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40571444 | Natalia Veselnitskaya said Donald Trump Jr and two senior campaign aides may have met her last summer because they were "longing" for such information.
Ms Veselnitskaya has been linked to the Russian government.
US officials are investigating alleged Russian meddling in the US election.
Mr Trump Jr was told that material on Democratic presidential candidate Mrs Clinton offered by Ms Veselnitskaya was part of Moscow's effort to help his father's election campaign, the New York Times reports.
Publicist Rob Goldstone, who arranged the meeting with Ms Veselnitskaya, stated this in an email, the newspaper says.
The president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and then-campaign head Paul Manafort also attended the meeting at Trump Tower in New York in June 2016.
Ms Veselnitskaya told US broadcaster NBC on Tuesday: "I never had any damaging or sensitive information about Hillary Clinton. It was never my intention to have that."
Ms Veselnitskaya said the meeting was set up by a man she did not know who told her by telephone to go to Trump Tower.
Mr Trump Jr asked her just one question during the meeting, she said.
"The question that I was asked was as follows: whether I had any financial records which might prove that the funds used to sponsor the DNC [Democratic National Committee] were coming from inappropriate sources.
"It is quite possible that maybe they were longing for such information. They wanted it so badly that they could only hear the thought that they wanted."
Ms Veselnitskaya denied ever having worked for the Russian government.
In a tweet sent after Ms Veselnitskaya's interview with NBC, Mr Trump Jr accused the media and Democratic Party of focusing on a "nonsense meeting" and of "desperation".
Separately on Tuesday, Russian officials said Moscow was ready to expel 30 US diplomats and seize US state property in retaliation for sanctions imposed by President Barack Obama over Russian hacking of Democratic Party computers.
The newspaper reports that three people with knowledge of the Goldstone email said it indicated the Russian government was the source of the potentially damaging information on Mrs Clinton.
But it says there was no mention in the email of any wider effort by the Russian government to interfere in the election, nor was there any indication of a link to the hacking attack on the Democratic Party that was first reported a week after the meeting.
Mr Goldstone has previously denied any knowledge of involvement by the Russian government.
Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told MSNBC that the New York Times report was "a very serious development" that required further investigation.
Mr Trump Jr's statement on the matter on Sunday did not indicate he had been told of any Russian government involvement.
Lawyer Alan Futerfas, hired by Mr Trump Jr to represent him in the Russia-related investigations, described reports of the meeting as "much ado about nothing" and said his client had done nothing wrong.
The president's son said he was "happy to work with the committee to pass on what I know".
It took place on 9 June 2016, just two weeks after Donald Trump secured the Republican nomination.
After the New York Times first reported the meeting on Saturday, Mr Trump Jr released a statement which confirmed that it had taken place but did not mention whether it was related to the presidential campaign.
However, another Times report, on Sunday, said Mr Trump Jr had agreed to the meeting after being offered information that would prove detrimental to Mrs Clinton.
In his statement on Sunday, Mr Trump Jr said he had been asked to meet "an individual who I was told might have information helpful to the campaign".
Mr Trump Jr's statement continues: "The woman stated that she had information that individuals connected to Russia were funding the Democratic National Committee and supporting Mrs Clinton.
"Her statements were vague, ambiguous and made no sense. No details or supporting information was provided or even offered. It quickly became clear that she had no meaningful information."
Mr Trump Jr said the lawyer then changed the subject to the Magnitsky Act and "it became clear to me that this was the true agenda all along".
Adopted by Congress in 2012, the Magnitsky Act allows the US to withhold visas and freeze financial assets of Russian officials thought to have been involved in human rights violations.
Ms Veselnitskaya is married to a Moscow government official and her clients include companies and individuals said to be close to the Kremlin. She has been at the forefront of a campaign - backed by the Russian state - to overturn the act.
In an interview on Monday, Mr Goldstone backed Mr Trump Jr's version of the meeting, saying Ms Veselnitskaya offered "just a vague, generic statement about the campaign's funding" which was "the most inane nonsense I've ever heard".
On Monday, Mr Trump Jr tweeted sarcastically: "Obviously I'm the first person on a campaign to ever take a meeting to hear info about an opponent..." He also denied issuing conflicting statements.
A spokesman for President Trump's legal team said the president was "not aware of and did not attend" the meeting.
Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America reporter
Whether by plan or happenstance, Donald Trump Jr is stumbling into an increasingly dire situation.
The pattern has been set. The New York Times runs a story, Trump Jr issues his response, then the noose tightens.
First he said the meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya was about adoption issues. Then the Times reports that Trump Jr thought he would learn damaging information about Hillary Clinton.
The presidential son says he was conducting routine opposition research. Then the Times reports that he was told it was the Russian government itself that was coming to his father's aid.
In a traditional campaign, a foreign government's attempt to offer incriminating information about an opponent - or even the hint of such an overture - would set off all kinds of alarms. The FBI would have been notified. Senior staff would have insulated themselves from incrimination.
The Trump team was not a conventional campaign. And time and time again, it made novice mistakes or, more ominously, took unprecedented risks.
Its candidate prevailed, but it has led to countless political headaches. Now it appears the president's own family, and his presidency itself, could be in peril. They have only themselves to blame.
Read more from Anthony
It is alleged that Russian hackers stole information linked to the Clinton campaign and passed it to Wikileaks so it could be released and help tip the election towards Mr Trump.
Congressional committees and a special prosecutor are investigating whether there was any collusion between the Trump team and the Russians.
The investigations have yet to reveal any evidence of collusion, something the president has always denied.
Last week Mr Trump said interference in the election "could well have been" carried out by countries other than Russia and interference "has been happening for a long time". | The Russian lawyer at the centre of allegations surrounding US President Donald Trump's son has insisted she was never in possession of information that could have damaged Hillary Clinton. |
35019302 | Jaafar Mohammed Saad and several aides died when their convoy was hit. IS says it detonated a car laden with explosives as he drove by.
The group has established a presence in Yemen since its civil war broke out.
It is opposed to the government and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels who have seized much of the country, including the capital Sanaa.
Earlier this year, Aden was recaptured by government troops backed by a Saudi-led coalition.
Mr Saad was appointed Aden governor in October.
The BBC's Arab affairs editor Sebastian Usher says the killing of Mr Saad is a blow to Saudi-led efforts to re-establish Aden as a secure base for the government which spent months in exile in Saudi Arabia.
Mr Saad was a significant figure not just as the administrative head of Aden, but for the role he played in driving Houthi rebels out of the port city earlier this year, our correspondent says.
But Aden has remained vulnerable to violence with jihadists carrying out regular attacks.
The claim by IS introduces another dangerous factor into the equation, our correspondent says, because like the long established al-Qaeda franchise in Yemen, IS has gained strength from the violence and chaos of the past nine months of all-out conflict.
Mr Saad's murder is also likely to complicate further the latest UN-led efforts to get a peace process under way.
IS has endeavoured to make the situation even worse, our correspondent says, by bombing mosques and killing captives in its trademark style of grotesque and horrifying showmanship.
In a statement, IS promised more operations against "the heads of apostasy in Yemen" along with photos of a booby-trapped vehicle which detonated as a white vehicle carrying Mr Saad drove past.
A witness of the blast told the BBC that the explosion was "very powerful" the ensuing fire was "very intense".
"We pulled some wounded people out but we couldn't get the governor out because [his] car was on fire," Abu Mohammed said.
Sunday's violence came after the UN envoy to Yemen met President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi in Aden on Saturday in an effort to bring eight months of civil war to an end.
Air strikes and fighting on the ground in Yemen have killed more than 5,700 people since the Saudi-led coalition began a campaign to restore the government in March, according to the UN.
The UN hopes to organise talks later this month between the government and the Houthi rebels, who support former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Islamic State declared its presence in November and have carried out a number of attacks since then.
The war the world forgot?
Yemen's humanitarian catastrophe
Who is fighting whom?
Meeting the Houthis and their enemies | Islamic State militants say they carried out a bombing that killed the governor of Yemen's port city of Aden. |
22963499 | Wall, who was awarded the CBE, was a regular partner to Dame Margot Fonteyn.
He studied at the Royal Ballet School and joined the ballet's touring company in 1963, becoming principal in 1966.
Wall, who was 67, died at his family home in Croydon, south London, on Tuesday. Friend Christopher Price paid tribute to "a great dancer and artist".
"It has been an honour to know him and he has brought the world and his family so much joy and happiness during his lifetime," said Mr Price.
"His passing will be an enormous loss to us all."
Daria Klimentova, senior principal ballerina with the English National Ballet (ENB), said she would dedicate her Wednesday performance in Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall to her former teacher and friend.
She said she would not be at the ENB without him and that she did not know how she was going to be able to perform after hearing the news.
Gary Avis, ballet master and principal character artist at the Royal Ballet, said he would be raising a glass to his friend.
"With admiration, gratitude and respect I thank you David Wall for being a friend, mentor and gentleman!" he said on Twitter.
He said his passing was "unbelievably sad" but called him "a brave and courageous man" adding he was "inspirational but above all a real gent with an amazing sense of humour".
David Wall was accepted into the Royal Ballet school at the age of 10. A school teacher persuaded his mother to let him audition after seeing his potential in the compulsory ballroom dancing lessons at his primary school in Windsor.
But he said he did not always know he wanted to dance professionally. He told Ballet Magazine it was not until he completed his training, at the age of 16 that he decided.
"David Wall came at a particular time in British Ballet. If you think that British ballet started in 1931. So when David was dancing in the 1960s that was really when it grew up.
We had this generation of home-grown male talent that hadn't had to take time out to do national service.
So it really was the first time there was this coterie of male principals and David was at the forefront of that.
I think he combined incredible technical facility and strength but with real acting ability, real interpretive skills.
If you went to see David perform it was akin to really seeing someone at the National Theatre.
You felt you were going into the character, you were not just seeing the steps you were living the life of the character and that was his particular skill.
David had an incredibly masculine presence, he had a real physicality.
When he danced a pas de deux with Lynn Seymour or Alfreda Thorogood, his wife who he danced with, you had no doubt there was that chemistry between them. Because he managed to have this sensuality and real masculinity in his work."
Deborah Bull is a former Royal Ballet dancer and Creative Director at The Royal Opera House.
"At that point, we were witness to two really great ballets: La Fille mal gardee had just been created, and Cranko's Antigone, in which the males took on the leading roles. Also, Nureyev had just defected, so seeing the male get more prominence in the art form spurred me on," he said.
In 1963, Wall joined the Royal Ballet Touring Company and in 1970, he joined the main Royal Ballet company as principal.
It was a golden age of classical ballet and Wall danced all the leading roles with some of the greatest ballerinas, including Doreen Wells and Lynn Seymour.
He admitted at first he felt most comfortable dancing onstage with his wife Alfreda Thorogood, who was a principal dancer at the Royal Ballet.
He was 17 the first time he danced with Dame Margot Fonteyn.
Appearing on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, in 1978, Wall remembered feeling nervous when Dame Margot picked him to be her partner.
"I was doubting and questioning my ability very much for three weeks," he said.
"But as soon as I got into the rehearsal room, she put me totally at my ease and we really started to enjoy working."
Wall was renowned for his acting ability, which he said was due to his first artistic director, John Field, who encouraged his dancers to see plays and watch actors perform.
Wall retired from dancing in 1984, deciding not to continue as a character dancer.
"I had created Rudolf in Mayerling, I think that was the pinnacle of my career, and I probably would have just become complacent doing character roles. I needed other challenges," he told Ballet Magazine.
He became associate director of the Royal Academy and went on to become director.
In 1995, he joined the ENB as ballet master because he felt strongly about the importance of teaching ballet.
Gregory Nash, director of arts for the British Council, said on Wednesday that in 1981 Wall heard about the first National Festival of Youth Dance on the radio and immediately drove straight to Leicester to join them.
Many of his former students have paid tribute to his legacy.
He is survived by his wife, two children and a number of grandchildren. | Ballet dancer David Wall, who became the youngest male principal in the history of the Royal Ballet at the age of 21, has died of cancer. |
37940494 | First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two state-backed Chinese firms.
But the companies later told the Scottish government by email that they were withdrawing from the deal.
Ms Sturgeon told MSPs that her government remained committed to pursuing all investment opportunities.
Opposition politicians claimed the collapse of the agreement - which only became public knowledge when it was reported by the media in April - had been an "embarrassing saga" for her.
And Conservative leader Ruth Davidson accused the first minister of blaming everyone else for the collapse of the agreement, which had been signed by SinoFortone and China Railway No3 Engineering Group (CR3).
Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie also attacked the first minister, saying that "surely she is responsible for the collapse of this and nobody else".
The MoU had committed the Scottish government and the two Chinese companies to exploring opportunities for investment.
But when details of the agreement became public, it also emerged that Amnesty International had raised concerns over the human rights record of CR3, with the company being blacklisted by Norway's oil fund.
Ms Sturgeon told MSPs that the government was made aware in August "that due to the political climate, our partners in that memorandum of understanding felt that they could not proceed at this time".
She added: "We did not take that as a cancellation of the memorandum of understanding, we remained committed then as we remain committed now to pursuing all opportunities for investment."
The first minister said the government will "continue to try to attract investment from China, from other countries, from anywhere that wants to invest in Scotland in reasonable investment proposals".
She also criticised rival party leaders, saying: "We have an opposition that demanded the cancellation of this memorandum of understanding, we have an opposition that had a hysterical over-the-top reaction to this memorandum of understanding.
"So, while I take responsibility for learning lessons, I really do think the opposition also have to reflect on their behaviour, which led to a political climate in which these partners felt they couldn't proceed."
And Ms Sturgeon said it was "double standards on stilts" for Ms Davidson to raise the China deal with her when the Conservative government at Westminster has failed to answer questions on a reported deal with car manufacturers Nissan over Brexit.
Ms Davidson responded by saying: "I cannot believe the first minister is persisting to come to the chamber today to say that the Chinese Communist Party pulled the plug on this deal because they heard the Scottish Liberal Democrats roar.
"This entire saga is embarrassing. It is embarrassing for the government and I think it is embarrassing for our country.
"Because if we spell out what was at stake here - or what we're now told was at stake here because it was hidden at the time - it was £10bn that could have been invested in housing and transport, and that's exactly the kind of investment you would expect the Scottish government to pull out all the stops to secure." | The Scottish government will continue to seek investment from China despite the collapse of a possible £10bn deal. |
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The United States midfielder, 34, has scored 96 goals in 232 international appearances, including a 13-minute hat-trick in the 2015 World Cup final.
She joins the Women's Super League One club for the 2017 Spring Series, which begins in April and ends on 3 June.
Her deal also includes City's Women's Champions League and FA Cup campaigns.
Nick Cushing's side face Danish champions Fortuna Hjorring in March's Champions League quarter-final, after entering the FA Cup at the fifth-round stage on 19 March.
US captain Lloyd becomes the third American player to move to an English club this winter, after winger Crystal Dunn's move to Chelsea Ladies and midfielder Heather O'Reilly's switch to Arsenal.
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"This facility [at Manchester City] is unbelievable. I don't think anything compares to it," Lloyd told BBC Sport. "I am always looking to improve my game.
"It is another challenge for me, to be able to come over here, train with some of the world's best players, be at the world's best facility, playing in the Champions League and hopefully win an FA Cup and the Spring Series.
"I've had a lot of different offers from various clubs and none of them really panned out, but this one was going in the right direction."
On joining the WSL, Lloyd - who most recently played for American side Houston Dash after a spell with Western New York Flash - added: "It is definitely the next up-and-coming league.
"It is going to be fun to be able to play a few months with some of these players and get a better understanding of how this league operates. I can help promote the [American] NWSL and help see how they run things here and make our league back home a bit better as well."
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Lloyd also stated her ambition to help City win the Women's Champions League this season, a competition that no English side has won since it was rebranded from the Uefa Cup in 2009.
"Not too many people get to say they have taken part in the Champions League," she continued. "It is huge.
"I have experienced a lot; World Cups, Olympics and being at the Fifa World Player of the Year Awards. A Champions League win would totally top that off.
"That's what I'm going after. That's the next challenge set in front of me. I'm just looking to get after it and do anything I can to help."
The final of this season's Women's Champions League takes in place in Cardiff on Thursday, 1 June.
City would face either defending champions Lyon or last year's runners-up Wolfsburg in April's semi-finals if they overcome Fortuna Hjorring in the last eight. | English league champions Manchester City Women have signed World Cup-winner and Fifa World Player of the Year Carli Lloyd on a short-term deal. |
23930834 | Two chicks have been raised in the north-east of the country in the past two years, RSPB Scotland has said.
The birds typically spend their summers in northern Europe and migrate to France and Spain for winter.
They were once common in the UK but died out in the 16th Century.
Cranes are known for their graceful tall stature and loud mating calls.
The bird was a popular royal meal in the Middle Ages but the species disappeared mainly because of hunting and loss of habitat.
Since the 1970s a group of cranes have re-established a small population in Norfolk with 17 pairs breeding, but the two chicks born in Scotland are the first confirmed north of the border for hundreds of years.
A crane can grow to 1.3m (4.2ft) tall, with a wingspan of 2.4m (7.8ft). Their elegant breeding displays, which include dancing and ruffling feathers, are popular with bird spotters.
Cranes have been seen in the last few years at RSPB's Loch of Strathbeg nature reserve, near Fraserburgh, while travelling back to their breeding spots in northern Europe.
The bird charity is not disclosing the exact location of the nest site to minimise the risk of disruption.
The species favours large wetland areas such as lowland peat bogs and feeds on small insects, plants and grains.
Stuart Housden, director of RSPB Scotland, said: "We are stunned and delighted to see that common cranes have bred successfully in Scotland.
"These charming, elegant birds have a strong place in our myths and history and are a delight to see, particularly during the breeding season with their dancing displays.
"They undertake regular migrations and small numbers have turned up on the east coast of Scotland in recent years, raising hopes of a re-colonisation. Last year a pair reared one chick, followed by a second chick in 2013."
He added: "We have been working with local farmers, landowners and the community to monitor these fantastic birds.
"Despite their size and flamboyant breeding displays, cranes are secretive birds and are very sensitive to disturbance, and we ask that they be given space and peace so they may establish a breeding population in Scotland." | Conservationists have said they are "stunned" that common cranes have successfully bred in Scotland for the first time since the Middle Ages. |
26330911 | The situation has improved a little in the 10 years since the auditor last investigated, but he said there were still challenges to be faced.
Out of 300,000 school children in NI, 20,000 are missing at least six weeks of lessons each year.
The level of unauthorised absences is now proportionately twice as high as in England.
"Our attendance policy is living and vibrant. We talk about great initiatives for getting children into school.
At Holy Cross Boys' School, we have a breakfast club. When the children come in, they can join the i-pad club, the book club or the chess club.
These children come in their droves because they want to be part of what we have to offer.
We have had many challenges over the years. We are in a highly socially deprived area, at the minute we have 78% free school meals.
Despite all that, we do send 42% children to grammar school.
We have a rigorous, robust but very fair attendance policy.
We talk about an early intervention programme. If I have a problem with attendances, I will speak to the parents.
Sometimes, I've been at homes and I've been taking children out of bed and into school. I am known as the headmaster who gets the children out of bed and into school.
We would offer great rewards for getting children into school. We make it competitive and fun.
With children who have 100% attendance in a month, they are put into a draw for £5. That is some incentive to come in.
Kevin McArevey Principal, Holy Cross Boys' PS Commended for good practice in the Audit Office Report
Alarm bells should ring where a pupil misses around six weeks of schooling, but the auditor is concerned that schools are not being encouraged to report all cases.
Of the 20,000 pupils who are persistently absent, less than a fifth were referred to the authorities.
Non-attendance is said to not only waste money, it also affects a child's long-term prospects.
Persistent offenders are seven times more likely to be out of a job and not in education or training when they leave school.
Children in socially deprived areas and in traveller families are most likely to be affected.
Auditor General Kieran Donnelly said the cost to society, in terms of lost career opportunities, amounted to £22m a year.
The audit office published its last report on school absenteeism in 2004.
Ten years later it said there had been a marginal improvement.
The Department of Education has been praised for improving the way information is collected and commissioning research, but the report said there was not enough joined-up thinking among the education and library boards. | The Northern Ireland Audit office has said it is disturbed at the high level of pupils who miss weeks of schooling. |
37389256 | Kompany, 30, suffered the injury against Real Madrid on 4 May.
City manager Pep Guardiola says the defender is close to full fitness but not in time for Saturday's Premier League game against Bournemouth.
"The players must compete with each other," said Guardiola. "We'll see on the pitch what is best for each game."
Kompany has been an automatic choice since his arrival from Hamburg for around £10m in 2008.
He replaced Carlos Tevez as City captain following the 2011 FA Cup final victory over Stoke and in his 298 appearances for the club has led them to two Premier League titles and two League Cup final victories.
In recent seasons though, he has suffered a number of muscular injuries.
Last year he was missing for over a month on four occasions prior to the injury that ended his season and meant he was not able to play for Belgium at Euro 2016.
His highest number of Premier League appearances in the past four full seasons was 28 in 2013-14 and he only played half that number of games last term.
So, with City chasing an eighth successive win - which would be a club record from the start of the season - against Bournemouth this weekend, and £47.5m new signing John Stones excelling alongside Aleksander Kolarov and Nicolas Otamendi in defence, Kompany cannot take his return for granted.
"I know Vincent's quality," said Guardiola. "I need him to put pressure on John Stones, Nico Otamendi and Kolarov.
"They have to know if they don't play good that there's another one beside me and the next time he is going to play."
Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox. | Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has not been given any guarantee over his first-team place when he finally recovers from his groin injury. |
20182106 | Correction 10 November 2012: The BBC has apologised unreservedly for broadcasting a report on Newsnight on 2 November over allegations of child abuse which transpired to have involved a case of mistaken identity. As a result the video of the original report has been removed from the website. More details can be found here.
Steve Messham was one of hundreds of children abused in the 1970s and 80s - exploitation brought to light by the Waterhouse Inquiry Report in 2000.
