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The victim was walking along Black Path in Workington when she was attacked close to Cloffocks car park at about 19:00 GMT on Tuesday.
Two 13-year-olds and two 14-year-olds, all from the Workington area, have been arrested on suspicion of rape.
A 13-year-old boy who was also arrested in connection with the incident, has been released without charge. | Four teenage boys have been arrested after a 15-year-old girl was raped near a car park in Cumbria. | 38517997 |
A levy on single-use carrier bags was introduced in Northern Ireland in 2013.
The year before the 5p charge was imposed, 190 million carrier bags were issued by NI supermarkets.
Last year, that had fallen to 30 million - a 42.6% annual reduction following a previous drop of 71%, after the carrier bag charge was introduced.
Retailers pay the net proceeds of the levy to the Department of Environment at Stormont.
Earlier this year, 21 environmental groups that had their budgets slashed as part of government cutbacks received a share of a £1.25m fund raised by plastic bag charges.
The Northern Ireland usage figures are in sharp contrast to England, where the number of single-use bags from supermarkets rose from 7.4 billion in 2013 to just over 7.6 billion.
From October large shops in England will have to charge for plastic bags.
In Scotland, which brought in a levy last year, there was an 18.3% decrease in the number of plastic bags handed out by retailers.
There was a 5.2% increase in Wales last year, but the number of bags handed out has fallen by 78.2% since 2010. A charge was introduced in October 2011.
The latest drop in Northern Ireland has been welcomed, but campaigners say there are still too many littering the landscape.
Chris Allen, from the environmental charity Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, said discarded bags can also harm wildlife.
"When they wash up on the shore, you might get sheep that might graze on them by mistake and they might end up dying," he said.
He also reminded people that even though plastic bag litter had reduced, the problem had not disappeared.
"There is a certain element of 'out of sight, out of mind' to it. It's a big sea, it's a big beach, one plastic bag isn't going to hurt but those inconsiderate people don't think of all the other plastic bags they're adding to," Mr Allen said. | Plastic bag use is continuing to fall in Northern Ireland, according to the latest figures from the waste prevention charity, Wrap. | 33645149 |
Keith McNeil quit Addenbrooke's Hospital, which faces a £64m deficit in 2015-16, in September.
He said a funding formula which reimbursed a hospital only 30% of the cost of A&E beds, compared to planned surgery, had had an impact.
The government said hospitals must "live within their means".
The Care Quality Commission, which rated Addenbrooke's as inadequate in September, declined to reply to Dr McNeil's comments, but said the Cambridge hospital's trust had agreed with its findings and recovery steps.
Dr McNeil, a transplant specialist who took over the reins at Addenbrooke's in 2012, said the funding situation was unsustainable and did not fairly reimburse the hospital for the work it performed.
He said the hospital had a high number of admissions from A&E because of the nature of the ageing population it serves, and because of its role in delivering complex specialist care such as transplants, major trauma, cancer and neurosurgery.
Dr McNeil said because of the shortfall in funding caused by the high number of A&E beds, Addenbrooke's would need to use 210 beds each day of its 850 adult beds for planned surgery (which receives 100% of the cost) "to break even".
Furthermore, if Addenbrooke's did "ring fence" these 210 beds, he said, it would "mean shutting the emergency room nine days out of 10".
Dr McNeil said: "Every day we were juggling to see which patients could go ahead with elective (planned) surgery and which wouldn't, depending on how many beds were available. A busy day and night in the A&E would often lead to most of our planned surgery being cancelled the next day."
He added that much of the specialist surgery at Addenbrooke's often cost more than the set fee (tariff) the NHS reimburses the hospital with. This amounts to an additional funding shortfall for work performed of approximately £18.5m per year.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "We know finances are challenging for certain parts of the NHS - that's why we are giving the health service the £10bn extra during this Parliament it has said it needs.
"However, trusts must also show tight financial grip and live within their means."
An interview with Dr McNeil can be seen on Inside Out on BBC One in the East of England at 19:30 BST on Monday, and available on iPlayer afterwards. | A major hospital would have had to close its accident and emergency department on nine days in every 10 to break even, an ex-chief executive said. | 34610721 |
The 23-year-old man was detained on Tuesday by officers based in Cookstown, County Tyrone.
He is also accused of improper use of electronic communications to cause anxiety.
A police spokeswoman said the fake modelling agency account was operated via social media.
The man is due to appear at Limavady Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. | A man arrested over a "fake modelling agency" has been charged with causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and other offences. | 39632309 |
The Markit/CIPS manufacturing purchasing managers' index, the first to have full data since the UK's vote to leave the EU, showed a fall to 48.2, the lowest since February 2013.
The survey adds to concerns that the vote prompted a sharp fall in activity.
A reading above 50 indicates expansion, but below 50 indicates contraction.
The decline was sharper than an initial reading of 49.1 indicated late last month.
The Markit/CIPS manufacturing index is based on a survey of 600 industrial companies and reflects data on orders, output, employment, suppliers' delivery times and companies' inventories.
Rob Dobson, senior economist at Markit, said the survey came "amid increasingly widespread reports that business activity has been adversely affected by the EU referendum".
He added: "The downturn was felt across industry, with output scaled back across firms of all sizes and across the consumer, intermediate and investment goods sectors, although exporters did report a boost from the weaker pound."
Figures released last week showed the UK economy grew by 0.6% in the three months to the end of June.
However, by far the strongest growth was in April, followed by a sharp easing off in May and June.
Commenting on the Markit data, Martin Beck, senior economic adviser to the EY Item Club, said: "There was little consolation from the detail of July's survey. Output contracted across the consumer, intermediate and investment goods sectors.
"Employment in manufacturing declined for the seventh month in succession and input-price inflation rose to a five-year high off the back of sterling's weakness and higher commodity prices.
"The one bright spot was a rise in export orders, no doubt helped by the decline in the pound."
In another survey published on Monday, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) said business confidence had fallen in the wake of the referendum.
Its business confidence index had been at minus 0.7 in the month running up to the vote, but dropped to minus 27.7 in the period from 24 June to 20 July.
The latest economic data comes as the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) prepares to issue its latest interest rate-setting decision on Thursday.
The MPC had been widely expected to cut interest rates last month, but unexpectedly left them unchanged.
This time, rates are likely to fall from 0.5% to a new low of 0.25%, analysts predict. | Activity among UK manufacturers contracted at its fastest pace for three years in July, according to a closely watched survey. | 36939298 |
Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir has called for "austerity to be binned".
But he accepts the Northern Ireland Executive may have to make do with additional funding for roads.
Ahead of Chancellor Philip Hammond's statement, the Treasury has said the NLW will rise by 30p to £7.50 in April.
About 13,000 Northern Ireland workers are thought to have benefited when it was first introduced this year at £7.20 an hour.
Analysis John Campbell BBC News NI's Economics Editor
This is the chancellor's first major economic policy statement since the vote for Brexit.
But do not expect anything too dramatic.
Phillip Hammond has warned that the UK's debt is still "eye-wateringly" large and that his plans must be "responsible".
That suggests he sees little scope for increasing spending or cutting taxes.
However, there is likely to be a modest increase in infrastructure spending - that would mean tens of million of pounds extra for projects in Northern Ireland.
There will also be measures for what Prime Minister Theresa May describes as families which are just about managing.
But there's unlikely to be a radical reversal of the benefit cuts announced by the last government.
Mr Hammond is also set to make "a significant investment into universal credit", which replaced job seekers' allowance and work-related benefits.
Universal Credit is due to be phased-in for claimants in Northern Ireland next year.
Another measure already heavily trailed is a £1.3bn package for road improvements - targeted mostly at repairs and reducing bottlenecks.
Northern Ireland's spilt of that funding could be about £40m.
But Mr Ó Muilleoir has said UK infrastructure stimulus measures of up to £15bn are needed.
"They [the government] need to invest in infrastructure to give the economy a jolt," he said.
"I hope we see a large stimulus. A Niagra Falls stimulus. Not a garden hose stimulus."
The Autumn Statement presents the government with its first major opportunity to address budget issues since the referendum vote.
It is Mr Hammond's first Autumn Statement since becoming chancellor.
It has already been suggested the government is facing a £100bn black hole in its finances over the next five years due to Brexit. | A rise in the National Living Wage (NLW) is to be announced in the Autumn Statement, which Stormont also hopes will deliver extra infrastructure cash. | 38070301 |
The move was included in the 2016 Scotland Act, which gave a range of new powers to the Scottish Parliament.
It gives ministers at Holyrood control over thousands of hectares of rural land and about half of Scotland's foreshore.
Leasing the seabed for rights to renewable energy are also included.
The assets were worth a total of nearly £272m in 2015-16 and generated a gross annual revenue of £14m.
The Scottish government said the transfer would give communities a stronger voice over how those assets were managed.
Land Reform Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: "This is a historic day.
"The management and resources of the Crown Estate now rest with the people of Scotland and we have a genuine, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use them to change the fabric of Scottish society, placing the needs of local and coastal communities at the centre of our long-term planning for these considerable assets.
"From today, decisions about both the day-to-day management and the future of the estate will be taken in Scotland.
"This will have positive implications, not only for the many people who live, work or have some other direct connection with the Crown Estate, but for many communities across Scotland."
A new body, Crown Estate Scotland (Interim Management), has taken on the role of managing the asset. | Powers over the revenue and management of Crown Estate resources in Scotland have been transferred formally to the Scottish government. | 39467096 |
The bank plans to create a subsidiary at its German branch to maintain access to the European market after Britain withdraws from the European Union.
German's strong credit rating informed the bank's location choice, said chief executive Bill Winters.
Standard Chartered has about 100 staff in Frankfurt currently.
The bank, which employs more than 86,000 globally, said in May it was in talks with German regulators about the move.
The firm has about 1,700 staff in London, where it opened an office in 1853.
Standard Chartered is the latest financial institution to discuss its planning for Brexit.
Barclays and JP Morgan are looking at expanding Dublin operations and RBS is looking at Amsterdam.
Deutsche Bank warned in April that it might move up to 4,000 jobs - or half of its UK workforce - out of the UK.
HSBC has said it could move 1,000 jobs to Paris, while UBS has said about 1,000 of its 5,000 London jobs could be hit by Brexit. | Standard Chartered is set to spend about $20m (£15.4m) to turn its Frankfurt office into a European base due to Brexit. | 40829905 |
As many as 170 people were hurt - and a number were taken to hospital for treatment - but no-one suffered serious injuries, officials said.
The accident happened after one train ran into the back of another that had stopped at a station in east Seoul.
It comes as the nation continues to mourn the deaths of about 300 people in last month's ferry disaster.
The Sewol ferry sank with 476 people aboard - most of them high school students and teachers - off South Korea on 16 April.
The emergency response to the disaster has been heavily criticised as too slow, and has led to the resignation of the prime minister and a public apology from President Park Geun-hye.
Friday's crash happened at around 15:30 local time (06:30 GMT) at the Sangwangsimni Station on one of Seoul's major subway lines, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reports.
Yonhap said the stationary train had stopped because of mechanical problems when the second train ran into the back of it.
A witness said many passengers ignored an onboard announcement telling them to stay inside and forced the doors open, escaping on to the tracks.
One official said 170 people had complained of feeling pain after the accident, and 32 were taken to a nearby hospital, but no-one was seriously hurt, the Associated Press reports. | Dozens of people have been injured after two subway cars collided in the South Korean capital Seoul. | 27250961 |
Clyde lost 2-1 at Montrose, while Stirling Albion beat promotion hopefuls Elgin City 1-0.
Montrose are now five points off fourth-placed Annan Athletic and nine behind Elgin.
City are ahead of Clyde on goal difference but have played two more games than the bottom two sides.
Dale Carrick fired Cowdenbeath in front against Edinburgh, who were level by the 17th minute through Dougie Gair's penalty following Liam Henderson's foul on Joe Mbu.
Josh Walker's strike in the second half put City ahead and Cowden then had Fraser Mullen sent off.
At Forthbank Stadium, Stirling and Elgin were tied at 0-0 until Sean Dickson struck in the third minute of stoppage time.
Clyde, playing their first match since manager Barry Ferguson's resignation, fell behind to Kerr Hay's early strike and Greg Pascazio fired Montrose's second.
Peter MacDonald pulled one back for Clyde after the break. | Edinburgh City overtook managerless Clyde and moved seven points clear of opponents Cowdenbeath by winning 2-1 at Central Park. | 39123901 |
Saints led 2-0 inside 12 minutes after Liam Craig's opener from the penalty spot and a header from Graham Cummins.
But the hosts were level by the 21st minute, Arnaud Djoum looping a header in before Joe Shaughnessy's own goal.
Hearts had striker Abiola Dauda sent off for a lunge after 57 minutes, but held on as Saints threatened a winner.
Alim Ozturk denied Danny Swanson and Steven MacLean fired wide, before one final chance saw Tam Scobbie's header saved brilliantly by Hamilton.
But the visitors had to settle for remaining unbeaten in their final five matches.
They finished nine points adrift of Hearts in third, but both sides can take satisfaction from excellent seasons.
The Hearts players revealed a banner before kick-off thanking their fans for their "incredible" support during the season, and another full house of 16,046 were treated to a feast of early goals.
Hearts almost had the perfect start when Djoum found space on the edge of the 18-yard box but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.
Saints took the lead in the ninth minute when John Souttar tangled with Cummins in the box from a long throw-in.
Referee Greg Aitken pointed to the spot despite the hosts' protests and Craig fired the ball into the bottom right-hand corner.
Saints doubled their advantage three minutes later as the home defence again failed to cope with a set piece, Cummins meeting a corner from the left on the volley for his eighth goal of the season.
Hearts looked as if they were going to be overrun by Tommy Wright's hungry side but they bounced back quickly when Djoum sent a looping header beyond Alan Mannus into the top corner.
And Robbie Neilson's side were back on level terms four minutes later.
Prince Buaben sent in a cross aimed at top scorer Juanma, but Shaughnessy arrived first and sent a header over his own goalkeeper into the net.
Hearts' players now looked as if they believed in themselves and only the feet of Mannus denied Dauda the lead.
The recalled keeper then made a wonderful save from the same player moments late, diving low to his right to keep his goal intact.
Danny Swanson looked as if he had regained the lead for Saints with an angled shot from close range but a last-gasp clearance from Callum Paterson kept the sides level at the interval.
Saints striker Chris Kane missed a good chance when clean through on goal, clipping the ball over Jack Hamilton but also over the Hearts crossbar.
Challenges were flying in from both teams with referee Aitken struggling to keep control of affairs.
And the home side were reduced to 10 men when Dauda saw red for a thumping challenge on Craig, who was fortunate to avoid a card himself for his reaction.
Only Hamilton in the Hearts goal stood back as the other 21 players on the pitch joined the melee that followed.
Hearts continued to press forward despite being a man down and Alim Ozturk's free-kick brought another wonderful save from Mannus.
But after Ozturk denied Danny Swanson and MacLean fired wide, Saints had one final chance but Tam Scobbie's header was brilliantly saved by Hamilton.
Match ends, Heart of Midlothian 2, St. Johnstone 2.
Second Half ends, Heart of Midlothian 2, St. Johnstone 2.
Attempt missed. Brian Easton (St. Johnstone) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Foul by Prince Buaben (Heart of Midlothian).
David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Gavin Reilly (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone).
Attempt saved. Joe Shaughnessy (St. Johnstone) header from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by John Souttar.
Attempt saved. Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt missed. Liam Craig (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Foul by Gavin Reilly (Heart of Midlothian).
Brian Easton (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Arnaud Djoum.
Attempt missed. Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Steven MacLean replaces Liam Gordon because of an injury.
Delay in match Liam Gordon (St. Johnstone) because of an injury.
Attempt saved. David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Attempt saved. Alim Ozturk (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is saved in the bottom left corner.
Hand ball by David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone).
Tam Scobbie (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Tam Scobbie (St. Johnstone).
Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Liam Gordon.
Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Tam Scobbie (St. Johnstone).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Greg Hurst replaces Christopher Kane.
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Gavin Reilly replaces Juanma because of an injury.
Delay in match Juanma (Heart of Midlothian) because of an injury.
Liam Craig (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Liam Craig (St. Johnstone).
Attempt blocked. Darnell Fisher (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Foul by Liam Smith (Heart of Midlothian).
Darnell Fisher (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Sam Nicholson replaces Lewis Moore.
Foul by Juanma (Heart of Midlothian). | Hearts came from two goals down to deny St Johnstone a 100% record in their post-split fixtures on a thrilling final day of the season at Tynecastle. | 36240485 |
Now trained by trained by Henry de Bromhead, the 2-1 favourite made it a fifth success in the race for the owners, the Gigginstown Stud.
Once the seven-year-old passed long-time leader Silviniaco Conti, the result was never in doubt.
Galway Plate winner Lord Scoundrel was third in the three-mile feature.
Walsh had retained the ride on Valseur Lido, who was switched from Willie Mullins' stable in September.
British raiders Silviniaco Conti and The Last Samuri set the pace until Valseur Lido cruised into contention.
He quickly put the race to bed and had 11 lengths to spare over the 10-year-old Silviniaco Conti.
Don Poli, was pulled up, while the Noel Meade-trained Monksland fell five out.
Walsh said: "He travelled super, he jumped super, but he didn't do anything that he hasn't done in the past." | Ruby Walsh rode Valseur Lido to victory over seven-time Grade One winner Silviniaco Conti in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal. | 37883985 |
A spokesman said leaders can bring their own bodyguards to the summit in Hamburg, but the law must be respected.
A list of Turkish officials expected to travel to the event reportedly included several people involved in the brawl.
US prosecutors charged 12 agents with assault last week for the incident.
Police called it a "brutal attack" on protesters by Turkish security personnel, but Turkey blamed the violence on pro-Kurdish demonstrators who were outside the Turkish ambassador's residence in Washington.
The case strained US-Turkey relations and could inflict more damage on already soured relations between Ankara and Berlin, correspondents say.
Germany's foreign ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer said: "I have reason to expect that these people, who have been incriminated by the American criminal justice (system) will not step onto German soil in the foreseeable future, including during the G20 summit."
German media reported that a list of 50 people who were expected to accompany Mr Erdogan included agents that had participated in the incident.
In response, German authorities told Turkey to not bring those security personnel, newspaper Die Welt reports (in German).
Officials say they expect violent protests during the summit, to be held on 7 and 8 July. Some 15,000 security agents are expected to be deployed in Hamburg. | Germany says it does not expect Turkish security agents who were charged for violent scuffles in Washington last month to join President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a G20 summit next week. | 40410081 |
Mr Dolan, 18, from County Tyrone, was struck by a van in Belfast in 2014.
David Lee Stewart, 31, of Gray's Park Avenue, Belfast, was jailed on Wednesday.
Stewart was sentenced to three and a half years in prison and another three and a half years on licence.
His parents had said after the judgement that they were "disappointed and disgusted" at the length of the sentence.
On Thursday, Peter Dolan, Enda's father, told the Stephen Nolan Show, that he "wouldn't rule out" asking for the sentence to be appealed.
"You can imagine what happened yesterday, it was all a bit of a shock," he said.
"We just have to sit back, reflect and take a bit of advice on it and take a look at it."
Mr Dolan said he was "speechless" over the sentence given to Stewart.
"This guy drinks and drives, kills somebody and gets three and a half years in prison. That is not a deterrent for anybody in my opinion."
Meanwhile, Enda's mother Niamh Dolan told Good Morning Ulster on Thursday morning that she remained "devastated and heartbroken" from his death.
"It's very hard to explain our loss. The most difficult thing I find is to go about your normal day-to-day activities and we have to do that because of the other children," she said.
"No matter how devastated you feel, you have to put a brave face on, pull yourself together and go out with the others - that's a very hard thing to do sometimes.
"I was lucky, really lucky, that I had a brilliant relationship with Enda. We were very, very close.
"Sometimes I think I'm almost being punished for that. If I hadn't have known my son so well, and got on with him so well, it might have been easier to cope with him not being here." | The father of Enda Dolan has said the family are considering asking the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) to appeal the sentence given to the drunk driver who killed him. | 36157230 |
Ian John McLoughlin, 55, admitted murdering Graham Buck, 66, in Little Gaddesden, last July, while on day release from a murder sentence.
Mr Buck was stabbed when he went to help his neighbour, Francis Cory-Wright, 86, who was being robbed.
McLoughlin, who also has a previous conviction for manslaughter, was told he must serve at least 40 years.
He was on his first day release from HMP Spring Hill where he was serving a life term for the 1992 stab murder of Brighton barman Peter Halls.
He had previously been jailed for 10 years for the manslaughter of Len Delgatty, 49, in 1984, whom he beat over the head with a hammer.
Sentencing McLoughlin at the Old Bailey, Mr Justice Sweeney said he was barred from passing a whole-life term because of a European judgment that those sentences were in breach of human rights.
Mr Justice Sweeney told McLoughlin: "The offence was committed on the day of your first day-release from prison after 21 years in custody, after being in prison for a life sentence for murder in 1992."
The judge went on: "You decided to go to Cory-Wright's home to get money from him by theft or robbery if necessary."
Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, which includes Little Gaddesden, has written to the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Chris Grayling calling for an inquiry into how a double murderer could be considered safe for day release.
"At face value it is unbelievable that a man who has committed two brutal murders - on separate occasions - could be deemed safe for day release," he said.
A Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesman said Nick Hardwick, the chief inspector of prisons, was reviewing the decision to allow McLoughlin to be part of the prison day release programme.
In July the MoJ said release on temporary licence was used to prepare prisoners for their eventual release from custody.
The spokesman added that Attorney General Dominic Grieve was considering whether to challenge the new sentence as too lenient.
Speaking outside the court after sentencing, Mr Buck's wife, Karen, said: "Graham's death has left a hole in many people's lives. He will be missed but he will not be forgotten.
"Many questions still remain unanswered at this stage and I await the MoJ's inquiry into day release of prisoners with interest."
The court heard McLouglin turned up at Mr Cory-Wright's house claiming to need help setting up a charity supporting elderly ex-offenders.
McLoughlin suddenly grabbed him and demanded to know where he kept his "gold and silver".
He tied Mr Cory-Wright to a bed, stuffed silver family heirlooms into a pillowcase and demanded his bank cards and PIN numbers.
Father-of-three Mr Buck, who lived two doors away from Mr Cory-Wright, went to help him after hearing shouting.
McLoughlin said he was confronted by Mr Buck as he tried to flee Mr Cory-Wright's house and stabbed him in the neck, causing a gaping wound.
The judge said he had no doubt that McLoughlin intended to kill Mr Buck.
