one-time Portuguese colony, is the world's largest gambling centre and has a reputation for crime. Mr Ho, who was prosecutor general from 1999-2014, was arrested in February while trying to board a ferry to Hong Kong. The 1,970 charges against him include accusations that he and his associates took kickbacks worth 44 million patacas (£4.3m; $5.5m) from construction projects. The former official is currently in prison after Macau's top court ruled he might flee the city if granted bail. His trial is set to begin on 5 December.
The former chief prosecutor in the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau has been charged with nearly 2,000 crimes.
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27 March 2017 Last updated at 13:37 BST But with electoral upsets such as Brexit exposing fundamental divides in how people view themselves, is it time for a new way of thinking? The writer David Goodhart thinks he has found the answer and gets on his soapbox for the Daily Politics.
We are used to stark divisions in politics: Labour and Conservative, left-wing and right-wing.
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Teodorin Obiang Nguema is accused of buying a mansion and sports cars in France with a fortune amassed from oil-rich Equatorial Guinea's public funds. A lawyer for Mr Obiang, the president's son, denies he is a "big-time bandit". The trial is the first since France started investigating African leaders accused of illegally acquiring wealth. It comes after a nearly decade-long campaign by anti-corruption groups demanding that France act against leaders suspected of stashing their "ill-gotten gains" in Europe. Mr Obiang's six-storey Paris villa, estimated to be worth more than $100m (£80m), is located on Avenue Foch, in one the most prestigious neighbourhoods of the French capital. It boasts a cinema, spa, hair salon and taps covered in gold leaf, AFP news agency reports. Mr Obiang's lawyer, Emmanuel Marsigny, asked the court to delay the trial, saying he needed more time to prepare his client's defence. "Believe me, Mr Nguema is not a big-time bandit. He just wants his rights observed," the Associated Press news agency quotes Mr Marsigny as saying. Corruption watchdog Transparency International's lawyer William Bourdon told the court that the trial should proceed and the defence was trying to "paralyse" the judicial system through "opportunistic" and "malicious" manoeuvres, AP reports. The West African state's government launched a bid at the International Court of Justice to prevent the trial from going ahead, arguing Mr Obiang had diplomatic immunity. The United Nations' court turned down the request last month. In November, Swiss authorities seized 11 cars belonging to Mr Obiang, accusing him of money-laundering. Among them was reportedly a Porsche valued at more than $830,000 and a Bugatti Veyron which sells for $2m. In 2014, Mr Obiang agreed to surrender a Malibu mansion, a Ferrari and Michael Jackson memorabilia as part of a settlement with US authorities. The US had filed claims against his US-based assets worth more than $70m, alleging they were proceeds of corruption. Equatorial Guinea, a small country on the west coast of Africa, struck oil in 1995 but most of its population still lives in poverty. Its President, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, is Africa's longest serving leader. He seized power in 1979, and promoted his son to the post of vice-president in 2012. Mr Obiang has always said that "he earned the money legally in his country," Mr Marsigny told AFP.
Equatorial Guinea's flamboyant vice-president has gone trial in absentia in France on charges of corruption after he failed to stop the landmark case.
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Canon Joanna Penberthy said she is "immensely humbled" to become the 129th Bishop of St Davids in Pembrokeshire. An electoral college of 47 people from across Wales spent two days locked in St Davids Cathedral before coming to their decision. Canon Penberthy, 56, who was appointed the cathedral's first woman canon in 2007, will take over the role from the retiring Wyn Evans. The decision to allow women bishops was made following a landmark vote in September 2013. The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, called it "an historic moment" for the church. "What is really important to stress is that Joanna wasn't elected because she was a woman but because she was deemed to be the best person to be a bishop," he said. "She has considerable gifts - she is an excellent preacher and communicator, can relate to all sections of the community, is a warm, charismatic, caring priest and someone who is full of joy." Women bishops are also allowed in Scotland, Northern Ireland and England, where plans were formally approved in November 2014. The first woman in England the Right Reverend Libby Lane, was made Bishop of Stockport in January 2015. St Davids' new bishop was educated at Newnham College, Cambridge and St John's College, Nottingham, she undertook ordination training at Cranmer Hall, Durham, in 1983. Canon Penberthy was then a Deaconess in the city, before working in the role in Cardiff between 1985 and 1989. She also served as a non-stipendiary minister in Cardiff, St Asaph and St Davids, between 1987 and 1995. In February 2007, while vicar of Cynwyl Gaeo, Llansawel and Talley, she became the first woman appointed canon at St Davids Cathedral, a role she remained in until 2010. She is currently the rector of the parish of Glan Ithon, near Llandrindod Wells, Powys.
The Church in Wales has elected its first woman bishop.
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Cricket South Africa says Bodi is the "intermediary" who was charged under its anti-corruption code in December. The India-born 37-year-old played two one-day internationals and a Twenty20 for the Proteas in 2007. Bodi, who is yet to respond, is charged with "contriving to fix, or otherwise improperly influence aspects of the 2015 Ram Slam T20 Challenge Series". A left-arm wrist-spinner, he is also remembered for his part in hastening Kevin Pietersen's move to England. Bodi was selected by Natal at the expense of Pietersen in 2000. The future England international credited that decision as being down to racial selection quotas in his native country.
Former South Africa player Gulam Bodi has been charged with match-fixing by the country's national cricket body.
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Manchester City denied United another Premier League crown on the final day of last season, but Monday's 3-0 win over Aston Villa earned the Old Trafford club a remarkable 13th title in 21 seasons. "They focused on the challenge of City and came up trumps," said Ferguson. "Our consistency for the last 20 years is unbelievable." On Robin van Persie: "Robin has been unbelievable. The second goal reminded me of myself, but I can't remember when!" On Ryan Giggs: "Deary me, he is a freak, a unique freak. A phenomenal man." On Rafael Da Silva: "I think Rafael will eventually be comparable to Gary Neville." On his own future plans: "Look at me - it's taken 10 years off me today. It's these tablets, they're great!" The win over struggling Aston Villa, inspired by Robin van Persie's hat-trick, handed United the points they required to wrap up the league with four games to spare. It made up for the despair of last May, when Ferguson's side were denied the title by City on goal difference. "This club never gives in," the Scot, 71, added. "From Sir Matt Busby, the Munich Disaster, to rebuilding and to win the European Cup, that tells you the history of United. "Every player who comes to this club has to have that engrained. We have lived up to the expectation. "What the players had to do was focus on how we lost the league last year and make no mistakes. The focus was good. "The one thing I said to them was don't lose on inferior goal difference. We'd never had that before at this club and this season we have corrected that." Asked if his current squad was the best of his 26-year reign at Old Trafford, Ferguson responded: "This could arguably be. There is a lot of youth and a lot will get better, we expect that. "It is sweet, it doesn't matter when you win the title, the consistency has been phenomenal." United are 16 points clear of nearest rivals City and could finish the campaign with a record-breaking 96, eclipsing the Premier League points total of 95 set by Jose Mourinho's Chelsea side in 2004-05. United's four remaining games are against Arsenal, Chelsea, Swansea and West Brom. But even on their way to the title, Ferguson's team have had to face the criticism that they lack the quality of United teams of the recent past. Media playback is not supported on this device "It's dead easy to say that, nostalgia plays tricks on people's minds," said Ferguson. "Put it in context, we've now got 84 points with four games left. We've never done that." On City's title failure, Ferguson added: "The games between the two of us there was nothing in it, but in the rest of them we were far better. "We were a far better team than Man City in beating other teams." Van Persie's second goal against relegation-threatened Villa - a left-foot volley hit first time from Wayne Rooney's 35-yard pass - was singled out for particular praise by Ferguson. "All the great goals we've scored over the years, from David Beckham through Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Eric Cantona, that goal has joined that," said the manager. "Robin has been unbelievable. Tonight he was unstoppable. The second goal reminded me of myself, but I can't remember when! "He scored exactly the same goal for Arsenal." On Ryan Giggs securing a 13th Premier League title, Ferguson added: "Deary me, he is a freak, a unique freak. A phenomenal man. We are lucky to have him and Paul Scholes, you are blessed as a manager. "You have to look at how lucky you have been and that I have been. Other ingredients come into it but I am lucky to have them."