But he told BBC Newsnight the inquiry uncovered just a fraction of the abuse.
He and another victim also told the BBC a leading Thatcher-era Conservative politician took part in the abuse.
Since the Jimmy Savile sex abuse allegations surfaced, politicians have been raising questions about other historic cases.
During the 1970s and 1980s almost 40 children's homes in north Wales were the scene of horrific child abuse in which youngsters were raped and abused by the very people who were paid to look after them.
In the early 1990s, allegations of the abuse started to surface and in March 1994 Clwyd County Council commissioned an independent inquiry into claims of widespread abuse across north Wales, centred around the Bryn Estyn care home.
Professor Jane Tunstill, who was on that inquiry panel, told the BBC in 2000 that along with a "litany of abusive practices going on in the home on the part of the care staff" there were rumours that people outside the care system were also involved in the abuse.
However, the inquiry's report was never published and the copies were pulped to ensure that the local authority was able to maintain its insurance cover.
In the wake of this, and amid growing public pressure, in 1996 the-then Secretary of State for Wales, William Hague, ordered an inquiry into allegations of hundreds of cases of child abuse in care homes in former county council areas of Clwyd and Gwynedd between 1974 and 1990.
The tribunal, led by Sir Ronald Waterhouse, heard evidence from more than 650 people who had been in care from 1974 and took almost three years to publish its report.
Counsel for the inquiry mentioned the existence of a shadowy figure of high public standing, but said that there was no substantial evidence to support the allegations.
An investigation by BBC reporter Angus Stickler at the time of the report's publication revealed allegations of a much wider circle of abuse than that uncovered by the inquiry.
He uncovered allegations of widespread physical and sexual abuse of children not just by care system staff, but that children were being lent to paedophiles from all walks of life including businessmen, police, and a senior public figure in a paedophile ring stretching beyond the borders of north Wales, to Chester, London, Brighton and beyond.
One of the victims that Angus Stickler spoke to in 2000 was Mr Messham, who described some of the abuse he suffered. Now, reporting for BBC Newsnight and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, he has re-interviewed Mr Messham.
"In the home it was the standard abuse which was violent and sexual. Outside it was like you were sold, we were taken to the Crest Hotel in Wrexham, mainly on Sunday nights, where they would rent rooms," Mr Messham recalled in this latest interview.
"One particular night that I always recall is when I was basically raped, tied down, and abused by nine different men."
He also stood by his claims then that his abusers included a leading Tory politician of the Thatcher era.
"You were taken by car, where basically you were sexually abused. Various things would happen, drink would be involved, it was basically rape. But it wasn't just him, there be other people involved as well," he said.
When asked how many times he was abused by the politician Mr Messham said:
"Off my head I couldn't give an exact number as it goes back many years but certainly more than a dozen."
In his new interview, Mr Messham also said that he had gone to the police in the late 1970s to report the abuse, but that he was not believed:
"I was called a liar. I was pinned up against a wall. I could still name to this day the police officer who had done it," he said.
"The police denied it and when they looked back, they finally admitted in the inquiry [that] statements were made. That's all they would say. They wouldn't say who was named in them. But they did admit I did make a statement of sexual abuse."
Mr Messham also insisted that his statements to the police included allegations of sexual abuse against the politician.
In his original investigation Angus Stickler also spoke to another victim who claimed to have been abused by the politician, as well as others.
Newsnight/the Bureau of Investigative Journalism has been unable to track him down for this latest report. However, in 2000 he described how as a teenager he was abused by the politician:
"We went out for something to eat and he pulled over in a layby and then, hey presto, oral sex took place," the man - who wanted to remain anonymous - said.
He told Angus Stickler that at the time, in the early 1990s, he went to North Wales Police to report the abuse, showing them faxed photographs of the senior Tory politician.
However, he said that the two police officers he showed the photograph to dismissed his claims, saying that since the pictures were faxed they were not sufficiently reliable evidence and no further action was taken.
The Waterhouse inquiry, which cost £12m to stage, promised to leave no stone unturned in its endeavour to uncover abuse.
However, there have been complaints that the terms of reference were too narrow, restricting investigations to abuse taking place within the care system, not beyond it.
"I don't understand why on Earth we had an inquiry when we had to leave out 30% of the abusers," Mr Messham said in his latest interview.
"And basically I was told to do that. I was told I couldn't go into detail about these people, I couldn't name them and they wouldn't question me on them."
Mr Messham says he wants a new investigation into what happened:
"I would like a meeting now with David Cameron. He's made a statement, a sweeping statement that abused people need to be believed, we haven't been believed, we've been swept under the carpet.
"It's time he knew the truth. It's time a full investigation took place and until I can meet with him and get some reassurance I don't believe we will get anywhere."
Richard Scorer, a solicitor with Pannone and Partners, who represented 30 victims at the Waterhouse inquiry, believes the original remit of the inquiry and attitudes at the time were at the heart of the problem:
"The terms of reference were an important restriction. It's also fair to say at that time, and we're going back to the mid to late 1990s here, at that time the idea that senior public figures; politicians; celebrities could be involved in child abuse was seen as a bit far-fetched," he told Newsnight/the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.
"We now know of course from recent revelations that it isn't far-fetched at all - and that's part of the reason why it's important that these allegations are looked at again," he added.
Anyone with information into these allegations - or who needs support on the issues raised in this article - can call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 or email [email protected], or call their local police station by dialling 101. | A man who was sexually abused as a child in care in Wales has called for a new investigation into the true scale of the abuse and who was involved. |
32241285 | The 54-year-old said he was "deeply honoured... to join the distinguished list of past recipients of this award."
First presented to Richard Pryor in 1998, the award is named after the 19th Century novelist and essayist who was born Samuel Clemens in 1835.
It is given annually to someone who has had an impact on US society through their humour and social commentary.
Other previous recipients include Bill Cosby, Ellen DeGeneres and talk show host Jay Leno, last year's honouree.
Born in Brooklyn in 1961, Murphy got his break in comedy in 1980 when he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live.
He went on to become one of the movie industry's top box-office performers thanks to such hits as Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America and the animated Shrek films.
Murphy will be presented with the prize at a ceremony on 18 October at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. | Actor and comedian Eddie Murphy is to receive this year's Mark Twain Prize for American humour. |
35211486 | Newport had been confident the match would go ahead but referee Charles Breakspear called it off after heavy rain on Saturday.
League Two side County and Newport RFC had games postponed last weekend due to a waterlogged pitch at the same ground.
The fixture could be rearranged for the week starting Monday, 18 January. | Newport County's FA Cup third-round tie against Blackburn Rovers was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch at Rodney Parade. |
18188241 | Pedro Hernandez of Maple Shade, New Jersey, told police he choked Etan Patz to death and left his body in a bag in an alley, New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly told reporters.
Etan vanished while walking to a school bus stop on his own for the first time.
He became one of the first to appear on milk cartons asking for information about missing children.
Mr Hernandez, 51, is the first suspect to be arrested in connection with the case. He worked in a convenience shop near the Patz family home in Manhattan, New York.
"He was remorseful, and I think the detectives thought that it was a feeling of relief on his part," Mr Kelly said. "We believe that this is the individual responsible for the crime."
Mr Kelly added that Mr Hernandez had lured the boy "with the promise of a soda". After leading the boy into the basement he "choked him there and disposed of the body by placing him in a plastic bag and placing it in the trash".
No body or bag was ever recovered.
Mr Kelly told reporters that police took Mr Hernandez back to the scene of the crime, which is now a shop selling spectacles. When the incident took place, Mr Hernandez had been stacking shelves at the small grocery shop for about a month.
He added that police had already informed Etan's family of the development in the case.
"We can only hope that these developments bring some measure of peace to the family," he said.
US media said that police had been tipped off by someone Mr Hernandez had confided in, possibly a family member.
By Laura TrevelyanBBC News, New York
The image of Etan Patz's smiling face, framed by his fair hair, haunted Americans in the 1980s as they saw it on their milk cartons nationwide.
Etan's disappearance helped launch a national missing children's movement. The harrowing story of how a six-year-old vanished while walking to the school bus stop for the very first time prompted American parents to curb their children's independence.
Today it's almost impossible to think of a six-year-old being given such freedom, but back in 1979, it was common.
Investigators last month searched a handyman's former workshop near the Patz family home.
In an apparent breakthrough for the decades-old investigation, the Manhattan basement flat was excavated over four days. But no obvious human remains and little forensic evidence were found.
Several containers of rubble and sand from the property were hauled away and preserved in case officials need to revisit the excavation.
The handyman, Othniel Miller, has been questioned by detectives over the past year. But he denies having anything to do with his disappearance.
Etan vanished on 25 May 1979, near his home in New York's SoHo district. Friday is the anniversary his disappearance.
In 1983, President Ronald Reagan declared 25 May National Missing Children's Day.
Etan's parents, Stanley and Julie Patz, became outspoken advocates for missing children in the years after their son's disappearance.
The Patzes have not moved since his disappearance and for years refused to change their phone number, hoping that Etan was alive.
In 2001, however, the family obtained a court order declaring Etan dead as part of a lawsuit in which a convicted child molester was held responsible for their son's death.
A judge ordered Jose Antonio Ramos, who knew Etan's babysitter, to pay $2m (£1.3m) to the Patzes.
Ramos is serving a 20-year prison sentence for a different case, and is scheduled to be released this year. | A man has confessed to suffocating a six-year-old boy who went missing in New York in 1979, police say. |
20617312 | Most are "silent" mutations and do not affect health, although they can cause problems when passed to future generations.
Others are linked to conditions such as cancer or heart disease, which appear in later life, say geneticists.
The evidence comes from the 1,000 Genomes project, which is mapping normal human genetic differences, from tiny changes in DNA to major mutations.
In the study, 1,000 seemingly healthy people from Europe, the Americas and East Asia had their entire genetic sequences decoded, to look at what makes people different from each other, and to help in the search for genetic links to diseases.
The new research, published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, compared the genomes of 179 participants, who were healthy at the time their DNA was sampled, with a database of human mutations developed at Cardiff University.
It revealed that a normal healthy person has on average about 400 potentially damaging DNA variations, and two DNA changes known to be associated with disease.
"Ordinary people carry disease-causing mutations without them having any obvious effect," said Dr Chris Tyler-Smith, a lead researcher on the study from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge.
He added: "In a population there will be variants that have consequences for their own health."
The research gives an insight into the "flaws that make us all different, sometimes with different expertise and different abilities, but also different predispositions in diseases," said Prof David Cooper of Cardiff University, the other lead researcher of the study.
"Not all human genomes have perfect sequences," he added. "The human genome is packed with pervasive, architectural flaws."
It has been known for decades that all people carry some genetic mutations that appear to cause little or no harm.
Many are only damaging if they are passed on to children who inherit another copy of the faulty gene from the other parent.
In others - around one in ten of those studied - the mutation causes only a mild condition, appears to be inactive, or does not manifest itself until later life.
Databases of human mutations, like the one at Cardiff University, will have increasing importance in the future, as we move into the era of personalised medicine.
More people have access to genetic information about themselves, with various companies offering screening of selected gene changes via the internet.
Meanwhile, the cost of sequencing a whole genome is dropping rapidly.
In the case of the 1,000 genomes study, samples were anonymous, and participants will not be given information about any gene changes linked with disease.
But as DNA sequencing becomes more widespread, ethical dilemmas will arise about what to tell people about their genes, especially when many risks are uncertain.
Dr Chris Tyler-Smith said: "All of our genomes contain flaws; some of us will carry deleterious variants but will not be at risk of acquiring the associated disease for one reason or another.
"For others, there will be health consequences, and early warning could be useful, but might still come as an unwelcome surprise to the participant." | Everyone has on average 400 flaws in their DNA, a UK study suggests. |
38598767 | The versatile 23-year-old midfielder made 101 starts for Oldham.
The League Two club have also signed West Ham's versatile defender Alex Pike on loan for the rest of this season.
The 19-year-old, who can play at centre-back, full-back or wing-back, has been with the Premier League club since joining their academy, aged 10.
Pike's West Ham debut came in the Europa League in 2015 and he made three starts for the Hammers' Under-23 side in the EFL Trophy earlier this term.
Both players could play for Cheltenham when they host Accrington on Saturday.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page or visit our Premier League tracker here. | Cheltenham Town have signed Northern Ireland international Carl Winchester on a free transfer from Oldham Athletic on a one-and-a-half-year contract. |
34659771 | Shana Pezaro, 36, from Hove, East Sussex, was given antiretroviral drugs after fearing she may have contracted HIV.
Within days, Miss Pezaro noticed an easing of her MS symptoms.
When a doctor saw her walking up stairs after years of using a wheelchair he set up a clinical trial.
Multiple sclerosis is an incurable condition that can lead to sight loss, pain, fatigue and disability. It affects around 100,000 people in the UK.
Miss Pezaro was a dancer and piano teacher before being diagnosed with MS at the age of 28. The condition affected her hands and feet and she used a wheelchair.
In MS the coating around the nerve fibres is damaged causing a range of symptoms
Once diagnosed there is no cure, but treatments can help manage the condition
MS affects almost three times as many women as men
Physical symptoms of MS might commonly include vision problems, balance problems and dizziness, fatigue, bladder problems and stiffness and/or spasms
MS can affect memory and thinking and also can have an impact on emotions
(Source: Multiple Sclerosis Society)
About a year ago, Miss Pezaro thought she may have been exposed to HIV and her doctor prescribed emergency antiretroviral drugs.
"Three days after I took the drugs I walked up a flight of stairs," she said.
"That was an unbelievable, massive change."
Prof Julian Gold from the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, saw a video of Miss Pezaro climbing the stairs and a clinical trial was set up to look at the impact of single or combination antiretroviral drugs on MS patients.
An earlier study led by Dr Gold conducted with Queen Mary University, London and the University of Oxford showed an association between HIV and MS.
They reported antiretroviral treatment may suppress other viruses such as those which may cause MS.
Dr Gold said: "The next stage of the investigation is to use a very similar combination [of HIV drugs] that Shana took. I think that might be quite optimistic."
A spokeswoman for the MS Society said: "Our growing understanding tells us that viruses have a role to play in multiple sclerosis and it will be interesting to see the trial results - positive findings mean another step on the road to beating MS."
Shana and Dr Gold would be very keen not to raise any false hope.
The study builds on a lot of work already done with HIV patients who simply don't get multiple sclerosis.
This is really about finding a cause and increasingly people think the cause may be a virus.
When scientists use words like "amazing" and "intriguing" you have to stand up and listen. | A woman with multiple sclerosis (MS) says her symptoms improved so dramatically she was able to walk again after being prescribed HIV drugs. |
34667804 | The team will present its findings at the National Cancer Research Institute conference next week.
They plan to use liposomes - tiny bubbles of fat which carry materials round the body - to release toxic drugs when their temperature is raised.
The "grenades" are intended to avoid side-effects by ensuring the drugs target only the tumour.
Experts said such technology, which has been effective in animal experiments, was the "holy grail of nanomedicine".
Cancer scientists are trying to harness the transporting abilities of these fatty spheres by getting them to carry toxic drugs to tumours.
"The difficulty is, how do you release them when they reach their target?" Prof Kostas Kostarelos, from the University of Manchester, told the BBC News website.
The Nanomedicine Lab in Manchester has designed liposomes that are water-tight at normal body temperature. But when the temperature increases to 42C they become leaky.
"The challenge for us is to try to develop liposomes in such a way that they will be very stable at 37C and not leak any cancer drug molecules and then abruptly release them at 42C," Prof Kostarelos added.
He suggests heat pads could be used to warm tumours on the body surface such as skin, head or neck cancers.
Probes can heat tumours inside the body, and there is also discussion about using ultra sound to warm tumours.
In early tests on mice with melanoma there was "greater uptake" of drugs in tumours using the thermal grenades. And that resulted in a "moderate improvement" in survival rates.
Prof Kostarelos said similar techniques were being trialled in patients and this "is not a fantasy."
Prof Charles Swanton, the chairman of the conference, said targeted liposomes were a "holy grail of nanomedicine".
He added: "These studies demonstrate for the first time how they can be built to include a temperature control, which could open up a range of new treatment avenues.
"This is still early work but these liposomes could be an effective way of targeting treatment towards cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed."
Follow James on Twitter. | Scientists have designed microscopic "grenades" that can explode their cancer-killing payload in tumours. |
32552293 | I don't know if it's entirely true, but it's catchy nevertheless and paints the right picture of this urban constituency.
The seat has been held by the Liberal Democrats since 2005, after voters turned to them from Labour following the invasion of Iraq.
Cardiff Central is multicultural with a high proportion of students. As a result, large chunks of the population are transient by nature.
The Labour candidate Jo Stevens told me that recent changes to the voter registration system - which mean that students are no longer registered en bloc in their halls of residence - has led to a drop of around 10,000 potential voters.
She said: "A lot of people here last time voted for the Liberal Democrats thinking they were going to get what the Liberal Democrats said they would do, and they didn't - they got the Tories.
"There has been a lot of people who switched from Labour to the Lib Dems and back to Labour. That is the nature of the seat - it is very very marginal."
The Liberal Democrat candidate Jenny Willott, who has been the MP here for the past decade, has a majority of around 5,000 over Labour.
She believes the difference this time round will be under a thousand.
When I asked her how difficult it had been after five years of being in power with the Conservatives, she said: "I quite like the fact I have a record to defend.
"Previously when I have been standing and I have been the MP I have had my own personal record.
"But this time I can say, 'this is what we said in the last election and I have delivered a lot of it in government'."
The Conservative candidate Richard Hopkin admitted that one challenge he faces is coming across traditional Tory voters who are planning to vote tactically for the Lib Dems in order to keep Labour out.
But he said there are still opportunities.
"All the polling is showing that the Lib Dem vote is going to collapse, so what is going to happen to it?
"I am working really hard to make sure as much as possible comes back to the Conservatives because they are really conservative voters."
Plaid Cymru polled 3% of the vote five years ago.
The candidate Martin Pollard is looking to take advantage of the increase in profile being given to the leader Leanne Wood to get that share of the vote into double digits.
He has been stressing the anti-austerity message.
"There are a lot of reasons why people vote for Plaid Cymru and social justice and wanting to redistribute wealth within society are some of the reasons I got involved in the party," Mr Pollard said.
"They are now as important to many people as the Welsh language and, ultimately, independence."
UKIP's candidate Tony Raybould is a retired bus driver who has never been involved in politics in his life, until he joined the party last year.
He claims there are many people who share his concerns about immigration, even though there are many immigrants in the constituency.
"We try to say to them (immigrants) they are here already, they are not going to be kicked out of the EU," Mr Raybould said.
"They are already here and contributing to this country so we have no reason to want to get rid of them. All we are trying to do is to stop the volume of people coming in."
Also standing in Cardiff Central are the Green Party, The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, and an independent candidate - see the full list here. | The saying goes that Cardiff Central is the only constituency in Wales without a farm. |
33499465 | Police said four flag poles were damaged during the incident in the Diamond area.
It was reported shortly after 03:00 BST on Sunday.
The Orange Order has described the theft as "a deplorable act". | Four union flags have been stolen near the war memorial in Kilrea, County Londonderry. |
31621074 | Thirty-one-year-old Pierce Boykin was arrested on Monday and charged with a number of offences including aggravated assault and attempted murder.
An unidentified 27-year-old man is seriously ill in hospital with wounds to his arms and side.
The attack happened outside a bar in Philadelphia after an argument.
Another man, Devon Pickett, was killed in the same incident.
"The gentleman who is in custody is only charged with the stabbing of the male who is in critical condition," a Philadelphia police spokeswoman said.
"It is still an active investigation, our homicide unit is still working the case."
Minaj tweeted that she'd been in the city rehearsing for her tour which starts in Europe in March.
Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube | A man's been charged in connection with the stabbing of a member of Nicki Minaj's tour crew. |
39077293 | The findings came from a study of 52,600 people in the US, exploring the "orgasm gap" between the genders and different sexual orientations.
The report in Archives of Sexual Behaviour revealed a "variety of behaviours couples can try to increase orgasm frequency".
These include oral sex and manual stimulation.
The study, by Indiana University, Chapman University and Claremont Graduate University, showed the proportion of people who usually orgasmed was:
The research team said: "The findings, however, indicate that this orgasm gap can be reduced.
"The fact that lesbian women orgasmed more often than heterosexual women indicates that many heterosexual women could experience higher rates of orgasm."
Few heterosexual women climaxed through penetrative sex alone, the report said.
The study showed that "of particular importance was incorporating oral sex along with other activities during a sexual encounter".
There was a clear pattern between more oral sex and more orgasms in heterosexual women, lesbian women, bisexual women, gay men and bisexual men.
Only in straight men was no link detected.
Other behaviours linked to greater orgasms in women were:
The report authors said there were both social and evolutionary ideas around why men and women have different rates of orgasm.
For example a stigma against women expressing sexual desire hampering sexual discovery and a belief in some men that most women orgasm from penetrative sex.
And from an evolutionary perspective they suggested the male and female orgasms served different purposes which could also have an effect.
This male orgasm is all about ejaculation to ensure reproduction while in women it "facilitates bonding with a long-term romantic partner", the report said. | Heterosexual women have fewer orgasms than men or lesbian or bisexual women, a study suggests. |
17025119 | The 47-year-old will play the part of Creon in the drama. Jodie Whittaker, from Venus, St Trinian's and Attack the Block, will take the title role.
Antigone begins previews on 23 May and will be directed by Polly Findlay.
Eccleston - soon to be seen in BBC One thriller The Fuse - last performed at the National in 1990.
That was a production of Abingdon Square. The same year he also starred opposite Sir Ian McKellen in Bent.
Antigone, presented here in a version by Don Taylor, is an ancient Greek tragedy telling of a young woman who defies an edict saying her brother's body cannot be buried.
That brings her into conflict with Creon, a ruler desperate to gain control over a city ravaged by civil war. | Former Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston is to return to the National Theatre for the first time in 20 years in a production of Sophocles' Antigone. |
29279405 | Bernadette Smyth, who leads the anti-abortion group Precious Life, was replying to a prosecution lawyer.