He said McLoughlin had been in a rage when he carried out the killing.
"That rage had come about because Cory-Wright had the money he wanted, but wouldn't voluntarily hand it over," he said.
Mr Buck was born in London and lived in Surrey and Sussex before moving to Hertfordshire in 1995.
Since his retirement he had worked as a non-executive director at Aldwyck Housing Association in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire.
He had two sons, a daughter and two grandchildren.
In July, Det Ch Supt Jeff Hill said: "Mr Buck's actions were totally selfless and illustrate a deep sense of community spirit which deserves recognition and respect."
Det Insp Martin Brunning, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, called Mr Buck's murder a "horrific crime".
He said: "Our thoughts are with Graham's family at this time. No-one should lose a loved one in these circumstances."
McLoughlin also admitted robbery for which he was sentenced to eight years, to run concurrently. | A convicted killer who stabbed to death a Good Samaritan in a village in Hertfordshire has been jailed for life. | 24608144 |
Mowbray, 53, resigned as Coventry boss last September, while Caldwell, 34, parted company with Wigan in October.
The Spireites sacked Danny Wilson on 8 January but defeated Coventry City 1-0 under caretaker boss Ritchie Humphreys on Saturday.
The club's new manager will be announced at 1200 GMT on Tuesday.
Mowbray previously spent three years with West Bromwich Albion and helped them reach the Premier League, and has also had stints at Celtic and Middlesbrough.
Caldwell's only managerial role was at Wigan where he won the League One title during his 18-month spell in charge. | Chesterfield are considering Tony Mowbray, Gary Caldwell and a third candidate to be their new manager, BBC Radio Sheffield reports. | 38639567 |
Mae'r trefnwyr yn hyderus y bydd y gigs yr un mor llwyddiannus a rhai 'steddfodau'r gorffennol. 'Dych chi'n cofio rhai o'r rhain? | Mae lein-yp Maes B yn Eisteddfod Gendlaethol Ynys Môn eleni wedi ei chyhoeddi. | 39432233 |
The doctors' union had refused to sit down and talk about improving patient care and had spread "misinformation", he told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show.
Mr Hunt wants to change junior doctors' contracts, which he says are "unfair".
The BMA said its door was open to talks and blamed the strikes on Mr Hunt's "shambolic mishandling" of the matter.
The dispute, which began in 2014 and centres around pay and weekend working, has led to strikes being held across England.
The next is a 24-hour strike planned for Wednesday, when emergency care will only be provided from 08:00 GMT.
Asking by Marr about low morale among junior doctors, Mr Hunt said: "One of the reasons for that anger is that they were told by the BMA that their pay was going to be cut - it isn't.
"They were told that they were going to be asked to work longer hours - they aren't," he added.
"We are actually bringing down the hours that they work. And if you are told by your union that the health secretary wants to do these awful things - of course you are going to feel devalued."
BMA junior doctor committee chairman Dr Johann Malawana said Mr Hunt was threatening to impose a contract that junior doctors had "roundly rejected".
"Junior doctors already work around the clock, seven days a week, and they do so under their existing contract," he said.
"If the government want more seven-day services then, quite simply, they need more doctors, nurses and diagnostic staff, and the extra investment needed to deliver it."
He went on to say the health secretary risked "alienating a generation of junior doctors and undermining the delivery of future patient care".
Shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander said Mr Hunt was "insulting the intelligence" of junior doctors.
"This is a group of people who are incredibly intelligent, are able to make their own minds up, have read the proposals for themselves and have followed the negotiations very carefully," she told Sky News.
The junior doctors row explained
What exactly do junior doctors do?
How does your job compare? | Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has accused the British Medical Association of being "totally irresponsible" over a lengthy industrial dispute. | 35515732 |
The multi-million pound project has been beset with problems and delays.
Planning permission for the sports stadium was overturned in 2014 after objections by local residents.
Last month, the association said it was working on a new design for the stadium. Ulster GAA has now embarked on a 20-week consultation process.
In its first submission, the GAA proposed to build a 38,000-capacity stadium at the existing site.
A whistleblower, safety expert Paul Scott, claimed he was bullied when he raised concerns that under the initial plans the stadium could not be evacuated safely in emergencies.
Tom Daly, chairman of the Casement Park Project Board, told the BBC that safety was a priority for the GAA.
"We will arrive at a point where we put a capacity in for our new stadium going forward. We will have a debate about that again through a consultative process," he said.
"At this point in time we're not going there because we need to get the wide range of views from everybody who has an interest in this project."
He added: "This will be a facility everyone in west Belfast, County Antrim, Ulster and throughout Ireland will be immensely proud of, and a stadium that the next generation of young people can aspire to play in."
Stephen McGeehan, the Casement Park project sponsor for Ulster GAA, said that there was no pre-determined capacity for the stadium.
"Our planning consent was quashed the last time around following the claim taken against the DOE (Department of Environment) minister's decision," he said.
"We're genuinely starting today in a 20-week consultation period, that's well beyond the minimum statutory period of 12 weeks.
"We're doing that because we recognise the time that's required to listen to people's views, have those voices heard both positive and negative and to decide at a later stage what the actual capacity of Casement Park will be."
Mr McGeehan added that the aim was for "a provincial stadium" and there is a requirement for a capacity beyond 18,000 so that it can hold major events.
The GAA will hold a series of consultation events in west Belfast to hear the views of people in the area.
They will take place at Conway Mill, Andersonstown Leisure Centre and Glen Community Complex on 24, 25 and 26 May. | The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) has said it is preparing to submit new plans for the redevelopment of Casement Park in west Belfast. | 36156776 |
Ed was in a music store when he overheard his hit Thinking Out Loud being performed by 13-year-old Sydney for a charity fundraiser.
He joined her on stage and the teenager remained surprisingly calm with the Brit winner beside her.
She said: "I didn't want to stop, but I wanted to talk to him."
Ed left after the performance, stopping to pose for some selfies with fans along the way.
The singer is currently on a tour of Canada and North America.
Sydney later received a text by Ed's manager offering her two tickets to one of the the singer's concerts on the current tour. | Ed Sheeran has surprised a young girl in Canada by performing an unexpected duet with her at a shopping mall. | 33145287 |
State media said the Malaysian envoy would leave within 48 hours.
Malaysia has already expelled North Korea's ambassador, after he said North Korea could not trust Malaysia's inquiry into Mr Kim's death.
Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was killed with a nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur airport last month.
Malaysia has not directly blamed North Korea for the attack, in which two women smeared VX nerve agent on Mr Kim's face. But there is widespread suspicion Pyongyang was responsible.
North Korea's latest move is seen as retaliation for Malaysia's decision to expel Pyongyang's ambassador.
Malaysia had already recalled its ambassador to Pyongyang for "consultations".
Malaysia's foreign ministry said it had demanded, but not received, an apology from North Korean ambassador Kang Chol after he criticised Malaysia's investigation into the death.
Mr Kang has accused Malaysia of conducting a "pre-targeted" investigation and of conducting an autopsy on Mr Kim without North Korean consent or any representative from the North Korean embassy being present.
Malaysia was one of very few countries that had relatively friendly relations with North Korea.
It cancelled visa-free travel for visiting North Koreans in the wake of the killing, citing security reasons.
Investigators are seeking to question several North Koreans, including an embassy official, over the death of Kim Jong-nam.
Two women, one from Vietnam and another from Indonesia, have been charged with murder. They both said they thought they were taking part in a TV prank but are yet to make a formal plea in their case.
Malaysia's government has also announced an investigation into a company called Glocom, which has been operating in the country for several years.
According to a confidential UN report, Glocom is run by North Korea's top intelligence agency to sell military communications equipment, in violation of UN sanctions. | North Korea is to expel Malaysia's ambassador, amid a growing row over the death of Kim Jong-nam. | 39180150 |
Robinson, now director of rugby at Bristol, was an assistant to Sir Clive Woodward before taking over as head coach from 2004 to 2006.
"This side can go all the way," Robinson told BBC 5 live. "They are well coached and have a great attitude.
"They are tough competitors and their feet are on the floor in terms of the mental edge that they have."
Under Eddie Jones, England backed up a Grand Slam in the Six Nations earlier this year with a 3-0 series win in Australia last month, which was a remarkable achievement, according to Robinson.
"I can't stress enough how great that is," he said. "I've taken sides down to Australia - and sides have gone on many occasions - and been beaten heavily on a summer tour before winning at Twickenham.
"So to go away [from home] after a long season and perform in the way they did was tremendous.
"It's slightly different to the side that we had in 2003 because our side was a little bit older. This is a young side, and it bodes well for English rugby that this team can play together for many, many years, and that's very exciting."
And as he prepares Bristol for their return to the Aviva Premiership, Robinson feels the game in England is in rude health.
"I think English rugby, and the professional game in the British Isles, has been developing over the last four or five seasons," he added.
"The World Cup was a tremendous advert for that in the way the games were supported, and Bristol can add to this.
"We have a travelling support, so I see the support of matches getting better and better, and that bodes well for English rugby." | Ex-England coach Andy Robinson believes the current side have the potential to emulate the World Cup winners of 2003. | 36766730 |
Many elderly people sold assets to pay for places in residential homes, when the NHS should have paid for it due to their health conditions.
Health boards in Wales have received about 7,500 claims for wrong payments made since 1996.
The Welsh Government said 70% of these had been completed and "just over £70 million" has been repaid.
According to rules, anyone who has assets worth more than £30,000 (including the value of their home if it is unoccupied) pay the full cost of their residential care.
But they do not have to pay if they suffer from certain health problems - then the NHS foots the bill.
One family from Camarthenshire told BBC Wales how they fought for years to get back the money they had wrongly paid.
Dai Davies' cousin, Idris, paid more than £300,000 for his care before he died three years ago.
Mr Davies said he felt it had been his responsibility to claim back as much of the money as possible.
"I don't think they have been completely fair as people have worked throughout their lives... When they want health care for themselves they should pay less as they have paid for it once," he added.
Hugh James Solicitors, who successfully supported families' claims, said some had sold their homes to pay for the care.
Mari Rosser, a partner at the law firm, said: "These decisions are made when people are in very difficult circumstances.
"Maybe they have been through some severe illness and they face serious loss, for example the loss of assets and possibly losing homes. Therefore, we have successfully challenged on behalf of these people, who are in serious difficult circumstances."
A Welsh Government spokesman said: "Earlier this year we introduced an amended process in order to accelerate the speed at which claims are processed.
"We have also developed common reporting criteria across all health boards to ensure that progress in processing claims, and problems or challenges, are captured and managed as early as possible." | Families who wrongly paid for care home fees have been paid back more than £70m by the Welsh Government. | 40181744 |
Benitez has been sacked after just seven months in charge, with club legend Zinedine Zidane replacing him.
Bale, 26, is reportedly upset by Benitez's exit but Toshack thinks his compatriot will stay at the Bernabeu.
"I don't see it affecting Gareth at all," Toshack said. "I don't see that as a problem."
Bale joined Madrid in a world record £85m move from Tottenham in 2013 and has scored seven goals in his past six games for Real - but he has been linked with a return to the Premier League with Manchester United.
Former Liverpool and Chelsea boss Benitez's final game was Sunday's 2-2 draw with Valencia, which left them third in La Liga, four points behind leaders Atletico Madrid and two adrift of Barcelona.
Frenchman Zidane is the 11th coach to be appointed in Florentino Perez's 12 years as club president and his first match in charge will be Saturday's home league game against Deportivo la Coruna.
Ex-Wales manager Toshack, who had two spells in charge at the Bernabeu, is not surprised by Benitez's departure.
"Benitez was up against it right from the off," Toshack told BBC Radio Wales Sport.
"Right from the minute he walked through the door something was not quite right. I don't think his face fitted.
"I think he'll be looking to take a bit of a rest season, probably until the end of this season and maybe look at something next pre-season." | Former Real Madrid coach John Toshack says Rafael Benitez's departure from the Spanish giants will not adversely affect Wales forward Gareth Bale. | 35226633 |
Police chief Niclas Hallgren said they had based their conclusion on what was found at the killer's apartment and "his behaviour during the act".
Media reports suggest the 21-year-old attacker had far-right sympathies.
Armed with a sword and wearing a helmet and mask, he stormed a school in Trollhattan, near Gothenburg, before being shot dead by police.
Police found a suicide note revealing that the attacker had meant to target "foreigners" and believed "Sweden should not take in so many immigrants", Swedish TV reported.
But investigators believe he acted alone and there was no indication of any group involvement, Aftonbladet newspaper reports.
"He marches through the corridor with his weapons - a large sword and a large, sharp knife. He chose his victims. Those with dark-skin were attacked. He met with lighter-skinned people who were not attacked," police investigator Thord Heraldsson told Aftonbladet.
The helmet he wore was similar to German World War Two soldiers' helmets.
He posed for a photograph with students, who thought he was dressed for Halloween, before going from classroom to classroom at the Kronan School.
A teacher and 17-year-old boy died from stab wounds, while another male student, aged 15, and a 41-year-old teacher remain in a serious condition in hospital.
One of the victims has been identified in media reports as Lavin Eskandar, an assistant teacher. He is said to have died trying to protect schoolchildren.
The attacker's name has not yet been released by police, though they say he was local to Trollhattan. He did not have a criminal record, police say.
The Swedish daily Expressen and other Swedish media named him as Anton Lundin Pettersson, aged 21.
He had allegedly joined a campaign to push for a referendum on whether Sweden should continue accepting migrants.
Media reports said the suspect's accounts on Facebook and YouTube suggest he had an interest in Hitler and Nazi Germany, as well as hostility to Islam and immigration.
"He was a loner. He played video games, lived in his own world," a former classmate told Expressen.
The febrile debate about refugees - in mainstream politics as well as online - is probably what pushed 21-year-old Anton Lundin Pettersson to launch his attack, academics say.
"This is not a person without psychological problems," said Professor Jerzy Sarnecki from Stockholm University. "But he has been inspired by the discourse we have in this country now."
Sweden expects to receive 190,000 asylum applications this year, one of the highest rates per capita in Europe.
Support for the Sweden Democrats party - which is critical of Islam and immigration - has risen.
"Sweden as we know it will not survive the influx of refugees, that is what the party is saying," said Prof Sarnecki.
However Professor Jonas Hinnfors of Gothenburg University insists the deeper trend shows growing support for immigration.
Up to 40% of Swedes want fewer migrants today, down from 65% in the 1990s, he said.
"Public opinion has become drastically more open," he said. "And that is not going to change."
Read more
Sweden has reacted with shock to the killings. Before visiting the scene of the attack, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said it was a "black day" for the country.
"School is supposed to be the place for learning, play and curiosity and friendship and therefore this is a tragedy that affects the whole country," Mr Lofven told reporters.
King Carl Gustaf said he was "in shock" and that he had learned of the events in Trollhattan "with great dismay and sorrow".
Dozens of people gathered outside the school building on Thursday evening to pay their respects to the victims and place flowers and candles on the ground.
Some residents of the town who were holding a vigil held up posters that read: "Why kill?"
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos, with the attacker knocking on the doors of at least two classrooms and attacking two male students who opened them. One of the boys later succumbed to his injuries.
Laith Alazze, 14, told Sweden's TV4 that one of his friends walked over to the assailant to challenge him "but when we saw he stabbed [the teacher], we ran away''.
Another student told the same station that the attacker, who along with the mask was clad in black, "walked sort of like a soldier with a sword in his hand".
Police were alerted to the attack at about 10:10 local time (08:10 GMT) on Thursday, and later gunned down the attacker in the hallway outside a classroom.
The Kronan school has about 400 students aged between six and 15, including many children of immigrants.
Trollhattan is an industrial town in west Sweden, located about 75km (50 miles) north of Gothenburg, the nation's second largest city.
School attacks are rare in Sweden - with just one incident on record in the past 20 years, in which one pupil was shot dead. | A masked man who killed a teacher and a pupil at a school in Sweden had "racist motives", police believe. | 34612000 |
The oil and energy ministry said the development of full-scale carbon dioxide capture at Mongstad oil refinery had been discontinued.
It said it remained committed to research into carbon capture.
When the Labour Party presented the plan in 2007, it was hailed as Norway's equivalent of a "Moon landing".
Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and his allies lost a general election to conservatives and centrists this month, and are due to step down shortly.
Mongstad had already run into difficulties.
"At both the national and international level, the development of technologies to capture and store CO2 has taken longer, been more difficult and more costly than expected," Oil and Energy Minister Ola Borten Moe told reporters.
The process was patented back in the 1930s, and it is reckoned to be one of the most important technologies available for tackling greenhouse gas emissions.
In another development on Friday, French President Francois Hollande said he wanted to see France reduce fossil fuel use by 30% by 2030.
He also outlined plans for a carbon tax from 2014 and a tax break on home insulation to help consumers save energy.
Fossil fuels, he told a conference on the environment in Paris, still accounted for more than 70% of France's overall energy use. | The outgoing government in Norway has buried much-vaunted plans to capture carbon dioxide and store it underground amid mounting costs and delays. | 24183443 |
It is the first cabinet with no women in Brazil since 1979.
Ms Rousseff said it did not represent the country - one of the world's most ethnically diverse nations.
Her government had seven women among its 31 ministers.
Ms Rousseff is facing trial after the Senate on Thursday voted to impeach and suspend her.
She is accused of illegally manipulating finances to hide a growing public deficit ahead of her re-election in 2014, which she denies.
The new government's chief-of-staff said they had been unable to find any women for the cabinet.
Eliseu Padilha said the cabinet had been formed on a tight schedule.
"We tried to seek women but for reasons that we don't need to bring up here, we discussed it and it was not possible," he said.
"We will bring women into the government, in posts that used to be ministries, and that now will have the same functions but under a different name."
The new government will be in stark contrast to the administration of Ms Rousseff who had called herself in Portuguese "presidenta" instead of the gender neutral "presidente", and who had spoken of citizens as being "Brazilian women and men."
During the impeachment process she had frequently explained the criticism of herself and the government as being related to her being a woman.
"Black people and women are fundamental if you truly want to construct an inclusive country," Ms Rousseff said on Friday to journalists at the presidential palace, where she will continue to live during her impeachment trial.
"I think the government is clearly showing that it is going to be neo-liberal in the economy and extremely conservative on the social and cultural side."
In his first speech to the nation after the Senate voted to impeach Ms Rousseff, interim President Michel Temer stressed that "economic vitality" was his key task.
He added: "It is essential to rebuild the credibility of the country at home and abroad to attract new investments and get the economy growing again."
He said Brazil was still a poor nation and that he would protect and expand social programmes.
He named a business-friendly cabinet that includes respected former central bank chief Henrique Meirelles as finance minster.
Males identifying as white made up 22% of Brazil's population in 2013 according to the government's economic research institute, IPEA.
Women made up 51% of the population in the same year.
Ms Rousseff told journalists on Friday her opponents had "turned her life inside out" trying to find grounds to impeach her.
She again denied the allegations against her and said she had committed no crime.
She said she would continue to speak out against impeachment proceedings she has denounced as a "farce" and "sabotage".
She now has 20 days to present her first defence before the Senate and the trial can last up to six months.
Michel Temer became interim president as soon as Ms Rousseff was suspended.
Read more on Michel Temer here
The 180 days allocated for the trial to take place expire on 8 November. | Brazil's suspended President, Dilma Rousseff, has criticised the new interim government created by her former Vice-President, Michel Temer, for being entirely made up of white male politicians. | 36292137 |
Brendon Constant, 87, of Richmond Road, Wisbech, is charged with murdering Jean Constant, 86, on August 22 last year.
Mrs Constant's body was found after police investigated reports of concern relating to Poppyfields care home in Chapman Way, Eynesbury.
A post-mortem examination concluded Mrs Constant died from plastic bag asphyxia in association with heart disease.
Mr Constant appeared before Cambridge Magistrates' Court then Cambridge Crown Court.
He was remanded and will appear before the court for a plea and trial management hearing on 3 May. | A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of his wife. | 39500851 |
The Briton, 29, split from Amelie Mauresmo earlier this month after two years working with the Frenchwoman.
Murray said the presence of Delgado, on his team since February, meant there was "less rush" to find a replacement.
"I'm loving being involved with him, not just as a great player but also as a friend," said Delgado, a former Great Britain Davis Cup player.
"I'd always be watching him and hoping for him to win every match, so to be involved is fantastic.
"As regards a new coach, I'm not quite sure what's going to happen there - but if I were to do the job, I'd be over the moon."
Englishman Delgado's first tournament as sole coach ended with Murray beating world number one Novak Djokovic to win the Rome Masters and the Scot has progressed to the fourth round of the French Open.
"Tactically, on the clay, the past couple of months we've talked about a few things," said 39-year-old Delgado.
"The beginning of the clay is a tricky little moment when you're getting used to that surface again and we went through a few things that worked well for him last year and tried to improve that this year.
"He's quite clear about what he's trying to do on the court and I think that's shown in the past few weeks."
Delgado insists he is not looking to change Murray's often fractious on-court demeanour.
"He's had that side to his game and his competitive spirit all his life - so it's not something that you're looking to change really," he said.
"I understand how stressful it can be on the court in those tight situations when things aren't going well for you and whatever it might be on that day not working.
"But one thing he does do, he keeps fighting and very often finds a way to win so we just keep supporting as much as we can and we're with him all the way."
The two-time Grand Slam winner has been known to berate his coaching team during matches and Delgado is happy to deal with any flak coming his way.
"We take it sort of tongue in cheek as well," he said. "He sometimes says things in the heat of the moment.
"It's been absolutely fine and he's been competing and playing really well recently - so it's been great." | Jamie Delgado would be "over the moon" if he is appointed as world number two Andy Murray's main full-time coach. | 36405993 |
Additional funding of £5m has been allocated to the budget of the Gosport Independent Panel for 2017/18 after the timescale of the inquiry was extended.
Relatives had called for a public inquiry which they believe would have been quicker and cheaper.
Launched in 2014, the investigation was originally due to end in December 2017.
A review of the deaths at Gosport War Memorial Hospital between 1988 and 2000 found an "almost routine use of opiates had almost certainly" shortened the lives of some patients.
Police investigated the deaths of 92 people but brought no prosecutions.
The end date of the review was pushed back in November 2016 with the work likely to end in spring 2018, the government previously said.
The Gosport Independent Panel is headed by the former Bishop of Liverpool James Jones, who led the Hillsborough inquiry.
Bridget Reeves, whose grandmother Elsie Devine died at the hospital, is among the relatives who criticised the decision for an independent panel.
She said: "The frustration is that when we started we wanted a public inquiry but we were told very clearly that the cost would be far too great."