Sir Alex Ferguson says his Manchester United players "came up trumps" by battling back from last season's disappointment to claim a 20th title.
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Here are five things you may have missed from Saturday's action... Only nine minutes had been played between Exeter and Carlisle before the League Two match was halted and one of the stands at St James Park evacuated. There were reports of smoke being seen at the back of the Stagecoach Stand, which houses home and away supporters as well as changing rooms and press facilities, and fans were asked to make their way onto the field while investigations took place. It appears a smoke grenade was the cause and an arrest was made in connection with the incident. The match resumed after a 70-minute delay and ended 2-2, with Hallam Hope's late equaliser giving the Carlisle fans a happy 347-mile journey home at the end of a very eventful trip to Devon. Coach Jon Whitney was placed in charge of Walsall's first team after the Saddlers sacked Sean O'Driscoll on Sunday and, with the help of his colleagues, hopes to create a "successful pie" at Bescot. "I add my little piece, my ingredients," Whitney told BBC WM on Thursday. "[Goalkeeping coach] Neil Cutler adds a little bit, [professional development coach] John Ward, some of the players, the skipper, some of the younger lads add theirs. "If overall that becomes quite a nice-tasting pie, then that pie could be quite successful." Well, Whitney ended his first week at the helm as "star baker" as the Saddlers came from behind to win 4-1 at Chesterfield to move within three points of second-placed Wigan in League One. That's a result that even Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood would have approved of. Love him or hate him, you cannot deny that Neil Warnock is getting results at Rotherham. The Millers have taken 11 points from seven games since the 67-year-old took charge and they are only one point from getting themselves out of the Championship's relegation zone following a miraculous comeback at home to Derby. Trailing 3-0 with 20 minutes to play, Warnock sent on striker Leon Best from the bench. After Danny Ward's 83rd-minute goal, Best netted with two headers to earn an unlikely point. "I can't think of another comeback as good as that, but I forget," said Warnock afterwards. "This is the result of the season, never mind the day. I don't think there will be another one like this." A form table published earlier this week put Juventus and Barcelona as the two most in-form teams in Europe - closely followed by Barnsley and Northampton Town. Northampton had 38 points from their 15 games before a 1-1 draw against Cambridge, while Barnsley had collected 37 points from their 15 fixtures before losing 2-0 to Southend in League One. Despite Saturday's slip-ups, those runs are something to be proud of. So Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suarez, Paul Pogba - all great players - but can they do it on a cold Tuesday night at Oakwell or Sixfields? Have you added the new Top Story alerts in the BBC Sport app? Simply head to the menu in the app - and don't forget you can also add score alerts for the Six Nations, your football team and more.
While Burnley were busy going seven points clear at the top of the Championship, miraculous comebacks and sublime goals were taking centre stage in the Football League.
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Media playback is unsupported on your device 27 March 2015 Last updated at 17:40 GMT For a constantly-updated stream of news from across the continent, go to bbcafrica.com
The BBC is boosting its coverage of African news, with the launch of a live page from Monday 30 March, 0800 GMT. ‪‬
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Zakia Medkour, now 43, met Maxime Gaget, 37, over the internet in 2007 and he moved into her Paris studio flat some months later. But within months he had lost his job and she had taken away his credit and identity cards. Cigarettes were stubbed out on his skin and he was forced to swallow sponges and window-cleaning fluid. The case, seen in France as helping to lift a taboo on domestic abuse suffered by men, came to prominence when Mr Gaget wrote about his experiences in a book, My partner, my torturer. French campaign groups say abuse by men against women is three times more common, but say as many as 7,000 men complain of abuse every year. Domestic abuse claims the lives of one woman ever three days and one man every 13 days, they estimate. Mr Gaget described how his life soon turned into a nightmare when he moved in with Medkour, who lived with her two children in a 25 sq m (270 sq ft) flat. Threatened with being labelled a paedophile by his partner if he complained, he was forced to sleep on the floor near the front door and barred from using the bathroom as well as being burned with a white-hot knife. Prosecutors had called for a five-year jail term for Medkour, describing her actions as "beyond violence". She was given 18 months in prison with another 18 months suspended and a fine of €200,000 (£140,000). Mr Gaget was eventually rescued by his parents after his partner's brother raised the alarm and later had eight hospital operations because of his injuries He said he had expected a longer sentence than 18 months but accepted his ex-partner's sentence. "I'm finally going to be able to turn the page," he said. Medkour's lawyers blamed her addiction to alcohol and she apologised for her actions. "I'm not heartless," she was quoted as saying.
A French woman who enslaved and abused her ex-boyfriend for more than a year has been jailed for 18 months.
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But those years have been tough going for Katherine Garrett-Cox at Alliance Trust, as she's spent much of that time under siege by activist shareholders. Her departure looked all but inevitable. She was forced to concede ground and board places to Elliott Partners hedge fund. She then lost her seat on the board, her business and investment strategies were dumped, and her ally and chairwoman Karin Forseke was ousted. With all that, the nickname she carries without evident relish, Katherine the Great, wasn't looking as apt as once it did. Lord Robert Smith of Kelvin moved in to the chair only a few weeks ago. Alliance Trust insiders said he had until July to see whether the Dundee asset manager could meet expectations of returns and efficiency, or hand over its funds to a bigger player. The new chairman was described as 'agnostic' on that question and told colleagues that he was not attracted to the job if it merely involved wielding the hatchet on the chief executive. Lord Smith has previous. Made famous for his chairing roles of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the cross-party devolution commission that bore his name, he first hit the headlines as the man who infamously ousted "superwoman" Nicola Horlick from her City of London high flyer post. That was 19 years ago. In exiting, Garrett-Cox has stressed how she has served shareholders with a view to the long-term, and reflecting the Alliance Trust heritage across generations of investors. The implication is that others might have rather more short-term horizons. Elliott Partners has a habit of getting in, getting ruthless and getting out fast. For those from the Garrett-Cox regime who remain at the Dundee headquarters, it's not clear who could lead the fight to retain its asset management role. That July deadline for the test of her strategy may have just been made redundant. Aberdeen Asset Management is one of those waiting for opportunity to beckon for a big new asset management mandate from Dundee.
Eight years as chief executive of a listed company isn't a bad run, particularly when the pay and bonus last year hit £1.4m.
