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The 28-year-old has only made 13 appearances since joining the Italian side from Atletico Madrid last July.
He played 121 league games in five years at Atletico, scoring four goals.
Suarez, capped three times by Spain, also worked with Hornets manager Quique Sanchez Flores when he was Atletico boss between 2009 and 2011.
Meanwhile, Lithuania international goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis, 28, has completed a loan move to RCD Espanyol until the end of the season, having only made one appearance since joining the Hornets in the summer. | Watford are set to sign Spanish midfielder Mario Suarez from Fiorentina for a fee believed to be about £4m, reports BBC Three Counties Radio. | 35428790 |
The man, 55, and the 52-year-old woman were found dead at the house in Inglis Avenue, Port Seton, on Friday afternoon.
Police were called to the scene at about 15:45.
A Police Scotland spokesman confirmed that both deaths were being treated as "unexplained" and inquiries were ongoing.
He added that a report would be sent to the procurator fiscal. | Police are investigating the "unexplained" deaths of a man and a woman at a home in East Lothian. | 39607792 |
Right-arm seamer Wheal, 20, and leg-spinner Crane, 19, will both stay at the Ageas Bowl until the end of 2019.
Wheal took 20 County Championship wickets last season, with Crane claiming 31 in Division One.
"Both showed last season what important parts of our squad they are moving forward," director of cricket Giles White told BBC Radio Solent.
Wheal - who made his Scotland debut earlier this year - and Crane follow fellow academy products Tom Alsop and Lewis McManus in agreeing longer-term deals with Hampshire.
"It was a difficult season for us last year for a number of reasons," White added. "But, the one positive is that our younger players got the opportunity to show us what they could do.
"These contract extensions are good news for the club and the young players involved. Next year, they'll be plenty of competition for places."
Hampshire will stay in Division One of the Championship next summer after being reprieved following the England and Wales Cricket Board's decision to demote Durham over financial issues. | Hampshire bowlers Brad Wheal and Mason Crane have signed three-year contract extensions with the county. | 37935216 |
A newly identified gene mutation causes some cases of melanoma, a type of skin cancer, says a UK team.
The discovery will pave the way for new screening methods, they report in Nature Genetics.
The risk of melanoma depends on several factors, including sun exposure, skin type and family history.
Every year in the UK, almost 12,000 people are diagnosed with melanoma.
About one in 20 people with melanoma have a well-established family history of the disease.
A team led by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Hinxton, UK, found that people with mutations in a certain gene were at extremely high risk of melanoma.
The mutations switch off a gene known as POT1, which protects against damage to packets of DNA, known as chromosomes.
Co-author Dr David Adams, from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, said the discovery should lead to the ability to find out who in a family was at risk, and who should be screened for skin cancer.
He told the BBC: "The mutations in this gene result in damage to the end of the chromosomes and chromosomal damage in general is linked to cancer formation - that's the pathway for it."
A number of gene mutations have been identified as increasing the risk of melanoma, but others remain unknown.
Prof Tim Bishop, Director of the Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, said the finding increased understanding of why some families had a high incidence of melanoma.
"Since this gene has previously been identified as a target for the development of new drugs, in the future it may be possible that early detection will facilitate better management of this disease," he said.
The team found cancers such as leukaemia were common in these families, suggesting the gene may underlie other cancers and not just melanoma.
Dr Safia Danovi of Cancer Research UK said: "This is a step forward for people with a strong family history of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer.
"But it's important to remember that, for most of us, avoiding sunburn and sunbeds is the best way to reduce the risk of this disease." | Scientists say they have taken a step forward in understanding why some people are at greater risk of skin cancer because of their family history. | 26790332 |
The new structure, called Evolution, will be unveiled at the 2016 event in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire.
Eisteddfod chief executive Elfed Roberts said it was "time to move on" after 10 years of the pink pavilion.
"The Pink Pavilion was a striking building and gave us a unique promotional opportunity... but it was also very frustrating," he said.
"The structural poles obscured the view from a large number of seats, and external noise was also a problem during competitions.
"The new building is a much sturdier structure and will suit our needs far better."
Meanwhile last year's Eisteddfod in Meifod, Powys, left a surplus of almost £55,000. | The National Eisteddfod's iconic pink pavilion is to be replaced from next year. | 34953118 |
The internet giant said it appeared separate from a 2014 breach disclosed in September, when Yahoo revealed 500 million accounts had been accessed.
Yahoo said names, phone numbers, passwords and email addresses were stolen, but not bank and payment data.
The company, which is being taken over by Verizon, said it was working closely with the police and authorities.
Yahoo said it "believes an unauthorised third party, in August 2013, stole data associated with more than one billion user accounts".
The breach "is likely distinct from the incident the company disclosed on September 22, 2016".
However, the three-year-old hack was uncovered as part of continuing investigations by authorities and security experts into the 2014 breach, Yahoo said.
Account users were urged to change their passwords and security questions.
The California-based company has more than a billion monthly active users, although many people have multiple accounts. There are also many accounts that are little used or dormant.
Cyber security expert Troy Hunt told the BBC: "This would be far and away the largest data breach we've ever seen. In fact, the 500 million they reported a few months ago would have been, and to see that number now double is unprecedented."
Yahoo said some of the breach could be linked to state-sponsored activity, as with the previous attack.
Prof Peter Sommer, a specialist in digital forensics at Birmingham City University, told the BBC he could be persuaded it was a state-sponsored hack, "but at the moment I'm not".
"What on earth is a state going to do with one billion accounts of ordinary users? That's the difficulty I have," he said.
In September, when Yahoo disclosed the 2014 data breach, the company said information had been "stolen by what we believe is a state-sponsored actor", but it did not say which country it held responsible.
Yahoo knew of 'state-backed' hack in 2014
Verizon: Yahoo data breach may hit deal
Senators demand answers over Yahoo hack
The latest disclosure raises fresh questions about Verizon's $4.8bn proposed acquisition of Yahoo, and whether the US mobile carrier will try to modify or abandon its bid.
If the hacks cause a user backlash against Yahoo, the company's services would not be as valuable to Verizon.
Verizon said that it would evaluate the situation as Yahoo investigates and would review the "new development before reaching any final conclusions".
Mr Hunt said that Verizon allegedly cut its valuation of Yahoo by $1bn - almost 20% of the original bid's value - after the news emerged of the 2014 attack.
The latest revelations "will surely impact that valuation even further, not just because of the scale of it, but because it shows a pattern of serious failures on Yahoo's behalf", he said.
It is a further embarrassment to a company that was once one of the biggest names of the internet but which has failed to keep up with rising stars such as Google and Facebook.
Yahoo was once deemed to be worth $125bn during the dotcom boom. Various attempts to revive its fortunes have failed to stem its decline.
Good grief, can things get any worse for Yahoo? A complete disaster. Embarrassing. Negligent?
We've come to accept that even the best systems get attacked by cyber criminals. But repeatedly? And in such great numbers? Something was seriously, seriously wrong.
Looking to the future, this is yet more concern for Verizon, which agreed to buy Yahoo before all of these disasters were made public.
It wanted the company because of its huge user-base and advertising reach. How many of those users are going to stick around when this kind of thing is going on? What's in it for them?
There's talk of a discount on the $4.8bn Verizon agreed to pay out. It's a game of how-low-can-you-go in the new year, you'd think. | Yahoo has said more than one billion user accounts may have been affected in a hacking attack dating back to 2013. | 38324527 |
The 30-year-old joined Rovers in June, but has struggled with injuries and has only played two games since October.
He told BBC Radio Nottingham: "The boss [Darren Ferguson] felt I needed games, having been out for the best part of four months, to get me up to speed."
The Magpies have also terminated the contract of former Belgian international defender Gill Swerts.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | Notts County have signed defender Gary MacKenzie on a one-month loan from League One side Doncaster Rovers. | 35463857 |
Geologists have known the bluestones, which form Stonehenge's inner ring, came from the Preseli Hills since the 1920s.
But following excavations, a team of archaeologists and geologists confirmed the stones came from outcrops at Carn Goedog and Craig Rhos-y-felin.
The research has been published in archaeological journal Antiquity.
The team, led by University College London (UCL), included scientists from University of Manchester, Bournemouth University, University of Southampton, National Museum Wales and Dyfed Archaeological Trust.
Scientists involved in the excavations said the stones may have been first used in a monument near the quarries and then dismantled and taken to Wiltshire.
Director of the project, Prof Parker Pearson, said: "Stonehenge was a Welsh monument from its very beginning.
"If we can find the original monument in Wales from which it was built, we will finally be able to solve the mystery of why Stonehenge was built and why some of its stones were brought so far."
Further excavations are planned for 2016. | Two quarries in Pembrokeshire have been identified as the source of some of the rocks at Stonehenge. | 35025346 |
Tully led the Cornish club to fourth in National League South this season, their highest finish.
Last month chairman Peter Masters said Tully was offered a new contract on the condition that a replacement was found for departed assistant Wayne Carlisle.
The ex-Torquay and Exeter defender had expressed his "disappointment" that his Truro future was not sorted sooner.
"The club has always seen the manager role as closely tied to that of the first team coach and believes that it is essential to have a strong team in place," said a club statement.
"The departure of coach Wayne Carlisle at the end of the season meant the dissolution of the current team.
"It has not been possible to find a replacement acceptable to the club within the required timescale.
"An announcement on a new manager-coach team will be made in due course." | National League South side Truro City will appoint a new manager after opting not to renew Steve Tully's deal. | 36440279 |
The education watchdog has been examining how well colleges implement the Prevent counter-extremism strategy.
In one case, inspectors said a student had watched a "terrorist propaganda video" in a resource centre.
Ofsted's Paul Joyce said there was "poor practice that I've no doubt would shock parents and learners alike".
The report from Ofsted, based on visits to 37 further education and skills providers and 46 regular inspections or monitoring visits, concluded that too many students were at risk of "radicalisation and extremism".
It found that general further education colleges and sixth-form colleges were "making good progress" with carrying out the Prevent duties on tackling extremism.
But there were particular concerns about small, independent providers, who might be "leaving learners at risk".
Ofsted inspectors warned of a lack of safeguards for internet use and found examples where students had been able to "bypass" online security settings to visit websites "selling firearms" or "promoting terrorist ideology".
"These included one isolated instance of a learner viewing a terrorist propaganda video in the provider's learning resource centre," the report says.
This is understood to be a video from so-called Islamic State showing a beheading.
The Ofsted report says some colleges have adopted a tougher line on internet access, such as "stringent firewalls" and regular checks on attempts to access inappropriate websites.
And there are colleges that block internet access on students' personal devices when they are on college premises.
There were also some concerns over checks on external speakers.
But, overall, inspectors found that outside speakers helped students to learn about different views, which promoted "tolerance, respect and democracy".
Ofsted's deputy director for further education and skills, Paul Joyce, said that most leaders of FE and sixth-form colleges were making "quick progress" in carrying out their duties under the Prevent strategy, introduced for colleges last year.
But he said it was worrying that for some providers "the progress made in implementing the duty has been slow".
David Corke, the Association of Colleges' director of education and skills, said colleges have been "working incredibly hard to implement the duty, and they will continue to do so as the threat of radicalisation and terrorism is ever present".
"The safeguarding of students is of paramount importance for further education and sixth-form colleges," he said.
But Sally Hunt, general secretary of the UCU lecturers' union, said that colleges had to cope with "vague definitions" and "inconsistent advice" in the debate about challenging radicalisation and protecting free speech.
"The Prevent duty risks doing more harm than good by shutting down debate on contentious topics and creating mistrust between teachers and students," she said.
"College teachers have always taken their duty of care to students very seriously, so the focus on implementing the Prevent duty is both unnecessary and potentially counterproductive."
Skills Minister Nick Boles said: "While the majority of providers have worked hard to implement the safeguards effectively, we recognise there is still further work to do in making the government-funded guidance and training as consistent as possible." | There are warnings from Ofsted that further education providers are "falling short in protecting learners from risk of extremism". | 36773555 |
The man, in his 30s, was airlifted to Southampton after police were alerted to a stabbing at Nuffield Industrial Estate, Poole, shortly after 12:35 BST.
Dorset Police said a 27-year-old man from Swanage had been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The force said there would be a "heavy police presence in the area".
Hatch Pond Road, where the man was found, was closed while investigations continued.
Anyone with information should contact police. | A man is in a "serious, life-threatening" condition after being stabbed on an industrial estate in Dorset. | 40305232 |
Adjusted for seasonal swings, the total fell by 41,023, or 0.8%, in December from the previous month, the first drop since July.
Spain now has 4.85 million jobless.
But across 2012, the number registered out of work was 10% higher than a year earlier.
"It is still a very dire situation as far as unemployment is concerned," said economist Gilles Moec from Deutsche Bank.
He described the situation as concerning, but said there had been some improvements which should help strengthen Spain's economy.
"The corporate sector in Spain has made tremendous efforts in boosting productivity," he said, pointing out that this can hit the numbers of people in work.
"There has been an improvement in competitiveness and a very strong export performance," he added.
In Germany, where two million fewer are unemployed, new figures showed the jobless rate was unchanged at 6.9% last month.
Germany's Federal Labour Agency said the seasonally-adjusted jobless rate was unchanged in December, having added 3,000 more unemployed people than the previous month.
The agency said that 2.94 million people were registered unemployed in Germany, Europe's biggest economy.
"Despite the economic dip the labour market is not suffering a breakdown," said Stefan Schilbe from HSBC Trinkaus.
"Companies are not willing to put qualified workers out of a job. Once the economy improves in the course of the year, unemployment too is likely to fall again with a delay."
Germany is the architect and chief backer of the eurozone's many bailouts as the region tries to extricate itself from a debt crisis.
Unlike most of its partners in the 17-nation eurozone, Germany has mainly escaped the worst effects of the crisis that has threatened to unravel the bloc.
But last month the central bank cut its growth forecast for 2013, saying the country's economy might be entering a recession.
Spain, the eurozone's fourth-biggest economy, said that, seasonally adjusted, the number of unemployed was up by 10.3% in 2012.
But Spain's Labour Ministry said it was the best performance in the month of December since existing records began in 1996, with young people, women and first-time workers doing particularly well.
Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said on Tuesday he hoped for a return to job creation by the end of this year.
"I think 2013 will be better than 2012," Mr de Guindos told local radio. "The groundwork is being laid for us to begin to see positive employment growth rates in the fourth quarter of this year."
The whole 17-nation eurozone is in recession again - led by fast-shrinking economies such as Greece.
But Spain is also going through a long recession and has received a bailout for its banks from the eurozone's bailout fund. | The number of people registered unemployed in Spain fell in December, the Labour Ministry has said, a rare glimmer of hope for its recession-hit economy. | 20898391 |
The 90-mile, figure-of-eight course circled through the area's streets, beginning and ending in Guisborough.
Organisers described it as "a tough one", with three "significant" hills, including Saltburn Bank.
A crash in the peloton brought down a number of riders near the start.
Redcar and Cleveland Council cabinet member Carl Quartermain said the authority was "very excited to be hosting this brand new event".
East Cleveland Big Local chair Mary Lanigan said the race, which precedes the Tour de Yorkshire, was "very prestigious".
Yellow and green bunting, bicycles and knitted cycling jerseys decorated the route through the residential streets of Easington, Saltburn, Carlin How, Liverton Mines, Loftus and other East Cleveland towns and villages,
The British Cycling Spring Cup race was an opportunity for professional riders to prepare for the Tour de Yorkshire later in April.
Three times Olympic Champion Ed Clancy was one of the competitors in the event, which was won by Chris Latham from Team Wiggins. | More than a hundred riders, including cyclists from Sir Bradley Wiggins' and Madison Genesis' elite teams, have taken part in the first East Cleveland Klondike grand prix. | 39471976 |
A total of 44,826 units were sold, an increase of just over 2.5% on the same period last year.
The UK as a whole saw the number of cars sold rise by 6% to 492,774, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
March is typically a strong month for car registrations, as it is when new number plates are released.
Scottish Motor Trade Association chief executive Douglas Robertson said: "We are very pleased to see another record month for Scottish new car registrations.
"Though the increase is small, it is close to what we expected.
"Whilst fleet and business sales have increased over the last 12 months, the Scottish market remains consumer-driven and we have little doubt that the availability of PCPs and other finance options continues to drive the market."
Top Scottish sellers in March
1. Vauxhall Corsa 3,095
2 Ford Fiesta 2,471
3. Ford Focus 1,294
5. Renault Clio 1,240
5. Vauxhall Mokka 1,179
Source: SMMT
The biggest-selling car last month was the Vauxhall Corsa, followed by the Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus.
Commenting on the figures, Euan Murray of Barclays Corporate Banking said: "The UK and Scottish motor trade's winning streak continued last month in record style, with new car sales lifted by March's all-important plate change and strong demand for fleet vehicles.
"The question on everyone's mind is how long this phenomenal run can continue and whether April will be able to drive home another record month." | Scotland's motor trade has reported another record month for new car registrations. | 32217464 |
The Systems Engineering building could close owing to low enrolment, an almost £2m deficit and "disappointing" academic research results.
Some subjects will be moved to other departments, but degrees including BScs in Robotics and IT will cease in 2016.
Students currently enrolled in the more than ten subjects under threat will have their degrees honoured.
Up to 15 academic and 20 support posts will be lost if the recommendations go ahead, the university said.
Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell said: "We believe these recommendations are in the best long-term interests of the whole institution.
"We have not made these recommendations at all lightly, but our proposals strike the right balance between building on existing strengths and taking robust action on weaker areas."
The degrees recommended to be axed are:
The existing BSc Computer Science, which accounts for nearly 60% of all SSE undergraduates, and MSc Advanced Computer Science would continue under a new Department of Computer Science, created within the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences.
New divisions will also be created to retain research expertise in certain subjects.
The university's council will decide on the recommendations, made by a review group, on 13 July. | A department looks set to shut down at the University of Reading with degree courses axed and job losses expected. | 32978132 |
Stonewall said that, while it had not always agreed with the Church, they were "both on the same side here".
The news was revealed on day one of a three-day meeting of the ruling general synod at Church House, Westminster.
In July, the Archbishop of Canterbury said he would "specifically target" homophobic bullying in Church schools.
The Bishop of Oxford, the Right Reverend John Pritchard, revealed the collaboration on Monday afternoon, in answer to a question from members of the synod.
Stonewall said the Church had initiated discussions earlier in the autumn.
"We've had some interesting initial discussions to try to replicate what some C of E schools are doing, across all Church schools," Stonewall senior education officer Luke Tryl said.
He said the charity had not always agreed with the Church on "legislative issues" - the Church has opposed both the introduction of civil partnerships and same-sex marriage.
Stonewall believes the Church initiated the contact.
"We're aware that the Archbishop may be under pressure from other quarters in the Church not to do this," Mr Tryl added.
Addressing the synod's meeting at the University of York in July, the archbishop said: "The majority of the population rightly detests homophobic behaviour or anything that looks like it and sometimes they look at us and see what they don't like.
"With nearly a million children educated in our schools, we not only must demonstrate a profound commitment to stamp out such stereotyping and bullying, but we must also take action.
"We are therefore developing a programme for use in our schools, taking the best advice we can find anywhere, that specifically targets such bullying."
While the archbishop still supports the Church's formal opposition to active homosexuality, he acknowledged in March that some gay relationships were "just stunning, the quality of the relationship".
He said that, while he did not doubt the Church's policy on same-sex relationships, he was "challenged as to how we respond to it". | The Church of England and gay rights group Stonewall are to work together to tackle homophobic bullying in Church schools, it has been announced. | 24996368 |
She told Plaid's annual conference in Aberystwyth they were ready to "lead on the issues that matter most", claiming Labour took people for granted.
Ms Wood promised NHS reform, free care for elderly people and dementia sufferers, and the option of a lower school starting age.
She also pledged a £100m fund to invest in successful start-up companies.
A Plaid government next May would also be a mandate for a new devolution settlement from Westminster, she said, including income tax powers without a referendum.
Ms Wood said: "I ask people in every corner of the country: take another look at Plaid Cymru.
"We have listened. We know you want a party that will lead on those issues that matter most.
"Your hospital, your school, your workplace, your community."
Seeking to contrast First Minister Carwyn Jones's record with the "kinder politics" promised by Labour's new UK leader Jeremy Corbyn, she said: "There has been nothing kind about seventeen years of unbroken Labour rule in Wales.
"They have taken people for granted here and rewarded long-term loyalty with inaction, incompetence and indifference."
Plaid Cymru is currently the third party in Cardiff Bay, with 11 seats compared to 30 for Labour and 14 for the Conservatives, with the Lib Dems on five.
Earlier there was controversy when Ms Wood admitted to BBC Radio Wales she could not give a figure on the costs of Plaid's plans to merge health and social care.
The party is planning to publish a full alternative budget before the election.
On the prospect of coming to power, Ms Wood told BBC Wales before her speech: "I want to see a Plaid Cymru government.
"Now I accept that forming a majority is difficult, because of the system that we have, but a Plaid Cymru minority administration would have to work with other parties in order to gets its budget and its programme through."
Plaid entered government for the first time in coalition with Labour in Cardiff Bay between 2007 and 2011, under Ms Wood's predecessor Ieuan Wyn Jones.
She said she could not rule out forming another coalition with Labour, but said it was "very difficult to see" how Plaid could share power with the Conservatives.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also addressed the conference on Friday, saying Ms Wood was "ready and able" to lead Wales as its first minister.
Leanne Wood has set her sights high. There were repeated references in her conference speech - and in the speech of warm-up act Nicola Sturgeon - about what she will do if and when she becomes Wales' first minister.
First, she needs to convince lots of Labour voters to switch allegiance to Plaid Cymru.
Opinion polls and recent election results suggest that will be an uphill task.
To try to turn that situation around, she's trying to build the case that Labour has failed Wales, in particular in the way it's overseen the health service since 1999.
Meanwhile, Labour claims Plaid's health policies don't add up, while the Conservatives ask if Ms Wood has such a low opinion of Labour, why have the two parties been happy to work together in Cardiff Bay? | Leanne Wood has urged Labour voters to "take another look at Plaid Cymru" at the 2016 assembly election. | 34591867 |
After making one of their worst-ever starts to a campaign in losing their first two County Championship games by an innings, the Bears escaped with a draw at home to Surrey on Monday.
Now Bell hopes the holders can build on that when their One-Day Cup defence begins at Northampton on Thursday.
"There is a lot of confidence around the squad in 50-over cricket," he said.
"Last year we lost our first two games. But we then built momentum brilliantly."
Bell's former England team-mate Jonathan Trott was in fine form last season, making centuries in successive cup games - the group-deciding victory against Yorkshire at Headingley and in the quarter-final win over Essex at Edgbaston.
Trott also made a man-of-the-match 82 not out in the final as Warwickshire beat Surrey by eight wickets.
Bell was one of the stars of the semi-final win over Somerset, making an unbeaten 94 before Jeetan Patel finished the visitors off with 5-43.
"We peaked at the right time," said Bell, who went on to enjoy further limited-over success last winter with Big Bash winners Perth Scorchers.
"Our best performance of all came in the final at Lord's - that was an incredible day.
"The Bears fans generated such a great atmosphere. We are very lucky that we are amazingly supported and we are going to need that support over the next year or so.
"It has been a tough start for us in the Championship, as a club and as individuals. A little bit of patience is going to be required but we have to fight. If we get knocked down, we come back harder.
"We will never give in, whatever happens. And, when results aren't going to plan, we need our supporters to stick with us. We will get there."
After starting the defence of their trophy at Wantage Road, the Bears then host Durham at Edgbaston on Bank Holiday Monday (1 May) before an away game against Leicestershire the following day.
"We need to start strongly as games will come thick and fast," said Bell. "And the 50-over group stage has come early this season so it will be played in slightly different conditions."
The county season moves into another phase with the next three-week period now dedicated to the One-Day Cup.
There will be extra interest with most England players involved ahead of the ODIs against Ireland and South Africa and the ICC Champions Trophy - for which the squad was announced on Tuesday.
The group stage ends on 17 May with a break before the quarter-finals on 13 June, the semi-finals on 16 and 17 June and the final scheduled for Lord's on Saturday, 1 July.
Ball-by-ball commentary of every game can be heard live via the BBC Sport website, with extensive coverage also on 5 Live Sports Extra. | Warwickshire captain Ian Bell sees the One-Day Cup as a means to smooth over the Bears' poor start to the season. | 39698435 |
Ofcom will make available more mobile spectrum later this year to provide better support for 4G and 5G services.