Mrs Smyth, of Suffolk Street, Ballymena, County Antrim, denies harassing Marie Stopes clinic director Dawn Purvis.
The lawyer suggested she had laughed at Ms Purvis in a "cackling, jeering, mocking way, in a witch's manner."
Ms Smyth replied: "I can't agree with this court that I'm a witch. I'm a Christian."
The case concerns two incidents involving the accused that happened outside the Marie Stopes Clinic, Great Victoria Street, Belfast, in January and February.
Ms Purvis runs the clinic and Ms Smyth was among anti-abortion protesters outside. Ms Purvis claimed that Ms Smyth harassed her.
The Marie Stopes clinic opened in Belfast in October 2012, amid protests from anti-abortion groups.
It provides medical termination of pregnancy up to nine weeks' gestation, subject to legal criteria being met.
A woman can only have an abortion in Northern Ireland if it can be proven her life is at risk or if there is a risk of permanent and serious damage to her mental or physical health.
The case continues | An anti-abortion protester accused of behaving like a witch told a Belfast court: "I'm no witch, I'm a Christian". |
38389556 | Shares in defence technology firm QinetiQ jumped more than 4% after it announced a deal to buy a targeting systems business from Meggitt for £57.5m. Meggitt fell 1%.
Crude oil prices pushed higher in early trading. North Sea Brent crude was 0.7% higher at $55.69 per barrel.
Oil shares were mixed, with BP trading 0.3% higher, but Shell down 0.4%.
"On Wednesday, UK stocks lost some ground with light profit taking headed into year-end," said Jasper Lawler, senior market analyst at London Capital Group.
"A finish for the year above 7,000 might just be the psychological boost required to presage a fresh record high in 2017," he added.
Connor Campbell, financial analyst at SpreadEx, described the session as "another drab day of pre-Christmas trading".
"Hopefully tomorrow can bring with it something a bit more interesting. Investors may have to wait until the afternoon, however, when the final US third-quarter GDP figure is released," he said.
The pound was down 0.13% against the dollar at $1.2351. It was 0.45% lower against the euro at €1.1849. | (Close): London's FTSE 100 drifted lower after Tuesday's two-month high, closing down 2.54 points at 7,041.42. |
34129885 | At the same time, 2.3 million male workers will benefit, the Resolution Foundation report says.
The majority of employees would see their earnings rise in line with the minimum but some would gain from a "ripple effect" of wage rises, it said.
The National Living Wage of £7.20 an hour comes into force in April 2016.
It will only apply to workers over the age of 25. The national minimum wage is currently £6.50 an hour, which will rise to £6.70 next month.
"Because of their concentration among the low paid, women will account for the majority of the winners," said the think tank's policy analyst, Conor D'Arcy.
"This will have a positive - though modest - effect on the gender pay gap, and will particularly help those working part-time."
Analysis by the Resolution Foundation found that six million people - almost a quarter of all employees - will get a wage rise by the end of the decade, worth an average of £1,210.
A further 2.8 million employees already being paid the new minimum would gain as firms maintained pay gaps between different workers, the report said.
Workers in areas including Yorkshire and the Humber, Midlands and Wales were expected to be among those benefiting most from the higher wage, it suggested.
Earlier in the week, the government outlined plans for tougher penalties to be imposed on employers which fail to meet the National Living Wage requirements.
The plan for the wage, outlined in Chancellor George Osborne's Budget, has received support, but the CBI said it was a "gamble" to place politics into the setting of a minimum wage level.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "The TUC has long argued that Britain needs a pay rise, and the new supplement to the minimum wage is a welcome step forward.
"Despite the pay gains, many of the lowest paid workers will still be left poorer overall because of steep cuts to their tax credits." | Some 3.7 million women - nearly three in 10 employees - will receive a pay rise by 2020 owing to the new National Living Wage, research suggests. |
39487574 | The Fitzroy River rose to 8.75m (29ft) in the central Queensland city on Thursday.
It comes nine days after Cyclone Debbie made landfall in northern Queensland, causing floods along a 1,200km (745 miles) stretch of coast.
Authorities said Rockhampton would face a "major flood" for at least a day.
"This body of water is incredible," Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.
At least 217 homes had been flooded and the river was expected to remain at its current level for at least a day, said local councillor Tony Williams.
Despite temporary levees being installed, floodwaters hit many buildings and forced roads and an airport to close.
Mr Williams, chair of the local disaster management committee, said it could take businesses up to two years to recover.
"I think it will be the nail in the coffin for a lot of businesses," he told Seven News.
Cyclone Debbie pounded Australia's east coast as a category four system before causing torrential rain as a tropical storm.
The Insurance Council of Australia has estimated the damage bill could reach A$1bn ($770m).
Rockhampton sits near the mouth of the Fitzroy River, which draws water from a catchment twice the size of Tasmania.
The peak came so long after Cyclone Debbie because the catchment is upstream, said civil engineer Dr David Callaghan from the University of Queensland.
"The reason for this delay is that it is a large catchment," he told the BBC.
"It takes time for water in a large area of that total catchment to all arrive at once to any particular location along the river." | More than 200 houses in the Australian city of Rockhampton have been flooded after a river reached its flood peak, authorities say. |
34944768 | King Arthur Pendragon claims the cremated bones, unearthed in 2008, are from members of the royal line and wants them reburied.
A licence allowing them to go on display expired last month, but has since been extended.
Mr Pendragon said the government had "reinterpreted" the law.
Since their excavation, the remains have led to new discoveries about Stonehenge.
Prof Mike Parker Pearson from University College London said the bones were buried over a period of 600 years, and include the remains of men, women and children.
His findings will be formally published in the Antiquity Journal next year.
If new scientific advances were made, he added, the licence allowed for future examination of the bone fragments.
The items will be held in storage until the bones are transferred to Salisbury Museum in April.
Mr Pendragon said he would will apply for the repatriation of the bones when they are moved to the museum, and will then apply for a judicial review.
He added: "We are not going to roll over on this and we are going to mobilise our supporters around the world."
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "Every licence application is carefully considered on its merits.
"Having weighed up all the arguments put forward, Ministers found the case made by Professor Parker Pearson to be more persuasive than that put forward by those who opposed the application and have amended the licence as he requested."
Meanwhile, Mr Pendragon also told the BBC he planned to seek a change in the law to better protect pre-Christian human remains.
He will also address the issue at the Stonehenge winter solstice on 22 December. | A senior druid has vowed to seek a judicial review over a government decision allowing ancient human remains from Stonehenge to be kept in a museum. |
39413414 | The billionaire, dubbed Wall Street's "Bond King", sued Pimco after his abrupt departure from the firm in 2014.
Pimco, the world's largest bond fund, has agreed to pay Mr Gross in what both sides called an "amicable" settlement.
"Pimco has always been family to me, and, like any family, sometimes there are disagreements," Mr Gross said.
"I'm glad that we have had the opportunity to work through those, and see the Pimco founders receiving the recognition they deserve," he said.
Mr Gross, a Pimco co-founder, had been suing the firm for at least $200m, which he claims he lost after being forced to leave.
He had claimed he was forced out so that his colleagues could get his share of the bonus.
In the statement, Pimco said it recognised the "enormous contribution to its success" from Mr Gross and other co-founders.
Mr Gross, who moved to rival Janus Capital in 2014, also repeated that his lawsuit had never been about money.
The terms of the settlement are confidential. However, both sides have said that any proceeds from the suit will be donated to charity.
Mr Gross earned the moniker "the Bond King" from making good bets on US Treasury bonds, particularly during the dot com bubble and the housing crisis. | Star trader Bill Gross has ended a "family disagreement" with his former firm Pimco, in a settlement worth an estimated $81m (£65m). |
37060535 | 12 August 2016 Last updated at 13:24 BST
Scientists have created a special fabric that meshes together when water and a bit of pressure are applied.
It's inspired by chemicals found in a squid's tentacles which allow the creature to heal themselves quickly.
By using those chemicals in the fabric it's possible to make a material that stitches itself back together when needed.
The scientists at Pennsylvania State University and the US Naval Research Laboratory in Washington say this tech could be used to make protective suits to help keep people like soldiers or farmers safe from dangerous materials.
Take a look at some other animals that have inspired technology. | One day in the future the clothes we wear might be able to mend themselves. |
33080109 | The governing body said the teachers would not be allowed to teach again.
They were found guilty after a disciplinary process, the Teachers Services Commission (TSC) said.
A Child Welfare Society of Kenya has urged the director of public prosecutions to ensure those convicted are imprisoned, to protect other children in future.
This ban is a departure from previous reactions to sexual abuse by teachers, says the Kenyan newspaper the Daily Nation, as it says previously the TSC just transferred suspended teachers.
The list is compiled from complaints between 2011 and 2014.
Before this, in 2010, more than 1,000 Kenyan teachers were sacked for sexually abusing girls. Most of those cases occurred in rural primary schools.
Africa news updates | Kenya's authorities have banned 126 teachers for "gross misconduct", most for sexual abuse of their students. |
28282154 | Italian midfielder Bianchi, 25, joins on a four-year deal from Serie A side Sassuolo and spent last season on loan with Modena in Serie B.
"He can play on the left, right or in the number 10 position and he can score goals," said Leeds boss Dave Hockaday.
Senegal striker Doukara, 22, has arrived from Italian club Catania.
He was on loan with Serie B's Juve Stabia last season, scoring six goals in 20 appearances.
"He is a big, powerful and fast player with a hunger to succeed," added Hockaday. "He is exactly what we need at the club."
The Championship club's tally of signings this summer is now four following the arrivals of goalkeepers Marco Silvestri and Stuart Taylor.
The latest transfers come after Scotland international striker Ross McCormack left Leeds to join Fulham for an undisclosed fee, believed to be £11m. | Leeds United have signed Tommaso Bianchi on a permanent basis and Souleymane Doukara on a season-long loan. |
29333033 | Culling is taking place in two areas - west Somerset and west Gloucestershire - for a second year.
The 30-year-old was detained following an incident at a farm in Bromsberrow Heath, near Ledbury on the Herefordshire-Gloucestershire border.
He has been bailed to appear before Cheltenham magistrates on 23 October. | A man from the Bristol area has been charged with common assault and aggravated trespass by officers policing the badger cull. |
35576184 | Anthony Wordsworth gave the hosts an early lead from close range but Stuart Beavon equalised for Burton just before the break with a deflected strike.
Tyrone Barnett's fine drive restored Southend's advantage and David Mooney sealed the win in the last minute on the counter-attack.
Burton have now lost three of their past six matches.
Burton boss Nigel Clough told BBC Radio Derby:
Media playback is not supported on this device
"I thought we played well enough to get something out of the game.
"After the first 10 minutes we got to grips with the game and played well; deserved the equaliser and I thought we started the second half very well.
"They hardly had a shot and then all of a sudden one flies in the top corner and we're chasing the game again.
"We probably played better for an hour of the game tonight than we did in the two previous victories." | League One leaders Burton missed the chance to go seven points clear as they were beaten at Southend. |
38008151 | The people attempting to flee include children.
Witnesses and Bangladeshi officials say that some people trying to flee have been shot and killed.
At least 130 people have died during a military operation in Rakhine state, where many of the minority live, in just over a month.
Activists say hundreds of homes have been burnt to the ground but the government rejects that claim. Foreign reporters have not been allowed into the area.
Rakhine is home to more than a million Rohingya Muslims, who are not recognised as Myanmar citizens.
People in the country tend to consider them illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh.
The state has seen simmering tension between its Buddhist and Muslim populations following co-ordinated attacks last month that killed nine police officers, which police blamed on the Rohingya.
Since then, soldiers have closed down parts of Rakhine state and stopped aid workers and independent observers from entering.
The government says "violent attackers" and some members of the security forces have been killed.
Around 100,000 Rohingya people still live in camps after violence that flared up in 2012 forcing them to leave their homes.
Last year, images of hundreds of Rohingya people floating in fishing boats shocked the world. They were trying to escape by sea to Malaysia. Asian countries agreed to work together to try to stem the crisis.
And Aung San Suu Kyi's government has opened a governmental commission to examine the problems in Rakhine state. | Hundreds of people from the Rohingya minority in Myanmar are trying to escape a military crackdown by crossing the border into Bangladesh. |
36985799 | There is no standard recall option in the deal for the 18-year-old, who is eligible for the Championship club's opening game against Wigan on Saturday.
He has scored 74 goals in 98 youth games for Chelsea at different levels, and played twice in the Premier League.
"Tammy is a top-class player who has a very bright future in the game," City boss Lee Johnson told the club website.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | Bristol City have signed England Under-19 forward Tammy Abraham on a season-long loan from Chelsea. |
35882053 | 23 March 2016 Last updated at 18:40 GMT
Norman Sharp, 91, from Trowbridge, Wiltshire, was the first person to get an NHS hip operation in December 1948, aged 23, after suffering from septic arthritis as a child.
He now holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-lasting replacement hip replacement - and is still dancing.
BBC Points West's Fiona Lamdin put it to the test. | The world's oldest replacement hips are still serving their owner well - 67 years after he received them. |
40001838 | The Scot, 25, beat Nicolas Peifer of France 7-6 (3) 6-1 in Sunday's final.
Reigning Wimbledon champion Reid secured his second Super Series title and will top the rankings for the third time when they are published this week.
"I'm very happy to be coming home with the title and regaining my place at the top of the singles rankings," he said.
"My performances in Japan have given me a good confidence boost looking ahead to the summer Grand Slams."
Reid first gained number one spot after winning gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympics against fellow Briton Alfie Hewett.
He remained top for three weeks before regaining the position in December after reaching the final of the wheelchair Masters in London. | Paralympic gold medallist Gordon Reid returned to the top of the world rankings with victory in the men's singles at the Japan Open. |
30288987 | Barry Wilkins, 71, was attacked at his flat in Norrington Road, Northfield, Birmingham, in November 2013.
Susan Hughes, 48, was convicted of murder in August. Police said she was overheard attacking Mr Wilkins even as she made a 999 call.
On Monday, a judge at Birmingham Crown Court sentenced her to life.
Det Sgt Harry May said: "In a drunken argument she armed herself with a large kitchen knife and violently attacked Barry in the bedroom.
"Whilst she was attacking him she called the 999 system and whilst on the phone she was heard attacking Barry, physically and verbally abusing him."
During the trial, the jury was told Hughes was overheard by an emergency operator saying "I wish I had stabbed your throat, love".
Hughes, previously of Linley Grove, Kings Heath, used a kitchen knife with a 20cm blade to stab Mr Wilkins, who died on New Year's Eve.
Mr May said Hughes had shown no remorse since the attack. | A former mental health nurse has been jailed for at least 12 years for stabbing her partner to death with a kitchen knife. |
36075594 | The Antrim man, 30, begins his Crucible quest full of confidence after winning the Players Championship last month, his third success in a ranking event.
"I think he will try to slow the match down and try to drag me down a little bit," said the world number seven.
"But I don't think he can outscore me or outplay me in any way," added Allen.
The Northern Irishman told BBC Sport he knows he cannot afford to be complacent, despite being such a strong favourite against the world number 74 - the only rookie in this year's tournament.
Birmingham player Mann, 24, booked his place at the Crucible by beating Thai talent Dechawat Poomjaeng 10-9 in the final qualifying round on Wednesday.
"On paper it was probably the best draw I could have got," Allen observed. "But you don't play snooker on paper.
"Mitchell beat me in qualifying for China Open earlier in the season so I know what to expect. He will try to frustrate me.
"But this is the World Championship, not the China Open. I like being in Sheffield and plan on staying here past Wednesday so I will not be letting his tactics get to me. I will worry about my own game and, if I play well, I will win."
Allen said playing at snooker's showpiece event in Sheffield continues to provide a huge buzz and understandable anxiety, but he expects Mann to be affected by nerves.
Allen added: "It's his first time at the Crucible and I remember my first time and thinking, 'just don't fall down the steps'.
"It is so nerve-wracking. And it is still nerve-wracking now. You would think you would get used to it but it's a different sort of pressure here. It is an unreal experience.
"Mitchell is a good lad, a cracking guy. Hopefully he can come here and embrace it, but not too much."
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The former world semi-finalist knows he carries the burden of expectation from home as he looks to become the first Northern Ireland player to win the world title since Dennis Taylor in 1985.
But that will be a long way from his thoughts when he starts his match on Tuesday afternoon.
"I do understand and appreciate the support I get from back home," Allen said. "There is a massive following. People you don't expect to be watching snooker watch when I am playing.
"It's great but I don't think about that when I am playing. Don't get me wrong, if I was to win this and go back home I would be so proud to do it for Northern Ireland, but I don't look at it that way when I am playing.
"It's been a few years since I have gone deep here but I have always felt like I have played okay here. I have just come up against players who have played better in the last few years.
"Everyone will be playing reasonably well, it is who can play exceptionally well." | Mark Allen says he must not allow himself to get frustrated when he faces debutant Mitchell Mann in the first round of the World Championship. |
40297299 | O'Flanagan put Ireland ahead but Germany equalised in the third quarter.
Mullan scored the winner by diverting in a long ball from Hannah Matthews in the final quarter and Ireland now face China on Friday and Korea on Sunday.
Ireland will next meet Germany in the pool stages of this year's World League semi-finals in Johannesburg in July.
The World League 3 tournament in South Africa will be followed by the Eurohockey Championships in August. | Anna O'Flanagan and Katie Mullan scored as Ireland beat 2016 Olympic bronze medallists Germany 2-1 in their opening game of the Berlin Four Nations Cup. |
13875507 | Milly vanished in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, as she walked home from school on 21 March 2002. Her remains were found in Hampshire six months later.
An Old Bailey jury found Bellfield, 43, guilty of abducting and murdering her after she walked past his home.
In 2008 he was convicted of murdering two young women in west London and attempting to murder a third.
Bellfield was also accused of attempting to abduct 11-year-old Rachel Cowles the day before Milly's disappearance.
The jury was sent home and will continue considering its verdict on that charge on Friday.
Milly Dowler was last seen near Bellfield's flat in Collingwood Place, off Station Avenue.
Police knocked on his door on 11 occasions, the last of which was on 28 May 2004, but officers never tried to contact the letting agent in an effort to trace him.
Rachel Cowles' mother Diana rang police when a man in a red car offered her daughter a lift but it was three years before officers interviewed her.
Milly's mother and her sister Gemma, 25, collapsed after hearing the verdict.
They had each broken down in the witness box after it was suggested that Milly had run away or committed suicide because she was unhappy.
At one stage Milly's father, Robert, became a suspect.
During his trial, Bellfield refused to give evidence in his defence.
During his closing speech for the prosecution, Brian Altman QC, accused Bellfield of putting Milly's grieving parents on trial and described the 13-year-old as an intelligent girl who was in the top set at school.
He said it was a "ludicrous theory" to suggest Milly had run away and was "dark or depressive".
Bellfield went undetected until his arrest in November 2004 for the murder of French woman Amelie Delagrange.
His red Daewoo Nexia car, which was seen turning into Station Road 22 minutes after Milly was last seen, has never been found.
During the trial Bellfield's former partner Emma Mills said he had gone "missing" on the day of Milly's disappearance. The couple had been housesitting for a friend in west London.
When Bellfield returned after 2200 BST he was wearing different clothes from their flat in Walton. He later got up during the night, at about 0300 or 0400 BST, saying he was going back to the flat.
The following day Bellfield told Miss Mills he wanted to move out of the flat back to their former home in West Drayton, west London.
Miss Mills said she thought he had been with another woman because he had destroyed the bed sheets.
Later when she quizzed him about where he had been that day, he said: "What? Do you think I've done Milly?"
Kate Sheedy, who Bellfield tried to kill in 2004, was in court to hear the verdict, along with the parents of Ms Delagrange.
Bellfield, who was wearing a lilac polo shirt, yawned as he was led back to the cells while the jury considered the final charge of attempted abduction.
Mrs Dowler had to be helped from the courtroom by police officers.
Outside the courtroom, Gemma began wailing and shouting "guilty".
Mr Dowler helped to comfort his daughter as the court's matron was called to help both women. | Former nightclub doorman Levi Bellfield has been found guilty of murdering 13-year-old Milly Dowler. |
30527500 | The Federal Reserve statement caused US stocks to climb the most since 2013.
Japan's Nikkei rallied 2.3% to close at 17,210.05 points while the broader Topix rose 1.8% to 1,376.32.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index closed up 246.37 points at 22,821.43 but the Shanghai Composite slipped 3.5 points to 3,057.52.
Australia's S&P/ASX200 index rose nearly 1% to close at 5,210.80 points, led by mining and energy stocks.
Japan's Sony was one of the big stock movers of the morning.
Its shares rose by 3.5% in Tokyo trading after its entertainment unit cancelled the release of "The Interview" following a cyber-security attack, which US investigators reportedly believes stemmed from North Korea.
The comedy movie is about plans to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Hackers incensed by the film leaked Sony documents and had threatened attacks on cinemas planning to show the film.
In South Korea, the Samsung Group's Cheil Industries made a strong trading debut, rising 6.6%, after pricing its initial public offering at the top end of the range.
Cheil operates theme parks and fashion outlets in the country and saw its shares double, outperforming the benchmark Kospi index which closed down 2.66 points at 1,897.50. | Markets in Asia were mostly higher after the US Federal Reserve pledged to be "patient" on raising interest rates from record lows. |
29610663 | His label, Warp Records, said "with great sadness" that he died last week from complications after an operation.
Bell and bandmate Gez Varley became known as electronica innovators through their act LFO in the early 1990s.
Bell went on to produce Bjork's 1997 album Homogenic and become one of her regular collaborators.
The former Sugarcubes star paid tribute by posting a link to LFO's Love is the Message track on her social media.
The band took their name from the acronym for low-frequency oscillators, synthesiser effects often heard in club music.
Sister Bliss, of dance act Faithless, paid her own homage on Twitter, remembering Bell as "a total legend".
