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35873242 | Thomas was shortlisted for ex-Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's 'most influential leader' award of 2015.
A "new approach," to community sport will be among Thomas' priorities.
The Welsh Government wants people to "become hooked on sport for life".
Skates said: "We want to break down the barriers to participation in sport and physical activity and create opportunities for people of all ages and abilities."
A Welsh Government statement said Thomas has more than 30 years experience working in community development, strategic leadership and sport inclusion roles, "often in socially disadvantaged areas".
Skates added: "I am confident Paul's qualities, experience and commitment will help the Welsh Government deliver a more physically active and successful sporting nation."
Thomas said: "Having grown up in the south Wales valleys and played sport most of my life I am certain of the benefits sport and physical activity can have on people's health and wellbeing."
McAllister's time as chair was due to end in January, 2016 at the end of her second three-year term.
But four applicants were deemed unsuitable and she remains in place until the end of March when Thomas will take charge. | The Welsh Government has appointed Dr Paul Thomas as successor to Laura McAllister as chair of Sport Wales, deputy minister for culture, sport and tourism Ken Skates has announced. |
35286199 | We understand the government is preparing to push ahead with plans to relax the Sunday trading laws, even though it was facing almost certain defeat in parliament over the issue just a few months ago.
The official line is that ministers are currently considering the results of a consultation, but we've been told that the intention is to get the law changed sometime this year.
Ministers believe they can win round many of those who've expressed concern. They won't just argue about the economic benefits of shops staying open for longer, they will also argue that longer trading hours on a Sunday could save struggling high streets.
Under the new proposals being drawn up by Local Government Minister Brandon Lewis, it will be left to local councils to decide whether to allow shops to stay open for longer on a Sunday.
Mr Lewis believes that it would allow councils to favour areas which struggle to attract shoppers and he points to his own constituency of Great Yarmouth.
Already some on Great Yarmouth Borough Council are talking about attracting people into the town centre and sea front by allowing shops there to stay open much later, while popular out of town business parks would not necessarily be afforded the same privilege.
"If we had this power this could be a shot in the arm to local businesses and allow them to compete with the big boys," the Conservative leader of Great Yarmouth council Graham Plant said.
The town centre manager Jonathan Newman said: "Shopping in a town centre which has longer hours could be a draw for shoppers rather than a retail park with shorter hours.
"But all the shops would have to coordinate their hours or else the public would just get confused."
Campaigners opposed to longer opening hours question if the move would really benefit the high street, pointing out that under the existing law smaller traders are allowed to open for longer.
"The only people who would benefit from this would be the large retailers," Adam Swierawski from Keep Sunday Special said.
He points to research by his organisation which found 91% of shop workers and 67% of the general public who were questioned don't want to see any extension of Sunday trading.
But others can see the benefits.
Chloe Smith, the MP for Norwich North, said that three quarters of businesses in the city would like to see longer hours.
"I think ultimately this comes down to choice," she said.
"People lead very busy lives and you need flexibility to get the family shop and other shopping done when you can."
Ministers point out that Sunday is now the busiest day of the week for shopping, thanks to the internet.
They believe high street stores are being held back, they also believe a relaxation of the laws would be popular with shoppers.
That's why they're determined to see this happen. | Could we be shopping for longer on a Sunday by the end of this year? |
36174410 | Harvey William Davidson, 29, is accused of taking money from machines at Whinlatter and Grizedale. The charges relate to incidents between October 2013 and June 2014.
The £10,412 belonged to the Forestry Commission, Carlisle Crown Court heard.
Mr Davidson, of Portland Square, Workington, was released on bail and will stand trial in August. | A man has denied stealing more than £10,000 from car parking machines at forest parks in Cumbria. |
37382171 | The man, in his 50s, crashed off Corn Du, near Pen y Fan, at about 15:20 BST on Thursday.
Rescue teams were called and treated him for suspected spinal and pelvic injuries, Brecon Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) said.
He was then flown to Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales.
Central Beacons and Western Beacons rescue teams were also involved, along with a helicopter from the Maritime Coastguard Agency.
Brecon MRT team leader Mark Jones praised passers-by who helped the injured man.
"In this instance having help from passers-by was critical," he said.
"Those members of the public that helped this gentleman were calm and professional and were able to help his breathing difficulties without compromising any spinal injuries that he may have suffered until mountain rescuers were on scene." | A man has been airlifted to hospital after a paragliding crash in the Brecon Beacons. |
35413548 | Kenneth O'Brien's torso was found on 16 January in the canal near Ardclough in Kildare.
The cause of Mr O'Brien's death has still be determined, but RTE are reporting that gardaí believe he may have been shot.
The 33-year-old Dublin man had recently returned to Ireland from Australia.
On Sunday, gardaí found bags containing suspected human limbs in the Grand Canal at Sallins, Co Kildare.
They are still awaiting the results of DNA tests to confirm the identity of remains.
On Tuesday, the Garda Underwater Unit resumed searches on the Grand Canal.
The unit has already recovered a motorised component for a power tool which may have been used in the dismemberment of Mr O'Brien's body.
The area has been sealed-off as crime scene since Sunday.
Boating has been restricted along the Royal and Grand canals until Sunday while the searches continue.
Gardaí have searched five crime scenes, identified by information supplied from the public.
They believe the brutality of the murder and the dispersal of the remains over such a large area points to the involvement of an organised crime gang. | Irish police investigating the murder of a man, whose remains found in a canal, believe he was been shot before his body was dismembered. |
32994840 | Jordan Begley, 23, died in hospital two hours after he was shot by a police officer with the stun gun at his home in Gorton, Manchester, in July 2013.
His mother Dorothy called police after a row escalated with neighbours.
Manchester Civil Courts of Justice heard Mr Begley threatened to stab a neighbour as the 999 call was made.
Hugh Davies QC, representing PC Terence Donnelly, who is said to have shot the stun gun, and four other officers involved in the incident, read part of the transcript from Mrs Begley's 999 call to the court.
She had barred Jordan from leaving the house they shared after he had been accused of stealing a handbag by a neighbour amid threats of revenge.
Her son, who was a heavy drinker and used cocaine, was heard protesting his innocence and shouting at his neighbour, saying he will get a "knife right in his face".
Mrs Begley told the call handler: "There's going to be murder."
Mr Davies said: "He was a threat to other people with the knife in the mood he was in."
She replied: "If I let him go out he probably would have used it."
The court heard when police arrived Mr Begley was calm at first but became "extremely agitated" and swore at officers to get out of "his house".
Mr Davies reminded the jury Mrs Begley previously said as she left the house her son had a look on his face that said, 'mum help me' as the officer pointed the Taser at him.
Asked why she did not help, Mrs Begley said she did not think they would Taser him "because he was not doing anything" and he "did nothing that deserved being Tasered".
Mr Begley was Tasered from a distance of 70cm (27ins) then hit with "distraction strikes" as police restrained and handcuffed him, the inquest has heard. He was not armed.
Mr Begley then become unwell and was admitted to hospital, where he died.
The inquest continues. | A mother warned a 999 call handler her son had a "violent nature" before he was Tasered and died, an inquest has heard. |
32083869 | The man, said to be a non-swimmer, was found hanging on to the car's aerial after a collision with a parked car in Mill Road, Rumburgh in the early hours.
Police said the man, who was driving a blue Vauxhall Corsa, gave a negative breath test.
Witness Roger Davis said the car was in his garden pond and it took about two hours to get the motorist out.
He said: "I didn't hear much as I was fast asleep, but then there were three fire engines, the ambulance and the police outside my house.
"The chap was clinging to the roof of the car, they got him off and pulled the car out. He couldn't swim - and the pond is about 12 foot deep at the moment.
"I think the chap went to hospital with hypothermia, he was clinging to the roof and holding on to the car's aerial. It was interesting to say the least.
"I think he'd swerved to avoid a deer, that's what the police said."
Fire crews were called at 03:10 GMT and an ambulance took the man to the James Paget Hospital at 04:36 GMT.
Stuart Hostler, watch commander at Halesworth fire station, said: "He was a very lucky chap.
"When we got there he had already got out of the car and was holding on to the aerial for dear life.
"He was showing signs that he was very cold and he was up to his waist in the water."
The East of England Ambulance Service said the man got out of his car by himself and was conscious and alert when they arrived. | A motorist was rescued after being found clinging to the roof of his car in a 12ft-deep (3.7m) pond. |
40670790 | The Law and Justice Party say it will make the judicial system more effective and able to fight against corruption.
But critics say it is a threat to the rule of law, placing control of the judiciary in the hands of politicians.
Donald Tusk, European Council President and former Polish prime minister, said the changes are "backward".
In a statement released after the vote, Mr Tusk said he had asked Poland's President Andrzej Duda for a meeting to discuss the changes, which he warned went against European values and risked marginalising the country.
The bill, which will now go to the upper house on Friday after being passed by 235 votes to 192, will see all Supreme Court judges forced into retirement.
The decision on whether or not they can have their jobs back will, on the face of it, be the president's, but in reality he will be acting on the advice of the justice minister.
The National Judiciary Council, which currently nominates both common and Supreme Court judges and consists of judges selected by professional legal bodies, will now be chosen by parliament - but its member judges will require at least three fifths of representatives to back them in order to be selected.
Last week, the ruling Law and Justice party pushed through parliament plans for MPs and the justice minister to have the power to appoint judges.
Then President Duda, a former member of the right-wing, populist ruling party, proposed a compromise to make it harder for a single ruling party to change the make-up of the 15-member National Council of the Judiciary.
Some critics were won over but others feared the compromise did not go far enough - especially as it is likely the ruling party may be able to get the support of smaller parties it often sees eye-to-eye with.
After Thursday's vote, Grzegorz Schetyna, leader of Poland's largest opposition party, Civic Platform, called it the day judicial independence died, while political analyst Stanislaw Mocek warned news agency AFP that subjecting "the judiciary to political power.... paves the way for a non-democratic system in Poland".
Thousands of people have also taken to the streets to protest the bill in recent weeks.
Adam Easton, BBC News, Warsaw, Poland
Most Poles agree that the courts need reform, in fact an opinion poll in May found 63% said so. For many, Polish courts operate too slowly and sometimes deliver questionable verdicts. In its election manifesto Law and Justice promised to reform the courts. But is this the reform so many people want?
Not even rock star turned politician Pawel Kukiz, who leads the Kukiz '15 party and who said he could not vote against the bill, thinks so. "This is not reform, it's just changing the personnel," he said before the vote.
Certainly many Poles feel the reforms give Law and Justice the tools to destroy judicial independence and appoint judges sympathetic to the party. They are the ones taking to the streets every evening in cities across the country to join candle-lit protests and appeal to the president to veto the legislation. Unlike previous demonstrations they are less obviously party political and perhaps as a result, it seems more young people are turning up.
The European Commission has issued Poland's government with a stern warning, complaining that its plans "collectively would abolish any remaining judicial independence and put the judiciary under full political control of the government". Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans even threatened the "nuclear option" of withdrawing Poland's voting rights in EU meetings. That has never been used before.
After the vote, Mr Tusk released an impassioned statement, saying the recent moves "transport us - in the political sense - in time and in space: backwards and eastwards".
He argued a solution must be found "which is acceptable to the Polish public, to the parliamentary majority and to the opposition, to the President and to the European Union".
But Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto warned the commission should not "act like a political body", adding: "We stand by Poland, and we call on the European Commission not to overstep its authority." | Poland's lower house of parliament has voted through controversial new reforms which will see all Supreme Court judges removed and replaced. |
16284426 | For years, Syria's actors and musicians have been one of its most precious exports, proving a hit with audiences across the Arab world, and making Syria something of a centre for television and music production.
Syria's soap operas are especially popular, and are beamed into homes across the region.
Since the anti-government unrest erupted in March, relatively few Syrian celebrities have shown their opposition to the government's crackdown by appearing in protests and speaking out in interviews.
Those who have dared to speak out, however, have put themselves at risk of arrest and even violent retribution.
In August, the prominent cartoonist Ali Farzat had his fingers broken - reportedly by security forces personnel - after he published cartoons mocking the president.
The composer Malek Jandali said the next month that his parents, who live in Syria, were beaten by supporters of the government after he dedicated a song to protesters at a US concert.
And Fadwa Sulayman, an actress from President Assad's ruling Alawite sect, was filmed alongside protesters in November in the restive central city of Homs. It was not long, however, before she was forced to go into hiding.
Prominent figures who live abroad, and are not subject to the scrutiny of the notorious security services, have been more able to criticise the government.
The pop star Asala Nasri comes from a family of distinguished Syrian musicians, and her voice is known across the Arab world.
In May, she said: "Even if the government oppressed one person out of a thousand, then… we [artists] would follow the people".
While the principled stand of a few artists has grabbed headlines, the reality is that the majority of Syria's artistic community has kept quiet about the protests, and many have even come out publicly to back Mr Assad.
Sulaf Fawakherji, who has acted in some of Syria's best loved dramas, has spoken out to state her support for the president.
In a TV interview, she said she wanted Mr Assad to stay in power because "the government, especially President Bashar Assad, has been very supportive of Syrian artists".
But she added that this was not the only reason she supported the government, pointing to what she called "important reforms" over the past 10 years.
Perhaps the biggest shock came when the actor Duraid Lahham voiced his support for the president.
Lahham is known in the Arab world for playing roles in films satirising authoritarian regimes.
However, Mr Assad's most ardent celebrity fan is the actress Raghda, who has starred alongside Lahham in several films.
Speaking on television in Egypt, she claimed that she had supported the protests which forced President Hosni Mubarak to step down in February, but that she did not back those taking place against the government in Syria, arguing that the situation in her country was different.
Raghda recently told a Kuwaiti newspaper that she would support "the devil, or any Arab dictator who makes a stand against Nato and Israel and the USA".
Celebrity support for President Assad has sparked a backlash on social media websites.
Opponents of Mr Assad have set up a Facebook page called the "Syrian List of Shame", which names and criticises public figures who have pledged their support for the government.
The page has attracted more than 30,000 members since it was set up and is growing in popularity.
The page's owners post photographs of the public figures featured on the list, insulting and taunting them for opposing the protests.
A similar page has been set up for neighbouring Lebanon, where a number of public figures have expressed sympathies for the Syrian government.
Although more and more of Syria's artistic elite are speaking out to support protests, they are still outnumbered by those who are guarding their silence.
It is possible that if the government's position becomes weaker and Syria's opposition gains more ground, more singers and actors will take a stance, but for the moment it seems most are biding their time to see what happens.
BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad. | The uprising in Syria has divided the county's thriving artistic community, with a handful of musicians, actors and directors coming out in support of protesters calling for the fall of President Bashar al-Assad. |
38907104 | Singles wins for Heather Watson and Johanna Konta, and a doubles victory for Jocelyn Rae and Laura Robson, gave Britain a 3-0 win in Group C.
They go on to face Latvia on Thursday and Turkey on Friday, with the group winners earning a play-off against the Group B winners on Saturday.
The winners of that tie will progress to a World Group II play-off in April.
Britain are seeded third among the 14 nations in Tallinn and first in their group, and Portugal were unable to overcome the gap in rankings.
Watson, the world number 72, began with a 57-minute 6-1 6-1 win over Ines Murta, ranked 546th.
World number 10 Konta then saw off 246th-ranked Michelle Larcher de Brito 6-2 6-4 to clinch the tie.
Rae and Robson beat De Brito and Murta 6-2 6-3 in the concluding doubles match.
"I'm really happy to have got the match under my belt," said Konta. "It was a high-level match, and it got better and better as the match went on. She made me work for it in the end and I'm really happy to have come through for the team.
"We'll try to come back stronger every day."
Asked about new captain Anne Keothavong, who replaced Judy Murray in the role at the end of last year, Konta added: "I think she is doing a tremendous job of bringing us together as a team.
"It's always a tricky one because we spend most of the year as individuals, so for her to do such a good job with us, it says a lot about her.
"We've got lots of team bonding in the evenings, lots of funny things going on."
Watson added: "It's my first match since the Aussie Open so I'm really happy with the way I played and also to get the first win under the belt for GB.
"It was great having Annie there and she'll continue to do a great job. So far I've really been enjoying the trip with her as captain."
Britain are likely to face the toughest test of the group stage on Thursday when they take on Latvia, led by world number 35 Jelena Ostapenko, who beat Turkey 2-1 in Wednesday's other Group C tie.
Unlike the men's Davis Cup, which has a World Group of 16 nations, the Fed Cup divides its top teams into two groups of eight - World Group I and World Group II.