It said that in order to "safeguard competition", it will limit the amount BT-owned EE and Vodafone can win.
However, the Three mobile network said the proposals were "a kick in the teeth for all consumers".
By 2020, Ofcom says there will be a 37% ceiling on all useable mobile spectrum that one operator can control. Three had campaigned for a cap of 30%.
Ofcom said: "The auction rules are designed to reflect recent market developments and safeguard competition over the coming years."
But Dave Dyson, chief executive of Three UK, said: "By making decisions that increase the dominance of the largest operators, Ofcom is damaging competition, restricting choice and pushing prices up for the very consumers that it is meant to protect.
"The mobile market is imbalanced and failing customers. Ofcom has shown little interest in tackling the problem. We will consider our response as a matter of urgency."
A spokesman for Ofcom responded: "We take all our decisions in the interests of consumers. This auction will keep the airwaves fair by reducing the share held by the largest operator. It will include strong safeguards to maintain a healthy four-player market and allow mobile operators to acquire the airwaves they need to compete."
In 2016, BT merged with EE and together they control 42% of immediately useable UK mobile spectrum. Vodafone has 27% followed by Three at 14% and O2 at 13%.
Following the auction, BT and EE's share of immediately useable UK mobile spectrum is expected to fall to 39%. | The UK's communications watchdog has imposed a limit on the amount of mobile spectrum that companies can win in an upcoming auction. | 40566077 |
The 74-year-old Welsh singer and The Voice judge, famous for hits like Delilah, It's Not Unusual and Sex Bomb, will take to the stage at Great Tew Park, Oxfordshire in July.
Organiser Hugh Phillimore said: "We had a long, long negotiation with Sir Tom and finally he's coming to join us, so we are very excited about that."
Also on the bill are Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, Lulu and Razorlight.
Other acts include The Fratellis, Blue, Billy Ocean and Chas & Dave.
Mr Phillimore added: "It's been an ambition of ours for a long time to get Tom on board.
"I started negotiating the line-up in August for my dream team."
Cornbury Festival, which is in its 12th year, takes place from 10 to 12 July. | Sir Tom Jones will headline this year's Cornbury Festival. | 31745880 |
Visit our live guide for direct links to all our live sporting coverage - including text commentaries - while BBC Sport app users can also set event reminders so they never miss a moment of their favourite sports.
All times GMT. Fixtures and event start times are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. For more details of forthcoming coverage, visit the specific sport's page on the website. Coverage on BBC Red Button can be subject to late schedule changes.
The Australian Open continues on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra with live snooker coverage of the Masters on BBC Two and BBL basketball between Worcester Wolves and Newcastle Eagles on the Red Button.
07:00-14:00, Tennis - Australian open, day four, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
13:00-14:00, The Friday Sports Panel, BBC Radio 5 live
13:00-17:00, Snooker - Masters, BBC Two
19:00-20:00, Snooker - Masters, BBC Two
19:55-23:00, Snooker - Masters, BBC Red Button (uninterrupted from 19:00-23:00, BBC Sport website, app and connected TV)
19:30-21:30, Basketball - Newcastle Eagles v Worcester Wolves, BBL Championship, Connected TV and online
1935-2130: Rugby union, Edinburgh v Timisoara Saracens, European Challenge Cup, BBC Radio Scotland
19:40-21:45, Rugby union - Montpellier v Northampton, European Rugby Champions Cup, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
19:45-22:00, Football - Brighton v Sheffield Wednesday, Championship, BBC Radio 5 live (build-up from 19:00)
23:05-23:55, Snooker - Masters highlights, BBC Two
23:55-01:55, Snooker - Masters Snooker Extra, BBC Two
Liverpool play Swansea and Stoke host Manchester United on BBC Radio 5 live while Saracens continue their European Champions Cup defence against Toulon on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra with continued coverage of The Masters snooker on BBC Two.
06:00-13:00, Snooker - Masters highlights, BBC Red Button
07:00-12:55, Tennis - Australian Open, day six, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
09:00-11:00, The Danny Baker Show, BBC Radio 5 live
11:00-12:00, Fighting Talk, BBC Radio 5 live
12:00-13:00, Football - Football Focus, BBC One
12:30-14:30, Football - Liverpool v Swansea, Premier League, BBC Radio 5 live (build-up from 12:00)
12:55-15:00, Rugby union - Ulster v Bordeaux-Begles, European Champions Cup, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
13:15-16:30, Snooker - Masters, BBC One (13:15-17:30, Connected TV and online)
14:30-17:30, Football - Final Score, BBC Red Button and online
15:00-17:00, Football - Stoke v Manchester United, Premier League, BBC Radio 5 live (build-up from 14:30)
15:05-16:30, Tennis - Australian Open highlights, BBC Two
15:00-17:15, Rugby union - Saracens v Toulon, European Champions Cup, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
16:30-17:10, Football - Final Score, BBC One (not Scotland; 16:30-17:00, BBC One NI)
16:30-17:10, Football - Sportscene Results, BBC One Scotland
16:30-17:30, Snooker - Masters, BBC Two
17:00-17:10, Football - Final Score from NI, BBC One NI
17:00-18:06, Sports Report, BBC Radio 5 live
17:15-19:30, Rugby union - Leicester v Glasgow, European Champions Cup, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
18:06-20:00, Football - 606 phone-in, BBC Radio 5 live
19:00-22:30, Snooker - Masters, BBC Two
19:55-22:00, Rugby union - Gloucester v Bayonne, European Challenge Cup, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
22:30-23:55, Football - Match of the Day, BBC One (23:50-01:15, BBC One Scotland)
22:30-23:50, Football - Sportscene Highlights, BBC One Scotland
23:55-00:25, American football - The NFL Show, BBC One (01:15-01:45, BBC One Scotland)
00:20-02:20, Snooker - Masters Snooker Extra, BBC Two
England take on India in their Third ODI on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and The Masters snooker tournament reaches its climax with live coverage of the final on BBC Two.
07:00-07:45, Tennis - Australian Open, day five, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
07:35-09:00, Football - Match of the Day (repeat), BBC One
07:45-16:00, Cricket - Third ODI, India v England, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
09:00-10:00, Sportsweek, BBC Radio 5 live
11:55-14:00, Football - Southampton v Leicester City, Premier League, BBC Radio 5 live
12:15-13:00, Football - MOTD 2 Extra, BBC Two
13:00-17:15, Snooker - Masters final, BBC Two (13:15-17:15, BBC Two Scotland; 13:00-13:15, BBC Red Button)
1305-1500: Football, Raith Rovers v Hearts, Scottish Cup, BBC One Scotland
1305-1500: Football, Raith Rovers v Hearts, Scottish Cup, BBC Radio Scotland
14:00-16:30, Football - Premier League updates, BBC Radio 5 live
1500-1700: Football, Albion Rovers v Celtic, Scottish Cup, BBC Radio Scotland
16:30-18:06, Football - Chelsea v Hull, Premier League, BBC Radio 5 live
17:15-18:15, Tennis - Australian Open highlights, BBC Two
18:15-19:00, Winter Sport - Ski Sunday, BBC Two (23:00-23:45, BBC Two Scotland, repeated 21:00-00:45, BBC Red Button)
1815-1900: Football, Scottish Cup highlights, BBC Two Scotland
18:30-19:30, Football - 606 football phone in, BBC Radio 5 live
19:00-23:00, Snooker - The Masters Final, BBC Two
19:30-23:30, American football - Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons, NFC Championship, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
22:30-23:40, Football - Match of the Day 2, BBC One
23:30-03:00, American Football - Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots, AFC Championship, BBC Radio 5 live
23:40-00:10, A Question of Sport, BBC One
The Australian Open enters the second week, Mark Chapman debates this weekend's Premier League matches and it's the World Indoor Bowls Championships men's pairs final.
07:00-14:00, Tennis - Australian Open, day eight, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
07:00-10:00, Winter sports - Ski Sunday (repeat), BBC Red Button (looped)
10:00-12:00, Bowls - World Indoor Bowls Championships, BBC Red Button and online
13:00-16:45, Bowls - World Indoor Bowls Championships, BBC Two (13:00-17:30, Connected TV and online)
16:45-17:30, Tennis - Australian Open highlights, BBC Two
19:00-21:00, Football - The Monday Night Club, BBC Radio 5 live
19:30-21:30, Bowls - World Indoor Bowls Championships, Connected TV and online
21:00-21:30, Football - European Football Show, BBC Radio 5 live
21:30-22:30, Cricket - The Tuffers and Vaughan Cricket Show, BBC Radio 5 live
00:15-01:15, Bowls - World Indoor Bowls Championships highlights, BBC Two
Brighton face Cardiff in the Championship with full commentary on BBC Radio 5 live, and coverage of the World Indoor Bowls Championships continues across BBC TV and online.
07:00-14:00, Tennis - Australian Open, day nine, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
10:00-12:00, Bowls - World Indoor Bowls Championships, BBC Red Button and online
13:00-16:45, Bowls - World Indoor Bowls Championships, BBC Two (13:00-17:30, Connected TV and online; 13:00-13:45 & 14:35-16:45, BBC Two Wales, 13:45-14:35 available on BBC Red Button and online)
16:30-18:30, Skiing - Men's Night Slalom, first run, Alpine Skiing World Cup, Connected TV and online (17:30-18:30, BBC Red Button and online)
16:45-17:30, Tennis - Australian Open highlights, BBC Two
19:30-21:30, Bowls - World Indoor Bowls Championships, Connected TV online
19:30-21:00, Skiing - Men's Night Slalom, second run, Alpine Skiing World Cup, BBC Red Button and online
19:45-22:00, Football - Brighton Hove Albion v Cardiff City, Championship, BBC Radio 5 live (Build-up from 19:00)
22:00-22:30, Boxing - Carl Frampton v Leo Santa Cruz preview, BBC Radio 5 live
23:15-00:05, American Football - NFL This Week, BBC Two (00:15-01:05, BBC Two NI)
00:05-01:05, Bowls - World Indoor Bowls Championships highlights, BBC Two (01:05-02:05, BBC Two NI)
Southampton take a one-goal advantage to Anfield to face Liverpool in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final, with full commentary and match reaction on BBC Radio 5 live.
07:00-14:00, Tennis - Australian Open, day 10, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
09:00-10:00, Bowls - World Indoor Bowls Championships highlights, BBC Red Button
10:00-12:00, Bowls - World Indoor Bowls Championships, BBC Red Button and online
13:10-16:45, Bowls - World Indoor Bowls Championships, BBC Two (13:10-17:30, Connected TV and online; 13:10-14:30 & 15:30-16:45, BBC Two Scotland, 14:30-15:30 available on the BBC Red Button and online)
16:45-17:30, Tennis - Australian Open highlights, BBC Two
18:25-20:55, American Football - NFL This Week (repeat), BBC Red Button (looped)
19:30-21:30, Bowls - World Indoor Bowls Championships, Connected TV and online
20:00-22:30, Football - Liverpool v Southampton, EFL Cup semi-final, BBC Radio 5 live (build-up from 19:00)
00:15-01:15, Bowls - World Indoor Bowls Championships highlights, BBC Two
The Australian Open continues on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra with highlights on BBC Two as we reach the semi finals stage before England take on India in a T20 match and Hull host Manchester United in the EFL Cup semi finals on BBC Radio 5 live.
02:30-13:15, Tennis - Australian Open, day 11, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
09:00-12:00, Bowls - World Indoor Bowls Championships, BBC Red Button and online
13:00-17:00, Bowls - World Indoor Bowls Championships, BBC Two (13:00-17:30, Connected TV and online)
13:15-17:30, Cricket - India v England, First T20, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
17:00-18:00, Tennis - Australian Open highlights, BBC Two
19:30-21:30, Bowls - World Indoor Bowls Championships, Connected TV and online
19:45-22:00, Football - Hull City v Manchester United, EFL Cup semi-final, BBC Radio 5 live (build-up- from 19:00)
00:15-01:15, Bowls - World Indoor Bowls Championships highlights, BBC Two
You can view BBC Sport output as well as listen to our radio sports programming on the BBC iPlayer.
The BBC Sport website is available via desktop, mobile, tablet and app, giving fast and easy access to the live stream, text commentaries, news, reports, schedules, videos, as well as highlights of the day's action. The BBC Sport app is available free on Apple and Android devices.
National and regional variations have been included in this list where possible, but please check your local listings for more detailed information. | Find out the details of the major sports coverage on offer across BBC television, radio and online this week. | 36722726 |
Alexander Wilson was a surgeon, type-founder, glassblower and meteorologist before being appointed to run the Old College Observatory in Glasgow in 1757.
Three years later he became Glasgow University's first Regius Professor of Practical Astronomy.
Among his achievements was an early attempt to understand the nature and structure of sunspots.
When observing the sunspots at the edge of the Sun he saw them as valleys or caverns in the surface.
We now know these to be anomalies caused by the Sun's magnetic field.
Wilson speculated that the Sun's structure had a hotter outer layer covering a dark globe.
That interpretation was accepted for over a hundred years and his observation that sunspots looked like caverns is still referred to by solar researchers as the Wilson Effect.
The blue plaque from the Institute of Physics Scotland is to be unveiled at Glasgow University's observatory in the west of the city.
It honours him for his work on sunspots and for his theories on gravity.
Wilson proposed that gravity was "what hinders the fixed stars from falling upon one another" as the Universe rotated around its centre.
That was true for the Universe Wilson knew - our home galaxy - because it rotates around a black hole.
Gravity is not, however, holding the rest of the universe together. It continues to expand but the equipment to observe this was developed long after Wilson's day.
Alexander Wilson was born in 1714, the son of the town clerk of St Andrews.
He graduated with an MA from the university there when he was just 18 years old.
Then came spells as an apprentice surgeon, skilled glassblower and a creator and caster of elegant typefaces.
When he went to work at Glasgow University he took his type-founding business with him.
His other achievements include the first measurements of temperatures at different levels in the atmosphere by using thermometers carried on kites.
He was also able to test how well his solar observation instruments worked by building an "artificial sun" in his laboratory.
Other honours include a crater on the Moon bearing his name.
His son Patrick succeeded him to the Regius Professor's chair in 1784.
One important safety note: Alexander Wilson did not observe the Sun and its spots by looking directly at it, either with the naked eye or through a telescope.
To look at it that way will cause severe eye damage.
Instead he projected an image of the Sun's disc onto a white surface, looking at it indirectly.
Almost three centuries on - unless we own equipment specially designed for looking at the Sun - that is still the best way to do it. | A plaque is to be unveiled in Glasgow to honour a pioneering Scottish astronomer. | 39413145 |
It is planning to send nearly 20,000 more shelters as aid agencies deliver emergency supplies to those displaced by the earthquake of 25 April.
The international development secretary said the majority of shelter kits were in place before the earthquake hit.
This meant temporary homes were provided to thousands within 24 hours of the quake, Justine Greening added.
Ms Greening also praised the UK's search and rescue workers for "saving many lives".
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake rocked Nepal, triggering avalanches and mudslides and reducing whole villages to rubble.
The death toll has hit 7,500 and is continuing to climb.
At least one Briton died in the tragedy while others remain unaccounted for.
The UN estimates that eight million people have been affected by the earthquake while 2.8 million people have been displaced by it.
International Development Secretary Justine Greening said: "Our pre-positioned shelter kits meant that within 24 hours of the earthquake British aid was reaching communities who had been hit hard and providing temporary homes to thousands of people across Nepal.
"Ahead of the monsoon season, we are delivering thousands more to help the Nepalese people cope as they recover from this tragic disaster."
Rescue workers are picking through the rubble in the search for people caught up in the earthquake, but the Nepalese Government has announced the search and rescue effort is over.
The UK's 60-strong international search and rescue team is also now returning home.
The focus has now moved to aid agencies trying to get shelter, clean water and food to those left homeless by the disaster before the monsoon season arrives.
A UK Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) public appeal for donations has so far raised more than £33m, while the UK government has committed £17.5m in humanitarian aid to date.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said it was working to establish whether there were any other British nationals were among the dead.
It added that it had given "practical assistance" to more than 350 British nationals in Nepal and had arranged flights out of Nepal for around 150.
Among the Britons still missing is architecture student Matt Carapiet, 23, from Bearsted, Kent, who was trekking through Langtang Valley when the earthquake struck.
Family friend Rob Bailey said Mr Carapiet's family is continuing to endure an agonising wait to hear what happened to him.
He said: "We are waiting for the phone to ring and dreading the phone ringing simultaneously. It is a horrible feeling.
"We are hoping Matt wasn't in the village at that time.
"The only option we have got now is to be patient. The work the teams out there are doing isn't easy." | Britain has provided emergency shelter to more than 65,000 displaced people in Nepal, the government has said. | 32612362 |
But Ecowas leaders meeting in Liberia said the implications of its membership still needed to be considered before Morocco could formally join.
King Mohammed VI was not at the summit because Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been invited.
Morocco's application comes after it rejoined the African Union in January.
Morocco left the continental body in 1984 after it recognised the independence of Western Sahara.
Morocco regards Western Sahara as part of its historic territory and has spent much of the last three decades trying to strengthen ties with Europe at the expense of relations with Africa.
Ivory Coast President Alasanne Ouattara has confirmed that the decision had been agreed in principle but the details still had to be worked out.
Morocco, along with Tunisia which is seeking observer status with the organisation and Mauritania, which wants to return to the body, will be invited to the next meeting of heads of state in Togo in December, a senior Ecowas source told the BBC.
Ecowas is made up of 15 West African nations, none of which shares a border with Morocco.
Members enjoy free trade and movement of people.
King Mohammed VI last week announced he would not be attending the summit in Liberia, because of the presence of Israel's prime minister.
Morocco does not have diplomatic ties with Israel.
Mr Netanyahu addressed West African leaders on Sunday saying: "Israel is coming back to Africa and Africa is coming back to Israel.
"I believe in Africa. I believe in its potential, present and future. It is a continent on the rise."
While in Liberia for the summit, his bodyguards scuffled with those of Togo's President Faure Gnassingbe, according to reports in the Israeli media.
This trip comes nearly a year after Mr Netanyahu was in East Africa as part of his efforts to strengthen ties between the continent and Israel. | West African regional group Ecowas has in principle approved Morocco's membership application despite the country being in North Africa. | 40158089 |
Competitors at the weekend event in the Scottish Highlands include world champions Rachel Atherton and Loic Bruni.
The competition forms the third stage of the UCI World Cup Downhill championships and was first held 14 years ago.
Riders take on a course at Nevis Range in front of thousands of spectators. | About 200 riders have hit the hill for this year's Fort William Mountain Bike World Cup stage. | 36454913 |
Jo Roundell Greene will run in former party leader Paddy Ashdown's Yeovil constituency at the general election next month.
She said she had always felt "comfortable" as a Lib Dems, despite her illustrious family history.
Mr Ashdown said he was "delighted the flame has passed to Jo".
"I didn't think about my grandfather a lot," Ms Roundell Greene said when asked whether her grandfather's legacy overshadowed her own political aspirations.
"I have never, ever been a Conservative and it's fair to say my family were not Conservatives.
"I joined the Lib Dems in 2000 but had always voted Lib Dem before. That is where I am comfortable."
Ms Roundell Greene has been a councillor at South Somerset District Council since 2007 and deputy leader of the council since 2015.
The Yeovil seat is a key battleground for the party at next month's general election.
Paddy Ashdown was MP from 1983 to 2001, with David Laws keeping the Lib Dem flag flying in the Somerset seat until 2015.
But Marcus Fysh secured a Conservative win for the first time in more than 30 years at the last election.
Mr Ashdown said: "David Laws and I are delighted that the flame passes to Jo Roundell Greene, who has been an exceptional councillor and champion for our area."
Ms Roundell Greene takes over after the former Lib Dem candidate pulled out of the race last month as she was in the middle of buying a house.
Daisy Benson said it would be unfair to Yeovil constituents "not to be able to devote 100% of my time to campaigning".
The confirmed candidates for the Yeovil constituency so far are: Marcus Fysh (Conservative), Ian Martin (Labour) and Jo Roundell Greene (Liberal Democrat). Other parties are yet to confirm their candidates. | The granddaughter of Labour's post-war prime minister Clement Attlee will stand for Parliament for the Liberal Democrats. | 39812273 |
Researchers, writing in the journal Pediatrics, said the results would reassure parents whose babies fail to put on weight quickly.
And they warn against boosting the calorie intake of slow-growing babies as this may increase obesity.
Experts said that monitoring of weight gain in infants remained vital.
The researchers looked at data from 11,499 children who took part in a large study in Bristol in the 1990s.
It showed that 507 who were slow to gain weight in the first eight weeks of life recovered fairly quickly and had almost caught up by the age of two years.
Another group of 480 children who were slow to gain between eight weeks and nine months continued to put on weight slowly until they were seven years, but then had a spurt and caught up by the age of 13.
The different patterns of recovery between the two groups were likely due to different reasons for slow weight gain, the researchers said.
All the children were still lighter and shorter than their peers by the time they were teenagers, but within the normal range.
The findings highlight the importance of monitoring a baby's weight and height gain during the first few weeks and months, but not creating anxiety with parents of slow-growing babies, said study leader Prof Alan Emond from the University of Bristol.
"In the past, a lot of parents have been caused a lot of unnecessary anxiety by health professionals and this is a positive and reassuring message."
He said in many cases slow growth where children who are otherwise well do not follow the standard 'curve' is just because they are following their genetic potential.
"The second point for health professionals is that for a child that is well with no symptoms they can be relaxed and not worry about pushing calories because you can push them the other way."
Feeding habits in the second six months of life determine a child's future weight gain, so consuming too many calories in infancy can lead to obesity later on, he explained.
Dr Simon Newell, vice-president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said he broadly agreed with the conclusions of the researchers but stressed that poor weight gain was something which needed to be monitored closely.
"The weight when you're first born is the impact of pregnancy, the weight at eight weeks is related to how well you are feeding, then for the next year there will be an adjustment to your natural centile."
He said health professionals needed to look at the whole picture.
"I would encourage parents to use growth charts but if measurements show your baby is smaller than average it may be completely normal." | Babies who are slow to gain weight in the first months of their lives generally catch up to their peers by age 13, a large UK study shows. | 21550953 |
In February thousands of fans protested against plans to charge £77 for some tickets in the club's new main stand.
"Ticket prices are an issue in England," said owner John Henry. "That may foreclose further expansion."
A fans' group called the news "disappointing", adding it would like clarification on the situation.
Liverpool's redeveloped main stand has increased Anfield's capacity to 54,074.
That is an increase of about 8,500 seats and plans for the next phase of the redevelopment would see the Anfield Road end extended, adding another 5,000 seats.
But Henry said: "I don't know if there will be a next step."
Last season, Henry's Fenway Sports Group apologised to fans and reversed plans to increase ticket prices after supporters staged a walkout during the 2-2 draw at home to Sunderland.
"These comments are a little surprising and disappointing for some supporters." said James McKenna from the Spirit of Shankly fans' group, who were involved in February's protest.
"There is outline planning for the work and it seems a little disingenuous that we have never been told that ticket prices would impact the decision to redevelop the Anfield Road end.
"At a time when the club has increased revenues, to suggest that making an extra million pounds or so would prevent further expansion going ahead is a little strange; maybe John Henry should clarify what he means."
Meanwhile, Henry says Premier League owners are "not happy" at Uefa's plans to alter the way Champions League prize money is distributed.
Uefa wants to give more money to clubs who have historically performed well in the competition.
That would benefit five-time winners Liverpool and other European giants such as Real Madrid, who hold the record with 11 titles.
However, it would lead to a decrease in cash for sides like Manchester City, who have never won the competition.
The changes were only agreed by a small number of club officials and Uefa prior to them being unveiled in August.
"They unilaterally made changes to the market pool and there should have been I think more discussion," said Henry, whose club did not qualify for European competition this season.
"But I can tell you that the [Premier League] owners were not happy... at least among the clubs that I speak with."
Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox. | Plans to expand Anfield further may not go ahead because Liverpool are worried about fans being angered by the ticket price rises needed to fund it. | 37503693 |
Since 2012, all under-18 offenders have been accommodated separately from adults at the Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre in Bangor, County Down.
However, the CJI said the impact of older children in the centre was "testing the resilience of staff".
It said the "existing regime" needed redesigned to suit 16 and 17-year-olds.
The Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland, Brendan McGuigan, said the centre was facing "significant challenges" in how it addresses the needs of young offenders.
"Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre accommodates some of the most difficult and disturbed children in our society, and in doing so, prevents them from causing mayhem in their communities and in the residential care system," he said.
"It's great we're not keeping under 18-year-olds anywhere else but in the juvenile centre, but some of those - and the increasing number of 17-year-olds - are proving more of a challenge for staff within the centre.
"What we're saying is that you probably need to think about the regime you're currently offering so you can build in a resilience and be able to deal with these older children."
The CJI also called for the Youth Justice Agency, which operates the juvenile justice centre, to work to reduce "inappropriate use" of the facility.
Mr McGuigan said: "Inspectors accept that the juvenile justice centre has and can provide stability in times of crisis, but committing a child to custody should be an action of last resort.
"Significant challenges lie ahead for the centre. We believe maintaining strong leadership is essential to addressing these challenges and meet the needs of a changing population."
The Justice Minister David Ford said the centre was continuing to make progress and that he was pleased that children were receiving "high levels of care and support" during their time in Woodlands. | Changes are needed into how children in prison in Northern Ireland are cared for, a report by the Criminal Justice Inspectorate (CJI) has found. | 32925485 |
Samuel Easterbrook, 20, repeatedly kicked and punched 18-weeks pregnant Kira Brooks in the stomach after they split up, Exeter Crown Court heard.
Easterbrook, of Danvers Road, Torquay, admitted causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage and was jailed for 21 months.
Judge Jeremy Griggs told him: "This is as unpleasant as it gets."
Easterbrook went to Miss Brooks' Torbay home on 16 May after they split up, the court was told.
He punched and kicked Miss Brooks and stabbed her in the arm during a struggle in the kitchen.
The attack came after he smashed a television and poured bleach on Miss Brooks' clothes.
Felicity Payne, prosecuting, said: "She was petrified. He began to push and kick her repeatedly in the stomach area and said he was going to get the baby out of her.
"He said if she was not going to be with him she could not have the child."
Judge Jeremy Griggs said the attack "appears to be a deliberate attempt to cause your child to be aborted. Thankfully, that has not happened."
The judge made a restraining order banning Easterbrook from any contact with Miss Brooks and told him he would have to apply through the family courts to see his child when the baby is born.
Ann Bellchambers, defending, said Easterbrook told police he "just went mad" and was now remorseful. | A jilted boyfriend told his pregnant ex-girlfriend he would "kick the baby out of her" as he attacked her. | 33387022 |
Lots of journalists now use Twitter as a newsgathering tool. It can be a great way to search for contributors, case studies and information on a story.
It is also a good way just to see what people are saying on a particular topic and can be used to broadcast your stories to a wider audience.
BBC News School Report uses Twitter to promote stories and news about the project, but we make sure we follow these guidelines:
Why not have a look at School Report's quiz on using Twitter safely as a journalist?
However, if you want to use Twitter as part of your journalistic research during the course of School Report you should think very carefully about safety issues and the age restrictions in place on Twitter.
Just like websites such as YouTube and Facebook, Twitter is aimed at people who are over 13. Within Twitter's pages on privacy is a section on their policy "towards children" which points out that "...our services are not directed to persons under 13... we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13".
Any use of Twitter or social media for School Report purposes should comply with your school's social media policy, and we strongly recommend it is done in a supervised capacity.
It is crucial that social media is used safely, especially by young people. For more guidance on using social networks safely see BBC Webwise's guide to staying safe on social networking sites.
You can also read School Reporter's guide to staying safe online, with teenagers giving tips to their fellow teens on how to stay out of trouble.
And here are some simple tips to ensure you use Twitter safely - and remember that many of these tips apply to other social media websites too:
There is also more information available on these websites:
You can choose which other Twitter accounts you would like to follow. Depending on the stories you are working on, you might want to follow, for example, your local newspaper, your local council, your local football club or journalists who tend to cover these type of stories.
You can also create lists in Twitter to group together related accounts which can be a really useful way to manage lots of information coming in.
If, for example, you were reporting on a story about your local football club, you might want to follow the club's official account, an organised fans' group, supporters who blog about the team, footballers who play for the club, journalists who cover stories about the team and so on.
By creating a list, you can group all of these accounts together in one Twitter stream to make it easier to follow. Here are some step-by-step instructions to create lists.
You can search Twitter in a similar way to searching Google, Yahoo or other search engines and this can help you find out crucial information and even potential interviewees.
An advanced search can be a really good way of narrowing down the information that's coming in on a particular topic.
People often use hashtags to help their tweets get found by other Twitter users with an interest in a particular topic or event. So, for instance, during Prime Minister's Questions, journalists may compose a tweet about the exchanges and end with #pmqs which other people can then search for to bring all the tweets mentioning #pmqs together.
There's no hard and fast rule about what hashtags get used - try a bit of trial and error to see what people are using.
But it's vital that you treat Twitter just the same as any other source: just because something's on Twitter doesn't mean it's true!
Hoax accounts are common, and sometimes a Twitter user will pretend to be a famous person for the purposes of trying to arrange a face-to-face meeting. This is obviously dangerous and you should not allow yourself to be talked into a meeting with someone you do not know.
There are also parody accounts, where Twitter users pretend to be other people either for comedy or to catch out lazy journalists.
There have been a string of hoax stories circulating on Twitter, from made-up football transfer stories and political resignations to false reports of celebrity deaths. It's important to check out stories are genuine before you start reporting them.
At the BBC we normally want at least two sources for every story - that way you can be more confident that it's true. Use other non-Twitter sources to try to verify the story.
Twitter uses blue ticks to identify "official" accounts, especially for high-profile celebrities - but even some of these have proven to be hoaxes so use some common sense. Ask yourself: How many followers do they have? How much have they tweeted? When was the account set up? What is in their 'bio' section?
If an account claims to be, for example, your local MP but only has seven followers, has tweeted twice and was set up yesterday, alarm bells should be ringing!
This video on the BBC College of Journalism offers some more top tips on verifying stories, material and people you discover on Twitter.
Don't assume that you can just use material - videos, photos etc - that you come across via Twitter in your reports.
This guide from the BBC College of Journalism offers some more detailed advice about copyright issues and dealing fairly with people.
You should get consent from the person who posted the material before using it, and the same rules about privacy and taste and decency apply - don't use material that is unsuitable for your audience.
And think about the impact of using the material on the people involved. Is it fair to them to reuse it in a reporting context when this would not have been their original intention when they uploaded the material?
The BBC broadcasts breaking news and other stories on Twitter and individual productions - like School Report - also promote their stories and material via Twitter. Here are some useful handles: @BBCBreaking, @BBCSchoolReportand @BBCNewswhich will give you a good example of how the BBC does things on Twitter.
The BBC uses Twitter to broadcast headlines as a story breaks and provide links to further information which is available via the BBC News online site as more information becomes available.
If your school uses Twitter and has an account you may want to broadcast the headlines of your stories on the account - just like the BBC does. It's one way of getting your news seen by more people in your community who follow you.
It's also a way of getting people who are interested in the subject of your story to find out about it.
Imagine you were reporting on the possible closure of your local hospital. People who are interested in the future of the hospital may well search Twitter to see what the latest news is, so if you put the right terms - probably the name of the hospital in this instance - in your tweet, then your report will have more chance of being seen by a really engaged audience.
The key is to remember that BBC journalism values still apply: be accurate, fair and think about what your audience will find most interesting.
Think of the tweet as the headline to your story and apply the usual who, what, where, how and who rules.
Get a second pair of eyes from the teacher before sending anything.
And don't forget to include a link! There are URL-shortening websites such as bit.ly and TinyURL (many others are available, try an internet search for "URL shortener") which will ensure the link takes up fewer of your precious 140 characters! | Although tweets are a maximum of just 140 characters long, the impact of the social media website on journalism has been huge. | 19635979 |
Austin was injured during Tuesday's 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth, limping off after an hour at the Vitality Stadium.
The 26-year-old, who joined Saints from QPR in January, scored the winning goal against Manchester United on his debut.
But he has failed to score in his four subsequent appearances, including two successive starts.
Fellow forward Shane Long took a knock to a knee at Bournemouth, but his injury is not as serious.
Steve Cook and Benik Afobe scored as Saints lost a league match to the Cherries for the first time since 1958.
Manager Ronald Koeman changed his formation from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2 in the first half, but said his side's defeat had more to do with attitude than tactics.
"We've played this system for several weeks - the system is perfect if you play against two strikers," said Koeman.
"But I had to recognise the left full-back of Bournemouth [Charlie Daniels] was very good, he created a lot of problems.
"There was a big difference with the way Bournemouth started the game. They were hungry and winning challenges. We didn't, and that's not tactics - that's belief, spirit, character, mentality.
"If you analyse the game and ask every player of Southampton, 'did you win or lose more battles?' all 10 will recognise they lost more."
He added: "Normally I like to defend the players, but not this time, I think. Bournemouth were more hungry than we were." | Southampton will be without striker Charlie Austin for "several weeks" because of a hamstring injury, according to manager Ronald Koeman. | 35703647 |
Mr Valls presented his resignation to President Francois Hollande on Tuesday.
Mr Cazeneuve will be in charge of the Socialist government until June's parliamentary elections.
He has played a key role in managing France's security since the jihadist terror attacks in Paris last year.
Mr Valls will face other contenders in the Socialist primary next month.
Last week, in a move that surprised many, President Hollande announced that he would not seek a second term.
He is the first president since France's Fifth Republic was created in 1958 not to seek a second mandate. But he has haemorrhaged support amid stubbornly high unemployment and anxiety about Islamist terror.
If successful, Mr Valls will face Francois Fillon and Marine Le Pen in the first round of the presidential election in April.
Who will be France's president in 2017?
Election 2017: What are the issues?
France country profile
Current polling suggests that Ms Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front (FN), could come in the top two in the first round, but would be likely to lose to the centre-right Mr Fillon in the second.
Mr Valls is not guaranteed to win the Socialist primary, which will involve at least seven other candidates. They will include former economy minister Arnaud Montebourg, who is further to the left.
Mr Valls is seen as a divisive figure on the left, after forcing labour reforms through parliament and endorsing controversial bans last summer on the Islamic "burkini" swimsuit.
Even if he wins the primary, he could be undermined by two rivals for leftist or centrist votes: the radical socialist Jean-Luc Melenchon and centrist Emmanuel Macron, a former economy minister.
Emmanuel Macron - controversial man on the move
The new interior minister, replacing Mr Cazeneuve, is Bruno Le Roux. He is the Socialist parliamentary leader and another close ally of President Hollande.
Mr Cazeneuve, 53, was a spokesman for Mr Hollande during the 2012 presidential campaign that brought victory for Mr Hollande over Nicolas Sarkozy.
In 2012-2013, Mr Cazeneuve was junior minister for European affairs. That post included the difficult task of getting parliamentary approval for the EU's European Stability Mechanism, despite opposition from some fellow Socialists.
In 2013-2014 he was junior minister for the budget. France's Le Parisien daily says his command of tough budgetary issues earned him the nickname "R2D2" - referring to a robot in the original Star Wars film.
He became interior minister in 2014 when the incumbent, Jerome Cahuzac, resigned because it was revealed that he had a secret Swiss bank account.
Mr Cazeneuve faced a stormy period of national trauma for France, as attacks linked to so-called Islamic State (IS), in Paris and Nice, claimed 238 lives.
The Nice attack, when a lorry ploughed into a crowd of revellers on the beachfront, put Mr Cazeneuve under fire for alleged policing failures.
He has overseen the state of emergency imposed after last year's Paris attacks, including extra surveillance of suspected jihadists and extra powers for police to conduct searches.
In recent months he has had to deal with discontent among police officers, who say the state has left them under-resourced, considering the scale of the terror threat.
The son of a schoolteacher, Mr Cazeneuve was born in Senlis, northern France, and trained as a lawyer.
French media see Cazeneuve as reliable loyalist - BBC Monitoring
Several French media outlets note that Mr Cazeneuve is regarded very much as a safe pair of hands by President Hollande, who has come to rely heavily on his loyalty, discretion and reliability.
Le Monde, Liberation and Le Parisien dailies all mention Mr Cazeneuve's nickname "the Swiss army knife" - meaning he is Mr Hollande's trusty helper.
Le Monde also says that over the past few years, Mr Cazeneuve "has established himself as one of the key pieces on Hollande's chessboard".
Liberation notes that Mr Cazeneuve's "trademark" characteristic is his ability to remain calm in the heat of a crisis.
However, several outlets - including Le Point magazine and BFMTV - predict that Mr Cazeneuve is likely to spend only a record-breaking short term of five months in his new role before the 2017 presidential election. | French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has been named as prime minister, replacing Manuel Valls, who resigned in order to make a bid for the presidency next year. | 38220288 |
Peter Burkett, 24, was one of the 96 Liverpool fans who were fatally crushed in the crowd.
He told another fan that it was "murder" on the terraces as he walked away from the central pens.
The court also heard details of 19-year-old Colin Wafer's final movements.
The men were all standing in the Leppings Lane end of the stadium to watch Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest on 15 April 1989.
Mr Burkett travelled to the match with Jonathan Owens - who also died - and Michael Robertson.
Another fan, Anthony Turner, also spoke to Mr Burkett at the match.
Mr Robertson said, after entering the terraces, the three of them became separated. He moved to the right to try to get away from "all the pushing" but his friends did not follow.
But he said they were "kind of pushed down the flood of people coming in".
The next time he saw Mr Burkett was when he was lying in the recovery position on the pitch.
The jury heard Mr Turner had "bumped into" Mr Burkett as he was walking back through the tunnel leading into the central pens.
Mr Turner said: "He basically said it was very bad. I think he said 'it's murder in there', or words to that effect.
"Basically it was a case of he was coming out because it was so bad."
Mr Turner said the two of them walked back up to the mouth of the tunnel, spoke to a man they believed to be a steward and asked if there was another way into the ground.
He told the inquests: "He pointed back down the tunnel and said 'just go in that way', as if that was the normal way to go in.
BBC News: Profiles of all those who died
"I got the impression that it was as if he had been asked the same question again and again and he was like 'just go back down there'."
Mr Turner said he was not "100% comfortable" with going back that way but did so "with a certain amount of trust that that's the way to go".
He said they were "following the direction and advice" of the steward.
Mr Turner said they were soon "trapped" by other Liverpool fans who had also gone down the tunnel.
Once on the terraces they tried to stay together but were split up "pretty much immediately". Mr Turner said that "there was no way that we could stay together".
He continued: "[Mr Burkett] just looked around with a shrug and a half smile. He just looked at me and he said 'see you later' or words to that effect."
The jury saw video footage timed at 15:19 BST - 19 minutes after kick-off - which showed Mr Burkett lying among other fans who had been caught in the crush.
Andrew Barlow, a South Yorkshire Police officer at the time, was among several people who helped carry Mr Burkett.
A doctor assessed him at the stadium's gymnasium, which was used as a temporary mortuary, and confirmed he had died.
The jury also heard about the final movements of 19-year-old Colin Wafer, a Liverpool bank clerk described by his family as "as lively and bright as his red hair".
The court was told there is no evidence about his journey to the stadium or how he got inside, but police found an unused ticket for the match among his possessions.
He was seen entering the Leppings Lane terraces at about 14:51.
Footage timed at 15:17 showed Mr Wafer lying towards the front of a section of the terraces known as pen three after the crush.
In pictures from 15:19, Liverpool fan Steven Allen was seen helping police pull him out of the pen on to the pitch.
Mr Allen, who was an officer in the Metropolitan Police, said he believed Mr Wafer was dead when he carried him.
Two female officers tried to resuscitate him on the pitch, but stopped after a St John Ambulance volunteer told them he had died.
One of the constables, Glenda Wood, then placed an anorak over Mr Wafer's face "out of respect".
He was later carried on a makeshift stretcher towards the stadium's gymnasium at about 15:30. A doctor there confirmed he had died.
Mr Wafer's brother, Ian Wafer, formally identified his body at 01:30 the following morning.
The inquests, sitting in Warrington, Cheshire, are due to resume on Wednesday. | A steward at Hillsborough directed a victim of the disaster back to the crowded terraces after he asked if there was another way into the ground, the new inquests have heard. | 33528816 |
It was "deeply concerning" that 5,789 overseas criminals were free in the UK, more than anytime since 2012, MPs said.
The top three nationalities among the offenders were Polish, Irish and Romanian - all EU nations - they said.
The Home Office said it deported record numbers of EU criminals last year.
However, the cross-party committee said progress has been "too slow".
The total number of foreign national offenders currently in the UK - both in detention and living in the community - was over 13,000, or "the size of a small town", it said.
MPs criticised the Home Office for consistently failing to remove convicts, despite their home nations being part of the 28-member bloc.
Polish criminals accounted for 983 offenders, while 764 were from Ireland, and 635 from Romania, their report said.
This issue covers immigration and free movement within Europe.
The issue would undermine the public's confidence in the UK's immigration system, and faith in Britain's EU membership, they warned.
"The clear inefficiencies demonstrated by this process will lead the public to question the point of the UK remaining a member of the EU," the report said.
Home Secretary Theresa May was "unconvincing in suggesting that remaining a member of the EU will make it easier to remove these individuals from the UK", it said.
They called on the government to take urgent action to "significantly" reduce the 13,000 overall number of foreign convicts in the country.
Committee chairman Labour MP Keith Vaz told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There are two problems that seem to have confronted the Home Office. The first is the unwillingness of some countries to take their citizens back, but also I think it is the process that we have."
Mr Vaz suggested that foreign offenders should give up their passports when they are sentenced and that when they come out of prison the process of removing them from the country should start immediately.
"The public would expect our membership of the European Union to make it easier to deport European offenders, but this is clearly not the case, and we continue to keep thousands of these criminals at great and unnecessary expense," he said.
Mr Vaz also called on Commonwealth countries to "take their citizens back", saying there was a high number of foreign national offenders from Jamaica, Pakistan, Nigeria and India.
John Attard of the Prison Governors' Association also told the programme that it was up to the Border Agency to remove foreign national offenders, adding that paying for prisoners who could be incarcerated elsewhere was a drain on resources.
Vote Leave claimed the foreign offenders were costing £36,000 a year each to jail, and that the EU made it "more difficult" to deport overseas criminals.
Justice Minister Dominic Raab, who backs Brexit, said: "The EU is making us less safe. If we take back control we will be able to deport foreign criminals from our prisons."
But Home Secretary Theresa May, who backs remaining in the EU but withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights, said foreign criminals "should be in no doubt of our determination to deport them".
"Last year we removed a record number of foreign national offenders from this country, including a record number of EU criminals," she said.
"Being in the EU gives us access to criminal records sharing and prisoner transfer agreements which help us better identify people with criminal records and, allow us to send foreign criminals back to their home countries to serve their sentences."
MPs also warned it would take a "modern miracle" for David Cameron to meet his "no ifs, no buts" pledge to cut migration to under 100,000.
Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics estimate net migration to the UK rose to 333,000 in 2015 - the second highest figure on record.
During a live Q&A on Sky News on Thursday, David Cameron said migration could be managed if the UK remained inside the EU and it would be "madness" to try to control it by voting to leave.
Mr Cameron said he did not accept that his pledge to cut immigration below 100,000 could not be achieved within the EU.
But Vote Leave's Iain Duncan Smith said it was "telling" that Mr Cameron had not given a timetable for achieving this goal.
The Home Affairs Committee's wide-ranging report also said it was "deeply concerning" that there had been so little improvement in the immigration backlog, which stood at about 345,400 at the end of last year. | Failure to deport 13,000 foreign criminals - equivalent to a "small town" - will lead people to "question the point" of the UK remaining in the EU, the Home Affairs Committee says. | 36441188 |
Lyn Jones left by mutual consent after "a period away through illness".
Kingsley Jones is in charge until the end of the season and takes them to Montpellier for Saturday's European Challenge Cup semi-final.
"I'm totally open-minded to be honest. The big thing for me is the next four weeks," Kingsley Jones told Scrum V.
"I've really got to focus on that, make sure we get as much out of this season as we can and hopefully we get to a final, which would be fabulous."
The former Wales flanker insists Lyn Jones, another ex-Wales open-side, was ill before his departure from Rodney Parade was announced.
"You've got to take it as read," said Kingsley Jones.
"There was a process. Lyn was ill, there's no doubt about that and as it said in the statement, it's two parties that probably think it's time to move on.
"OK, yeah, it could have waited until the end of the season, perhaps, and ultimately often when you're in this position someone's going to move on, it happens immediately.
"They've parted ways and I'm sure Lyn will go on to great things, whatever he decides to do.
"He's worked really hard in the last three years and I don't think the guy's had a day off." | Newport Gwent Dragons head coach Kingsley Jones is "open-minded" about the possibility of succeeding Lyn Jones as director of rugby. | 36106878 |
Shaun Walmsley, 28, was getting into a cab with prison officers when was sprung from custody by two armed men.
The getaway car had lain in wait in a road near Liverpool's Aintree University Hospital, police said.
A number of people in the area may not have realised what was going during the escape on Tuesday, police said, as they appealed for witnesses to contact them.
Officers believe a gold-coloured Volvo had been parked on Adlam Crescent, Fazakerley, from around 12:00 GMT before travelling to and parking at the hospital from about 13:30.
The car was found in Adlam Crescent at 20:00 on Tuesday and is being examined by officers.
Det Supt Natalie Perischine said: "We do know that the gold Volvo was blocking the rear of the car which was meant to take Walmsley back to prison, and this was making access to a roundabout at the hospital difficult.
"One delivery driver was forced to mount the kerb to get past.
"Drivers in the vehicles pictured in the stills may also have information which could be vital to our inquiries."
She added: "The CCTV shows that the people involved in the actual incident were in a very close huddle and we know that the although a gun and knife were used by the offenders, they were not blatantly on show to other people walking by."
Walmsley, described as "highly dangerous", is one of four men serving life sentences for the "vicious and savage" stabbing of Anthony Duffy in 2014. | CCTV images of the moment a convicted murderer escaped during a hospital visit have been released by police. | 39069096 |
At the Paris climate deal, all world leaders spoke in favour of limiting global temperature rise to 2 degrees but that was after a massive diplomatic effort by President Barack Obama made membership of the climate club a moral imperative.
He and the French hosts created such an atmosphere that even the normally foot-dragging Russians and Saudis committed to the deal, despite their long history of slowing progress in climate negotiations behind the scenes.
They own vast fossil fuel reserves of oil and gas and fear they will stand to lose if the world shifts away from fossil fuels.
Many a UN climate conference has drawn to a semi-successful close, only for the chair to wearily announce "objection from Saudi Arabia".
The task for Chancellor Merkel and her allies is to bind these two nervous bedfellows into the great climate alliance between the EU and China, leaving the US looking out of touch.
Ideally, from Europe's standpoint, President Trump would recant his rejection of the Paris deal.
But that will not happen so the next least bad option is for Mr Trump to be isolated, with other nations standing together against him and in favour of stronger climate action.
President Putin wrote an article in a newspaper this week supporting the Paris deal but he and the Saudis understand that their co-operation on the matter is a huge diplomatic bargaining chip.
Meanwhile the US is said to be preparing for a compromise statement that continues to reject the Paris deal but offers a promise that the US will tackle climate change on its own.
Given the president's onslaught on his predecessor's climate and energy policies, this pledge may ring hollow.
What is more, this is just a starting point. In Paris all world leaders acknowledged that when it came to cutting emissions to reduce the risk of dangerous climate change, they all had to do much, much more.
Environmentalists want the G20 to increase their climate commitments over this weekend. They may have to content themselves with the knowledge that the future of the planet is at least firmly on the agenda of the men and women who are running it.
Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin | German Chancellor Angela Merkel is battling to prevent US President Donald Trump undermining the world leaders' united front on climate change. | 40529447 |
Luke Berry missed an early penalty for U's, before Doncaster went 3-0 ahead.
Goals from George Maris and Berry closed the deficit, but Rovers won 3-2 - their first victory in six matches.
"Against the top teams I bang the drum about taking your chances. In one box we weren't ruthless enough, and in the other we weren't good enough," he said.
"I see chances that have gone begging. And the other side of the game, the defensive side, it's three goals that we have conceded that are bargain basement."
Derry's squad has been hit by injuries all season, and Cambridge were without forwards Uche Ikpeazu and Barry Corr for the visit of Darren Ferguson's side.