Bell, who was born in Yorkshire, also worked with Depeche Mode on their 2001 album Exciter.
In a statement, his record label said his friends and family "request privacy at this difficult time". | Mark Bell, the influential British producer and electronic music pioneer who worked extensively with Icelandic star Bjork, has died at the age of 43. |
28673571 | Police were called to the North Lincolnshire airport on Tuesday morning after a vehicle was reported stolen in The Ridge Way in Grimsby.
Matthew George Dobson, 39, of no fixed address, was arrested after abandoning the car at the scene.
He will appear at Cleethorpes Magistrates' Court later.
The airport's operations were unaffected by the incident, Humberside Police said. | A man has been charged with burglary and driving offences after a stolen car crashed into a perimeter fence at Humberside Airport. |
37012203 | His keenness to cooperate with Vladimir Putin against the so-called Islamic State group in Syria has provoked consternation and outrage among many, both Democrats and Republicans.
The spokesman for House of Representatives, Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican, has summed up a common attitude by saying simply: "Russia is a global menace led by a devious thug."
But, despite the chill between the two countries on a raft of other matters, are Russian and American interests in Syria really so far apart?
Since the beginning of the Syrian war five years ago, the Kremlin has steadfastly supported its long-term ally President Bashar al-Assad.
That has put Russia at direct loggerheads with the US.
Back in 2011, Barack Obama said President Assad's resignation was a precondition for any settlement.
But the growing threat from IS, which has conquered large swathes of northern and eastern Syria since 2013, has changed the equation.
Last September, Russia took much of the world by surprise by intervening directly in Syria, bombing what it called terrorist targets.
Most Western politicians and foreign policy analysts said that was just a pretext to cover a cynical Kremlin power play.
They said fighting terrorism was far from Russia's main concern.
Mr Putin, they said, had intervened to shore up Mr Assad and re-establish Russia as a major player in the Middle East.
Other aims, they said, were to distract the West's attention from Russia's support for rebels in Ukraine, to test and show off new Russian weaponry, to boost Mr Putin's popularity at home - and even to destabilise Europe by triggering a further exodus from Syria, what some called "weaponising refugees".
Some Russian air strikes seemed to confirm those suspicions.
Many have targeted not IS, but other Syrian opposition fighters supported by the West.
Evidence provided by human rights groups also suggests Russia has hit hospitals and other civilian targets, even returning for second strikes against rescue workers.
But Russia denies that.
It says it has a very real interest in combating terrorism.
Since 2001 about 1,000 of its citizens been killed in attacks blamed on Islamist extremists.
IS has established cells across Russia's predominantly Muslim north Caucasus region.
It is sending fighters north from Afghanistan to destabilise Russia's neighbours in Central Asia.
And Russia says it has hit IS in Syria harder than America has.
he US-led bombing campaign began a year earlier than Russia's, but achieved little in that time.
By late February this year, Russia was hitting about 60 targets daily; the US-led coalition about seven.
Russia has struck IS and other extreme Islamist groups such as the Nusra Front, until recently allied to al-Qaeda, many times.
And in March, Russian military backing enabled Syrian government forces to drive IS out of the historic desert town of Palmyra, the first big defeat for the extremists in Syria.
Of course, that also gave a victory to President Assad.
And more recently Russian air strikes helped his forces encircle what was once Syria's biggest city, Aleppo.
Rebels there are now fighting desperately to lift the siege.
But while the West insists President Assad is the cause of Syria's problems, Russia says any likely alternative to him would be far worse.
It points to the disastrous results of overthrowing the dictators Saddam Hussein in Iraq and Muammar Gaddafi in Libya, two countries where a vacuum of authority has let IS and other extremists establish themselves.
The Kremlin also questions how moderate the so-called "mainstream rebels" in Syria really are.
Many of the other main groups besides IS and Nusra, now renamed Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, are also fighting for a Sharia-run Islamic state.
Even parts of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), which says it wants a pluralistic Syria, have sometimes cooperated with Nusra.
And US military chiefs believe the FSA includes many fighters whose views do not fit Western definitions of "moderation".
All this, Russia says, explains the West's half-hearted support for the Syrian opposition, which it has partially trained and equipped, but never substantially armed.
America - unlike Russia - appears not to know what it wants in Syria.
But it has taken Donald Trump - the great iconoclast - to shout that in public.
As he has said now more than once, "Assad is bad" but the Obama administration has been "backing people who they don't know who they are".
In fact, the idea of a Russian-American alliance against extremism is not new.
The two powers cooperated well during the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, after the 9/11 attacks.
And last October, Russia says, it invited the US, the UK and Turkey to coordinate action against IS in Syria, but the West ruled that out then because President Assad was also involved, and it feared any intelligence it passed on about anti-IS fighters in the FSA would actually be used to target them.
Now though, after long discussions in Moscow, US Secretary of State John Kerry says he has reached an outline agreement with Russia on coordinating air strikes.
The US would share intelligence in return for a Russian promise not to hit US-backed groups.
But many in Washington doubt the Kremlin could be trusted.
And some would regard any agreement with Russia as a betrayal of the forces the US has supported for the past five years.
It might take a Trump presidency - if there ever is one - with a different set of priorities, to make a US-Russia deal stick.
Would that mean defeat not just for IS, but for all President Assad's enemies? A gloating, vengeful triumph? Or, perhaps, an opening for genuine compromise imposed by both powers?
Certainly, the deal would be a U-turn for America, humiliating for many.
Its Syria policy would become less ethical - but also, perhaps, less contradictory. | Donald Trump says if he becomes the next US president, he would like to "get together with Russia" to "knock the hell out of Isis". |
37820093 | A medical witness for the defence said Mr Jutting also suffered from the effects of cocaine and alcohol abuse.
Mr Jutting has pleaded not guilty to murdering Sumarti Ningsih and Seneng Mujasih in 2014 on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
He did plead guilty to manslaughter, but the prosecution rejected that.
Defence witness Richard Latham, a consulting forensic psychiatrist in the UK's National Health Service, said Mr Jutting's disorders had progressed to the "most severe end of the spectrum" by the time of the killings.
His ability to control his behaviour was "substantially impaired", Mr Latham said.
Read more: Sumarti Ningsih's story
Mr Jutting's defence lawyer, Tim Owen QC, said that his client had had a troubled upbringing.
He was sexually abused during his boarding school days at the prestigious Winchester College in the UK, and his father attempted to kill himself while he was 16, he said.
Both the prosecution and the defence agree that Mr Jutting killed Sumarti Ningsih and Seneng Mujasih.
The crux of the argument is Mr Jutting's psychiatric state at the time - and hence, whether he had diminished responsibility or not.
The difference between murder and manslaughter has significant implications for the sentence - a murder conviction leads to a mandatory life sentence, and while the maximum sentence for manslaughter is also life, lower jail sentences are also possible.
The defence witness, Dr Richard Latham, would not say whether he believed Mr Jutting had mental responsibility for his actions or not - but did say that the four mental disorders he had diagnosed Mr Jutting with had substantially impaired his ability to control his behaviour.
Mr Jutting sat calmly in court as the witness gave evidence, surrounded by three police officers. He appeared to be observing proceedings carefully, reading through documents as the court referred to them.
The court has previously been shown videos showing Mr Jutting torturing Sumarti Ningsih, 23.
In other videos filmed on his iPhone, Mr Jutting also takes cocaine, consumes alcohol and explains why he tortures women.
The gruesome details of the murder case has captured international attention. It is the biggest murder trial in Hong Kong in years, as the city is considered one of the safest in the world. | A British banker accused of killing two women in Hong Kong had been diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder and sexual sadism, the court has heard. |
33714428 | Londoner Joshua, 25, is undefeated in 13 fights since turning professional after winning Olympic gold in 2012.
WBA, IBF and WBO champion Klitschko, who has trained with the Englishman, said: "Joshua has the qualities that not many guys have had.
"He definitely has the potential to become a real big star in boxing."
In May, Joshua beat American Kevin Johnson, who had not been stopped in 36 previous fights.
Johnson had also gone the distance with Wladimir's brother, Vitali, a former world champion.
Klitschko, who fights Britain's Tyson Fury in October, said he was also impressed by Joshua's all-around attitude.
"Anthony has all the tools to become that great champion inside and, most importantly, probably, outside of the ring," said the 39-year-old.
The Ukrainian, who has not lost a bout in 11 years, added that he "could not exclude" the chance of fighting Joshua in the future.
"He needs to improve and eventually it will happen, if I stay where I am today." Klitschko told BBC Radio 5 live.
"You cannot pass me since I've been holding the titles for many years, so if you want to get onto my mountain then you will have to face me."
Listen to the full Klitschko interview on the 5 live boxing podcast. | World heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko says Britain's Anthony Joshua is the most promising boxer he has seen "in 25 years". |
32708398 | Simon Hamilton spent his first day in the post meeting nurses at a conference in the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald.
He said nurses were the cornerstone of the health service and praised their dedication.
"When we are talking about budgets and shillings and pence, we don't think about people who are every day doing fantastic jobs," he said.
"You have a unique role that sees you from the happiest to saddest times of life."
Mr Hamilton said he did not need to be in his job for "one day, 100 days or even 1,000 days" to appreciate the "immense pressure" faced by everyone working in the modern health service.
"Everybody understands and appreciates that, as our health service moves forward and we face the challenges in Northern Ireland and those faced by health services across the world, that we need to change how we do things - but we need to change how we do things for the better," he said.
"We shouldn't be afraid of change, we shouldn't be afraid of reform, we shouldn't be afraid of transformation."
He told the nurses and midwives who had gathered for a conference on Tuesday, International Nurses' Day, that they made "a wonderful difference" to the lives of people.
"Our health service continues to experience significant pressures yet despite this, nurses ensure dignity and respect for everyone they care for," he said.
"They are often the first person a patient sees when they come into contact with the health service and they remain in close contact throughout the patient's journey. The lasting impressions made by nurses underpin the continued respect and belief in our NHS and I thank them for that."
Mr Hamilton said that he was "optimistic" that health workers would embrace "the transformation and change and reform that is required to ensure that our citizens get the standard of health and social care that they need". | Northern Ireland's new health minister has urged nurses and doctors to embrace reform and not to fear it. |
33587800 | Is Senior General Min Aung Hlaing the most powerful man in Myanmar?
Quite possibly.
He has control over how and where the army wages war, coupled with far reaching political powers.
In accordance with the military drafted constitution the 59-year-old has the right to appoint key ministers, choose a quarter of the MPs in the parliament and - as events last month showed - the ability to block any attempt to erode that power.
Getting an interview with him was not easy.
Why Myanmar's elections matter
For decades the Burmese army has regarded the foreign media, and the BBC in particular as an enemy of the state, too close to the pro-democracy movement.
But there have now been four years of reforms and we've opened a bureau in Yangon. So, in hope rather than expectation we sent our letter off.
The first response came back a month later. We'd fallen at the first hurdle having foolishly used the phrase "Burmese" rather than "Myanmar" army.
Having remedied that there then followed a series of increasingly bizarre meetings.
Late-night rendezvous, USB sticks handed over in coffee shop car parks and dark walks taken along Nay Pyi Taw's yawningly empty streets. I felt like a drug dealer.
There were no emails exchanged, and I never learnt the phone number or even the surname of the contact I was dealing with. But it was clear that unlike his predecessor Than Shwe, this senior general wanted to talk.
The most recent picture of Than Shwe shows him learning to use an iPad with a young relative - but the thought of him taking an active interest in Facebook and social media would have been laughable.
Min Aung Hlaing is different. Like many of the country's senior leaders his aides actively curate a Facebook page, paying for sponsored posts that stay near the top of congested Burmese news feeds.
He's got more than two 220,000 "likes" and provides updates ranging from which aircraft have been purchased to social projects he's visited.
It's part of a charm offensive, he told me, to reconnect the people and the army.
"If the people get the right information about the army they will understand us," he said, after thanking me for my Facebook follow.
"They'll see the military is defending the interests of the people and implementing the interests of the people and defending against threats to the country."
Min Aung Hlaing is charismatic, and there's a ready smile during the interview. It's in marked contrast to the much cooler style of President Thein Sein when I spoke to him in March of this year.
But there's an uncompromising message.
A clear thread running through our discussion was that as long as political parties played by the rules of Myanmar's so called "disciplined democracy" then the carefully limited space for debate and political activity would remain.
But there was no sign that he wanted to reduce the military's grip on Burmese political life and truly hand over to civilians.
That will need to wait, he said, until ceasefires and peace deals have been concluded with all of Myanmar's many ethnic armed groups.
"It could be five years or 10 years - I couldn't say," he said.
Those who've watched the glacial progress of talks with ethnic armed groups fear it might take much, much longer to disarm and reintegrate everyone.
One clear and positive message was that there would be no repeat of 1990 when a landslide victory for the NLD was ignored and annulled.
The ruling USDP are facing electoral disaster - but its relationship with the military has soured in the last two years, making a partisan intervention less likely.
"I believe the election will be free and fair," Min Aung Hlaing said. "That is our true wish. We are committed to helping make that happen anyway we can. When the election commission announces the result we have to respect it. Because it will have been democratically done."
But thanks to an infamous clause of the constitution the leader of the party that seems certain to win can't become president. Despite her best efforts to build bridges with the army, Aung San Suu Kyi is still barred and that appears unlikely to change.
Min Aung Hlaing's name has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate, and he told me he was planning to retire when he turns 60 next year.
So would he stand for president if asked?
"The duty of the soldier is to serve the country in whatever role," he said coyly, while noting that he had 40 years of experience.
A final decision would depend on whether he meets the qualifications (he does, Suu Kyi doesn't), and whether he's asked. It was a "yes" in all but name.
Whether he gets that chance will depend on how the election pans out.
With a quarter of the Hluttaw's (parliament's) seats already under his control he has, if he wants it, a bye to the final three, and a guaranteed job at least as vice-president.
Whether he is then voted into the presidency will depend on the makeup of the Hluttaw. In addition to the military bloc he'll need the support of some elected MPs .
That may prove a big ask, and if the NLD falls short of a majority it's possible that Thein Sein would be better positioned to reach out to ethnic parties and secure a second term.
Although a nationwide ceasefire has proved elusive, the current president has earned plaudits for his efforts to deliver peace. | In a rare interview, Myanmar's commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing tells the BBC that the military will not step back from politics until a peace deal is reached with all the country's ethnic armed groups - but it will respect the results of the forthcoming general election even if the opposition win. |
38700809 | Joe Ralls hit the post from 18 yards for the visitors before John Swift swept Reading in front from Garath McCleary's neat back-heel.
Cardiff soon levelled when Ralls tucked home from the penalty spot after Liam Moore tripped Sean Morrison.
But Yann Kermorgant fired in the winner direct from a free-kick after he was fouled by Sol Bamba.
Reading's victory lifts them back above Leeds and leaves Jaap Stam's team six points behind the two automatic promotion places.
The home side dominated the game in terms of possession but Cardiff, who remain 16th after this loss, always carried a threat and registered more attempts on goal than their hosts.
After the Royals went in front for the second time, home goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi tipped over Junior Hoilett's free-kick and clawed away Kermorgant's sliced attempted clearance.
Kadeem Harris also clipped an effort across the face of goal for the Bluebirds but Reading held on.
Reading manager Jaap Stam:
"The teams around us are close so it's good to keep the momentum going and keep winning games.
"Cardiff kept us going until the end. We knew what their qualities were and how they played. We saw them a couple of times.
"They tried to stop us playing at the start by getting everyone compact and not giving us the space to get through.
"We didn't make the right choices always. We needed to move the ball more from side to side, to wear out Cardiff."
Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock:
"I wouldn't have swapped too many players on the different sides today but we've lost the game.
"I know the style I want, we want to excite people, and I don't think we're far away from being a very good side."
Match ends, Reading 2, Cardiff City 1.
Second Half ends, Reading 2, Cardiff City 1.
Yann Kermorgant (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City).
Attempt missed. Rhys Healey (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left.
Attempt blocked. Kadeem Harris (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sean Morrison with a headed pass.
Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Danny Williams.
Attempt blocked. Rhys Healey (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Substitution, Cardiff City. Peter Whittingham replaces Joe Ralls.
Foul by Tyler Blackett (Reading).
Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt saved. Sean Morrison (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Aron Gunnarsson.
Attempt missed. Kadeem Harris (Cardiff City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right misses to the left. Assisted by Aron Gunnarsson.
Yann Kermorgant (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City).
Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Chris Gunter.
Attempt blocked. Yann Kermorgant (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Lee Peltier.
Paul McShane (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Junior Hoilett (Cardiff City).
Attempt missed. Junior Hoilett (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Joe Ralls.
Substitution, Cardiff City. Matthew Kennedy replaces Greg Halford.
Substitution, Reading. Jordan Obita replaces Roy Beerens.
Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Liam Moore.
Attempt blocked. Junior Hoilett (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Aron Gunnarsson with a cross.
Liam Kelly (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City).
Chris Gunter (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Lee Peltier (Cardiff City).
Paul McShane (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Junior Hoilett (Cardiff City).
Attempt missed. Sol Bamba (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Junior Hoilett with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Ali Al Habsi.
Attempt saved. Junior Hoilett (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Hand ball by Liam Kelly (Reading).
Substitution, Cardiff City. Kadeem Harris replaces Kenneth Zohore because of an injury.
Attempt missed. Paul McShane (Reading) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Liam Kelly with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Greg Halford.
Attempt missed. Rhys Healey (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Joe Ralls with a headed pass.
Goal! Reading 2, Cardiff City 1. Yann Kermorgant (Reading) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner. | Reading reclaimed third place in the Championship with a hard-fought victory over Cardiff City. |
20853142 | Ms Dastjerdi was also the first woman minister in the 30-year history of the Islamic republic.
While no reason has been given, the dismissal is being linked to her call for drug price rises to fight shortages caused by international sanctions.
Mr Ahmadinejad rejected her comments, saying her budget needs had been met.
Analysts say international sanctions have done significant damage to the Islamic republic's economy and led to a steep currency plunge.
Although they do not directly target medicines, they limit their importation because of restrictions on financial transactions.
Prior to her dismissal, Ms Dastjerdi said that because of the rise in the foreign exchange rate, there would be an inevitable increase in the price of medicine.
She complained of her department's inability to get access to foreign currency she had been promised.
"In the first half of the current year, the Central Bank has not allocated any exchange for the import of drugs and medical equipment," she said.
"We need $2.5bn (£1.6bn) in foreign exchange to meet the needs of the medical sector for the year, but only $650m has been earmarked."
But President Ahmadinejad said in a TV interview that enough money had been allocated to the health ministry.
"No-one has the right to raise the price of medicine," he added.
Mohammad Hassan Tariqat Monfared has been appointed as interim health minister, the Reuters news agency reports.
The EU and US recently announced new sanctions over Iran's nuclear plans.
They suspect Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, something it denies.
Ms Dastjerdi was the first woman minister of the Islamic republic, although a woman did serve as vice-president for the environment under Mohammad Khatami. | Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has sacked Health Minister Marziyeh Vahid Dastjerdi, the sole woman in his cabinet, state television reports. |
35670602 | Whether it was acquiring land, licences to build her pharmaceutical factory or getting access to finance, she says it was one hurdle after another.
That was in 2004. Today the business is thriving, employing more than 100 people at the Murli Krishna Pharma plant in western Maharashtra.
But despite the Indian government's promises to make the country an easier place to do business, Mrs Vadlamani says there's still a long way to go.
"I am yet to see any change on the ground for small and medium sized businesses like ours to say that it has got easier to do business in India," she says during a panel discussion for the BBC World News TV programme Talking Business.
And Mrs Vadlamani, who only managed to get her initial bank loan after an industrialist friend agreed to act as guarantor, says finance is one of the biggest problems.
"India's banking laws are still not good for business; banks should be able to give longer moratorium to entrepreneurs.
"That is not happening, as when businesses apply for loans, they have to show how fast they can start making profits.
"Factories and businesses need some time to start making money, and banks should be able to understand that."
Posters at Mumbai's airport boast that the country climbed 12 places in the World Bank's ease of doing business index in 2015. What those adverts do not mention is that it still ranks only 130th in the world.
And India's reputation for red tape remains.
Setting up a business here takes on average 29 days, according to the World Bank. Unethical practices, delays in approvals, high financing costs, taxes, and the availability of skilled labour pose major obstacles in the operation and growth of business in India.
And then there's the country's fragmented system of state government, with each state having its own rules and regulations.
While most people agree that a lot of these barriers could be swept aside with a new goods and services tax - making taxation more unified and less complex - successive governments have dragged their heels on making this long-held ambition a reality.
That's something firms like the drinks giant Diageo wants to see - as it tries to do business in a nation renowned for its love of whisky.
Abanti Sankaranarayanan, business head of Diageo subsidiary United Spirits, says that because the 29 states and seven union territories all have their own rules on alcohol - from tax to labelling - it makes being an efficient business extremely difficult.
And she argues her industry is a great example of where it definitely is not easy to do business.
The one solution for this excessive regulation would be the passing of the goods and services tax bill, she says.
"We are really hoping the goods and services tax bill gets passed in the upper house of parliament with alcohol included in the amendment bill.
"'This is very important for this industry as this is the once in a lifetime opportunity for the government and this industry to get progressive and get rid of the plethora of different taxation.
"This will make a big impact on issues with corruption because of excessive regulation."
Admitting to the complex business environment in India, Amitabh Kant, the mastermind behind India's Make in India campaign and the secretary of the government's department of industrial policy and promotion, says that "a lot of the dismantling of unnecessary rules, regulations and procedures has started.
"The government is very determined to make India one of the easiest places to do business in, and all of that is work in progress."
The hope is that the construction of industrial corridors between major cities like Delhi to Mumbai, Chennai to Bangalore, and Chennai to Vishakhapatnam will drastically bring down logistics costs for manufacturing companies.
Despite the high costs, many think this may be the best time to be in India because it is one of the fastest-growing large economies in the world.