The 91 nations outside the top tiers are divided into three regional zones and Britain have one chance per year to escape - a format that hugely frustrated former captain Judy Murray.
The Europe/Africa Group I event, which this year takes place in Estonia, sees 14 teams divided into groups, with Poland, Croatia, Britain and Serbia the seeded nations.
Four group winners will progress to promotion play-offs on Saturday, and two nations will then qualify for World Group II play-offs in April - which could see Britain given a home Fed Cup tie for the first time since 1993.
They fell at the same stage in 2012 and 2013 - away ties in Sweden and Argentina - under the captaincy of Murray. | Great Britain made a winning start to their Fed Cup campaign with victory over Portugal in Tallinn, Estonia. |
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Every race, practice and qualifier will be live on BBC Radio 5 live or sports extra and the BBC Sport website.
An extensive digital offering will even let audiences decide how they watch.
"Our top-class team will get audiences as close as possible to the starting grid, paddock, pit-lane and track," said Ben Gallop, the BBC's head of F1.
Reigning champion Lewis Hamilton will again write an exclusive column for the BBC Sport website.
He will preview every grand prix weekend and share his thoughts on his ongoing performance throughout the season.
Hamilton told BBC Sport: "I hope it gives some insight into my life, which is pretty different to most people's, and shows just how much work I put into being the best F1 driver I can be."
The Malaysian Grand Prix on 29 March is the first of the 10 live races on BBC television this year, including the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on 5 July.
The climax of the 2015 season in Abu Dhabi, which last year saw 6.5m people tuning in on BBC1 to watch Hamilton beat Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg to the drivers' championship, will also be live on BBC television.
Coverage of qualifying and races from the grands prix not live on television will be shown in the popular extended highlights programmes.
Presenter Suzi Perry will again lead the television team alongside chief analyst Eddie Jordan and co-commentator and expert pundit David Coulthard.
Lead commentator Ben Edwards will take fans around the track, with reporters Lee McKenzie and Tom Clarkson bringing all the news from the pit lane and ex-driver Allan McNish providing additional analysis.
New for 2015, Perry will also present Formula 1 Rewind, which will be repeated on the BBC Sport website and BBC iPlayer.
Formula 1 commentary legend Murray Walker will delve into the BBC archive to recount the classic grands prix of the past.
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Correspondent and commentator James Allen will lead the radio coverage on BBC Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra with McNish as co-commentator and Jennie Gow as pit-lane reporter.
The F1 homepage of the BBC Sport website last year attracted an average of 3.3m UK visitors each week, an increase of more than 50% on 2013, and this year's digital offering is even stronger.
Live television races, Radio 5 live audio from every session, text coverage, expert analysis and opinion and the best of social media will come together at the BBC live commentary page.
On live race weekends fans will control how they watch the action with five different video options to choose from in addition to the network TV coverage.
There is the pit-lane camera, a driver tracker, a stream of on-board cameras and TV images accompanied by Radio 5 live commentary. A highlights package will also be available to watch after every race.
You can keep in touch on the move through the BBC Sport app, where you can now sign up for alerts on the result of every track session through the season.
Audiences can access the BBC's coverage by visiting BBC Sport's digital platforms on any device, and via the BBC Sport app. | BBC Sport is offering extensive coverage of the 2015 Formula 1 season with 10 races live on television and highlights of all others. |
40619840 | Gavin Moore, who was 40, died in hospital after the collision with a car on the Newtownards Road in Conlig.
Two other riders from the North Down Cycle Club (NDCC) were injured in the incident.
Mr Moore's funeral took place on Saturday at the Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church in Bangor.
A 59-year-old man arrested at the scene of the crash has been released on bail.
Police have appealed for anyone travelling in the area at the time to contact them with any information about the collision. | Hundreds of cyclists rode behind the coffin of a rider who was killed in a crash in County Down on Tuesday. |
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The Scotland assistant was responding to an idea put forward by Fifa president Gianni Infantino to expand the finals from 32 to 48 teams.
"I'd be a fan of any format that gets us to a World Cup," said McGhee.
"The format this time round is pretty difficult and it was shown in the Euros that teams like Iceland can make a fantastic contribution."
Europe will be represented at the 2018 World Cup finals by hosts Russia, the winners of nine qualifying groups and the winners of four play-offs involving the eight best group runners-up.
But Infantino has suggested that more teams could be allowed to qualify in future finals, with 32 teams playing in a preliminary knockout round and the winners progressing to the initial group stage as it is now.
McGhee praised this year's expanded European Championship finals and the role played by smaller nations like Wales, who reached the semi-finals.
"Not just the teams but the supporters of these teams made it a spectacle," he said.
"I know the Tartan Army would anyway and, if there is a route to make it more manageable to get there, I am up for that."
Scotland host Lithuania on Saturday in their second Group F qualifier and McGhee expects the visitors to be a bigger attacking threat than Malta, who his side beat 5-1 away in the opening game.
"Their style is such that I don't think they are a team that are going to come and just sit in against us," he said of the side who have former Hearts striker Edgaras Jankauskas as head coach.
"They are quite prepared to come and get at us a little bit, so I think it is a game that will be a little bit more end-to-end.
"I don't think it will be a game where we are playing possession football at the edge of their box.
"I expect it to be an exciting game. It is going to be much more of a British-style game than many of these games are."
Scotland have faced Lithuania eight times, losing only once and drawing three times.
However, McGhee said: "I think, if we are favourites, it is only because we are at home.
"We've still got to prove that we are better than them.
"We've got to prepare as if this is going to be the hardest game in the entire section." | Mark McGhee would be in favour of an expanded World Cup finals if it is easier for Scotland to qualify. |
26025523 | The publication of the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland has renewed debate over whether to cull deer.
Researchers said ancient woodland was being lost due to "excessive browsing and grazing", mainly by deer.
The findings of an inquiry into deer control by a Holyrood committee are due to be revealed later this week.
The report from Forestry Commission Scotland said 22.5% (311,153 ha) of Scotland's forests was native woodland. That equates to 4% of the land area of Scotland.
It said 42% of the country's native woodlands were in the Highlands.
In total, 46% of native woodland was said to be in a "satisfactory" condition for biodiversity. Researchers also found that over the past 40 years, a "significant" amount of ancient woodland in the uplands had been lost.
They identified deer as the most widespread threat to native woodland health and regeneration.
Mike Daniels, head of land and science at the John Muir Trust, said: "This report confirms what most people who live in, work in or visit Scotland's countryside know - that overgrazing by excessive deer numbers is seriously damaging our native woodlands.
"We urgently need to move from a voluntary system of deer management to a sensible, regulated approach before we lose any more of our precious native woodland heritage."
Estimates suggest there are more than 750,000 deer in Scotland. The native red and roe deer are by far the most common but there are also smaller populations of Sika and fallow deer.
Claims from conservationists that the red deer population has trebled in the past 50 years are disputed by land managers, who argue the impact of Scotland's 6.6 million sheep should not be overlooked.
They say there are 2.5 million breeding ewes on the open deer range, mainly in the Highlands.
Richard Cooke, chairman of the Association of Deer Management Groups and the Lowland Deer Network Scotland said: "This new piece of work, which we have not yet had time to study, will be extremely helpful in focusing deer management on areas where there are specific issues in relation to deer and native woodlands.
"We do believe, however, that there has been a significant turnaround in the last 30 years in the impacts of deer on native woodland and it is too easy to blame deer at every turn when other factors, for example grazing from other herbivores and now widespread tree disease, are also taking their toll."
The Scottish government said it was working to balance the needs of sporting estates, which rely on income from deer stalking, with the need to protect the environment.
Speaking at the launch of the Native Woodland Survey, the environment minister, Paul Wheelhouse told BBC Scotland: "We do very much value the rural jobs which are provided by sporting estates but we also have to manage the environment with great sensitivity.
"There's a number of different drivers for deer management and we need to take a more rounded view of what's required and make sure we get as much collaboration and voluntary action as possible." | Deer represent the biggest threat to Scotland's native woodlands, according to an eight-year study by Forestry Commission scientists. |
33161927 | The 22-year-old made his debut for Saints as a centre in March 2012, but has also played in the second row and loose forward.
He was part of the St Helens side which won the Grand Final last year, and will move to Exeter in November.
"We are looking at different types of players having different abilities in our team," said Chiefs boss Rob Baxter.
"We are aware that the switchover from league to union isn't going to be straightforward.
"He has taken a chance moving to union because he has a well-established league career. He knows there will be a bit of transition time and he'll probably have a period on loan somewhere, but he is very open to those ideas."
Jones has made 64 appearances for Saints and featured in their win over Wigan last week.
"I can't explain how excited I am about the move," he said. "It's a new challenge for me and my family, but it's one that we're all really looking forward to.
"Exeter are a great club, they've just come off the back of a fantastic season, and having watched them a few times on the TV, I like the style of rugby they play and the way they go about things.
"Hopefully I can go down there, add a bit to the squad using my experience from playing Super League and look to make my mark as quickly as possible." | Exeter Chiefs have signed St Helens rugby league player Josh Jones on a two-year contract. |
28743481 | The tablet app is free, but must be paired with a new version of the publisher's add-on Traptanium Portal base to access the whole game.
As with other titles in the series, extra content and powers are unlocked by placing Skylanders toys on the base.
The US publisher pioneered the "toys-to-life" genre in 2011.
Since then, the franchise's games and figurines have generated more than $2bn (£1.2bn) worth of sales.
But the company is now facing growing competition from Disney's Infinity game, which is about to release Marvel playsets featuring characters that appeared in its Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy movies.
Lego and Nintendo have also announced plans to release their own "smart toys", which will interact with their respective video game franchises.
Activision said the iPad, Android and Kindle Fire versions of Skylanders Trap Team would offer the same contents and level of graphics found on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game when they are all released in October.
"This looks like a really smart move, both in terms of strengthening the Skylanders brand against rivals and also for the way it targets the young market that is predominantly gaming on tablet devices," commented Guy Cocker, a video games writer for Wired and T3 magazines.
"It's good that existing toys work with the tablets, but having to buy another portal is asking quite a lot of parents who've probably already bought other versions.
"Skylanders is a great game, but I worry about how much it costs parents over time."
Skylanders figurines feature radio-frequency identification chips in their stands, which allow them to interact with the portal, which acts as a RFID reader/writer.
In addition to unlocking in-game content, the figurines can also be used to store data. This allows players to save progress, take the toy to a friend's home, and then continue playing using a separate device.
The tablet version of the portal connects to the touchscreen computers via Bluetooth, unlike the console versions that use a USB cable or special dongle.
The new base also includes a detachable games pad designed for the size of a child's hands to allow them precision control.
But the title can also be played using touch controls that appear on the tablets' screens when the game pad is turned off.
The portal will be sold as part of a starter pack costing £65 that also includes two Skylanders toys and two "traps", which can be used to capture in-game enemies that can subsequently be played with.
A further two characters are built into the app, so that it can be used even when not connected to the base.
However, parents are likely to come under pressure to buy more figurines to open up extra areas in the game and add powers.
Skylanders Trap Team introduces more than 50 new playable characters bringing the total to more than 225, each costing £9 or more.
The toys have proved to be a valuable commodity to Activision.
The California-based company announced in February that it had sold 175 million figures.
Earlier this month, it boasted that its Swap Force line-up of Skylanders characters were outselling Hasbro's Transformers and Star Wars toys as well as all other ranges of action figures in North America.
Extending the series to tablets offers the firm the opportunity to boost sales further.
"We know we have a huge audience of kids that are gaming almost exclusively on tablets," Paul Reiche, president and co-founder of Toys for Bob - the studio that developed the game - told the BBC.
"I feel like this is a legitimate audience for us to address. We really wanted to make sure that we could invest and give a complete 'triple-A' [big budget] choice that is one-to-one with our consoles."
This is not, however, the first Skylanders game for mobile devices.
Activision has released three prior titles that allowed players to unlock content by typing in a code included in the toys' packaging, paying in-app fees or using an earlier Bluetooth portal for iOS devices that Activision says is incompatible with the forthcoming release.
However, these games were more shallow than the console releases and were marketed as spin-offs.
One industry watcher noted that this was the first time players would not need a console to play one of the series' core titles.
"It might be considerably more expensive than a normal tablet game - with the starter pack price - but it could be seen as a bargain by parents who now don't have to buy a new games console for their kid," said Rik Henderson, senior editor at the tech reviews site Pocket-lint.
"It's portable too, so could keep younger kids entertained on holidays. And because [most tablets have] HDMI or screen mirroring technologies, they can also play the game on a big screen anyway." | Activision has announced that for the first time it is releasing one of the main games in its Skylanders series for tablets as well as consoles. |
21382339 | Jane Waruguru's husband was among those allegedly present at key meetings which form part of the prosecution case at the International Criminal Court.
Those meetings - allegedly hatched at State House in 2007 and 2008 - involved a criminal gang called the Mungiki. Jane's husband, Maina Diambo, was their second in command at the time.
"I saw big, large amounts of money," she recalls. "One day I came and I saw him washing guns and I was not used to seeing those things in my house."
His erratic behaviour, his coming and going, aroused her suspicions, but she says she knew her "place" as a wife and her husband gave little away.
"I used to ask him: 'What is going on?' He told me: "You just shut up you wait... if you want to eat well, stay well, you just let me work."
It is alleged that the Mungiki gang was hired by senior figures in government, to execute a counter-offensive in the towns of Nakuru and Naivasha in early 2008.
Their mission was to avenge the first wave of attacks that had targeted members of President Mwai Kibaki's Kikuyu community, after disputed polls triggered inter ethnic-violence on an unprecedented scale.
But once the "job" given to Diambo's men had been completed, Jane sensed something was up.
Her husband was coming and going from their home, keeping strange hours, being collected in different cars. He was clearly agitated by it all, telling her: "I have done some things, they are tormenting my mind, and you are just asking me questions."
Diambo disappeared a month later. He is now presumed dead. A man who claims to be one of the last who spoke to him alleges he was due to collect cash at a meeting spot in Nairobi when he went missing.
It is hard to independently verify Jane's extraordinary claims, but she is among dozens of women whose husbands have just vanished.
Paul Muite, a lawyer who represents many of these women, claims Diambo's disappearance matches those of other missing men:
"Each one of them was involved in the post-election violence in Naivasha and Nakuru... they all disappeared without trace," he says. He claims the disappearances bear "all the hallmarks of an extra judicial killing" but his allegations will have to be tested in court.
What is clear is that alleged tampering with witnesses or those who may offer important leads about Kenya's violent past, is worrying the chief prosecutor at International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague.
In a candid interview with the BBC, Fatou Bensouda has expressed her alarm at "attempts to interfere with the witnesses".
Investigations in Kenya are proving to be "quite a challenge" she confesses and though she stops short of apportioning blame. She warns of "attempts to publish the names of witnesses or perceived witnesses in the media or on the internet".
And she says that those who tell us their stories "deserve to be protected, not only by the court but by Kenyans themselves".
The lawyers for Uhuru Kenyatta, a presidential hopeful, and one of the four accused who deny the charges levelled by the ICC, has called for the trial to be postponed.
They say a key witness has recanted his testimony linking Mr Kenyatta to an organised crime gang.
Talk of witnesses disappearing and plots hatched in secret may sound like the stuff of fiction but Kenyans have been burdened with a history of impunity that reformers are now trying to address.
One of the champions of change is Kenya's Chief Justice Willy Mutunga. A human rights lawyer and former exile he has been in the job for a year.
Despite his informal style, bodyguards shadow him everywhere he goes.
He is an optimist and believes that "Kenyans will emerge from these elections more united".
The country has ushered in a new constitution, and other institutional changes designed to break the stranglehold of ethnic chauvinism that has tainted politics for the past half century.
In previous elections, the key to success for politicians was to campaign along ethnic grounds and stack courts with pliant judges.
So the big test is whether election disputes are taken to the newly reformed courts, rather than out onto the streets this time.
"If any disputes are not brought before the Supreme Court, then the public confidence in this institution will be dented," Mr Mutunga says. "And I don't know whether that damage will be repairable."
For millions of Kenyans so much rides on this election. Little wonder then that it is being dubbed a milestone that could radically alter the way politics is done here in future. | As Kenya prepares for elections on 4 March and a month later a historic trial at The Hague over the violence that followed the disputed 2007 elections, the BBC's Karen Allen has heard powerful testimony about alleged disappearances of potential witnesses. |
26443440 | The story published on 20 January 1853 chronicles the kidnapping and enslavement of a free black man named Solomon Northup.
In the piece Northup's name was misspelled twice, as Northrop and Northrup.