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Built for a G8 summit in 2014 that was called off because of the Ukraine crisis, and still weeks away from this winter's ski season, the resort had the look of an extravagant white elephant. But for the Russian government it is a useful backdrop for occasions like the annual Valdai meeting where President Vladimir Putin and other top Russian officials can showcase their views in exchanges with foreign scholars. This year the conversation was dominated by Syria and Russia's intentions there. First and foremost, President Putin and other top Kremlin officials insisted that military victory in Syria was not Russia's real objective. There had to be a parallel diplomatic track to push for a grand settlement, involving global players like Russia and the US, neighbours like Iran and Saudi Arabia, and - as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov put it - "a full spectrum of the opposition". And that is where the first puzzle in Russia's Syria policy lies. Exactly which opposition movements does Russia want to crush militarily and which does it want to include in talks? President Putin told us that Russia's aim was to "liberate Syria from terrorists" and stop jihadists from the Islamic State group (IS) from taking over Damascus and then the entire country. IS extremists and al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra fighters, then, were the main enemy - but also "all other terrorist groups". In his Valdai speech President Putin at first seemed to dismiss all opposition forces hostile to the government of President Bashar-al-Assad. He said there was no difference between "moderate" and "non-moderate" terrorists, and accused the US and its allies of playing a dangerous double game, bombing some groups and arming others. Yet when it comes to US-backed fighters in the Free Syrian Army (FSA), Russia's position does seem to be shifting. "Let me raise the curtain on my talks with President Assad," said Mr Putin, revealing that he had asked for and got (who knows how grudgingly?) acceptance from the Syrian leader to explore the idea of helping those armed opposition groups who were genuinely prepared to fight IS. Later Mr Lavrov fleshed out the plan. Moscow was ready to offer air support to the "patriotic opposition" in Syria, including the FSA- although he added that so far the US was refusing to provide details of the rebels' positions. It is hardly surprising that Washington and FSA commanders have been ambivalent or downright dismissive of Moscow's change of heart. After all, until now they believe that Russian planes, far from protecting them, have been selecting targets to take their fighters and bases out. The second puzzle in Russia's Syria gambit is its relationship with the US. For any Russian grand strategy to work - liberating Syria from IS, and re-activating meaningful peace talks - Moscow needs to win round the US and its allies, especially those in the Middle East. Mr Putin acknowledges that. "To liberate Syria we need to unite forces," he said, adding that Syria could become a new model of post Cold War collaboration. Yet he and his officials continue to score points off the Obama administration over Syria wherever they can. "The situation had become intolerable, we had to intervene," said one senior Kremlin official, claiming that where 18 months of US-led coalition strikes against IS had failed to dent it, already Russia's air force was making a difference. "We're more effective," he said. "Our cruise missiles have worked well too." So is this initiative a serious attempt to engage the US in a joint enterprise to solve the war in Syria? Or is it Russia seizing the opportunity to boost its profile at America's expense - showcasing its military hardware for good measure? The third puzzle is how risky this Syrian adventure could prove for Russia, if it does not go to plan. The main danger must be domestic security - the threat from returning jihadist recruits who might launch terror attacks in Russia. Mr Putin estimated that about 4,000 recruits from Russia and other former Soviet republics had gone off to fight for IS. Another leading Russian expert on the Middle East told us the real figure was probably more than 6,000. One member of the Kremlin elite said the worry was not just a possible re-emergence of terror groups in Russia's unruly and impoverished North Caucasus. Extremist cells had already been identified in the Volga and Ural regions, in Moscow and St Petersburg. "The problem is everywhere," he said. And most alarming of all was the prospect of IS jihadists arriving from Afghanistan. The official said his biggest concern was the Tajik-Afghan border where Taliban and al-Qaeda forces were already launching attacks. Certainly the threat of domestic terrorism helps Mr Putin explain why getting involved in a messy war in a Muslim Arab country far away is in Russia's national security interest. But it also raises the spectre of a backlash, a return to the horrifying terror sieges of the early 2000s. If the Syria intervention provokes rather than prevents home-grown terrorism in Russia, Mr Putin risks bearing part of the blame. Perhaps less obvious is another domestic risk for Russia - the danger of being cast as an ally of Shia forces (Iran, Shia militias from Iraq, Shia Hezbollah fighters from Lebanon and Assad's own Allawite supporters) against Syria's largely Sunni opposition. This is clearly a subject of acute sensitivity. "We are not fighting Sunnis in Syria. We are fighting terrorists," said one Kremlin official sharply. Another official put it more bluntly: "Our Muslims are all Sunni, so Russia doesn't want to quarrel with the Sunni world." Another argument for Russia to make such efforts to try to win over the Sunni governments of Turkey, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states and now to reach out to the FSA too. But perhaps the biggest puzzle is how Russia hopes to mount a limited campaign - in time and space - which avoids Russian casualties, yet fulfil such ambitious aims. The air strikes would be time-limited, officials told us - some have suggested three to four months, some six months - but not open-ended. And it seems the campaign will be strictly limited to Syria, however much the Iraqi government would like Russia to bomb IS there too. Yet President Putin says that success cannot be partial - Syria partitioned and President Assad only in control of a rump state. Instead the Syrian state must be restored to its original borders. It is hard to see how that objective is realistic, if Russia intends to withdraw its air cover after six months. If plan A works, then Russia will be able to say it offered the global leadership that allowed a grand peace settlement for Syria to get off the ground. And if it does not, there will be plenty of others to blame for the failure. But perhaps the other answer to many of these conundrums is that Russia's dramatic intervention is only partly thought through. "You think it was planned long in advance. But sometimes we have to react spontaneously and quickly. It was a reaction to events," said one member of the Kremlin elite. Mr Putin gave another explanation: "One thing I learnt 50 years ago on the streets of Leningrad was that if a fight is inevitable, you need to land the first punch," he said pithily, offering a startlingly personal rationale for his Syria strategy. Perhaps it also gave an important hint about his own psychology - that any tendency on his part to act unpredictably and aggressively may in part derive from the gut survival instincts of a schoolboy street fighter.
In the mountains above Sochi in southern Russia, the marble halls and panoramic terraces of the Krasnaya Polyana hotel were almost empty.
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Hannah Dorans, who was from Dalkeith, was found dead in a flat in Hutchison Road in the Slateford area on Saturday morning. Frazer Neil made a brief appearance in private at Edinburgh Sheriff Court before Sheriff Michael O'Grady. He made no plea and the case was continued for further inquiry. He was remanded in custody. A statement from Ms Dorans' family said: "Hannah was a much loved daughter, sister and auntie and we are absolutely devastated as a family by her death."
A 23-year-old man has appeared in court charged with murdering a 21-year-old woman in Edinburgh.
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Media playback is not supported on this device Rooney, 29, scored in the Euro 2016 qualifying win over Switzerland to overtake Charlton's record of 49. Directly addressing Rooney, Charlton said: "It is a record that I am sure you will hold for a long time. "And it is clear to see that you will go on scoring for your club and country for a long time to come. Rooney was given his debut by Sven-Goran Eriksson in February 2003, coming on as a half-time substitute against Australia. Just six months later, he became England's youngest scorer, netting in a Euro 2004 qualifier against Macedonia. His 50 goals have come in 107 caps - one game more than Charlton. "I obviously cannot deny that I am disappointed that I now don't hold this record, however, I am absolutely delighted that it is Wayne, as captain of my beloved club and country, who now holds this record," Charlton added. "On behalf of myself and everyone at Manchester United I would like to say 'Congratulations Wayne, this is a very proud moment for you and your family'." Charlton will present Rooney with a special golden boot before the match against Estonia at Wembley in October. Rooney "thoroughly deserves" his status as England's record goalscorer, says former striker Alan Shearer. The former Newcastle Untied and Blackburn Rovers forward played 63 times for England, scoring 30 goals, before retiring from international football in 2000 aged 29. "When you look at how long the record has stood then he should be a very proud person," Shearer told BBC Sport. "It's a fantastic achievement to have stayed at the top for so many years. Media playback is not supported on this device "He's been around for so many years and no-one has come in and taken the shirt off him and I can't see anyone doing that for the next few years." Rooney has only scored six goals in major tournaments - four times at Euro 2004, once at Euro 2012 and once at the 2014 World Cup. However, only 12 of his goals have come in friendly matches, so is he worthy of the record? "The accusation that will always be thrown at him is that he hasn't produced at a major tournament," added Shearer. "I can understand that and also people will say there are easier games nowadays, but his record goals per games is excellent. "It's not his fault extra teams or so-called weaker teams were put in competitions. He did his job, he scored goals and he broke the record." Former England captain John Terry played in the same team as Rooney at the World Cup in 2006 and 2010. The Chelsea defender said on Instagram: "Congratulations waynerooney on becoming England's top goalscorer. "I've had the pleasure to play alongside Wayne and for me he's England's best EVER. "I've seen 1st hand him do things with the ball that I've never seen before. A winner and a leader and so proud to see him wearing the armband captaining our country. Legend."