How the government will capitalise on this is something to watch on Monday, when India's Finance Minister Arun Jaitley unveils the annual budget.
Business leaders in India and investors abroad will be listening carefully for any announcements that can help simplify business processes in India.
For more on doing business in India and the economic reforms that are needed, check out this week's episode of Talking Business. The programme is broadcast on the BBC News Channel on Saturday 27 February at 20:30 GMT, and on BBC World at 00:30 GMT and on Sunday 28 February at 12:30 and 18:30 GMT | It didn't take Satya Vadlamani long to get a taste of India's bureaucracy. |
36939751 | The 40-year-old man, known only as "Mike" is alleged to head a network of 40 individuals behind global scams worth more than $60m (£45m).
His operations involves using targeted malware to take over systems, use compromised emails and romance scams.
Nigeria's anti-fraud agency was also involved in the arrest.
Africa Live: More on this and other stories
"In one case, a target was conned into paying out $15.4 m (£11m)," Interpol said in a statement.
"Mike" also allegedly ran a money laundering network in China, Europe and the US.
"The network compromised email accounts of small to medium businesses around the world including in Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia, Romania, South Africa, Thailand and the United States," it said.
The suspect and an accomplice, who was also arrested in the city, face charges including hacking, conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences.
They are currently out on bail as investigations continue, the statement said. | A Nigerian behind thousands of online scams around the world has been arrested in the southern oil city of Port Harcourt, Interpol alleges. |
34698630 | But an exception to the bill means the Fort Kinnaird retail park in Edinburgh, which the Crown Estate has a 50% stake in, will not be devolved.
The Scottish government has called for the retail park to be handed over to Holyrood along with the rest of the Crown Estate's assets in Scotland.
But the UK government has said it has no intention of doing so.
So what is the row about?
The Crown Estate is owned by the Queen but managed by an independent board, known as the Crown Estate Commissioners.
It is an independent commercial property business which holds one of the UK's largest property portfolios as well as much of the UK's coastline, seabed and farmland.
The majority of the portfolio is made up of residential property, commercial offices, shops and business and retail parks, and includes almost all of Regent Street in London's West End.
The total value of The Crown Estate in Scotland was £261.5m in 2014/15, a £5.5m decrease from the previous year - which represents 2.6% of the UK total value of the Crown Estate.
It also has a 50% interest in an English Limited Partnership which owns Edinburgh's Fort Kinnaird retail park, as well as properties on Edinburgh's George Street.
Under the current funding arrangement, all profits from the estate are paid to the Treasury and 15% of this money is then given to the Queen, known as the Sovereign Grant - £37.9m in 2014 - which goes towards supporting her official duties.
Across the UK, the estate manages 16 retail parks and 3 shopping centres, including Fort Kinnaird retail park.
Fort Kinnaird is a large outdoor retail park, south-east of Edinburgh, with more than 50 high street shops.
It generated £5.7m of profit for the Crown Estate in 2013-14.
Ownership of, and revenue from, the retail park is split equally between the Crown Estate and property trust the Hercules Unit Trust.
In 2007, Fort Kinnaird was estimated to be worth £480m by British Land, who manages the facility on behalf of the Crown Estate and the Hercules Unit Trust.
It has had more that 13 million visitors in the last year with an average spend of more than £118, according to British Land.
The Scotland Bill states that the Treasury may transfer all the existing "Scottish functions" of the Crown Estate Commissioners to Scottish Ministers.
However, the bill excludes property, rights or interests held by a limited partnership.
This means that in Scotland, all of the Crown Estate's assets will be devolved to the Scottish government - with the exception of Fort Kinnaird, which is the only land in Scotland that the Crown holds in partnership.
David Mundell, the Scottish secretary, said that the shopping park would not be devolved "because of its legal ownership structure".
In a letter to the Scottish Parliament's Devolution (Further Powers) Committee, Mr Mundell said that a distinction under Scots law compared to the law in England and Wales on limited partnerships meant that the retail park could not be devolved to the Scottish government.
This means that the Crown Estate's share of the revenue for the shopping park would still be paid to the UK treasury.
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has previously called the Crown Estate proposals in the Scotland Bill "needlessly complex", and accused UK ministers of trying to "exclude economic assets" from the Scottish government.
Speaking last month, he said: "We are focused on making the proposals simple and workable and to deliver a faithful and effective implementation of the Smith Commission's recommendations.
"Devolution of the management and income of the Crown Estate in Scotland presents a genuine opportunity to deliver benefits to communities across Scotland.
"It will also ensure we retain income in Scotland, introduce greater transparency and take advantage of our natural assets. I want to minimise disruption and provide certainty and I believe this Stakeholder Group will help give a voice to those who have an interest in this process." | Revenues from the Crown Estate are set to be devolved under the Scotland Bill which is currently going through the UK Parliament. |
37290538 | Media playback is not supported on this device
Pearson has won 12 Paralympic medals, including 10 golds, in four Games.
The 42-year-old needs two more golds to overtake wheelchair racer Tanni Grey-Thompson as Britain's most successful Paralympian of the modern era.
"I am so proud and honoured to be the flagbearer for such a talented, strong and passionate group," he said.
"Being a diverse character myself means being voted by the athletes themselves has made this even more special."
ParalympicsGB chef de mission Penny Briscoe said Pearson had been "a cornerstone" of the equestrian team since the 2000 Games in Sydney.
"The team will be proud to march out behind him," she added.
Media playback is not supported on this device | Equestrian rider Lee Pearson will carry the flag for Great Britain during Wednesday's opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. |
40777965 | According to the RNLI, there have been a total of 16 deaths in that month over the past five years.
The charity said the number of near-fatal incidents was also highest in August, with Welsh crews launching their lifeboats the most that month.
The RNLI is calling on the public to "respect the water" this summer as part of a drowning prevention campaign.
Last August, crews in Wales launched their lifeboats for 278 emergencies - 23% of their total annual launches and the highest number between 2012 to 2016.
Over the same period, RNLI lifeguards responded to the most beach incidents in August than any other year - 690 cases, which accounted for 55% of their total annual incidents.
Helen Church, RNLI community safety partner for Wales, said: 'With summer holidays upon us and hopefully some hot weather, our fantastic beaches are naturally a draw for many people.
"But sadly this also means more people tragically losing their lives or getting into serious danger at the coast.
"We need to start a national conversation that encourages people to fight their instincts around water."
The charity has also raised concerns people do not know they should dial 999 to request help if they saw someone fall into open water.
It has previously issued advice on how to avoid cold water shock. | More people have died on the Welsh coast in August than in any other month of the year, figures have shown. |
37188899 | She indicated she would be prepared to consider deals with Labour that could involve candidates standing aside in some constituencies.
Counting of votes is due to start today in the Green Party leadership election, in which Ms Lucas is a candidate.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has previously rejected an electoral pact.
In a sign of the determination by the Greens' only MP to boost the party's presence in Parliament, Ms Lucas told the BBC she wants "all the options on the table" when it comes to the possibility of talking to other parties before the next general election.
She said: "It doesn't make sense for parties of the left to be constantly fighting each other and meanwhile the Conservatives come through and we've seen that time after time in the 2015 general election.
"I think what we are looking at is those marginal constituencies where some kind of agreement between progressive parties might be able to make a difference."
Asked whether this meant she was prepared to see a Green candidate drop out of a constituency race so long as Labour did the same elsewhere, the MP for Brighton Pavilion said: "Personally I would".
Such a pact could be designed to prevent the "left" vote being split between Labour and the Greens in some constituencies, allowing Ms Lucas' party to target certain seats while offering Labour a clear run elsewhere without Green opposition.
She stressed it was ultimately for the party to decide on what was her personal view on the issue.
But the call is unlikely to be welcomed by senior Labour figures and some in Ms Lucas' party have treated the idea with scepticism, although it has been supported by outgoing leader Natalie Bennett.
Jeremy Corbyn previously ruled out the idea of a deal with Ms Lucas to stop the Conservatives winning in Brighton, saying that cooperation with other parties did not "translate" into electoral pacts.
The debate over an electoral alliance has featured on several occasions during the Green party's leadership race, in which seven candidates are standing.
The ballot of the Greens' 53,000 members closed on Thursday night, with the result due to be announced at the party's conference in Birmingham on Friday, 2 September.
David Williams, another leadership contender, said that while he supported of the idea of talking to other parties he believed Labour would not co-operate.
He told the BBC: "We can make agreements I think with the Liberal Democrats, with Plaid Cymru, with the SNP but the advantages in terms of ousting the Tories as a result of that are quite marginal.
"They could be quite substantial if Labour would come along and join the alliance but I don't think they will."
He spoke as Green party activists campaigned at the Elder Stubbs allotment festival in Oxford in aid of the mental health charity Restore.
Another Oxfordshire Green Party activist Hazel Dawe said a "progressive" alliance would be "a wonderful thing" but believed it was unachievable.
She said: "I think there are a lot of obstacles to achieving it, not the least of which is that the Labour party is not committed to proportional representation."
Ms Lucas said the "prize" for her party is that any alliance would have an agreement over electoral reform "at its heart".
The party favours a system of proportional representation which would see the number of seats won at Westminster more closely reflect its national share of the vote.
At the 2015 general election the the Green Party won nearly 1.2m votes but took only one seat in Westminster. | Green Party MP Caroline Lucas has raised the prospect of an electoral pact with other parties to prevent them "fighting each other". |
40879380 | North Korea said it was considering a missile strike on the US military base in Guam, after US President Donald Trump threatened Pyongyang with "fire and fury".
The Dow Jones fell 0.17% to 22,048.7 and the wider S&P 500 index dipped 0.04% to 2,474.02.
The Nasdaq lost 0.28% to 6,352.3.
Mr Trump on Wednesday took to Twitter to boast about the US nuclear arsenal, while Secretary of State Rex Tillerson tried to inject calm into the situation, reassuring the American public that there was no imminent threat.
While stocks opened lower, they stemmed losses as the day went on, remaining near the record highs where they have traded for weeks.
Walt Disney weighed on the market. Its shares fell almost 4% after the company said it would invest in the launch of its own ESPN- and Disney-branded online streaming sites and end a distribution deal with Netflix in 2019.
Netflix fell by about 1.5%. | US stocks edged lower on Wednesday, but remained at near record levels despite an earlier sell-off triggered by rising tension between the US and North Korea. |
39592454 | Rutland Partners refused to sell the firm outright to food tycoon Ranjit Boparan last summer, letters released by the Work and Pensions Committee have revealed.
Instead it opted for a pre-pack administration - which "drastically reduced" the amount recoverable by its pension scheme.
This offloaded the pension costs on the state Pension Protection Fund (PPF).
Pre-pack administration arrangements allow a pre-arranged buyer to take on a company's assets, but without liabilities such as its pension deficit.
Bernard Matthews employs workers at Great Witchingham, near Norwich, in Norfolk, and Holton, near Halesworth, in Suffolk.
"This arrangement delivered a much-improved financial outcome for Rutland Partners, but drastically reduced the amount recoverable by the pension scheme to potentially less than 1p in the pound," the House of Commons committee said.
Frank Field, Labour MP and chairman of the committee, said: "I have confidence that the PPF working with the scheme trustees, will act in the best interests of the pensioners, but it's clear that the former owners passed up a better deal for pension scheme members in favour of lining their own pockets."
Rutland Partners, which took control of Bernard Matthews in 2013, declined to comment.
Proceeds from the £87.5m sale to Boparan Private Office (BPO) included a full payment of £46.4m to lenders Wells Fargo Capital Finance (UK) and PNC Financial Services UK Ltd, and up to £39m to owner Rutland Partners, as part of the pre-pack model arranged by administrators Deloitte last autumn.
The pension scheme, which has 700 members, has been left with a total deficit of £75m.
The PPF, which steps in to protect employees in some benefit schemes when firms go bust, was left to shoulder the financial burden.
The Work and Pensions Committee said the case "raises concerns" over the use of pre-pack administrations as a means to shed responsibility for pension liabilities and transfer them to "the PPF lifeboat". | A private equity firm has been criticised for rejecting a buyout offer for Bernard Matthews that would have protected the firm's pension scheme. |
34401259 | Left-arm-seamer Liddle, 31, had been at Hove since 2006 and was a regular in one-day cricket.
Zaidi, 34, made seven appearances in the County Championship this summer, scoring 354 runs and taking 11 wickets.
Fellow all-rounder Piolet, 27, played five times in white-ball cricket but has now retired from cricket to pursue a career in recruitment.
"It is always a sad time when we release any player," Sussex cricket manager Mark Robinson said.
"Lids has been with us for nine years and enjoyed much success, Ash proved to have a shrewd cricket brain and Steff was a fierce competitor." | Chris Liddle, Steffan Piolet and Ashar Zaidi have left Sussex following the end of the season. |
38985766 | Fusion Ball organises teenage events across Ireland and posted the advice on its Kilkenny page.
The post said: "Due to the deplorable dresses at the last ball it is necesary (sic) to fully enforce a knee length dress with NO PLUNGING NECKLINE dresscode for the mid-term ball."
"Keep it Neat and Discreet ladies".
But a number of responses accused the company of trying to dictate what young women wear.
The post illustrated pictures of models dressed in various styles of clothing with 'NO' stamped across them.
One comment said: "I don't have girls but I have to say I was very uncomfortable with your post. Are we raising independent women or going back to the 80s where young girls had babies in grottos and died?
"I felt the phrase 'keep it neat and discreet ladies' was a poor choice of words."
However many of the comments were in support of the advice.
One Facebook user wrote: "I totally agree with this stance of the organisers. All those critical of the organisers, please volunteer at the event and watch for yourself what teenagers get up to today and give your feedback on the dress code then."
The company responded on the Facebook page: "We organise these events for 15-year-old children to attend in a safe, supervised and fun environment.
"We put up a reminder of this before every ball and we also have it on the back of all tickets.
"The Dress-code is as follows: Boys Wear: Shirt and Tie, Slacks and Shoes. Girls Wear: A Dress and Shoes
"Shoes can be sandals, heels or flat pumps. Dress can be knee length or just above the knee". | A company's Facebook post describing teenage girls clothing at its past events as "deplorable" has provoked strong reaction on social media. |
40174267 | Peltier has agreed a two-year extension and Hoilett has signed a one-year deal.
"I've enjoyed my time here up until now and hopefully I enjoy it even more next season. I'm delighted to extend my stay here," Peltier said.
The Bluebirds are poised to sell Declan John and Craig Noone, but have signed goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
Peltier says manager Neil Warnock was his main motivation for staying.
"You can see what he has done since he came in and he wants to have a good go at it next season," Peltier said of Warnock.
"That was a massive influence on me putting pen to paper as I've bought in to what he wants to do.
"I'm definitely looking forward to getting going again."
Winger Hoilett signed as a free agent in October, 2016. | Cardiff City have agreed new contracts with defender Lee Peltier and forward Junior Hoilett. |
36516456 | They replace injured Leicestershire wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien and Stuart Thompson, who will miss both matches for personal reasons.
O'Brien is set to be out of action for four to six weeks after sustaining a grade-two tear of his left calf.
The first match will be held on Thursday, with the second on Saturday.
O'Brien suffered his injury while batting against Warwickshire last week.
Anderson has been in prolific run-scoring form for his club Merrion, and he is joined by his Leinster Lightning colleague Sorensen, The Hills' seam-bowling all-rounder.
"John and Max were unlucky to miss out in the original squad selection," said Ireland head coach John Bracewell.
"John's been in superb form this season, scoring heavily in domestic and inter-provincial cricket. The injuries to Andrew Balbirnie and Niall give him an opportunity to come into the squad and if selected, I'm certain he'll perform well.
"Max bowled excellently in the win against Scotland A last week, taking six wickets in the game. He impressed me with the pace and the bounce he generated.
"It's clear he's recovered well from his recent illness and injury and it's good to have him back firing on all cylinders."
Ireland squad: William Porterfield (Warwickshire, capt), George Dockrell (Leinster Lightning), Ed Joyce (Sussex), Tim Murtagh (Middlesex), Andrew McBrine (North-West Warriors), Barry McCarthy (Durham/Leinster Lightning), Kevin O'Brien (Leinster Lightning/Leicestershire), John Anderson (Merrion/Leinster), Stuart Poynter (Durham), Boyd Rankin (Warwickshire), Paul Stirling (Middlesex), Max Sorensen (The Hills/Leinster), Gary Wilson (Surrey) | John Anderson and Max Sorensen have been called into the Ireland squad for this week's one-day international series against Sri Lanka at Malahide. |
28189480 | It expects to make an operating profit of 7.2 trillion won ($7.1bn; £4.2bn) in the April-to-June period, down from 9.5 trillion won a year ago.
Its operating profit has now fallen for three straight quarters.
Samsung is the world's biggest maker of mobile phones and the handset division accounts for the bulk of its profits.
The South Korean firm said it "witnessed a slowdown in the overall smartphone market growth and saw increased competition in the Chinese and some European markets" during the period.
Meanwhile, a stronger Korean currency also hurt Samsung's earnings during the period.
The Korean won rose more than 11% against the US dollar and nearly 7% against the euro between July 2013 and end of June this year.
A strengthening currency hurts profits of firms such as Samsung - which rely heavily on exports - when they repatriate their foreign earnings.
Samsung's growth in recent years has been powered mainly by its mobile phone division.
The success of its Galaxy range of smartphones, coupled with a growing global demand for such gadgets, saw it displace Nokia as the world's biggest mobile phone maker in 2012.
However, the pace of growth of the smartphone market has been slowing down and the competition in the sector has also increased, forcing manufacturers to cut costs of their devices in an attempt to attract consumers.
Analysts said that profit margins in the sector are likely to fall even further.
"The golden era of high-end smartphones is clearly over. Those were the handsets that helped firms such as Samsung make healthy profit margins," Ajay Sunder, a vice president specialising in the telecoms sector with consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, told the BBC.
"Now it is all about high-volume and low-margin handsets. And on that front the competition is getting fiercer with each passing day."
Various other smartphone makers including China's Xiaomi, Huawei and ZTE have been increasing their market share steadily.
Mr Sunder said that given the slowing growth and increased competition in the smartphone market, Samsung needed to look at boosting its presence in other sectors if it wanted to sustain high growth rates.
"Its over-dependence on the mobile phone division needs to go," he said.
For its part, Samsung has said it "cautiously expects a more positive outlook in the third quarter". | Samsung Electronics has forecast a 25% drop in profit for the second quarter due to a slowdown in the smartphone market and a strong Korean currency. |
38847275 | The Kiwi described the Irish as one of the best teams in world rugby.
And he feels a nervous energy among his squad ahead of the Six Nations opener in the Scottish capital.
"It's an exciting start," said Cotter of the visitors, who have won 14 of the 17 meetings between the sides since the beginning of the Six Nations in 2000.
"Ireland have just beaten the All Blacks, they've beaten Australia and South Africa. These are not one-off results. Consistently, they're a good team. So, we get the chance to measure ourselves against them.
"I can feel a nervousness within the group. They know it's a big game. They're ready to roll their sleeves up and have a go. I think being a little bit nervous means you're sharper and more on edge. You need that. You need to be wary of the opposition - especially against these guys."
Cotter sprang a bit of a surprise when replacing John Barclay with Josh Strauss in his back row. Barclay had started nine of the last 10 Tests under Cotter including all five in last season's Six Nations.
Strauss has only one Six Nations start to his name - the win over France in Edinburgh last year - but his form for Glasgow was the deciding factor. Strauss has been a big ball-carrying presence for the Warriors, particularly in some pressure games in Europe.
"It's great to see players pushing hard for selection," said Cotter. "Josh, since November, has really kicked on. It's great to have those choices, because we'll need everybody for this competition.
"The guys have a vision for the Six Nations, there's no doubt about that. Whatever vision you have determines your behaviour. These guys are working hard to get better. That's the only way you can approach it. There are no guarantees in sport, we know that. But that desire we've seen for the last two seasons is still there.
"We need to be sharp. We need to be able to adapt. They'll have plays we haven't seen and we need to adapt to them. We've worked through the head and heart stuff that builds performances. You can't just have the heart and no head. You can't have it the other way around, either. It's about a fine balance, being smart, preparing well."
Scotland are without their first-choice props, Alasdair Dickinson and WP Nel, and go with the inexperienced but highly promising Allan Dell and Zander Fagerson. They have only once won their opening match of the Six Nations - against France in 2006 - and to break that cycle of failure they are going to have to overcome a side that have just come through one of the most successful years in their history.
Ireland's depth is impressive. They have lost Johnny Sexton but replaced him with Paddy Jackson, who played fly-half when Ireland beat the Wallabies in the autumn.
"He's obviously a proven 10 at international level, but may not be thinking so fondly of the last international game he played at Murrayfield," said Cotter.
That was a reference to the 2013 loss to the Scots when Jackson was picked at fly-half and had a game to forget. Cotter said that Jackson has done a lot of growing up since then.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Ireland have lost Jared Payne, a hugely important part of their midfield but their centres on Saturday - Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose - are the most exciting midfield partnership since Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy.
Donnacha Ryan, a colossus against the All Blacks, has been left out of the 23. Jordi Murphy played openside that night - and scored - and Josh van der Flier played in the position when Ireland beat Australia a few weeks later. Sean O'Brien, a series-winning Lion and scorer of two tries the last time he played against Scotland at Murrayfield, takes over on Saturday. They have options that most teams do not have.
"Ireland move you around," added Cotter. "They play a great game of chess. Strong up front, a good kicking game, they turn you around in channels, try to make you exit poorly and then attack from line-out. The idea is not to give them what they want. It's up to us. There is a bit of stress out there. We have to function and play under that stress.
"The trap is that every year that Scotland get talked up. We're realistic. We know which teams are ranked ahead of us, we know what the rugby hierarchy is at the moment. It's up to us to change that." | Scotland head coach Vern Cotter says his team are ready to "roll their sleeves up and have a go" at Ireland on Saturday at Murrayfield. |
34896125 | Charles Michel added that universities, schools and the metro would remain closed on Monday.