Department of Health allocated budgets to the Gosport Independent Panel:
The Department of Health said: "Budgets may be reviewed by the new government following the election on 8 June." | The inquiry into the deaths of dozens of elderly patients at a Hampshire hospital will cost more than £13m, the Department of Health has revealed. | 39854745 |
The last of the 29-year-old's 39 international appearances came against New Zealand in June 2014.
Ashton will be free to play again on 19 December after Sarries decided not to appeal against his suspension.
"It may seem a long journey back, but I will do everything to get back to where I feel I belong," he said.
"My clear ambition is first to regain my place in the Saracens team and then to regain my place in the England side."
Ashton was named in England coach Eddie Jones' Six Nations squad earlier this year, but was ruled out of the tournament when he received a 10-week ban following an eye-gouging incident in a European Champions Cup game.
And despite helping Saracens win the Premiership title and the Champions Cup last season, he was left out of the England squad which toured Australia in the summer.
The former Northampton player subsequently turned down a call-up to the England Saxons squad for their tour of South Africa.
He maintains his innocence of both the gouging and biting incidents, the latter occurring in Saracens' 27-12 win over Saints on 17 September.
"Both panels chose to accept the opposing version of events," he told the Saracens website. "I did not agree with either verdict, but I must and do accept the sanctions.
"I would like to thank Saracens for their support during these times, and I am wholly committed to repaying the faith of all the staff of this special organisation." | Saracens winger Chris Ashton is aiming to regain his place in the England side when he returns from his 13-week ban for biting Northampton's Alex Waller. | 37486330 |
Mr Fillon's campaign has been dogged by claims, which he denies, that his wife and two of his children were paid for non-existent parliamentary work.
While an initial investigation is already under way, a decision on a more formal probe has yet to be made.
"I am the candidate and I will continue until victory," he said.
"The closer we get to the date of the election, the more scandalous it would be to deny the Right and the Centre of a candidate," he told Le Figaro, adding that he had hoped a decision would have been taken sooner.
The first round of the election will be held on 23 April, with the second round run-off between two candidates two weeks later.
On 26 January, he had told the TF1 channel that "the only thing that would prevent me from being a candidate is if my honour was tainted, if I was placed under examination".
While France's financial prosecutor decided to keep an initial investigation open on Thursday, the decision to launch a more formal probe would need to be taken by a magistrate. It could take months or years to reach that point.
All you need to know on the scandal
Can Fillon survive?
Media reports say Mr Fillon's Welsh-born wife Penelope earned €831,400 (£710,000; $880,000) as her husband's parliamentary assistant between 1998 and 2012, and questioned how much work she had done.
It subsequently emerged that Mr Fillon had hired two of his children to act as lawyers, paying them €84,000 between 2005 and 2007 - when they were students.
In early February, he said that although what he had done was legal, French people no longer accepted the practice and that he had made a "mistake".
The controversy has hit Mr Fillon in the polls, with one new survey by Ifop for three French media outlets on Friday suggesting he is neck-and-neck with centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron.
But the poll places both behind the far-right's Marine Le Pen.
"Despite the prominence of 'PenelopeGate' in conversations in France, and the storm around his campaign, Francois Fillon has this week managed to stop the electoral haemorrhage, and even to progress a little," Ifop's analysis said.
Polls indicate Mr Fillon or Mr Macron would easily beat Ms Le Pen in the second round of the election in May. | French presidential candidate Francois Fillon has taken back a promise to quit the race if placed under formal investigation. | 39010250 |
The 21-year-old has only featured seven times since moving to Molineux from Portsmouth last summer.
"Jed is a player we would liked to have signed permanently, but Wolves won the race for his signature," Lions boss Neil Harris told the club website.
"He has real ability, is a hard working boy, and will provide good competition in the midfield area."
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | League One side Millwall have signed Wolves midfielder Jed Wallace on a one-month loan deal. | 35261157 |
The truth is that "pay drivers" - those who bring sponsorship with them to secure a seat - have been a fact of life for as long as the sport has existed.
For teams such as Marussia, who started life back in 2010 as Virgin, the need for a driver to bring money in order to help the team reach their annual £40m budget is just something they have to accept.
Marussia, in fact, have done more than that. They were admirably open in their press release announcing Glock's departure that pay drivers were part of their business model.
One of the sport's greatest, Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio, was a five-time world champion in the 1950s, but he would probably never have made it to Europe without the backing of Juan Peron's government.
What their news release said was that previously they felt they could manage with one pay driver and one salaried, with external sponsorship making up the budget.
That one pay driver this year was initially planned to be Englishman Max Chilton. However promising Chilton is, there is no secret that part of the reason he is there is his financial backing.
But now, Marussia said, the global economic downturn had changed things. External sponsorship was proving harder to come by and that meant they could no longer afford Glock's salary.
Glock introduced sponsors to the team, but his salary was significantly greater than what they paid. Chilton owes his drive to the fact that his 'salary' is far less than the income from the sponsors he brings with him.
There has been an outpouring of sympathy for Glock's predicament from his colleagues.
McLaren's Jenson Button, a world champion, and Red Bull's Mark Webber, a multiple race winner, were among those who sent messages of condolence and best wishes to Glock on the social networking site Twitter.
Glock might not be in the same league as leading names such as Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, but he was good enough to finish on the podium three times, among other strong performances, in his two years with the Toyota team in 2008-9.
It was Toyota's decision to quit F1 abruptly at the end of Glock's second season with the team that meant he ended up at Virgin/Marussia. Without a drive and with no competitive seats available, he took a chance that they would quickly make progress.
Heikki Kovalainen was in a similar situation at the end of 2009 after being dropped by McLaren. He ended up at Lotus Racing, another new team, who are now called Caterham.
Now the Finn, who won a race in 2008, is also set to drop out of F1. His Caterham team will take a second pay driver alongside Frenchman Charles Pic for this season.
Brazilian Pedro Diniz drove for Forti, Ligier, Arrows and Sauber during a career financed by his father's supermarket chain and other business interests. Despite achieving some modest points finishes, he's best remembered for escaping a huge fire during the 1996 Argentine GP (above).
It's not hard to see the appeal of pay drivers. Last year, Kovalainen was earning in the region $2.5m, while team-mate Vitaly Petrov brought about $10m in sponsorship.
Petrov not only finished ahead of Kovalainen in the championship but, by finishing ahead of Pic, then at Marussia, in the final race of the season. the Russian secured his team 10th place in the constructors' championship, which was worth $11m.
To put those numbers into context, the highest earner in F1 this season will be Hamilton on $31m (£19.6m), some way ahead of Alonso on a reputed 15m euros (£12.7m).
Money influences decisions up and down the grid and what constitutes a 'pay driver' is not black and white.
Sergio Perez, Button's team-mate at McLaren this year, owed his arrival in F1 with Sauber in 2011 to significant financial backing from his home country Mexico. In that sense, he was a pay driver.
Now, insiders expect McLaren's Mexican sponsorship portfolio to grow as a result of his joining the team. So was the lure of potential sponsorship one of the main reasons McLaren took Perez and is he still therefore a 'pay driver'?
Team boss Martin Whitmarsh says not, but there was surprise up and down the pit lane that McLaren did not instead choose German Nico Hulkenberg, whose performances have arguably been more impressive, but who is not linked to significant funding. Hulkenberg, ironically, is now at Sauber, where novice Esteban Gutierrez owes his presence to those Mexican backers.
Meanwhile, Perez's former Sauber team-mate Kamui Kobayashi, who has looked every bit as good in the last two seasons, is without a drive because he doesn't have sufficient sponsorship backing.
Then there is Williams. They signed Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado at the start of 2011 because of £30m-a-year in sponsorship money from his home country's national oil supplier, a deal that was approved personally by the President Hugo Chavez.
No-one is saying Perez and Maldonado don't deserve to be in F1. They clearly do. Maldonado, while wild, has already won a race, superbly, in Spain last year, holding off Alonso no less. And Perez will presumably win races for McLaren.
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In their case, their budgets smoothed their path to a job they deserve on ability anyway. With some lower down the grid, that is less clear.
This is just the way of the world in an expensive sport. And depending on how you look at it, even the careers of the very greatest are influenced by money.
Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio, a five-time world champion in the 1950s, would probably never have made it to Europe without the backing of the government of Juan Peron.
Vettel would not be in F1 without Red Bull funding him pretty much from childhood. Likewise, Hamilton's career had until this year been almost completely financed by McLaren. Ferrari would have signed Alonso anyway, but the fact he was going there certainly smoothed the path to them getting a big sponsorship deal with Spanish bank Santander, and vice versa.
The fact is, every driver on the grid has had to find funding to make their way through the ranks to F1.
The bigger concern for F1 right now is that this situation is becoming more and more prevalent - and Glock's predicament is the perfect illustration.
External sponsorship money is harder and harder to come by. In the financial crisis, the money is simply not there.
For some time now, it has been clear that F1 teams were finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. Businesses struggle when they either don't have enough income or their costs are too high. In F1, in the current global climate and with budget restriction not working as well as some would like, both apply.
That raises difficult questions for the teams and for the sport itself.
Ferrari will always be there. Red Bull are secure as long as owner Dietrich Mateschitz feels it suits his purposes; likewise Mercedes and their corporate board.
Even McLaren are affected. Now forced to pay for their Mercedes engines for the first time, they have seen Hamilton leave, partly because they could or would not get close to matching the salary Mercedes were offering him.
External sponsorship money is harder and harder to come by. In the financial crisis, the money is simply not there
Below that, every team has concerns about funding, to a greater or lesser extent, and there is a constant threat that one or more of them might not survive - as HRT did not last season.
That brings into question the whole F1 business model. If there is not enough external sponsorship out there to maintain the whole grid, where will the money come from to keep the sport's wheels turning?
Currently, teams get their funding from sponsors and from TV companies, who do their deals with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, who then distributes about half the funds to the teams. But TV companies, with one or two exceptions, are also feeling the pinch.
Meanwhile, one alarming statistic is regularly trotted out. F1's entire global TV rights income is about the same as that of the Turkish football Premier League - in the region of $490m.
Most are astonished to hear that, but it seems as if it's accurate, as far as these figures can be accurately assessed. Which raises questions about whether the sport is being marketed and promoted as effectively as it might be.
Teams under threat; questions about their financial models for all but the very richest; and also about whether the sport is making the most of its huge global appeal.
That's a far bigger problem than 'pay drivers'. | The Marussia team's decision to release Timo Glock from his contract for "commercial" reasons has focused attention on an aspect of Formula 1 that some see as unsavoury and more casual viewers probably did not even realise existed. | 21194933 |
The train was travelling between the country's mains cities, Douala and Yaounde, when it came off the tracks.
The train was overcrowded because a bridge on the road connecting the two cities had collapsed after heavy rain.
Witnesses say carriages were added to accommodate extra passengers. An investigation into the cause of the derailment is under way.
President Paul Biya, who is abroad, wrote on his official Facebook page: "I instructed the government to provide full assistance to the survivors." | The number of people killed in a train crash in Cameroon on Friday has risen to 70, with another 600 injured. | 37740374 |
Found (6-1) upped the pace in the final furlongs to power past pacemaker Vedevani and surge to victory.
Highland Reel (20-1) was second under Seamie Heffernan, while Frankie Dettori - trying to win his fifth Arc - was third on Order of St George (14-1),
"I couldn't dream this would happen," said O'Brien.
"It's a privilege to be here and be part of this."
Pre-race favourite Postponed, ridden by Italian Andrea Atzeni, finished fifth, while Japan's Makahiki struggled to make an impact.
BBC racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght
During the 20 or so years he's been training, Aidan O'Brien has achieved many great feats - even 1-2-3s in Classics - but to saddle a trio in Europe's top flat-racing prize and fill the first three places has to rank as quite likely best of all.
Some might dispute it, but the Arc is the outstanding race staged in Europe and very hard to win.
Even O'Brien took years to be successful for the first time (with Dylan Thomas in 2007) and now he gets this result.
Famously modest, he said afterwards: "How could you say anything is higher than that?"
Jockey Ryan Moore compared the result to Frankie Dettori's Magnificent Seven at Ascot in 1996 or Michael Dickinson's 1-2-3-4-5 in the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Great stuff for the trainer and for the Coolmore racing and thoroughbred breeding empire, of course, and for female horses which have won now six out of nine Arcs. | Found, ridden by Ryan Moore, won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly, leading home a one-two-three for Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien. | 37535332 |
The claims have been made by Dr Carl Clowes, a party activist who visited the north African state at the time as a guest of the Arab Socialist Union.
He told BBC Wales the Libyans were keen to forge links with Plaid Cymru as a socialist party and asked how they could help.
Plaid Cymru said there was "no record or knowledge" of any such donation.
Public health consultant Dr Clowes made the claim in his autobiography, to be published in October.
He told BBC Radio Wales he was part of a four-man Plaid Cymru delegation which visited Libya in 1976 to see how the country had used its oil riches to build schools and hospitals.
The group was led by Dr Phil Williams, who later became a Plaid Cymru AM.
"It may have been controversial but we went for the right motivation," Dr Clowes said.
"We wanted to see what was being done in the country, and we were impressed by what we saw.
"That isn't to say of course that [life under] Gaddafi was all roses.
"This was a man who clearly was concerned to see the capitalist system in the west undermined.
"In a sense, Plaid Cymru as a socialist party was something he could identify with."
The offer came at the end of the visit from Mabrouk Dredi, a member of the Arab Socialist Union who had been the Welsh group's host, Dr Clowes said.
"He suggested having heard what we had to say throughout the previous days that they would like to be in a position to help.
"That took us a bit by surprise and we heard nothing more at the time.
"It was only a month or so later that one of the four of us who went, Brian Morgan Edwards who was treasurer of Plaid in that period... said some money had arrived - £25,000 [current worth about £160,000].
"It was to be donated by the Arab Socialist Union.
"I have no doubt in my mind what Brian told me - I have no doubt in my mind what I heard when I was out there, that they would see how they could help us."
He added: "[The money] was unconditional ... if goes into the coffers and helps support the general activities of Plaid Cymru and the aim of creating a socialist country why would one object to it?"
Asked whether it was wise for Plaid Cymru to accept money from the Libyan regime, Dr Clowes pointed out that many western leaders developed friendly ties with Col Gaddafi before he was deposed and killed in the 2011 Libyan uprising.
"Let's bear in mind that [Tony] Blair was embracing Gaddafi some years later," he said.
"Politics is not a clean business at times."
A Plaid Cymru spokesperson said: "The trip to Libya was well documented at the time and since.
"There is absolutely no record or knowledge of any such donation being made to Plaid Cymru." | Plaid Cymru has dismissed claims that it was given £25,000 by former Libyan dictator Col Muammar Gaddafi in 1976. | 37493889 |
The 400 factory workers at the Dewhirst factory in Cardigan turned out more than 35,000 pairs of ladies' denims a week for stores such as Marks and Spencer.
However, all that ended on 8 November 2002, when the sewing machines stopped and the factory gates closed for the final time.
Factory owner Dewhirst moved production to Morocco to take advantage of lower costs. Cardigan lost its largest employer and many assumed that the town would never again make a pair of jeans.
The closure of the factory doubled the area's unemployment rate overnight, and the decline of manufacturing industry in Wales as a whole left little chance that the skilled workers would get an opportunity to practise their craft again.
Fast forward nine years and enter David and Clare Hieatt, who had sold their successful clothing brand Howies to footwear giant Timberland in 2006.
They had seen the Dewhirst workers in action in the past and believed that jeans making in the area could again have a future.
Mr Hieatt, a former advertising copywriter, says he thought to himself: "I'm a marketeer and this town can make jeans. If I put those two things together - their ability to make and my ability to sell - then maybe we can get my town making jeans again."
Having decided to set up a new denim brand, he appeared in the local newspaper two years ago and appealed for ex-workers who wanted to make jeans again to get in touch.
He was inundated with offers from former factory workers, most of whom were no longer sewing, but were keen to return.
Lost confidence
"We interviewed in a coffee shop. It was a humbling experience," he says.
"These women had sewn for so many years but didn't know if they were good enough anymore."
Mr Hieatt initially recruited three machinists and Hiut Denim began trading in May 2011.
"You don't hear stories about manufacturing coming back home very much, and this is one of those," Mr Hieatt says.
"We fought the wrong battle last time - the battle of who could be cheapest - and lost.
"We have 150 years' worth of experience making jeans in this small team. We can't be the cheapest, but we can be the best."
He calls his machinists grand masters in recognition of the time served learning their skills.
One of them, Tracy Jones, worked at the former Dewhirst factory for 12 years. After her redundancy, she managed to continue sewing, though in a factory making equestrian garments. She was thrilled when she was given the opportunity to use her jeans making skills again, although in a more specialised way, when Hiut Denim opened. "This time feels different," she says.
"I feel what I'm doing is a craft, rather than a job. There's even a space to sign my name after I've finished sewing," she says. "I've never done anything like that before."
Top of the range
Hiut's products, currently two different styles ranging from £130 to £230, are aimed firmly at the top end of the industry.
Source: Euromonitor International May 2012
The company began making just 30 pairs of jeans a week and the initial demand caught them by surprise: "We took six months of orders in the first month and were totally unprepared for the level of interest," Mr Hieatt says.
"We didn't do any marketing, other than mentioning the product on social media and in a few newspaper articles. We had to shut the website down until we could catch up."
Hiut was able to increase its staff from an initial five to eight - all former employees of the old factory - and expand production to 100 pairs a week.
The UK jeans market, which was worth £1.9bn last year, is expected to grow by 20% by 2017, according to market research company Euromonitor International.
Much of that growth is expected to come from the two ends of the market: the economy end, which includes retailers such as supermarkets and Primark, and higher priced labels such as Diesel and G-Star.
The factory where Hiut Denim makes their jeans now is based in a small unit, on an industrial estate in Cardigan, not too far from the former Dewhirst premises.
It feels more like a trendy workshop than a location for the mass production of clothing; the walls are clad in reclaimed pine.
The workers sew on a variety of Soviet-style machines, sourced from a former Wrangler factory in Poland.
And the soundtrack to their day comes from a stack of old LPs, propped against a vinyl record player, though Mr Hieatt whispers that he thinks the Grand Masters have a "terrible taste in music".
Although Hiut is small at the moment, Mr Hieatt wants to expand the brand to eventually rival industry leaders such as Levi's, which he points out "started small as well".
The main challenge now is finding the next generation of factory workers who are able to invest the time needed to learn how to make jeans.
"A pair of jeans is a really complex item," he says. "It can take years and years to get good at one bit of it - to get good at all 75 is a long bit of learning."
'We've probably got a five-year window to find apprentices that want to come into this business and learn how to cut, sew and fit. Our biggest test, if we're to survive, is to find young talent. And they are out there." | A little over a decade ago, a small town in west Wales was the largest surviving manufacturer of jeans in the UK. | 22246100 |
Abdullahi Sheikh Abas, 31, was picked by an electoral college to be a federal MP.
He was up for election against Information Minister Mohammed Abdi Hassan.
Somalia has been holding indirect elections since October to renew its parliament as the country remains too dangerous for a national vote.
Much of the country is still under the control of Islamist militant group al-Shabab, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda.
Mr Abas grew up and was educated in Dadaab, the world's biggest refugee camp, in north-eastern Kenya.
In Somalia's long electoral process, 135 traditional clan elders selected some 14,000 delegates, who formed 275 electoral colleges.
From 23 October to 10 November, each electoral college voted for an MP to sit in the lower house of parliament.
The results are now being published and Mr Abas has been elected as federal MP for Kismayo in Somalia's Jubaland region.
It is not clear how Mr Abas sold himself to the electoral college, but BBC Somali analyst Mohammed Abdinoor says Somalis who stayed at home have strong sympathy for returnees like Mr Abas, who grew up in refugee camps.
The newly elected MPs are due to choose a president by the end of November. | A man who grew up in a refugee camp in Kenya has defeated a Somali minister to become a member of parliament. | 37989382 |
Orkney's Dr John Rae is credited with finding the final part of the north west passage, around the top of North America.
Born in 1813, he ended up being shunned by much of Victorian society, due to claims he reported about cannibalism.
Permission has been granted for a plaque to be created in Westminster Abbey commemorating his achievements.
Dr Rae signed up with the Hudson's Bay Company - when the fur trade in Canada at its peak - and charted vast areas of unmapped territory using his surveying skills.
It was in his search for traces of Capt Sir John Franklin's ill-fated expedition of 1845 - when he and his entire crew died - that Dr Rae found himself condemned to obscurity.
In 1854, he had recorded accounts from local Inuits, who said that some of Franklin's crew had resorted to cannibalism in a last desperate effort to stay alive.
He reported his findings in confidence to the British admiralty - but they appeared in a newspaper.
Franklin's widow - and much of Victorian society - was horrified at some of Dr Rae's findings.
His reputation never recovered.
The controversy overshadowed the fact that, during his searches for the Franklin expedition, Dr Rae had mapped out a navigable shipping route linking the north Atlantic to the Pacific.
He died, in relative obscurity, in 1893.
Canada's native Cree called him 'Aglooka' - meaning 'he who takes long strides'.
A statue of Dr Rae was unveiled on the Stromness harbour front in Orkney last year. | A campaign to recognise one of Scotland's great forgotten explorers has taken a significant step forward. | 27781180 |
The 25-year-old midfielder submitted a transfer request last week, days after the club rejected a 100m euros (£90m) bid from Barcelona.
He missed Saturday's Premier League opener with Watford with a back injury.
"Nothing has changed. Not on one side or on the other," boss Jurgen Klopp said about the Brazilian on Monday.
"He is not available for us in the moment, that's the main issue if you want. He cannot play for Liverpool in this moment and, how everybody can imagine, that's quite a blow for us.
"We've known for a few days about it so we can prepare this game without him, like we have to prepare the game without Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge."
Barca have moved for Coutinho after selling Brazil team-mate Neymar to Paris St-Germain for a world record transfer of £200m.
Coutinho signed a new five-year deal in January, which did not include a release clause.
Liverpool start their European campaign with the first leg at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena in Germany, with the return clash at Anfield on Wednesday, 23 August.
The winner will progress to the group stage of the Champions League.
Liverpool squad: Alexander-Arnold, Moreno, Lovren, Milner, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Can, Mane, Salah, Firmino, Kent, Solanke, Origi, Gomez, Klavan, Flanagan, Robertson, Matip, Grujic, Mignolet, Karius, Ward. | Philippe Coutinho has been left out of Liverpool's squad for Tuesday's Champions League play-off first leg against Hoffenheim. | 40924202 |
President John Atta Mills turned on the valve at an offshore platform.