The error was discovered after a digital copy circulated in recent days.
Rebecca Skloot, author of the best-selling non-fiction book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, brought the initial error to light, tweeting a link to the story on Monday.
The correction was published in Tuesday's New York Times.
12 Years a Slave won three Academy Awards on Sunday: Best Picture, Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role by Lupita Nyong'o. | The New York Times has published a correction to an article published 161 years ago on the case portrayed in the Oscar-winning film 12 Years a Slave. |
36050661 | Van Houten has been denied parole 19 times before over the 1969 deaths of Leno La Bianca and his wife Rosemary.
Governor Jerry Brown will now decide whether to release Van Houten.
A former homecoming queen, Van Houten was the youngest Manson follower to be convicted of murder.
She has been seen as the most sympathetic of Charles Manson's followers.
"She's been ready for this for a long time,'' said her lawyer Rich Pfeiffer, after the parole board made its recommendation.
"It really should have happened a long time ago."
Prosecutors at the time likened Manson to a cult leader and said he controlled his followers using drugs and other means.
Van Houten, then 19, held down Rosemary La Bianca while someone else stabbed her and she later admitted she stabbed the woman after she was dead.
"I don't let myself off the hook. I don't find parts in any of this that makes me feel the slightest bit good about myself," she said on Thursday.
Since her conviction, Van Houten, now 66, completed college degrees and demonstrated exemplary behaviour.
"The only violent thing she has ever done in her entire life was this crime and that was under the control of Charles Manson," Van Houten's lawyer, Rich Pfeiffer told the Associated Press before the hearing.
"She is just not a public safety risk, and when you are not a public safety risk, the law says you shall be released."
The La Bianca killings came a day after other followers of Charles Manson carried out the grisly murder of actress Sharon Tate and four others.
Manson, who directed but did not take part in the murders, thought the killings would start a race war, called "Helter Skelter" after a Beatles song.
Tate's sister, Debra has fought against the release of Manson and his followers including Van Houten, although Van Houten was not involved in the Tate murders.
Debra Tate said Van Houten did not show remorse for years. | Leslie Van Houten, a former follower of Charles Manson, has been recommended for parole after spending more than 40 years in prison for the brutal murders of a California grocer and his wife. |
33529248 | Under current rules all that is needed for a strike is a simple majority of those that take part in a ballot.
But the Trade Union Bill would impose a minimum 50% turnout - and public sector strikes would need the backing of at least 40% of those eligible to vote.
All four Labour leadership contenders have criticised the proposals.
David Cameron and Harriet Harman clashed over the issue at Prime Minister's Questions, with the Labour leader accusing the government of "attacking the right of working people to have a say on their pay and conditions".
But the prime minister said Labour's opposition showed it was "utterly in hock" to the trade unions. The public, he argued, were behind Conservative efforts to ensure strikes were only called as "a last resort" and "to sort this out for working families".
The Trade Union Bill, which began its journey into law by being presented into the Commons on Wednesday, represents the biggest shake-up in the rules on industrial action in 30 years.
The new laws would force unions to give employers 14 days notice of strike action and allow them to bring in agency staff to cover for striking workers.
The legislation could also cut the amount of money unions have to mount campaigns - or donate to parties such as Labour - with members actively having to "opt in" to pay the so-called political levy, which is currently automatic unless members opt-out.
But proposals to ban picket lines of more than six people appear to have been dropped. It will be made an offence not to have a named individual supervising a picket line.
The legislation also includes efforts to tackle "intimidation" of non-striking workers.
These are some of the most sweeping and radical union reforms since the 1980s. The unions fear it will make effective industrial action pretty much impossible - and say it's unnecessary as the level of strikes is almost at its lowest ever.
But ministers argue that in the wake of strikes on London Underground, for example, where people have been severely inconvenienced, they need to find a fresh balance and look again at the power of the trade unions.
What is notable is that when Margaret Thatcher introduced her reforms, it was on back of a wave of industrial discontent. Today, unions are much diminished and tamed beasts which has promoted accusations from the unions and the Labour Party that this is all partisan politics designed to nobble them.
Analysis: How new laws will affect Labour funding
A number of unions involved with the last major day of nationwide strike action in July 2014 would have fallen foul of the 50% turnout rule.
The PCS Union, which represents civil service workers, has never achieved such a turnout on a national ballot.
NHS strikes in October 2014 would also have fallen short, with turnouts below 50% from unions including Unison and the GMB.
Business Secretary Sajid Javid said: "Trade unions have a constructive role to play in representing their members' interests but our one nation government will balance their rights with those of working people and business.
"These changes are being introduced so that strikes only happen when a clear majority of those entitled to vote have done so and all other possibilities have been explored."
But TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said the Bill would "make it almost impossible for workers to exercise what is their democratic right and civil liberty".
Ms O'Grady said the changes would enable employers to "stick two fingers up" to workers by bringing in agency staff to break any strikes - and people standing on picket lines would be "subject to arrest".
She told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme it would "load the dice" against key public sector workers such as nurses and be "poisonous for industrial relations in the UK".
Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers' union Aslef, said the move "smacks of Germany in the 1930s" and accused the government of trying to "neuter the unions".
Meanwhile, Unite - UK's biggest trade union - has deleted the words "so far as may be lawful" from its constitution.
General secretary Len McCluskey said: "Unite is not going to see itself rendered toothless by passively submitting to unjust laws. If the Tories wish to put trade unionism beyond the law, then they must take the consequences."
The proposals are being opposed by each of the four MPs bidding to replace Ed Miliband as Labour leader.
Liz Kendall said the measures were a "blatant political attack" by the Tories and said she would reverse them if she became prime minister.
Andy Burnham said the government was "waging a campaign of demonisation against the unions" while Yvette Cooper said Labour should try to prevent the "divisive and damaging measures from coming into force".
Jeremy Corbyn said he would repeal what he called a "naked attack on all working people" if he led a Labour government.
Employers' organisation the CBI backed the introduction of strike ballot thresholds. Director general Katja Hall said it was "an important, but fair, step to ensure that strikes have the clear support of the workforce".
Adam Marshall, policy and external affairs executive director at the British Chambers of Commerce, said the right to strike "must be exercised with the greatest restraint".
Consultations on the 40% strike ballot threshold for key public sectors, picketing rules, and use of agency workers will be open until September.
The Conservatives had wanted to introduce the reforms during the coalition government but the move was blocked by the Liberal Democrats.
The bill was not debated at its first reading stage, which was its official introduction to Parliament. | Ministers have defended plans to tighten the rules on strike ballots after unions said they would make legal strikes "almost impossible". |
33307552 | Cheating during exams is not new in India and despite being illegal has flourished in most parts of the country for so long that it has almost become endemic.
The increasingly inventive methods of cheating have evolved over the years to take advantage of modern technology and even social media.
This has prompted the examinations board to issue a strict set of guidelines, including a dress code for the students re-appearing for the pre-medical exam.
Here are five ingenious ways in which Indians cheat during examinations:
It was discovered that many who were caught cheating during the recently-cancelled examination had come wearing micro-Bluetooth devices and mobile SIM cards that had been stitched to their shirts.
Over the past few years, a number of candidates have also been caught using micro earphones, stitched button-hole cameras and micro earplugs.
The devices are used to transmit questions outside the examination hall to professionals who then relay back the answers.
Pens that can scan question papers and transmit the images outside using micro-Bluetooth devices are also becoming must-have gadgets for ambitious exam-takers.
And they are easily available online. One website, in fact, advertises the products as "Spy exam cheating devices particularly made for clearing tough exams".
The increasing pace of technological development and easy availability of such devices has meant that authorities are struggling to keep up with - and crack down - on the latest methods of cheating.
Mass copying is probably the most rampant form of cheating in India.
Only recently, shocking images of mass copying emerged from the northern state of Bihar.
Hundreds of students are caught cheating in groups across the country every year, but a proper law to deal with this phenomenon is yet to be enacted.
The problem is believed to be the worst in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan.
Many students smuggle in textbooks and notes into the examination centres despite tight security - and parents and friends have been photographed scaling the walls of test centres to pass on answers during secondary school examinations.
It is not uncommon in India to find newspaper headlines saying "3 solvers for bank exam arrested".
In a country where limited government jobs cannot accommodate the hundreds and thousands of students who graduate every year, clearing competitive examinations becomes extremely crucial.
This has driven a lot of aspiring students into the arms of professionals who have either coached students, or cleared the examination themselves.
These services are, however, both expensive and elaborate.
The process begins at the point of submitting the application.
The solver generally applies along with the candidate and ensures that they are not seated very far apart.
The answer sheets are secretly exchanged before the end of the exam.
Another method used by professional solvers is to forge identity cards and appear in place of their clients.
The practice of bribing examiners and members of evaluation panels has gained more traction in recent years thanks to the increasing number of candidates and the rise of greater purchasing power.
In a scam involving the Madhya Pradesh professional examination, at least eight senior officials were arrested last year on charges of accepting bribes.
A BBC investigation in Uttar Pradesh state noted that bribery in universities was such an accepted practice that "there's even a whole subset of the youth population who are brokers between desperate students and avaricious administrators".
Mobile phone cameras and social networks are among the latest tools used by examination takers to cheat.
How it works is pretty simple - someone breaks into the examination centre lockers, takes pictures of the question paper and circulates it on social media.
In fact, an examination in Uttar Pradesh involving more than 450,000 examinees was cancelled after a leaked question paper went viral on the WhatsApp messenger service.
Similar leaks have been reported from the prestigious Delhi University as well as in some south Indian colleges.
Instances of email hacking to get university entrance question papers have also prompted authorities to invest more on data protection. | A massive medical school admissions examination scandal in Madhya Pradesh and a Supreme Court ruling that ordered 600,000 students to re-appear for a pre-medical exam have brought large-scale cheating into the public spotlight. |
40750209 | The Swans have rejected a £40m offer from Everton for the Iceland midfielder, who they value at £50m, while Leicester have also had a bid turned down this summer.
Sigurdsson did not travel with Swansea for their tour of the United States.
The 27-year-old has since returned to first-team training. | Gylfi Sigurdsson has been left out of Swansea's squad for Saturday's friendly at Birmingham City "due to the current transfer speculation surrounding him". |
33307614 | The ONS has published data covering the effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in 2014.
The figures show the average household in NI paid £12,000 in taxes and received £13,000 in direct and indirect benefits.
Average earnings are £25,540 giving a final household income of £26,500.
The UK average final income is just under £32,000 and the highest average is in London at almost £39,000.
The figures also show that on average Northern Ireland households pay the second lowest amount in direct taxes, such as income tax, at £5,458.
However, they pay the second highest amount in indirect taxes, such as VAT, at £6,501.
Northern Ireland households are not, on average, the largest recipients of direct benefits - four other regions have higher average benefit incomes. | Northern Ireland households have, on average, the lowest incomes of any UK region, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggest. |
29446083 | 1 October 2014 Last updated at 13:10 BST
The ''Unleashed by Petco Surf Dog Competition'' included races for extra-large, large and medium sized dogs.
The pooches were judged on their surfing skills, the length of their surf and their confidence.
The winners of the owner and dog joint surf were Bono, a chocolate Labrador Retriever and his owner, Ivan. | Sporty dogs have taken part in a surf competition in California in the US. |
29397744 | The political temperature was a scorcher too. I flew into the Iraqi capital with then US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen, who was making his last trip to try to convince Iraq's leaders to keep some American troops on the ground.
All the troops went home.
Three years on, American warplanes are back in the skies above Iraq, and British jets are joining Iraq's new US-led coalition to tackle the major threat posed by fighters from the Islamic State militant group.
And Iraq's politics haven't lost their heat either.
"We don't need an American dog to fight a Daesh cat," the white-turbaned, black-robed Sheikh Aws al-Kafaji tells me with a sarcastic grin.
The leader of the Al-Abbas Brigade, one of Iraq's powerful Shia militias, recently launched a recruitment drive to enlist Shias, as well as Sunnis, to take on IS fighters they call by their more derogatory Arabic title.
"The solution is to give support to the Islamic resistance and open the skies to Iraqi air strikes and make the army work with the resistance," the sheikh explains as he sits, flanked by bodyguards, in front of shelves lined with books, bullet casings and a gun.
"We will fight and finish them as we did the American invasion when we made them withdraw in shame," he insists confidently.
And yet, the lightning advance by IS fighters in June set alarm bells ringing in Baghdad and many other capitals near and far.
Despite six weeks of US led air strikes as well as bombardment by Iraqi forces, IS still holds on to a quarter of Iraqi territory.
"This must not become a political football inside Iraq between those who want international support and those who don't," insists MP Ahmed Chalabi, the controversial politician who played a key role in providing the discredited intelligence behind the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.
Now he's back in the political fray, tipped as a possible interior minister in Iraq's still embryonic "inclusive" government that's regarded as a sine qua non for success on the battlefield.
"It is no longer a matter of luxury. The Iraqi state is facing, for the first time, an existential threat," he tells me in his elegant Baghdad residence.
"The government must do a better job convincing everyone in Iraq that international support is required."
Similar sentiments are expressed by another prominent Iraqi MP who played a key role advising Western militaries after Saddam Hussein was toppled.
"We would love the international alliance to support Iraq but on our own conditions," asserts Mowaffaq al-Rubaie.
"We need air strikes to loosen the targets, we need intelligence sharing, capacity building, delivery of weapons, but we don't need boots on the ground."
"Occupation forces have left through the door," he points out, adding, "we don't want them to come back through the window".
Black-shirted young men belonging to the newly formed Saraya al-Salaam or "Peace Brigades" of radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, manned their own informal checkpoints on a Shia holy day last week as tens of thousands of pilgrims made their way to the Kadhimiya shrine under heavy security.
The new brigade was ostensibly established to defend Shia holy sites from the Islamic State fighters but many suspect another power play by the mercurial firebrand cleric and his feared Mehdi Army.
"We are ready to defend dear Iraq without the occupiers," Sheikh Ali insists to me before he and a gaggle of young men standing under a flyover to escape the midday heat break into religious chanting.
There's no doubting their fervour, but the fight is another matter.
Local residents in the Kadhimiya suburb say 15-20 mortars landed in the neighbourhood over the past week, and a massive car bomb exploded at a checkpoint controlled by Iraqi security forces.
I ask one of the many soldiers also on the streets that day about Islamic State fighters. He draws a circle in the air with his hand to indicate they are all around Baghdad.
"They are 26 kilometres from where we are sitting," Ahmed Chalabi later tells me in his house in a Kadhimiya neighbourhood.
Defeating Islamic State fighters across Iraq will take both military and political battles.
On the military front, Iraq needs a much better equipped, trained and motivated army.
On the political front, the new government still needs to win over influential Sunni tribal leaders who were angered and alienated by the sectarian approach of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
The tribes played an essential role seven years ago in what was called the "Sawa" or "Awakening" campaign against al-Qaeda forces when US forces were on the ground in large numbers.
"We need a second Awakening which is a surge of ideas, not just a surge of troops," al Rubaie says.
But there is no consensus on what ideas can save Iraq now.
A demonstration is planned this week at Baghdad's Tahrir Square in support of former Prime Minister Maliki, who was pushed aside under pressure from Washington, among others, in moves eventually supported by his main ally, Iran.
Protest organisers accuse the new prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, of failing to protect Shias.
Protests were held in the same central square last week by Moqtada al-Sadr supporters against the US-led intervention.
Tahrir or "liberation" squares across the Middle East became famous three years ago for the uprisings that were known then as the "Arab Spring".
Now, in still sweltering 36C autumn temperatures, Iraq's political temperature is hotting up. | The last time I came to Baghdad, it was its hottest day on record - a blistering 51C in August 2011. |
32620820 | The announcement came after mass graves and more than 30 bodies were found in the south over the past week.
The victims were thought to be migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh who paid smugglers to get them across Thailand.
The military junta has given local authorities until the end of next week to eradicate camps used by smugglers.
But Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who ordered the operation, also said the problem was "from abroad and not from us".
"To solve it we must look to the source because we are merely a transit country," he said.
Last week, authorities uncovered a mass grave containing 26 bodies in the southern province of Songkhla, and since then have found more human remains and several other sites suspected to be former human trafficking camps.
The area is on a route regularly used by Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.
Analysis: Jonathan Head, BBC News, South East Asia correspondent
So is the Thai government serious this time about tackling trafficking? The transfer of around 50 officers, mainly from the police, suggests that perhaps it is. Eighteen arrest warrants have been issued. But it is early days still, and there have been false dawns before.