Brussels has been on lockdown all weekend, amid a manhunt for suspected Paris attacker Salah Abdeslam.
Islamic State militants, some of whom were from Brussels, killed 130 people in Paris on 13 November.
Follow the latest live developments
Abdeslam: Suspect 'meant to blow himself up'
Interview transcript: 'My brothers were manipulated, not radicalised'
Police in France have issued a fresh appeal to identify one of the Paris attackers, who was killed at the national stadium.
Mr Michel told reporters in Brussels on Sunday that the authorities fear "an attack similar to the one in Paris, with several individuals who could also possibly launch several attacks at the same time in multiple locations."
Earlier, Belgian Interior Minister Jan Jambon said the danger to Belgium was not tied to Abdeslam alone.
"The threat is broader than the one suspected terrorist," he told Flemish broadcaster VRT.
Soldiers joined police officers on patrols in Brussels over the weekend. Many public spaces in the usually bustling capital were deserted, as people heeded official warnings to avoid crowds. | Brussels will stay on the highest level of terror alert because of the "serious and imminent" threat of Paris-style attacks, Belgium's prime minister says. |
31125442 | CCTV captured in Bartley Green, Birmingham, shows the victim being pulled into the road opposite her driveway.
West Midlands Police said she suffered a fractured finger and "significant bruising".
A 25-year-old man from Weoley Castle was arrested on suspicion of robbery.
He was released on police bail on Tuesday pending further inquiries, the force said.
The woman had parked outside her home in Kitwell Lane and left the keys in the ignition, police said.
In the footage, a man can be seen entering the car, causing the victim to run towards it.
She can be seen opening the driver's side door before the vehicle moves off, dragging her along with it.
Police said the car was recovered on 30 January, the day after the recording was made.
They said the car was being forensically examined and appealed for any witnesses to come forward. | A man has been arrested after footage of an apparent "carjack", which saw a woman dragged alongside her own car, was released. |
38932671 | A late drop goal from Tiernan O'Halloran broke the deadlock in a tight contest on 77 minutes.
Craig Ronaldson then hammered over a long range penalty to seal the victory.
Blues had led at half-time 13-7 but at one stage were in front 13-0, with Gareth Anscombe scoring two penalties and converting Nick Williams' try.
Williams' try owed a debt to centre Willis Halaholo, who had only started in that position following the late withdrawal of Steve Shingler. Halaholo powered his way past several Connacht defenders, before Williams completed the score.
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However, the visitors showed resolve to get back into things and created a fine opening for Matt Healy to go over the gain line, with JP Cooney adding a tough conversion.
Cooney slotted over two penalties in the second half - the second from a huge distance - as an entertaining contest became level at 13-13.
The visitors looked the more likely victors and carved Blues apart with five minutes remaining, but Healy could not hold onto the ball as he looked likely to score.
Jack Carty then missed with a drop goal attempt, but O'Halloran made no mistake two minutes later to edge Connacht ahead.
Ronaldson's penalty from almost halfway then rubber-stamped the victory for the Pro12 champions.
Cardiff Blues coach Danny Wilson told Clwb Rygbi: "I am very frustrated.
"In the second half we didn't manage to score with the little possession we had and the if I am honest, we had to do a lot of defending.
"Connacht were excellent over the ball and we couldn't get enough tempo into the game.
"We have to look hard at ourselves. It is not good enough to lose at home, especially in a game we should have at least drawn.
"Our defending at the end was poor and now to do anything, we need to win our next three games, in my opinion."
Cardiff Blues: Matthew Morgan; Blaine Scully, Rey Lee-Lo, Steve Shingler, Rhun Williams; Gareth Anscombe, Lloyd Williams (captain); Rhys Gill, Kristian Dacey, Anton Peikrishvili, Jarrad Hoeata, James Down, Macauley Cook, Josh Navidi, Nick Williams
Replacements: Matthew Rees, Marc Thomas, Scott Andrews, Seb Davies, Sion Bennett, Tomos Williams, Willis Halaholo, Tom James
Connacht: Tiernan O'Halloran, Niyi Adeolokun, Stacey Ili, Craig Ronaldson, Matt Healy, Jack Carty, John Cooney; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, JP Cooney, Quinn Roux, James Cannon, Sean O'Brien, Jake Heenan, John Muldoon (captain)
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Ronan Loughney, John Andress, Naulia Dawai, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Caolin Blade, Tom Farrell, Danie Poolman | Connacht came from behind to beat Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park to complete a Pro12 double over the Welsh region thanks to some composed kicking. |
37643544 | The offences by Paul Aiton, Colin Best, Stuart Flanagan, Ben Pomeroy and John Williams date back to the 2011 National Rugby League season.
Aiton, 31, currently plays in Super League with Catalans Dragons.
An NRL statement said the players "bore no significant fault in the breaches" and the bans have "now expired" owing to the length of the investigation.
A total of 17 players have now been sanctioned following the investigation by the Australian Anti-Doping Authority (Asada).
Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox. | Five former Cronulla Sharks players have been given 12-month backdated bans for breaching anti-doping rules. |
38925215 | Azhar, 31, became ODI skipper after the 2015 World Cup, and led the side to 12 wins and 18 defeats in the format.
He will be replaced by wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed, 29, who already leads the Twenty20 side.
Pakistan next visit West Indies at the end of March to play two T20 games, three ODIs and three Tests.
They currently sit eighth in the International Cricket Council's ODI team rankings, but are only three points above West Indies - and only the top eight teams on the cut-off date of 30 September 2017 will automatically qualify for the 2019 World Cup.
Though he is set to continue in the side as a batsman, Azhar will be suspended for the first ODI of the West Indies series after he was punished for a slow over-rate in Australia.
Veteran batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, who continues to captain the Test side, will turn 43 soon after the Caribbean tour ends in May.
In December 2015, Azhar offered to resign over the presence at a training camp of pace bowler Mohammad Amir - who has since returned to international cricket after being jailed and banned for five years for his part in a spot-fixing scandal - but the Pakistan Cricket Board rejected his offer to quit. | Batsman Azhar Ali has stepped down as Pakistan's one-day international captain following their 4-1 series defeat by Australia last month. |
26199300 | Fire crews were called to Rowan Court in Barry at 01:00 GMT.
Heavy rain and strong winds hit Wales on Saturday forcing more travel disruption with several roads flooded.
It comes as engineers battled to restore power to thousands of homes without electricity in mid and north Wales.
ScottishPower said it hoped to have customers reconnected by midnight.
Two flood warnings and 19 alerts have been issued by Natural Resources Wales.
As fresh storms move in, the Welsh government said it was waiting to hear if funding would be available from the UK government to help businesses.
It follow the prime minister's "no penny pinching" pledge on flood relief.
The Met Office issued a yellow "be aware" alert of downpours stretching across south, west and mid Wales on Saturday.
There could be between 5 and 10mm of rain within an hour, with the risk of localised flooding.
Two flood warnings were in place on Saturday afternoon.
Warnings for the Conwy valley and the River Wye at Monmouth were stood down.
And a yellow alert for ice is in place from Saturday evening into Sunday morning.
An alert for high winds across south and west Wales was later stood down but not before 17 people were evacuated from their flats in Barry after part of the roof was blown off in storms overnight.
There were no reports of any injuries but the flats were said to have been been badly damaged by the wind and flooding.
Joanne Curtis, whose 86-year-old mother's flat was drenched overnight, said: "The main damage is in the two bedrooms - water coming through the ceiling.
"The bed's totally saturated. The carpet's saturated.
"It's coming through where the lights are, through the electrics, so all the electricity's turned off at the moment."
And in Cardiff, James Roberts, 25, and his father had a lucky escape when a tree hit their house.
"We were both in bed when we heard a large part of a tree crash on to our house," he said.
"We're a bit shaken, but grateful we came to no harm. We can't see any structural damage but it's too dangerous for us to go outside.
"It came crashing down from about 40 feet. We thought we were safe on a hill, but not from wind."
Bad weather also caused travel disruption on Saturday morning:
On Friday, it was confirmed that the storms on Wednesday had claimed the life of a Gwynedd man.
Bob Thomas, 77, died in hospital after sustaining head injuries at his home near Caernarfon.
He had been with his wife in their garden at Caeathro moving hens when a tree fell and hit him.
High winds across north and mid Wales through Friday meant work to restore power supplies to thousands of properties was hampered.
On Saturday evening ScottishPower said engineers were still working to restore power to 2,800 homes.
Earlier, Guy Jefferson, network operations director for ScottishPower, said nearly 3,000 customers were still cut off after Wednesday's storm and a further 1,000 lost power on Friday night in north Wales after "another bad night".
He told BBC Radio Wales: "There's pockets [without power] right across north Wales, but the main areas are Gwynedd, around Aberystwyth, Newtown and across to Dee valley where we have most of our customers off."
He said engineers were out at "first light" and the company hoped to restore power for most by Saturday evening, although he warned it may be a "struggle" to reconnect those who were cut off on Friday.
He apologised to customers for the inconvenience and thanked them for their patience, adding: "In one day, on Wednesday in north Wales, we had the equivalent of one year's worth of overhead line falls."
The power company has now offered to meet the cost of buying meals for those affected since Wednesday's storms.
It said it would pay up to ??30 per person a day, if they retained their receipts.
Tony Fuse in Gellilydan, near Trawsfynydd in Gwynedd, is just one of those who spent 30 hours without power.
"It was my partner's birthday you see, and there was a power cut which started at about 3:45pm on Wednesday," he explained.
"We had intended to have a takeaway and a quiet night in at home, we had arranged for the little one to go over to stay with his grandma for the evening.
"We spent ages driving around trying to find somewhere open. It was pitch black and a lot of trees had fallen down, which made driving quite tricky."
But while for some the clear up is under way, others are still counting the cost of the storms - especially businesses.
The Welsh government said it was now waiting to see whether funding would be made available by the UK government to ease that financial pain.
David Cameron has said businesses hit by the floods in England will be able to claim 100% tax relief on business rates for three months.
They will also be able to defer their tax payment.
The Welsh government will be eligible for a share of any extra funding that is released by the Treasury.
But if the money spent in England comes from the financial reserves of Whitehall departments, then Wales will not qualify for more cash. | Seventeen people have been evacuated from flats in the Vale of Glamorgan after the roof was damaged in strong winds overnight. |
30408935 | The Save Fenton Town Hall action group moved in on 9 November after the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) put it on the market for £500,000.
They argued a sale of the building could put at risk a World War One memorial inside.
The group had been due in court earlier after being served an MoJ eviction notice.
Fenton resident Jane Jones, whose great grandfather is one of 498 names listed on the memorial as one of those who died in World War One, said: "We've achieved what we wanted to by bringing the Ministry of Justice to the table, now we're saving the taxpayer money by not going to court."
The MoJ said a covenant would make sure the memorial would be preserved.
The protesters wanted the building, which was also once a magistrates' court, to be used for exhibitions, meetings and businesses. | Campaigners who occupied a former town hall to try to stop it being sold have called off their month-long action. |
25929644 | Here are some of the main methods and principles in use.
In recent years the Environment Agency has used a range of temporary or "demountable" flood barriers to provide additional protection to flood-prone areas.
Lightweight sectional metal barriers are relatively inexpensive and can be placed in various configurations and removed completely when waters recede.
Frame barriers consist of rigid frames holding an impermeable membrane and use the weight of the floodwater itself to hold the barrier in place.
Temporary barriers can also be added to existing permanent flood defences, such as raised embankments, increasing the level of protection.
Natural flood management offers a sustainable approach to managing floods and is intended to complement traditional "hard engineering" techniques, such as flood barrier and concrete walls.
These schemes rely on a combination of small-scale interventions with the aim of reducing the speed of the flow of converging water before it reaches larger rivers.
Natural flood defence features include small barriers in ditches and fields, or notches cut into embankments, all of which divert the water into open land.
Letting pools form outside the main channel of the river means the water is temporarily removed from the main flow reducing the power of the floodwaters.
Trees can also help defend against floods. Planting more trees catches rainfall and helps take water from the soil - although the Environment Agency says large areas must be reforested to make a real difference.
Felled trees can also be laid across streams in wooded areas and help push unusually high waters into surrounding woodlands, although such schemes need very careful planning and management.
BBC iWonder: Find out what human activities are making floods more likely
Sustainable drainage is a concept often applied to towns and cities which are especially prone to flash flooding after sudden heavy rain.
In urban areas, large areas of concrete and tarmac, as well as the roofs of buildings, are impermeable to water. Rain is channelled straight into drainage systems which can quickly become overwhelmed.
In the UK, the Flood Act of 2010 obliges builders to landscape developments so that water from roofs and driveways seeps into open ground rather than rushing into the water system.
Sustainable drainage guidelines suggest that impermeable surfaces should be replaced with permeable material, allowing rainwater to drain into the ground - a process known as infiltration.
Large "detention basins" can also be built to collect rainwater and hold it, managing the volume of water entering urban rivers, while ponds offer further water-holding capacity.
Farmers in Somerset claim a lack of river dredging worsened the impact of the flooding that hit the region in January 2014.
But the issue of whether rivers should be dredged is not clear cut.
The Environment Agency says that while dredging can improve general land drainage, it cannot prevent rivers from flooding, due to the huge volumes of water involved during major floods.
The basic aim of dredging is to remove silt - a sedimentary material made of fine sand, clay and small-sized particles of rock - from the river's bed, therefore increasing its capacity to carry water downstream.
The process usually involves an excavator, or vacuum pump, mounted on a barge or on the riverbank, to remove silt from the river.
The process is costly, sometimes harmful to the environment, and can weaken riverbanks as well as the foundations of bridges and weirs, the Environment Agency says.
After a major flood, large volumes of silt may accumulate in slow-flowing areas and the river may need to be dredged again. | As parts of the UK again deal with severe flooding after a winter storm, questions are being asked about how flooding can be prevented or alleviated. |
35622712 | A woman in her 30s was assaulted in the Glen Road area in the early hours of Friday.
Three men were arrested following the attack.
Two men aged 18 and 23 were charged and are to appear in court in Belfast on Monday. A 22-year-old man was released unconditionally on Friday evening. | Two men have been charged with rape over an alleged attack on a woman in west Belfast. |
29520077 | The web firm was alerted to the breach by security experts seeking computers vulnerable to the recently discovered Shellshock bug.
Shellshock is a flaw found in many widely used versions of the Unix operating system.
Although the Yahoo servers were vulnerable to Shellshock it said attackers used a different vulnerability to get at the machines.
In a statement, Yahoo said that early on 6 October it isolated several servers that it had been informed were vulnerable to compromise via Shellshock.
They were identified as being vulnerable by security researchers scanning servers around the net seeking those running software susceptible to Shellshock. If exploited, the Shellshock bug would allow attackers to run commands as if they were in control of that machine.
"After investigating the situation fully, it turns out that the servers were in fact not affected directly by Shellshock, but by a minor bug in a parsing script," said Yahoo in a statement.
The vulnerable servers were used by Yahoo to provide live sports updates and news feeds to users.
Added Yahoo: "After a comprehensive investigation, we have found no evidence that user information was affected by this incident."
In a separate statement released to the Hacker News wire Alex Stamos, security chief at Yahoo, said: "This flaw was specific to a small number of machines and has been fixed, and we have added this pattern to our code scanners to catch future issues."
Millions of machines are believed to be vulnerable to Shellshock and security firms have found some cybercrime groups using it to take over machines they then organise into a single network that can be used to send out spam or to carry out other attacks. | Yahoo has said no user data was lost when hackers breached its servers. |
22546490 | However, a remarkable project is under way that is already changing lives, and it is one of which the city government, keen to put Rio on the map as Latin America's first smart city, should take note.
The project, co-ordinated by Unicef in collaboration with local non-government organisation CEDAPS (Centro de Promocao da Saude) has local teenagers digitally mapping five favelas in order to highlight some of the challenges for those living there.
Teenagers take aerial shots of their neighbourhood using digital cameras sitting in old bottles which are launched via kites - a common toy for children living in the favelas.
They then use GPS-enabled smartphones to take pictures of specific danger points - such as rubbish heaps, which can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes carrying dengue fever.
The data is uploaded to a website and added to an online map.
It is proving an effective way of getting changes made.
A nursery school that once balanced precariously near the edge of a sheer drop now has a balcony, many of the steepest steps in the favela have had railings fitted and recycling bins dot the area to discourage residents from stockpiling rubbish.
Ives Rocha, who managed the project, thinks it is a fantastic example of what smart cities should really be about.
He has been invited to discuss the project at the mayor's office and hopes that the map can be included on a hi-tech one that sits in the city's operations centre.
The operations centre is the heart of Rio's bid to become a smart city.
Opened by Mayor Eduardo Paes in 2010, it is, like the favela project, using cameras to better understand the city.
It boasts an 80m wall on which are streamed video feeds from 900 cameras around the city.
A plasma screen shows a Google Earth view of the city while a satellite map feeds in weather data that is connected directly to sirens in the favelas that will alert inhabitants when flooding is predicted.
Fifty operators from 30 different city agencies - all dressed in matching white boiler suits - monitor the city in real-time.
They can act quickly if disaster strikes, diverting traffic if an accident occurs, alerting the correct people if a sewer pipe bursts or set off the sirens if heavy flooding threatens. The media sit in a room above the operation centre to react quickly if something happens.
The uniform is intended to make people from hitherto separate agencies feel that they are part of one city, explained Pedro Junqueira, chief executive of the centre.
Coupled with the banks of computers and big screens, it also makes them look like they are engaged in a Nasa-style project
But Mr Junqueira admits that currently the centre is using only about 15% of its processing power.
It has led some to question how smart the centre really is.
"I wonder whether it is more a showcase for the mayor to show that the city is prepared for the World Cup and the Olympics. It looks impressive to have a mission control, Nasa-style, but all that is coming into it, from what I can tell, is video feeds," said Anthony Townsend, director of the US Institute of the Future and author of Smart Cities: Big Data, Civic Hackers, and the Quest for A New Utopia.
"IBM's weather modelling system is fairly novel but the rest is just a lot of spin."
Mr Junqueira admits that the centre is only just beginning to get smart and that the next stage will be to "build a new room" where analysts will start crunching the data.
"For now it is more about monitoring and reacting as fast as possible and trying to find some correlations, so if something happens, what happens after it?" he said.
Already the data has revealed some interesting statistics, such as the fact that the majority of motorcycle accidents in the city happen between 17:00 and 19:00 on Fridays.
Having that information could lead directly to policy change, said Mr Junqueira.
"Maybe we will say that, on Friday afternoons motorcycles can't go in particular streets, for example."
Rio hit the headlines earlier this summer when protesters took to the streets to voice their concerns about a range of issues, from how much was being spent on the stadiums that will showcase the forthcoming World Cup and Olympics to the price of bus fares.
Such unrest was a long way from the mayor's vision of a smart city but ironically the camera feeds from the operation centre - which are also available to view online - soared in popularity.
"During the demos many people wanted to see how they were going and they went to look at the camera views and there were no images - it seemed as if the cameras in those areas where the protesters were had been turned off," said author and blogger Julia Michaels, who has lived in Rio for the past 20 years.
Mr Junqueira is quick to deny that the cameras were switched off, saying that the system was simply unable to cope with demand.
"Some people thought that they were shut down but when everyone wanted to look at the same picture there were some technical difficulties. Cameras went down but this was only for a short time," he said.
But for Ms Michaels the fact that the cameras didn't work when citizens needed them represents a disconnect between what the government is trying to achieve and what citizens actually want.
"It is emblematic of what it is like to install a hi-tech system in a place where there is still so much else to do," she said.
The operations centre is attempting to engage citizens.
It has just formed a partnership with Waze, a community-based traffic app that collates real-time traffic information. It was first used during the Pope's visit and was extremely successful in alerting people to which roads were closed, said Mr Juanquira.
And next month the centre will host its first hackathon.
But there remains a vast gap between the government and the citizens, thinks Miguel Lago.
He is one of the founders of Meu Rio, a technology platform that offers ordinary people an interactive platform to campaign about the issues that matter to them.
One of its recent successes has been to prevent the demolition of a school that sits within the world-famous Maracana football stadium complex.
"The government wanted to knock it down as part of its World Cup and Olympic plans, either to make a parking lot or possibly a training ground for athletes," said Mr Lago.
"The parents were given no warning and so one of them decided to use our platform to campaign against it."
Taking inspiration from the city-wide cameras that feed information into the operations centre, the group decided to set up their own camera to monitor the school.
People were invited to become guardians and watch the webcam images online 24 hours a day, alerting everyone involved via text message if a demolition team began work.
The campaign attracted 20,000 followers, garnered a lot of press coverage and recently heard that, for now at least, the school is safe.
It is a reminder that smart technologies need to work both ways.
"These tools can be used to control citizens but we need also to use them to allow citizens to control government," said Mr Lago.
As part of its urban transformation, Bogota now boasts a metro-style bus system.
It retrofitted the buses so that the doors opened like a metro, raised the pavements to make it easier to get on and redesigned the ticket booths.
Bogota is also applying some radical thinking to town planning. It is home to the BD Bacata, the world's first crowdfunded skyscraper.
Meanwhile architect Winka Dubbledon has been asked to reimagine housing in the city and is currently considering putting homes in the business district.
"1.7 million people commute there but only 259,000 live there," she said.
Her plan is to create ecological housing and revitalise the rivers to create both a space to work and live.
As Rio carves its own path to smartness, other Latin American countries are taking a different, less technology-led approach.
Ex-Mayor of Bogota Enrique Penalosa is now a regular speaker at smart city conferences around the world, arguing that the first priority for cities looking to future-proof themselves is to deal with the traffic that blights them.
At one event he envisioned a new American city with thousands of miles of greenways and pedestrian walkways.
"Cities are only a means to a way a life and whatever we do over the next 40 years will determine the quality of life for millions. I am convinced that we need radically new designs... that can lead us to more sustainable cities where people will lead much happier lives," he said.