A consortium led by UK-based Tullow Oil hopes to produce 55,000 barrels per day, increasing to 120,000 barrels in six months.
Ghana, one of Africa's most stable countries, is expected to earn $400m (??254m) in the first year.
Wearing safety gear and blue overalls, the president opened the valve in a televised ceremony some 60km (40 miles) off the coast from the town of Takoradi, Reuters news agency reports.
The discovery of oil off Ghana's coast has raised questions about whether Ghana can escape the "resource curse", where discoveries of valuable commodities fuel conflict and corruption instead of funding development.
Will oil make a difference?
Analysts have raised concerns about the lack of laws to manage oil revenue and the lack of an independent regulator for the sector.
The government has said it is working to get an oil bill passed.
The government has forecast that the oil will boost Ghana's economic growth rate from 5% this year to as much as 12% next year.
Production is eventually expected to bring in $1bn a year.
The Jubilee Field is estimated to hold 1.5bn barrels of oil. A second offshore field was discovered in September that is believed to hold another 1.4bn barrels.
The fields are some of the largest oil deposits found in recent years.
Observers say militant insurgency like that in nearby Nigeria's Niger Delta is unlikely as long as the government manages expectations.
By David AmanorBBC News, Accra
It is a momentous day for Ghana - barely three years after that first vial of oil was presented to former President John Kufour.
Hopes are high, tempered by a fair amount of realism - most people seem to understand oil production is unlikely in itself to bring about lower fuel prices and that it will take time for real benefits to accrue.
The government is currently negotiating huge multi-billion dollar loans for infrastructure developments, using oil as collateral, which has met with some stiff opposition from the parliamentary minority and other civil society groups. "We've looked at the experiences of other countries and it has not been positive," says Mohammed Amin Adam of campaign group Publish What You Pay.
Other concerns are focussed on how the oil money is spent rather than when. "Politicians' decisions tend to be very short-term and short-sighted," says Kofi Bentil of Ghanaian think-tank Imani.
"Transparency to population is very important," said Stephen Hayes, head of the Corporate Council on Africa - a group of some 180 mainly US firms that invest in Africa.
"They also have a fairly transparent society compared to other countries dealing in oil - so they've got a better opportunity to get it right," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa.
He says lessons can be learnt from others' mistakes and points out that Ghana's economy is more diversified than other oil-producing countries in Africa. It earns billions from cocoa and gold.
"The oil revenues expected only represents 6% of their economy - compare that to Nigeria where oil revenue represents 92% of the economy or Angola where it's almost 100%," he said.
"It indicates they won't be dependent on oil revenue... and are in a far better position to manage it more wisely."
The BBC's David Amanor in the capital, Accra, says there a positive mood about the pumping of the country's first oil - and plenty of advice about how the revenue should be spent.
"I'm very much excited because maybe that will be able to solve some of problems for us," a lottery-ticket seller said.
"The first area should be education, secondly agriculture and thirdly health."
Another man said the move was a blessing for him and the country.
"It's going to benefit me so I'm really excited. I've completed school but I've not found any work to do - I hope oil will help me to get a job."
Our reporter says Ghana also has a growing civil society community which is anxious to ensure environmental and development considerations are given a voice in the area where the oil is being bumped.
"A lot of the fishermen are now moving away because of the oil rig - they cannot fish within a certain parameter," says Adwoa Bame from the Women's Initiative for Self-Empowerment group.
"The men go out and bring the fish to the fishmongers, who are normally women," she told the BBC.
"So we need to look at how we can develop programmes that can sustain these communities in terms of livelihoods." | The West African nation of Ghana has begun to pump its first commercial oil after the discovery of the offshore Jubilee Field three years ago. | 11996983 |
TEDxStormont has just been announced for the 28 March.
At the annual TED (Technology Entertainment and Design) conference, the world's brightest minds meet and share ideas.
The independently-organised Stormont event was launched with the aid of Snow Patrol singer Gary Lightbody, who will also speak at the event.
From its beginnings in California in 1984, TED has grown into a platform for world changers and visionaries.
The organisers invite artists, writers, scientists, designers and others to share one big idea or insight. The talks are then made available to view for free online.
Popular TED videos include: Schools Kill Creativity, Three Things I Learned While My Plane Crashed, Yup, I Built a Nuclear Reactor and When Ideas Have Sex.
Steve Jobs, Al Gore, Isabelle Allende, JK Rowling, Arianna Huffington and Julian Assange are just some of those who have spoken at previous TED events.
Starting from the theme of "imagine", TEDxStormont will look forward and explore the future of society in Northern Ireland and beyond.
Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody said he was a "huge fan" of the TED phenomenon.
"I'm in a cast of quite awe-inspiring individuals and truly looking forward to it," he said.
"I'm honoured to be asked to speak at TEDxStormont. TEDx is a globally respected concept and fosters great innovation through the people it provides a platform to."
Other speakers announced so far include Kate Carroll, whose policeman husband was shot dead by dissident republicans, Apprentice contestant, Jim Eastwood, and the UUP MLA, Jo-Anne Dobson. | Big ideas for Northern Ireland are to be explored at a local take on one of the world's most imaginative events. | 21707816 |
The Galloway Viking Hoard Campaign (GVHC) wants to see the items put in a new Kirkcudbright art gallery.
Dumfries and Galloway Council is attempting to secure the treasure for the region.
The GVHC said it was concerned a bid by National Museums Scotland could see the items end up in Edinburgh.
The hoard was discovered in the region in 2014 by a metal detectorist.
The final decision on where the artefacts are diplayed lies with the Treasure Trove Panel.
Cathy Agnew, who chairs the campaign which launched this week, said: "This is a time for Scotland to take the lead.
"The Galloway Viking hoard is quite extraordinary and should have pride of place in a specially created exhibition space in the new Kirkcudbright art gallery.
"Remarkable finds have so often been whisked away from the communities where they were discovered only to become a small feature in a large national museum.
"This is a very old-fashioned approach and in 2017 we should be making sure that regions fully benefit from their cultural riches."
She said the collection could be a "powerful magnet" to bring in visitors.
David Devereux, GVHC vice chair, said: "Some of the items in the hoard are of breathtaking beauty and could become icons for the region, spurring people across the world to discover more about its distinctive past - and the people, lives, cultures and kingdoms that existed before Scotland was born."
Campaign supporters have been urged to send letters of support ahead of two meetings taking place in coming weeks.
The first is a meeting of the council's communities committee on 7 March that will decide how best to take forward the local authority's bid.
The second is a meeting of the Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel (SAFAP) which is due to discuss the hoard's future on 23 March.
National Museums Scotland has described the find as of "considerable national and international significance".
It said that if it acquired the hoard it would save it for the nation and ensure it was seen by "people from Scotland, the rest of the UK and internationally". | A new campaign is backing a bid to see a Viking treasure hoard discovered in Dumfries and Galloway go on display in the region. | 39051357 |
Cardiff City Stadium will host the final on Thursday, 1 June 2017, with the men's final held at the Principality Stadium two days later.
Ludlow won the competition with Arsenal Ladies in 2007.
"It provides us with a massive opportunity to increase participation numbers and interest in Wales' national teams and domestic leagues," she said.
"Our younger national team players will be inspired seeing first-hand the pinnacle of women's club football."
Wales women's manager Ludlow and former Wales and Liverpool striker Ian Rush have been named as ambassadors for the 2017 finals.
Ludlow, who succeeded Jarmo Matikainen in October 2014, captained Arsenal to a 1-0 aggregate win over Swedish side Umea in the 2007 final when the competition was known as the Uefa Women's Cup.
"This competition, and the women's game in general, has changed massively since my trophy win in 2007," Ludlow added.
"Women's football is a growing sport and the standard is improving all the time. It will be an interesting final, and a real football spectacle when the final comes to Wales next year." | Jayne Ludlow says Cardiff hosting the Uefa Women's Champions League final will raise the game's profile in Wales. | 37186402 |
17 March 2016 Last updated at 07:14 GMT
George Osbourne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, is responsible for setting out how the government plans to spend its money each year in his budget.
In his budget speech he announced that he wants head teachers of English secondary schools to scrap traditional "home time" and decide for themselves what time the school day will end.
He's offering these schools a pot of money to help pay for additional classes or extra-curricular activities like art and sport.
Schools in other parts of the UK won't be affected.
The Chancellor says his plans mean "every child gets the best start in life".
But some teachers say it's more complicated, and that they're already offering after school activities.
Malcolm Trobe, who is in charge of the Association of School and College Leaders, an organisation that represents head teachers across the UK, said that the money on offer wouldn't be enough to help all schools in England, and that "potentially youngsters in some schools would be in an advantageous position over others."
Ricky's been finding out what you think...
Read our full guide to the Budget here. | Head teachers in England will be allowed to extend secondary school hours, it's been announced. | 35829344 |
Helen Pearson was on her way to a gym when she was attacked near St Bartholomew's Cemetery, Exeter, the city's crown court was told.
Joseph Willis, 49, has denied a charge of attempted murder.
The court was told Mr Willis was pulled off during the attack last October when a passer-by was alerted by screams.
Giving evidence at Exeter Crown Court Ms Pearson said she was sure she was going to be killed and her body dumped in the graveyard.
The prosecution said the assault followed five years of stalking which included attacks on Ms Pearson's flat and car, and threatening letters and phone calls.
She told the jury it left her "sick, ill and absolutely terrified" and it was "five years of hell".
During her evidence on Monday, Ms Pearson said the accused, of Exe Street, Exeter, had a "murderous" look in his eyes as he pinned her down and tried to stab her in the neck.
A witness said that after being rescued, she said: "It was my stalker."
The court was told the accused allegedly sent poison pen letters to her home branding her a "lying evil girl" and warning her to "watch her back".
Mr Richard Crabb, prosecuting, said Mr Willis, who has admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, was caught on a security camera as he pulled a weapon from his pocket.
Mr Crabb said: "As far as she was concerned, he was going to kill her and it went through her mind the catacombs would be an ideal place to hide a body. Throughout all this he did not utter a single word."
The jury was told Ms Pearson had reported 125 separate incidents to Devon and Cornwall Police regarding stalking.
The trial continues. | A five-year stalking campaign culminated in the attempted murder of a woman who was stabbed in the neck with a pair of scissors, a court has heard. | 26928801 |
Clinching the championship in Austin, Texas, a week ago meant Hamilton achieved a lifetime's ambition in matching the achievements of his childhood hero Ayrton Senna.
But, as with Senna himself, Hamilton's competitiveness and winning mentality have clearly been affected not at all by that success.
Having chased team-mate Nico Rosberg from the start, rarely more than two seconds behind, Hamilton sniffed an opportunity to win when the German was called in to change his tyres on lap 46 of the race at a raucously packed Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
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Now in the lead, Hamilton was told by engineer Peter Bonnington to pit on the next lap. Immediately, he questioned it. "Can I ask why?" he said.
The team were worried about tyre wear, he was told, before being ordered to "box this lap". Hamilton's mechanics were in the pit lane with his tyres, but he did not go in.
Bonnington came back on the radio. "So, Lewis, you WILL be boxing next lap," he said.
Again Hamilton argued. "You need to check his (Rosberg's) tyres," he said. "My tyres are all good."
"So, Lewis," Bonnington said, his voice calm but increasingly firm, "we were down to zero on the first set. If we run longer on this set we will be down to zero if not worse so box at the end of this lap - instruction."
"I think that's the wrong call," Hamilton replied, "but I'm coming in."
Hamilton's thinking was clear. He had been stuck all race. He felt he was faster, but the combination of low-grip track surface and disrupted aerodynamics meant he could not get close enough to Rosberg to try to pass him.
But now he suddenly had an 18-second advantage with 25 laps to go, on tyres that were almost certainly capable of going to the end of the race. And in those circumstances, he fancied his chances of winning.
The new tyres gave Rosberg about a second a lap in pace advantage. So, had the race run without a safety car - which it didn't, but at the time Hamilton was not to know that - he would probably have caught his team-mate before the end of the race.
But Hamilton will have been thinking that he had held Rosberg off before in circumstances like that, and he could do it again.
"There was no risk," Hamilton said afterwards. "There was nothing for me to lose. We have won the constructors' championship, the team have won. So let me take a risk - let's go for it."
That is a racing driver thinking of himself, not the team. A racing driver talking with the confidence borne of comfortably beating Rosberg over the last two seasons, in which Hamilton has demonstrated both to his satisfaction and that of most observers that he is not only a slightly faster driver than the German but also far, far better at wheel-to-wheel racing.
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His response to the team demonstrated his status, as their lead driver and as a man who has now achieved what only nine other drivers in history have done.
And it demonstrated that, third title or not, he wants nothing more than to keep on winning, and grind Rosberg into the dust.
Hamilton's willingness to debate with Bonnington also demonstrated a maturity and desire to take more of an involvement in his races from his car.
Earlier in his career, this was missing, and it underlines his growth as a driver and as a sportsman. It is one of several 'added value' talents that mark out great drivers from merely very good ones.
But it clashed with the team's job, which is first and foremost to finish one-two. For them, there was no benefit to not stopping for fresh tyres when they did, only potential downsides.
Rosberg and Hamilton had absolutely dominated the race, and by lap 46 they had built enough of an advantage over the rest of the field to be able to stop for fresh tyres without losing the lead.
In such circumstances, it is standard practice to do just that because there is nothing to lose. Engineers call it "protecting against a safety car" - reducing the risk of losing places if one is deployed in the event of an accident.
And six laps after Rosberg's stop - four after Hamilton's - there was indeed a safety car, when an unusually off-form Sebastian Vettel finally did what he had been threatening to do all race and smashed his Ferrari into the barriers.
If Mercedes had not stopped either driver when they did, it was Hamilton who would have been at risk when the safety car came out. The two cars would have been "stacked" in the pits - stopped at the same time - and Hamilton would have lost time, and potentially positions.
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As for the claim that there was a safety issue, that was a reference to the fact that, as was demonstrated by the failures at the Belgian Grand Prix in August, when the tyres wear down there is an increased risk of a puncture.
Not stopping would have meant Hamilton doing 43 laps on that set of tyres. Well within the predicted wear life - but then so were Vettel's when he suffered a 200mph blow-out at Spa in August. The Mercedes engineers did not want to take that risk.
As team boss Toto Wolff said: "We had the option tyre down to the canvas (after the first stint), we had the margin for a safety stop and Lewis's tyres were more marginal than Nico's so we decided to do those.
"It was not about tread left then, it was about the end of the race and we would not have risked a team result."
Following the decision to stop, Mercedes were sitting pretty. With fresh tyres, they had no need to stop when the safety car was deployed, and once it pulled off, Hamilton had 13 laps to have a go at his team-mate. As before, he could do nothing about him.
Hamilton dodged the issue after the race, but privately he might well be thinking that he was right to think he should have stayed out.
He had an 18-second lead after Rosberg's stop. The fresh tyres gave both drivers about a second a lap so Rosberg would nowhere near have caught Hamilton by the time the safety car was deployed on lap 52. At which point Hamilton could have come in for his fresh tyres and might have come out still in the lead - which he would almost certainly have kept to the end of the race.
If he was thinking that, though, he did not say it. Indeed, in his post-race interviews he did not seem to have considered it - referring only to the fact that "the tyres would have got cool and Nico would have been right on my tail on fresh tyres".
That suggests he was only considering not stopping at all, which almost certainly was the wrong decision - on fresh tyres with Hamilton on worn ones, Rosberg's chances of passing his team-mate would have been high.
"We'll have a chat when we get back and I have full confidence in those guys," Hamilton added.
Not for the first time with Mercedes over the last two seasons, the events demonstrated the inherent tension in the relationship between a driver and his team, especially when that team is dominant and the two drivers are each other's only real rival.
Mercedes' actions in Mexico were the latest in a series of examples of the team trying to be fair to both drivers while staying as much in control as possible.
It was a strategy that got them into problems during last season, but which has not done so this year because Hamilton has generally been so superior and the championship has not been close.
In different circumstances, though, it is the sort of decision that could cause Mercedes difficulties - and indeed has done already.
An example would be last year's Hungarian Grand Prix, when the two drivers were on different strategies and Hamilton was ordered to let Rosberg by.
That call was predicated on their pre-season agreement that each driver would be given the best chance to make his own strategy work if they were on differing ones.
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But Hamilton knew that if he let Rosberg by, he would almost certainly be beaten by him - and having got himself into a position to compete for victory after starting from the back as a result of an engine fire in qualifying, and having already lost many points to reliability problems, he was not prepared to do that. And he refused.
Rosberg was infuriated. But the team backed Hamilton, Wolff saying the team had made the wrong call. As a result of that, Mercedes took a different approach to race strategies from then on last year.
But it was the grudge Rosberg bore after that decision that directly led to the collision he precipitated at the next race in Belgium. And the fall-out from that - a public and private dressing-down for Rosberg - completely changed the dynamic of both Mercedes internally and the season itself in Hamilton's favour.
Mexico was not a dissimilar situation. A driver thinking of himself rather than the team. A miscommunication or apparent mistrust between him and his engineer. A potential victory denied.
"It was clear he was questioning it because he saw an advantage," team boss Toto Wolff said. "If he didn't do that he wouldn't be a racing driver. Finally it is clear the team knows what is happening out there on track and everything is cool."
For how long, though? With both titles already won, and relatively little at stake, it is likely this will blow over this time.
But unless Wolff and co-team boss Paddy Lowe are not careful about how they handle the fall-out from Sunday's events with Hamilton, it's not impossible that at some point in the future what happened in Mexico might come back to haunt Mercedes. | Lewis Hamilton's argument with his Mercedes team during the Mexican Grand Prix made it clear that claiming a third world title has changed nothing in his motivation and determination to continue winning. | 34695516 |
Exhausted delegates were held up for hours in the final stage of the conference as final glitches were ironed out.
It was a typical last-minute drama in climate talks. The world is gathered to cheer a deal, then a few nations decide to dig in their heels.
This time, the US is one of the deadline delayers; it often is.
The text says developed countries "shall" take the lead in cutting emissions. US lawyers say this will never get through Congress.
"Shall" implies legally binding; the verb should be "should".
It's apparently an oversight, or a translation error. Whatever it is, it creates a moment of opportunity for other big players to find more "errors" to benefit them.
US Secretary of State John Kerry is in the thick of it. He's calling someone on his mobile phone, then handing the phone to other delegates - with the White House presumably at the other end.
Just as "shall" is eventually being softened to "should" in a text revision, other obstacles are being raised in the chase towards the finish line.
First it is Turkey. The UN is asking it to do too much, Turkey complains. The French conference chairman Lauren Fabius promises to hear its plea later.
Then Nicaragua will not sign up. It says there is a total mismatch between what the document says is needed to protect the climate, and what it proposes to do about it.
This is true and others nations feel the same. But they are not willing to ruin the deal to make the point.
How was this hurdle overcome? Well, it is rumoured that the Pope had to phone the president of Nicaragua to make a personal plea.
An even more outlandish rumour suggests UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had to promise to visit Nicaragua on 26 December to celebrate Christmas.
Whatever the truth of these rumours, this extraordinary deal was eventually done.
We will have to keep an eye on Mr Ban to see where he will be eating his turkey.
Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin
COP 21 - the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties - saw more than 190 nations gather in Paris to agree a new global deal on climate change, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the threat of dangerous warming due to human activities.
Explained: What is climate change?
In video: Why does the Paris conference matter?
Analysis: Latest from BBC environment correspondent Matt McGrath
In graphics: Climate change in six charts
More: BBC News special report (or follow the COP21 tag in the BBC News app) | As world leaders hail what they are calling an historic deal at the climate summit, rumours abound about how the final deadlock was resolved. | 35087220 |
However, their hopes of moving closer towards a first title since 1993 may depend on the rain that is forecast in Birmingham on Saturday.
Sam Robson made 74 and Stevie Eskinazi 53 as Middlesex moved their overnight score on from 63-0 to declare on 267-7.
Set 338 to win, Warwickshire closed the third day on 74-3, with home skipper Ian Bell at the crease on 12.
He was joined for the final six overs by nightwatchman Chris Wright, who 10 not out against his former county.
On a turning pitch on which Bears leg-spinner Josh Poysden took his haul of wickets in the game to eight, Middlesex look to be in a commanding position but for the poor weather forecast.
Middlesex began the match five points clear of second-placed Yorkshire, who are on top against Hampshire but were restricted to only 19 overs of play on Friday because of bad weather.
If both games are drawn, Yorkshire would edge a point closer, having picked up one more batting point.
Warwickshire captain Ian Bell told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire:
"Today was about character and fighting and about how much it means to us and we showed all that. The bowlers were exceptional, they ran in really hard and made it hard for Middlesex to push on.
"It is going to be extremely hard for us. I haven't won a toss in the Championship this year, which doesn't help, and we are playing on a used pitch, so it was a hell of a good toss to win and we are on the back end of that.
"We have got to show some character and bat as long as we can. There might be a bit of bad weather around but we can't rely on that. We have just got to look to bat for 96 overs.
"No excuses. I don't think we have been good enough again in this game. It's been a common trend this season and probably the back end of last season as well.
"It hasn't been quite right for a while and we need to address that. It's a question of consistency. On paper we are a fantastic side but one day we are fantastic and the next day we don't back it up. We need to get that consistency you need to win championships."
Middlesex batsman Sam Robson told BBC Radio London:
"We've had a good day. We were in a strong position this morning, so it was just a matter of having a good first session and going from there.
"It was tough work most of the day and a bit of a grind on that wicket, but to get the score we got and then take three wickets was very pleasing.
"We had a target we wanted to get to before we accelerated because we knew that it's the sort of pitch where if you lose one wicket you can lose two, three or four quickly.
"There is a little bit of weather around so that had a little bit of a bearing. We feel we have got enough runs. But they are a really good side and, with Ian Bell at the crease, we are going to have to bowl very well." | County Championship leaders Middlesex need a further seven wickets to beat Warwickshire on day four at Edgbaston. | 37252173 |
The fly-half, 28, has joined up with the English Premiership side following Wales' exit from the World Cup.
Priestland, who has won 40 caps for Wales, signed for Bath this year after 10 years playing for Scarlets and made his debut in Saturday's loss at Wasps.
"We want Rhys with us and he's going to take a break from international rugby for the next 18 months," Ford said.
"[It's] his choice and he wants to develop here, get settled at Bath and put a lot of effort and time into being the best player he can be at Bath.
"When George [Ford, the England fly-half and son of Mike Ford] is away with the Six Nations, Rhys will be our 10.