Human trafficking was one of the first problems to confront Gen Prayuth after he seized power a year ago. Within a month the US, following years of warnings, had downgraded Thailand to the lowest level on its annual report on trafficking. The general promised immediate action. But it never came.
When the annual "sailing season" began in October, and boatloads of Rohingyas and Bangladeshi migrants began arriving on Thailand's Andaman coast, a few dedicated officials tried to stop the flow, organising their own raids and roadblocks, sending information about camps and traffickers back to Bangkok. They got little support.
Many of the bodies dug up over the past week were in a camp I was told about by a police officer six months ago. He said powerful vested interests barred him from shutting the camp down.
This problem is the responsibility of many Thai governments. But had Gen Prayuth acted last year, as he promised, some of those being exhumed from jungle graves might be alive today.
Rights groups have long said that Thai officials are both actively and passively complicit in the trade.
Three Thai local officials and a Burmese national have been arrested on suspicion of human trafficking in connection with the recently discovered mass graves, and police are looking for another four people.
Thai police chief Gen Somyot Poompanmuang said on Thursday: "We have transferred over 50 police officers over this issue because commanders in local areas know who has been involved in what."
Several of those transferred are believed to be senior personnel.
In remarks reported by Reuters, the general added that in the past "there were no sincere efforts to solve this problem". | Thai authorities say more than 50 officers have been transferred from their posts over suspected links to human traffickers. |
35242876 | Lecturers and students have translated essays about free speech and are publishing them as a free e-book.
Caroline Warman, associate professor in French, says she wants the texts to be used in debates about freedom.
She says marchers after the attacks in Paris carried quotes by Voltaire.
Dr Warman has headed a group of more than 100 students and staff at Oxford who have translated quotes and essays by French and other European writers.
It is an intellectual response challenging the ideas behind the "intolerable" attack at the office of the satirical magazine last year, which killed 12 people.
As a riposte to last year's attack by Islamist extremists, French academics produced a collection of essays called Tolerance.
The Oxford academics have produced their own version in English, drawing on 18th Century writers and philosophers.
Dr Warman, from Jesus College, Oxford, says Voltaire's "pithy slogans about free speech and religious tolerance" were used after the attacks as a way for people to "reiterate their values and express their grief".
"His face appeared on posters and banners in marches and vigils throughout France."
Dr Warman says that 18th Century authors, writing about persecution, the boundaries of liberty and freedom of expression, have great resonance in the modern era.
As well as Voltaire, the collection includes pieces by Diderot, Montesquieu and Rousseau, on topics such as slavery, religious intolerance and the rights of individuals, in essays including Free thinking, Universal Tolerance and the satirical On the horrible danger of reading.
It also includes Italian writer Cesare Beccaria, who said: "Freedom disappears the instant laws make it possible in certain circumstances for man to stop being a person and become a thing."
Dr Warman wants such writers to be brought to a wider public and to use them to debate issues raised by the Charlie Hebdo attacks, such as "What are the limits of free speech? Why is tolerance important? Why is respect for others important? Why is exploitation unacceptable?"
She says these texts can provide a better appreciation of "our European heritage... which can help us understand the problems the world faces today". | Academics at Oxford University are using Voltaire and other historical defenders of free speech to mark the first anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris. |
33841002 | Thousands were evacuated and large areas left without power as Typhoon Soudelor barrelled through Fujian and Zhejiang provinces on Saturday.
Some counties saw 70cm (27 inches) of rain in 24 hours, the heaviest for 120 years, said state media.
The typhoon earlier swept across Taiwan, leaving at least six people dead and several missing.
Half-a-million people were still without power on the island on Sunday, the Taiwan Power Co said.
Soudelor has now weakened to a tropical storm as it heads inland.
Fujian raised its typhoon alert to the highest level in anticipation of the storm, with at least 163,000 people evacuated to higher ground. There were reports of more evacuations in neighbouring Zhejiang.
In Fujian's main city, Fuzhou, more than 10,000 trees were blown down and there was widespread flooding.
Rail services and flights were cancelled and schools and offices closed.
Twelve people were killed as heavy downpours caused mudslides in rural areas of Wenzhou municipality, in the south of Zhejiang province, Xinhua news agency reported.
Another two people were killed in nearby Lishui, and four people were reported missing, said Xinhua.
The news agency said 1.58 million people had been affected across the region, and that damages to crops and housing was estimated to be some 4bn yuan (£416m; $644m).
Soudelor made landfall in Taiwan earlier on Saturday, with winds of more than 230km/h (142mph), ripping up trees tearing down billboards and triggering landslides.
Among the victims were an eight-year-old girl and her mother who were swept out to sea.
A firefighter was reportedly killed after being hit by a drunk driver as he tried to move a fallen tree. | At least 14 people have died in south-eastern China after a powerful typhoon caused floods and mudslides. |
36799951 | Prof John Grattan, acting vice-chancellor of Aberystwyth University, said about half of those pulled out the day after the Brexit vote.
Other Welsh institutions said uncertainty could affect student numbers and finances.
The Welsh Government said students are still welcome in Wales.
"I won't hide it from you that Brexit poses a challenge to the university," Prof Grattan told students during one of the graduation ceremonies this week.
"Over 100 European students have withdrawn their applications to us at this point, 50 by the end of Friday on Brexit day.
"That's a stunning impact on our finances. There are 120,000 European students at British universities."
Other Welsh universities have also told BBC Cymru Fyw that uncertainty following the decision to leave the European Union could affect student numbers and finances.
For many universities, EU and international students are a large part of their income.
Aberystwyth had 800 students from EU countries in 2014/15 and 600 international students from outside the EU.
A spokesman added: "Unfortunately, news reports abroad have led to articles disseminating the message that EU citizens are no longer welcome in the UK.
"Because of this all UK universities have said that prospective students that had accepted firm offers are now withdrawing them, and we are no exception."
Meanwhile Bangor, Cardiff, Cardiff Metropolitan and the University of South Wales have all told BBC Cymru Fyw they cannot confirm how many students have withdrawn from courses beginning in September following Brexit.
"We are working hard to placate concerns of those students who are beginning courses with us in September and we have been in touch with them in order to assure them that there will be no changes to tuition fees or student loans," said a University of South Wales spokesman.
Bangor University added the uncertainty surrounding Brexit could affect "a number of things including student movement and funding" but that "immigration status and relevant fee status" would not change while the UK remained a member of the EU.
Swansea and Glyndwr universities said none of their prospective students had withdrawn from any courses yet following the referendum result.
Welsh Government Education Secretary Kirsty Williams said Welsh universities would continue to do their best to recruit students from around the world despite concerns surrounding Brexit.
"I want to be clear that students and staff from across the European Union are still welcome in Wales." | More than 100 prospective European students have withdrawn applications to study at a Welsh university following the European referendum result. |
30468630 | The murder inquiry was launched on Friday after officers were called to The Blossoms public house in Holyhead.
The 46-year-old victim died at the scene, despite the efforts of emergency services.
A 24-year-old local man was arrested on the roof of another nearby pub after several hours of negotiation.
The incident led to parts of the Anglesey town being closed to traffic, and residents told to stay in their homes and businesses.
Officers confirmed that they had been granted another 36 hours on Saturday evening to question a man on suspicion of murder, following an assault at The Blossoms pub.
"North Wales Police can confirm that no other persons are being sought in connection with the investigation," added a statement.
Floral tributes to the victim continue to be laid near the pub at Rhos y Gaer Terrace in the town.
The landlord of a neighbouring pub, the Dublin Packet, paid tribute to him, describing him as a "lovely man".
"The best man you'd ever meet in the world," said Owen Maguire.
"I've only known him four weeks, five weeks of being here but in that time he has made me welcome, I can guarantee that.
"My heart goes out to them - the family is a gorgeous family."
Police have yet to name the dead man, but said his family was being supported by a liaison officer as inquiries continue in the area.
They have also renewed an appeal for any witnesses near the pub on Friday afternoon to contact them on 101. | Police have been given more time to quiz a suspect held after a roof top stand-off following the death of a man at an Anglesey pub. |
37093411 | The companies in Istanbul targeted by prosecutors are suspected of channelling funds to the movement of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.
The cleric is accused of organising the botched coup.
His followers are alleged to have set up a parallel state.
The co-ordinated raids, backed up by riot police, took place in the Uskudar and Umraniye districts of eastern Istanbul, Anadolu news agency said.
Some 240 people died resisting the coup on 15 and 16 July, as rebel parts of the military tried to seize control of Turkey, sending tanks into Ankara and Istanbul.
Since then Turks have witnessed a purge of the military and public services. An estimated 26,000 people have been detained and 82,000 dismissed or suspended. On Monday, police raided three Istanbul court houses searching for 173 judicial officials.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed earlier this month to root out businesses, schools and charities linked to Fethullah Gulen, which he labelled "nests of terrorism". But, he said, it was in the business world that the roots of Gulenism were strongest.
"We will cut off all business links, all revenues of Gulen-linked business. We are not going to show anyone any mercy," he said.
"It was a night of horror - but we weren't scared for our lives, we were scared for our nation," says Ravza Kavakci Kan, an MP with the governing AK Party, as we tour the destruction in parliament.
"But this was the day we would defend our democracy. It brought the Turkish people together in solidarity. It was our liberation war."
Mr Gulen, 75, lives in self-imposed exile in the US state of Pennsylvania and denies involvement in the botched coup, however the Turkish authorities are seeking his extradition.
One factor that may dissuade the US authorities from extraditing him is that the Turkish parliament is expected to consider bringing back the death penalty. If they do, Mr Erdogan has said he will not stand in the MPs' way.
Any purge of business in Turkey risks alienating foreign investors. Ratings agency S&P downgraded its credit rating for Turkey last month and Germany's trade association warned against new investment in the country.
However, Turkish officials say they are optimistic that an improvement in relations with Russia will boost direct investment.
Turkish authorities have already targeted high-profile businesses as part of the coup investigation.
Three executives at Boydak Holding, one of Turkish largest conglomerates, were detained as part of the crackdown. The group has firms in energy and finance as well as furniture. | Turkish police have raided 44 companies and are seeking the arrest of 120 company executives, as part of the investigation into last month's failed coup, state media report. |
35433783 | The Ulster Unionist served as culture minister between 1999 and 2002, then health minister from 2007 until 2011.
He said he regards his time in charge of the health department as one of the highlights of his career.
However, he is concerned about how the health service will be funded in the future. | The former minister Michael McGimpsey is standing down from the Northern Ireland Assembly after representing South Belfast for the last 18 years. |
40473553 | How old fashioned, the internet cried.
Only, now it seems he is not alone.
A surprise poll for the New York Times has discovered more than half of women agree with him - as well as 45% of men.
And as for a drink? Forget about it. Just 29% of women think that would be appropriate in a one-on-one situation.
However, the poll - conducted by Morning Consult, surveying almost 5,300 people - found the numbers shift considerably according to your politics: the more liberal your views, the more likely you were to mix with a member of the opposite sex, one on one.
Just 62% of Republicans found it acceptable, compared to 71% of Democrats.
Similar divides can also be seen according to religion - the more devout you are, the less appropriate you view it - and to education: 24% of male respondents of who did not reach college think it is inappropriate to have a one-on-one working meeting with a woman, compared with 18% who got a bachelor's degree or higher.
Michael, US: Simply ask yourself: would you want your partner to go out for dinner alone with someone else? Most likely the answer is no. Hence, then why should you? It's simply being wise and not naive.
Sandra, US: Not entirely sure why people don't understand that you can have a platonic, working or otherwise relationship with a member of the opposite sex without sexual overtones. To my way of thinking it demeans woman in terms of woman thinking men are only interested in their bodies... If you can't trust your partner or yourself out of sight the problem is you.
Stephen, Australia: I totally agree with Mike Pence. He's protecting his marriage and his reputation. It is not sexist, it is wise. In an era where people look to the Kardashians for their moral standards Mike Pence's policy, in this area at least, is commendable.
Emily, US: These archaic views are just another example of why we shouldn't have been surprised at a Trump/Pence victory last November.
Mario, South Africa: Men who are not sure about their self-control should indeed dine and drink alone. Perhaps dinner and a drink with their mothers should be permitted, but I am not so sure about sisters and daughters after reading some comments uttered by Donald Trump.
Vince, UK: Really? How very Victorian of them. Are they scared they might end up doing something they shouldn't. I can't believe in the 21st century some people think this is an issue.
Sarah, US: I'm a 52-year-old, white, college educated, atheist, left-wing, married woman ... and there's no way I would have a one-on-one meal/drink with a man who was not my husband. Not even a Starbucks.
M.H., Canada: I would definitely lunch or have dinner alone with a man whom I knew and trusted and with whom I had a lot in common. I am also a year away from being 90 and find it hard to believe that there is anything wrong with this. | Many eyebrows were raised when it emerged US Vice-President Mike Pence would not dine alone with a woman who was not his wife. |
34914067 | Natalie McGarry was caught up in a probe after concerns were raised by Women for Independence.
The Glasgow East MP said her decision was done "in the best interests of the party", but she maintained she had done "nothing wrong".
Ms McGarry is the second of the new May intake to resign from the SNP.
In September, MP Michelle Thomson - who won her Edinburgh West seat along with 55 other SNP candidates at this year's general election - also withdrew from the party after she became the subject of a Police Scotland investigation into alleged irregularities with property deals.
Speaking after Ms McGarry resigned the whip, First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon told BBC Scotland there were no issues with the party's vetting process.
She said: "I would rather not be in a position where an MP has to stand aside temporarily in order to have an investigation, but I think that's the right thing to have done.
"Natalie McGarry is entitled to the presumption of innocence. She is asserting, vigorously, that she has done nothing wrong. She is entitled to that presumption and I will certainly accord her it."
Ms McGarry was one of the founding members of Women for Independence, which played a leading role in the independence campaign and has continued to campaign since.
The group said it had been examining its finances relating to a period between 2014 and its formal constitution as an organisation in March 2015, after senior staff raised concerns over apparent discrepancies between donations made to the group and its expenditure.
Scottish Labour had called for Ms Sturgeon to suspend Ms McGarry from the party, with MSP Jackie Baillie saying the probe could potentially "cast genuine doubt" over her election.
Earlier in the day, the first minister said she wanted more information about the basis or substance of the "very serious allegations" before taking any action.
At teatime, solicitor Aamer Anwar issued a statement on behalf of Ms McGarry saying his client had withdrawn from the whip which would see her automatically suspended from the party.
He said: "She has taken this step in the best interests of the party and the constituents of the East End who voted for her.
"She maintains she has done nothing wrong but is conscious that the events of the last 48 hours are distracting from the job she was elected to do on behalf of the SNP.
"She has a proud record as a principled activist and is determined to clear her name."
Mr Anwar said he had instructed forensic accountants to study the case and assist Police Scotland in their investigation. He also released emails from police saying they were attempting to establish whether there was "criminality involved" in the case.
A spokesman for the SNP said: "Natalie McGarry MP has today indicated that she will temporarily be removing herself from the SNP whip at Westminster, which as a result will see her membership of the Scottish National Party suspended while the matter is investigated.
"She now hopes that the investigation can proceed as quickly as possible, is clear that there has been no wrongdoing on her part, and will not be commenting further until the matter is resolved."
Ms Baillie, who had earlier written to the first minister urging her to suspend Ms McGarry, welcomed the news.
She said: "It is disappointing that as leader of the SNP, Nicola Sturgeon did not act earlier. Now we need to know who knew what, and when, in the SNP about these allegations."
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw added: "The SNP is all over the place with this - first Nicola Sturgeon dithers and takes no action, then hours later Natalie McGarry takes it upon herself to resign the whip." | An MP has withdrawn from the SNP whip amid a police investigation over apparent discrepancies in an independence campaign fund. |
34155586 | Nigel Farage said 300 public meetings had already been planned in "village halls, working men's clubs and arenas".
Speaking at the launch of UKIP's referendum campaign, he said he would welcome a Jeremy Corbyn victory in the Labour leadership contest.
He said the political left was "waking up to what the EU is".
The in/out referendum on the UK's EU membership will take place by 2017.
Mr Farage said he was planning to go "on tour" around the country from now until the referendum.
He said 12 regional co-ordinators had been appointed and party activists would be doing the "old-fashioned thing of putting leaflets through doors".
UKIP's campaign will be separate from the two existing groups vying for designation as official leaders of the leave campaign.
But Mr Farage said he would "work with anybody".
"We will share a platform with anybody. We will do whatever it takes," he said.