Ben Williamson started the game up front for the U's, but failed to add to his one goal from 38 matches this season.
"We've missed some big players at key moments of our season. Against Doncaster we've missed Uche and Barry Corr and we're reliant upon a striker who's absolutely off form," said Derry.
"I'm not going to shy away from that. I see him every day in training, his character and application is exactly the same as last season, but the goals aren't there for him at the moment." | Cambridge United manager Shaun Derry was frustrated after seeing his side concede three "bargain basement goals" against League Two leaders Doncaster. | 39126477 |
The Duchess of Cambridge's sister will marry James Matthews at St Mark's Church in Englefield, Berkshire, on Saturday 20 May.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will also attend the wedding.
Miss Middleton confirmed her engagement to Mr Matthews, a financier, last July.
She was the maid of honour when the duchess married Prince William in 2011.
It comes as George, three, is due to start at a private London primary school in September while his sister Charlotte, who turns two in May, will start nursery in the summer. | Prince George and Princess Charlotte will be page boy and bridesmaid at the wedding of Pippa Middleton, Kensington Palace has said. | 39559666 |
"I just feel it would not be a relaxing evening at the theatre," he said of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
"I assume every night there are 1,000 Harry Potter fans in the audience," he continued, adding it was "fantastic" they were there to see the play.
Radcliffe is shortly to return to the London stage in an Old Vic revival of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.
The 27-year-old said he had read Sir Tom Stoppard's play "at a fairly formative age", having studied it while on the Harry Potter set, and could remember being "baffled and delighted".
First staged in 1966, the play replays Shakespeare's Hamlet from the point of view of two hapless minor characters.
Radcliffe plays Rosencrantz in the 50th anniversary production, while Joshua McGuire plays Guildenstern.
Speaking to the BBC's Rebecca Jones, Radcliffe said he had studied Shakespeare at school but had never performed it on stage.
He said Sir Tom's play, which features the scenes from Hamlet in which Rosencrantz and Guildenstern appear, was "an amazing introduction" to the Bard of Avon's work.
"It's a play so full of ideas there's always going to be something new to play with," he went on, adding he was "starting to enjoy the poetry" of the Shakespeare sections.
The actor also revealed he would "probably just ignore" fans who attempt to record his performance, recalling that people had tried to talk to him on stage when he made his theatre debut in Equus.
Directed by David Leveaux, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead runs from 25 February to 29 April.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]. | Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has revealed he's yet to see the stage play of JK Rowling's eighth Potter story. | 38831398 |
Donal Ó Coisdealbha from Killester, north Dublin was arrested on explosive charges in the run-up to the visit of Prince Charles to Ireland in 2015.
Ó Coisdealbha admitted to the Dublin's Special Criminal Court that he was a dissident republican.
He was arrested during a Garda operation when explosive devices, improvised rockets, detonators, timing units and Semtex were discovered.
It was six days before the visit of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall to the west of Ireland in May 2015.
O'Coisdealbha had been under audio and visual surveillance for five months and was seen meeting convicted republicans in a pub near Dublin airport and in the city centre. He was also seen acting suspiciously at the back of Glasnevin Cemetery in north Dublin.
Gardaí (Irish police) believe an attack had been planned to coincide with the royal visit. | A 25-year-old dissident republican has been jailed in Dublin for five years. | 38223873 |
Workers at Welcome Foods at Huthwaite, near Sutton in Ashfield, were told the firm has been "impacted by difficult trading conditions".
The union Unite said the closure was a "heavy blow" for the workforce and the local economy.
Parent company Bakkavor has begun a consultation to move work to its other sites.
Steve Syson, regional officer for the union, said: "The union wants an urgent meeting with the management next week, with the aim of mitigating and reducing the large-scale job losses.
"We want to explore the business reasons for the planned closure during a 45-day consultation period and the opportunities for alternative employment within the group."
In a statement, Welcome Foods, which makes sauces and gravy, said: "The group has explored a number of different options to sustain the business, but has now concluded Welcome Foods is no longer commercially viable.
"Therefore, our proposal is to cease operations at Welcome Foods and transfer production to other Bakkavor sites which have similar product synergies."
The company added that if the proposal goes ahead it would "make significant efforts" to find alternative jobs for workers locally or elsewhere within the Bakkavor group.
Bakkavor employs more than 18,000 people worldwide across 43 facilities. | About 300 jobs are at risk at a Nottinghamshire food processing site earmarked for closure. | 39167921 |
Hoolet Row, in Chatelherault Country Park, near Hamilton, was named after the owls which nested nearby.
Now the site is covered thickly in trees and not much light filters through them. It is pretty silent and hard to imagine that this place would once have been alive to the sound of people.
"This was a nice tidy row of cottages until the late 1950s really when it was cleared for this new tree planting," says Malcolm Muir, countryside and greenspace manager at South Lanarkshire Council.
"At that time, it sat at the bottom of a beautiful natural woodland, which came down from the heights of the Avon gorge, a wee track wended up to the top, past a well and in the front there were drying greens that ran down to the beautiful river Avon."
The "Capturing the Past" project is being led by Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership (CAVLP Heritage). It aims to explore the area's industrial, horticultural and agricultural past.
At the present day Hoolet Row site only the odd stone pokes through a thick bed of leaves and moss, marking where the foundations of the houses once stood.
The well which supplied them with water is still there and then there is an incongruous sight - part of an old bedstead leaning against a tree.
"It's just sitting in the forest," says CAVLP Heritage officer Dr Paul Murtagh.
"It's an absolutely beautiful bed, carved roses and flowers on it and you can imagine the people that were maybe born or even died in this bed, It's a very poignant piece of archaeology that very rarely survives."
Over the next three years the team is aiming to get a clearer picture of how people lived and worked in the area by exploring and recording the archaeology, much of which has never been recorded before.
They will also use old photos, maps and memories and they want volunteers to get involved.
It is just a few metres from Hoolet Row to the entrance of what was an old colliery. Nature has reclaimed it and it is hard to see what it once was.
The mine was known for a disaster which occurred there in the 1840s which killed a number of people.
Dr Murtagh says stories like these still resonate.
"Places like this, even though there's very little to be seen, just a few humps and bumps, these are places that tell us a much bigger story about the landscape, but also about the history of Scotland," he says. | There is only a small sign to indicate that they were ever there, but a new project, launched this weekend, is hoping that traces of a row of old miners cottages in South Lanarkshire can reveal more about the people who lived in the area and the surrounding landscape. | 35381779 |
And only a third (33%) of 1,000 parents polled for the parent teacher umbrella group, PTA UK, said they understood government changes to education.
PTA UK wants the remit of the new regional schools commissioners to include consultation with parents.
The government said it "regularly" engaged with parents
But PTA UK executive director, Emma Williams called the findings "a concern".
The survey forms part of PTA UK's written evidence to an MPs' inquiry into regional schools commissioners by the education select committee which will include public evidence sessions later in the autumn.
Eight regional schools commissioners for England were appointed in 2014 to approve new academies and intervene when academies and free schools underperform.
They act on behalf of the secretary of state for education, performing some of the functions carried out by local authorities within their network of schools.
The government wants to expand the role of the commissioners, to include decisions on whether underperforming and "coasting" schools should become sponsored academies.
But PTA UK, which represents parent teacher associations in more than half of schools in England, says too few parents understand the role of the commissioners in their children's education.
The association argues that as regional schools commissioners will have a role in raising standards in under-performing schools, effective dialogue with parents is crucial.
Parent teacher associations are often associated with running fund-raising events in schools but PTA UK wants a wider role in which they could represent the views of parents.
"The two primary influences on children's education is that of the school and their parents, However, the parent voice has, up until this point, been largely absent from the national education debate," said Ms Williams.
"This imbalance is something PTA UK are striving to rectify, by working to represent the parent view and bring their needs, as well as that of their children, into the fore.
"It is crucial that parents, schools and parliamentary bodies work in unison in order to provide the best possible education experience for children across the country.
"PTA UK believes that as primary stakeholders in their child's education, parents should be consulted and that schools should be accountable to parents."
A separate online survey of more than 1,300 active PTA members revealed almost all (97%) felt they should be consulted about big changes to their child's school with 96% saying being consulted made them feel included in their child's education.
Even among this more active group of parents, only 15% said they understood the role of the commissioners.
A Department for Education spokeswoman said the government welcomed parents' views.
"We regularly engage with parents, through social media, surveys, newsletters or meetings with our regional schools commissioners (RSCs) who will also seek the views of their communities through their head teacher boards, which are made up of outstanding local school leaders."
The government is currently running three public consultations on education policies including changes to GCSE and A-level content, the spokeswoman added.
"Where parents are unhappy with a procedure, schools should have a process in place for tackling complaints. The department also has a robust system to handle school complaints and we take all parents' concerns seriously, routinely passing them on to the relevant bodies." | Fewer than a fifth (18%) of parents in England think the government listens to them about their children's education, suggests research. | 34384184 |
The versatile 21-year-old Antigua and Barbuda international has signed a two-year contract with the League Two club.
Browne's father Steve also played at Huish Park for Yeovil in the 1990s.
Having been at Norwich and Charlton as a youngster, Browne spent the 2015-16 season with Aldershot before moving to Blundell Park last summer.
He spent the second half of last season at Macclesfield, scoring for them in their FA Trophy final defeat by relegated York City.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | Yeovil Town have made their first summer signing by bringing in winger Rhys Browne from Grimsby Town for an undisclosed fee. | 40307627 |
Stokes followed-up his first-innings hundred with two wickets in two balls as England dominated South Africa on day four of the third Test at The Oval.
"You want him either batting or bowling in the key moments," said Broad.
"He's a better cricketer when he is fired up. The team are learning how to get him in that mode more often than not."
Nottinghamshire fast bowler Broad, 31, added: "We'll say: 'Stokesy, this is your time. Keep coming at him. Keep trying to get him out.'"
Stokes, 26, has previously allowed emotions to get the better of him - in 2014 he suffered a broken hand punching a locker after being dismissed in a one-day international in West Indies.
He has also had on-field confrontations with the likes of Marlon Samuels, Virat Kohli and Tamim Iqbal.
However, he has taken on the responsibility of the Test vice-captaincy and, in the first innings at The Oval, struck a flawless century in difficult conditions.
"That was a really mature knock," said Broad. "He played slightly out of his comfort zone to keep the team calm.
"He will naturally score quickly, but then he played within his scoring power to set up the game for us."
On Sunday, with South Africa chasing an unlikely 492 to win, Stokes struck twice in successive deliveries to help leave the tourists on 117-4 going into the final day.
Find out how to get into cricket with our inclusive guide.
He bowled Quinton de Kock with a yorker, and then had Faf du Plessis out lbw, offering no stroke.
"He bowled as quickly as I have seen him bowl," added Broad, who took the first wicket to fall, bowling Heino Kuhn.
"It felt like one of those intimidating spells Andrew Flintoff used to bowl, heavy and at the batsmen.
"When he gets that momentum, it's great to see. He's a player who goes with the momentum of the game and he dragged the team along with him during that spell.
"Hopefully he can do the same on the final day." | All-rounder Ben Stokes is a better player when "he's in a battle", says England team-mate Stuart Broad. | 40770946 |
Nadezhda Tolokonnikova dismissed the amnesty law that set her free, saying it was a "cosmetic measure".
She and band-mate Maria Alyokhina, who was also freed, said the prison system needed wider reform and promised to continue anti-government action.
They were jailed in 2012 after singing a protest song in a Moscow cathedral.
By Bridget KendallDiplomatic correspondent, BBC News
Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova marched back into the spotlight as defiant as ever. Even the fact they were being freed was something to be up in arms about. It was, they both said, a hoax: a cynical attempt by President Vladimir Putin to buy better publicity for Russia ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
They were still punk rockers all the way, performance artists who saw every aspect of their lives as a facet of protest.
"Hold on to your seat belts, everything is just starting," she added, claiming that given the chance, they would have sung the irreverent song in their famous cathedral stunt to the end. There would be new projects, she promised, using the same methods.
But for all the two women's show of bravado, it may be that they will pause before risking a new spectacular protest. They do now know what the consequences of poking fun at the Russian state can be.
Punk band members remain defiant
The act was seen as blasphemous by many Russians, and was condemned by the Orthodox Church.
But their conviction for "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred" was criticised by rights groups, anti-government activists and foreign politicians.
The amnesty passed last week aimed to free some 20,000 prisoners.
In a separate move, President Vladimir Putin pardoned former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was once Russia's richest man, on humanitarian grounds.
Both Pussy Riot members said their anti-government stance had not softened, and both promised to form a human-rights group to fight for prison reform.
Tolokonnikova, who was freed from a prison hospital in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, immediately called for a boycott of the Sochi Games.
"What is happening today - releasing people just a few months before their term expires - is a cosmetic measure," she said.
"That includes the case of Khodorkovsky, who didn't have much time left on his prison term. This is ridiculous."
She said far more people should be set free.
"I'm calling for a boycott, for honesty. I'm calling [on Western governments] not to give in because of oil and gas deliveries from Russia."
The 24-year-old labelled the Russian state a "totalitarian machine" and said prison reform was the starting point for reform of Russian society.
Alyokhina, released in the city of Nizhny Novgorod, 400km (280 miles) east of Moscow, told Russian TV that the amnesty was "a profanation".
"If it were possible, if I had had a choice, I would have stayed in prison without a doubt," she said.
Rights groups have already campaigned for a boycott of the Sochi Games after Russia passed a law forbidding "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors".
Gay athletes said they feared the law could be used against them, but Mr Putin later told Olympics organisers that gay athletes were welcome in Russia.
The two Pussy Riot members were due to be freed in March. They were freed early because they both have children, and the amnesty law covered mothers.
They were convicted after performing an obscenity-laced song called Punk Prayer in Moscow's Christ the Saviour cathedral in February 2012.
The song was heavily critical of the Orthodox Church's support for the president, calling on the Virgin Mary to "throw Putin out".
A third Pussy Riot protester, Yekaterina Samutsevich, was also jailed, but was released on appeal in October 2012.
Charges against 30 people arrested while taking part in a Greenpeace protest at a Russian Arctic offshore oil rig may also be dropped later this week under the amnesty law.
The group - mostly foreign activists - have been charged with hooliganism. | A member of Russian punk band Pussy Riot has called for foreign countries to boycott February's Winter Olympics, hours after she was freed from jail. | 25496255 |
Environment ministers from Britain's overseas territories say the government has cut funds and been distracted by Brexit.
They say there is huge confusion among government departments about responsibility for the territories.
The government calls the criticism unfair and points to its creation of large marine protection areas.
The UK holds jurisdiction over 19 British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies - parts of the British Empire that have not been granted independence or have voted to remain British territories.
Their lands hold an extraordinary wealth of rare species: 94% of the UK's endemic species - found nowhere else in the world - are in outposts of the former empire.
Among the endangered creatures are a giant frog called the Montserrat mountain chicken; the Spiky yellow woodlouse, existing only land the size of a tennis court on St Helena; and the Grand Cayman blue iguana.
Representatives of 14 of the territories - ranging from Bermuda to Pitcairn and Gibraltar - joined the meeting of the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum on the Channel island of Alderney.
The islands are highly vulnerable to climate change, but ministers complained that the government had almost halved Foreign Office spending on the climate.
They also said cuts had eroded the capacity of the experts in the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), who used to offer conservation advice.
The delegates in Alderney said other decisions on funding were going against them and that civil servants who had previously provided support are distracted by Brexit.
Confusion reigns over responsibility for supporting the islands, the ministers said.
The Foreign Office has the policy lead but it delegates biodiversity issues to the environment department, Defra.
The lead for the Crown Dependencies of the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey (which includes Alderney) is with yet another department: the Ministry of Justice.
Claude Hogan from Montserrat said: "There is confusion in policy. We don't know the best person to approach and we end up going round in circles between different ministries.
"To protect the island and adapt to climate change we need to put in sea defences - but we only get enough money to go from one consultancy to the next."
The territories had previously received support for environment-focused programmes from the aid department DFID. But they said that ministers have now switched interest towards traditional job creation - even though the islanders said their economic future depends on a healthy environment.
Brexit is a major concern, as many of the territories have received substantial funding from the EU.
The minister from from Pitcairn, Michelle Christian, said: "We can apply for EU funding for environmental issues such as soil erosion, waste management and water, so we are concerned about the future."
Gibraltar's minister John Cortes, a professional ecologist, said he was nervous at the possibility of Spanish encroachment on protected marine zones after the UK has left the EU.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said the government was already working to improve cross-departmental policies on the territories.
She pointed to the internationally-acclaimed programme of marine protection around some key territories. The zone around Pitcain, for instance, will protect an area of ocean three and a half times the size of Britain.
The spokeswoman added: "Climate change and energy work is a network-wide priority. The Foreign Office works closely in partnership with departments across Whitehall on the international climate change agenda."
The government's delegate had been forced to withdraw from the meeting in Alderney because of the election.
The meeting's organisers said the government had declined to foot the bill for the meeting, which was funded by Alderney in conjunction with voluntary groups.
They applauded the government's marine programme, but said many of the most critical environmental issues were on land.
Their best hope is that when Brexit is settled, the UK will devote more of its time and energy to them, rather than less.
Follow Roger on Twitter. | Wildlife and the environment in far-flung British territories are under threat, says a report. | 39771047 |
28 January 2016 Last updated at 14:25 GMT
The social network's chief executive Mark Zuckerberg hopes the buttons will allow members to express their feelings in a more nuanced fashion.
Read more: Will you like Facebook's new Reactions? | Facebook is rolling out a range of Reactions to replace its iconic Like button. | 35432006 |
Sally Pollard, 39, who had played the role for more than 12 years, died at their home on Friday evening.
Tim Pollard, 53, said she was the "love of my life, my world and she will always be with us and a part of us".
He said Mrs Pollard, who was diagnosed in 2015, was "brilliant and passionate" about raising awareness of the disease not only as a doctor, but as a patient.
"She was surrounded by the people who love her," he said.
"Our three-year-old daughter Scarlett has been brilliant, she made sure Sally had water and was comfortable.
"I've been comforted enormously by everyone close to us... and the support and messages have been overwhelming and incredible.
"It's given me genuine comfort that she touched so many lives, in so many ways - she made a difference to the world."
Mr Pollard added: "She had the best treatment she possibly could and was really looked after and loved.
"I'm asking people to raise a smile, raise a glass and raise money for cancer charities in her memory."
Mrs Pollard was a doctor of genetics at the University of Nottingham and enjoyed taking part in re-enactments.
Mr Pollard has been playing the city's famous outlaw for more than two decades.
The couple fell in love while playing the famous duo and married in September.
He said: "The day after the wedding she was taken into hospital, we found out that the cancer had spread to her brain. She then lost the use of her legs."
Instead of wedding presents the newly weds had asked for donations towards a relaxing space for Mrs Pollard. | Nottingham's official Robin Hood has paid tribute to his Maid Marian and wife who has died of breast cancer. | 40313469 |
New Zealand bowler Tahuhu, 25, has replaced Australia captain Meg Lanning, who has a shoulder injury.
Dattani, 22, comes in for Kirstie White after the wicket-keeper suffered an ankle problem.
Surrey play their opening match on Sunday against Southern Vipers at the Ageas Bowl. | Surrey Stars have added seam bowler Lea Tahuhu and all-rounder Naomi Dattani to their squad ahead of the inaugural Women's Super League competition. | 36906001 |
Olive Cooke was one of the UK's longest-serving poppy sellers and had collected money in Bristol for the Royal British Legion for 76 years.
Media coverage of her death focussed on suggestions she had been overwhelmed by junk mail from charities.
But Jessica Dunne said Mrs Cooke was "not a victim".
She said: "I know the letters were a nuisance and an irritation and very intrusive to her, but it wasn't the reason [she died].
"In the letter that she left the family there was no mention of the letters being a causative factor, and there is no blame on the charities.
"She wouldn't have wanted this backlash."
Miss Dunne said her grandmother's death came as a "shock" to the family, but she had faced "episodes of depression at particular points in her life" and it had "got worse as she got older".
Avon Coroner's Court heard that Mrs Cooke was pronounced dead at 18:20 BST on 6 May by a paramedic and was formally identified by her grandson.
An inquest into her death was opened and adjourned until 16 July.
She had complained to the Bristol Post last year about the amount of requests for donations she was receiving.
A friend told the BBC that while he would not blame her death entirely on charities "pestering" her, she had been "under pressure".
Mrs Cooke, from Fishponds, started selling poppies at the age of 16 as her father was an active Royal British Legion member having served in World War One.
She said it took on new meaning for her when her first husband was killed in action in World War Two. | The granddaughter of a 92-year-old poppy seller who was found dead in the Avon Gorge said she wanted her remembered as a "fun-loving person". | 32829875 |
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The pre-match atmosphere inside Estadio Beira-Rio suggested otherwise: a cold, wet, gloomy day in keeping with the low-key mood as kick-off neared in a tie Germany were expected to win.
There was little singing, dancing, colour or culture - at least not to the levels witnessed prior to most other fixtures in a tournament where the on and off-field flair has reflected that of Brazil itself.
But even without the carnival spirit, the football delivered.
Open, fearless attacking play, the underdog pushing a favourite to its limit, deservedly earning respect and support, threatening an upset few could have argued about had it materialised.
Germany go on to meet France in what should be a classic quarter-final between two of the game's traditional powerhouses. Algeria go home with their heads held high.
"We're devastated but proud," captain Madjid Bougherra told BBC Sport. "We showed good football, a good image and played with heart and togetherness. We nearly did something beautiful. But this is football and we are part of the story."
It is a story that appears to provide a new thrill, a fresh piece of drama, yet more tension every step it takes towards the conclusion.
This was billed as a grudge match: Algeria seeking revenge for Germany's convenient 1-0 win against Austria in the 1982 World Cup, which sent those two into the knockout stage and the Desert Foxes out.
But there was no sign of any spite as both team went in search of goals.
There were 38 shots - 28 of those by Germany, a record in a match this World Cup. Yes, much of the finishing was below-par. But the goalkeepers were superb and, anyway, it added to the drama.
Algeria repelled an early spell of pressure from the three-time champions before visibly growing in belief, creating a series of brilliant chances and heading in for half-time the better team.
Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff said his side were "not surprised".
"They played the tactics we expected but we didn't play well in the first half.
"We didn't run a lot, we didn't adapt, everybody wanted the ball at their feet and Algeria were smart on counter-attacks."
The introduction of forward Andre Schurrle at the break, and midfielder Sami Khedira later on, made a significant difference and Germany were able to establish an element of control.
However, Algeria now had the backing of many neutrals as well as their own followers and they responded by showing near-faultless defensive resilience, while still getting forward when viable.
"They didn't score after 90 minutes and during the break before extra time we were very confident, " said Bougherra. "We said, 'don't concede a goal and maybe we can take it to penalties'."
Schurrle's strike early in the added period was greeted with scenes of relief, rather than wild celebration, among the Germany players, staff and supporters - quite a few of whom come from Porto Alegre following vast 19th century European immigration to the city.
Mesut Ozil struck a second to ease the nerves, but Abdelmoumene Djabou volleyed in to rekindle Algerian hopes. A last-gasp chance had the entire squad off the bench, but Germany stood firm.
As coach Vahid Halilhodzic and a number of his charges failed to control the flow of tears at full time, a chant of "Algeria! Algeria!" rang out around the stadium for a good 30 seconds. The loss meant African representation in Brazil is over.
The last-16 has seen hosts Brazil scrape past Chile on penalties, Netherlands and France leave it late against Mexico and Nigeria, and now Germany have pulled off their own dramatic escape.
"The thing I'm most worried about now is the physical state," said Bierhoff. "We have a lot of tiredness in our legs, so we have to see over the coming days how to recover, how to get fresh.
"It will be a new game and France, for sure, at the moment could be a little bit the favourite."
Against Algeria, Germany did not resemble a team who plan to lift the title in Rio on 13 July. Their defence looked sluggish, midfield unimaginative and attack profligate. There was a distinct lack of urgency and a further headache when right-back Shkodran Mustafi limped off to join Lukas Podolski on the sidelines.
"There's a saying in the US: it's about survive and advance," said Bierhoff, the former Germany captain. "We survived. We knew it would be difficult, like it has been for all the other teams too. Nobody is easy any more.
"I didn't expect teams to play so openly. Everybody plays to win. It's not very defensive. It's a very interesting World Cup."