"Eighteen months later is still two years away from the next World Cup and he's still young enough, if he wants to carry on playing for his country, he can do."
Priestland had been first choice for much of Warren Gatland's reign as Wales coach, and rose to prominence in the build-up to the 2011 World Cup.
A late injury replacement for Stephen Jones in the first warm-up match against England, he went on to play a prominent role in Wales' journey to the semi-finals, and was an ever-present during the Grand Slam the following year.
Like most who have worn the Wales number 10 shirt, Priestland was subjected to intense scrutiny during his Test career, and once admitted to seeking psychological help to cope with the rigours of international rugby.
Dan Biggar was Wales' first-choice number 10 during the 2015 World Cup, with Priestland the reserve.
On Saturday, he came on for Bath after Kyle Eastmond suffered an injury at Wasps, taking over at fly-half with Ford switching to scrum-half in the 16-9 defeat.
"I thought he did very well, and he's been excellent in training for us," added Ford, speaking to BBC Radio Bristol.
"It's a good acquisition for us to have George and Rhys fighting for that 10 position, because we relied too much on George last year." | Rhys Priestland will take an 18-month break from playing for Wales, according to his Bath coach Mike Ford. | 34627560 |
But are politicians using these platforms effectively to get their message across? And does their social media effort actually translate into votes?
During the final two weeks of the general election campaign, eight young voters from the BBC's Generation 2015 panel closely monitored Scotland's political parties and most prominent figures. They told the BBC Scotland news website who they thought got it right in the battle for Scotland's young voters.
The entire panel agreed that a major benefit of social media as a campaigning tool was in making politicians seem more "accessible" than ever before.
Young voter Rebecca Plenderleith, who has spent most of the campaign as an undecided voter, said social media brought a "humanity" to politics, while Conservative voter Struan Mackie said it enabled voters to see "past the party" and learn more about the personality of the candidates.
But others questioned how much this perception of politicians as "accessible" actually translated into reality.
Several of our panellists, while impressed with the high volume of politicians using social media, were disappointed that many of them would not interact with voters who weren't already clear supporters.
Similarly, several felt that much of the content posted on social media seemed to be intended to rally the party faithful rather than to attract new potential voters.
Lib Dem voter James Munro said: "Posts that are just full of rhetoric don't really add anything to the debate. Slogans like 'Only the SNP can make Scotland's voice heard' or 'Only UKIP can stand up to Westminster' have no effect on me."
Despite being a Green party member, Zoe Mcintyre has been trying to choose another party to vote for, as there is no Green candidate in her constituency.
One major criticism she had was that many of the official party accounts simply reposted statements they perceived as favourable to them, without attempting to explain to voters why their policy objectives would be of benefit.
The panel noted that high profile party figures appeared to be much better than less well versed candidates at showing their personality in what they posted.
Several of the panel singled out Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson as "winning at Twitter" for her down-to-earth approach to social media.
After Ms Davidson's "You ok, hun?" Twitter comment [on David Cameron's Twitter feed after he was accused of "demeaning the Office of Prime Minister" by Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy], SNP voter Craig Maclean said: "That had me in stitches. I wouldn't vote for her party just now, but little things like that show a human nature and did warm me towards Ruth Davidson".
Labour voter Eva Murray said she thought Kezia Dugdale and Margaret Curran's "sassy" replies in response to personal abuse on Twitter had helped get away from the "people in suits" image people have of politicians, while Nicola Sturgeon was described as "rarely, if ever, slipping up".
By contrast, our panel said many other MPs lacked the personal touch, using their Twitter feeds as "a dump for links to manifesto points" or simply to plug press releases.
Voter Zoe Mcintyre was also critical of the length of David Cameron's personal Facebook posts, saying "not many people have time or care enough" to read three paragraphs of solid text.
Our panel's advice to politicians on how to appeal to young voters on social media
1. Don't run a negative campaign. Focus on your message rather than making "cheap shots" at your opponents.
2. Show personality in what you share, don't just post generic messages.
3. Similarly, don't just post endless pictures of you on the campaign trail - particularly when the photo op seems irrelevant to the election.
4. Using hashtags can be a good idea, but anticipate ones which may get hijacked by others to make jokes at the party's expense.
5. Adapt your posts to fit the social media platform you're on, e.g. creating easily shareable content or maybe even using emojis. But don't overdo, as it might make some young voters think you're trying too hard.
James Munro was frustrated that most politicians weren't taking advantage of opportunities provided by social media to speak directly to their constituents.
He said: "Coming from up north and with most of my family in the Highlands or islands, they are very concerned about an MP who stands up for local issues rather than what's on a national scale necessarily. That's one thing I've barely seen on social media."
While some voters liked the Conservative party's Your Manifesto tool - which extracts information from the user's Facebook profile to compile a set of policies relevant to their area - one major criticism was that while the application identified their area as Scotland, it failed to break down further into Scottish regions.
Our panel repeatedly mentioned "negative campaign messages" - that focus on criticising other parties - as a big turn-off, while photo-shopped images making jibes at other parties were described as "infuriatingly childish".
James Munro said: "This election has been far too much about inter-party squabbling. I couldn't tell you a single actual policy for quite a few of the parties because it's just not on their social media at all."
Meanwhile, Zoe Mcintyre said she was concerned that first-time voters seeing this kind of campaigning might be put off voting at all.
Undecided voter Laura Fell said that more creative hashtags might have attracted voters, with most parties opting for self-evident but uninspired choices, namely #voteLabour, #VoteConservative, #voteSNP, #libdems, #votegreen2015.
But undecided voter Noah Brown was also critical of more inventive hashtags such as "I'm #SNPbecause" and "#WhyImVotingUKIP", saying "you end up with a list of other people's perceptions, rather than manifesto based realities".
James Munro also warned of hashtags like these being hijacked by those seeking to make jokes at the parties' expense.
Another thing that left our panel less than impressed was politicians sharing their endless photo opportunities, particularly when they seemed to have little relevance to the election.
Commenting on an image shared by the Scottish Conservatives, Zoe said: "How is a picture of Ruth Davidson with a hawk on her arm going to convince people to vote Conservative? Surely she should be having more photos taken with the electorate!"
Noah Brown: "In some respects I think social media brought out the worst in people, but I don't think it made a difference to how I voted. I voted Scottish Greens in the end and it was doing research on my local candidates that swung it for me."
Struan Mackie: "I'm still voting for the Scottish Conservatives. But references to the referendum or independence have put me off several SNP candidates, Mhari Black for example. This is a general election and rearing the independence question again isn't appropriate."
Eva Murray: "I think social media has a huge influence in getting people involved in politics and getting ideas out there, but I don't think it would have the power to persuade me to vote for a party other than Labour."
Craig Maclean: "I'm still voting SNP. My impression of the Conservative party in Scotland has become less negative due to Ruth Davidson, but I still wouldn't vote for them. My impression of Labour in Scotland has gone down, mostly because of Jim Murphy, but I do like what some of their figures in England - Andy Burnham and Diane Abbot - are saying on Twitter."
James Munro: "I'd definitely say Ruth Davidson has gone a long way to improving the Scottish Conservatives in my mind. I still probably would never vote for them but she seemed like the only politician on social media who was a human being and actually ran her own media."
Rebecca Plenderleith: "Social media has ensured that I definitely won't be voting for either the Tories or Labour. What they don't realise is that by insulting other parties on social media they come across as if they are scared that their policies alone will not be enough to win them seats. I was an undecided voter. I'll now definitely be voting Liberal Democrat."
Laura Fell: "Nothing in particular has persuaded my vote. I am stuck between the choice of two parties, Labour and SNP, but I hate it when parties slag each other off and start scaremongering."
Zoe Mcintyre: "Social media hasn't persuaded me to vote a certain way. I'm voting Labour, even though I think the majority of their posts have been pretty negative. But I would say I dislike Tories more from their social media because it's all so negative." | Having seen how social media engaged voters during last year's referendum, politicians from all parties have been joining everything from Facebook and Twitter to Instagram, Vine and Snapchat in a bid to reach out to a younger and more digitally savvy electorate. | 32589661 |
Walcott, 26, scored the first goal as Arsenal comfortably defeated Aston Villa 4-0 in the final at Wembley.
But the Gunners came third in the Premier League, 12 points behind champions Chelsea, and have not won the league title since the 2003-04 season.
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"The Premier League has to be the next target for us," said Walcott.
"That's two FA Cup wins now but this is one of the best squads we have had at Arsenal so we should be achieving more. We need to start well in the Premier League next year."
Walcott suffered a serious knee injury in January 2014 that saw him miss the 2014 FA Cup final, where Arsenal beat Hull City 3-2 at Wembley.
The England international only played two games in November before another injury kept him out for a further two months.
But he finished the season strongly with a hat-trick in Arsenal's last Premier League match, a 4-1 win against West Brom as Walcott was preferred to Olivier Giroud up front.
Walcott opened the scoring in the 40th minute at Wembley before further goals from Alexis Sanchez, Per Mertesacker and Giroud secured the victory.
"I missed all this last year and to be part of it this year is a dream come true," added Walcott.
"My family are here and I have worked so hard, as has everyone to do this. I want to thank the manager for picking me and having faith in me and hopefully I repaid him.
"I also want to thank the physios and everyone who has looked after me. This is for them."
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has now guided the Gunners to two trophies in two seasons after eight campaigns without winning any silverware.
"We have shown that we are a real team and can deal with pressure," said Wenger. "I congratulate the players, the staff and the fans. We are so happy.
"I had a difficult week to pick the team. But when confidence and sprit is so good it helps. I am very proud. Our club is doing well and if I can personally do well then it's even better.
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"I have two more years of my contract and my hunger is great."
Wenger has won the Premier League three times, with their last success coming with the 2003-04 side that remained unbeaten throughout their league season.
He added: "Of course I think we can push on. Why not? We have won the league in the past when we have had potential to do it and that's what we want to do again.
"That's what we want to show next season but you also don't know how good the other teams will be.
"It is about consistency at the top level and in the past we have won leagues when we have been consistent."
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey is also adamant that his side can win the Premier League title in 2015-16.
"It's a great feeling," said Ramsey. "We really wanted this one. Winning back-to-back FA Cups is not an easy thing to do and we have done it.
"Now we can look forward to next season and kick on and give it a real go in the Premier League."
Striker Olivier Giroud scored Arsenal's fourth goal in injury-time after coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute.
He feels it is vital that the key players remain at the club.
"If we keep this squad, with one or two more players, we will have a good chance to challenge for the title," said Giroud. "The Premier League title is the target. Hopefully we will be there." | Arsenal forward Theo Walcott says the Gunners have to challenge for next season's Premier League title after they successfully retained the FA Cup. | 32948071 |
But after talks in Edinburgh, Mrs May appeared unwilling to consider a second referendum on Scottish independence.
She said people in Scotland sent a "very clear message" in 2014.
Ms Sturgeon said blocking a referendum, if it was wanted by the Scottish people, would be "completely wrong".
The first minister believes Scottish interests have been put "at risk" by the result of the EU referendum.
She has said she wants to explore all options - including independence - to maintain Scotland's relationship with the EU.
Speaking after the "positive" meeting, the prime minister said: "I'm willing to listen to options and I've been very clear with the first minister today that I want the Scottish government to be fully engaged in our discussion.
"I have already said that I won't be triggering Article 50 until I think that we have a UK approach and objectives for negotiations - I think it is important that we establish that before we trigger Article 50."
Asked about the possibility of a second referendum on Scottish independence, Mrs May said: "As far as I'm concerned, the Scottish people had their vote - they voted in 2014 - and a very clear message came through.
"Both the United Kingdom and the Scottish governments said they would abide by that," she added.
"We now have the challenge though as the United Kingdom, to ensure that we can get the best possible deal for the whole of the United Kingdom from the EU negotiations when the UK leaves the EU.
"I'm very clear that the government I lead will be for all parts of the United Kingdom and for all people."
Ms Sturgeon said: "I was very pleased that Theresa May said that she was absolutely willing to consider any options that the Scottish government now bring forward to secure Scotland's relationship with the European Union, that the process that now takes shape by the UK government will be open and flexible, and that the Scottish government will be fully involved in that.
"I have been very clear that we have to make sure that Scotland's interests are protected and I want to examine every option of doing that."
The first minister said: "It would be inconceivable for any prime minister to seek to stand in the way of a referendum if that is what the Scottish Parliament voted for, and we have heard from other Conservative politicians in the past few weeks that that would be the wrong thing to do as well.
"So I work on the basis that trying to block a referendum, if there's a clear sense that that's what people in Scotland want, would be completely the wrong thing to do."
Ms Sturgeon added that she and Mrs May were from "very different places on the political spectrum".
But she added: "She's a woman who has a fairly businesslike way of doing things, which I have too. So I think we can find a way of working together, notwithstanding those disagreements."
Speaking earlier on BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, Scottish Secretary David Mundell described the idea of Scotland remaining within the UK at the same time as remaining in the EU as "fanciful".
He told the programme: "I certainly don't think it's possible for Scotland to remain within the EU and the rest of the UK to be outwith the EU. I think that is fanciful."
Mr Mundell said he believed both Nicola Sturgeon and Theresa May would have a "constructive" relationship and their collective aim would be to get the best deal for Scotland and the UK in the EU negotiations.
However, he warned: "Of course it's not going to be doable on a basis that satisfies Nicola Sturgeon's ultimate aim of making Scotland an independent country.
"Theresa May doesn't agree with Scotland being an independent country, I don't agree and two million people in Scotland who voted in our own referendum don't agree with that.
"So we're not going to be in agreement with that and we're not going to be in agreement with the idea that there should be another independence referendum."
Also speaking on the programme, the SNP MP Stephen Gethins, who is the party's spokesman on Europe, said he would like to see an acknowledgement from Westminster that Scotland voted differently from the UK referendum result.
He said: "We can find innovative political solutions to this if only the Westminster government are willing to listen."
He added: "You can find a solution whereby Scotland remains in the European Union within the United Kingdom, there are ways you can do that.
"Independence is also an option, but that's only one of a number of options that are being considered.
"But if you look at the way the European Union and the United Kingdom have found solutions over the past 40 years, I'd been very surprised if the political will is there, that they can't find a solution to this particular impasse at the moment." | Prime Minister Theresa May has told First Minister Nicola Sturgeon she is "willing to listen to options" on Scotland's future relationship with the European Union. | 36800536 |
The assembly bought the 19th century property in east Belfast to provide extra office accommodation.
However, it was later deemed unfit for that purpose and was costing an estimated £400 a day to secure and maintain.
The grade B listed building is understood to have been bought by a local businessman.
It was previously owned by the shipbuilder Sir Edward Harland, who lived there until 1887.
It was then acquired by his business partner William Pirrie, who later became the chairman of Harland & Wolff.
Shortly after Lord Pirrie's death in 1924, Harland and Wolff came into sole ownership of the property, selling it in 1928 to Campbell College, which held it until the mid-1970s.
In 2001, the assembly bought it from the Police Authority, the predecessor of the Northern Ireland Policing Board. | The Northern Ireland Assembly has sold Ormiston House for just over £1.5m, a building it bought for £9m in 2001. | 30932357 |
The woman could face two days' suspension without pay from the Guardia Civil, Spain's military force, El Pais newspaper reported.
She was in a patrol car in Barcelona on 8 March - International Women's Day - but rushed off to a toilet for 5-10 minutes because she was menstruating.
An officer reported her for doing so.
A witness quoted by El Pais said the policewoman explained her brief absence to the officer, a lieutenant, who shouted at her: "Don't tell me fibs, you go to the toilet before or after the patrol, but not during it."
Faced with the official reprimand, the policewoman decided to activate the Guardia Civil's procedure for alleged harassment at work.
The lieutenant said she disobeyed orders by failing to ask permission for the toilet break while on duty. | A Spanish policewoman reprimanded for briefly abandoning duty during her period has accused an officer of harassment, reports say. | 39556185 |
Holyrood's education committee said it had heard "eye-opening" accounts of unclear guidance and mistakes in exam papers.
A survey of teachers carried out by the committee suggested two-thirds had little trust in the SQA.
Its report made a series of recommendations for improvement.
Much of the criticism of the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) stems from perceived problems around the introduction of new exams, including National 4 and 5 and the new Higher.
It has included concerns over last year's Higher geography exam, which was described as "poor, shocking, terrible, worst ever and nothing like the specimen or previous paper" by members of the Scottish Association of Geography Teachers.
The SQA also admitted a series of mistakes in the national 5 computing science exam.
And in 2015, the pass mark for Higher maths was dropped to just 34%, and to 60% for an A grade, with the SQA admitting the exam had been too hard.
The education committee's report said the SQA had produced qualifications that had led to an "onerous workload, a breakdown in trust and threats of industrial action by teachers".
It said it had received clear evidence pointing to a breakdown in the trust of the SQA by teachers.
And it raised concerns about exam scripts that either contained errors or were difficult to understand.
Among its key recommendations were:
The report followed scrutiny of four key public bodies charged with developing and implementing education and skills policy - the SQA, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and Education Scotland.
It also raised concern about the recommended abolition of the SFC as part of moves to put all of the Scottish government's economic agencies under a single national board.
The report questioned the evidence for the change, and called on the Scottish government to carefully consider the impact abolishing the SFC board will have on higher education, including on widening access, before proceeding.
SNP MSP James Dornan, the committee's convenor, said: "The evidence our committee received was nothing less than eye-opening about some of the problems faced by those working so hard on the front line of education.
"We heard first-hand about the time-consuming burden of guidance that has been placed on teachers, something the cabinet secretary has already shown his commitment to deal with.
"However, there continues to be confusing and contradictory messages coming from the very bodies that should be making it easy for our teachers to focus on the needs of our children."
Mr Dornan said the committee had told the organisations concerned "in no uncertain terms" how their actions impact on teachers.
He added: "The committee found it hard to understand how, in particular, the SQA has met the needs of Scotland's learners having designed qualifications that have created a huge workload for teachers and led to a breakdown in trust and threats of industrial action."
The SQA thanked the committee for its recommendations, which it said would now be studied in detail.
A spokesman said: "Our relationship with teachers is critically important to the successful delivery of Scotland's qualifications system and every year 15,000 teachers work with us as appointees.
"We are committed to addressing the committee's findings, especially in this period of change, and are working to continue to improve our communication with the wider community.
"We are already streamlining the documentation associated with the qualifications as new arrangements are rolled out.
"We are keenly aware of our responsibility to establish and maintain the standard and quality of qualifications for the benefit of learners across Scotland." | Urgent work is needed to rebuild the relationship between Scotland's teachers and the country's exam body, according to MSPs. | 38642209 |
Longton Cottage Hospital closed in September amid staff shortages at hospitals run by Staffordshire and Stoke Partnership NHS Trust.
Thirty seven beds have since been reopened on a temporary basis, along with 28 beds in Stafford.
Latest figures showed local A&E performance to be the worst in England.
Last week, just 63.7% of people attending emergency units at the Royal Stoke University Hospital and Stafford's County Hospital were seen within four hours, compared with a national target of 95%.
The next worst performing trust was the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which treated 70.3% of patients within four hours.
Staffordshire and Stoke Partnership NHS Trust, which runs community hospitals in the area, said reopening Longton Hospital was expected to cost up to £90,000 a week. | A cottage hospital that had to close because of staff shortages has been reopened to help tackle pressure on Accident and Emergency departments. | 31779172 |
Christopher Williams, 25, who was living in Derby, died at the scene of the crash on the A52, in Bottesford, on 25 May 2016.
Garry Allen, 33, of Cressing Road, Braintree, Essex, was arrested at the time and has now been charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
He is due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court on Friday. | A man has been charged nearly a year after a collision in which a motorcyclist died in Leicestershire. | 39652762 |
There is a general view that Europe is struggling with a dramatic turning point in its history.
The front page of France's Le Figaro says "everything has changed" because of the UK vote. Its editorial makes a criticism - echoed widely in the European press - that the EU has become too remote from voters.
This is "the end of Europe as we knew it", writes Philippe Gelie, and the EU must "review everything - methods, objectives, and participants", in order to save itself.
Le Monde's editorial sees the vote as the response of those "abused by globalisation... which in Europe is represented by the European Union".
It warns European leaders that if they do not address the decline in wages and public services that many Europeans associate with migration, populists will continue to tempt voters with their "miracle cures - or worse".
Liberation's editorial also puts the blame for Brexit firmly on the EU, which it says ignored public discontent, with its "tortuous path towards a bright utopia", and "finished the job with its soft response to the social crisis and irresolution over the migration crisis".
The result is that, not only in Britain, "ordinary people are turning towards their nations as the only credible bulwark against the excesses of globalisation".
Liberation's solution is for the European Commission to cede power to the European Parliament, which can then make the voice of the people heard and "ward off the democratic crisis".
German papers also focus on the impetus Brexit has given to other Eurosceptic parties on the continent, and Die Welt says Chancellor Angela Merkel may also come under pressure. It says she has contributed to "the EU's political failure through her unilateral actions on refugee policy".
Looking at the UK, it predicts a gloomy future in which UKIP will mutate into a "mild form of fascism" to exploit economic discontent, leaving the country "like France today: full of resentment, incapable of reform, and divided".
Tageszeitung's front page has the ironic headline - in English - "Well done, Little Britain". The Brexit vote has "rocked the continent, left populists everywhere jubilant, and really angered young Europeans", it says.
But the paper also warns that the vote was a revolt "against those on high", and that populist parties in Europe will now use the referendum threat to put pressure on their own governments.
"The European Union is now at a turning point, and if the German government thinks it can continue just like before, it could bring this Europe crashing down around their ears," it concludes.
In Italy, Corriere della Sera's Antonio Polito says the EU must show "humility" in addressing public concern about its policies.
La Repubblica's financial analysts say the wave of Euroscepticism means the "end of globalisation" and the grim possibility of a fall in Italy's growth rate this year.
The paper also devotes considerable space to the idea of an independent London. Enrico Franceschini likes the idea, declaring "Enjoy your Little England. But leave London out of it. Shall we begin collecting signatures to found the London Free State?"
Spain's El Mundo focuses on the harm it sees Brexit doing to the European economy, but is sure that EU-UK relations will remain strong.
In the Dutch NRC Next tabloid former European Commission official Luuk van Middelaar calls on European leaders to "hold the line" against populist Eurosceptics, by showing that Brexit is "an amputation, not a death blow".
The leaders must address "disillusionment with the EU among their own voters", by strengthening EU border controls and reinforcing the eurozone, he says.
De Telegraaf's front page suggests that the EU fears the Netherlands will be next to seek an exit referendum.