Urbanist and architect Teddy Cruz thinks that Rio would do well to look at how Colombia has transformed its cities.
"This wasn't about the new, it was about altering and adapting - common-sense urbanisation," he said.
"It isn't all about sexy buildings or symbols of progress. In reality Rio could be losing its sense of true intelligence which is already embedded in the city." | Rio de Janeiro's famously chaotic favelas are as much a landmark of the city as the Christ statue or Sugarloaf Mountain but few would see them as the natural home to smart technologies. |
39556804 | Shares in Avio began trading on the Milan Stock Exchange on Monday and jumped more than 8% before falling back.
The firm, which launches satellites into low orbit, says it is raising funds to help it expand.
The satellite industry was worth $208bn in 2015, according to industry figures.
Cinven owns 81% of Avio, with a 14% stake held by Italian government-controlled defence group Leonardo-Finmeccanica.
Avio boss Giulio Ranzo told the BBC he expected demand to grow as satellites become used for new purposes.
They are most commonly used for mobile phone communications and navigation systems, but new applications were "coming to market", he said.
"One of them is the ability to deliver internet services from space, anywhere across the globe, be it in a desert or the middle of an ocean," Mr Ranzo said.
"Another is to provide very accurate, high resolution images of the earth, allowing us to follow forestry, vegetation and climate change - which will be so important to monitor the health of our planet."
Most of the investment in space launch companies has come from private venture capital firms.
US-based SpaceX, perhaps the best known operator, has raised more than $1bn from investors. The company, headed by entrepreneur Elon Musk, launches satellites and space cargo flights but also has its sights set on space tourism.
Avio shares began trading on Monday at 13.88 euros (£11.83).
The company, Europe's biggest satellite launch firm, has annual revenues of 280 million euros with an order book worth 900 million.
According to a study by Leoni Corporate Advisors, around 2,600 satellites will be launched in 2016-2020, twice as many as between 2010 and 2015. | An Italian rocket launch firm, dubbed Europe's answer to SpaceX, has become the first company of its kind to list its shares. |
39293909 | Inside in the warmth, Brian Gaffney, a guitar-playing singer from County Kerry entertains with a selection of Irish ballads.
It is winter in America - a time for collars up and heads down.
That is especially the case if you are one of the estimated 11 million illegal or undocumented immigrants, up to 50,000 of whom are Irish.
Brian Gaffney, was himself once undocumented, so he knows what the current 'illegals' are going through.
"Everybody is very nervous now," he said.
"I know people in this situation and my heart goes out to them.
"Things had been very lax for years, when nobody was chasing anybody, but now all of a sudden there's the uncertainty and the decisions since the new Trump administration came in."
Several Irish heads-of-government have raised with several American presidents the plight of the undocumented immigrants, but never with any resolution.
Niall Stanage, a Northern Irish-born journalist, does not see that changing any time soon.
"I have much doubt that the Irish will get special privileges," he says.
"If that were the case there would be an understandable outcry from the governments of Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador - nations that have many more illegal immigrants here.
"And I've never been persuaded what the argument for a special Irish deal is."
With a new and very different president in the White House "putting America first", there is also a growing sense that, in spite what might be said publicly, the plight of the undocumented is not as important a matter for the Irish as it once was.
"The issue of Irish immigration is still there but I think this Trump administration faces other issues, particularly tax, investment.
"Its relationship with the EU is going to be crucial for Ireland's relationship with America going forward," says Suzanne Lynch, the Washington correspondent for the Irish Times.
This week, Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has been told by several senior congressmen and senators that the Trump administration may not get around to dealing with immigration for at least a year because of other priorities, including healthcare and taxation.
Congressman Joseph Crowley represents New York and has family connections with Armagh, Cavan and Louth.
He is the Democrat caucus chairman, and therefore an important man, and he can see light at the end of the tunnel for the 'illegals'.
"I do ultimately see this being resolved in a comprehensive way, not in a piecemeal way," he said.
"Not by any one group pitted against another - that's not the way we ought to approach it.
"We should do this in a holistic way and take care if all those who are facing an uncertain future in an undocumented state."
All of which means it will still be some time before the Irish or other illegal immigrants can emerge from the shadows into the sunlight of legality and the warmth of the American nations and its institutions. | The snow is falling outside the Dubliner pub in the centre of Washington DC, not far from the Capitol Building with its huge dome. |
38009539 | Speaking at an international conference in Vietnam, Prince William said there was "much to be proud of" when it came to efforts to halt illegal poaching.
But he said the "brutality" of poachers and crime gangs was still escalating.
He called on the UK to pass a total ban on the domestic ivory trade, as has been done by China and the US.
While the international trade in ivory has been banned since 1989, it is still possible to sell antique ivory in the UK as long as it was carved before 1947.
The duke urged the UK government to push ahead with a total ban on the trade, in a bid to protect elephants.
"China has already signalled a total ban, the USA has instituted one, and other nations, including the United Kingdom, are considering it," he told the conference on illegal wildlife trade in Hanoi.
"We know now what previous generations did not - ivory treated as a commodity is the fuel of extinction.
"Ivory is not something to be desired and when removed from an elephant it is not beautiful.
"So, the question is: why are we still trading it? We need governments to send a clear signal that trading in ivory is abhorrent."
A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokeswoman said the UK was doing "more than ever before" to tackle the illegal wildlife trade.
Prince William is on a two-day official visit to Vietnam to highlight the damage the illegal trade in wildlife has on some of the world's most iconic animals.
"We know that we aren't moving fast enough to keep up with the crisis. Rhinos, elephants, pangolins, lions, they are still being killed in horrifying numbers," he told the conference.
"While we've made progress, the truth is we are still falling behind. A betting man would still bet on extinction."
He said the "organised crime syndicates we are up against are much more agile than we are".
"We are getting cleverer, but we need to admit that they are getting much cleverer as well," the duke added.
"Their brutality continues to escalate, with many more rangers killed since we gathered in London two years ago."
In 2014, the UK hosted a summit in London to bring leaders and key figures together from around the world to focus on tackling the issue.
It resulted in the signing of the so-called London Declaration, strengthening a commitments to stop the illegal wildlife trade. | Endangered animals are being killed in "horrifying numbers" and efforts to tackle the crisis must be accelerated, the Duke of Cambridge has said. |
37175637 | 24 August 2016 Last updated at 15:55 BST
The diving duo bagged themselves two gold medals in the men's synchronised 3 metre springboard and Jack even got a silver in the men's single springboard.
Now they are back home and we invited them to the Newsround office to ask them some of your questions!
Check out the video to find out a little more about Jack and Chris. | Jack Laugher and Chris Mears did pretty well for themselves and Team GB at the 2016 Olympic Games. |
33274415 | Addresses in Cambridgeshire, Yorkshire, Essex, Surrey and Counties Tyrone and Down were raided by police and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officers.
A spokesman said computers, mobile phones and cash were seized during the raids.
The nine men and one woman have been questioned and released on bail until November.
Two men and a woman were arrested in Cambridge and a man was arrested in Runnymede, Surrey.
One man was arrested in Basildon in Essex and two men were arrested in Yorkshire - one in Bradford and one in Hull.
Three men were arrested in Northern Ireland - two at addresses in County Tyrone and the third was arrested in County Down.
HMRC officials were supported by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Cambridgeshire Police and Surrey Police. | Ten people have been arrested in a suspected £4m VAT and money laundering fraud linked to the transport industry. |
33729756 | The embattled Sydney Swans player also received strong support on Friday from a growing number of business leaders, including billionaire James Packer.
Goodes, an Indigenous Australian, has been plagued by booing while on the field, which his supporters say is prompted by racism.
The footballer is now taking time off from the sport.
Some fans have defended the booing, saying it is not racist but simply because they do not like Goodes as a player.
The Australian Football League (AFL) Players' Association and team skippers released a statement on Friday expressing their distaste for the constant booing of Goodes this year, especially during last Sunday's clash at Perth's Subiaco Oval.
The statement - being described as an unprecedented show of support for one player - called on fans to celebrate Australia's diversity and keep the game free of prejudice.
"Enjoy the game, celebrate the success but don't boo, jeer or taunt players because of who they are or what they stand for," it said.
About 150 community, political and business groups also issued a statement supporting Goodes and calling for an end to racism in sport, reported Australian Associated Press.
The organisations, which include schools, unions and several indigenous advocacy groups, said Goodes should be commended for displaying his culture on the football field and for taking a "courageous stance" against racism.
Separately, one of Australia's wealthiest and most influential businessmen, Crown chairman James Packer, said on Friday he was "ashamed" by the whole affair.
Speaking in Melbourne at a Crown function in support of indigenous employment programs, Mr Packer said Goodes should be treated with more respect.
"He's a great Australian. He won Australian of the Year, I think he's an amazing role model," Mr Packer said, local media reported.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott also urged fans to treat Goodes with respect.
"Certainly the last thing we want in Australia is anything, anything at all, that smacks of racism," Mr Abbott told Radio 2SM. | The captains of all 18 Australian Rules football clubs have called on fans to stop booing football star Adam Goodes. |
36315414 | Self-employed roofer Matthew Green, 26, went missing from his Sittingbourne home in Kent in April 2010.
Pauline and Jim Green said they believed he was found by Spanish street pastors amid concerns for his welfare.
Kent Police said "confidentiality and data protection matters" prevented them from giving any further information.
A statement said they were unable to give "the circumstances of how Mr Green was located, or the exact country in which he was located."
Mr and Mrs Green said all they wanted to do was speak to their son, but data protection laws prevented them from any direct contact.
They were told earlier this month that his name and fingerprints were matched to someone missing in the UK.
"We were lost for words," Mr Green said.
"I so much want to see him... I want to tell him that I love him. I want to tell him that we've missed him desperately," Mrs Green said.
She added that she had written a letter to her son, but the British Consulate was unable to tell her whether it had been passed to him.
"At least if we knew he'd got the letter, we'd know it would be down to him to contact us, but we don't even know that.
"We don't know if he's vulnerable. If he is, then we're his next of kin.
"Is he able to make his own decisions, and if he's not then we should be able to override that," she said.
Mr Green said if their son did not want to see them they would understand, but they just needed contact in the first instance.
"This is just the beginning of the next fight. We will not give up," the couple said.
Kent Police said it had "closed its missing person inquiry as of 16 May 2016". | The parents of a man found alive six years after he disappeared have said their joy turned to frustration after they were told they could not see him. |
30900095 | The Tory minister was giving evidence to the Treasury select committee which is examining the Smith Commission plan.
Mr Osborne said it would be up to Scotland to decide whether to vary future tax rates and therefore spark "competition".
He added that Holyrood would bear the consequences of using its new powers.
On Thursday the draft Scotland Bill is due to be published.
That represents the next stage in a process to send more powers across the border.
During the Scottish independence referendum campaign, the Tories, Labour and Liberal Democrats vowed to give greater responsibility to Holyrood if voters said "No".
On 18 September, the electorate decided 55% to 45% against change.
Lord Smith, who headed the devolution commission, recommended that control over income tax would be shared between the UK and Scottish parliaments.
But within this framework, MSPs would have the power to freely set the rates of income tax and the thresholds of Scottish taxpayers.
Mr Osborne was asked whether that move could lead to "tax competition".
He told the committee: "Ultimately that is a decision primarily for the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish government as to whether they pursue that or not.
"I think it is quite interesting that off the back of the changes we announced at the Autumn Statement to stamp duty that then led to the Scottish government saying it would revisit its proposals on stamp duty.
"You could say that that is a bit of tax competition in action."
The committee quizzed the chancellor in detail about the Smith Commission principle that there there should be no "detriment" to either Scotland or the rest of the UK in regard to tax receipts and spending.
Mr Osborne explained to committee chairman Andrew Tyrie: "The no detriment principle is around the adjustments to the block grant connected with the loss or additional tax revenues that come from the first round effects and potentially behavioural effects.
"But I think it is important, and I think this is fundamental to what everyone is trying to establish here with this further devolution, that people live with consequences of their actions."
He explained that "no detriment" principle should not try be used to "compensate" for "not very clever economic decisions."
Mr Osborne said that deciding on what was "not clever economic decisions" would form part of negotiations between the future UK government and Scottish governments.
He also believed it was important to have a robust and independent fiscal analysis of the public finances in Scotland.
Mr Osborne covered a number of issues during his evidence session, including;
The Chancellor has indicated that Scottish MPs would be restricted from voting on some elements of the UK budget under Conservative plans for "English votes for English laws."
George Osborne told MPs that this would be particularly important if Scottish members "held the balance of power" after May's general election.
His comments are at odds - his opponents argue - with what is contained in the Smith Commission on further devolution for Scotland which states that "MPs representing constituencies across the whole of the UK will continue to decide the UK's Budget including Income Tax."
Under the Smith Commission a new 'Scotland Bill' would enable the Scottish Parliament to set income tax rates and thresholds.
Giving evidence to the Treasury select committee Mr Osborne denied there was a "disagreement" with the Smith recommendations.
He said it would be wrong to exclude Scottish MPs from deciding elements of the Budget which affected the whole of the UK but would be "unfair" if Scottish MPs decided elements of income tax which did not affect Scotland.
Mr Osborne said he did not want to "pre-empt" proposals on English votes for English laws, which he said would be published shortly but added: "I do think they will have to apply to areas connected with the Budget." | Chancellor George Osborne has told MPs that new powers being handed to Scotland could result in a UK-wide competition over tax rates. |
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The Lanarkshire fighter won lightweight gold at last summer's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and is unbeaten in five bouts since turning professional.
"That's kind of what we're looking at, but it's a long way away yet, and we just need to take it one fight at a time," Flynn told BBC Scotland.
"The pro game is a lot tougher than the amateurs; you need to be tough and resilient so it takes years to build."
Victory over Northern Ireland's Joe Fitzpatrick in the lightweight final at Glasgow 2014 thrust Flynn into the limelight, and his transition into the professional ranks has been smooth so far.
Tougher tests await down the line however, and Flynn stresses the importance of a gradual progression towards those bigger fights.
"We are not looking to rush everything. My manager knows how he wants to build me. I'm happy, I've got my trust in him and I know how we're doing it.
"We've got a solid foundation, and it's just a matter of time now.
Flynn's next fight is in Glasgow on 13 December against an as yet unnamed opponent. The bout will be six rounds, and the Scot's team will look to gradually increase the rounds over his next few fights before progressing to 12-round matches.
"I'm just focusing on learning about pro boxing, building up techniques, building up experience," said Flynn.
"Callum Smith just won his British title and that was after three years of [professional] boxing. That's when you're kind of looking at a British title.
"I'm only 22, I'm only a baby so we're going to build slowly and surely."
As well as catapulting him into the public eye, Flynn's gold medal success at Glasgow 2014 has given him belief that he can make his mark in the professional game.
"The gold tells you you've got something special," he added.
"It helps with everything. The gold helps you with your fan-base. It puts the public eye on you. It can add pressure on to you, but at the same time, you want to be in the public eye, you want to get your career up there.
"I've been saying from when I was wee, continually in the gym, 'I'm going to be champion of the world'.
"I believe that is what's going to happen. How long I don't know, but at the end of the day I know what I want. I'm not in here to be second best." | Charlie Flynn says he wants to capture a British title within two years. |
19109309 | Los Angeles police and rescue crews surrounded the fomer Hannah Montana star's house in Hollywood on Wednesday, while helicopters circled the property.
But they soon discovered there was no one in the building.
Police say the incident may have been part of a trend of prank calls, which has been dubbed "swatting".
Swatting is when an anonymous call is made to get a team of police to storm a building or an innocent person's home.
Police told ABC News that such incidents were on the rise - even though false calls to emergency services are a crime in California.
An investigation is underway into the incident at Cyrus's home.
Police said they were tracking the caller. If found, the person will be prosecuted, and could face up to a year in jail.
Cyrus, the 19-year old actress and singer, is the daughter of American country star, Billy Ray Cyrus - who had a worldwide hit with Achy Breaky Heart in 1992.
She gained worldwide fame when she was cast as Miley Stewart, the lead role in Disney's Hannah Montana.
In 2010, Cyrus was ranked number thirteen on Forbes' Celebrity 100. | Armed police stormed pop star Miley Cyrus's house in the US, after receiving an emergency call about a possible kidnapping and shooting. |
31480573 | The woman in her 80s was in one of two vehicles involved in the crash at about 12:15 GMT.
The Great North Air Ambulance said paramedics treated her at the scene but she died before she could be taken to hospital. It is not yet known if anyone else was injured in the crash.
The northbound A1 at the Newton on the Moor and Longframlington junction was closed for four hours.
A spokesman for the air ambulance said: "The crew from the helicopter transfused blood and performed surgical procedures at the roadside but sadly her injuries were too severe and she died a short time later.
"Our thoughts are with her family." | A woman has been killed in a collision on the A1 in Northumberland. |
38169084 | Gemma Bagshaw, who was heavily pregnant at the time, and husband Ben have lived in a rented flat since last October.
They were among four families who had been unable to return to their homes after the the 33ft (10m) deep hole appeared in Fontmell Close, St Albans.
It will be the first time their son Finley, who was born a week after the sinkhole appeared, has been home.
The one-year-old looked on as St Albans mayor Frances Leonard cut a ribbon to mark the reopening of the cul-de-sac.
His father Ben said it will be "lovely" to be home together for Christmas.
Following the collapse in the early hours of 1 October, families in more than 50 homes were left without power, water or sanitation before temporary solutions were provided for the majority.
The Bagshaws were evacuated on the night and left the house, with heavily pregnant Mrs Bagshaw clutching her hospital bag.
Finley was born a week later and for the past year they have been renting a flat with the cost covered by their insurance.
"It was just really shocking, we were both on edge, my wife was almost ready to have her first baby and we'd suddenly just seen the road collapse around us," Mr Bagshaw said.
"The fact we've got [back] in December is going to be a real big win for us and it's going to be a lovely first Christmas at home for the new baby - it's going to be like a new house to us."
Fontmell Close is on the site of a former claypit, and mine workings have been blamed for the road's collapse.
The hole was filled with 48 lorry-loads of foamed concrete but before permanent repairs could be carried out, investigators had to ensure there was no further cause for concern.
Richard Knight from Hertsfordshire County Council said: "This probably is one of the safest roads in Hertfordshire now because we've done 40-odd bore holes to make sure what is under the road.
"We coordinated with all the utility companies to make sure everything was done properly but quickly." | A family who were evacuated from their home when a sinkhole opened up outside have finally returned 14 months later. |
26514797 | Ukraine's interim government, the EU and the US have condemned the move as "illegal".
A copy of the 16 March ballot paper - released by the Crimean parliament - appears to give voters two choices: to join Russia immediately or gain greater autonomy within Ukraine.
See the document below to find out more:
The ballot paper is in three languages. Russian, Ukranian and Crimean Tatar - the language of the indigenous Tatar community of Crimea. The opening sentences explain that the ballot paper is for use in the referendum on the future of the Crimea set for 16 March.
Voters are directed to check one of two boxes corresponding to two questions. The first asks: do you support reunifying Crimea with Russia as a subject of the Russian Federation?
The second question asked is: Do you support the restoration of the 1992 Crimean constitution and the status of Crimea as a part of Ukraine?
(The wording "restoring the 1992 constitution" does not make it clear whether this refers to the original version of the constitution, declaring Crimea an independent state, or the later amended version, in which Crimea was an autonomous republic within Ukraine).
The ballot paper carries a warning in all three languages that choosing both available options makes it invalid.
There is also a referendum website that carries a mechanism to vote online. | Pro-Moscow authorities on the Crimean peninsula are holding a referendum on whether the region should secede from Ukraine and join Russia. |
25704498 | The number of road deaths this month is already the same as the toll for the whole of January last year.
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan will meet members of the Northern Ireland Road Safety Forum on Tuesday.
The meeting has been organised after a senior police officer said NI was facing a "road safety emergency".
Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster, Mr Durkan said: "I will be looking at agencies and looking to hear from agencies as to what they feel they can do to promote road safety even further.
"All of these agencies do work hard to do so, and ultimately I think it's important that the message goes out - while government is keen and will do everything it can to improve road safety, ultimately responsibility lies with road users as well."
At a press conference on Saturday, PSNI Supt David Moore said: "We've had someone dying on our roads every 48 hours in the early days of 2014.
"That's a month's worth of carnage in a little over a week and five families torn apart."
A 58-year-old man died in a collision with a car in south Armagh on Friday.
On the same day, a 22-year-old Dunmurry man was killed after the stolen car he was driving was involved in a collision with a van on the outskirts of south Belfast.
Supt Moore said that Northern Ireland's road safety new year resolution was "broken already".
"Five deaths already is far too much and we need the collective efforts of everyone in Northern Ireland to bring this to an end now."
In Armagh on Sunday, Catholic Archbishop Eamon Martin has used Masses to urge parishioners to take extra care on the roads.
"We all have a responsibility to exercise care and attention on the roads," he said.
"If all of us made a late new year's resolution to improve our use of the roads, whether that be as drivers, pedestrians or cyclists, then some families will be spared the terrible anguish of losing a loved one this year." | The minister responsible for road safety in Northern Ireland has called an urgent meeting after five fatalities in the first 10 days of the new year. |
34549270 | But not everybody approves.
A quick scroll through the comments below YouTube star Nabiilabee's videos soon reveals an audience deeply divided.
"Love this and you are so beautiful!" gushes a young fan.
However alongside the many messages of adoration left for the Birmingham fashion graduate, who uploads video tutorials about how to style the hijab and wear make-up, are some furious critics.
For although the 21-year-old insists that all her guidance has modesty at its heart and describes herself as a religious woman, for many Muslims the Koran's instruction that women should not "display" their beauty outside of the home is unequivocal.
"What kind of man would allow his wife or daughter to be on YouTube showing her beauty to random men?" storms one angry commenter.
"You are causing people to sin when you show them how to style their scarf."
Alongside names like Dina Tokio, Ruba Zai and Amina, Nabiilabee, a practising British Muslim, is high-profile in the world of so-called Hijabi YouTubers.