"We want our country back. We do not want to stay members of the European Union. We recognise that we won't win this referendum unless we get significant numbers from the centre left of politics to vote to leave the EU as well."
Mr Farage said that while he did not agree with Mr Corbyn on "almost everything", a win for the veteran left-winger would ensure a "proper debate about the European Union".
"I think the left of British politics is waking up to what the EU is," he said. "They have seen Greece trampled upon, they see a transatlantic trade treaty which they are worried could threaten the viability of the NHS."
While there was "genuine concern" that Britain was "shovelling £55m a day into a club whose accounts had not been signed off", he said, immigration was likely to be the dominant issue during the campaign.
He also said the immigration debate was currently focused on the migrant crisis in Europe and he accused Germany in particular of giving "huge incentives for people to come to the European Union by whatever means".
"The EU has got this wrong. Anybody that comes, from whatever background and virtually for whatever reason, can claim to be a refugee," he said.
"If the European Union wants to help genuine refugees, they need to establish offshore centres and process people correctly, rather than inviting what has now turned into a headlong rush."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister David Cameron has announced that the UK will take "thousands more" refugees from camps on the borders of war-torn Syria, as well as providing an additional £100m in aid for those fleeing the conflict. | UKIP's campaign for Britain to leave the EU will "get outside the confines of Westminster" and "reach real people", its leader has said. |
40181444 | The PM said she would make it easier to deport foreign terror suspects and "restrict the freedom and movements" of those that present a threat.
Labour said it was "not the message that we should be sending".
Security has dominated the final days of the general election campaign after the terror attacks in London and Manchester.
Rival parties have been criticising the Tories over police cuts.
Speaking after the London attack, Mrs May said "enough is enough" and that "things need to change" in the terror fight.
Addressing activists in Slough on Tuesday evening, she did not make any specific new policy proposals but said: "I mean longer prison sentences for those convicted of terrorist offences.
"I mean making it easier for the authorities to deport foreign terrorist suspects back to their own countries.
"And I mean doing more to restrict the freedom and movements of terrorist suspects when we have enough evidence to know they are a threat, but not enough evidence to prosecute them in full in court.
"And if our human rights laws get in the way of doing it, we will change the law so we can do it."
In an interview with The Sun, Mrs May said she would also consider extending the time suspects can be held without charge to 28 days, after it was reduced to 14 days in 2011 under the coalition.
"We said there may be circumstances where it is necessary to do this.
"I will listen to what they [the police and security services] think is necessary for us to do," she said.
Analysis by the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg
Sources suggest if elected on Friday, Theresa May might consider ideas of curfews, controls on who people can visit and suspects' access to communications.
More controversially, she made it plain tonight that if that means the government would have to change the laws on human rights, she is prepared to do so.
Labour has immediately cried foul, claiming another manifesto U-turn, at almost the last minute of the campaign.
Tory sources deny that flatly, saying they would not pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights but instead, seek fresh derogations - essentially legal opt-outs.
Theresa May's team say she is not, at this late stage, making up last-minute policy, but that the terror risk has changed so fast since the start of the election, that she wanted to make clear that if re-elected she is prepared to toughen the law.
Read more from Laura
The Conservative manifesto committed to remaining in the European Convention on Human Rights - which is separate to the EU - for the whole of the next Parliament.
Conservative sources said they would not withdraw from the ECHR but would seek opt-outs called "derogations" from certain aspects.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the right response was to "halt the Conservative cuts and invest in our police and security services and protect our democratic values, including the Human Rights Act."
And Shadow Attorney General Baroness Chakrabarti said the PM had "been banging on about her dislike for human rights for a very long time".
She told Newsnight Labour's commitment was to deal with terror suspects within the rule of law and the human rights framework.
"Our biggest concern is about resources," she said.
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron accused the prime minister of launching a "nuclear arms race" in terror laws.
"All she would do is reduce freedom, not terrorism," he said. | Theresa May has said she will change human rights laws if they "get in the way" of tackling suspected terrorists. |
24682635 | Television replays showed Du Plessis, 29, rubbing the ball over a zip on his trousers on day three of South Africa's second Test against Pakistan in Dubai.
Du Plessis pleaded guilty to an ICC Code of Conduct offence relating to "changing the condition of the ball".
The umpires were forced to change the ball, and applied a five-run penalty.
South Africa went on to win the Test by an innings and 92 runs to tie the series 1-1.
Match referee David Boon confirmed the decision to fine Du Plessis, who bowls leg-spin, in an ICC statement for breaching Law 42.3 of the Laws of Cricket,
Boon said: "I am satisfied that the player's actions warranted the umpires applying the ICC Test Match Playing Conditions.
"It is unfair for anyone to rub the ball on the ground for any reason, to interfere with any of the seams or the surface of the ball, to use any implement, or to take any other action whatsoever which is likely to alter the condition of the ball, except as permitted in (a) above."
Law 42 - Fair and unfair play
"That includes the laying of a charge under the ICC Code of Conduct against Mr du Plessis in respect of changing the condition of the ball.
"After discussions with Mr du Plessis, he has elected not to contest that charge.
"I am also satisfied that this was not part of a deliberate and/or prolonged attempt to unfairly manipulate the condition of the ball, and that the imposition of a fine of 50% of his match fee is appropriate considering the circumstances."
The last time a five-run penalty was issued for ball tampering was during the 2006 Oval Test between England and Pakistan, when the tourists were adjudged the guilty party.
Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq reacted angrily and decided not to continue the Test in protest.
Australian umpire Darrell Hair duly awarded the game to England - the only forfeited match in Test history.
This month, the ICC amended its laws regarding the condition of balls, saying "if a player responsible can be identified" the ball will be changed, a five-run penalty will be awarded and the player responsible will be reported.
Altering the condition of the ball is a level two offence under the ICC's Code of Conduct, which carries a penalty of 50-100% of their match fee and/or suspension from one Test or two one-day internationals for a first offence. | The International Cricket Council has fined South African all-rounder Faf du Plessis 50% of his match fee for ball tampering against Pakistan. |
27676341 | Police took the wounded to hospital. The blast took place close to Parachinar near the Afghan border.
Kurram is a tribal area with a history of sectarian violence between Shia and Sunni Muslims, but it is so far unclear who is behind this latest attack.
Several Taliban-affiliated groups are known to be active in the region. | At least seven people died and three were wounded when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Kurram in north-west Pakistan on Tuesday, officials say. |
37119403 | Although Penny has a part-time job with a charity, her husband Rich has been struggling to find work as a chef.
Their rent, at £900 a month, has become unaffordable.
But much to their surprise, they have found that they are not entitled to Housing Benefit payments, which might have helped them stay in their four-bedroom home.
"We've been thinking of going to a small one-bedroom flat. That's what we'd have to move in to," says Penny.
Now it's being claimed that millions of working renters could find themselves in a similar position.
A report out this week warned there are large gaps in the Housing Benefit safety net - leaving the majority of Britain's 7.7 million renters at risk of losing their homes, should their income drop significantly.
More than five million working adults would not qualify for full Housing Benefit if they lost their job, according to the report by Royal London insurance.
The benefit is also known as Local Housing Allowance (LHA) for those renting in the private sector.
The report identifies four groups who are particularly vulnerable:
"Unless they are able to resume paid work quickly, 5.5 million working renters would be at risk of not being able to pay the rent, and having to move to cheaper accommodation," said Steve Webb, director of policy at Royal London, and a former pensions minister.
Use this calculator to find out
Penny and Rich fit into three of the "at risk" groups above.
Penny's part-time income counts against them when it comes to their entitlement.
They have three grown-up children who are no longer living at home, so they are classed as having three spare bedrooms. Again this reduces their entitlement.
And they rent in a relatively expensive area. Their Housing Benefit is worked out on the basis of the cheapest rents in Bristol. So they lose out further.
Only this week a committee of MPs urged the government to ensure that Housing Benefit "more closely reflects market rents".
"We're not trying to scrounge the system," says Penny.
"Nevertheless it would be nice to feel that because we've paid into the system, we could have some support back when we're going through difficult times.
"A lot of other people are in the same situation."
Shelter: Many families could not pay a month's rent if they lost their job
In response, the government said it was doing all it could to protect those who need help.
"We continue to spend around £90bn a year on working age benefits, including unemployment and sickness benefits, to ensure a strong safety net for the most vulnerable," said a spokesperson for the Department of Communities and Local Government.
It said it was also working to produce a bigger private rented sector, including homes provided by companies.
Lee Healey, the managing director of IncomeMAX, advises people experiencing a shortfall in Housing Benefit to apply for so-called Discretionary Housing Payments.
These are financed by the government, which has given local authorities extra cash to mitigate the impact of benefit changes, such as the spare room subsidy and Universal Credit.
"There is a system of Discretionary Housing Payments available to vulnerable renters, but there is no guaranteed entitlement to them, and you have to apply," he says.
"Despite the pitfalls, it is still extremely important to apply for Housing Benefit - or the rent element of Universal Credit - and Discretionary Housing Payments if you need help with your rent." | Penny and Rich Baker, who live near Bristol, have decided they have no choice but to move to a smaller house. |
27451966 | President Hollande of France, who hosted the summit, said regional powers had pledged to share intelligence and co-ordinate action against the group.
Last month it abducted 223 schoolgirls in north-eastern Nigeria, where it is based. Fresh attacks were reported in Nigeria and Cameroon overnight.
Thousands of people have been killed by Boko Haram in recent years.
The Paris summit brought together President Francois Hollande, Nigeria's Goodluck Jonathan, and their counterparts from Benin, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
Afterwards, Mr Hollande said participants had agreed on a "global and regional action plan".
He said this involved "co-ordinating intelligence, sharing information... border surveillance, a military presence notably around Lake Chad and the capacity to intervene in case of danger".
Cameroon's President Paul Biya said: "We are here to declare war on Boko Haram". Idriss Deby of Chad said it would be "total war".
Earlier, Mr Hollande called Boko Haram a "major threat to West and Central Africa", and said it had links with al-Qaeda's North-African arm and "other terrorist organisations".
BBC's International Development Correspondent Mark Doyle says the group is an international threat, drawing fighters from not just Nigeria but also from neighbouring Niger, Cameroon and Chad.
In the latest violence, suspected Boko Haram militants attacked a camp run by a Chinese engineering company in the far north of Cameroon, near Nigeria's north-eastern border.
Ten Chinese workers are believed to have been abducted. One Cameroonian soldier was killed, officials say.
In Nigeria itself, 11 people were reported killed in a separate attack on a village a few hours' drive from the Cameroonian border.
A relative of one of the victims said a woman and a child were among the dead.
Representatives from the UK, US and EU also took part in the Paris meeting.
Before it began, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said regional powers needed to co-operate better when it came to cross-border intelligence.
Boko Haram has some of its bases in the Mandara mountain range that straddles the border. But the long frontier has been disputed in at least two places in recent years.
The abducted schoolgirls, who include Christians and Muslims, were seized on 14 April in the north-east Nigerian town of Chibok in Borno state.
Mr Jonathan was due on Friday to visit the town but the trip was cancelled for security reasons.
Boko Haram released a video earlier this week showing more than 100 of the girls and offering an exchange for prisoners.
President Jonathan has ruled out negotiations over their possible release, officials say. | African leaders meeting in Paris have agreed to wage "war" on Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamic militants. |
34635170 | After rain had washed out day four, the Windies began on 20-1, chasing 244 to win and square the two-Test series.
Darren Bravo hit two sixes but fell for 61 as spinner Rangana Herath took two wickets in an over to leave them 125-6.
Spin trio Herath (4-56), Milinda Siriwardana (3-25) and Dilruwan Perera (1-37) prevailed as the Windies collapsed to 171 all out.
It was Sri Lanka's first series win in 2015 in any of the three formats.
The match had moved on apace after 11 wickets fell on each of the first two days before West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite proved an unlikely demon bowler, capturing a six-wicket haul on day three with his part-time off-spin.
Torrential rain at the P Sara Oval prevented any play on Sunday, but just as England were enduring a trial by spin against Pakistan in Dubai, Sri Lanka's three-pronged spin attack took all nine remaining Windies wickets on the final day as they were bowled out with 41 overs to spare.
Sri Lanka won the first Test in Galle by an innings. The sides now meet in three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 internationals. | Sri Lanka's spinners conjured a 72-run victory over West Indies in the second Test in Colombo to take the series 2-0. |
35150720 | "I stayed at home for a month," explains the 26-year-old American actress. "I was excited to see what would come up if I tuned out for a while. I meditate twice a day so I'm very comfortable with silence and the chatter in my head."
Adapted by Emma Donoghue from her own best-selling novel, Room tells the harrowing story of Ma (Larson), a young mother held captive with her five-year-old son Jack (Jacob Tremblay) in 10-by-10-foot space with only a skylight and no windows.
Larson's performance has been tipped as a potential Oscar winner since Room had its first film festival screenings in autumn 2015.
So what did go through her head during her self-imposed exile?
"I reminisced a lot about my past - on certain regrets or moments missed. I figured it was a process that Ma had gone through before Jack came along."
As well as meeting psychologists to gain insight into the trauma of captivity, Larson wrote three diaries as Ma aged 10, 14 and 17 to help her get into character.
"It was stream of consciousness a lot of the time. I'd get really into it and get stuck in a 10-year-old mind for hours at a time," she says.
"I wanted to create this very full back story for her of what her hopes and dreams were and what her fears were. It might be about body image issues or fights she had with her mum or the boy she had a crush on - the typical growing pains."
After a month writing them and making collages, Larson handed them over to the film's production designer and then didn't see them again until she arrived on set.
The actual set of Room was almost as claustrophobic as it looks in the film.
As Irish director Lenny Abrahamson explains: "The camera lens was always inside the space on a very elaborately constructed set.
"Half the time I was either in the bath or under the sink or on a ladder looking down from above - and very occasionally outside the room watching on a monitor.
"We managed to get most people out so we could shoot with three or four people in there and give the actors some room."
But Abrahamson's biggest challenge was finding a child actor who could play a five-year-old boy raised in captivity.
The audition process led him to Jacob Tremblay, who was just seven when filming began in 2014. As many critics have noted, he and Larson have a remarkable on-screen chemistry as son and mother.
"We had three weeks to bond - for movie-making that's a pretty long rehearsal period," says Larson. "We really got on, we hung out a bunch. We built the toys that you see in Room and spent a couple of hours every day improvising in Room. I'd come over before he went to bed and we'd play with Lego together."
Larson says Tremblay, now nine, has been enjoying all the attention he's been getting at film awards and festivals.
"Sometimes we have to go to fancy parties and he says that all he can see are legs," she recalls. "I worried about him getting tired so I suggested we could have a code word if he didn't want to talk any more - but he said 'nah, I like talking to people, it just gets hard for me after my bedtime'."
With all the Oscar buzz around her performance, Larson is keeping a level head.
"It's like having conversations about your fantasy wedding but you don't even have a boyfriend," she laughs.
"But the cool thing about is that it's the highest form of recognition you can get in my profession so for people to talk like that is the biggest compliment. If that happens, it's something I'll deal with, but no use in worrying about it right now."
Room is released in the UK on 15 January | When preparing for her role as a woman held prisoner in a shed in the film Room, Brie Larson decided to isolate herself from the outside world. |
32090098 | Journal entries record that he used "scalding fomentations of camomile flowers" to ease a stomach complaint.
This spring some of the world-renowned writer's favourite herbal remedies will be uncovered in a special foraging expedition.
It is part of a programme of events for two south of Scotland nature festivals, uniting to promote "wild food".
Organisers of the Dumfries and Galloway Wild Spring Festival and the Scottish Borders Nature Festival want to help festival goers safely experience the burgeoning revival in foraged food.
From April to June, they will be hosting events where people can learn more about the conservation of local food at its source.
Professional forager Ali Murfitt will lead the exploration of Abbotsford, which was once home of Sir Walter Scott, where there are now more than 200 species of flora.
She said: "Foraging inspired and helps people to love the nature on their doorsteps.
"It highlights how much wild land, habitat and plants we have lost (and are continuing to lose) and how important it is to get involved and support habitat restoration and conservation.
"If native trees are chopped down or ecological habitats destroyed, we lose and important and sustainable source of delicious and healthy gourmet ingredients, which are greatly valued by some of the UK's top chefs and mixologists."
The Dumfries and Galloway festival will run from 3 April until 5 May, while the Borders events will be held between 14 May and 13 June. | Almost 200 years ago Sir Walter Scott relied on herbs found near his home in Borders to counter health problems. |
41001782 | British Transport Police say the "shocking" assaults happened between Newquay and Plymouth on 12 August.