A poll it carried out shows most voters fearing exit would be "bad for our wallets" and reduce the country's role on the world stage, but their lead over "Nexit" supporters is narrow.
The editorial in Sweden's Dagens Nyheter sees a "dark day for Europe" and in particular for Sweden, which it considers to be one of the "big losers" by Brexit because the UK was its "important ally on free trade, being a non-euro economy".
It calls for a "strong and well-coordinated EU" to meet the challenges of migration and Russia's new assertiveness. Like most other papers, it says Europe must address the concerns of a sceptical public who "vote as citizens of their own countries, not as Europeans".
A leading Polish daily, Rzeczpospolita, has published an interview with former Polish president, Aleksander Kwasniewski, who is unforgiving.
He says British anti-migrant sentiment is "terrible hypocrisy". "They need migrants like they need air, then use them to present a negative narrative," he complains.
As for the impact of Brexit on Europe, he is more restrained. "It's not yet the greatest misfortune, but still quite a big headache."
The UK vote is still a top story in Russia, with official TV channels making much of the protests in London and Scotland, calls for a referendum in Denmark, and Spain "trying to break off a chunk of Britain" in the form of Gibraltar.
Analyst Alexei Mukhin tells the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper that "Brexit is playing out in Russia's interests" because "Britain was the EU member most hostile to Russia, and its departure will make the EU more friendly".
Columnist Yulia Latynina writes in the independent daily Novaya Gazeta that British voters "rose up" against the EU because it is a "massive socialist state, devouring the ruins of European civilisation".
Some commentators wonder whether the UK will use its new status to forge stronger links with Asia.
The Times of India says India may be hit by post-Brexit market uncertainty, and Indian companies will have to reconsider using Britain as "the springboard to Europe". The paper sees protectionist tendencies as a threat to emerging economies like India.
Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun fears that Britain may seek closer ties with China and thereby "endanger Japan's national security, in light of moves by Beijing to strengthen its maritime presence in the region".
Rwanda's official New Times flags up the possibility of the UK breaking up, and urges African countries to draw the lesson that "there is strength in unity, and staying together is healthier than being a lone wolf".
BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook. | European newspapers see the UK Brexit vote as a serious blow to European unity and a warning that EU politicians must address widespread economic pain. | 36629063 |
Darren Turk, of Etchingham, was accused of 14 offences including rape and indecent assault, from 1996 to 2002.
The offences were allegedly carried out against boys aged 11 to 15 at Frewen College, Northiam, where he then worked.
The charges did not involve any staff or pupils currently at the school.
Sussex Police said the trial at Lewes Crown Court had been stopped after Mr Turk, 54, of Fontridge Lane, was found dead at his home on Thursday.
A police spokesman said: "There are no suspicious circumstances and the coroner's officer has been informed."
Mr Turk was a member of care staff and later head of care at the boarding school but not a teacher.
Frewen College describes itself as a day and boarding school for children aged between seven and 19 with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia. | A 54-year-old former boarding school care worker, on trial accused of historical child sex abuse, has been found dead at his East Sussex home. | 36548796 |
The Briton, 27, will defend the WBO title he won in 2015 when he faces the American in London on 16 September.
The fight is a week after Gennady Golovkin's bout with Saul Alvarez in Las Vegas, where the division's three other titles will be on the line.
"If Bill comes through, we are pushing hard for the winner," said Warren.
"If Golovkin wins, I hope we can do that fight in December. If Canelo wins, it could be in the new year. Bill has to go out there and prove a point. There is a lot on the line."
Saunders is undefeated in 24 professional bouts but has defended his world title just once and has not fought since December.
He was due to face Avtandil Khurtsidze in July but that fight was postponed when the Georgian was arrested.
Saunders says he will be in "the best shape of my life" when he meets 30-year-old Monroe Jr at the Copper Box Arena.
The American has two defeats - one a sixth-round stoppage against Golovkin - from 23 fights.
"I think it is going to be a very close fight but I already have the mental edge over him," said Saunders. "He said he was done against Golovkin and that's not what a warrior would do. I'd rather get knocked out cold than quit."
Monroe Jr said: "I gave a good account of myself against Golovkin but I will admit that I got caught up in the moment.
"Billy Joe has had a lot of luxuries throughout his career that I haven't had. All of his fights have been in his own backyard. He hasn't had to go into the lion's den to prove himself." | Billy Joe Saunders must "prove a point" in beating Willie Monroe Jr if he wants to unify the middleweight division, says promoter Frank Warren. | 40640745 |
The 24-year-old maintained the sparkling form which has seen him set new Scottish records at 5,000m and 3,000m in the past five weeks.
He broke away with four laps to go and enjoyed a celebratory final lap as he finished in 13 minutes, 44.00 seconds.
Tom Farrell pipped fellow Englishman Andy Vernon for second place.
"I am absolutely buzzing," said Butchart, a member of the Central Athletics Club based in Stirling.
"I was really nervous for today, it was my first chance of winning a British title and I am really happy to be going to Rio, I'm over the moon.
"This is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am so excited to represent my country and so looking forward to the Games.
"I have been working so hard to get it done."
Fellow Scot Eilidh Doyle comfortably won her 400m hurdles heat in 56.30 seconds - nearly two seconds quicker than anyone else in the three heats - to qualify for Sunday's final at 13:46 BST.
Laura Muir was the fastest qualifier for Sunday's 1500m final (15:27) in four minutes, 15.07 seconds, winning the second heat ahead of Charlene Thomas (4:15.46) and Jessica Judd (4:16.18). Sarah McDonald, Laura Weightman and Hannah England were the leading trio in the opening heat.
Lynsey Sharp won her 800m heat in 2:01.86, with only Jenny Meadows (2:01.33) qualifying faster for Sunday's final at 16:33.
Chris O'Hare won his 1500m heat and Jake Wightman finished second in his to both reach the final, at 15:05 on Sunday. Englishman Tom Lancashire, who won the final heat, was the fastest qualifier. | Andrew Butchart surged clear of the field to win the British Championships 5,000m and seal his place in Great Britain's Olympics team for Rio. | 36629834 |
Rasmus Barlow, 16, was reported missing on Monday by his father leading to a large-scale search by police.
His death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner's office.
Police said family liaison officers were continuing to support the teenager's family. | A body found at the bottom of the cliff at Cheddar Gorge has been formally identified as that of a missing Strode College student. | 34750462 |
The clashes happened outside the Nilton Santos stadium ahead of a match in the Rio state championship.
Local media said tension was running high ahead of the game, which Flamengo won 2-1.
Gunshots could be heard ringing out and some of those injured had bullet wounds.
A 28-year-old Botafogo supporter, Diego Silva dos Santos, died after being taken to hospital with a gunshot wound to the chest.
Eyewitnesses said he had been shot from a moving car outside the Nilton Santos stadium, which is also known as Engenhao.
Botafogo released a statement [in Portuguese] saying the club rejected any kind of violence
Flamengo also expressed its condolences in a post on Twitter [in Portuguese] saying: "We lament the death of the fan and what happened at Engenhao. Peace always. Football is happiness."
The stadium was the venue for the athletic events at the Olympic Games, which Rio hosted last year.
While it is not unusual for fans of the rival teams to clash, deaths are not common. | A football fan was killed and seven more injured as supporters of rival teams Botafogo and Flamengo clashed in Rio on Sunday. | 38955459 |
In an interview, Palmer Luckey said currently no single Apple computer met the minimum specifications for the Rift.
The problem lay in the fact that Apple did not prioritise powerful graphics hardware, he added.
By contrast, HTC said its headset would work with Apple machines at launch.
Questioned at a Microsoft Xbox press event, Mr Luckey said support for the Oculus Rift headset on Macs depended on the way Apple built its machines.
"If they ever release a good computer, we will do it," he said.
"It just boils down to the fact that Apple doesn't prioritise high-end GPUs," he told the Shack News site. The Rift, and other headsets, typically require the computer to which they are connected to possess a powerful graphics card or GPU. Buying or building a machine to support the Rift has been estimated to cost about £1,000 ($1,500).
Some research suggests that fewer than 1% of the world's PCs are running hardware that can support VR headsets.
"You can buy a $6,000 Mac Pro with the top-of-the-line AMD FirePro D700, and it still doesn't match our recommended specs," he said, adding that the company would "love" to support Mac machines.
Apple has not responded to Mr Luckey's criticism.
In May last year, Oculus "paused" development of support for Mac and Linux computers in favour of getting everything ready for machines running Windows.
Oculus's stance is at odds with HTC which has said that its Vive headset would work with Linux and Mac machines from "day one". However, a VR testing tool released by HTC partner Valve last week currently only works on Windows.
The Oculus Rift headset is scheduled for release on 28 March and the HTC Vive headset will start shipping soon after on 5 April. | The Rift headset will be available on Mac machines when Apple releases a "good computer," said the founder of the Oculus virtual reality firm. | 34209149 |
The Ballymurphy families represent 10 people killed in west Belfast as the government introduced internment - imprisonment without trial.
They walked out of a meeting with James Brokenshire on Monday.
They had urged him to release funds for inquests into the shootings.
"My father was murdered, he was shot 14 times when he was defenceless as he lay on the ground," said John Teggart.
"I will continue to campaign but I am really disappointed with how things went. I thought better with the new secretary of state."
Mr Teggart said the families had told the secretary of state what happened to their loved ones and how they had been campaigning.
"We had asked about funds for the legacy inquest, but he refused to answer," he said.
"We asked him to release funds out of the £150m set aside by the British government to deal with the legacy of the past. He refused to answer questions on that. He batted it back and put it back to the executive.
"We walked out because he was going around in circles and refused to answer questions."
Mr Teggart said that referring the matter back to the Executive was "a red herring".
He insisted that funds should be released.
"It is not just the Ballymurphy families. It is ourselves, Kingsmills, the RUC widows - All our hurt is the same. We are campaigning for the same thing. It is up to the British Government to release the funds."
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "The legacy aspect of the Fresh Start agreement is one that is continuing to exercise all of use, but more importantly the families of victims. I am hoping that the last piece of the jigsaw can be put in place," he said.
"I do believe there is a huge responsibility on the British government to stop using the delays of others on the issue. They should fund those inquests as requested by the Lord Chief Justice.
"This is a big issue, these people have waited for 45 years and I think it is only right that the British government take up their responsibility."
Ten people were shot dead in west Belfast in the three days after internment was introduced, in what the bereaved families refer to as the Ballymurphy Massacre.
A priest and a mother of eight were among the civilians killed by the Parachute Regiment.
An 11th person died of a heart attack after a confrontation involving a soldier. | The angry relatives of 10 people killed by soldiers in Ballymurphy in 1971 have walked out of a meeting with the Northern Ireland secretary. | 37412736 |
The claim: "Last year alone a city the size of Newcastle came to this country net. The gross figure is roughly the cities of Liverpool and Aberdeen put together"
Reality Check verdict: Mr Nuttall is about right on the net figure but the gross figure is lower than he says, according to the best estimates we have.
When he talks about the net figure, he means the number of people who have come to live in the UK planning to stay for at least a year, minus those who have left for at least a year.
The figures for the whole of 2016 will not be released until 25 May, but we know around 596,000 people came to the UK in the year to the end of September 2016 while about 323,000 people left the country, according to the latest set of numbers from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), giving a net figure of 273,000.
According to the most recent set of official figures, the population of Newcastle upon Tyne is 292,883, so these two figures are similar.
But Mr Nuttall's second claim is more questionable. He said the number of people moving to the UK was: "roughly the cities of Liverpool and Aberdeen put together".
Official estimates suggest that it is lower than that.
Liverpool's population is 478,580 according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), while Aberdeen's is 230,350.
The combined total is 708,930, so there is an clear difference between that and the gross immigration figure of 596,000.
These migration numbers are estimates based on the international passenger survey.
Hundreds of thousands of people a year are interviewed at airports, sea ports and the Channel Tunnel and asked if they are planning either to enter the UK to stay for at least a year or leave for at least a year, which would make them long-term migrants.
About 4,000 people interviewed a year are long-term migrants. The rest are passengers travelling for shorter periods, such as tourists and business travellers.
From speaking to these 4,000 people, the ONS extrapolates the total numbers of people entering or leaving the UK for at least a year.
Lots of the UK's most important statistics come from surveys like this.
It means the figures are estimates and there is a margin of error in them.
The ONS is 95% confident that net migration is no more than 41,000 higher or lower than 273,000. Mr Nuttall's Newcastle comparison falls comfortably within this, and is therefore a reasonable comparison.
However, on the gross figure, the ONS is 95% confident that it is no more than 34,000 higher or lower than 596,000.
Therefore, it is unlikely the number is as high as 708,930, the population of Liverpool and Aberdeen put together.
UKIP has in the past suggested that the official migration statistics are an underestimate.
Read more from Reality Check
Follow us on Twitter | Launching his party's general election campaign on Friday, UKIP leader Paul Nuttall said "last year alone a city the size of Newcastle came to this country net". | 39748757 |
The TUC said statutory maternity pay for UK mothers was among the worst in Europe.
Here's what you had to say.
Priya Virdi, Datchet
I work in London and live in Datchet, Berkshire. I work in telecommunications and earn an average London wage. I'm currently on maternity leave wondering if I'll get a chance to see my baby reach and enjoy solid foods because £539 isn't enough to survive on, especially if you work in London. The cost of living is too high!!
Anonymous, Cumbria
I am on maternity leave now and I have taken a £1,000 a month pay cut. It's impossible to make ends meet when I have more outgoings and considerably less incomings. My partner and I could not afford electricity and had to go two days without it (we are on a pre-pay meter) and he is having to work overtime, resulting in me being overtired and stressed.
We also don't qualify for tax credits as we "earn too much". It's absolutely appalling. Even when I do go back to work, childcare is so expensive - it's going to cost £940 a month. I don't know how I am going to cope.
Caroline Poisson, London
I work for a sourcing and procurement firm in the City and am currently on maternity leave, with only statutory pay. I am fortunate enough to have some savings which I am using in order to make ends meet for a few extra months, but I will not have anything left for any incidents, or holidays, let alone another child.
The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding exclusively until the age of six months. This is impossible on the current statutory maternity pay, as most people have to go back to work after six weeks or very little more in order to pay bills.
We are told that the UK is generous with regards to this, but it is generous with time off, not with supporting the families of very young children. I know that we are leaving the EU, but the UK should not be seen as the most backward country in this regard.
Danielle Atkins, Cumbria
I am currently on maternity leave and I am lucky that my company offers a generous six months full pay. However, once this six months is over the statutory pay isn't sufficient.
Sarah, Essex
I work in HR in the professional services industry, and went back to work before six months, partly due to finance and largely not wanting to be out of "the system" too long. It is very little money to live on compared to what you might be used to, but I would often say to employees who questioned the amount of money and who requested company pay, you are fighting the wrong battle.
I would much rather have a fairer system when returning from maternity leave than receiving higher maternity pay when you may need to leave at the end if the flexibility or hours cannot be provided. Pay in the maternity leave period is irrelevant if you haven't got a job afterwards.
As intelligent women, we need to focus on demonstrating that a company will reduce their skillset by women leaving after having babies through not having appropriate choices. Maternity pay is a minor consideration when reflecting on a lesser career for the rest of your working life as a result of not having flexibility etc. when returning from maternity leave. We should start with this and then work on better pay.
Jenny Moraes, London
I live in London, have a mortgage and a personal loan for home improvement. Having two full-time incomes is essential for us as a family. As much as I want to use the full year of maternity leave, financially I cannot afford it and I am having to go back to work after eight months (as I am exhausting my annual leave entitlement of 30 days, I am getting an additional two months). I feel guilty putting my child into a nursery but I feel like I have no other option. | We asked women how they have coped financially after having a baby, following a call by a trade union body for "decently paid" maternity leave. | 39380881 |
The Missionaries of Mercy, nicknamed the super-confessors, were given the special license for the Vatican's Jubilee year, which ends in November.
Grave sins include defiling consecrated bread and wine, violating confessional secrecy, and plotting to kill a pope.
Pope Francis has often said the Church needs to be less rigid and judgemental.
He has declared this a Holy Year of Mercy, and is using it to spread a message of forgiveness - particularly among Catholics who have strayed from the faith and are keen to return.
At a Vatican ceremony on Tuesday, the Pope addressed some 700 of the chosen priests, saying penitents should be welcomed with open arms, instead of being judged with "a sense of superiority".
"It's not with the cudgel of judgment that we will succeed in bringing the lost sheep back to the fold,'' he told a gathering in the Apostolic Palace.
The priests have been selected from dioceses around the world, and are expected to carry out their special mission in countries including Burundi, Egypt, China and the United Arab Emirates.
One of the priests is expected to travel among Inuit communities in the Canadian Arctic, while another one is planning to tour remote parts of Australia in a van.
The grave sins that the priests can temporarily forgive may usually only be pardoned by senior bishops, Vatican officials or the Pope himself.
Abortion falls within the category of serious transgressions, but the Pope last year announced that he would allow all regular priests to grant absolution for this sin to women who wished to repent, for the duration of the Holy Year.
The Pope said that he recognised some women felt they had no choice but to take the "agonising" decision to have an abortion. | Pope Francis has sent more than 1,000 priests on a global mission to forgive grave sins that normally only he, or a top Church official, may pardon. | 35543998 |
Simon, 29, scored two tries in 65 games for the Dragons before moving to Belle Vue in 2015, making 44 appearances.
He joins Sam Moa, Greg Bird, Iain Thornley, Luke Burgess, Luke Walsh and Brayden Wiliame at the Stade Gilbert Brutus for 2017.
"I'm delighted to come back at the club who allowed me few years ago to turn my passion into a career," Simon said.
"I want to show my determination to win and to be a part of a team who will compete for a trophy." | Catalans Dragons have re-signed prop Mickael Simon on a two-year deal from Wakefield Trinity. | 38032805 |
The 22-year-old has signed a two-year development contract at the Championship club, having represented their under-21 side in pre-season.
Liburd scored 22 goals for Billericay in the Isthmian League Premier Division last season.
He spent four years on a scholarship at Thomas University in Georgia, USA before returning to the UK.
Meanwhile, defender Stephen Kelly has left the club after failing to agree a new contract for next season.
The Republic of Ireland international, 31, joined from Fulham in January 2013.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | Reading have agreed a deal to bring striker Rowan Liburd to the club from non-league Billericay Town. | 33625120 |
The Alex had hoped to sign the former England international defender, 37, after he was released by Blackburn.
"He was supposed to come in and speak to us," assistant manager Kenny Lunt told BBC Radio Stoke. "He never did come in. It would have been nice to sit down with him."
Meanwhile, defender George Ray, 23, has signed a two-year contract.
Ray made his 100th appearance for the club on the final day of last season and his new deal runs until June 2019.
Lunt, talking about missing out on Brown, added: "We've moved on and we're now looking at different options.
"I wouldn't say there's no chance [of signing him] but we've got a list of players that we're looking at."
League Two side Crewe have signed one new defender this summer, Michael Raynes from Carlisle United, but they have lost Jon Guthrie to Walsall and Ollie Turton to Blackpool. | Crewe Alexandra are looking at other options after being unable to meet with ex-Manchester United star Wes Brown. | 40438071 |
The new Brexit secretary told Sky News there might have to be a cut-off point if there was a "surge" in new arrivals.
But he said setting a date now could in itself prompt a "rush" of people moving before any deadline - and any steps must be compatible with EU law.
It comes amid pressure on the government to guarantee the right to stay to EU citizens already in the UK.
Follow the latest developments on our live page
Ministers have said it would be "unwise" to fully "guarantee" EU citizens' rights without a reciprocal deal for Britons living in other EU countries.
Mr Davis, who was appointed by the new prime minister, Theresa May, to oversee the negotiations on the UK's exit from the European Union, said he wanted to secure a "generous settlement" for both EU nationals in the UK, and British citizens abroad.
"We have to do it all together," he told Sky News' Murnaghan programme, saying that this stopped "anybody being used as bargaining counters".
He added: "If we make a very generous settlement as I'd like to do, then people are going to say, 'Oh but then that'll attract lots more people in because they want to beat the deadline.'
"And so what I've said is, let's deal with that issue when we come to it. One way of dealing with it could be saying 'Ok, only people who arrived before a certain date get this protection' - there are other ways too.
"But we've got to do it within the law as it stands because at that point we'll still be within the European Union." | EU migrants who come to the UK as Brexit nears may not be given the right to stay, David Davis has said. | 36819532 |
Father-of-two Alistair Wilson's murder in Nairn on the evening of 28 November 2004 remains unsolved.
In a statement, his family said the killer could cause another family the heartbreak they have had to endure.
Police have begun a new review of every piece of evidence and line of inquiry in the case in the hope of uncovering new clues.
Crimestoppers have also offered a reward of up to £5,000 for information leading to a conviction.
In the statement, the Wilson family said: "The past 10 years, since Alistair's murder, have been extremely tough for our family.
"It's been 10 years during which his young sons started primary school and then secondary school without a father in their lives.
"It's been 10 years that his widow, Veronica, has been a single mother and the extended family left without the person we loved and cherished."
The family said the motive for the shooting was a mystery and it was difficult for his wife and sons to achieve closure.
"We are confident that someone, somewhere, knows the identity of Alistair's killer - a man who is still at large," said the statement.
"He has killed once. He may kill again and cause another family the heartbreak we have endured."
Mr Wilson was shot with a German-made handgun by a stocky man in a baseball cap.
The Haenel Suhl Model 1 Schmeisser was manufactured between 1920 and 1945 at a Schmeisser factory in Germany.
The ammunition used was .25 calibre made by Sellier and Bellot in the Czech Republic between 1983 and 1993.
About 40,000 of the guns were produced in Germany and police suspect the weapon may have been brought back to the UK either as a war trophy, for legitimate export or on the black market.
Police Scotland is holding what is known as a homicide governance review.
The review is looking at previous investigations to ascertain if all possible lines of inquiry have been thoroughly exhausted.
Since the start of the inquiry, the police have taken more than 4,100 statements, gathered 2,700 pieces of potential evidence and carried out 11,000 actions as a result of investigations.
The early months of the police investigation involved a plea to people in Nairn and the surrounding area to voluntarily give DNA samples.
Tests on the gun failed to extract any DNA.
Det Ch Supt Gary Flannigan said: "Over the course of a decade, detectives have worked tirelessly using a wide range of methodologies, seeking expert help from throughout the UK and considering advances in forensic science all in an effort to help detect this highly unusual crime.
"We will continue to appeal to anyone who has information to come forward."
He added: "While the information coming to us has slowed down, I know that someone somewhere knows exactly how and why Alistair was shot.