For the best of BBC Sport's in-depth content and analysis, go to our features and video page. | In a World Cup that rarely seems to deliver a bad game, we probably should have known that Germany's 2-1 extra-time victory over Algeria would be another belter. | 28102228 |
Brothers Daniel and Samuel Sledden mocked Judge Beverley Lunt on Facebook after admitting drug dealing charges.
Daniel, 27, posted within 90 minutes of leaving Burnley Crown Court, while Samuel, 22, made offensive remarks 40 minutes after he left the dock.
Judge Lunt remanded them in custody and ordered a review of their sentences.
Both men admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis.
Both defendants, from Accrington, were initially given two-year jail sentences, suspended for two years.
Daniel Sledden used obscene language in a message he posted online and said he could not believe his luck at getting a suspended sentence.
It "beats the three year jail, yes pal", he wrote.
His brother also used profanity when celebrating: "What a day it's been Burnley Crown Court..nice two year suspended".
However, after the pair were recalled to court, Daniel Sledden posted a follow-up message on Facebook apologising to the judge for his "thoughtless post".
Judge Lunt told the court she did not want to read the messages out which contained "offensive sexual elements".
She said remorse and contrition was "a vital component" when considering sentence but said the length of the jail terms was not wrong.
However, she said, the brothers' conduct after the sentencing had caused her to question whether an immediate custodial sentence should have been imposed.
"It is the issue of suspension. Would I have done so had I appreciated, as I do now, their true views and what they really thought of the court proceedings?" she said.
The Sleddens and their father, William, 45, who also received a suspended jail sentence, had all admitted dealing cannabis from the family home in Hopwood Street between May and September 2014.
At the earlier sentencing hearing, Judge Lunt said she had been partly persuaded not to send the three family members to prison because there had been no criminal wrongdoing since.
The court heard the brothers had written letters of apology to the judge as the review was postponed until 26 February. The pair were remanded in custody. | Two drug dealers who posted sexually offensive comments about a judge after she gave them suspended jail terms have been remanded in custody. | 35588776 |
Jos Buttler's 73-ball century helped the tourists to 399-9, with Ben Stokes, Alex Hales and Joe Root passing 50.
Quinton de Kock's unbeaten 138 off 96 balls kept the Proteas in contention.
But the loss of wickets at key times halted the home side's momentum before rain ended the game with them on 250-5 to give England a 1-0 series lead.
The second ODI in the five-match series is in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Listen - Boycott spots marriage proposal during match
The batting effort of captain Eoin Morgan's men represents a continuation of the dramatic improvement in England's limited-overs cricket since their woeful World Cup of 2015, when they were eliminated in the first round.
Since then, they have won a one-day series against World Cup runners-up New Zealand and Pakistan, as well as being narrowly beaten 3-2 by world champions Australia.
They have also won five consecutive Twenty20 internationals since the World Cup in an overall run of seven successive T20 wins.
On Wednesday England attacked throughout most of their innings, with Jason Roy taking early advantage of some tame home bowling on a benign pitch. He scored 48 off 30 balls before he was first man out, caught by Farhaan Behardien at cover off Morne Morkel.
Roy's opening partner Alex Hales then came to the fore, adding 62 runs with Joe Root to take England to 130 before he too was caught at cover, by AB de Villiers off the bowling of Marchant de Lange for 57.
Buttler then came to the wicket, where he would remain for 17 entertaining overs of clean hitting that propelled the tourists towards their huge total.
Buttler did not feature in the victorious Test series against South Africa, but he demonstrated why he is so valuable to the one-day side by hitting 11 fours and five sixes in an innings of 105 from 76 balls.
Remarkably, the 25-year-old Lancashire player's hundred was the slowest of his four centuries in ODIs, with his quickest being the 46-ball ton he scored against Pakistan in Dubai last year.
In a particularly destructive three-over spell near the middle of England's innings, he scored 34 runs off the bowling of JP Duminy and Behardien.
He lost both Root (52) and Morgan (23) as partners during his innings before he fell himself, caught at cover by De Villiers off Imran Tahir.
A rapid 57 from Stokes (off 38 balls) and minor contributions from Moeen Ali and Chris Jordan maintained some momentum, but the tourists eventually fell just short of their best-ever ODI total of 408, scored against New Zealand at Edgbaston last June.
The odds swung even further in England's favour when David Willey bowled Hashim Amla for just six in the third over of South Africa's reply.
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But Amla's opening partner, De Kock, and replacement at the crease, Faf du Plessis, counter-attacked with the largest partnership of the game - 110 in just 83 balls - before the latter picked out Hales with a pull to the deep off Moeen to depart for 55.
The potential for rain meant the Duckworth-Lewis total was never far from South African minds, but the loss of wickets at key times meant they were never able to keep pace.
De Villiers has not been in good form during the recent Test series between the sides but has three centuries in his last six ODIs. He fell to a brilliant running one-handed catch from Stokes at wide long-on off the bowling of Ali, who also dismissed Rilee Rossouw after Reece Topley had caught and bowled Duminy.
The rain eventually came to deny the game a fittingly dramatic finale with 16.3 overs remaining, De Kock and new partner Behardien at the crease and the home side 150 runs short.
England captain Eoin Morgan: "It is not a satisfying way to win the game but to start the series with a win is a big bonus. We put in a monumental effort with the bat and played with the aggressive brand we have done in the recent past.
"We spoke at the start of the series that we wanted to start in the right manner and the way the openers went about their business really set the tone for the innings.
"Jos [Buttler] is the only player we have in the changing room who is capable of getting a 40 or 50-ball hundred. I have played with a lot of guys around the world and he is up there. The chance to promote him up the order and give him the chance to build an innings is important for his game and we benefit when it comes off." | England made their second-highest one-day international total to beat South Africa by 39 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method in Bloemfontein. | 35485642 |
Sarah Champion, the Rotherham Central MP, made the remarks in a BBC debate on how the town should move on after a report on child sexual exploitation.
But South Yorkshire Police said while reports of abuse directed at Asian people had increased, incidents of violence had not.
The debate will be aired on BBC Radio Sheffield at 09:00 GMT on Wednesday.
The report by Prof Alexis Jay, published in August, revealed that 1,400 children in Rotherham had been sexually exploited by gangs of men, predominantly of Pakistani origin, between 1997 and 2013.
The findings prompted marches in the town by right-wing groups the English Defence League, in September and November, and Britain First in October.
Ms Champion told the BBC: "I had a meeting with eight young Asian girls and they told me they've been too scared to go into town for the past three months because when they do, they get threatened.
"Since the [marches] coming through, they said they've been getting white right-wing men having a go at them in town."
Ms Champion said the men had suggested they would rape the women to "even things up".
South Yorkshire Police said it had not received any reports of this kind of incident but urged anyone who had witnessed this to contact police.
Earlier this week, 80 people signed a pledge to tackle child sexual exploitation in the town and an awareness campaign, Spot the Signs, was launched across South Yorkshire.
Listen to the debate on how Rotherham should move on BBC Radio Sheffield at 09:00 GMT on Wednesday.
Rotherham abuse scandal: Key dates
26 August: Professor Jay's report is published. Rotherham Council leader Roger Stone steps down with immediate effect.
2 September: South Yorkshire Police commissions independent investigation into its handling of the Rotherham child abuse scandal.
8 September: Martin Kimber, chief executive of Rotherham Council, announces he will leave his post in December.
16 September: South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Shaun Wright resigns.
19 September: Joyce Thacker, head of children's services at Rotherham Council, resigns.
18 October: Home Affairs Select Committee calls for investigation into allegations files relating to the abuse scandal went missing.
19 November: Two Ofsted reports announce that local councils across England are insufficiently equipped to deal with issues of child sex exploitation. | Verbal abuse and threats of rape have been levelled at young Asian women in Rotherham, an MP has said. | 30194809 |
Russia has avoided a blanket ban by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from this month's Rio Games.
Individual sports' governing bodies must decide if competitors are clean and more than 250 Russian athletes have so far been cleared to compete.
"I would be looking at my own individual performance," Jackson said.
"Unless people have been proven, by their dope tests and by their dope samples, then I wouldn't waste my time and effort accusing athletes of being on drugs.
"The athletes won't think that way when they are competing," added the 49-year-old Welshman, who was a silver medallist at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.
"The sport is very much an individual sport in the world of athletics and you will be focused on your individual performance."
The Olympics begin in Brazil on Friday but without Russia's track and field team, who were banned by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) had recommended all Russian competitors be banned after its independently commissioned report found evidence of a four-year "doping programme" across the "vast majority" of Olympic sports.
The IOC stopped short of applying a blanket ban and said individual sports' governing bodies must decide if Russian competitors are clean.
But the IOC says a three-person panel will have the final say on which Russians can compete at the Rio Games.
It says the newly convened panel "will decide whether to accept or reject that final proposal".
Jackson acknowledged the scandal had cast a shadow over the Games.
"They're always under scrutiny because of the problems that Russia have caused," Jackson told BBC Radio Four's Today programme.
"This problem does start from Russia basically cheating in our sport and taking away the value of our sports and also the desires and aspirations of young athletes.
"For me it's very frustrating that the athletes are continuously hearing these stories because it's not what they want to hear just before they go into major championships." | Olympic competitors should not be distracted by the Russian doping scandal, former world 110m hurdles champion Colin Jackson says. | 36922016 |
The Dutchman, 18, successfully passed 49 other cars on his way to 12th place in the Formula 1 drivers' championship, with 49 points.
Toro Rosso driver Verstappen won praise in his first season for his judgement on track and his maturity off it.
The average number of overtakes per driver during 2015 was 26.8, according to F1 tyre supplier Pirelli.
Verstappen's team-mate, Carlos Sainz, achieved the second-highest number of overtakes with 45.
Despite the rookie pair's daring during the 19 races in 2015, there was a 10% drop in overtakes compared to 2014 - down from 639 to 509 in total.
In 2011 - the year Pirelli returned to the sport and the DRS overtaking aid was introduced - the number of on-track moves tripled compared to the previous year, but since then the total has fallen steadily.
BBC F1 analyst Eddie Jordan compared Verstappen to two of the sport's greatest drivers, Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.
And 5 live commentator Allan McNish said of a move Verstappen pulled at a particularly difficult corner during the Belgian Grand Prix: "That is the first time I have ever seen someone go around the outside of someone at Blanchimont in my life."
Verstappen will again partner Spaniard Sainz for the 2016 F1 season, but has attracted attention from the bigger teams, including Ferrari.
Media playback is not supported on this device | Teenager Max Verstappen performed more overtaking manoeuvres than any other Formula 1 driver in 2015. | 35104656 |
8 August 2015 Last updated at 19:43 BST
Up to 40,000 people and 140 bands took part in the march, which is the largest loyal order demonstration in Northern Ireland.
Three people were arrested for public order offences. BBC News NI's North West reporter Keiron Tourish reports. | The annual Apprentice Boys parade has passed through the centre of Londonderry. | 33838104 |
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Palace lost 3-1 at home to Sunderland on Monday, extending their run without a Premier League win to four games.
Warnock's side had a strong claim for a penalty denied inside the first minute against the Black Cats, when Santiago Vergini brought down Fraizer Campbell.
"I was told we should appeal for penalties a lot more," said Warnock.
"But I don't understand why we should have to appeal. If someone kicks your shin, they should be given."
Steven Fletcher scored twice at Selhurst Park as the Black Cats lifted themselves out of the relegation zone.
Wes Brown's own goal cancelled out Fletcher's first goal, before Jordi Gomez re-established Sunderland's lead and Fletcher sealed the win.
Warnock was left to rue Phil Dowd's refusal to award his side an early penalty, one of a number of decisions the Palace boss feels have gone against his side in recent games.
The 65-year-old was last week charged with misconduct by the Football Association after saying referee Craig Pawson was "influenced" by Chelsea players during the Blues' 2-1 win at Selhurst Park.
He also questioned what he called an "assault" on his goalkeeper Julian Speroni during a 2-2 draw at West Brom.
"To say we are not getting decisions is an understatement," Warnock said.
"There are too many mistakes. You have to give penalties, you have to be brave to give penalties and they don't seem to be doing that at the moment."
Warnock feels his side may need to develop a nasty streak, adding: "I think we're too nice at the moment. We are too honest."
Defeat means Palace drop to 17th in the table, outside the relegation zone only on goals scored.
They head to Manchester United on Saturday without captain Mile Jedinak, who was sent off for a second booking late for kicking out at Gomez in the centre of the pitch.
"He has apologised and has let the lads down in that respect," said Warnock.
"We have got to go to Old Trafford without him now for something as silly as that." | Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock says he has been told his side should appeal more for penalties, describing his players as "too honest". | 29891479 |
Mr Amadou was arrested in November 2015 for baby-trafficking charges after fleeing to France for a year.
He filed for provisional release to run in the elections but Judge Ibrahim Harouna denied the appeal on Monday.
Mr Amadou says the accusations against him are politically motivated.
The Constitutional Court on Saturday approved him to stand in elections. The court of appeals did not give a reason for the verdict.
Mr Amadou's second wife was arrested in June 2014 along with 16 others, accused of illegally buying new-borns from "baby factories" in south-east Nigeria - where babies are allegedly sold for thousands of dollars. All denied any wrongdoing.
Mr Amadou - a leading opposition presidential candidate - was then arrested in November 2015 after living in exile in France.
Mr Amadou's supporters say the charges were fabricated to prevent him from running against President Mahamadou Issouffou in the 21 February presidential election.
"With this rejection of conditional release, the regime succeeded with its first knock-out blow," his lawyer, Souley Oumara, said.
The BBC's Abdourahmane Dia says that Mr Amadou now has five days to appeal against the decision - or risk following the election from his prison cell.
Tensions have been rising in Niger ahead of the elections. On Monday, lawyers in the country staged a 24-hour strike to oppose what they call the arbitrary arrest of government opponents.
In December, President Mahamadou Issoufou said his government had foiled a plot to overthrow him.
He is the favourite to win elections, though critics accuse him of becoming increasingly authoritarian as the vote nears.
The campaign for the presidential election is due to start on 31 January, with 15 candidates vying for the presidency. | The former speaker of Niger's parliament, Hama Amadou, will not be released from prison to campaign for elections, Niger's court of appeals has said. | 35280576 |
They reveal a 230% increase in patients from the county sent to out-of-area beds between 2013-14 and 2014-15.
A carers group has expressed concern a local shortage of resources means some patients are being sent as far away as Yorkshire and Manchester.
The local mental health trust said it was improving its management of beds.
Following a Freedom of Information request, Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust revealed the number of patients sent out-of-area increased from 29 in 2013-14 to 98 in 2014-15, with 83 of these placements due to "bed pressures locally".
The cost of out-of-area placements has risen over the same period from £601,000 to £2m.
Patients have been sent to units as far afield as Manchester, Leeds and Harrogate.
Roma Mills, involvement manager for Carers in Hertfordshire, said the shortage of beds was partly due to the national underfunding of mental health.
She said when patients are sent miles away from their homes and friends and families "it is not a good experience for vulnerable and ill people".
A spokeswoman for the trust said it was trying to "minimise the out of area bed spend" through "strengthening clinical leadership" and having more consultants in evening and weekend shifts to minimise delays in discharging patients.
She added that the trust may also "buy specialist beds where it is not economic to provide ourselves" such as female-only psychiatric intensive care beds, which are not provided by the trust. | Mental health patients in Hertfordshire had to travel up to 180 miles (290 km) for a bed because of a shortage of local accommodation, new figures show. | 34063380 |
How did Hong Kong get to this point?
The Basic Law has been the mini constitution of Hong Kong since it was handed back to China in 1997.
It enshrines the "one country, two systems" principle, and has been considered a promise from Beijing to the people of Hong Kong that they would be allowed to keep their way of life for the following 50 years.
Under Basic Law, Hong Kong handles most of its affairs internally, while Beijing is responsible for defence and foreign affairs.
However, the law also stipulates that the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) - China's rubber-stamp parliament - holds the ultimate "power of interpretation" of the law.
Article 104 states that all elected Hong Kong officials and judges need to "swear to uphold" the Basic Law and "swear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China".
But two recently elected pro-independence lawmakers have repeatedly refused to say the oath properly.
Sixtus Leung and Yau Wai-ching shouted a derogatory term for China and showed a "Hong Kong is not China" flag during their oath-taking ceremony, causing chaos in the Legislative Council.
Article 104 does not mention any consequences if officials fail to be sworn in properly, nor whether they would be able to retake the oath, so the outcome of their provocative stance was unclear.
Before waiting for the results of a judicial review within Hong Kong, Beijing intervened to issue its own interpretation of the law.
The NPCSC ruled that officials must "accurately, completely and solemnly" read out the portion of the oath that swears allegiance to Beijing.
It also states that officials will bear legal responsibilities if they later commit any doings that "defy the oath" - another term that is not included in Article 104.
This means Leung and Yau cannot take their seats despite being elected.
But critics say what Beijing has done is effectively change the law, rather than just clarify how it should be enacted.
They argue that, in theory, the Chinese government will now be able to stop any democratically elected lawmakers it doesn't like from taking office.
On top of that, the judicial review is still in process, some believe Beijing has undermined the city's judicial independence, and there are fears it could go on to change other articles of the Basic Law.
China says the move was "absolutely necessary", and "complies with the common aspiration of the entire Chinese people" including those in Hong Kong.
This is the furthest reach of Beijing into Hong Kong politics since the handover, but it is the fifth time it has acted to interpret the Basic Law.
Reporting by the BBC's Grace Tsoi | The Chinese government has made an unprecedented intervention in Hong Kong politics, issuing a ruling that effectively means two elected lawmakers will not be allowed to take their seats. | 37893070 |
The level of anticipation is huge. Fans have spent most of the week trying to decipher clues from the last episode's title, Felina (an anagram of finale).
Creator Vince Gilligan is keeping his cards close to his chest. The only person outside the cast who has seen the last script is his girlfriend, he told Rolling Stone.
But ending a much loved, long-running show is a daunting task. Gilligan admits that when he wrote the pilot in 2005, he had no idea where the story would go, beyond the initial concept of "Mr Chips becomes Scarface".
"You'd be surprised to know how little I had figured out," he told BBC Radio 4's Front Row.
"The ending was something that was a bit mysterious to us all right up until a month or two before we finished shooting."
In anticipation of the series' conclusion, here are some of the shows that got their dying moments right, and the ones that failed spectacularly.
"I think a lot of people thought they were being made a fool of," said Sopranos creator David Chase, of the show's infamous non-ending.
Broadcast in June 2007, the show's 81st episode was called "Made In America". The last scene was set in a diner, filled with images of the American dream. Mafia kingpin Tony Soprano took a seat in a booth, selected Journey's Don't Stop Believing on the jukebox and waited as, one by one, his family arrived.
His daughter Meadow had been having trouble parking her car. As she finally arrived and pushed the door open, the screen faded to black.
Fans were furious. What did it all mean?
Even the leading man was annoyed. "When I first saw the ending, I said, 'What the... ?!'" actor James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano) told Vanity Fair last year.
"I mean, after all I went through, all this death, and then it's over like that?"
Then he added: "After I had a day to sleep, I just sat there and said, 'That's perfect.' "
Many thought Tony had dodged the executioner's bullet, although the prevailing theory - explained at great length online - is that he was shot dead by a mobster who had been hiding in the bathroom.
Chase has always been enigmatic about the ending: "I think that to explain it would diminish it," he once said.
But an interview last year shed more light on his thinking.
"Did Tony die or didn't he die? Well, first of all, it really comes down to this: There was, what, six seasons of that show? Seven? Am I supposed to do a scene and ending where it shows that crime doesn't pay? Well, we saw that crime pays. We've been seeing that for how many years?
"Now, in another sense, we saw that crime didn't pay because it wasn't making him happy. He was an extremely isolated, unhappy man. And then finally, once in a while, he would make a connection with his family and be happy there.
"But in this case, whatever happened, we never got to see the result of that. It was torn away from him and from us."
For more than a decade, viewers watched the Ingalls family tackle farm life on their 1800s homestead.
Over 184 episodes, they survived tornadoes, teenage pregnancies, typhus and train crashes - and that's just the T's.
But nothing could prepare viewers for the final episode, in 1984, when the residents of Walnut Grove decided to blow up the town.
The episode revolved around a ruthless robber-baron, Nathan Lassiter, who held the deeds to the town, and planned to build a railroad through it. In protest, the residents set the town with dynamite and sent it sky-high.
But the destruction was pragmatic, as well as dramatic.
TV company NBC had built their sets in the Simi Valley, north of Los Angeles, on land leased from the Getty Oil Company - and had agreed to restore the land to its original state when the show ended.
Actor Michael Landon, who wrote and directed the final episode, realised he could incorporate his contractual obligation into the story.
At the time, he called it "a nice catharsis for the cast and crew" but Melissa Gilbert, who joined the cast as a child star, remembers it differently.
"I grew up in and around... all these buildings," she told the Archive of American Television in 2011.
"I got my first kiss behind the church - for real, in real life. And it was just gone.
"It was crushingly sad for all of us."
I Married Dora was an obscure, unloved US sitcom, notable only for casting a 15-year-old Juliette Lewis in an early role.
The show revolved around a single father, Peter (Daniel Hugh Kelly), who married his Salvadorean housekeeper Dora (Elizabeth Pena) to prevent her deportation.
Created by The Cosby Show's Michael J Leeson, it lasted just 13 episodes before the axe fell.
In the dying moments of the final episode, Peter was seen boarding a plane to Bahrain, only to arrive back in the airport lobby moments later.
"It's been cancelled," he announced.
"The flight?" asked Dora.
"No, our series."
The cast then turned to face the camera and waved "Adios" to their audience, as the shot pulled back to reveal the set and the crew.
Wavy lines. Spooky music. "And it was all just a dream."
Dallas famously undid an entire series when Pam Ewing woke up to find her husband Bobby in the shower - a year after he supposedly died in a car crash.
Crossroads and The Brittas Empire both took place in the imagination of their lead characters, while one episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer alluded to the fact that Buffy Summers was hallucinating her story from inside a mental institution.
It's a risky device, which can leave viewers feeling hoodwinked - but undoubtedly the best implementation was when the curtain fell on Bob Newhart's 1980s sitcom.
The show told the increasingly bizarre story of a New York author who moves to Vermont and opens an inn.
In its final scene, the comedian abruptly woke up in bed next to actress Suzanne Pleshette, who had played his wife 15 years earlier, in a separate sitcom called The Bob Newhart Show.
"Honey, you won't believe the dream I just had," he said, and the series bowed out to the theme tune of its predecessor.
Six years after the most expensive pilot in television history, 13.5 million people tuned in to watch the finale of Lost.
Two-and-a-half hours later, chat show host Jimmy Kimmel summed up their reaction: "That's it? Seriously? That's it? Come on. Really?"
The New York Times called the ending a "cop-out" while a fantastically sweary review on Gawker accused the writers of "cheating".
Why? Because after six series of suspense, it turned out the survivors of the show's initial plane crash were dead after all.
It wasn't quite that simple, though. Everyone died at different times, some on the island where they'd been stranded, others many years later.
The cast were reunited in Purgatory (or perhaps the after-life) for a final group hug, and the central mystery was resolved. The island was a cork, designed to contain an evil force so it didn't leak out and infect the rest of the world.
But there were dozens of narrative dead ends, questions and plot points fans needed resolved before they could sleep happy. They didn't get them.
"I make no apologies for it", said the show's creator Damon Lindelof last year. "It's the story I wanted to tell."
"It's not that I didn't care about the mythology of the show, it's just like many shows have come and gone that are very focused on their mysteries and their mythologies and their ambiguity and there is no worse scene in the history of genre than the Architect explaining to Neo everything that happened in The Matrix.
"I wasn't going to touch that with a ten-foot pole."
A medical drama made by the Hill Street Blues team, St Elsewhere was set in St Eligius, an understaffed and overburdened Boston teaching hospital.
For the last episode in 1988, writers packed out the drama with endless in-jokes and strange patients, including a fat lady who needed treatment for her lost voice.
As soon as Dr Fiscus (Howie Mandel) cured her and the fat lady sang, the show was over.
Except, that is, for a spooky last scene in which the entire six years of the drama were revealed to have been imagined by Dr Westphall's autistic son, who was seen staring at a model of the hospital set inside a snow globe.
"I never approved of the last episode," said Norman Lloyd, who had played Dr Daniel Auschlander throughout the show's six-season run.
"There are people who think it was the most brilliant inspiration in the history of television. I thought it was a cheat."