The first man, who was wearing a novelty shark hat, started tickling the girl after she refused a kiss, so she moved seat.
A second man then kissed and touched the girl inappropriately, police say.
The victim had been to the Boardmasters music festival and had been travelling home when she was attacked.
Police say the incidents happened between 20:45 and 21:00 BST.
Investigating officer Det Con Matt Grieve, said: "This was a deeply upsetting and shocking incident for this young woman and we are urgently seeking witnesses".
The first offender is described as a white man with pale skin, ginger hair, and wearing a white shirt with a palm tree on it. He had blue shorts on and was wearing a novelty shark hat.
The second offender is a white man, with pronounced sideburns, and wearing a white polo shirt. He gave his name as Lance, according to police. | A 17-year-old girl was sexually assaulted twice - by two different men - on a train as she travelled home from a music festival. |
40474418 | More than 60 members of the GMB union had voted for a series of 24-hour walkouts from the beginning of July in a row over pay grades.
But both sides in the dispute have now agreed to further talks on Thursday.
The union says its members have been carrying out work above their grades for which they have not been paid.
The Sellafield site employs more than 10,000 people and is in the process of being decommissioned.
Chris Jukes, GMB senior organiser, said: "The bottom line is management have made an offer which has already been rejected by our members and it will take an improved offer to settle this matter, which has been unresolved for several years.
"We have agreed to Sellafield's request for more time so management can reflect on their offer."
Sellafield Ltd, which operates the site, said it was "carefully considering" its position.
A spokesman added: "In the meantime the Sellafield site continues to operate safely and securely, as normal." | Planned strike action by firefighters at the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant in Cumbria has been shelved pending further talks. |
36178183 | Dubliner Shiels won the Open race on his Cookstown BE Racing Suzuki and followed it up by taking victory in the feature event of the meeting.
Dunlop, 30, triumphed in the two Supersport 600cc races, aboard the CD Racing Yamaha.
Malachi Mitchell-Thomas came home first in the Supertwins and Magherafelt rider Paul Jordan enjoyed 125cc success.
The opening Supersport race, carried over from Friday, was reduced to five laps after Bolton man Mitchell-Thomas slipped off while holding second place, bringing the red flags out.
Dunlop added to his victory at Tandragee last week by taking the chequered flag from Manxman Dan Kneen, with Derek McGee from Mullingar third.
The Ballymoney man repeated the feat in race two, with McGee getting the better of Mar-Train Yamaha pilot Kneen to occupy the runner-up spot.
Sheils saw off the challenge of McGee in the Open race, with new road racing sensation Mitchell-Thomas completing the rostrum positions.
The 33-year-old former Irish champion made it a double by finishing ahead of team-mate Mitchell-Thomas in the main race of the day, with Kneen coming with a late charge to take third.
McGee, Dunlop and Waterford rider McCormack made up the top six. | Derek Sheils and William Dunlop shared the top honours at the Cookstown 100, taking two wins apiece. |
36284234 | The ex-Tory PM said claims by Michael Gove, Boris Johnson and Iain Duncan Smith did not bear factual scrutiny and warned about the tone of some exit campaigners' rhetoric on immigration.
Vote Leave said Sir John was "wrong".
Justice minister Dominic Raab said immigration was a serious issue and Vote Leave was handling it responsibly.
But he added: "Let's debate the substance and not engage in name-calling."
Employment minister Priti Patel, who is backing a vote to leave the EU, said Sir John was a "respected former prime minister" but it would be the public - not politicians - who would decide the outcome of the referendum.
The UK votes on whether to stay in or leave the European Union on 23 June.
David Cameron is campaigning for a Remain vote, as is most of his cabinet, but the party is deeply split over the issue, with many of its MPs supporting an exit.
In a hard-hitting speech in Oxford, Sir John - whose seven years in Number 10 were dominated by internal party rows over Europe - said the Remain side must "debunk myths" about immigration, sovereignty and the economy if it was to prevail.
He claimed that economic facts were simply "brushed aside" by Vote Leave and that those who favoured an EU exit were propagating "absurd falsehoods".
This issue looks at the costs of membership and what the UK receives from the EU.
"There is no shortage of their exaggerations," said Sir John, citing the cost of being in Europe as a "clear example".
"(UKIP leader) Nigel Farage, Iain Duncan Smith and Boris Johnson all put it at £20bn a year - it's even on Boris's battle bus; Michael Gove is more modest at £18bn (£350m a week), all of which, they tell us - if only we could be free of Europe - would be spent on the health service and our hospitals.
But he said their figures were "wrong" and said they should apologise for "peddling a clear cut untruth".
Sir John also dismissed arguments made by Leave campaigners, including Mr Johnson, that an EU exit would boost Britain's sovereignty.
"We should not forget that - in well over 90% of the votes cast in Brussels - the UK wins," he said.
"The caricature that we are repeatedly voted down in Europe is ill-informed nonsense."
The former prime minister also took issue with some of the Leave campaign's rhetoric on immigration.
He claimed senior Tories were "morphing" into UKIP by pandering to immigration fears and warned it risked creating "long-term divisions" in society.
He singled out for criticism claims made by pro-exit campaigners - including Mr Gove - that EU expansion would open Britain's borders up to another 88 million people.
"I assume this distortion of reality was intended to lead the British people into believing that almost the entire population of possible new entrants will wish to relocate to the UK.
"If so, this is pure demagoguery. I hope that - when the heat of the referendum is behind us - the proponents of such mischief making will be embarrassed and ashamed at how they have misused this issue," he said.
This issue covers immigration and free movement within Europe.
Sir John said he did not want to "silence" debate on immigration, as it was a "legitimate" issue - but he warned that "care honesty and balance" was needed to avoid "raising fears or fuelling prejudice".
Pro-exit justice minister Mr Raab said people cared about the "pressure" immigration puts on wages and public service, adding: "I think we're trying to handle a very serious issue responsibly."
He pointed to data published by the Office for National Statistics on Thursday showed a "massive under-estimate" in the amount of EU immigration into the UK, and said: "If Sir John Major or anyone else campaigning to stay in the EU wants to make the case that that's just the price we've got to pay then he can make that argument.
"But let's have the debate on the substance, not name-calling."
Meanwhile, Conservative MP Peter Lilley, a former minister under Sir John, also said Vote Leave had got the tone right on immigration and suggested Sir John was "inventing a straw man".
"He was saying there is misuse of the issue - and that certainly would be wrong - but he didn't give any examples of this misuse," Mr Lilley added.
Conservative David Davis said it was "grossly unfair" to dismiss concerns about immigration as "UKIP".
"Sir John is right to warn that debates on immigration must not slip into xenophobia. But there are also great dangers from ignoring the very real concerns of the voters, and dismissing them as divisive and prejudiced," he said. | Sir John Major has launched an attack on senior Conservatives in the Vote Leave campaign, accusing them of exaggerating arguments to exit the EU. |
29197067 | The Yamaha rider finished ahead of team-mate Jorge Lorenzo with Honda's Dani Pedrosa in third.
Championship leader Marc Marquez suffered an early crash and finished down the field in 15th. His overall lead was reduced to 74 points from 89.
Rossi's win at Misano was the Italian's 81st career victory and took his MotoGP points total beyond 5,000.
British riders Bradley Smith and Cal Crutchlow finished seventh and ninth respectively.
The Misano circuit is located near nine-times world champion Rossi's home town of Tavullia.
His last win came at Assen in the Netherlands in June last year and the victory saw an end to Honda's 100% winning record this season.
"It's a really great win and with Marquez in such amazing form it's not like it happens often," said Rossi.
"It was the right moment and I took advantage of it, thanks to a Yamaha which was better than the Honda."
Rossi, 35, had qualified third on the grid, behind Spain's Lorenzo and Italy's Andrea Iannone, with Marquez starting from the second row for the first time this season as he looked for his 12th win in 13 races.
Marquez and Rossi battled from the start, until the young Spaniard fell on lap 10.
He lost control of his bike with 19 laps to go with the machine slipping out from beneath him under braking.
"Winning was the main aim of the season and I did," Rossi added.
"I knew I could do it and I continued to push and believe in it always, regardless of everything.
"I kept telling myself that it would happen one day - that Marquez wouldn't be at 100% and I had to be ready."
The next race is in Aragon, Spain, on 28 September.
San Marino MotoGP result:
1. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 44'14.586secs
2. Jorge Lorenzo (Spa) Yamaha +1.578
3. Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Honda +4.276
4. Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Ducati +5.510
5. Andrea Iannone (Ita) Ducati +11.771
6. Pol Espargaro (Spa) Yamaha +18.999
7. Bradley Smith (GB) Yamaha +23.100
8. Alvaro Bautista (Spa) Honda +36.458
9. Cal Crutchlow (GB) Ducati +38.480
10. Yonny Hernandez (Col) Ducati +45.878 | Valentino Rossi won his first MotoGP in 15 months with victory at his home track in San Marino. |
35954510 | Mr Anwar, who lives in Glasgow, said he received the threats after calling for unity within Scotland's Muslim community.
He said he was taking the threats from "fanatics" extremely seriously.
Last Thursday Mr Anwar chaired an event he organised at Hampden Park calling for unity and condemning violence and extremism.
He said it was first time Ahmadiya, Sunni Imam and Pakistani Christians had been on same platform together.
His comments were made in the wake of the killing of Glasgow shopkeeper Asad Shah, 40, and recent terror attacks in Brussels and Lahore.
Mr Anwar said: "Having been a campaigner for human rights for over 25 years, I have grown used to the bile and hatred directed at me, sadly that is par for the course.
"On occasion when I have had my life seriously threatened, I have informed the police but have always chosen to keep it private.
"On this occasion I could no longer remain silent, because of a small minority who believe they can silence me by creating a climate of fear."
The lawyer said that over the last few weeks "abuse and hatred" had been whipped up on social media, and he had received calls in the middle of the night.
"I hold these people directly responsible for creating an atmosphere which has given some the confidence to make threats to my life," he said.
"With a young family I could be forgiven if I had chosen to shut up and walk away. The pressure from the community, friends and family to protect myself from the fanatics has been enormous.
"It is a terrifying and deeply lonely place to be when you say goodbye to your children and wonder if it is for the last time, but the death of Asad Shah should be a wake-up call to our community that we must not be silenced.
"Our so-called community leaders must do much more, they have avoided tackling hatred to preserve their status and that is deeply shameful and hypocritical."
A spokesman for Police Scotland said: "We can confirm that police are investigating these threats and our inquiries are continuing."
Mr Anwar has taken on a number of high-profile cases including representing the families of Fife man Sheku Bayoh, who died in police custody, and murdered Indian waiter Surjit Singh Chhokar. | Police are investigating death threats made against human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar. |
30316211 | Three-year-old Ben Craggs died after a concrete bollard toppled onto him at the Ingliston showground in June 2008.
Roderick Evans told Edinburgh Sheriff Court the bollards were checked three days earlier.
The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland denies eight charges under health and safety laws.
Ben was at the show on 19 June 2008, with his parents, Jonathan and Dawn Craggs, from Sedgefield, County Durham, when he fell and grabbed a rope connecting two of the bollards, one of which overturned, striking him on the head.
He died in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children from his injuries.
The society, Mr Evans said, had inherited the bollards from a company, Spook Erections, which had run Sunday markets at the showground until 2005.
The society had appointed Royal Bank of Scotland Mentore Services as health and safety consultants, and SEP Ltd to control the car parks at the showground.
Mr Evans said: "In my opinion while the ultimate health and safety responsibility remained with the society, it was entitled to rely on SEP to raise any health and safety concerns about car parking, including the use of the bollards".
"In my opinion the bollards, used in conjunction with the rope, did not expose the public to a reasonably foreseeable risk of injury."
Mr Evans added: "In my opinion the society took all reasonable measures to reduce risks to persons using the north car park."
He said that prior to the accident the bollards may have been moved to facilitate the parking of a horse box trailer.
"Bollards 11 and 12 were most probably moved and the tension of the rope was altered and made tighter. This must have had a detrimental effect," he said.
"It made it less stable if someone pulled on the rope. This could not have been reasonably foreseen."
It is alleged the society failed to ensure moveable concrete bollards at the showground were stabilised by clamping and, as a consequence, Ben fell and seized hold of a rope connecting two of the bollards causing one to overturn and strike him on the head
Other charges allege:
• the society failed to take action about defects in health and safety arrangements which were drawn to its attention by health and safety consultants.
•that it employed a person as a health and safety co-ordinator who did not have sufficient competence or qualifications and did not provide him with training to undertake the job.
•it failed to identify the risks of the bollards overturning, exposing employees of contractors and members of the public to risk of severe injury and death.
The trial before Sheriff Paul Arthurson QC continues. | A health and safety expert has told a jury The Royal Highland Show could not reasonably have foreseen the accident which caused the death of a boy. |
33378235 | Allen Pembroke, 61, from Chelmsford, Essex, helped a badly wounded woman at the resort in Sousse last Friday.
Cheryl Mellor, 55, was lying injured. Her husband Stephen died trying to shield her from gunfire.
Mr Pembroke said he and his wife were still in shock over the "harrowing" attack, in which 30 Britons died.
A minute's silence will be held across the UK at midday to remember the 38 victims of the attack.
Mr Pembroke was on the beach with his wife when the attack started, and the couple fled to their hotel room.
But he said he had to follow his "gut reaction" and go back outside to help those injured.
"I immediately saw quite a few bodies among the sunbeds. The beach was covered with blood," he said.
He came to the aid of Mrs Mellor, who was lying face down in the sand.
"Her hand was two or three inches from her wrist - she was semi-conscious.
"She'd also been shot in her left leg. I secured it as best I could with the towels. I checked her husband's pulse but he'd gone."
Mr Pembroke said he had seen a second man with a gun approaching the beach on a speedboat but could not be sure if he was "friend or foe".
"I believe the beach could have been more secure. There'd been a terror incident in March and they should have upgraded security in that knowledge," he said.
Although he returned to work earlier this week, Mr Pembroke said he was "probably in shock".
"I'm trying not to think about it. Thankfully while I'm at work I'm absorbed with that.
"But when I lay down at night in the quiet, the slightest noise and I feel alert and awake. But time will heal that." | A man who ran to the aid of Tunisia beach attack victims said he hoped to get some closure following the national minute's silence for those who died. |
33477809 | The find was made on Wednesday afternoon at an estate office in the village.
Police and archaeologists were called in to examine the remains. Police Scotland said it was believed the bones had been there for "number of years".
Local residents said the building where the discovery was made could be 200 years old.
A police spokesperson said: "A member of the public has contacted police after finding what they believed to be a human skull within a building at the Applecross Estate.
"The find is believed to be historic.
"It is likely to have been there for a number of years and there do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances." | A human skull and other bones have been found during renovation work to a property in Applecross in Wester Ross. |
36431672 | Media playback is not supported on this device
Having failed to inspire in three previous qualifiers, a new-look side were rejuvenated with Alex Greenwood's angled finish earning an early goal.
Carney's penalty and Rachel Daly's debut goal sealed a 3-0 half-time lead.
Ellen White and Izzy Christiansen made it 5-0 before Carney scored twice from close range against the poor visitors.
Serbia, who played their last qualifier in November and are 41 places below England at 45 in the world rankings, looked unfit and barely got into the England half, let alone carved out a chance.
But after four goals in their last six matches, Mark Sampson's Lionesses rediscovered their goalscoring touch and entertained a 5,503 crowd at Wycombe's Adams Park with an added pace to their passing and movement.
The victory puts them within a point of Group Seven leaders Belgium, with England having a game in hand, and should they beat Serbia again on Tuesday it will guarantee a runners-up spot in the group.
Eight group winners and six runners-up will earn a place at Euro 2017 in the Netherlands next summer. The other two group runners-up will go into a play-off for the last remaining place at the finals.
Daly made her England debut after some impressive displays in the United States for Houston Dash, and the Harrogate-born striker was one of several new faces in the side.
Both the 24-year-old and White started instead of regular strikers Eniola Aluko and Toni Duggan, who were left out of the squad, and both grasped their opportunities.
Notts County striker White was making her first start since England's World Cup third-place play-off win against Germany last July and wasted little time in making her mark by hitting the post early on and winning Carney's first-half penalty.
She then selflessly set up Daly, who made no mistake from close range, and capitalised on poor Serbian defending to score her first goal since 2013.
Christiansen also offered added industriousness in midfield after returning from an ankle injury to score her second England goal.
And Nikita Parris, who replaced Daly to also make her England debut, almost scored with her first touch before causing havoc as the scoreline became embarrassing for the visitors.