"Unsolved homicides are never closed. They remain open in the hope that the vital piece of evidence surfaces to help bring the investigation to a conclusion."
19:15 28 November 2004: Veronica Wilson answers the door to a man who asks to speak to her husband Alistair, who is putting their young sons to bed. He is handed an envelope, goes back inside and then on returning to the front door he is shot.
8 December 2004: The murder weapon is found in a drain by Highland Council workers about half a mile from the Wilsons' home.
February 2005: In an interview with the BBC, Mrs Wilson says she can only imagine that mistaken identity was the motive for the murder.
November 2005: Police release a recording of Mrs Wilson's 999 call. She is heard telling the operator: "My husband's been shot."
September 2013: Police Scotland's new Major Investigation Team North starts investigating the case.
Ch Supt Julian Innes, police commander for Highlands and Islands Division, said officers were "committed to bringing Alistair's killer to justice".
He added: "The support shown by the local community has been there from the start and remains as the impact of this dreadful crime is still felt.
"I remain hopeful that someone will have the vital piece of information that can make a difference."
Angela Parker, of Crimestoppers Scotland, appealed to the public to help find Mr Wilson's killer.
She said: "We would ask that anyone who thinks they may have information relating to this, no matter how small, should come forward and finally help Alistair's family obtain the answers they seek."
"All information passed to Crimestoppers is kept anonymous, a guarantee that has never been broken, so no-one need be in fear of their identity being revealed." | The family of a bank manager shot dead on the doorstep of his home 10 years ago fear the murderer could kill again. | 30147970 |
The company is integrating with Friends Life, which it took over in January, and said it wanted to focus its operations on "core locations".
Offices in Salford, Stretford and Salisbury will be shut and staffing reduced in its Exeter, Manchester and Dorking offices.
A company spokesman said it was too early to say how many jobs would go from these six sites.
The Salford, Salisbury and Stretford offices - where close to a thousand people are employed in total - will close within the next 18 months.
Although there will be staff cuts in Dorking it will remain a "specialist site for our corporate pensions business".
"Any role reductions which may occur as a result of Aviva's integration with Friends Life will form part of the potential reduction of 1,500 roles we announced in January 2015," said a company statement.
It added: "We appreciate this is disappointing and difficult news for some of our employees and we are helping our people through this process, providing a range of support and advice, and consulting with employee representative bodies about these changes."
The firm said its core UK locations would be Bristol, Norwich, Perth, Sheffield and York supported by a number of specialist and trading sites across the UK with its group headquarters remaining in London. | Insurer Aviva is to shut three offices leaving hundreds of jobs under threat. | 33139180 |
Rabobank said it was taking the measure to protect the buildings above the cashpoints, many of which are apartment blocks that house people.
Last year 79 ATMs were blown up in the Netherlands, and criminals around the world have turned to forcing ATMs open with explosives and sometimes vehicles.
Rabobank did not say how many guards it would employ.
Last month, residents of 16 houses had to leave their homes in one morning while bomb disposal experts made two separate ATMs safe.
The incidents happened in the Dutch village of Zevenhoven and city of Doetinchem. In both cases, the perpetrators had left explosive materials behind.
The bank acknowledged that hiring security guards was a major cost.
But spokesman Margo Wijgerden told the Algemeen Dagblad newspaper (in Dutch): "Safety comes first."
They would pay particular attention to ATMs on buildings that were used as homes, he said.
Not all of the bank's 2,000 ATMs will be guarded, with some getting increased patrols instead.
Rabobank has closed more than 30 ATMs, in part because of the damage potential attacks could cause the buildings they are in. It has also already taken the measure of closing some ATMs between 1am and 6am.
Another Dutch bank, ING, was said to be considering additional security measures against such attacks. Last year it closed 100 ATMs.
Last month, a Rabobank spokesman told media that most criminals went home empty-handed, sometimes because the explosions they caused destroyed the money they were trying to steal. But the damage to buildings could run to millions of euros, he said.
In 2014, Australian police released footage of an ATM blowing up in a would-be thief's face.
Last month a gang of ATM robbers was convicted in England after a spate of robberies by explosion. Prosecutor Maria Corr said the men "thought nothing of using powerful explosives to blow up cash machines in residential areas, putting nearby residents in real danger". | A bank in the Netherlands is employing security guards to protect its ATMs from being blown up by thieves. | 39790786 |
Their challenge centred on a redundancy package announced in 2012.
Mohammed Rafi Hottak and a man referred to as AL argued they should be given the same rights as Iraqi interpreters, who were allowed to settle in Britain.
But judges rejected claims the government's scheme was discriminatory.
The Afghanistan redundancy scheme was outlined when the prime minister announced the drawdown of UK forces from Afghanistan in December 2012.
But it only applied to interpreters who were still serving British forces at the time and who had been employed for more than 12 months.
Lawyers for the two men argued they were being discriminated against and treated differently to Iraqi interpreters, who were all given assistance when their lives became endangered through assisting the British in the Iraq war.
Rosa Curling, representing the pair, said AL had needed to remain anonymous because of Taliban death threats, while Mr Hottak had already claimed asylum in the UK but had been unable to benefit from the assistance scheme.
Lord Justice Burnett and Mr Justice Irwin were asked to declare that the deadline for the scheme made it discriminatory under the Equality Act 2010 and a breach of the common law and the government's public sector equality duty.
But they ruled the "territorial reach" of the 2010 Act "is not such as to include the claimants' circumstances".
The judges also ruled that the common law claim "has no substance". | Two former interpreters who risked their lives working for UK forces in Afghanistan have lost a High Court case against the government for alleged discrimination. | 33442579 |
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The Belgians led 3-1 with only four minutes left, before David Ames scored his first international goal for GB.
Barry Middleton equalised with just over a minute on the clock, but despite further pressure a winner did not come.
Britain, who would have slipped to the fifth-sixth play-off with a defeat, will meet Germany for the bronze medal.
"It feels like a defeat," Ames told BBC Sport.
"We wanted to win this and there are positives to take from how we fought back, but overall we're disappointed we weren't able to take chances earlier."
After pool leaders Australia defeated India in the first game of the day, Britain knew a victory over Belgium would have put them into Friday's gold medal match.
However, Bobby Crutchley's side found themselves behind after only 35 seconds, with Thomas Briels sweeping home.
Captain Middleton equalised in the second period, but Loick Luypaert then struck just before the break.
After Luypaert scored again to put Belgium two ahead, Britain looked beaten, but the decision to withdraw keeper George Pinner for an extra outfield player paid off as they battled back to draw.
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"We've had some amazing battles against Belgium and yet again we've had another incredible draw," said Middleton.
"We don't want to be in this position where we have to fight back, we want to be controlling it from the off, so we'll learn from this."
Britain will now face Olympic champions Germany for third place.
"It's a game we want to win and we want to finish the competition with a medal," said coach Crutchley.
World number one side Australia will face India for gold, whilst Belgium and Korea will meet in the fifth-sixth play-off. | Great Britain's men missed out on the Champions Trophy gold medal match despite battling back to a secure a thrilling 3-3 draw with Belgium. | 36555619 |
Senior figures at Northampton Borough Council were not prepared to proceed with an initial development proposal four years earlier, without safeguards.
But weeks after the chief finance officer left in June 2013, a loan to Northampton Town FC was approved.
The disappearance of the money is now subject to a police investigation.
In the summer of 2009, the Cobblers, under then chairman David Cardoza, proposed the authority hand over the freehold of Sixfields stadium and parts of the surrounding land.
The club would then use the site as security for a loan to attract investors while the council would share any development proceeds.
But the Liberal Democrat councillor in charge of the finance portfolio at the time, David Perkins, says conditions were added after the council's chief finance officer Isabell Procter expressed concern over the club's £7m debt.
Timeline
Mr Perkins told the BBC: "Our investigations of the football club's finances ensured that we adopted a very cautious approach towards any proposal from them.
"Consequently we rejected the proposal put forward by the football club and offered our own proposal, which imposed financial and legal safeguards to protect the assets of the council."
A loan from the council itself was not on the table at this time.
Mrs Procter declined to comment, but it is understood at the time of her departure she had not been told of any plans to lend Northampton Town millions of pounds.
Mr Perkins, who worked with Mrs Procter for a number of years, said she would have blocked any loan to the club.
In July 2013, Northampton Borough Council's cabinet approved the £10.25m loan to the Cobblers, delegating authority to the then Conservative leader David Mackintosh and chief executive David Kennedy.
The money was intended to rebuild parts of Sixfields stadium and build a hotel on adjacent land.
According to claims made in court documents, payment dates were then agreed between the council and employees of County Group, owned by Howard Grossman, the developer in charge of the project.
The first £1.5m of the loan was paid to the football club in September 2013, and was then almost immediately paid to a company owned by Mr Grossman called County (Oundle) Ltd.
Subsequent payments were then made to another of Mr Grossman's companies, 1st Land Ltd.
Mr Grossman has previously described claims made in court papers that he had misappropriated the money as "outrageous and deeply offensive".
Mr Cardoza, who is currently on police bail, could not be reached for comment.
But he had previously said: "It is our intention to have the debt repaid."
Mr Mackintosh, now the Conservative MP for Northampton South, has previously told the BBC that he welcomed the police investigation into the missing money.
Northampton Borough Council said: "In August 2009, a proposal went to the Borough Council's Cabinet to support entering into a development agreement with Northampton Town Football Club, the Homes and Communities Agency and a development partner to facilitate the development of the land at Sixfields. This proposal was agreed.
"The cabinet agreed to support in principle the transfer of part of its freehold interest in the Sixfields Stadium prior to physical development taking place on that land.
"The 2009 proposal also did not suggest that the Borough Council lend money to the club.
"No development between those four parties was taken forward in the way the cabinet report had proposed at that time."
"Following the 2010 election, the administration of Northampton Borough Council changed and an agreement was reached with NTFC to make a loan to support the development of the stadium and surrounding land." | A council which lost £10.25m in a loan to a football club handed over the money despite previous concerns about the club's finances, it has emerged. | 37898872 |
The 21-year-old reigning European champion was named in the British squad despite tearing a posterior cruciate ligament in December.
However, the GB medical team has advised the Scot to regain full fitness before August's Olympic Games in Rio.
"Rehab has been going really well but we were running out of time," said technical director Shane Sutton.
"I'm disappointed for Katie and disappointed for the team but the [team pursuit] squad has a lot of depth so we're still confident we can show the crowds something special in London next week.
"Katie is a world-class rider and a key member of the Great Britain cycling team. We'll miss her in London but she'll be back stronger than ever and ready for Rio."
Women's sprint: Becky James, Katy Marchant, Jess Varnish.
Men's sprint: Matt Crampton, Phil Hindes, Jason Kenny, Callum Skinner.
Women's endurance: Elinor Barker, Ciara Horne, Emily Nelson, Joanna Rowsell Shand, Laura Trott.
Men's endurance: Steven Burke, Mark Cavendish, Ed Clancy, Jon Dibben, Owain Doull, Chris Latham, Andy Tennant, Sir Bradley Wiggins. | Katie Archibald will miss next week's Track World Championships in London because of a serious knee injury. | 35650351 |
Rory McKeown's cross-shot hit the bar as Southport made a confident start, but after the break the visitors took control.
Kevan Hurst tested Craig King's handling with a decent effort just after the break, but there was little the Southport goalkeeper could do to deny the 31-year-old's superb volley with 18 minutes remaining.
The victory, which ended a three-match winless run for Guiseley, leaves Southport 10 points off safety with only six matches to play.
Match report supplied by the Press Association
Match ends, Southport 0, Guiseley 1.
Second Half ends, Southport 0, Guiseley 1.
Louis Almond (Southport) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution, Guiseley. Michael Rankine replaces Jake Cassidy.
Substitution, Guiseley. Adam Boyes replaces Jordan Preston.
Jordan Preston (Guiseley) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution, Guiseley. Alex Purver replaces James Wesolowski.
Substitution, Southport. Jamie Allen replaces Declan Weeks.
Goal! Southport 0, Guiseley 1. Kevan Hurst (Guiseley).
Substitution, Southport. Andrai Jones replaces Richard Brodie.
Substitution, Southport. Liam Hynes replaces Jim Stevenson.
Second Half begins Southport 0, Guiseley 0.
First Half ends, Southport 0, Guiseley 0.
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up. | Guiseley condemned National League bottom side Southport to a ninth defeat in 11 games with a narrow victory at Haig Avenue. | 39390523 |
Dorothy Jones, 75, was fatally injured when she was struck by a silver Ford Transit truck in Nantlle Road, Talysarn, on Friday afternoon.
She was airlifted to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, but later died.
Her family said she was "the kindest, most generous person with a heart of gold".
Ms Jones, known as Dot, was born in Stockport and worked at Stepping Hill Hospital from the age of 16, before later moving to Cilgwyn to run a small holding, and then Talysarn, near Nantlle.
Her daughters Tracey and Caroline described her as a "wonderful mum and nana" to her grandchildren Ryan and Holly.
"We are in total disbelief at the moment," a tribute from them read.
"If anyone asked us for two words to sum mum up it would be 'free spirit'. She was the kindest, most generous person with a heart of gold.
"It will be very hard for us as family and friends now, as she was killed so close to her home."
Police want to speak to anyone who may have seen Ms Jones walking her lurcher dog along the road before she was hit. | Tributes have been paid to a woman who died after being hit by a tipper truck while walking her dog in Gwynedd. | 33580087 |
The Tangerines have brought in seven new faces so far this summer, with Jimmy Ryan the latest addition.
But Bowyer, 46, says recruiting has become harder since they were promoted back to League One.
"It's all part and parcel of the chase and we're doing okay at the moment," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"We do realise that we're competing in a league now where the salaries have gone up a hell of a lot from League Two.
"You get excited because you've been offered the chance to sign a player but you get deflated very quickly when you hear his wage demands."
Being unable to pay players high wages has forced Bowyer to look at taking players on trial.
He continued: "You've got to keep your options open. Competition for players at this moment in time is frantic, and if players are available on trial, it's something I'm not opposed to doing.
"It gives you the chance to look at them at close quarters before you actually commit to a contract." | Blackpool boss Gary Bowyer says high wage demands are making it more difficult to sign players in the summer transfer window. | 40593280 |
The benchmark index closed up 7.71% at 18,770.51 points. A day earlier, the index saw all the gains it had made this year wiped out.
Remarks by newly re-elected prime minister Abe suggesting company tax cuts were on the way helped the mood.
Also positive were Tuesday's rebound for US shares and an improving Chinese share market.
Investor sentiment was up across the rest of Asia.
Tuesday's weak economic data from China has also raised hopes of more stimulus for that economy and its markets.
Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng index finished up 4.1% at 22,131.31 - marking its biggest one-day percentage gain in almost four years.
The Chinese government said on Wednesday that it would strengthen fiscal policy, boost infrastructure spending and speed up reform of its tax system to support the economy.
On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite closed up 2.3% at 3,243.09 - moving into positive territory for the year.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 closed up 2.07% at 5,221.10, taking its lead from US markets.
Analysts said resource and commodity shares, together with some of the big bank stocks, had buoyed the Australian index.
Numbers out on Wednesday showed consumer confidence slid in September which led to revived hopes of another rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia.
South Korea's Kospi benchmark index also closed up 2.96% at 1,934.20 points. Official data released on Wednesday showed the country's latest unemployment figures for August sitting at their lowest since January this year.
Chris Weston from IG Markets said it would be a good news day for markets and that there was a "sea of green on screen in risk associated assets".
"This pick-up in sentiment once again started from a nice move higher in S&P futures during Asia, helped on by some really bullish flow in the Chinese markets," he said in a note.
"Specifically, the H-shares (Chinese dual-listed companies trading in Hong Kong) had its best day [on Tuesday] in months," he added.
"In the Chinese mainland, there has been some focus on headlines on a 50% reduction in personal income tax dividends for larger shareholders, with the idea being to move the market away from short-term and focus on the longer-term." | Japan's Nikkei surged almost 8% on Wednesday in its biggest one-day jump since late 2008. | 34183580 |
Currently two unsuccessful reviews every 80 overs are allowed in Tests and one per innings in one-day games, but DRS did not previously feature in T20s.
The ICC proposed no loss of a review if a decision is "umpire's call" and the creation of a Test world championship.
If approved, the changes would begin on 1 October.
The ICC's 15-strong cricket committee, chaired by outgoing India coach Anil Kumble, includes a number of other leading ex-players including Andrew Strauss, director of England Cricket, Mahela Jayawardene and Rahul Dravid, plus Australia coach Darren Lehmann and director of England Women's Cricket Clare Connor.
They met in London this week and Kumble said: "We have had a wonderful couple of days discussing cricket issues and there are a number of highlights."
Find out how to get into cricket with our inclusive guide.
Should the ICC chief executives' committee approve the changes, the two new reviews after 80 overs ruling, which is currently employed in Test cricket, would be removed.
It also proposed to emulate the MCC's red card policy and give umpires the power to send players from the field in the most serious incidents of player misconduct.
All other offences would continue to be dealt with under the ICC Code of Conduct.
The committee also suggested introducing restrictions on bat dimensions - thickness of edges and depth of bat - plus a batsman will have made their ground "when a bat bounces after being grounded behind the crease by a running or diving batsman". | The Decision Review System (DRS) could be introduced in Twenty20 internationals under new proposals from the International Cricket Council. | 40049452 |
A report into the management of Wales' 132 marine protected areas - covering more than half of Welsh seas - said each should have a dedicated officer.
The AMs also want assurances over legal protection and conservation funding for Welsh waters after Brexit.
The Welsh Government said it is working to have a resilient marine environment.
Marine protected areas (MPAs) have been created and are supported under a range of domestic and international initiatives.
They include UK-legislated areas such as Marine Conservation Zones - for which powers will be fully devolved in 2018 - and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).
There are Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) registered under a European Union directive, while Ramsar wetland sites are designated under an international convention.
The report calls on the Welsh Government to show leadership on marine protection, by providing staff and resources to improve public awareness, research, monitoring and enforcement.
Mike Hedges, Labour chairman of the committee, said: "Welsh waters are home to some of the most biologically diverse habitats and species in Europe and 50% is protected, which means that certain activities such as fishing and wildlife trip-operators are regulated to prevent environmental damage.
"There are a great many different levels of protection, designated under a range of laws, but this designation has not resulted in better management, with voluntary codes of conduct not always being adhered to.
"Simply creating Marine Protected Areas is not enough; the Welsh Government must also ensure they have the resources necessary for the management, monitoring, surveillance and enforcement that is required."
Mr Hedges said it was "vital that we in Wales can design policies that are tailored to protect our seas" after Brexit.
But he added: "There must be no reduction in, or loss of, protection.
"Importantly, this will require funding and we need to know that it will be available in the future."
A Welsh Government spokesman said: "We welcome this report and will respond to its recommendations in more detail in due course.
"We are committed to working with partners to ensure we have a resilient and sustainably-managed marine environment which supports a rich diversity of wildlife, is highly valued by local communities and is able to sustain important activities such as fishing, tourism and recreation."
Gill Bell, from the Marine Conservation Society, welcomed the report, saying: "We have been calling for greater accountability and responsibility from the Welsh Government for many years.
"This can only be addressed if marine conservation is prioritised.
"If not, we risk our special areas of sea becoming mere paper parks, losing wildlife and the vast benefit that our seas deliver for people in Wales." | More money and staff are needed to protect wildlife and habitats in the waters around Wales, the assembly's environment committee has said. | 40865840 |
Whether it is photo albums or special decorations handed down through generations, this is a period of making memories.
In keeping with this tradition, the North Down Museum in Bangor has gathered a collection of items from Christmases past.
Here, we take a look at some of the most special objects in the collection and what they mean to local people.
Among the finds in the collection is this rare Boer War tin, sent to the troops by Queen Victoria at Christmas 1899.
The tin was branded as Cadbury's and contained a bar of chocolate.
However, because all three of the chocolate-making families of the time were pacifist Quakers, the chocolate inside would have been made by either Cadbury, Fry's or Rowntree's.
The tin was received by Private Moyes, who ate his chocolate on the front line in South Africa.
He survived the Boer War and joined the Veterinary Corps on his return but died in 1918, while serving in World War One.
This collection of postcards are from Hugh Hull, who writes about his anxiety to get home for Christmas 1912.
He had been working in Bavaria and, as these postcards show, he was not enjoying it. Fortunately, Mr Hull finally made it home for a visit in January 1913.
Postcards were the easiest and cheapest way to keep in touch at the time. They were treasured by families at home and by those serving or living abroad.
This anonymous card was never sent, but it is believed the man who wrote it survived World War One.
Sister Lucy Sinton Kelly served in France during WW1.
She encouraged the men under her care to write in a logbook that she kept - one young man, pining for Christmas, drew this sketch of a classic English rural scene, complete with copperplate writing.
As the 20th Century wore on, Christmas shop window displays became popular.
The window display at Neill's Coal Shop was renowned in North Down and featured these teddy bears in different costumes.
One of the bears even had a daring Torvill and Dean Bolero costume. Unfortunately, the ice skates are too big for her.
For North Down Museum manager Heather McGuicken, these baubles are a little piece of home - literally.
Her family made these tree decorations, complete with sand from their local beach. | Many families have their own collection of Christmas mementos. | 35168501 |
The misdiagnosis could have cut 60-year-old Peter Cosgrove's life short by 20 years, London's High Court heard.
He saw his GP, Dr Asaad Al-Doori, in Devon about a nail problem in September 2011 but signs of malignancy were missed, the court heard.
It worsened and he was diagnosed with cancer by another doctor in June 2012.
Mr Cosgrove, of Market Street, Hatherleigh, sued Dr Al-Doori who practised at Blake House Surgery in Black Torrington, claiming his negligence cost him years of life.
Mr Justice Goss said: "The disease will cause his death, the latest prognosis is that he may have 10-30 months of life left."
Experts agreed that "it was an abnormal nail and suggestive of malignancy" at the initial GP visit and that "its appearance was not consistent with fungal infection".
Despite his "previous good clinical record", the judge ruled that Dr Al-Doori should have referred Mr Cosgrove for further investigation on that day.
"In failing to do so, he fell below the required degree of skill and competence of a reasonable practitioner", he ruled.
The delay in referring Mr Cosgrove for specialist treatment meant the patient underwent surgery almost 10 months after he would otherwise have done.
Mr Cosgrove, a carpenter by trade, was awarded a total of £178,845 in damages, including £70,000 for his pain and suffering, and £5,000 towards his funeral costs. | A musician dying from skin cancer has won nearly £180,000 in damages after his GP misdiagnosed his condition as a fungal nail infection. | 40050993 |
The sperm whale was found at about 07:30 GMT at Hunstanton on Thursday. Rescuers kept the bull comfortable and hoped it would refloat when the tide came in, but it died at about 20:00.