A quick YouTube search for "hijab tutorials" brings up more than 100,000 individual videos, but Nabiila claims to be one of the genre's founders - uploading her first tutorial at the age of 16.
She has certainly built a strong brand, with 150,000 followers on YouTube, 228,000 on Instagram and more than 400,000 Facebook members currently liking her official page.
"I've been doing this for so long I'm OK when it comes to hate comments," Nabiilabee told BBC Radio 1 in a documentary called High Street Hijabis.
"I feel like everybody gets a bit of hate but when it comes to Hijabi YouTubers you get a bit more. It gets quite personal."
Many of her fiercest critics are men.
Nabiila dedicates entire videos to responding to questions from her audience - about Islam in general as well as beauty - and also addresses the personal criticism. In one such video she asked the men who take issue with her why they were watching hijab tutorials in the first place.
"I feel like I've been helping people wear a scarf," she said.
"It's helped me to keep my scarf on and be better each day because I'm a role model. I know a lot of people do take me as that and do copy what I do - we're helping each other."
However it's not just men who are cautious about the Hijabi fashion genre.
"Hijab is not a fashion accessory or a headdress. It is an act of worship and obedience to God's command," wrote Fatima Barkatulla, a London-based lecturer in Islamic thought, on Facebook.
"And we worship and obey God on his terms, not our terms."
Ms Barkatulla added that while she understands the "good intentions" of hijab fashion vloggers and designers, they need to act responsibly.
At the Elstree Liberal Synagogue in Hertfordshire, the 12-year-old members of the congregation preparing for their Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony are never far from their smartphones.
They take weekend classes for up to a year before the big event, a Jewish coming of age ritual which includes learning about Jewish beliefs and reciting sections of the Torah in Hebrew in front of their family and friends.
At first their tutor, Rabbi Pete Tobias, was less than enthusiastic about their fondness for phones.
"There was one point a couple of years back where we had a box and they had to hand their phones in before they came into class because they were permanently playing with them," he says.
"Now I think it's a challenge for me to make sure they're paying enough attention for them not to need to be fiddling with their phones."
The youngsters themselves are wary of discussing Judaism online. One says: "You don't know who is reading your message."
But for others it is a useful font of knowledge.
"At the moment we're studying Judaism and everyone is asking me questions - I'm the only Jew in my class," says one young student about their secondary school.
"We looked at some YouTube videos in class and they are actually useful - but they do leave out little things. They get the gist of it right."
Another pre-teen admits to using Google to keep tabs on her teachers: "At school if I don't believe it I'll look it up," she tells me, adding that the search engine's language translation tool, Google Translate, has been valuable in learning Hebrew.
"Sometimes it gets it wrong," she adds. "But it is helpful."
Another student has learned a surprising lesson in ethics from Call of Duty, a violent shoot-up game that is definitely not aimed at 12-year-olds.
"You kill a lot of people in shooter games," he says.
"It shows the message when you're older, say there's a war and they need you, you'd be like, 'no, I played Call of Duty when I was younger and killed a lot of people and didn't like it.'"
Malath Abbas, a Dundee-based computer games designer, goes even further.
While the psychological effects of video gaming often cause fierce debate, for Mr Abbas, who practices the Baha'i faith, the very act of losing yourself in a virtual world has an important spiritual quality and enables a mindfulness that is also central to his religion.
"Most people associate video games with guns and shooting and mindless entertainment, whereas I've been a player and creator for a number of years now," he says.
"I see another side to it and I definitely see a space for spirituality within that.
"If something engages you, you tend to be really pulled into the experience and I find it allows for an interesting space within my mind to mediate and be mindful.
"I would call that spirituality."
Hear more at BBC Radio 2's Faith in the World Week. | From the young Muslim YouTubers teaching fashion and beauty to women who must remain modest, to the art of mindful computer gaming and the Jewish students using Google Translate to learn Hebrew - lots of young people are looking online for ways to embrace both their religion and their interests. |
36879831 | Yahoo will be combined with AOL, another faded internet star, which Verizon bought last year.
The deal does not include Yahoo's valuable stake in Chinese firm Alibaba.
The price tag for the deal is well below the $44bn Microsoft offered for Yahoo in 2008 or the $125bn it was worth during the dot.com boom.
Verizon said the deal for Yahoo's core internet business, which has more than a billion active users a month, would make it a global mobile media company.
The end of Yahoo: Why Verizon spent big
Yahoo Timeline
Marissa Mayer, chief executive of Yahoo, said: "Yahoo is a company that has changed the world, and will continue to do so through this combination with Verizon and AOL."
In an email to staff, Ms Mayer said she was "planning to stay", adding: "I love Yahoo, and I believe in all of you. It's important to me to see Yahoo into its next chapter."
However, the takeover, which is due to be completed in early 2017, raises questions about whether the Yahoo brand could disappear.
"That's the big open-ended question: what are they going to do with the brands?" said Michael Goodman, a director at Strategy Analytics.
While this is a sad day for Yahoo - as big as Facebook and Google in its prime - it raises interesting questions about its new owner. What are Verizon's ambitions?
Beyond the talk of becoming a global media company, Verizon chief executive Lowell McAdams wants a larger share of the booming digital advertising pie. And he thinks this deal will help him.
As a leading US mobile phone network, Verizon already had a wealth of data from smartphone users that it could mine.
Its purchase of AOL a year ago for its programmatic advertising technology allowed it to leverage that more effectively. Yahoo, meanwhile, has struggled to build its mobile advertising business. Its appeal is that it has content.
With Yahoo, Verizon gains the internet company's 600 million monthly active mobile users, as well as its email service, Yahoo Finance, and Tumblr, which is popular among millennials.
So is Verizon ready to take on the likes of Google and Facebook? In 2015, these two tech behemoths claimed the largest share of the digital ad market. Whether or not Verizon can challenge that remains to be seen - but that's certainly the idea.
AOL chief executive Tim Armstrong said the deal was about "unleashing Yahoo's full potential", and creating a major player in mobile media.
Together AOL and Yahoo will have more than 25 brands, including Yahoo Mail, Flickr and Tumblr as well as AOL's Huffington Post and Techcrunch news sites.
Ms Mayer, who took the helm at Yahoo in 2012, has made little progress in returning the company to profit.
Last week the firm reported a $440m loss in the second quarter, but said the board had made "great progress on strategic alternatives". | US internet firm Yahoo is being acquired by American telecoms giant Verizon Communications for nearly $5bn (£3.8bn) in cash. |
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The Lionesses secured a semi-final against hosts Netherlands as they finally overcame Les Bleues, who had beaten them in the past three major tournaments.
The result means England are now the highest-ranked team left in the competition following Denmark's shock victory over Germany, the winners of the past six European Championships.
Striker Jodie Taylor was England's match-winner, clipping in on the hour for her fifth goal in three Euros matches after being set up by the excellent Lucy Bronze.
It leaves the Arsenal forward on course to win the Golden Boot as no other player has scored more than twice so far.
England hung on after Taylor scored, with injured goalkeeper Karen Bardsley being replaced by Siobhan Chamberlain, as France created several goalmouth scrambles.
The only blemish on an otherwise historic night was a yellow card for Jill Scott, who will now miss the semi-final.
The result ensured boss Mark Sampson created his own history by becoming the first England manager since Sir Alf Ramsey in 1968 to reach consecutive semi-finals at major tournaments, having also guided his team to third place at the 2015 World Cup.
And if England beat Netherlands in Enschede on Thursday, Sampson will become only the third senior England manager, after Ramsey in 1966 and his own predecessor Hope Powell in 2009, to lead the national side to a major final.
England's poor record against France extended back to 1974 but, perhaps more significantly, they had failed to win in five previous meetings since Sampson took over as manager, throwing away a lead at the SheBelieves Cup in March, when Les Bleues scored a 95th-minute winner.
But without the scorer of the winner that night, suspended captain Wendie Renard, France could not find an equaliser as England produced some last-gasp defending.
It will have been a huge relief for Sampson, as the coach had risked embarrassment with his pre-match comment that England did not need to be at their best to beat France, who have failed to reach a major tournament semi-final in their past four attempts.
But in the final analysis, England will feel that judgement was correct, and they should have more to offer when they face the Netherlands, having beaten them 1-0 in a friendly last November.
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Having rested players for their final group match against Portugal, England returned to their strongest team, which had earned wins in the first two games.
Bronze and Jordan Nobbs proved England's strongest partnership again down the right side, helped by the threat of Taylor, who is one goal shy of equalling the European Championship record held by former German striker Inka Grings.
It was from that avenue that the winner originated.
The dangerous Bronze had already waltzed through the France defence in the first half, and, after an hour, her endless energy nicked the ball in midfield before feeding Taylor, who made no mistake from a narrowing angle.
Manchester City right-back Bronze played a telling part in England finishing third at the 2015 World Cup, scoring a winner in the second-round victory over Norway and against hosts Canada in the last eight.
Having won the European Under-19 Championship with England, plus several trophies with her club, she is inspiring the national side to greater heights in the Netherlands.
England struggled to get into their rhythm in the first half against the French, who had 10 Champions League winners in their squad compared with the two in Sampson's team.
Anchored by the excellent Amandine Henry, and with Camille Abily adding guile further forward, France looked more dangerous, with striker Marie-Laure Delie wasting a good opening early on.
England's frustration got the better of Scott, who dived in on Henry to receive a second yellow card of the tournament, but they improved when they got the ball forward more quickly.
That tactic led to Taylor's goal, but they had to defend in numbers as France poured forward for an equaliser.
As they showed against Spain, England combined clinical attacking with brilliant defending, with Jade Moore pulling off some superb blocks.
Substitute keeper Chamberlain was tested several times, but looked assured before England celebrated wildly at the final whistle.
England manager Mark Sampson on BBC Radio 5 live: "I'm proud of them. They work so hard and are desperate to improve. All those qualities were apparent tonight. This was a tough game against an excellent French team. They're one of the best in the world for a reason.
"It's a huge result for us because this is a French team that beat the USA to win the SheBelieves Cup. They came in as one of the favourites and are full of Champions League winners. It's a big result and I'm very, very proud."
England captain Steph Houghton on BBC Radio 5 live: "I'm delighted. You could tell by the celebrations how much it meant. We knew it would be tough but it showed what we're about - we put out bodies on the line for that win.
"The character and determination were unbelievable. I knew they weren't going to break us down.
"It means everything. We're experienced in big games and we know we can dig results out and we're looking forward to a semi-final against the Netherlands."
England substitute keeper Siobhan Chamberlain, who replaced the injured Karen Bardsley, said: "It was a fantastic display from front to back. Everyone was commanding their areas.
"The Netherlands are unbeaten for a reason. A lot of their players we know from the Women's Super League. We'll go and work on the game plan to try to win."
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Match ends, England 1, France 0.
Second Half ends, England 1, France 0.
Foul by Eugénie Le Sommer (France).
Millie Bright (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Clarisse Le Bihan (France) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jessica Houara with a cross.
Corner, England. Conceded by Sarah Bouhaddi.
Claire Lavogez (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jade Moore (England).
Foul by Claire Lavogez (France).
Jade Moore (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, France. Clarisse Le Bihan replaces Marie-Laure Delie.
Attempt missed. Amandine Henry (France) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Claire Lavogez from a direct free kick.
Claire Lavogez (France) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Jade Moore (England).
Foul by Marie-Laure Delie (France).
Stephanie Houghton (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, England. Conceded by Sakina Karchaoui.
Attempt missed. Claire Lavogez (France) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Griedge Mbock Bathy.
Attempt blocked. Amandine Henry (France) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Laura Georges (France) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Eugénie Le Sommer (France) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Lucy Bronze (England).
Griedge Mbock Bathy (France) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Griedge Mbock Bathy (France).
Jodie Taylor (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Millie Bright (England) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Jill Scott with a headed pass following a corner.
Corner, England. Conceded by Sakina Karchaoui.
Marie-Laure Delie (France) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Stephanie Houghton (England).
Substitution, France. Claire Lavogez replaces Camille Abily.
Attempt missed. Élodie Thomis (France) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Marie-Laure Delie.
Substitution, England. Siobhan Chamberlain replaces Karen Bardsley because of an injury.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Karen Bardsley (England) because of an injury.
Attempt missed. Jordan Nobbs (England) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Attempt saved. Jodie Taylor (England) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jordan Nobbs.
Attempt blocked. Amandine Henry (France) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Eugénie Le Sommer.
Onema Grace Geyoro (France) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Jill Scott (England).
Delay over. They are ready to continue. | England beat France for the first time in 43 years to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2017 on a night of high tension in Deventer. |
39927017 | Dr Julie McAdam was giving was giving evidence at the trial of Steven Kirkwood at the High Court in Glasgow.
Mr Kirkwood is accused murdering Mr O'Hanlon, 45, at HK Autotek, Stevenston, Ayrshire, on 25 July.
He denies the charge and attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of a knife.
The 44 year old has also lodged a special defence of self-defence.
The jury was told that Mr O'Hanlon was 6ft and weighed 17st 3lbs.
Dr McAdam said: "He had a bodybuilder's physique."
She told prosecutor Richard Goddard that the fatal wound to Mr O'Hanlon's abdomen cut two major blood vessels to the legs.
She said the injuries could have been caused by one knife, but she could not rule that more than one knife had been used.
Police casualty surgeon Dr Gary Walker told the jury that Mr Kirkwood had a number of bruises and scratches on him when he examined him on 25 July.
Mr Goddard said: "These are non-specific and general injuries with no medical intervention required," and Dr Walker said: "Yes."
The GP confirmed that there were no injuries to the palms of his hands.
The court was told that Mr Kirkwood claims that Mr O'Hanlon struck him with a pick axe handle during a struggle.
Mr Fairlie told the court: "Our findings do not assist in addressing whether Michael O'Hanlon struck Steven Kirkland with the pick axe handle, or not."
The court had earlier heard that Mr Kirkwood and Mr O'Hanlon had exchanged abusive texts in the days prior to his death.
Mr O'Hanlon and his friend Forbes Cowan had gone to the garage to meet Mr Kirkwood.
Earlier, witnesses told of a struggle between Mr O'Hanlon and Mr Kirkwood.
The trial before judge Lady Rae continues. | A pathologist has told a murder trial that former Mr Scotland bodybuilding champion Michael O'Hanlon died from massive blood loss. |
36853861 | The man, in his 70s, was clocked driving at high speed on the M55 towards Blackpool on Monday evening.
Police said a patrol car signalled for him to stop but he came off the motorway and pulled into a Tesco car park at Clifton Retail Park.
He told police he "knew they were there" but needed the toilet. He has been reported for speeding.
Lancashire Police said: "We followed him and signalled for him to stop at junction four. He didn't stop - but didn't speed off either - and turned towards Tesco.
"We again signalled for him to stop and caught up with him at the retail park.
"He told us he knew we were there but was desperate for the toilet so didn't stop."
Sir Alex Ferguson was found not guilty of illegally driving on a motorway hard shoulder in 1999 after he told a court he was rushing to get to a lavatory.
Magistrates agreed with the then Manchester United manager's defence that it was an "emergency," and cleared him.
Bury Magistrates' Court was told he had been suffering from severe diarrhoea while driving on the M602, in Eccles, Greater Manchester. | A motorist caught driving at 115mph failed to stop for police because he was "desperate for the toilet". |
34918381 | The blazes have destroyed homes and at least 13 people have been hospitalised, with five in a critical condition, according to local media.
Firefighters worked through the night to contain a major blaze which tore through 900 sq km (347 sq miles) of land north of Adelaide.
The SA Country Fire Service warned the fires could continue for several days.
One person was found dead on a property near Pinery, while a second was located in a car near the Hamley Bridge area, Premier Jay Weatherill told local media.
"This has been a devastating few hours for large parts of the state and unfortunately there is some time to go until we have the fire fronts under control.
"Our thoughts turn to those people affected and those volunteers working through the night to protect us," he said.
Extra fire crews were travelling from interstate to help battle the fires. | At least two people have died in fires raging across northern areas of South Australia (SA) state. |
20824368 | Harvey, 32, joined the club as first-team coach in 2008 and replaced Tony Gervaise as manager in February 2010.
She guided Arsenal to three consecutive league titles, two Continental Cups and one FA Women's Cup.
"I've had a wonderful four-and-a-half years and would like to thank everyone at the club for the fantastic support," she told the club's website.
"A special thanks must go to (general manager) Vic Akers for giving me the opportunity to manage this special club.
"It was always going to be a huge challenge taking over from such a legendary figure in the women's game but I've learnt so much from Vic and can't thank him enough for all that he's done for me." | Arsenal Ladies manager Laura Harvey will leave in January to take over at American side Seattle Reign. |
30488504 | Martin Surl said the force would look smaller in the future with changes being brought in ahead of expected budget cuts.
A single neighbourhood command is to replace six existing policing areas.
PCSOs will start to be deployed beyond their own neighbourhood policing area if they are the nearest resource.
Mr Surl, who unveiled the changes, said: "I have to say that when I took office some aspects of the constabulary were not in a great shape in Gloucestershire.
"Now, the organisation is far more stable than it was. Even though the financial picture is tricky, we know where we are and our books balance.
"I'm not worried about it unduly. So I think we have managed to consolidate some of the gains we've made and can look forward to the future".
Chief Constable Suzette Davenport said: "We need to improve public satisfaction and confidence in our force and ensure we can deliver the quality service we aspire to provide.
"A new way of working is a crucial means for us to deliver this aspiration."
The first changes, which were announced following a two-year review of the force's operating methods, are expected to take place early in the new year. | Gloucestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner has announced the biggest re-organisation of policing in the county in 40 years. |
18670282 | Its
report on the impact of 20% funding cuts to police in England and Wales by 2015
said the Met Police, Devon and Cornwall and Lincolnshire were at risk.
There would be 5,800 fewer front-line officers across the 43 forces, it said.
Ministers said the "vast majority" were "rising to the challenge of reducing budgets while protecting services".
Among the HMIC predictions:
Neither the Met nor Cheshire could provide detailed figures of how the cuts would affect their front lines.
By Danny ShawHome affairs correspondent, BBC News
The HMIC's comments about the Met, Devon and Cornwall and Lincolnshire serve as a warning that the police service to the public will be damaged unless each force puts effective plans in place for the further cuts they must make.
The Met's position is the most serious. The government cutbacks were initially cushioned by Boris Johnson's determination to maintain police numbers in election year and money from the Olympics.
Once the Games are over cuts already planned will bite and the force will have to identify a further £233m of savings.
Add to this low levels of public satisfaction in the force; relatively high crime rates; poor performance on anti-social behaviour and a new leadership team and it's clear why the watchdog is so concerned.
One source said the Met was near the "cliff edge". Although it has denied that 8,000 jobs will go, as has been rumoured, it's hard to see how costs can be reduced without substantially shrinking the workforce.
Policing Minister Nick Herbert insisted the proportion of officers on the front line was increasing.
"The number of neighbourhood officers has gone up, crime is down, victim satisfaction is improving and the response to emergency calls is being maintained," he said.
"While there are particular challenges in three forces, we know that the vast majority are rising to the challenge of reducing budgets while protecting service to the public."
HMIC said the Metropolitan Police did not have any plans in place to make savings of £233m and this was of "particular concern".
In a statement, the Met said that it had delivered budget savings of £201m in 2011/12 and planned to deliver £537m by 2015.
But it said it recognised more savings were needed and was "committed to making reductions by considering how we do things differently and prioritising our service to communities".
The report also said plans had been put forward to close 260 front counters in police stations, but that forces planned to open 140 other locations where police would be based in buildings such as supermarkets.
In Devon and Cornwall, the report found there was a £2m budget shortfall, and raised concerns about crime levels. Between December 2010 and December 2011 crime rose by 3%.
HMIC said that because the force had cut costs before 2010, it had found it more difficult than some other forces to find the extra savings required by the spending review.
As a result, plans to balance their books relied to a significant extent on making savings quickly by cutting police officer and staff numbers.
Lincolnshire Police needed to save £21 million between March 2011 and March 2015, but by spring 2012 had only planned how to save 85% of this, and so had more work to do, HMIC said.
In a statement, Lincolshire Police said "relentless efficiency drives and partnership with the private sector" had "seen the leanest force in the country become even leaner".
"However, there remains a budget gap (of over £3m a year) in the years ahead and very limited means remaining to close that gap," it said.
The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said HMIC's report showed police had "been able to continue to reduce crime and increase public confidence in policing" over the first three years of the cuts.
But it said maintaining performance would become more difficult.
Police Federation chairman Paul McKeever told the BBC that the headlines from the report were "disturbing".
"When I travel around the country speaking to police officers at open meetings, they're already expressing their concerns about the fall in police numbers - the stretch they're actually experiencing and the fears they have for public safety," he said.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC that the police cuts detailed in the HMIC report were "deeply irresponsible".
"Our view was that the police budget could sustain a reduction of about 12% over a course of a Parliament," she said. "Instead, by going too far and too fast, the government is putting police services at risk - putting communities at risk."
Official
Home Office figures released in January
showed that the number of police officers in England and Wales had fallen to its lowest level for a decade.
There were 135,838 police officers in September 2011 - 6,012 (4.2%) compared to 141,850 a year earlier. | Three police forces may not be able to provide a "sufficiently efficient or effective service" in the future, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary has said. |
35733733 | The hosts went ahead after 24 seconds when Blair Henderson got on the end of Michael McKenna's cross before slotting in from close range.
Stirling went close but Moses Olanrewaju's effort was superbly blocked by Johnny Fairbairn.
Brian Martin was sent off after handling in the area but Stirling were unable to equalise, with Sean Dickson missing from the spot. | Stirling missed a penalty in stoppage time as 10-man Berwick held on to win. |
29751229 | Media playback is unsupported on your device
23 October 2014 Last updated at 23:52 BST
The girl had suffered a fractured skull and remains in a critical condition in hospital.
BBC News NI's Gordon Adair reports. | A 24-year-old man has been remanded in custody charged with the attempted murder of a two-year-old child in County Armagh. |
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