Wayne Rooney has a lot more to come after becoming England's top goalscorer, according to previous record holder Sir Bobby Charlton.
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Merton council approved an application to develop the greyhound stadium site in Plough Lane last year, but neighbouring Wandsworth objected. A new consultation will take place, with a final decision due later this year. Labour's mayoral contender Sadiq Khan has opposed the plans. Wimbledon chief executive Erik Samuelson said he was "disappointed". In December, Wandsworth Council's planning chair called on the Mayor to step in, saying the plans for a 20,000-seater stadium, leisure centre and 602 flats would have a "serious and adverse" impact in Wandsworth, especially in Earlsfield and Tooting. Councillor Sarah McDermott cited fears that local hospital and GP services would be oversubscribed, and that the planned on-site supermarket would threaten local shops. She also had concerns about parking and transport. "We are certainly not opposed to the site being developed, nor to it being used for a football ground and to provide new homes," she said. "But we are opposed to this specific application because in our view it simply does not properly address or offer any solutions to the problems it will create in the area." Mr Khan, who holds the nearby Tooting constituency, also objected to the plans last year. Mr Samuelson said the club "would immediately set about understanding the detailed reasons for the Mayor's decision". "While this is a setback, the story is not over," he added. "We have made a very strong case for the application and we will do so again. We remain confident that we will be successful, albeit after some delay to our aspirations." Wimbledon FC left its original home at Plough Lane in 1991 because legislation demanded all-seater stadiums. It shared Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park before moving to Milton Keynes. Many fans protested against the move and decided to form AFC Wimbledon as a non-League club. It rose back to league status and currently plays at Kingsmeadow in Kingston-upon-Thames. The forthcoming closure of the Wimbledon dog track - the last greyhound stadium with a London postcode - was recently described as a "crime against happiness" by the Racing Post.
AFC Wimbledon's plans to build a new stadium have suffered a setback after the Mayor of London said his office would decide whether they went ahead.
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Tuedon Morgan, 42, said Antarctica, where she has been on two previous trips, was a playground compared to her experience at the North Pole last week: The North Pole was extremely difficult for me: It was so cold, with temperatures of -41 C, and I noticed that my body was losing a lot of energy - it was like the magnetic field was sucking all my energy out. The last 4km (2.5 miles) were the hardest for me - I started to see buildings where I knew that there was nothing there. I didn't have any training for this - I didn't have any snow to train on. In Qatar, where I live, it's the extreme opposite: I wear T-shirts and shorts to run; in the North Pole you have to wear all these different layers. We were 44 competitors from 22 countries and I finished quite late, I was one of the last people to finish. But I compete[d] with myself. I was just singing and praying and when I got to the bend where I could see where other people had planted their flags, I kept saying to myself: "I have to plant the Nigerian flag there; your country's flag has to be there." A South African has done the race; I don't think any other Africans have done it, so for me it was awesome to do that for my country, for Nigeria and for Africa as a whole. As I was leaving, other Nigerians arrived - they had been to the geographical North Pole and they had raised the Nigerian flag there as well. It was awesome. I would do the North Pole again. Right now, sitting here, I'm thinking: "I want to go back to do it again." It all started one day in January 2008, when I woke up and looked myself in the mirror and I said: "I need to change my lifestyle." I would go to bed early and wake up really tired, I weighed 121kg, which is about 266lbs, I was a big girl. I was extremely happy with the way my life was, I never envied any slim person, but I was always breathless. I've got four kids, I could barely do much for them, my bad leg was getting worse, my doctors would give me some injections and would tell me how to lose weight. That day I made up my mind and I said I was going to commit to this, so I got into the gym and I started walking on the treadmill and then I went on the road and I just built up from there. I joined a running club - the first day they wanted to do a 7km run and it took me over two hours - I was the last one to finish but I went back the next day, I just wouldn't give up. For me, losing weight, I wanted to do it as slowly as possible, gradually. I needed to learn to eat. I think my biggest problem was food - I love food and that's why myself and a friend, we've founded a weight-loss group, we've got over 5,000 African women in it, we have a cook book and they can use our menus free of charge. It's been very difficult because I have four boys, I have my husband, I have my job. People say: "I don't have the time" - everyone has the time, you have 24 hours, it's time management. I don't watch TV late at night. I wake up at 03:30 and I go running from 04:00 to 05:30. When I come home, I wake my husband and my kids. So my running time in the morning is my time, I'm not using family time. It's all about compromise. My husband, when I came home yesterday from the North Pole, said: "What's our next challenge?" I have already done 33 marathons - but every race is different. For example, in the North Pole we didn't have spectators. In New York they virtually lift you up your feet, the crowd. London is the same. The message I'm sending out there is always belief in yourself, you have no limits, you can do whatever you want to do. We're the ones who set the boundaries. It might take longer for some but if you're persistent, if you keep knocking, it will happen. Tuedon Morgan was interviewed by Akwasi Sarpong on BBC Focus on Africa on the World Service
The first Nigerian to do the North Pole Marathon tells the BBC how proud she felt to plant her country's flag in the snow at the end of the race.
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The Met Police said the man was followed on foot after officers tried to stop a car in Kingsland Road, Hackney, at 01:45 BST on Saturday. He was "taken ill" after "trying to swallow an object" and was pronounced dead in hospital a short time later, the force said. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has been informed. Footage apparently showing the incident has been shared on social media, along with the hashtag #JusticeForRash. Police said the officer "intervened and sought to prevent the man from harming himself". A force medic provided first aid at the scene before London Ambulance Service paramedics arrived. Police said next of kin had been informed and a post-mortem examination and formal identification would be "arranged in due course". "The Directorate of Professional Standards and the Independent Police Complaints Commission have been informed and have declared the incident independent," a force spokesman added.
A 20-year-old man has died after being apprehended by a police officer in an east London shop.
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Voting was a "national duty", the reports said, and calls for people to refrain from voting should be ignored. One commentary went further, suggesting the military could remain in power if voter turn-out was not deemed adequate. The elections will be the first to be held in the military-ruled nation for two decades. The junta says the polls will mark a democratic transition from military to civilian rule - and wants a strong turn-out. But critics say the elections are a sham aimed at further entrenching military rule albeit in a civilian mask. The main pro-democracy party, led by detained Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, is not taking part. In recent days a number of articles have appeared in state-run media telling Burmese people to vote in the 7 November polls. "Every citizen who values democracy and wants democratic rule must cast their votes without fail," said an editorial in the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper on Sunday. "However, some people are inciting the people to refrain from voting in the elections. They are attempting to mislead the people who are walking along the road to multi-party democracy," it said. On Monday a commentary that ran in all state-controlled newspapers went further. "If the election is aborted (by voters) there will not be a government that's elected by vote of the people," it said. "The ruling government would have no choice but to remain in charge of state security until it holds another election. If so, this will take a long time." The two junta-linked parties are fielding by far the largest number of candidates. The National League for Democracy - which won the last polls in 1990 but was never allowed to take power - has been forced to disband after it said it was not participating because of laws which banned Ms Suu Kyi from taking part. Other parties that are contesting the polls have struggled to fund campaigns and have complained of harassment. Foreign journalists and observers will not be allowed into the country for the election. Recent reports from Burma say that internet service has become erratic in what some believe is an attempt by the junta to restrict communications over the poll period.
State media in Burma has urged people to cast their ballots "without fail" in Sunday's polls, warning against a boycott.