Having scored 52 goals in their 10 qualifying games for last year's World Cup, England have been through a lean spell recently, managing just three goals in their last three Euro 2017 qualifiers after beating Estonia 8-0 last September.
After Greenwood found the bottom corner for England's best goal from Fara Williams' cute pass, Carney helped end that run, albeit a little untidily, as two of her three goals were bundled home in the second half.
As the Serbian defence failed to clear a corner, the Chelsea midfielder poked in from a yard out and then took advantage of an attempted Serbian clearance as it fortuitously cannoned into the net off her foot.
Her smile afterwards told how little she knew about the goal, but her display and an improved performance brought back the cheer to the England side after a difficult period over the winter.
It also showed that Sampson has plenty of options with which to find the right blend in his squad as he attempts to lead England to next year's European Championship in the Netherlands.
Head coach Mark Sampson: "It was a pleasing performance. It is important to be clinical in front of goal and credit to the players. This week their attitude has been exceptional and they deserved this performance. You can feel it when we get the preparation right, so we are really pleased.
"It is important to score goals but it was another clean sheet as well. We stayed solid and organised and showed inventiveness in final third and also I have to say a special mention to the two debutants."
Midfielder Karen Carney: "It was special but I didn't really know much about two of the goals! I think we played really well and it was a good thing to get the Lionesses back on the map.
"I think we have found our rhythm of game well so we are excited for the next game."
England travel to Serbia on Tuesday for the away fixture, and a victory would take them above leaders Belgium and guarantee at least second place in the group. | Karen Carney scored a hat-trick as England put the spring back into their European Championship qualifying campaign with an easy win over Serbia. |
34390969 | Three were killed, three captured, and one, armed forces commander Abdul Haris Nasution, escaped, although his five-year-old daughter was fatally wounded by gunfire.
The three captured generals were taken to the main airbase in south Jakarta and killed, their mutilated bodies stuffed down a well.
This incident profoundly changed the course of Indonesian modern history, leading to one of the worst mass killings of the 20th Century, wiping out the world's third largest Communist Party, and bringing to power a general who ruled for three decades and brought the country firmly into the US orbit during the Cold War.
Yet 50 years later, these events remain poorly understood in Indonesia, with the real actors behind the move against the generals and their motives still unclear.
The shadow of what followed hangs over Indonesian society even today, with millions of families scarred by the trauma of massacres and brutal imprisonment, or by the guilt of having taken part.
I was based in Jakarta as the BBC correspondent in the last two-and-a-half years of the long rule of President Suharto, the general who emerged as the victor of the 1965 events.
Every year, TV channels would show films depicting the official version of those events, and ceremonies would be held by the well on the airbase, now known as lubang buaya or crocodile hole.
This narrative had the attempted coup led by the Indonesian Communist Party, or PKI. It portrays the party cadres as depraved and vicious, inflicting dreadful suffering on the six generals and one lieutenant who were killed.
But more than that, this Suharto doctrine painted communism as an evil, atheistic force that could sweep back over Indonesia if people were insufficiently vigilant - and of course, it justified the continued rule by his authoritarian New Order.
I knew quite a lot about those events, having worked for years for an Indonesian human rights group in London.
But under Suharto it was impossible to talk freely about them. In rural villages in Java I would occasionally be shown where the killings of suspected communists had taken place.
Younger Indonesians would ask their parents for me, but get only silence in response.
Rivalries between the Indonesian military and the Communist Party came to a head when six generals were killed in an overnight attack by soldiers allegedly sympathetic to the communists
A group of officers led by a colonel in President Sukarno's palace guard was accused of trying to launch a coup
General Suharto led bloody anti-communist purges in which hundreds of thousands of suspected leftists were killed
Many more were detained and imprisoned without trial
Gen Suharto was handed emergency powers by President Sukarno in 1966 and took over as president the following year, ruling Indonesia for 31 years
More from the BBC's Witness programme
I knew a few people whose lives had been blighted by the 1965 upheavals - unable to study at university, because a grandmother had been tainted by association with a communist group; unable to get a proper job because of once being imprisoned as a tapol, or political detainee.
Until 1995, former prisoners - and there had been 100,000 of them, held in appalling conditions, without trial, between 1965 and 1979 - had their national identity cards marked with the letters ET for ex-tapol.
To this day in Indonesia, ex-tapols complain about discrimination.
The fall of Suharto in a sudden burst of people power in 1998 lifted the pervasive fear, which had silenced all discussion of the 1965 events until then.
It has allowed survivors of the killing fields to learn for the first time that the official version they were fed was, in fact, largely propaganda.
Back in 1965, Indonesia was in a state of high tension. Its embryonic parliamentary system had been replaced in 1959 by the single leadership of the country's mercurial founding president Sukarno.
Rebellions and attempted coups had been put down; the country was in a constant state of near conflict; it had fought for, and won control of Dutch-administered New Guinea. Its troops were fighting British forces protecting the newly created federation of Malaysia.
Sukarno railed against US-led imperialism, and took Indonesia out of the UN. The economy was near to collapse.
In this ferment, the PKI, with three million members and perhaps 20 million sympathisers, pushed for more influence, while increasing its power in populous Java by promoting land redistribution, sometimes violently, usually at the expense of orthodox Muslim landowners.
The army, by then enjoying US training and a prominent role in state industry, saw the party as a threat, especially its efforts to win converts in the ranks. With Sukarno's health failing, a showdown seemed inevitable.
But the attempted putsch against the top generals was feeble and poorly planned.
Led by middle-ranking leftist officers, it had the support of only a few military units. The PKI leader, DN Aidit, was involved in the planning, but the most important role was played by a mysterious agent called Sjam Kamaruzaman, who headed a little-known PKI unit, the Special Bureau, which aimed to infiltrate the ranks of the armed forces.
But most of the party was ignorant of the plot, and unprepared to take advantage of it.
Inexplicably, the plotters ignored Gen Suharto, who commanded the important Kostrad strategic reserve unit.
After Suharto's resignation in 1998, the only surviving plotter, Colonel Latief, explained that he had informed Suharto of their plans days before, and understood him to be on their side. It was a disastrous miscalculation.
Suharto led a swift and efficient counter-coup, dispersing the plotters within 24 hours. The PKI leaders were rounded up, some of them, like Aidit, summarily executed, others put through tribunals that saw many more executed later.
The army took control of the media, whipping up anger against the PKI.
And then the killings began. Within four months, at least 500,000 had died.
In 2001, I interviewed a man in the East Java town of Pasuruan, who took part in the killings.
We would march them down to the pier, he said, club them to death, and roll their bodies into the sea. They did not resist, and he spoke of hundreds dying at that spot.
Like most of the inhabitants of that part of Java, he was a devout supporter of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), a traditionalist Muslim movement with tens of millions of followers.
They saw the PKI as godless rivals and were easily prompted to violence against its supporters. Later the charismatic leader of NU, Abdurrahman Wahid, a reformist Muslim who became president in 1999, used to tell me his knowledge of the terrible bloodshed carried out by NU followers in 1965 was the main reason he dared not back moves to unseat Suharto, for fear of further communal violence.
But we also now know that the mass killings usually started only after the arrival of military special forces, dispatched by Suharto to enforce his regime's authority. The army played a central role.
Those forces were lead by Colonel Sarwo Edhie, who happened to be the father-in-law of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the fourth president after Suharto, who stepped down only in 2014.
All of which helps to explain why, 17 years after the fall of Suharto, there is still no real debate about the events of 1965.
The military, which remains a powerful institution, has much to lose by having its murky role publicly discussed.
Millions of people who took part in the killings do not want to talk about them.
And the decades of intense demonisation of the PKI make it very hard for its sympathisers to speak out.
The astonishing twin films made recently by American director Joshua Oppenheimer, in which perpetrators and victims re-live their roles and their memories of the 1965 killings, have for the first time brought those events wider global attention.
They have been shown in Indonesia, and provoked reactions ranging from anger to bewilderment and, among a few Indonesians, curiosity to know more.
In some areas, family members have started excavating known mass graves in search of human remains.
A "people's tribunal" has been set up by activists in the Netherlands to document the human rights abuses of that period.
Indonesia's president, Joko Widodo, has promised a state-sponsored inquest, but has so far done little, and has refused to apologise to the victims on behalf of the state.
With every year, fewer of those who witnessed the terrible massacres are alive and able to testify.
Time is running out for a full accounting of the horrors of that time, and a chance to settle the ghosts of Indonesia's unhappy history. | In the early hours of 1 October 1965, seven military units moved through the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, heading to the homes of seven of the most senior generals in the army. |
29831112 | Abdul Hakim Belhaj alleges that former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and MI6 were complicit in arranging his and his wife's rendition from China in 2004.
The High Court had ruled the case could not be heard in the UK courts because it could damage foreign relationships.
But appeal judges said the claims were so "grave" a court should hear them.
Mr Belhaj, now a politician in Libya, said: "My wife and I are gratified by the judges' decision to give us our day in court," adding their alleged torture was "as fresh and as painful for us as if it happened yesterday".
His lawyer Sapna Malik said it was "very significant step forward" to the case being heard in England.
Mr Straw, who has previously denied being aware of the rendition, and the government, have been given leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.
The Foreign Office said it was considering whether to make an application. The case would not be heard until after any appeal.
Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent
This judgement is a major blow for the government. The three judges have demanded that a light be shone into dark corners of the state's work - and not for the first time. Time and again the Court of Appeal has said allegations of wrongdoing, linked to security and intelligence, must be examined if the rule of law is to be upheld.
The key factors in this decision are clear: The judges say that international law and practice demands that alleged human rights abuses be examined. They say that it becomes even more important to do so given that claims are made against serving or former British officials.
Another reason they give is that unless an English court looks at the claims, the truth may never come out - and that is a denial of justice for both sides.
And most embarrassingly for ministers - they brush aside claims that allowing Mr Belhaj to sue would damage international relations.
Rendition involves sending a person from one country to another for imprisonment and interrogation, possibly by methods such as torture, that would be illegal in the country doing the rendering.
Mr Belhaj, former leader of an Islamist group which fought the regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, claims British intelligence provided information that facilitated his rendition, along with his pregnant wife Fatima Boudchar.
Last year, Mr Justice Simon ruled at the High Court that the case against Mr Straw and Sir Mark Allen, ex-head of counter-terrorism at MI6, should be thrown out.
The government had argued an English court could not adjudicate on claims of rendition and torture in Libya, even though UK officials allegedly knew about them.
The judge said that because most of the claims related to officials in China, Malaysia, Thailand and Libya they were "non-justiciable" in the UK.
But on Thursday, appeal court judges said the proceedings were not barred by state immunity.
One of the judges, Lord Dyson, said: "There is a compelling public interest in the investigation by the English courts of these very grave allegations.
"The stark reality is that unless the English courts are able to exercise jurisdiction in this case, these very grave allegations against the executive will never be subjected to judicial investigation."
Mr Belhaj was jailed for six years after he returned to Libya. Mrs Boudchar was also imprisoned, but released shortly before giving birth.
The couple have refused so far failed to reach a settlement with the UK government, saying they want it to admit what they say happened.
In March last year, Mr Belhaj offered to settle the case with a token payment of £1 from Mr Straw and the government, an apology and an admission of liability - but this was rejected.
Cori Crider, a director at human rights charity Reprieve, which also represents the family, said: "The government so fears this case going to trial that they have stalled for years by throwing up a parade of scarecrows - claiming, for example, that the United States would be angered if Mr and Mrs Belhaj had their day in court in Britain.
"The court was right: embarrassment is no reason to throw torture victims out of court."
A statement issued by human rights organisations Amnesty International and the International Commission of Jurists, Justice and Redress said: "We welcome the decision of the Court of Appeal which now enables the very serious contention that UK authorities and officials were directly implicated in the 'extraordinary rendition' of the claimants to be properly assessed by courts in the UK." | A Libyan man can sue the UK government over claims he was illegally sent back to Libya and tortured, the Court of Appeal has ruled. |
35124077 | Owner UK Coal said it would oversee the rundown of the Kellingley mine before the site was redeveloped.
Unions said it was a "very sad day" for the country as well as the industry.
The last 450 miners at the pit are to receive severance packages at 12 weeks of average pay.
Keith Poulson, 55, branch secretary for the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), said: "It has been like being a convicted prisoner on death row.
"We can basically hear the governor coming down the corridor and he's about to put the key in the cell door to take you to meet your fate."
Mr Poulson said the workers' morale was "absolutely rock bottom, to be thrown on the industrial scrapheap".
"Since it was announced, I feel like somebody's stuck a pin in me and I'm eventually deflating. I feel completely let down," he said.
Neil Townend, 51, said: "There's a few lads shedding tears, just getting all emotional. It's a bit sad really. I've been here 30 years, I don't know what to expect now, got to get another job."
Stephen Walker, 50, who has worked at Kellingley since 1988, said: "I never thought I'd see this day come but it has, and times move on, and we have to now, and that's that."
"We've lost an entire industry, we've lost a way of life."
Nigel Kemp, a miner who has worked at the pit for 32 years, said he would be part of the team capping the shafts his father had sunk in 1959.
He said: "Everything I've had in my life has come from this mine here.
"I wish my dad was here today, because he'd have a lot to say about it. What's happened here is absolutely a travesty."
Mr Kemp said he could hear the miners singing Tom Jones's Delilah on their last journey to the coal face.
The National Union of Mineworkers, which used to have more than 500,000 members, is left with just 100 following the closure of Kellingley.
Miners' memories of Kellingley
Mining machines buried in last deep pit
Phil Whitehurst, national officer of the GMB union, said: "The final 450 miners, the last in a long line stretching back for generations, are having to search for new jobs before the shafts that lead down to 30 million tons of untouched coal are sealed with concrete.
"This is a very sad day as our proud industrial heritage is destroyed [by the government]."
In 2014 Michael Fallon, Conservative MP and the then business minister, said: "There is no value-for-money case for a level of investment that would keep the deep mines open beyond this managed wind-down period to autumn 2015."
Official figures from the Department for Energy and Climate Change show the UK imported more coal than it produced for the first time in 2001 - a trend repeated every year since 2003.
In 2003 the UK produced 28.28m tonnes and imported 31.89m The graph below shows how output and imports have changed, with the big dip in 1984 due to the miners' strike.
Miners at Kellingley are expected to join a march planned to take place on Saturday at nearby Knottingley, West Yorkshire, to mark the closure.
Seventeen miners have lost their lives at the 58-hectare site since production began in April 1965.
A memorial to the dead miners is being transferred from the colliery to the National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield.
Photographers meet Kellingley staff at their Christmas party
Updates on this story and more from around the region
Known locally as the Big K, the largest deep pit in Europe was hailed as the new generation of coal mining and could bring up to 900 tonnes an hour to the surface.
At its height, Kellingley employed more than 2,000 workers. At the same time, up to 500,000 people were working in the coal industry nationally.
Analysis
Danni Hewson, BBC Look North Business Correspondent
The cold truth is that the way our economy works made the closure of our last coal mines inevitable.
No matter the murmurings of an ideological campaign, market forces are the main axe wielder here.
The US's dash for shale created a glut of cheap imports that Kellingley coal simply couldn't compete against.
But, of course, that's not the whole story. Environmentally, coal could only have had a long-term future if we'd developed and perfected Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), and plans for that were shelved earlier this year. And that's where it does get interesting.
The current government is pushing shale as the potential stop gap, but the industry-backed Task Force on Shale has said gas, like coal, has no real longevity without CCS.
And so the wheel goes round, the UK is perusing a relationship with gas, other countries are still flirting with King Coal - both fossil fuels. All seem to agree that relying on renewables alone is still a somewhat distant dream. | Miners at a North Yorkshire colliery have finished their final shifts as the closure of the pit brings an end to centuries of deep coal mining in Britain. |
34389824 | Clearly pulling out at the last minute has considerably angered the organisers the Amaury Sport Organisation. It does not look professional and it could damage London's reputation for hosting sporting events.
But there other factors at play.
The first is cities and towns have to pay for the privilege to host the Tour.
Yorkshire in 2014 paid £10m mainly through local councils, with central government putting in another £10m.
TfL has paid £6m to host the finish of the Tour's third stage.
The controversial point for London was this money came out of the cycling safety budget and that angered cycling campaigners.
Also the Tour was supported by the then transport commissioner Sir Peter Hendy, who has now left TfL to join Network Rail.
City Hall was never that keen on the Tour and thought the money could be better spent elsewhere.