But the story gets stranger still. Since St Elsewhere featured a crossover episode with Cheers and some characters later appeared in Homicide: Life on The Street, the boy must have imagined those shows and maybe more too.
"Someone did the math once," said producer Tom Fontana in 2002, "and something like 90% of all television took place in Tommy Westphall's mind. God love him."
By 1981, Blake (Gareth Thomas) and his gang of space rebels had been battling the evil Federation, led by the crop-haired siren Servalan (Jacqueline Pearce), for four Earth years.
Blake himself had been absent since the second series - but reappeared, disfigured, for the final episode posing as a bounty hunter.
He was shot by his arch-rival Avon (Paul Darrow) and then the rest of the crew died (in slow motion) in a bloody shoot-out with Federation troops.
Broadcast on 21 December 1981 the shocking finale earned writer Chris Boucher the title "the man who killed Christmas".
But the climactic scene was only intended to be a cliffhanger.
Had a fifth series gone ahead, Boucher said, Avon would have survived, and become the show's hero.
"Don't forget you never actually saw him die, did you?" he said. "The freeze-frame ending does leave open the possibility that he may have survived after all."
The premise of The Prisoner was simple. A secret agent (Patrick McGoohan) resigns from his job and is taken to The Village, a beautiful but mysterious idyll he is never allowed to leave.
Branded "Number Six", he spends the series trying to discover the identity of "Number One", the shadowy governor of his fate.
The denouement was baffling. Hooded figures danced in a mock court as someone sang "Dem Bones". McGoohan ripped off Number One's mask to reveal... a chimpanzee mask. He ripped that off as well, and found his own face, laughing back at him.
Supposedly an allegory on the role of the individual in society, it was deliberately surreal and utterly confounding. The revelation of Number One's true identity lasted less than a second, in an era before video recorders allowed viewers rewind and rewatch.
It has been suggested the show went off the rails because ITV pulled the plug and gave McGoohan one week to write the finale.
The more likely explanation is that script editor George Markstein, who had spent months curtailing McGoohan's more outlandish ideas, had quit.
Either way, McGoohan was vilified by fans and "hounded" out of the UK after the show was broadcast in February 1968.
"Walking around the streets, it was dangerous!" he told Canadian television in 1977. "They thought they'd been cheated. Because it wasn't, you know, a 'James Bond' Number One guy."
But he claimed to be "delighted" by the response. "I wanted to have controversy, argument, fights, discussions, people in anger waving their fist in my face, saying, 'How dare you?' "
"I was delighted with that reaction. I think it's a very good one. That was the intention of the exercise."
"We didn't have a gimmick," said Friends creator Marta Kauffman of the series' 236th and final episode.
In an uncontroversial and heartwarming farewell, the show allowed its six characters to move out of New York, and into the next stages of their lives.
Monica and Chandler got their surrogate child, which turned out to be twins ("We only ordered one!"); Joey acquired a new duck; and Ross and Rachel got back together - after a mad dash to the airport in Phoebe's taxi.
The show ended with the cast putting their keys on the kitchen table and leaving Monica's apartment for the last time. "Has it always been purple?" asked Joey.
Kauffman said the writers had been bewildered by the task of wrapping the show up, spending several days staring at blank sheets of paper without writing a word.
But they finally cracked it - taking inspiration from The Mary Tyler Moore Show, in which the cast shared a group hug and filed out of the set, leaving Mary to turn off the lights and close the door.
More than 52 million people tuned in for the finale in the US, much to the delight of advertisers, who had stumped up $2.1m (£1.1m) for a 30-second slot.
"What we hope is that people feel good about saying goodbye to them, and that they're all going to be OK," Kauffman said.
After an accident, modern-day detective Sam Tyler (John Simm) woke up in 1973, when men were men, and men were also sexist alcoholics in bad trousers.
Over two series, viewers were left to wonder whether his predicament was real, or a fitful by-product of his coma.
In the final episode, Sam learned that corrupt cop Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) was the "tumour" in his brain. If he could get rid of Hunt, he could go home. The operation (get it?) was nearly over.
Then, he was told the exact opposite: He really was in 1973, and suffering from amnesia after a car crash.
Eventually, the "real" Sam woke up in a hospital in 2006 - but the writers had one final twist in store. He decided he preferred the 70s after all, and jumped off the hospital roof, sending himself back into a coma, and back into the arms of his dream girl, Annie.
The Guardian called it "the perfect finale" but the Express declared the "shaggy dog story" was ultimately "baffling".
Still, it fared better than the short-lived US remake, where Sam turned out to be an astronaut on the first manned mission to Mars, trapped in a malfunctioning hibernation chamber.
The final episode of Breaking Bad is broadcast in the US at 21:00 EST on Sunday, 29 September. It will be available on iTunes and Netflix in the UK shortly afterwards. | Cult US drama Breaking Bad draws to a close on Sunday night, as viewers find out whether chemistry teacher turned drug dealer Walter White finally has his comeuppance. | 24218898 |
Troops were drafted in at the Games after the private company was unable to provide enough security guards.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said it had made him "think again" about the default use of private contractors.
And Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said only the state could provide "large-scale" contingency back-up.
G4S had a £284m contract to provide 10,400 staff for Olympic events but could not supply enough personnel, leaving some 4,700 members of the armed forces to stand in.
The firm described its failures as a "humiliating shambles" and was forced to apologise.
On Monday G4S said it had donated £2.5m to the armed forces, with Mr Hammond saying the donation would "go some way" to recognising the extra work placed on the military.
Some 18,000 service personnel provided support at London 2012, including Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force staff, some of whom had their leave postponed.
Labour say the problems demonstrate the dangers of outsourcing security to the private sector and all future private tenders for back-office policing functions should be put on hold.
Asked what lessons he drew from the G4S contract, Mr Hunt told 5 liveBreakfast that it must be remembered that while there had been serious failures in the firm's management, many thousands of their staff had turned up for work and done a great job.
"I think we have to have an open mind," he said. "We will all look at the performance of G4S in this situation and it does make you think again about the use of private companies in certain situations.
"I think you have to be pragmatic about this."
Former businessman Mr Hammond told the Independent he went into government with a "starting prejudice" that it should learn from the private sector but now acknowledged that model was not always the best way to handle big projects.
The issues with G4S had been "quite informative" for ministers, he suggested.
"I still think that, in general, there's a lot that the public sector still has to learn from the way private sector does things," he said.
"But... as two models of how to approach a problem you could not get two greater extremes than the G4S model and the military model."
The former was predicated on a "lean structure" with "very little resilience" if things went wrong while the military started by asking itself "what is the job that needs to be done?".
"So G4S were literally hiring people and expecting to deploy them three days later, into a live situation; trying to build up a management structure overnight, at the beginning of the operation.
"The military comes at it from the exact opposite extreme... Whatever it takes we'll pour in massive over-resourcing, massively heavy structures of management."
He added: "What the military primarily deliver is contingent capability and I haven't been able to think of a single large-scale example where a private organisation delivers a contingent capability."
The BBC's political correspondent Chris Mason said the comments should not be "over-analysed" in terms of what they meant for government policy on opening up public services.
But he said they showed a willingness by ministers to question the suitability of the "just-in-time" model for private sector delivery to maximise efficiency.
Responding to the interview, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said it was "patently obvious" that there were differences in how the armed forces and G4S had handled security.
But a spokesman said the private sector still offered best practice in many areas and the MoD would be announcing plans soon to introduce greater commercial skills into its procurement chain.
Meanwhile, a senior Royal Air Force officer has suggested the armed forces could take two years to recover from the extra deployment for the Olympics.
"You can't expect them [the armed forces] to go back to normal routine very easily," Wing Commander Peter Daulby told the Guardian.
The MoD said its contribution to the Olympics was planned to avoid an impact on current operations and "while some individual training and leave may need to be rescheduled, this will be managed and will not impact on operations including the ongoing mission in Afghanistan". | Two senior ministers have questioned the use of private firms to deliver certain services in the aftermath of G4S security failures at the Olympics. | 19251772 |
Carfrae, 32, won her second title in a time of eight hours 52 minutes 14 seconds, breaking Briton Chrissie Wellington's course record of 8:54:02.
Joyce was second in 8:57:28, with Blatchford (9:03:35) third and defending champion Leanda Cave 13th.
The event comprises a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile cycle and a 26.2-mile run.
Carfrae, also champion in 2010, said: "I just had one of those days where you don't hurt - I didn't know I had a performance like that in me."
British competitors had won the race in five of the previous six years, four by Wellington.
Joyce, 35, said: "I gave everything and when you do that, you can't ask for any more."
Compatriot Jodie Swallow did not finish.
The men's race was won by Belgium's Frederik Van Lierde in 8:12:29 - the eighth-fastest time in the 35-year history of the event.
"I tried to be smart and it worked out," said Van Lierde, who was third in 2012.
"After last year, I believed I could do it. I worked hard this year. This is amazing." | Britons Rachel Joyce and Liz Blatchford were second and third respectively as Australia's Mirinda Carfrae won the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. | 24496135 |
Gydol brynhawn Sul mae Theresa May wedi bod yn rhoi trefn ar ei chabinet newydd.
Wrth ymateb i'r newyddion dywedodd Alun Cairns: "Rwyf wrth fy modd fy mod wedi cael fy ailbenodi i fod yn Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru ac rwy'n barod am y dyletswyddau.
"Byddaf yn parhau i weithio yn agos ac yn adeiladol gyda busensau, awdurdodau lleol, cymunedau a Llywodraeth Cymru er mwyn sicrhau y canlyniadau gorau i bobol Cymru."
Yn syth wedi canlyniad yr etholiad cyffredinol ddydd Gwener roedd Mrs May wedi cadarnhau bod y Canghellor, yr Ysgrifennydd Cartref, yr Ysgrifennydd Tramor, yr Ysgrifennydd dros adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd a'r Ysgrifennydd Amddiffyn yn aros yn eu swyddi.
Ddydd Sul cafodd Damian Green, a gafodd ei eni yn Y Barri, ei benodi yn Brif Ysgrifennydd Gwladol a Greg Clark yn Ysgrifennydd Busnes.
Wrth iddi ddewis ei chabinet, y gred yw bod Mrs May o dan bwysau i ddewis aelodau a fydd yn uno'r blaid ac yn adfer ei hawdurdod hi fel Prif Weinidog wedi canlyniad siomedig.
Llwyddodd Ysgrifennydd Cymru, Alun Cairns a'r gweinidog, Guto Bebb i gadw eu seddi ym Mro Morgannwg ac Aberconwy.
Hefyd llwyddodd Gwenidog Brexit, David Jones i gadw Gorllewin Clwyd.
Mae'r canlyniadau ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig yn golygu mai senedd grog fydd y senedd nesaf, a'r Ceidwadwyr yw'r blaid fwyaf.
Ddydd Gwener dywedodd Theresa May y byddai'n ceisio ffurfio llywodraeth leiafrifol gyda chefnogaeth y DUP o Ogledd Iwerddon.
Eisoes mae Mrs May wedi wynebu galwadau i ymddiswyddo.
Yn ôl Anna Soubry, aelod seneddol Broxtowe, fe ddylai Mrs May ystyried ei sefyllfa wedi iddi arwain ymgyrch "drychinebus".
Mae ASau eraill, yn eu plith Iain Duncan Smith, wedi annog Mrs May i aros gan ddweud y byddai brwydr am yr arweinyddiaeth yn "drychineb".
Ddydd Sul ar raglen Dewi Llwyd dywedodd Guto Bebb bod angen cyfnod o sefydlogwydd nawr a chyfle i Theresa May ddangos arweiniad.
Yng Nghymru fe gollodd y Ceidwadwyr dair sedd i Lafur er iddynt obeithio gipio seddi.
Wrth gael ei holi gan y BBC ddydd Gwener dywedodd David Jones, ymgyrchydd Brexit a chyn ysgrifennydd Cymru mai Mrs May yw'r "arweinydd gorau sydd gan y Torïaid ar hyn o bryd". | Dridiau wedi'r etholiad cyffredinol mae'r prif weinidog Theresa May wedi cadarnhau bod Alun Cairns yn cadw ei swydd fel Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru. | 40241066 |
Andrew Stocker, 57, is accused over the deaths of Scott Cain, 23, and Ashley Clarke, 24, both found unconscious in the apple store at Lord Selborne's Blackmoor Estate in February 2013.
At Winchester Crown Court, Mr Stocker, of The Links, Bordon, denied two counts of gross negligence manslaughter.
Blackmoor Estate did not enter pleas to four health and safety charges.
It is accused of contravening regulations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
The case against the estate was adjourned for a further plea and case management hearing on 9 January.
A trial date was set for both defendants of 3 June and Stocker was released on unconditional bail.
The two men, who worked for Blackmoor Estate, near Liss, Hampshire, died while retrieving apples from a long-term storage container in which fruit is kept at very low oxygen levels, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.
John Palmer, the fourth Earl of Selborne, was one of the hereditary peers who remained in the House of Lords following the reforms of 1999. | A former manager of a Tory peer's family estate has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of two farm workers. | 29833955 |
Carney, 27, submitted an early guilty plea after being charged with a grade B dangerous throw on Chris Bridge in the 18-12 win over Widnes at Magic Weekend.
Allgood, 27, also gave an early guilty plea to a grade B charge of making deliberate contact with a referee during the 28-16 defeat by Hull FC.
Both players have been ever-present for their sides in Super League this term.
Meanwhile, Hull KR hooker Shaun Lunt will face no further action after admitting to a grade A dangerous throw offence on Hull FC prop Liam Watts in Sunday's game. | Salford wing Justin Carney and Hull KR prop Mitch Allgood have been banned for one game by the Rugby Football League. | 36369473 |
The deal agreed at this year's North Atlantic Ski Areas' Association conference is thought to be a world first.
It involves Scotland's CairnGorm Mountain, Glencoe Mountain, Glenshee, Nevis Range and The Lecht ski centres.
All nine of Iceland's snowsports centres are involved.
Earlier this month, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding between VisitScotland and the Icelandic Tourist Board.
The agreement between the Scottish and the Icelandic tourism boards will see them share information and advice on areas such as quality development and sustainability.
Heather Negus, chairwoman of Ski-Scotland, said the snowsports deal was ground-breaking.
She said: "We believe this is the first international agreement between all snowsports areas in two countries.
"While there is cross-border co-operation between individual ski areas elsewhere, what makes this unique is that it includes absolutely every lift at every resort in both Scotland and Iceland.
"With daily flights linking Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh with Reykjavik, we believe many of our customers will see this as a wonderful opportunity to ski or snowboard on new terrain and enjoy the culture of a new country.
"And of course, we also look forward to welcoming Icelandic skiers and boarders to Scotland's mountain resorts."
Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, added: "Both Scotland and Iceland are small countries that punch well above their weight on the global tourism stage.
"VisitScotland and the Icelandic Tourist Board have built a strong and mutually beneficial relationship over the past three years, culminating in the recently announced formal agreement between the two organisations.
"This historic collaboration will see the sharing of information and best practice on areas such as quality development, information provision and sustainability." | Snowsports enthusiasts buying season tickets from any of Scotland's mountain ski centres will also be able to ski or snowboard for free in Iceland. | 37779553 |
28 May 2015 Last updated at 07:09 BST
Danny Boyle is best known for his award winning movies like Slumdog Millionaire, and live events like the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
He has been a big part of the new arts centre in Manchester called Home that has just recently opened.
Danny met young film makers, and gave them feedback on their short films.
Newsround reporter Martin went to meet them. | Oscar winning movie maker Danny Boyle chatted to some young film fans at the new arts centre Home in Manchester. | 32898866 |
The American left-hander, 35, shot a final-round 69 to win by three after overhauling a two-shot deficit on his co-overnight leader Spieth on a sultry day at Augusta.
"The Masters fits Bubba Watson's attributes to a tee. His ability to smash 350-yard drives allied to his left-handed cut provided a potent Augusta combination. But the American deserves huge credit for his mental fortitude.
"His birdies on the fourth and sixth were key in keeping in touch with Jordan Spieth's fast start. From there he retained commendable composure to steer his way into exalted company. It takes a special player to win multiple Masters."
Debutant Spieth, 20, was bidding to beat Tiger Woods as the youngest ever winner and duelled with Watson for much of the day, but the Texan's chances were sunk in the water of Amen Corner and he carded 72 to end five under.
Sweden's Blixt edged alongside Spieth with a 71, with Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez fourth on four under after a 71.
Americans Rickie Fowler (73) and Matt Kuchar 74) finished two under, with England's Lee Westwood (73) one under in seventh place, his 17th top-10 finish in majors.
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy hit a three-under 69 to end level par and record his best Masters finish of tied eighth.
Watson became the 17th player to win two Masters titles, eight of whom have gone on to win three or more Green Jackets.
"Walking up 18 was a little bit easier this time," said Watson, who beat Louis Oosthuizen in a play-off two years ago.
"This one is a lot different. The first one I kind of lucked into it, but this is a lot of hard work. After giving it back I wanted to get it back again."
Watson began the day tied with Spieth at five under, but the 2012 champion quickly slipped two behind after three holes.
The Floridian was temporarily three back when Spieth holed his bunker shot on the short fourth, but Watson rolled in his own birdie putt to stay two back at six under.
By the eighth they were level on seven under, but the tide turned Watson's way when he enjoyed a two-shot swing on the ninth with a birdie to Spieth's bogey to lead by two going into the infamous back nine.
Watson dropped a shot at the 10th after hitting a poor chip across the green, but the tournament dramatically lurched his way when Spieth's tee shot to the short 12th rolled down the bank into Rae's Creek, the graveyard of so many Masters contenders.
Hardest hole: The par-four 11th took an average of 4.5 strokes to complete. Only 10 of the 874 birdies this week were snatched from the hole named White Dogwood
Easiest hole: The four par fives were the easiest hole statistically all week, none more so than 13. Named Azalea for its decorative shrubbery, players felt right at home, averaging 4.7 strokes
Longest driver: Bubba Watson - averaged 305.62 yards
Best putter (four rounds): Rickie Fowler - average 1.5 putts per hole
Most greens in regulation: Jordan Spieth - hit 53 of 72 (73.61%)
Watson edged into a three-shot lead with a birdie on the par-five 13th and parred his way home for victory.
Spieth, last year's rookie of the year, was playing in only his third major as a professional, while Blixt, 29, was also playing his third major after finishing fourth in the US PGA last summer.
"It's definitely mixed emotions," said Spieth. "It was very close on the back nine. I hit a lot of putts where I wanted to but they didn't go in. To play this course all week without worse than a bogey is something I'm proud of."
McIlroy had been installed as favourite in the absence of world number one Tiger Woods, but the 24-year-old's bid for a third major and first Masters was effectively scuppered with a 77 on day two.
"It's been a frustrating week, because I felt like from tee to green I played as good as the leaders," said McIlroy.
"I just need to take some more chances that I've given myself on the greens."
Also level par were 56-year-old two-time former champion Bernhard Langer, Americans Jimmy Walker and Kevin Stadler, Australian John Senden and Dane Thomas Bjorn.
Defending champion Adam Scott (72) and England's US Open champion Justin Rose (74) finished one over.
It was not until the 67th Masters, in 2003, that the first left-hander got to wear the Green Jacket - Canada's Mike Weir. Phil Mickelson (2004, 2006, 2010) and Bubba Watson (2012, 2014) makes it six of the last 12 champions who have been left-handed.
US veteran Fred Couples, 54, began the day four off the lead, also bidding to beat the 46-year-old Jack Nicklaus as the oldest ever Masters winner .
But despite two birdies to start, the 1992 champion faltered over the second nine and made a double bogey via the water at the 11th and another at the long 15th for a 75 and two over.
England's Ian Poulter (74) also ended two over alongside Australian Jason Day (72). | Bubba Watson clinched his second Green Jacket in three years by holding off Jordan Spieth and Jonas Blixt to win the 78th Masters. | 27015240 |
Bottles and glasses were thrown when violence flared on Stoke Road on a stretch between two pubs.
Police said the injured were treated for cuts and bruises and there was a "considerable amount of damage".
A 26-year-old Leatherhead man was arrested on suspicion of assault and remains in custody.
Det Sgt Dave Bentley said: "This was an unpleasant incident involving a large group of people which broke out in the street after the football match.
"A number of people were injured as a result of a number of bottles and glasses being thrown and there was also a considerable amount of damage caused." | Three people were injured and one man was arrested in Guildford when a fight broke out involving a "large group of people" after the England-Russia tie. | 36511609 |
Listen again to the full John Hartson interview in a BBC Radio 5 live Special on Gambling Addiction in Sport with Eleanor Oldroyd.
But there was one challenge "Big John" repeatedly shirked, his life-threatening addiction to gambling.
"You never think you've got a problem," he explained. "You're a gambler, you enjoy it, you never realise the hurt you're causing.
"Your family know you're addicted, but I used to think they had the problem by questioning me."
Then the questions stopped. Hartson's wife Sarah had had enough of him coming in from trips away, ignoring her and the children, going straight to the TV and turning on a cricket match, golf tournament or horse race he had £5,000 on.
So she packed her bags and told him she was leaving.
"I broke down and said I'd do something about this," the former Arsenal, West Ham and Celtic star remembered, his voice buckling with emotion and regret.
"When I was fighting for my life [with cancer], she was my rock. She was pregnant, she looked after the children, she was incredibly strong, and this scumbag here came out of hospital and carried on with the gambling, after everything she had done.
"I hit rock bottom and it takes that for you to realise - the penny dropped. I will never gamble again as long as I live."
Hartson's last bet was three years, three months and three days ago.
"Everybody is aware that cancer kills. It nearly took my life in 2009," the 39-year-old said, recalling the two emergency operations and more than 60 sessions of chemotherapy he needed when testicular cancer spread to his lungs and brain.
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"Cancer takes good people away every day, but, for me, gambling also kills.
"There are four places you can end up as a compulsive gambler: out on the street, in jail, dead, or at Gamblers Anonymous (GA).
"I ended up at GA, thank the Lord, and it's not only saved my marriage and made me a better person, it's also saved my life. If I gamble again, I'll die. I'll lose everything.
"I'm ultra-determined. I don't think about gambling today. I don't buy raffle tickets, I don't buy lottery tickets, I don't go to race tracks - I go to GA twice a week.
"I'll be going until I'm 70. Why wouldn't I? It's my medicine."
Hartson sees a lot of different people walk through the doors of those meetings - there are an estimated 400,000 people in the UK with a problem - but most of them do not come back. They have not reached their nadir yet.
"You're very selfish as a gambler, very deceitful. Compulsive gamblers are compulsive liars - they're very good at covering things up," said Hartson.
So good, in fact, many can appear, swan-like, to be gliding through life, holding down jobs, living in nice houses, with loving families. And a disproportionately large group can feed this destructive addiction whilst playing professional sport.
Hartson's testimony came at a conference organised by the Professional Players Federation (PPF) at Edgbaston Cricket Ground last month.
An umbrella body for the players' associations in cricket, football, rugby union and other leading sports, the PPF wanted to share some research into an issue that has been the stuff of terrace legend.
From jokes about QPR maverick Stan Bowles' inability to pass a bookmaker as well as he could pass a ball, to guesstimates of how many millions golf's favourite rogue John Daly has lost in Las Vegas, the idea that sport's competitive and wealthy young men were cash machines for the gambling industry has been commonplace.
Now, thanks to a study of almost 350 cricketers and footballers, we know sportsmen are three times more likely to have a gambling problem than young men in the general population (6.1% versus 1.9%).
That equates to nearly 200 current professionals in British cricket and football with a serious issue, and another 440 "at risk".
The study had a few more punches to deliver. One in 10 said they gambled to "fit in", one in four said they were encouraged by team-mates to do it, and nearly one in three thought their team's links with the gambling industry "encouraged" them to bet.
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For football, in particular, that should be alarming.
A quarter of the Premier League's clubs have gambling logos on their shirts, the Football League's 72 clubs play in competitions sponsored by Sky Bet, William Hill backs the Football Association and pretty much every club has its own "official betting partner".
Sporting Chance's chief executive Colin Bland revealed that seven out of 10 of the footballers that come to the Tony Adams-inspired residential clinic are there because of gambling.
But Hartson is not looking for excuses. He realises the vast majority of people gamble rarely, and when they do, they do it because it is fun.