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Researchers found that long-chain hydrocarbons are significantly under-reported in car manufacturers' data. These hydrocarbons are a key component of two of the worst air pollutants, ozone and particulate matter. The authors believe these "hidden" emissions are having a large impact on air quality in cities like London. The exhaust pipes of diesel-fuelled trucks and cars produce an array of emissions that have different impacts on the air that people breathe. The nitrogen dioxide and particles that are emitted from burning diesel have a direct impact on human health in cities. But diesel also contains more complex, long-chain hydrocarbons, whose role in air pollution has been little understood until now. They can form dangerous air pollutants, especially ozone and particulate matter, which are emitted into the air as unburned fuel or diesel vapour. Researchers from the University of York have been able to detect these complicated compounds in the London air, using sophisticated measuring technology. "It's definitely been hidden until now," lead author Dr Jacqueline Hamilton told BBC News. "What we found is that there's actually a lot of this unburned material from diesel that we haven't seen before." "That might be having a bigger impact on ozone and particle formation than petrol cars are, and historically no one has looked at these emissions at all." The researchers found that close to 50% of the ozone production potential in London in winter was due to these diesel elements. In summertime, it was around 25%. The authors believe that these hydrocarbons are having a direct effect on health. "I think it is having a large impact on air quality in our cities, the number of deaths associated with particle pollution are much higher than those from nitrogen dioxide, this is a route to increase particle pollution so it could have a major impact on human health." The study also found that the scale of these hydrocarbons in the air was far in excess of the levels expected by government, which are based on data from car manufacturers' emissions tests. For some types of these diesel emissions, the real world samples were over 70 times greater during winter compared to the regulatory inventories. The authors say these emissions are "massively under-predicted" but they are uncertain if this is a deliberate attempt by car manufacturers to conceal the scale of the problem or simply an omission through ignorance. "Volkswagen have admitted they have deliberately turned off the emissions controls, and if these controls lower emissions of hydrocarbons, if you just turn that off, you are definitely gaming the system," said Dr Hamilton. "If you look in the real atmosphere, compared to the test data, there's a lot of NOx and a lot of these hydrocarbons as well." Other researchers praised the study as a step forward in scientific understanding. "It is science that has come up with this discovery, but it definitely has public policy implications," said Prof Paul Monks, from the University of Leicester, who is also the chair of the UK government's air quality expert group. "It raises yet another question about diesel vehicles. They are implicated heavily in NO2, they are implicated in toxic particulate matter, and this points to another deleterious environmental impact from diesels." The authors are calling for a review of the way emissions from car and trucks are measured, with much more emphasis on real world testing and increased testing for a wider spectrum of substances coming out of the tail pipe. "We have a policy in the UK to look at these sorts of hydrocarbons from petrol cars, but we really have to start thinking more seriously about measuring these from diesel cars." The research has been published in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. Follow Matt on Twitter @mattmcgrathbbc.
Atmospheric levels of a little known by-product from diesel engines are up 70 times higher than expected according to a study.
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If the proposals get the go ahead, work on the scheme would begin later this year with it being completed over three financial years. Meanwhile, a study into ditching free Sunday parking is to go ahead. Plans for the 20mph limit follows a consultation exercise, which the council said showed strong support. Support was strongest among the parents of children under 16, while businesses were split 50/50. Campaigners have called on towns and cities elsewhere in Scotland to follow suit. About 25 miles of Edinburgh's roads, from Arthur's Seat to Blackford Hill, are already covered by a 20mph limit. It is designed to improve safety and encourage more people to walk or cycle. The plans will go before members of the council's transport and environment committee for approval on 13 January. Councillors on the committee will be asked to a sign off a £110,000 study of parking in the evenings and on Sundays. The report will also look at the impact the plans would have on residents and businesses, with the results published in June. A public consultation on a draft action plan would then be held some time before August. Proposals being considered for the plan include extending evening parking restrictions, introducing parking fines on Sundays and extending permit holders' parking rights in pay-and-display parking bays. Lesley Hinds, Edinburgh City Council's transport convener, said: "We were absolutely delighted with the huge response to our consultation in the autumn and it's great to be moving on to the stage of finalising exactly which streets will become 20mph, provided the necessary Traffic Regulation Orders are secured. "Edinburgh is taking a very bold step in introducing slower speeds for so much of its roads and we're aware that other cities in Scotland are watching our example keenly. "There's obviously a lot of work to be done to raise public awareness between now and the first new limits coming into effect. "It's undoubtedly a culture change for the whole city but we're very encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive response we've seen to the pilot project in South Edinburgh. "Support for 20mph limits was already high before the pilot began but it increased even more once people tried out the slower speeds in practice." John Lauder, national director of Sustrans Scotland, said: "It is fantastic to see Edinburgh Council rolling out 20mph speed limits across more and more streets in the capital. "Sustrans wants to see increasing numbers of people choosing to travel actively on an everyday basis, whether on foot or by bike, and we think that reducing traffic speeds is a key way to helping achieve this. "Many other towns and cities across Scotland will no doubt be watching Edinburgh closely as implementation of the new 20mph network gets under way. Hopefully they will like what they see and learn from Edinburgh's experience." Edmund King, AA president, said: "What we would advise Edinburgh and other cities looking at 20mph limits is to target them where they really are needed. "The busiest shopping streets, the road outside the school, the residential areas, rather than just introducing blanket limits, which generally aren't supported by motorists and therefore it's very difficult to enforce." Supt Phil O'Kane, of Police Scotland, said: "We will not routinely police the 20mph zones, however we will respond to any particular zones where there is a casualty reduction requirement. "We will enforce the 20mph zones outside schools because that is important for the children of Edinburgh."
More than 80% of Edinburgh's roads, including the whole of the city centre, are to have a 20mph speed limit under council plans.
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Campaigners against the mine first took their case to Europe in 2008, claiming the site flouted EU environment rules. Their petition was heard again this week and the European Commission asked for more time to look into potential breaches. The firm behind the scheme said it was constantly assessing its impact. The petition is expected to return to the European Parliament later this year. It says work is done just 36m from houses and would have a detrimental impact on residents' health. Work to mine 10m tonnes of coal over 17 years from Ffos-y-Fran began in 2007. Miller Argent (South Wales) Ltd initially received planning permission following a public inquiry, only for that to be overruled by the High Court. But the Welsh government, which backed Ffos-y-Fran, won the right to appeal and a Court of Appeal judge allowed it to go ahead. A spokesman for Miller Argent said: "We currently employ over 230 people at Ffos-y-fran providing high quality jobs. "We work closely with Merthyr and Caerphilly councils, Natural Resources Wales to ensure we consistently meet their requirements as well as our own. "We are constantly assessing the impact of our activities upon others and diligently implementing mitigation techniques across our operations. "The scheme itself is saving the public purse many millions of pounds reclaiming over 1,000 acres of dangerous and derelict land, at the same time providing substantial benefits to the local community through the Ffos-y-fran benefit fund." Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans has written to the parliament's petitions committee urging it to acknowledge "residents are continuing to suffer noise and dust from Ffos-y-fran". She said: "Ffos-y-fran has had a devastating environmental impact, primarily on the residents but also on a much wider scale considering our commitment to reducing carbon emissions." Miller Argent said it would be happy to discuss the scheme in detail with Ms Evans.
The European Commission is to seek more answers about Ffos-y-fran opencast mine, near Merthyr Tydfil, from both the UK and Welsh governments.