Scientist Rob Deaville said it had "died fairly quickly" and there would have been little chance of saving it.
His team examined the whale earlier.
Samples taken from the carcass will now be taken to a laboratory for testing.
It is the 30th sperm whale to have died this year after becoming stranded on beaches in northern Europe and the east coast of England.
Read more on this as it happens
They are thought to have all been from the same bachelor pod.
Marine conservationists said it was possible the male whales, which normally live off the west coast of Norway, could have taken a wrong turn into the North Sea, while heading south to find females or been lured by food.
Mr Deaville, from the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme - which examines all whale, dolphin and porpoise strandings in the UK - took samples from the Hunstanton earlier.
Beached whale: How the story unfolded
He said it could takes months to "try and work out why these whales have come into the North Sea in the first place".
"There are many possible reasons and we're keeping a very open mind about the whole investigation."
"This is the question everyone is asking."
But Mr Deaville, who has examined all six sperm whales that washed up on the east coast, says the answer may never be known.
"We'll be working very closely with our German, Dutch and French colleagues, gathering data about what might have been going on in the north Atlantic to potentially - potentially - bring them into the North Sea."
There are currently two schools of thought, he says:
The second theory is "more worrying because that would suggest there's a systemic problem out there in the north Atlantic," Mr Deaville says.
"If that's the case this isn't the end of what we might see.
"Potentially there'll be more coming in, and that is more concerning. I hope that isn't the case.
"In a way the first is the better outcome because that would suggest there's a finite number of whales in the North Sea."
Mr Deaville, who arrived at the beach between Old Hunstanton and Holme-next-the-Sea moments after the whale died, said seeing the 14m-long (46ft) bull had "quite an emotional impact" on him.
"This dim shape appeared out of the gloom. You got closer and closer and there was this whale, lying on its side on the sand... it had been alive just an hour earlier."
Asked if the whale had suffered, he said: "No doubt it probably was suffering on shore, but it was probably very compromised by being stranded for such a long time.
"There would be no chance of being refloated or rescued, which is what a lot of people hoped would happen - and it wouldn't have been a good outcome here.
"So probably the best outcome in terms of the welfare of the whale is that it died fairly quickly." | The death of a whale that became stranded on a Norfolk beach was "probably the best outcome" for the creature's welfare, an expert has said. | 35500062 |
The woman was taken to Morriston Hospital in Swansea with serious injuries following the incident on Friday at about 20:30 GMT at Cymmer Road, Maesteg.
South Wales Police is asking anyone who saw the crash, or a white Seat Ibiza in the area, to contact them.
The road was closed for about two hours after the incident. | A 66-year-old pedestrian is in a critical condition after being hit by a car in Bridgend county. | 34692272 |
Colston Hall bosses had previously maintained that the Bristol attraction was named after the street it is on, rather than Edward Colston.
Much of the Bristol-born MP and merchant's wealth came from the slave trade.
The change, which will not come into effect until 2020, follows a campaign to urge Colston Hall to alter its name.
Louise Mitchell, chief executive of the Bristol Music Trust charity that runs Colston Hall, said it was the "right thing to do" for artists, the public and the "diverse workforce" at the venue, which recently announced plans for a refurbishment costing nearly £50m.
She said: "The name Colston does not reflect the trust's values as a progressive, forward-thinking and open arts organisation.
"We want to look to the future and ensure the whole city is proud of its transformed concert hall and so when we open the new hall, it will be with a new name."
She acknowledged there would be a "backlash" over the change, but admitted the trust had "needed to resolve" the issue ahead of talks with potential sponsors.
"Effectively, I've been selling a toxic brand up to now," she said.
"We need to move forward on this. It's not actually about commerce, it's about doing the right thing."
More on this story, and other news from the West
Over the years, some of the world's biggest music stars have performed at Colston Hall, including The Beatles, David Bowie, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and Bob Dylan.
The legendary Bristol band Massive Attack have always refused to play at Colston Hall, and the city's mayor Marvin Rees has said he is "not a fan" of the name. A petition launched in February calling for a change gathered more than 2,000 signatories.
Edward Colston (1636-1721)
Source: BBC History/Nigel Pocock
However, the majority of those who have taken to BBC Radio Bristol's Facebook page to express their opinions have not welcomed the move.
Chris Goldsworthy said it was "political correctness gone mad", while Nick Davies said it was a mistake as the "past should not be airbrushed out".
Kate Gillam said "changing the name won't change what happened. It's part of our heritage".
The music venue is not the only place in Bristol with links to Colston that has come under fire. Bristol Cathedral is reportedly considering removing a large stained-glass window dedicated to the merchant, following criticism from anti-racism campaigners. | A music venue is to ditch the "toxic" name it shares with a 17th Century slave trader. | 39718149 |
It said the "pollution incident" affected the Annsborough River on Saturday afternoon and the cause was identified and rectified shortly after.
The chemical spillage has been cleaned up and there is no further risk to the river, the company said.
NI Water said it would continue to work with the Environment Agency.
The Annsborough River is a tributary of the Carrigs River. which runs from Castlewellan through the village of Maghera and into Dundrum Bay.
The incident was reported to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) pollution hotline on Saturday.
Staff from the agency and officers from the Department of Agriculture's fisheries team immediately went to the scene and conducted a detailed investigation.
"The source was traced to premises where it was discovered that a chemical had escaped into the river causing significant pollution," a spokesman for the department said.
"Statutory water samples were collected and evidence gathered with a view to an enforcement action. To date the number of dead fish is in excess of 1,600.
"All relevant authorities have been notified, including local council environmental health as Dundrum Bay is a significant shellfish production area."
Adrian Truesdale, who owns a caravan park beside the river, said he thinks the number of fish killed could rise.
"With part of the river being tidal, I would imagine that a lot from Saturday afternoon and Sunday have already been washed on down into the bay," he said.
"My worry is because it goes down into Dundrum Bay, other fish that would come in and go up the Moneycarragh river would also be affected by this." | Accidental discharge from a treatment works caused the deaths of more than 1,600 fish in a river near Newcastle, County Down, NI Water has said. | 37609840 |
Arnold Bennett, who was born in 1867, lived in the house on Waterloo Road in Burslem during his teenage years.
His novels immortalised the Potteries and his reputation as a respected English realist writer was firmly established by his death in 1931.
The large three-storey red brick house was the fictional home of the eponymous hero Edwin Clayhanger in one of Bennett's most famous works.
In the novel Clayhanger, Bennett wrote: "...to Edwin it was not a house, it was a work of art, it was an epic poem, it was an emanation of the soul."
The building was bought in the 1950s by the city council and opened as the Arnold Bennett Museum in 1960.
It was later sold and turned into flats. Over recent years, it has remained, in part, derelict.
New owner, Mr Burhan Khan, now wants to restore the building to its former glory. He has applied for planning permission to turn it into his family home.
"When we came to view it, it was literally just another house to us," said Mr Khan.
"It was only a few days before the actual auction that that we realised that it was Grade II listed and who the former owner was.
"When we found out it was Arnold Bennett's house, it took a bit to sink in.
"We had decided to rent out it out as bedsits, but as we got more involved, we decided to move in ourselves, because we knew no-one would take as good care of it as we would."
Professor Ray Johnson, vice president of the Arnold Bennett Society, said: "It's a very inspiring house.
"I would like to go back in... when it's a family house again and that's what it should be." | The former home of Stoke-on-Trent's most famous writer is set to be restored. | 16650489 |
Larossi Abballa is reported to have told negotiators: "He'd come to my house, now I have come to his."
After killing the couple, Abballa said in a video that he had acted on Islamic State orders.
Hundreds of colleagues and friends of the pair marched to their home on Thursday to pay tribute.
Police commander Jean-Baptiste Salvaing, 42, and his partner Jessica Schneider, 36, who worked at his police station, were stabbed to death in front of their three-year-old son on Monday night.
On Tuesday, French prosecutor Francois Molins said "Larossi Abballa knew Jean-Baptiste Salvaing was a policeman".
Mr Salvaing had been stationed in Mantes-la-Jolie, the town in which Abballa lives, before being moved to a different district.
But the information obtained by the newspaper Liberation from what it says are several police sources are the first indication that the killer and his victim may have crossed paths before.
On Wednesday the former girlfriend of Abballa spoke of his "isolation" after spending two-and-a-half years in jail.
The woman, who did not want to give her full name, told France Info radio the couple had dated for five years and remained close after they split up.
But after Abballa left jail last year, she said, he "preferred to keep his distance and changed friends".
In a video put out by a news agency linked to so-called Islamic State, Abballa was shown confessing to Monday's killings in the couple's home.
He said he was heeding a call by IS spokesman Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, who issued a message before the start of Ramadan inciting Muslims to target civilians in Europe and the US.
On Tuesday evening, President Francois Hollande said that the couple's three-year-old son and a child from Jean-Baptiste Salvaing's previous relationship would become wards of the state.
The status - which applies to children orphaned by acts of war, terrorism and in their parents' service to public security - means they will receive material assistance from the state as they grow up.
The couple's small son was at home when Abballa killed his parents. He was taken hostage for several hours, before Abballa was killed during the police assault. | The French jihadist who killed a police couple at their home west of Paris had crossed paths with the policeman before, reports say. | 36547663 |
One promising-looking listing, posted by some bloke named Sebastian, offered a neat studio apartment near the wonderful Golden Gate Park. I dropped Sebastian a line.
A day later, he replied, apologising. The flat hadn't been rented out, he told me, but they'd decided to turn it into an AirBnB instead - meaning they can list the room on the room-sharing website for tourists to stay in.
And that, in a nutshell, is what the "Yes on Prop F" campaign is unhappy about. In a city suffering from a serious housing crisis, having liveable spaces being made into profitable mini-hotels isn't helping.
And who can blame landlords - even small rooms in San Francisco are being offered on AirBnB for hundreds of dollars a night. It's a great earner.
On Tuesday, San Franciscans head to the polls to cast their view on a number of things, but what everyone is paying special attention to is Proposition F.
Prop F - or "oh, that ban AirBnB thing?", as locals refer to it - seeks to put in place tougher rules on home-sharing. So tough, actually, that it will essentially ruin AirBnB's business model in the city.
People would only be able to rent out their homes for a maximum of 75 days a year - or be liable for hefty fines.
That's why the "No on Prop F" campaign is being funded by more than $8m (£5.2m) of AirBnB's cash.
Its campaign headquarters is packed with volunteers - some of them AirBnB hosts - and, well, technology. The office, which spans two floors of an old Radioshack store, has the feel of a grassroots political movement. But the reality is AirBnB's money has paid for a highly-sophisticated operation to maximize the vote.
No on Prop F supporters are armed with smartphones giving them access to reams of data on the voters they are trying to target, a level of political intelligence that means every door-knock is worthwhile.
Patrick Hannan, the campaign's spokesman, showed me rooms with people hitting the phones, in four different languages, to get people voting. They're not trying to change opinions, Mr Hannan told me, but instead going after people they know are likely to be against Prop F and make sure they bother to vote.
While I visited, I observed a role-play of a typical door knock. The argument the No on Prop F team (so, AirBnB) is bringing to the city is that Prop F will encourage people to spy on their neighbours. Why? Because Prop F allows residents to sue their neighbours if they think they are running an AirBnB illegally.
They also argue that, contrary to many people's understanding, AirBnB hosts already pay the same taxes levied against hotels in the city.
Yes on F counters this by saying that the many AirBnB hosts ignore this requirement, and don't notify the city when they are offering rooms.
As I was leaving the No on Prop F office, Mr Hannan offered a more romantic view of why he felt the proposition wasn't fair, one that speaks to San Francisco's free spirit - an attitude to life that you can quite literally smell in the air (if you hang out in certain parks, that is).
"The San Francisco that I'm raising my children in is a place of inclusion, not exclusion. We welcome people who are different from ourselves. We welcome communities that may not fit neatly into our cultural fabric.
"To the people who are now deciding that some people aren't welcome in San Francisco, I have one word for them - malarkey!"
The Yes on F campaign expects to lose. Its funding, of around $1m, has been partly helped by the hotel trade.
When I met Dale Carlson - the campaign's spokesman - he cut a fairly solemn figure of someone who had resigned to getting beat, but still felt obliged to do media interviews.
"If we lose, OK," he said. "This is a long fight.
"AirBnb isn't the cause of our housing crisis. But it's a piece of it, a significant piece."
I offered him Mr Hannan's "malarkey!" perspective.
"Corporations like AirBnB don't spend $10m on political campaigns because they're worried about neighbourhood harmony," he said.
"They're not worried about neighbours spying on each other, or suing each other. They're worried about neighbours suing AirBnB."
I approached AirBnB to talk about the vote, but I was not offered any spokespeople to interview.
But last week, the company invited a handful of technology and business journalists to dinner - where they shared a few plans for its future, which included offering more "offline" services beyond room listings.
The AirBnB employees at the dinner (a mixture of product team and PR) didn't want to be drawn on what would happen to if Prop F was to pass.
San Francisco isn't the firm's biggest city in terms of hosts - that's Paris - but some of the fightback here is symbolic in that this is where it all began.
Other cities around the US are also looking and assessing what impact AirBnB (and others like it) are having on the make-up of their communities.
But AirBnB's financial commitment to this battle, one it may face in all of its markets, shows it is a company that is powering ahead with its aims and is prepared to spend heavily to remove any chance of regulatory constraints.
Like that other great disrupting start-up, taxi service Uber, AirBnB's strategy appears to be to become so beloved by its users - both hosts and guests - that any political attempt to kill it off would be very unpopular indeed.
Follow Dave Lee on Twitter @DaveLeeBBC | When I first arrived in San Francisco, I went through what every newcomer has to endure - clicking through endless Craigslist entries in the hope of finding somewhere to live. | 34707689 |
The bugs construct this defensive barrier in a complex process that depends on a key dual-protein molecule.
Its structure has been mapped using the intense X-rays of the Diamond Light Source in Oxfordshire.
Researchers tell the journal Nature that drugs can now be developed to interfere with this LptDE protein.
"We identified how LptDE builds up the outer membrane," explained Prof Changjiang Dong, from the University of East Anglia's Norwich Medical School.
"It does this through a 'path' and a 'gate', and we have shown that if we block the path or the gate, the bacteria will die. To do this, you would design and use another, much smaller molecule," he told BBC News.
The experiments targeted gram-negative bacteria, which cause a large number of infections, ranging from salmonella to meningitis.
This class of bugs is getting increasingly smart at warding off attack from antibiotic treatments thanks in part to the impermeability of its lipid-based outer coating.
The protein complex LptDE is the "bricklayer" that pulls up the lipopolysaccharide "bricks" from inside the bacterium to insert them in the cell wall.
Crystalline forms of the complex were sent to the Diamond synchrotron, which uses especially brilliant X-rays to illuminate structures at the atomic scale.
The team used this information to then model LptDE's behaviour and determine its weaknesses.
What makes LptDE such a fascinating target for new drugs is that it is highly "conserved" - its role is common across gram-negative bacteria.
Is rise of drug-resistant bacteria the biggest threat we face?
What is more, by attacking the functioning of the outer membrane new drugs would not need to get inside the bugs before starting their work.
And, in any case, resistant bugs seem to have evolved a mechanism to simply pump antibiotics back out when they do get through.
"If the bacteria do not have the outer membrane, they cannot withstand environmental changes. It also makes it easier for the human immune system to kill them," said Prof Dong.
Prof Mark Fielder, from the Society for Applied Microbiology, commented: "The work reported is at a very early stage but does offer some potentially useful information in the fight against bacterial resistance.
"What is needed now is the development of a usable inhibitor that can be tested against gram-negative clinical strains of bacteria to see if there is a longer term value to the research," he told the Science Media Centre.
And Prof Brendan Wren, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, added: "New antibiotics against gram-negative bacteria, including many hospital superbugs, are notoriously difficult to develop and the problem is exacerbated as many of these bacteria are increasingly resistant to currently used antibiotics.
"The authors have unravelled the structure, architecture and mechanism of transport of a critical surface structure in gram-negative bacteria named the lipopolysaccharide. The studies open new avenues to design a novel class of antibiotics to disarm and kill pathogenic bacteria."
[email protected] and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos | Scientists have found a new route to attack antibiotic-resistant bacteria by blocking the mechanism they use to build their exterior coating. | 27907461 |
The league has been taking legal advice since the Supreme Court ruled against the club over its use of employee benefit trusts from 2001 to 2010.
The SPFL board discussed the matter today but no firm decision was reached.
They will make a statement on Wednesday defining their position.
A 2013 SPL commission found that Rangers were in breach of player registration rules during the EBT period.
That commission, headed by Lord Nimmo-Smith, fined the Ibrox club £250,000 but resisted calls for them to be stripped of titles won during that period.
However, following the Supreme Court ruling in favour of HM Revenue and Customs, Celtic said they expected the SPFL to review the 2013 decision that their city rivals "did not gain any unfair competitive advantage".
That judgement was made at a time when the scheme was deemed acceptable by a 2012 tax tribunal.
After Tuesday's annual general meeting of the SPFL, some club representatives spoke to the media.
Hibernian chairman Rod Petrie said: "They (SPFL) said they will review it. It's important they take the time and give it careful consideration.
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"I'm happy that they said they will take time to review it and make a statement.
"Everybody has to take the time they need to assess what's happened, draw their own conclusions and make their position clear.
"Football is football, the whistle goes and we're as competitive as we can be. It's in the best interests of the game that we have clarity going forward and if there are any issues that still need to be resolved, let's take the time and see what the SPFL has to say in the fullness of time.
"It consumed a lot of time in the Scottish FA and it consumed a lot of time in the SPL, and now the SPFL. They're reviewing everything that happened in the last few years so let them do that. In the meantime, the league season is about to kick off, there's games to look forward to and lots of positive things in the game, so it would be nice to have the focus on that and the excitement."
Hearts owner and SPFL board member Ann Budge said: "We've discussed it at some length, so you will get a full explanation on Wednesday.
"We've got to keep looking forward and doing what's best for Scottish football.
"We do want to look at all the facts thoroughly and it's a brand new board - for us to come out with something now would have been quite a big ask.
"(There were) long discussions and there will be a statement on Wednesday afternoon.
"I doubt we can ever satisfy all of the fans all of the time, but the key thing is that it's being thoroughly looked at and there will be an honest assessment of what we feel."
Alloa Athletic chairman and SFA board member Mike Mulraney said: "My thoughts would be addressed by the SFA statement because as you know I sit on the SFA board and that would be my collective view.
"The SFA had to make a statement and they have done so. We take the best legal advice and that's where the statement came from." | The Scottish Professional Football League is considering its position over Rangers' use of a controversial tax scheme, but BBC Scotland understands it is unlikely to impose fresh sanctions. | 40707999 |
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The striker, 21, took his goal tally to 13 for the season with some clinical finishing to give new Albion boss Tony Pulis a win in his first home game.
Victor Anichebe, Chris Brunt and James Morrison also found the net.
Conference outfit Gateshead had managed to hold Albion for 42 minutes before they conceded.
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The last time Albion faced a non-league side was in 1994 when they were beaten 2-1 by Halifax Town, and for most of the first half of this contest the Premier League side were far from convincing.
Pulis, who replaced Alan Irvine as head coach earlier this week, vacated his seat in the stands for the dugout and shortly afterwards his side found their stride and effectively ended the match as a contest with two quick goals before the interval.
A scramble inside the Gateshead box from a Chris Brunt free-kick led to the ball falling kindly for Berahino, who controlled a shot through a crowded area high into the net.
Anichebe added a second on the stroke of half-time when he used his strength to hold off Ben Clark before he angled a low finish past Gateshead goalkeeper Adam Bartlett.
Earlier this week, West Brom described reports linking Berahino with a £23m January move to Liverpool as "entire fabrication".
And a minute into the second half the youngster showed why his name has been mentioned in connection with the Premier League's top clubs with a spectacular second goal.
Berahino curled past Bartlett from the edge of the area before he completed his treble when he swept home Chris Baird's low cross on 53 minutes.
Brunt added a fifth when he got to the ball ahead of Bartlett, who had come scurrying off his line, and calmly stroked into an empty net and Morrison the sixth when he tapped in from close range.
Berahino rounded off the rout for the Baggies in injury time with his fourth of the contest when he effortlessly curled the ball past Bartlett into the top-right corner of the net.
West Brom boss Tony Pulis: "Saido is a very talented lad, with great ability and obviously he scores and I am looking forward to working with him.
"I hope he keeps reading the headlines if he scores four every week.
"Someone said he didn't celebrate but it was lovely to see all the lads go over when we scored a goal as that showed the unity we'll need."
Gateshead boss Gary Mills: "I thought we were excellent for 40 minutes, but conceding two before half time killed us.
"We'll move on, we knew we weren't going to win the competition but we wanted to give a good account of ourselves.
"We have been knocked out of the FA Cup and have to get back up the league. We are close to the play-offs and have a big game against Woking on Wednesday." | Saido Berahino scored four times as West Brom reached the FA Cup fourth round with a ruthless victory over non-league Gateshead at The Hawthorns. | 30608492 |
A songwriter called Katie Farrah Sopher claims Disclosure's White Noise, Latch and You and Me feature song words taken from her personal songbook, according to the Mail on Sunday.
Sopher is claiming a reported £200,000 in damages for the tracks.
She accuses ex-boyfriend Sean Sawyers of stealing the songbook and selling lyrics to music industry contacts.
The songwriter claims the book features lyrical content inspired by a "toxic" relationship with Sawyers.
In addition to the accusations towards her ex-boyfriend, Sopher is personally suing Disclosure and their collaborators on the three tracks; Sam Smith, AlunaGeorge and Eliza Doolittle.
White Noise, which features AlunaGeorge peaked at number two in the UK, while You & Me featuring Eliza Doolittle reached number 10.
Latch, got to number 11 in the UK and features Sam Smith.
All three of the tracks appear on Disclosure's number one debut album Settle.
Sopher, from East London, is also seeking damages from dance duo AlunaGeorge, both for their contribution to White Noise and because she claims she wrote lyrics which appear in their top 20 single Attracting Flies.
According to the Mail On Sunday, Sawyer denies all allegations and says he's never seen the book in question.
Newsbeat has contacted all of the artists accused of using Sopher's lyrics but there has been no comment.
Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube | Disclosure and Sam Smith are among four artists being sued over the use of lyrics which it's claimed were stolen. | 30878528 |
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