While he may have been frittering away a reported £50,000 a week - he does not put a figure on it himself, as the amounts addicts gamble is relative to their earnings and it is always too much - his dad takes his business clients to Ffos Las racecourse once a year for champagne and £20 each-way punts. "Not everybody gets drawn in," he noted.
But some who do get it bad: gambling has the highest suicide rate of any addiction.
Sitting alongside Hartson during the conference's main session was Gaelic footballer Niall McNamee. He told a similar tale of the disease's progressive nature - moments of relief that became more fleeting as tolerance to betting's buzz builds.
But he also spoke about bad company, lies, stealing and, ultimately, despair.
"I remember waking up one morning with a knot in my stomach," said McNamee. "It was the most gut-wrenching pain. I had no money to go gambling with, or to buy drink to numb the pain.
"The thought came to me that if I jumped out of the window that would end it all. It terrified me. I have had friends who have died from this addiction."
Thankfully, this was his rock bottom, and he got help. McNamee, who is still one of the game's top forwards, is now a well-respected voice on problem gambling in Ireland, and at 29 is about to launch his own business.
For Hartson, the first symptoms appeared as an 11-year-old potboy at a social club in Swansea. Fascinated by the fruit machines, he memorised the reels and was called over by the adults whenever they had a few nudges.
It sounds innocent enough, but before long he was pouring his money into those machines and begging for money for match fees at the weekend. A decade later he would have accounts with all the top bookmakers and was so consumed by gambling that he would struggle to hold a serious conversation.
"I can concentrate now and focus on what people are saying, but five years ago I couldn't," he admitted. "My life is so much better now. I'm a better husband, a better father, and I've got money coming out of my ears!"
And just as his cancer foundation is helping people deal with that affliction, he now hopes he can persuade a few footballers to think about their futures.
"I was in a lot of trouble physically and mentally when I quit," said Hartson, who went out with a whimper at West Brom.
"I should be living in a £4m mansion on the edge of the Vale of Glamorgan but I'm not because of all the money I wasted. I've got a nice house in Swansea, and it's paid for, but that's what I should have when you think about the money I earned.
"I would like players now to aspire to the big house."
Betting is an integral part of our culture - three quarters of the UK's adult population have gambled, most likely on the National Lottery, in the past year - and betting companies have moved into the sponsorship space vacated by tobacco and, to a lesser extent, alcohol. Without them many sports would struggle.
But listening to the speakers at the conference, it was impossible to avoid the conclusion that British sport needs to look again at its relationship with gambling.
More must be done to protect the vulnerable, identify problems earlier and make sure gambling is a happy mug's game, not a debilitating illness.
Simon Barker, the assistant chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, notes that prevention through education is cheaper than emergency interventions. His counterpart at the Professional Cricketers' Association, Jason Ratcliffe, said sport was only "scratching the surface" in terms of what was needed.
The Responsible Gambling Trust's chief executive Marc Etches has managed to persuade the gambling industry to donate more than £6m of its profits to fund education and treatment, but he knows it is not enough.
"We're at a tipping point," said Etches. "The industry needs to recognise that it's in the business of risk, and it needs to take more responsibility."
Gambling Addiction is available to download as a 5 live Sport Specials podcast. | A fearless and robust striker, John Hartson's forthright response to being diagnosed with cancer came as little surprise to anybody who knew him well. | 30716977 |
The European Commission had called for a two-year EU-wide moratorium, but a number of nations opposed the plans.
A recent report by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) concluded that the pesticides posed a "high acute risk" to pollinators, including honeybees.
The commission is expected to redraft its proposals ahead of another vote.
Member states were unable to reach a qualified majority in order for the proposals to be adopted.
The news of the stalemate has angered groups that had been campaigning in favour of the ban.
Unknown consequences
A spokeswoman for Defra, the UK's environment department, said 14 out of the 27 EU nations - including the UK and Germany - had not supported the commission's proposals as they currently stood.
"Bee health is extremely important but decisions must be based on sound scientific evidence and rushing this through could have serious unintended consequences both for bees and for food production," she added.
"We are currently finalising studies that will give us the evidence on which to base a proper decision. But as we do not have the evidence yet, it is impossible for us to vote either way."
Global web-based campaign group Avaaz condemned the UK's and Germany's decision to abstain, saying the governments had "caved in to the industry lobby".
"Today's vote flies in the face of science and public opinion and maintains the disastrous chemical armageddon on bees, which are critical for the future of our food," said Avaaz senior campaigner Iain Keith.
In a YouGov poll commissioned by the campaign network, 71% of almost 2,000 people questioned in the UK supported the commission's proposals to impose the moratorium on the insecticides.
Avaaz said that it, along with other groups, would be taking legal advice as to whether the outcome of the vote could be challenged in the courts.
The chemicals in question - imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianindin - belong to a class of insecticides known as neonicotinoids.
The insecticides work by affecting the central nervous system of insects, causing paralysis and death.
'Data shortcomings'
A report published by EFSA scientists in January identified a number of risks posed by the three insecticides.
It assessed the possible threats to the pollinators from exposure to residues in pollen and nectar, dust and guttation fluid (some plants exude sap in the form of droplets).
However, it added that in some cases it was "unable to finalise the assessments due to shortcomings in the available data".
Bee expert Prof David Goulson from the University of Stirling said he was disappointed that the proposals had not been adopted.
"The panel of independent experts at EFSA spent six months studying all the evidence before concluding that current use of neonicotinoids posed an unacceptable risk to bees," he observed.
However, Prof Lin Field, head of crop protection at Rothamsted Research, said she was pleased with the outcome of the vote.
"In my view there is still is not enough clear evidence supporting a ban on neonicotinoids," she explained.
"Of course they can kill bees; they are insecticides. But whether they actually do this or whether sub-lethal effects occur and damage the colonies on any important scale has not been proven."
A number of EU countries, including Italy, have imposed a ban on the use of the chemicals at a national.
Arable farmer Mark Leggett echoed Prof Field's comments, adding: "We must be careful not to remove a product from the marketplace which is proving itself of massive worth in terms of controlling pests.
"We would be forced to go back and use old chemistry and less environmentally friendly alternatives… and if the aphids have resistance, we might not be able to control the aphids," he told the BBC's Farming Today programme.
In a statement, pesticide manufacturer Bayer CropScience said the failure to reach agreement showed that there was "no convincing argument against the continuing use of neonicotinoid-based products".
"Not only had the commission incorrectly based their rationale on recent EFSA reviews of these products, they had failed to make the appropriate impact assessments of any decisions they proposed on the broader interests of European stakeholders," it added.
Friends of the Earth's head of campaigns Andrew Pendleton said that there was "more than enough evidence that these chemicals are linked to bee decline to place immediate restrictions on their use".
"This is a cop-out by a significant number of European governments, including the UK - it means yet more dither and delay while our bee populations plummet," he added.
Chris Hartfield, head of bee health for the NFU, the UK's largest farming organisation, said: "We maintain that the proposed ban is not a proportionate response to the evidence we have available."
Dr Hartfield added that bee health in the EU was "challenged by a range of different factors".
"Since there is no evidence to pin the widespread declines of bee populations on any single factor, a proposed ban on neonicotinoids is unlikely to deliver any benefits that will halt or reverse these declines," he suggested.
Professor Jim Iley, executive director of science and education at the Royal Society of Chemistry told BBC News that gaps in data meant there was still a "degree of uncertainty" about the impact of the chemicals.
"If the cause is wrongly diagnosed, the precautionary action taken may be inappropriate," he said.
Following the vote, EU officials said that EU Health Commissioner Tonio Borg would "consider the next step". | EU nations have been unable to reach agreement on proposals to ban the use of three pesticides that have been linked to the decline of bees. | 21793365 |
The incident in Lossiemouth Road, Elgin, Moray, happened while the marked van was on a routine patrol at about 18:50 GMT, a force spokesman said.
The girl was taken to Dr Gray's Hospital in the town for treatment to injuries which the spokesman said were not believed to be life threatening.
The road has been closed while the crash is investigated. | A 10-year-old girl is being treated in hospital after she was knocked down by a police van, Police Scotland has said. | 38120600 |
Maria de Villota was hurt while driving an MR-01 race car for the first time for the Oxfordshire-based Marussia team at Duxford airfield.
The car hit a Marussia support truck which had been used to transport it to the track.
The Spaniard, 32, is being treated at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
Emergency medical charity Magpas, which helped to treat De Villota at the scene, said she had suffered "facial and head injuries" and was in a stable condition on her arrival at hospital.
Marussia said she later regained consciousness and was being assessed by doctors.
A spokesman for the team said: "Maria is conscious and medical assessments are ongoing."
He added that "she has been receiving the best medical attention possible at the hospital".
BBC Cambridgeshire presenter Chris Mann, who witnessed the crash, said the car was slowing down when it "suddenly accelerated" into the back of the lorry.
"The top of her car and her helmet seemed to take the brunt of it," he added.
"She didn't move for about 15 minutes.
"It was an absolutely awful moment. I was surrounded by people that knew her very well, including family, friends, engineers, and her manager."
He said De Villota had been driving at up to 200mph during the testing but the car was travelling considerably slower at the time of the crash.
A Cambridgeshire police spokesman said they were notified by the ambulance service "of a slow-speed crash involving a racing car and a lorry".
By Andrew BensonBBC Sport chief Formula 1 reporter
Formula 1 cars are extremely challenging machines and can require significant skills and experience even to control in a straight line, but Maria de Villota is exactly the kind of competent racing driver typically asked to conduct this sort of test.
Extremely unlikely ever to qualify as a fully-fledged Grand Prix driver, she has raced solidly since 2001 in various lower categories and last summer completed a test for the Renault F1 team at a race track in France.
Crashes are not unknown at straight-line tests, but the circumstances surrounding this one sound especially unusual and it would be unwise to speculate what caused it before a full investigation is undertaken.
He added: "It looks like the driver has suffered a serious injury and we will be notifying the Health and Safety Executive as it happened on private land."
East of England Ambulance Service spokesman Gary Sanderson said: "A woman has sustained life-threatening injuries and following treatment at the scene by paramedics, she has been taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital for further care."
The crash happened at the start of two days of Formula 1 testing at the site.
Minutes before, Marussia driver Timo Glock said on Twitter: "Great to see @mariavillota in the car with the new update. Make it quick."
In a statement, Marussia said: "At approximately 09.15hrs BST, the Marussia F1 Team's test driver Maria de Villota had an accident in the team's MR-01 race car at Duxford Airfield, where she was testing the car for the first time.
"The accident happened at the end of her first installation run and involved an impact with the team's support truck."
Former F1 champions are among the hundreds of people to have wished De Villota well on Twitter.
Ferrari driver and fellow Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who won the F1 drivers championship in 2005 and 2006, said: "I just got home and found out Maria's accident, we called the family and hopefully we will know more soon! All my energy with you!"
Jenson Button, who won the championship in 2009, said: "Terrible accident for Maria de Villota, Marussia F1 team test driver.
"My thoughts are with Maria and her family at this very difficult time."
Marussia entered the sport under the name Virgin in 2010, backed by businessman Richard Branson.
Russian car company Marussia acquired a controlling stake in the team toward the end of 2011.
In 2012, the team rebranded as Marussia, and drafted in Charles Pic to race alongside Glock.
The team has not scored any points so far this season.
Earlier, Marussia said on Twitter: "@mariavillota had her final seat-fitting & pedal test at our Banbury HQ & then headed north to the Imperial War Museum, ready to do battle."
On Friday, it tweeted that De Villota "had been waiting patiently all year" for the Duxford test day.
When she was unveiled as a test driver for Marussia in March, she said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to work closely with a Formula 1 team and gain important experience to help me progress my career, including the chance to drive the new car later in the year at the Abu Dhabi test."
She added that the move "can only help my future ambition to step up to F1 racing".
On Monday she wrote on Twitter: "In Banbury, getting ready for tomorrow test. Can't wait." | A Formula 1 test driver who suffered life-threatening injuries in a crash during testing in Cambridgeshire has regained consciousness. | 18685789 |
Adam Walker, 34, from Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire, swam 18 miles (30km) across the Tsugaru Channel, last month.
It was the fifth stage of the Ocean's 7 Challenge - a series of long-distance swims scattered across the globe.
He described it as "the hardest thing I've ever done in my life".
Mr Walker is aiming to become the first Briton to complete all seven swims, at the same time raising money for marine charities.
During his latest challenge, which started on the 14 August and lasted more than 15 hours, he was stung by several jellyfish and "smacked in the face" by large waves, which he said made him "instantly sick".
Mr Walker said he also saw a 6ft shark swim underneath him.
The swimmer said at one point the large waves and strong currents had taken everything out of him.
"I've never breathed so hard in my life," he said.
"My chest was tight and my shoulders were really sore from the hours of swimming and being bashed around."
He added: "At one point my left shoulder had packed in and I had a terrible pain in the middle of my right shoulder, but was determined to finish."
The 34-year-old said he had been spurred on to the finish by the sight of a lighthouse on the coastline.
"With 800 metres to go, I started sprinting like my life depended on it," he said.
Mr Walker has now completed five of the seven swims, which include the English Channel, Straits of Gibraltar, Molokai Channel in Hawaii, the Catalina Channel in the US and the Tsugaru Channel, Japan.
He has now started training to swim the Irish Channel and the Cook Strait in New Zealand, which he hopes to do next year.
The feat has only ever been completed by one person - Irishman Stephen Redmond - but not all seven swims were successful on the first attempt. | Jellyfish stings, being flipped over by waves and encounters with sharks - just some of the hazards faced by an open-ocean swimmer during his latest challenge in Japan. | 24034585 |
It would mean no-one would be prosecuted for the 3,000 unsolved murders during 30 years of violence.
Mr Hain made his comments ahead of the start of a trip to London by President Michael D Higgins, the first UK state visit by an Irish head of state.
A spokesperson for David Cameron said: "The prime minister does not support the idea of amnesties."
Mr Hain was secretary of state for Northern Ireland from 2005 to 2007.
In an interview in The Times, he said he realised that his idea would make victims and survivors "desperately angry", but argued it was necessary for Northern Ireland to stop being "stalked" by its past.
"I think there should be an end to all conflict-related prosecutions," he told the paper.
"That should apply to cases pre-dating the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. This is not desirable in a normal situation. You would never dream of doing this in England, Scotland and Wales, but the Troubles were never normal.
The conflict in Northern Ireland during the late 20th century is known as the Troubles.
More than 3,600 people were killed and thousands more injured.
During a period of 30 years, many acts of violence were carried out by paramilitaries and the security forces.
Read more about the Troubles
"You can keep going back all the time and you can keep looking over your shoulder or turning around all the time, but what that does is take you away from addressing the issues of now and the issues of the future."
Mr Hain said Northern Ireland's political leaders urgently needed to face the legacy of the conflict because the issue was not "going to go away".
"It's going to continue stalking the first minister, the deputy first minister and the entire body politic there. The past just stalks them and they're either going to confront it and deal with it together or they're going to continue to be stalked by it," he said.
The Northern Ireland Good Friday Agreement of 1998 meant anyone convicted of paramilitary crimes was eligible for early release.
However, this did not cover those suspected of such crimes, nor did it cover people who had been charged or convicted but who had escaped from prison.
In February, it emerged during the trial of John Downey, who was accused of murdering four soldiers in the Hyde Park bombing in 1982, that Irish republicans who were On the Run (OTR) had received letters stating that they were not wanted by police for paramilitary crimes committed before the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement.
The revelation caused anger among unionist politicians who denied any knowledge of the scheme.
The controversy is being examined in two separate inquiries.
The British government has appointed Lady Justice Hallett to conduct an independent review of the administrative scheme for dealing with OTRs.
The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee is also holding its own inquiry into the scheme.
Following the OTRs revelations, Mr Hain said last month that British soldiers involved in the Bloody Sunday killings should not be prosecuted.
Fourteen civilians died after soldiers opened fire at a civil rights march in Londonderry in 1972.
Last year, Northern Ireland's attorney general said there should be an end to prosecutions for Troubles-related killings.
John Larkin said there should be no further police investigations, inquests or inquiries into any relevant killings that took place before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
That meant all deaths caused by paramilitaries, police or the Army.
Mr Larkin said his proposal was not a formal amnesty, but was a logical consequence of the agreement. | Former NI Secretary Peter Hain has said there should be an end to prosecutions over Northern Ireland's Troubles. | 26919359 |
Darren Sykes, 44, from Penistone, South Yorkshire, died in the fire on October 22 along with Paul, nine. Jack, 12, died in hospital six days later.
Sheffield Coroner's Court heard that Mr Sykes had been divorced for two weeks.
Just before the fire started, he sent texts to six people saying he was "going to be at peace".
Det Sgt Stuart Hall, of South Yorkshire Police, said that on the day of the fire, Mr Sykes spent £600 on model railway equipment and sent texts to his sons telling them what he had bought.
"All I need now are two engine drivers," one of his messages read.
Mr Sykes was caught on CCTV buying petrol in portable containers from a filling station near his home in Tennyson Close before the fire started. Earlier, he had purchased other containers from Cortonwood Retail park in Brampton.
He returned home from the petrol station at 14:00 GMT and texted his sons, picking them up later from their grandmother's house in nearby Thurlstone, where they were living with his ex-wife, Clare.
As the boys played in the attic with the train set, Mr Sykes poured petrol around the house.
When they arrived, police found a chair had been placed under the handle of a door to prevent anyone from escaping.
Michael Mason, from South Yorkshire Fire Service, told the inquest into Mr Sykes' death that other entrances had been blocked to stop anyone getting out.
Before starting the fire, Mr Sykes was seen leaving home with a number of envelopes in his hand. Several people would later receive distressing letters containing "suicidal thoughts".
Mr Sykes also sent one to his bank, HSBC.
A CCTV camera on his house caught the fire starting just three seconds after he sent a series of texts telling people he was going to be "at peace".
Coroner Christopher Dorries said Mr Sykes died from inhaling the by-products of the flames. He recorded a verdict of suicide. | A newly-divorced father lured his two sons to his house with a new model train set before setting fire to the building, killing all three of them. | 31700835 |
Speaking to US host Barbara Walters, The Hunger Games star added: "Because why is humiliating people funny?"
The 23 year-old actress, who plays Katniss Everdeen in the teen franchise, said she was worried about how the media's attitude affected young people.
Lawrence features in Walters' series The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2013.
"I get it, and I do it too, we all do it," the actress told Walters.
"[But] the media needs to take responsibility for the effect that it has on our younger generation, on these girls who are watching these television shows, and picking up how to talk and how to be cool," Lawrence said.
"So all of the sudden being funny is making fun of the girl that's wearing an ugly dress. And the word fat! I just think it should be illegal to call somebody fat on TV."
Lawrence added: "I mean, if we're regulating cigarettes and sex and cuss words, because of the effect they have on our younger generation, why aren't we regulating things like calling people fat?"
The film actress, who won an Oscar earlier this year for her performance in Silver Linings Playbook, has previously spoken out against gossip magazines and TV shows such as E!'s Fashion Police, presented by Joan Rivers, which criticise the way women look.
Last month the American Hustle star told BBC Radio 1 that hearing negative things about her appearance "was like being in high school".
Her own figure became the subject of much debate, after being branded "fuller" by industry standards.
She told the December 2012 issue of Elle magazine that "in Hollywood, I'm obese. I'm considered a fat actress".
Walters' full interview with Lawrence will be broadcast on Wednesday night in the US as part of the ABC News special Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2013.
Her list includes singer Miley Cyrus, Edward Snowden and Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, otherwise known as KimYe.
Prince George, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's baby son, also appears on the list. | Actress Jennifer Lawrence has said she thinks "it should be illegal to call someone fat on TV", after red carpet criticism of her own figure. | 25427990 |
Emergency services were called out at about 21:00 on Sunday after reports of an incident near the rowing club in the Greensands area of Dumfries.
Police have now confirmed the man involved is Bryan Cowie from the town's Queensberry Street.
Divers have been unable to return to the river after heavy rain but it is hoped they can resume on Wednesday.
Searches were carried out on Sunday night and throughout the day on Monday without success.
They resumed on Tuesday but without the involvement of police divers due to high water levels.
Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Nith Inshore Rescue Service and a coastguard helicopter from Prestwick have been involved in the operation.
Extensive searches have been carried out along the length of the River Nith downstream to the Solway Estuary. | High water levels have hampered the search for a missing man reported to have fallen into the River Nith. | 38892443 |
Last week, the High Court's rejected a bid by ministers to delay publication of the plan, which was prompted by high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
This means the document should be published in the next week.
Courts had given ministers until Monday 24 April to set out the draft guidelines.
But on the Friday before the deadline, the government lodged an application to delay release until after the general election on 8 June.
They argued that publication would fall foul of election "purdah" rules.
Bid to delay air pollution plan fails
A special hearing was held on Thursday 27 April to discuss this application, but it was rejected by the judge, Mr Justice Garnham.
Now, Prime Minister Theresa May's official spokesman has said the plan will be published between Thursday's local government elections and the deadline of 9 May imposed in the hearing last week.
This is five days after the local elections, but long before the general election on 8 June.
He told a regular Westminster media briefing: "We have looked at the judgment from last week and we will not be appealing.
"The court deadline was May 9 and we will be meeting that deadline. We will publish at the earliest opportunity after local election purdah is over and before the deadline."
The 31 July date for publication of the final plan remains unchanged.
The development is the latest move in a long-running legal battle between the government and ClientEarth, a group of environmental lawyers.
ClientEarth chief executive James Thornton said: "We're delighted the government has decided to stop dithering and delaying and look forward to seeing its air quality plans after the local elections.
"We'll be analysing these plans and making sure they are up to scratch.
"We must see truly robust measures, including a national network of clean air zones to keep the dirtiest diesel vehicles away from pollution hotspots in our towns and cities." | The UK Government will publish its draft plan to tackle illegal levels of air pollution after it decided not to appeal against a High Court ruling. | 39782450 |
Few people have a place in their hearts for arachnids.
But could these tiny creatures - they are never as big as you imagine - actually help humanity cure deadly diseases?
Researchers at NUI Galway say the venom of some spider species found in Ireland could have medicinal uses.
The venom could be used to kill bacteria such as E-Coli, said Dr Michel Dugon from the university's school of Natural Science.
There are more than 400 species of spider in Ireland.
While none are dangerous to humans, they are in fact all venomous, and it is the poison that could have medical value, says Dr Dugon.
"At least two species that we have screened so far have medicinal properties," he told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme.
He is researching spider venom, isolating compounds to see what their potential is for targeting cancer tumours and pathogens.
"The common false black widow spider actually deals with cancer cells in a way that is different than healthy cells," said Dr Dugon.
He added that he was surprised to find a cave spider in Connacht effectively kills bacteria that are harmful to human beings without harming human cells.
These findings could potentially lead to new treatments for cancer, said Dr Dugon, but it would take a long time to develop such therapies.
This is the first time Irish arachnids have been studied in depth, said Dr Dugon, because spider specialists tend to concentrate on larger, more charismatic, species that are known to hurt people.
"The 400 Irish species have been left behind," he said.
Fluids from jellyfish, barnacles, sea sponges and octopus ink are also being tested for the medicinal properties by the Galway researchers.
Listen back to BBC Radio Ulster's The Secret Life of Spiders here. | Spiders are summarily put to death with rolled up newspapers every day, with the lucky ones simply being ejected from our homes. | 37450490 |
For more than 30 years, Pincher was the defence and science correspondent for the Daily Express - then Britain's biggest-selling daily.
He went on to publish several books alleging that MI5 had been penetrated at the highest levels by the Soviets.
Pincher celebrated his 100th birthday last March.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Pincher's son, Michael, said his father had died "of old age" and had faced death with "no regrets, no fear and no expectation".
The post described Pincher as "a journalist, author, fisherman, shot and scourge of politicians of all hues".
His last joke, said Michael, was "tell them I'm out of scoops".
Pincher published his last book, a memoir entitled Dangerous to Know, in February this year, and was already working on another.
His most controversial book, Their Trade is Treachery, revealed that Sir Roger Hollis, the head of MI5 until 1965, had been investigated as a suspected Soviet spy.
Margaret Thatcher was infuriated by the book, but she was not the first prime minister to be angered by Pincher.
In May 1959, Conservative Prime Minister Harold Macmillan wrote a personal minute, marked "secret", to his minister of defence.
"I do not understand," he wrote, "how the Express alone of all the newspapers has got the exact decision that we reached at the cabinet last Thursday on space. Can nothing be done to suppress or get rid of Mr Chapman Pincher?"