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Mr Trump shocked party members on Tuesday when he refused to endorse Mr Ryan and Senator John McCain in their campaigns for re-election in November. Mr Ryan, the party's highest-ranking elected official, had himself long delayed endorsing Mr Trump. "I support and endorse our Speaker... Paul Ryan," Mr Trump said on Friday. "We need unity - we have to win this election," Mr Trump said during a campaign stop in Green Bay, Wisconsin - Mr Ryan's home state. While they might "disagree on a couple of things", they agreed on a lot as well, he added. In his earlier interview for the Washington Post, Mr Trump had said he was "just not quite there yet" when asked if he would endorse Mr Ryan and Arizona Sen McCain. It was the same phrase used by Mr Ryan before he finally endorsed the Republican presidential candidate. Mr Ryan and San McCain had both criticised Mr Trump's attacks on the bereaved parents of a US Muslim soldier killed in Iraq. The soldier, Humayun Khan, was killed by a car bomb in 2004 in Iraq at the age of 27. Donald Trump is drawing tens of thousands to his rallies. While this may be irrelevant in a national electorate that numbers in the hundreds of millions, the adulation of crowds is catnip to even the most jaded of candidates. Then there's the torrent of money that Mr Trump has unleashed - more than $80m (£61m) in July, thanks to a flood of small-donor contributions. Presidential hopefuls with enthusiastic audiences and campaign coffers full of cash aren't prone to humble exits. Ever since Mr Trump descended that golden escalator to announce his candidacy last July, his campaign has been a roller-coaster ride for the Republican establishment, alternating between reluctant acceptance and sky-is-falling hysteria. This week has marked one of the more pronounced troughs in this journey, but the general election sprint is only just beginning. There may still be peaks of resigned accommodation ahead. If Mr Trump can get back on message with a few carefully modulated speeches and at least a handful of news cycles without outrageous statements, the polls could again narrow to within a more typical partisan split. There's nothing the media like more than a good candidate comeback story. Read more
US presidential candidate Donald Trump has publicly backed House Speaker Paul Ryan days after snubbing him in a spat at the top of the Republican Party.
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His comments came after a night-time meeting with President Thein Sein. Mr Obama had earlier met Burmese lawmakers, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. In an interview published on Wednesday, he had accused the government of backsliding on reforms. The US president is in the capital Nay Pyi Taw for the East Asia summit. Following the hour-long meeting with President Sein, he said that "the democratic process in Myanmar is real". "We recognise change is hard and you do not always move in a straight line but I'm optimistic," he added. President Thein Sein, a former general, said the talks had been candid, according to the Associated Press news agency. In 2010, Myanmar held elections which replaced military rule with the military-backed civilian government of Thein Sein. Since then, many political prisoners have been released, media restrictions have eased and Ms Suu Kyi has been released from years of house arrest. Amid the reforms, her National League for Democracy rejoined the political process and secured a small block of seats in parliament after a landslide win in by-elections in 2012. But Ms Suu Kyi - who is currently banned by a constitutional clause from becoming the nation's president - has recently warned that reforms have stalled, as all eyes turn to 2015 when the next general election will be held. Discussing his earlier meeting with Burmese parliamentarians, Mr Obama said they had talked about Myanmar's transition from military rule to democracy. Among the issues discussed were the protection of minority rights and how majority and opposition parties could work together, he said. "The work is not yet done, and the goal of the United States here is to be a strong partner in the process. "But our consistent aim and goal will be to see that this transition is completed so that it delivers concrete benefits for the people." Mr Obama was due to meet Ms Suu Kyi again in Yangon on Friday. So did the reformers run out of steam? Did Thein Sein's project reach a roadblock manned by hardliners in the Burmese army? Or perhaps we're close to the final destination - that is, with sanctions lifted and the army still really in charge. Ms Suu Kyi's main frustration is that the constitution remains unchanged. Drafted in 2008, it entrenches the military's control of political life, guaranteeing it a quarter of the seats in the Hluttaw (the Burmese parliament), and a veto over any changes to the constitution. This is what its architects proudly call a "disciplined democracy". Has Myanmar's reform journey ground to a halt? In an interview with a Thai-based Burmese website ahead of his arrival, Mr Obama said reform momentum had slowed in Myanmar and that there had even been some steps backwards. He cited restrictions on political prisoners, the arrest of journalists and the ongoing plight of the Rohingya Muslim minority displaced in Rakhine state after anti-Muslim violence. "Even as there has been some progress on the political and economic fronts, in other areas there has been a slowdown and backsliding in reforms," he said. This is Mr Obama's second visit to Myanmar. He last came in November 2012, in what was the first visit to the nation by a US president. Mr Obama's meeting with Thein Sein took place on the sidelines of the East Asia summit - which groups the Asean bloc with the US, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Russia and New Zealand. On Wednesday Asean (the Association of South East Asian Nations) held its own meeting in the Burmese capital.
US President Barack Obama has said he is "optimistic" about the political transition process in Myanmar during a visit to the country - but added that "change is hard".
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Reform Scotland put together a briefing paper based on its response to a government consultation on strategies for the country's police force. It called for the return of council funding for the police along with reforms to local government. The government said police should not be accountable to politicians. A spokesman said the police were held to account by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), not ministers, "protecting their ability to serve without political interference". And the SPA said a recent review had concluded that the current governance model was the right one. The think tank based its Reinventing Local Policing briefing on its submission to the Scottish government's draft strategic police priorities for Scotland consultation. The group campaigned against the creation of the single police force due to concerns about a loss of local control, but welcomed the new "emphasis placed on localism and accountability" by the Scottish government. The briefing highlighted three areas where "more must be done to re-inject localism into policing". Research director Alison Payne said the think tank - which has previously called for the number of councils to be cut - was pleased with the government's stated priorities, but voiced concerns about their delivery. She said: "Reform Scotland opposed the creation of Police Scotland for the very reasons which have gradually been identified as problems, mainly the lack of local accountability. We are therefore pleased that the Scottish government has placed an emphasis on localism and accountability in its draft priorities. "However, we remain concerned that, under the current centralised structure, there is no obvious way to actually make localism happen. "For that reason, we have proposed that both the funding and governance structure must change. He who pays the piper calls the tune, and on that principle we believe that local authorities should again be responsible for funding 50% of policing, with the Scottish Government continuing to fund the other 50%. "Furthermore, we believe that each local authority should be able to nominate a member of the Scottish Police Authority to ensure that local priorities are adequately represented. "The creation of Police Scotland was a mistake, and in the absence of any further wholesale reform we all have a responsibility to make the smaller changes which can help re-create local policing." The Scottish government insisted that the "long-standing principle" of police being accountable to the SPA and communities rather than politicians was the right one. A spokesman added: "Despite the inevitable challenges of implementing the most significant public sector reform in Scotland since devolution - which was backed by cross-party support across the Scottish Parliament - policing continues to perform excellently. "Recorded crime in Scotland is at a 41-year low, with violent crime down by more than half since 2006-07. "The Scottish government has already commissioned a review of governance from the chair of the SPA which was published in March, setting out 30 recommendations for further strengthening oversight of policing and we are working closely with SPA to deliver on these." A spokeswoman for the SPA defended the current model of governance, saying it had been backed in the body's review published in March. She said: "The review considered the pros and cons of various models of accountability at home and abroad and concluded that the SPA was the right model for governing a national police service while also making a number of recommendations aimed at strengthening the existing arrangements. "The review has been formally welcomed by the local government umbrella body Cosla, who have acknowledged the real commitments within it to encouraging localism within Police Scotland and enhancing local scrutiny and accountability."
A think tank has called for a greater role for councils in Scottish policing in a bid to increase local accountability.
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Eric Rafferty, 69, of Aberdeen, was convicted of seven offences of rape, attempted rape and indecency against his victims between 1982 and 1990. Judge Lord Uist told Rafferty at the High Court in Edinburgh: "These are offences of the most appalling nature. "It has taken a long time for justice to catch up with you, but the day of reckoning has finally arrived." He added: "All four girls were subjected to the most abhorrent sexual practices by you. These were unspeakably wicked crimes." Defence solicitor advocate Iain Paterson said Rafferty partially accepted responsibility for the sex crimes but denied rape. Mr Paterson said that if Rafferty survived prison he would come out "significantly older". He said the former carer had no previous convictions, but that Rafferty accepted a custodial sentence was "absolutely inevitable" and would undertake a sex offender programme in prison. Lord Uist said: "The only reason that it is now he is being dealt with was because, as is fairly common in this type of case, a sufficient number of victims did not make their disclosures until many years later."
A child rapist whose abuse of young girls was described as "wicked" has been jailed for 15 years.
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Police said Asten Jones lost control of her Vauxhall Corsa and collided with a Vauxhall Vectra on the A815 at Kilmun, at about 13:20 on Sunday. Ms Jones was taken by air ambulance to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, where she later died. The 47-year-old male driver of the other car was uninjured. Police have appealed for witnesses to the crash to contact them.
An 18-year-old woman has died in a two-car crash in Argyll.
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They say wild chimps communicate 19 specific messages to one another with a "lexicon" of 66 gestures. The scientists discovered this by following and filming communities of chimps in Uganda, and examining more than 5,000 incidents of these meaningful exchanges. The research is published in the journal Current Biology. Dr Catherine Hobaiter, who led the research, said that this was the only form of intentional communication to be recorded in the animal kingdom. Only humans and chimps, she said, had a system of communication where they deliberately sent a message to another individual. "That's what's so amazing about chimp gestures," she told BBC News. "They're the only thing that looks like human language in that respect." Although previous research has revealed that apes and monkeys can understand complex information from another animal's call, the animals do not appear to use their voices intentionally to communicate messages. BBC Nature - Chimpanzee videos, news and facts This was a crucial difference between calls and gestures, Dr Hobaiter said. "It's a bit like if you pick up a hot cup of coffee and you scream and blow on your fingers," she said. "I can understand from that that the coffee was hot, but you didn't necessarily intend to communicate that to me." Some of the chimps' gestures, the researchers say, are unambiguous - used consistently to convey one meaning. Leaf clipping, for example, where a chimp very obviously takes small bites from leaves is used only to elicit sexual attention. Many others, though, appear to be ambiguous. A grab, for example, is used for: "Stop that," "Climb on me," and "Move away." Although many are very subtle, some of the footage captured by the researchers shows very clearly what the chimps mean to convey. In one clip, a mother presents her foot to her whimpering offspring, signalling: "Climb on me." The youngster immediately jumps on to its mother's back and they travel off together. "The big message [from this study] is that there is another species out there that is meaningful in its communication, so that's not unique to humans," said Dr Hobaiter. How do siamang couples declare their love? See a baby dolphin locate its mum from her calls Take a lesson in apes' expressions "I don't think we're quite as set apart as we would perhaps like to think we are. "But then chimps are more closely related to us than they are to the rest of the great apes, so it makes sense that we are incredibly similar to them in many ways." Dr Susanne Shultz, an evolutionary biologist from the University of Manchester, said the study was commendable in seeking to fill the gaps in our knowledge of the evolution of human language. But, she added, the results were "a little disappointing". "The vagueness of the gesture meanings suggest either that the chimps have little to communicate, or we are still missing a lot of the information contained in their gestures and actions," she said. "Moreover, the meanings seem to not go beyond what other less sophisticated animals convey with non-verbal communication. "So, it seems the gulf remains."
Researchers say they have translated the meaning of gestures that wild chimpanzees use to communicate.
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The working group - led by Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham supporters' trusts - said the kick-off time would cause "travel problems". In a statement, the Premier League said it is required to show more matches in the 2019-20 season and is in talks with clubs about how that could work. It said Sunday morning games are "not on the agenda", contrary to reports. The Premier League is required, by broadcasting watchdog Ofcom, to show 190 games in the UK during the 2019-20 season - an increase from the 168 currently televised. It is expected to make a decision about the proposed kick-off times later this year. The working group - set up under the auspices of the Football Supporters' Federation - have been meeting broadcasters and the Premier League in an attempt to secure a better deal for away fans. The group also voiced its disapproval over an increase in Premier League fixtures between 25 November 2017 and 1 January 2018, when each club will play 10 matches - three more than two years ago. It said Newcastle United supporters travelling to all five away games in that period will face three trips to London "and travel a total of 2,484 miles". The 2017-18 season will finish on 13 May, a week earlier than the 2016-17 campaign ended, to allow players extra preparation time for next summer's World Cup in Russia. Asked by BBC Sport about concerns over the busier winter schedule, the Premier League pointed to an article on its website explaining how fixtures are compiled. It reads: "You can't satisfy everyone. It's a compromise across all clubs; you can't do anything to favour any one club. "There are 2,036 matches, across the Premier League and Football League over a nine-month period, and the ideal solution is to ensure that those matches can all be played when scheduled."
The Premier League has been criticised by a fans group for considering playing games at 19:45 on Saturdays from 2019.
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Police spotted his car heavily laden with sacks of grain in Luton and advised him to split the load. However, he was spotted later and fined £300. "The driver found he could buy 20kg (44lb) bags of rice from a cash and carry for £15.49 so bought 40 bags totalling 800kg (1,764lb)," police said. The cut-price rice and fine cost £920. Officers from Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire road policing unit stopped the car in Dunstable Road on Friday night. More news from Bedfordshire The driver was advised to remove the sacks of basmati and either split the load or find a more suitable vehicle. However, he chose to ignore the advice and continue with his basmati booty. The vehicle was stopped a second time and taken to a weighbridge where the driver was fined. He then arranged for a friend to help him move the sacks safely. The force later tweeted: "If you need to carry 800kg of rice, choose a suitable vehicle. This isn't it. Dangerously overweight."
Buying basmati rice at a bargain price turned out to be false economy for one motorist.
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Posh, who lost top scorer Marcus Maddison just before the game through illness, were behind after just three minutes as two of Fleetwood's non-league captures made their mark. Ash Hunter's pass split the defence and Sowerby, signed from North West Counties side Squires Gate, raced in with a cool finish. Fleetwood might have extended their lead before the half hour when former Peterborough man David Ball was released down the right and Hunter was just inches away from connecting with his cross. Ball then had a curling free-kick tipped over the crossbar by Luke McGee as Fleetwood pressed for a second. Shaq Coulthirst - a trialist with Fleetwood last term - went closest to levelling things for Posh before the break. Leonardo Da Silva Lopes slipped the shackles of his marker before Coulthurst turned in the box but fired over the angle. Fleetwood continued to dominate after the break but a mistake nearly proved costly when Coulthirst slipped between two defenders and fired against the palms of Chris Neal. Centre-back Ashley Eastham almost made pressure count at the other end as his point-blank header was blocked on the line by Ryan Tafazolli. The defender was at fault moments later when Fleetwood finally stretched their lead. He was turned too easily by Devante Cole, who swung a 45-yard cross from the right flank and Bobby Grant slid in at the back post to complete the move in spectacular fashion. Cole could have had one for himself with 15 minutes remaining, sauntering on to Ball's pass before rattling the woodwork. Reports supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Fleetwood Town 2, Peterborough United 0. Second Half ends, Fleetwood Town 2, Peterborough United 0. Corner, Peterborough United. Conceded by Amari'i Bell. Corner, Fleetwood Town. Conceded by Gwion Edwards. Conor McLaughlin (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Shaquile Coulthirst (Peterborough United). Jimmy Ryan (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Leonardo Da Silva Lopes (Peterborough United). Attempt missed. Martyn Woolford (Fleetwood Town) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Substitution, Fleetwood Town. Martyn Woolford replaces Bobby Grant. Attempt missed. Shaquile Coulthirst (Peterborough United) header from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Substitution, Peterborough United. Matt Stevens replaces Tom Nichols. Corner, Peterborough United. Conceded by Amari'i Bell. Corner, Fleetwood Town. Conceded by Nathan Oduwa. Foul by Victor Nirennold (Fleetwood Town). Nathan Oduwa (Peterborough United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Substitution, Fleetwood Town. Victor Nirennold replaces Jack Sowerby. Substitution, Peterborough United. Nathan Oduwa replaces Hayden White. Attempt missed. Bobby Grant (Fleetwood Town) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Devante Cole (Fleetwood Town) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the right side of the box. Corner, Fleetwood Town. Conceded by Jack Baldwin. Attempt blocked. David Ball (Fleetwood Town) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Corner, Peterborough United. Conceded by Nathan Pond. Goal! Fleetwood Town 2, Peterborough United 0. Bobby Grant (Fleetwood Town) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Devante Cole. Attempt missed. Jimmy Ryan (Fleetwood Town) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Corner, Fleetwood Town. Conceded by Gwion Edwards. Attempt blocked. Ashley Eastham (Fleetwood Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Corner, Fleetwood Town. Conceded by Andrew Hughes. Attempt blocked. David Ball (Fleetwood Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Corner, Fleetwood Town. Conceded by Hayden White. Attempt saved. Leonardo Da Silva Lopes (Peterborough United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Substitution, Peterborough United. Paul Taylor replaces George Moncur. Attempt missed. Devante Cole (Fleetwood Town) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Foul by Jimmy Ryan (Fleetwood Town). Leonardo Da Silva Lopes (Peterborough United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Ashley Eastham (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Shaquile Coulthirst (Peterborough United). Attempt missed. Devante Cole (Fleetwood Town) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Attempt missed. Bobby Grant (Fleetwood Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Foul by Conor McLaughlin (Fleetwood Town).