Pincher got many of his stories by taking contacts out to lunch at his favourite London restaurant, L'Ecu de France.
It later emerged the place had been bugged, both by British intelligence and the KGB.
Many of his contacts were made when shooting, including Lord Mountbatten, then chief of the defence staff.
In an interview earlier this year, Pincher told the BBC that Mountbatten had even dictated a story to him while driving in his car, although it was published under Pincher's name.
Pincher's son Michael told the Guardian his family would hold a small family gathering next week to celebrate the journalist's life. | The veteran investigative journalist, Harry Chapman Pincher, known for unearthing military secrets, has died aged 100. | 28674361 |
It wanted to "restore dignity back to the statue", a spokesman told the BBC.
The sculptors reportedly inserted the rabbit as a trademark signature and to denote the haste with which they had to complete the statue.
Rabbit in the Afrikaans language is "haas", which also means haste.
"We don't think it's appropriate because Nelson Mandela never had a rabbit on his ear," Mogomotsi Mogodiri, the spokesman for the Department of Arts and Culture, told the BBC's Focus on Africa radio programme.
"We'd want people to see that statue as a symbol of hope, not about something like a rabbit."
Mr Mandela, who died at the age of 95, was widely acclaimed for his role in fighting white minority rule and promoting reconciliation after being elected South Africa's first black president in 1994.
The nine-metre (30ft) bronze statue was unveiled on 16 December, a day after Mr Mandela was buried.
It stands at the Union Buildings, the government headquarters in the capital, Pretoria.
Mr Mogodiri said the sculptors had apologised for any offence caused to the government and Mr Mandela's family by placing the rabbit in the statue's right ear.
"Discussions are on-going about when the rabbit will be removed. Government wants it removed as soon as possible to restore dignity back to the statue," he said.
The sculptors, Andre Prinsloo and Ruhan Janse van Vuuren, said they had added the rabbit to the statue after the department refused to allow them to engrave their signatures on the trousers of the statue, South Africa's Beeld newspaper reported.
They said it also represented the tight deadline they work under.
"The time factor was big and at times we had to work hard," Mr Prinsloo is quoted as saying.
He said the "small symbol" was hidden in the ear and it did not take anything away from the statue.
"You need a long lens or binoculars to see it," he said.
"During the moulding process a lot of people had seen the statue up close and nobody noticed it."
Mr Mogodiri said the sculptors had never asked for permission to put their signatures on the statue, and the government was "taken aback" by their claim that permission had been denied.
"Nothing of that sort happened. If a request was made, we would have considered it," he said.
Mr Mandela died on 5 December after battling a recurring lung infection. | South Africa's government has ordered sculptors to remove a bronze rabbit they hid in the ear of a Nelson Mandela statue, unveiled after the former president's death last month. | 25845603 |
By the end of the morning, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 15.98 points or 0.28% to 5,673.38.
The fall saw the index extending its decline after tumbling 2.7% on Monday.
The previous day's decline came as analysts said investors were turning against financial shares because of shaky global growth.
Antofagasta was the FTSE 100's worst performer on Tuesday, tumbling 9.4%, while Anglo American was down 9.3%.
On the commodities markets, Brent crude was up 1% to $33.22, while US light crude added 1.6% to $30.16.
On the currency markets, the pound was down 0.03% against the dollar at $1.4428 and 0.29% lower against the euro at €1.2854. | (Noon): London's leading shares began the day higher on Tuesday, but veered lower by lunchtime, dragged down by mining stocks. | 35530328 |
Photographer Richard Nicholson took a look inside that box, capturing those who have helped bring the silver screen to life.
"When I first stepped into a projection box, I was struck by the claustrophobic atmosphere," says Nicholson.
"It was a dark, cramped space, and, as the projector whirred into motion, it became increasingly hot and noisy.
"As I watched the projectionist wrestle with a giant spool of film, the scene reminded me of a railwayman shovelling coal into a locomotive."
Working with The Projection Project, Nicholson's pictures are accompanied by the thoughts of the projectionists, many of whom are experts on the history of cinema.
Nicholson usually works on a large-format film camera - but, paradoxically, for this project, he shot the images on a digital camera.
Following a test shoot, he realised he would require a vast amount of lighting to work on film, whereas a digital approach allowed him to use smaller flashguns to light the projection boxes.
With cinemas across the country still under threat from redevelopment and closure, it is perhaps the perfect time for this project.
"I think it's a wasted opportunity if you go to a cinema and it's just a blank screen, and no curtains, with some feeble lighting, and it just sort of starts," said projectionist Peter Howden.
"I remember going to the cinema and the lights would change colour and the organist would come up out of the floor. It's simple and it's effective and it would be a pity to lose that.
"I think it's part of the magic of going to the cinema. Putting on a show rather than just showing a film."
The projectionist is the final step between the film and the public. And, for many, that flickering light that pierces the darkness of the cinema is still magical.
"When I used to go to the cinema with my mother, I was never looking at the film, I was always looking to see where it came from," said projectionist Rachel Dukes.
"In those days everybody used to smoke. And so when the beam of light was coming down, you'd have these pretty patterns of the smoke in the light.
"I'd be looking at these patterns and my mother would tell me off because she's paid for the tickets to watch the film and I'm not watching it.
"I'm looking to see where it's coming from."
Thankfully, the smoky cinema is no more, but it will be a sad day if the remaining sites capable of projecting film shut the gates once and for all.
The Projectionists is part of the Flatpack Film Festival and can be seen at The Gas Hall, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, 20-24 April 2016. | At the start of the decade, many of Britain's cinemas made the switch from analogue projection to digital, changing forever the role of those inside the projection box, with many films now projected by a computer. | 36071726 |
Named as Chris Harper Mercer, the gunman opened fire on Thursday inside a classroom at Umpqua Community College.
Mercer was shot and killed by police officers who arrived at the scene.
President Barack Obama has expressed frustration over the "routine" response to mass shootings, saying the US had become "numb" to such attacks.
Stacy Boylan, who's daughter survived the shooting, told US television network CNN that his daughter described to him how the gunman asked his victims to state their religion before shooting them.
"'Are you a Christian?' he would ask them, 'and if you are a Christian stand up,'" the father recalled.
Mr Boylan said the gunman told the victims: "because you're a Christian you're going to see God in just about one second".
Another student who survived the shooting, Kortney Moore, gave a similar account to a local newspaper, The News-Review.
The attacker was identified by unnamed officers, as local police refused to release his name.
Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin said he did not wish to give the gunman "the credit he probably sought prior to this horrific and cowardly act".
However, the sheriff has come under fire for his stance opposing gun control measures in the past.
Hours after the attack, President Obama reiterated demands for tighter gun laws, saying prayers are "no longer enough".
"We are not the only country on Earth that has people with mental illnesses or want to do harm to other people.
"But we are the only advanced country on Earth that sees these mass shootings every few months."
Referring to a BBC interview in which he talked about this, he said countries like the UK and Australia showed that effective legislation was possible.
Candidates vying to replace Mr Obama in office have begun to weigh in as well.
Shortly after the shooting, Republican front-runner Donald Trump called the Washington Post and described the "terrible tragedy" as sounding like "another mental health problem". He added that it appeared mass shootings were more frequent.
The Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton said "we are seeing these mass murders happen again and again and again" and called on people in the US to "get the political will to do everything we can to keep people safe".
US gun violence in numbers - Shootings have become increasingly commonplace.
What we know about Chris Harper Mercer - The alleged gunman reportedly supported the IRA.
Oregon shooting: The '4chan' thread - Did the gunman give a warning on the Internet?
Suspect's father speaks out - Ian Mercer says he is shocked and appealed for privacy.
The gunman was reportedly born in the UK and moved to the US as a young boy.
A man identified as the gunman's father, Ian Mercer, told US media he was "just as shocked as everybody" by his son's actions.
The killer's motive is not known, although police said they were investigating reports that he had warned of his intentions on social media.
Lorie Andrews, who lives opposite the campus, said she heard what sounded like fireworks and when she came out of her home she saw students streaming out.
"One girl came out wrapped in a blanket with blood on her," she said.
Hannah Miles, 19, said that she and fellow students were led to a nearby bookshop, where they hid in a back room.
The 3,000-student school is located in Roseburg, Oregon, a rural area about 175 miles (280 km) south of Portland.
Hundreds of people gathered for a vigil in a Roseburg park on Thursday evening.
In audio from police radio channels an officer can be heard saying the suspect was down and that there were "multiple gunshot wounds", and calling for multiple ambulances to go the scene.
The suspect supposedly used a "long gun".
According to Umpqua Community College's website, the average age of students is about 38. | The gunman who killed nine people and wounded seven others in Oregon had targeted Christians, the father of one of the victims says. | 34424713 |
8 February 2017 Last updated at 12:03 GMT
The technology could give devices even faster access to the internet, as the BBC's Robin Markwell explains. | Mobile phone networks are exploring the next generation of connectivity - known as 5G. | 38906565 |
The singer is suing the BBC and South Yorkshire Police after a raid on his house was shown on television in 2014.
"Had I not been 'named'... I would still have been able to look people in the eye", he told the parliamentarians.
Sir Cliff, 76, is backing a campaign to change the law so sex crime suspects are not named unless they are charged.
He said: "The TV circus took away from me all hope of ever being what I had been before, a confident and respected artist, and an ambassador for Great Britain.
"Had I not been 'named' worldwide I feel I would still have been able to look people in the eye, and not feel afraid that they might be thinking that there is 'no smoke without fire'.
"Instead, I fear I will forever be tainted by the lurid and intrusive coverage I received.
"I have had to bring civil proceedings to obtain redress for these appalling invasions of my privacy by the police and the BBC. But that can never undo all the damage I have suffered.
"It would have been so much better never to have been in this position at all."
Sir Cliff was the subject of a South Yorkshire Police investigation, centred on accusations dating between 1958 and 1983 made by four men.
He always denied the allegations, and was never arrested.
Earlier this year, prosecutors said no charges would be brought. Last month a review confirmed the decision.
Campaigners for abuse victims say naming suspects encourages people to come forward. | Sir Cliff Richard has told MPs and peers he will be "forever tainted" by the coverage that followed claims of sexual abuse against him. | 37676833 |
Wales international Taylor suffered the injury in training on Wednesday.
Swansea boss Paul Clement said he is looking to agree terms over signing Sweden's Olsson.
"The two clubs are talking about that possibility. The stage it's at is we're looking to agree the terms," he said.
Clement said Taylor is "probably" facing three weeks of non-contact.
"He'll have to be fitted out with a face mask," added the Swans manager.
Taylor was taken to hospital and will have an operation.
Meanwhile, winger Modou Barrow came off injured in the 28th minute of Swansea's 2-1 EFL Trophy last 16 win against Wolves on Tuesday. | Swansea City are in talks to sign Martin Olsson from Norwich after defender Neil Taylor was ruled out for at least three weeks by a fractured cheekbone. | 38586297 |
"I couldn't speak the language and I didn't know where I could find help. I was alone," says Ibrahim, who asks me not to use his family name because of fears for the safety of his relatives still in Syria.
But the 20 year old has no regrets and is glad that rather than facing a perilous journey by sea, as many Syrian refugees are forced to undertake, he chose the safer option of flying to Brazil.
It was also probably a lot cheaper.
"When I found out that the Brazilian Embassy in Beirut was offering 'laissez-passer' (right of passage) to refugees of the war in Syria, it was the best option for me. Why pay $3,000 or $4,000 (£1,955-£2,607) to get smuggled across the sea and risk drowning, when for half of that price I can fly to Brazil?"
Ibrahim fled to Brazil to avoid being drafted into the Syrian army, a country where conscription is compulsory.
His older brother, Mohammad, was less fortunate. Indeed, it's a miracle that he is still alive and was able to escape to Brazil to be with his brother.
Showing me at least 20 shrapnel scars and bullet wounds on his arms and legs, Mohammad doesn't care much for who is on which "side" in the war - just that it is tearing the country apart.
That's not to say that life for Ibrahim, Mohammad - and more than 7,000 other Syrian refugees now in Brazil - is easy when they get here - far from it.
Brazil has a long tradition of accepting refugees and economic migrants from the Middle East, Africa and other countries.
Those seeking asylum can request it on arrival in the country and, as Brazil's economy grew over the last decade, work permits were readily available for those wanting a job.
Last week Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff wrote a newspaper editorial saying that while European nations prevaricated and argued over how many refugees to take in, Brazil was proud to play its part in alleviating what has become a global crisis.
"More than 10 million of us (Brazilians) are descendants of Syrians and Lebanese immigrants, so we are obliged to act in this way," wrote the president.
She concluded: "Brazil has its arms open to take in these refugees… who want to come to live and work here. And we want to offer them this hope".
Ibrahim and Mohammed now run a popular and busy little stall in Rio de Janeiro, selling home-made humus, kibbe and other Middle Eastern pastries. The money they earn helps to look after their elderly parents and their two younger siblings.
The boys agree with Ms Rousseff's assertion that Brazilians have been overwhelmingly kind and receptive to the new incomers but, they say, there's almost a vacuum of official assistance once they enter Brazil.
The Hafir family, too, have few home comforts but they try to make visitors feel welcome. Amina, 23, makes coffee on a small stove as I take my shoes off and enter the small, single room they now live in together.
Jamal Hafir has been a refugee for his entire life, as a Palestinian whose parents fled to Syria in 1948.
Forced out of his Damascus home two years ago, as the neighbourhood was destroyed by the civil war, Jamal has now brought his own family half way around the world to Brazil.
"There's more help for refugees in Europe," Jamal tells me. "But we knew it would be dangerous to go by sea. So when we heard Brazil's embassy in Lebanon was offering visas, we thought it's better to come to a country that accepts you."
Syria's war has robbed the family of their home and the children of their education.
While the two boys are out looking for work, the family's four girls, who haven't been to school for three years, sit in the corner of the room on mattresses that double up as sofas and study some basic Portuguese.
They've escaped the war but life in Brazil is still tough.
A local pro-Palestinian charity, not the Brazilian government, is housing the Hafir family at an abandoned office block in Sao Paulo.
The charity pays for electricity and water, but this is still essentially a squat, and like most informal housing, the family don't know how long they'll be able to remain.
But it's not just the Brazilian federal government and individual states who are being urged to do more.
Established communities should also, arguably, play their part. In the last century thousands of Syrians were among the many immigrants who helped to build modern Brazil and other South American countries like Argentina.
Their descendants have been criticised in some sections of the media for not organising and coming forward with practical help for those now fleeing the Middle East.
Back in the Sao Paulo squat, Abdul Salam Sayed plays a lament for his distant, broken homeland on his oud.
Another refugee, forced to leave his Damascus home, Abdul Salam is grateful for the shelter Brazil has afforded him.
But surviving and perhaps even settling here will be a huge challenge for people who have already gone through so much. | When Ibrahim landed in Brazil he spent three days sleeping on the floor and wandering around aimlessly at Sao Paulo's Guarulhos airport. | 34264937 |
The woman initially told police she was gang raped at gunpoint in a Brooklyn park on 7 January.
Police arrested five teens, but parts of the woman's story began to come under scrutiny as more details emerged.
Her father was said to have been chased off by the suspects, but it took him nearly 30 minutes to alert police.
The teenagers said the encounter was consensual. They told police when they entered the park they saw the woman and her father engaged in a sex act.
Prosecutor Kenneth Thompson said the 18-year-old woman provided "multiple inconsistent accounts" when detectives questioned her.
"That night, this young woman's father and the five young men engaged in conduct that was reprehensible and wrong, but because of the lack of reliable evidence, criminal charges simply cannot be sustained," Mr Thompson said. | New York City authorities are dropping sexual assault charges against five teenagers after their accuser recanted her story. | 35656824 |
A campaign group says pollution in the River Coata is to blame for the deaths.
It says the government has ignored pleas for the construction of a sewage treatment plant in the area.
The Titicaca water frog is an endangered species that is found only in the huge freshwater lake shared by Peru and Bolivia and its tributaries.
The Committee Against the Pollution of the Coata River told the AFP news agency that the Peruvian authorities had failed to address a serious pollution problem.
Activists took about 100 dead frogs to the central square in the regional capital, Puno.
"I've had to bring them the dead frogs. The authorities don't realize how we're living, protest leader Maruja Inquilla told AFP.
"They have no idea how major the pollution is. The situation is maddening."
Peru's National Forestry and Wildlife Service (Sefor) said it was investigating what happened.
"Based on local residents' statements and samples taken in the days after the incident, it is believed that more than 10,000 frogs were affected over about 50km (30 miles)," it said in a statement.
The Titicaca water frog (Telmatobius culeus) has enormous folds of skin, which increase its surface area and help the amphibian absorb more oxygen from the surrounding air.
As a result of their baggy skin, they are sometimes called Titicaca scrotum frogs.
The frogs are critically endangered because humans have collected too many to eat, their habitat is being lost and invasive species are taking over what remains of it. | Peru's environmental agency is investigating the deaths of some 10,000 frogs whose bodies have been found in a river in the south of the country. | 37686285 |
The festival in Ullapool will mark its 13th year when it takes on a different format on 29 and 30 September.
For the first time it will be held on the town's pier after the organisers were unable to secure the continued use of the site's usual venue.
Acts include The View, Glasvegas, The Pigeon Detectives, Hunter and the Bear, The Rezillos and the Vatersay Boys.
The Wonder Stuff, Twin Atlantic and Mark Radcliffe's band Galleon Blast have previously played at Loopallu - which is Ullapool backwards.
A spokesman for the festival said: "The whole team would like to say a big thank you to all who have come over the years, your support and enthusiasm made the event what it was and what it is.
"Loopallu may come back in the future in a different guise, but for now let's have a party one last time."
He added: "Loopallu is dead. Long live Loopallu." | The Loopallu music festival is be held for the last time, its organisers have said. | 40717069 |
The move is perhaps less shocking than the introduction of Timeline or Graph Search because many of the website's headline changes are already familiar to its app users.
Even so, marketers have been puzzling over what having bigger pictures means for the effectiveness of adverts, while the public has expressed mixed feelings about the promotion of news feeds and other changes.
Many have also noted Facebook's home page now looks more similar to that of its rival Google+, although in fairness it was less than a year ago that critics were highlighting that Google had "borrowed" some of Facebook's features for its social network.
This is a selection of the material published online in the hours after the California press conference announcing the revamp:
Financial Times:
The changes will appeal to advertisers who have been looking for more ways to capture the emotional impact of visual advertising on the social network, particularly on mobile devices.
The Register:
Having specific feeds is a good idea, but it remains to be seen how much people will use them. We can expect to see a lot more companies asking you to "like" them so that they can get on your feeds.
Venturebeat:
History has already shown that Facebook users don't take kindly to having more than one feed to look at, even if that feed is technically making their lives easier and removing some of the less important updates from the main feed.
Techcrunch:
Ads weren't discussed at all [at the press conference] which is where most of the clutter is. It will be interesting to see how advertisements evolve with this new design, and if we'll see more of them.
Search Engine Watch:
More screen real estate and more dynamic ads could spell immediate benefits for advertisers... A developer of social games may now have the ability to just advertise on the Games feed as opposed to the general News Feed. And multiple news feeds means the potential to serve more ads.
Cnet:
The biggest change Facebook announced today, from the perspective of publishers and the people who want to read them on Facebook, is the "following" tab [which] will show "every single post" from the people and publishers you subscribe to. If true, that will go a long way toward building trust in Facebook as a home for breaking news.
All Voices:
Feeling a sense of deja vu on seeing the redesigned News Feed on Facebook? Well, you're not alone - there are many who think Facebook's revamped News Feed looks a lot like a Google+ homepage.
The Next Web:
To say Facebook ripped off Google+ would be incorrect. Facebook is clearly taking influences from a number of different sources, including the playfulness of Tumblr and countless mobile design trends.
Wall Street Journal:
Third-party applications are going to get a crack at showing richer content. This opens the door for existing applications that were hampered by the News Feed to show off better content, as well as leaving the door open to newer applications to be built to take advantage of the new, more visual News Feed.
MIT Technology Review:
In the past, users have protested sudden sweeping changes to site features. By bringing the new News Feed to users bit by bit, Facebook may be able to drum up more excitement.
Hope I will get used to this design soon though still prefer the old one. - Yousef Barahmeh
Be great if we could actually have a say over the TOTAL privacy of our profiles - Lisa Exeter
Don't care what it looks like i just hate these "suggested posts" on my wall. Spam ads sanctioned by FB! - Barrie Mason
Looks cleaner - Ouzair Hafeez
It's not like anything can always be perfect, but change and constant innovation will one day lead to greater improvement. - Philip Gold
I think it makes the web interface look more touch friendly than needed. I want a different fb experience on the web to the mobile. - @omracer
Dare I say it... It kinda looks better - @LizzieBettySL
I have a group page and it stretches the header picture and completely ruins the look of the page. IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT - @watchnut
Hate to admit it ... the new #Facebook News Feed looks promising. Better designed, visually rich. @bszymeczko
I think that I'm glad I've had these same features for a year on Google+. Shameless copying on Facebook's part - @DJNattyD
I'd like to congratulate the Google Plus UI/UX team on their successful launch of the new Facebook news feed! - @0ll13 3xl3y | Most Facebook users have yet to experience its new look - the switchover will take months to complete - but details of the changes are starting to sink in. | 21713524 |
Operators at Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua temple, known as the Tiger Temple, are accused of wildlife trafficking and animal abuse. They deny the charges.
On Wednesday, wildlife officials found the bodies of 40 dead tiger cubs at the temple complex west of Bangkok.
The temple has been accused by experts of not keeping the animals properly and illegal trade in tiger parts.
Body parts found at the temple have increased suspicions that it is run as an admission-charging zoo while engaging in unethical breeding and trafficking of endangered animals.
Tiger Temple's long history of controversy
BBC visit to the Tiger Temple in 2012
The Buddhist temple first started taking in tigers nearly 20 years ago and since then has developed into a big and profitable tourist attraction.
Wildlife activists have accused the temple of illegally breeding tigers while online commentators have complained that the animals seem to be sedated.
The temple denies these accusations.
Department of National Parks spokesman Adisorn Nuchdamrong told the Reuters news agency that 22 people had been charged with wildlife possession and trafficking, including 17 members of the temple's foundation and three monks caught trying to flee with a truckload of tiger skins on Thursday.
It followed the discovery of the 40 dead tiger cubs inside a freezer.
Correspondents say it is not clear why the dead cubs were being stored. Tiger bones and body parts are used in traditional Chinese medicine.
"We've confiscated all the hard disks of closed circuit cameras in this temple for police to find evidence of wrongdoing," Mr Adisorn said.
The temple officially opened in 1994 near a wild tiger habitat. Its first cub was found by villagers in 1999. Since then they have continued to bring cubs to the temple, especially when their mothers are killed by poachers.
Monks have prevented frequent moves to close it.
Thailand is a renowned centre of trafficking of illicit wildlife products, including ivory.
The wildlife department first raided the temple on Monday. Most of the 137 tigers inside the complex have now been removed. | A week-long operation to remove nearly 140 tigers from a temple in Thailand has finished, officials say. | 36451512 |
Kaymer, 31, has not won since his US Open triumph at Pinehurst two years ago which followed his Players Championship victory a month earlier.
The German's best Irish Open finish is a share of 10th at Adare Manor in 2008.
Tournament host Rory McIlroy will also be joined in the field from 19-22 May by recent Masters winner Danny Willett.
Soren Kjeldsen will attempt to successfully defend the Irish Open title after winning at Royal County Down last year while other Ryder Cup hopefuls in the field include Spain's Rafa Cabrera Bello, English trio Matt Fitzpatrick, Andy Sullivan, Chris Wood plus Austrian Bernd Wiesberger.
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Cabrera Bello, Kjeldsen, Fitzpatrick and Sullivan all currently occupy automatic qualifying places in the European points list for the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine in late September.
Kaymer played played at the K Club in the 2007 European Open.
"Although it maybe wasn't my best week on the course, I can remember being really impressed by it," added the former world number one, who clinched his first major win at the US PGA Championship in 2010.
"The Irish people love their golf and really get behind the players, so it should make for a great atmosphere, especially with such a strong field there."
McIlroy will be joined at the event by other Irish major winners Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell while other big names in the field include Shane Lowry and Lee Westwood. | 2014 US Open champion Martin Kaymer is the latest major winner to confirm that he will compete in next month's Irish Open at the K Club. | 36172267 |
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