Jack Sowerby bagged his first Football League goal to get Fleetwood off to a flying start in their home win over Peterborough.
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The 17-year-old, who cannot be named due to his age, stabbed James Attfield, 33, more than 100 times in Colchester on 29 March 2014. Mr Attfield died in hospital after being found in a park in the town. Three months later, the boy stabbed 31-year-old Saudi student Nahid Almanea 16 times as she walked towards the University of Essex. During a hearing at the Old Bailey, the boy denied two counts of murder and possessing an offensive weapon but admitted two alternative counts of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Det Ch Insp Morgan Cronin said he hoped the guilty plea would give the families of Mr Attfield and Miss Almanea some "comfort by finally establishing who carried out their atrocious killings". "Detectives worked tirelessly to piece together the evidence of how they died and to establish whether there was any connection between their deaths," he said. "Sadly we now know that one person, a 17-year-old boy, was indeed responsible." Mr Attfield was found fighting for his life near Lower Castle Park, and later died in hospital. He had suffered a severe brain injury when he was hit by a car in 2010, leaving one side of his body weak and affecting his reasoning and speech. His mother Julie Finch said he was "shy and polite". Miss Almanea was attacked on Salary Brook Trail near the University of Essex, where she was studying English. In a statement, her family described her as a "remarkable and gentle person who was loved for her kind and caring nature". By Gareth George, BBC Look East After the first killing, many in Colchester were nervous about walking home alone at night, particularly when many streetlights were switched off at midnight. Anxiety deepened after the second stabbing. Nahid Almanea was a student at the University of Essex, and the footpath where she was found is used each day by hundreds of students. The fact both victims were stabbed so many times heightened fears. Repeated appeals by Essex Police suggested detectives were struggling to find a breakthrough, and there was disbelief when someone so young was eventually arrested.
A teenager has admitted killing two people in separate attacks while they were out walking in a town in Essex.
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Jac Evan Davies died following a blaze at his family home in Alltwen near Pontardawe in the early hours of 27 July. His mother Jennifer Davies, 28, escaped the blaze along with her 11-month-old baby and daughter Kelsey, six. Her other son Riley, three, was rescued by a firefighter. South Wales Police later arrested and bailed a 28-year-old woman on suspicion of child neglect. "A 28 year-old woman has been released without charge following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service," a police spokesman said. The inquest for Jac Davies is still to take place.
The mother of a four-year-old boy who died in a house fire in Neath Port Talbot has been told she will not face criminal charges.
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Esso's Midline Pipeline, which carries fuel from Southampton to Birmingham, has twice been tampered with recently, in parts of Hampshire and Wiltshire. There have been other breaches of fuel lines in the south of England, according to Hampshire Police. Its detectives are working with West Mercia, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire police forces and fuel companies. A major fuel leak was reported at the beginning of April, in Manton, Wiltshire. Esso said the leak had occurred following an attempt by thieves to tap the buried pipeline and environmental specialists were working to monitor any impact and take appropriate further action. Up to 150,000 litres of fuel was reported to have seeped out. Then, on 17 April, a tapping device was found on the pipeline 37 miles away (59km) at East Wellow, Hampshire, after police discovered 30,000 litres of stolen diesel in tanks at a nearby industrial storage unit. Hampshire Police said it believed the tanks were being filled from a "sophisticated system" which had tapped into the line. Two men, aged 32 and 34, from Salisbury in Wiltshire were arrested and remain on police bail on suspicion of conspiracy to steal fuel. Esso said the recent incidents had caused it to "strengthen" its security and monitoring procedures. "Our pipeline network has been in place for decades and tapping incidents are rare," said a spokesperson. "We have security and detection measures in place at all company facilities, including our petroleum product pipelines, and we work closely with the police to detect and close down illegal activity relating to our assets."
Two cases of theft from an underground fuel pipeline are part of a much wider police investigation, it has emerged.
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A total of 94 companies have applied for more than £32m from ACW's revenue-funded pot from 2016. They include 26 companies who do not currently receive annual funding. A review is under way to establish which organisations will receive regular funding from ACW in future. The last investment review took place in 2010. The total request for funding for 2016/17 is £32.8m, an increase of £5.6m (+17%) on the current year's figure of £27.2m. Of the £5.6m, £3.1m has been requested by the new applicants. ACW will meet in September to decide which organisations will be included in its revenue funded portfolio from 2016. As well as distributing annual funding, ACW is also responsible for funding specific projects and distributing some lottery grants. In a letter to applicants, ACW said it was beginning the process of assessing each application, and will consider any overall issues and themes when it meets in July. ACW currently distributes annual grants to 69 organisations including Welsh National Opera, National Theatre Wales and Ballet Cymru. The new funding hopefuls include Cardiff-based street dance and hip hop culture organisation Jukebox Collective and Blaenau Ffestiniog-based Opra Cymru, which tours opera in the Welsh language.
A street dance collective and a Welsh language opera company are among organisations hoping to secure funding from the Arts Council of Wales (ACW).
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Monitor said Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is currently running at a £12.6m deficit. The regulator said it was concerned the trust may record a "large loss" over the financial year, instead of the £2.2m surplus previously predicted. The trust said it would "fully co-operating" with the investigation. Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Bassetlaw District General Hospital, Retford Hospital and Montagu Hospital in Mexborough are run by the trust. Monitor said the trust's financial position may force it to apply for further support for funding in the future. The investigation will try to find out how the deficit has occurred. Paul Chandler, regional director at Monitor, said: "People are relying on Doncaster and Bassetlaw to provide them with high quality healthcare now and in the future. "Therefore, we need to make sure the trust can do this in a sustainable way and within its budget." Mike Pinkerton, chief executive of Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals, said: "On October 20, the trust announced inaccuracies in the reporting of the trust's financial position. "An internal and external investigation into how our finances have been managed is already under way. "As a trust, we will be working hard to maximise savings by remaining focussed on putting patient care first and scrutinising how we currently do things." Last week, a report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated the hospital trust as "requiring improvement". The CQC said staff vacancies were "impacting on the quality of service" in some areas, but did praise the trust over several areas of outstanding practice.
A health service watchdog is investigating a hospital trust's finances after it reported a "significant deterioration" in funds.
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