Plus, a spending review looms where transport budgets will be cut.
I am told the cost for the London Grand Depart in 2017 would have been roughly £35m, and some of that money would have again come out of the cycling safety budget.
City Hall does not seem to have been convinced by the economic benefits.
Critics will also say an event planned for 2017 is not a priority for the mayor of London who leaves his post next summer.
All of this means politics and money eventually scuppered Le Tour in London in 2017, and it seems very unlikely it will return any time soon. | Lots of people do not understand why Transport for London (TfL) has decided against hosting the Grand Depart of the Tour de France in 2017. |
38124254 | Cardiff council said it had ordered a pre-decorated 40m - or 131ft - "tree-shaped structure" from China for outside Cardiff Castle.
But when the centre piece, costing £10,000 a year, went up on Friday night it was revealed to be just 40ft.
The authority apologised to anyone who had been expecting "a bigger tree".
A council spokeswoman confirmed the tree was 40ft not the 40m that had been advertised.
"The person who told us the tree was 40m high has since revealed he believes he is 18ft tall," she said.
"We apologise to everyone who was expecting a bigger tree and are cutting the person responsible down to size."
Cardiff council had been criticised for not having a tree up in time for the Christmas lights switch-on as it was being shipped from China.
Costing £30,000 over a three year lease from UK-based company MK Illuminations, the structure arrived in Wales with all the golden baubles pre-attached.
But the authority says the tree will save the tax payer £5,000 a year compared to previous "tree installations". | When the Christmas tree at centre stage of Cardiff's festive celebrations went up - it did not quite measure up to expectations. |
38505498 | Mevlut Cavusoglu gave no further details about the inquiry into the murder of 39 people at the Reina club.
Jihadist group Islamic State (IS) has said it was behind the nightclub attack in which dozens more were hurt.
A number of suspects have been arrested in the western city of Izmir.
The police operation on Wednesday was said to have targeted families who had recently travelled to Izmir from Konya, a central city where the main suspect was said to have stayed for several weeks before the attack.
Turkish authorities released images of the main suspect on Tuesday but later discounted reports that he was a 28-year-old Kyrgyz national who had flown home from Istanbul.
Turkey is under growing pressure while the gunman remains on the loose. Checkpoints were set up in Istanbul on Wednesday as officers checked cars and taxis. Police arrested 12 people in raids in the city on Tuesday.
Turkish media have run images of a suspect, saying the pictures were handed out by the police. But the police have given no official details.
In a sign of mounting anger in Istanbul, a video posted on social media showed a man being physically attacked on the Asian side of the city on Wednesday as people shouted: "It's him" and "it's the Reina attacker." The man was punched, knocked to the ground and taken to a local police station before being released.
EU affairs minister Omer Celik said the attacker had clearly had training in the Middle East, and had managed to evade police by not using technology and steering clear of "all modern intelligence techniques".
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in his first public comments about the attack, vowed that the jihadist would not succeed in dividing Turks. "In Turkey, no-one's way of life is under any threat. Those who claim this have to prove it. It is my duty to protect everyone's rights,'' he said.
The Reina nightclub, which sits on the banks of the Bosphorus, is one of Istanbul's most fashionable venues - popular with foreigners and often frequented by singers and sports stars.
The gunman is said to have arrived by taxi before rushing through the entrance with a long-barrelled gun he had taken from the boot of the car.
He fired randomly at people in an assault lasting seven minutes, and then fled during the chaos.
Turkey extended its state of emergency for another three months on Tuesday. It was implemented following a failed coup in July which was blamed on a movement loyal to US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen.
However, Turkey's big cities have also been targeted by IS and by Kurdish militants.
IS was blamed for an attack last June on Istanbul's Ataturk airport, in which more than 40 people were killed. Police are investigating whether the nightclub suspect belongs to the same cell.
Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said on Monday that the nightclub attack was a "message" against Turkey's operations in Syria but that they would not be affected.
Turkey launched a military operation in Syria in August to push back IS and Kurdish forces. | Turkey's foreign minister says officials know the identity of a gunman who carried out the Istanbul nightclub attack on New Year's Eve but he has stopped short of naming him. |
40463149 | Exeter Crown Court heard Connor Cain, 19, was left for dead after the attack in the city in April 2016 but survived.
While treating his wounds in hospital, doctors found more than £3,000 worth of drugs concealed in his rectum.
One of the attackers boasted on Facebook afterwards, writing: "Ha, ha, ha. I stabbed the kid and the blade snapped so I could not pull it out."
The seven men, who are from Liverpool and Devon, received sentences ranging from one year in jail, suspended for two years, to 15 years' imprisonment.
Cain was jailed for three-and-a-half years last July for possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply.
The court heard he was blinded by pepper spray before being attacked by at least four men who were wearing masks or hoods.
Cain suffered severe injuries including a four-inch deep chest wound.
After the attack, Matthew Henney boasted about what he had done on Facebook by sending messages to two girls he knew in Liverpool saying: "There was only the handle left.
"He was only a little London muppet. He should not have tried to start. I warned him."
The court heard the assault was due to a rivalry between a group of drug dealers from Liverpool who had been operating around Devon and Cornwall.
Judge Mr Justice Sweeney told the offenders: "The events in the flat must have been entirely terrifying. He suffered terrible injuries which would have been fatal if he had not received immediate treatment. It was good fortune that he did not die."
"There was pre-planning and a significant degree of premeditation. You were all involved in Class A drugs gang which decided to see off opposition on what you considered to be your turf." | Seven members of a drugs gang have been sentenced after a rival gang member was stabbed 18 times as he slept. |
40593472 | Police Scotland said the body was recovered from the shoreline at about 07:00 on Thursday.
There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances at this time and the man's next of kin have been informed, police said.
Police have appealed for sightings of the man on Wednesday.
He is described as being 5ft 10in tall and was last seen wearing a green top and brightly-coloured trainers.
A man matching the description was seen walking from Castlebay in the direction of Vatersay from about 14:00 on Wednesday.
The body was found in the Traigh a' Ghoirtein area of Barra.
Police, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency were called to the scene. | The body of a 32-year-old man who had earlier been reported missing has been found in the Castlebay area of the Isle of Barra. |
36169010 | Speaking at a fans forum at Gresty Road, chairman John Bowler promised Davis a budget for next season on a par with the one he has had this season.
"We're not cutting back. We're putting in money that's sensible," said Bowler.
"We're finalising the budget but there is scope to bring in three quarters of the experienced players we need."
Bowler added: "In football, you have to realise that it's a results business and nobody is happy with this year. But we are setting ourselves out to be successful in League Two.
"We know what we've got to deliver and Steve has to lead that from the front. He says he's prepared to take on that challenge.
"I'm assuming that, if Steve's not happy with the support the board is giving him, then he'd look for another job."
Crewe, who have only won six league games this season, go into the final two games of the season eight points adrift at the foot of the table.
In his backing for Davis, English football's sixth longest-serving manager, Crewe chairman Bowler did issue a couple of cautionary directives.
Bowler made it clear at the fans' forum that Davis's position will be reviewed if the season does not start well.
He has also suggested that this summer's new arrivals, which may include popular former Alex striker Ryan Lowe, if he turns down the offer of a new deal at Bury, must prove more effective than last summer's.
In pointing out that recruitment "hasn't been as good as it needs to be", Bowler will back Davis, while "at the same not jeopardising the stability of the club".
"Signings haven't had the impact we thought they would," Davis told BBC Radio Stoke. "I'd hold my hands up to that. But the squad is now the youngest we've ever had. We have players with potential. I have to get that out of them.
"I know I've got the full confidence of the board and I'm grateful for the opportunity to restore a bit of lost confidence among the fans.
"When I was brought in we were 18th in League Two. I am still the right person. I know the circumstances if we don't start well but, if we can build some momentum early on, we can have a good season." | Crewe Alexandra have given manager Steve Davis full backing to carry on as manager next season in the wake of relegation from League One. |
37240324 | Forward Goodship, 21, scored once in 10 appearances on loan at League Two side Yeovil Town last campaign.
Midfielder Matthews, 19, has yet to play a first-team match for the Premier League side.
The pair join a side currently 21st in the National League table after seven matches.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | AFC Bournemouth youngsters Brandon Goodship and Sam Matthews have joined National League side Braintree Town on long-term loans. |
36060833 | The Latics opened the scoring through Chris McCann before Will Grigg added a second after Yanic Wildschut hit the post and Grigg scored the rebound.
Grigg then slotted home for his second and Michael Jacobs fired into the top right-hand corner for Wigan's fourth.
The Seasiders got a goal back when Wigan captain Craig Morgan turned the ball into his own net.
Wigan sit on 84 points at the top of League One, nine points clear of Walsall who have three games left and three points ahead of second-placed Burton who have two games remaining.
However, the Latics have a far superior goal difference compared to their rivals. | League One leaders Wigan Athletic thumped Southend United to all-but seal their promotion to the Championship. |
38331830 | Three years ago, Mackay apologised for sending three texts containing discriminatory language.
And he is one of five men being pursued by Cardiff City in a High Court claim over allegedly fraudulent transfers.
Mackay denies any wrongdoing and said that he would "respect the legal process".
SFA chief executive Stewart Regan added that the governing body had carried out "due diligence" and that Mackay could be a "force for good".
After being confirmed as successor to Brian McClair and Mark Wotte, Mackay insisted that he had learned the lessons of his offensive text messages and worked with various groups in an equality and diversity capacity.
"Three years ago, I apologised publicly and privately for the three texts to the two gentleman I spoke about," Mackay said.
"Then, for the last three years, I've been involved in diversity and equality meetings and been on an education to a point where I know more about it than anybody in this room - then going on to talk to young players and young coaches concerning it.
"What I said at the time I deeply regret. It's about learning from that and making sure my understanding of what happened I can pass on to others. Judge me by my actions over the next period of time.
"We were well aware of [the High Court claim], I was waiting on it. It's come up in the last three jobs that I've gone for, the same article, [by the] same person, and it was something I'd spoken to Stewart about and that my legal advisors had advised the SFA about at an early basis.
"I categorically deny that I've done anything wrong. There is not a shred of evidence against me.".
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Regan described Mackay as the "outstanding candidate" and insisted that he was the right person for the role because of his background in football and also because he can play an active part in the SFA's anti-discrimination strategy.
"We're very proud of our work in equality and diversity," said Regan. "We currently have the intermediate level of the equality standard and we're well on track for making progress on the advance level.
"Within our equality strategy, we talk about being fair and inclusive and we accept that Malky has made mistakes, he said things that were regrettable, but he's shown genuine remorse and we were impressed and encouraged by the actions he's taken since apologising for what he said.
"Of his own volition, he's undergone equality training and has lectured on that to a number of different organisations. We believe that Malky will be a force for good for Scottish football, he'll be part of our equality and diversity strategy and be a real advocate for the role.
"We've undertaken due diligence, through Malky and his QC, and we're convinced that Malky has what it takes to be an excellent performance director.
"We spoke to a number of individuals, stakeholders, third parties, to get feedback about Malky and the work that he has done in the past and the issues.
"What Malky has disclosed to us as part of the due diligence process is the same information that's come out since 2013.
"He's been very clear, very open, his QC has been very clear and very open, we've had access to a lot of information and we are very confident that everything that has been disclosed sets out what Malky has gone through."
Mackay's task, when he takes up his role early in the New Year, is to lead and implement Project Brave, a remodelling of the SFA's performance strategy to improve the number of young players reaching the elite level of Scottish football.
He has primarily worked as a coach and a manager since retiring from playing, but he insists his experiences in charge of Watford and Cardiff City - who he led to the Premier League before being sacked in 2013 - have prepared him for the performance director role.
"I have [been an administrator] because the role I undertook at Watford, it was myself, the sporting director and the chief executive who ran the club, so I was involved in a weekly meeting involving budgets, reporting to the board and shaping how the club was run," Mackay said.
"That stood me in good stead going to Cardiff, because there I was asked to put together a strategy for rebuilding the football club, department to department, and talking to the board on a regular basis.
"I've got a broad range [of experience]. Relationships help, the fact that you're able to make phone calls and somebody picks up the phone and welcomes you into their football club is huge.
"We need to have a togetherness in this country, from clubs, to the Scottish FA, to the media. We don't have enough good players, we're not managing to give [Scotland coach] Gordon Strachan enough good players and we've got to do more of it.
"I believe that my skill set and the clubs that I've been involved in, in the boardrooms in terms of strategy and planning, has given me an understanding of that part of the job.
"In terms of coaching, how to talk to players, coaches, managers, the access that I've got to the managers in Scotland, allows me the chance to follow on from my two predecessors.
"There was good work done by Mark Wotte and Brian McClair and, having read Project Brave, there's very good work done by the working party involved in that.
"I've got to make sure I take that on and we raise standards and try to get Scottish players through."
It is a 22-page document drawn up by a working party consisting of representatives of Celtic, Rangers (including one previously at Falkirk), Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibernian, Hamilton Academical, Ross County, Annan Athletic and the Scottish Professional Football League.
The overarching ambition is "more, better Scottish international players, playing better football - more often". To that end, a number of proposals have been raised and will be worked through with the clubs before a final performance strategy is implemented in 2018. They include: | Malky Mackay has urged critics to "judge me by my actions" after being appointed as the Scottish FA's new performance director. |
18624831 | To welcome visitors, Hariton Pushwagner, 72, has designed an image of a cavernous mouth to transform the facade of the MK Gallery.
It seems that stepping on to a projecting tongue is an appropriate introduction to a show of his largely satirical work which targets greed and power.
Variously described as "eccentric" and "visionary", Pushwagner's detailed works contain elements of pop art and science fiction, and his existentialism has led to comparisons with Edvard Munch, the man behind The Scream.
The Soft City exhibition in Milton Keynes brings together drawings, paintings and prints made by the Oslo-born artist over the last 40 years.
Despite being educated at the National Academy of Fine Art and the Cit?? Internationale des Arts Paris, his breakthrough came only in 2008 when the original drawings of his graphic novel Soft City were exhibited at the Berlin Biennale of Contemporary Art.
Since then he has quickly earned celebrity status in Norway, where people are fascinated by the rags-to-riches story of a man who lived on the streets for many years and lived a hedonistic lifestyle.
It was on the initiative of MK Gallery director Anthony Spira that Pushwagner was invited to show his work in Milton Keynes.
"I felt there was a particular aptness about his work being shown in a city established at roughly the same time as Pushwagner was creating these works," he said.
"And [Milton Keynes'] utopian ideal and grid square design has some visual affinity with many of his works."
Soft City, which depicts disillusion with capitalism and life in the modern city, was created between 1969 and 1974 and all 154 pages are displayed in the exhibition.
Mr Spira said that this was probably Pushwagner's "defining work".
"It has often been classed as one of the top graphic novels ever made," he said.
"The characters in this novel live a completely mechanical existence, they are turned into robots basically."
The exhibition, which can be seen until 2 September, also includes The Family of Man, a series of 34 silk screen prints that depict the trappings of power, and show a world under siege from pollution and mass destruction.
Meanwhile, in the Long Gallery, the Apocalypse Frieze comprises detailed paintings where factories double up as death camps and the ravages of war are perpetuated under the watchful eye of robotic men in suits.
All this will be exhibited alongside the Oblidor Guide Book, a sketchbook that reveals the artist's working process, plus other early work.
The exhibition will be complemented by a Norwegian season of video, music and performance events with around 50 Norwegian artists and curators.
Following its presentation in Milton Keynes, the exhibition will visit Haugar Vestfold Art Museum, Norway and Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, the Netherlands. | An artist, hailed as the "modern-day Munch", is holding his first solo show outside Norway in Milton Keynes. |
39418982 | The River Tyne Booze Cruise is based on the Finnish Kaljakellunta, meaning "beer floating". This is "what England needs", organisers said.
They said alcohol quantities would be "regulated".
Northumbria Police said they were concerned about people drinking a "significant amount of alcohol" in vessels that were not "appropriate".
"The River Tyne is not a countryside stream," a spokesman said.
"The current is strong, there is a lot of debris and a number of vessels use the waterway every single day.
"A rubber dinghy is not an appropriate vessel to be used on this river and if people were to fall overboard then they could find themselves in real danger."
The force said it would speak to the organisers.
One, Kieran Chapman, said it was "more of a social drink not a night out in town getting mortal".
"People will be searched before they go on to the river to make sure that they're not drinking five litres of vodka," he said.
The event's Facebook page recommends participants wear armbands and life jackets and stay on their vessel at all times "to eliminate accidents".
The July event, lasting three-and-a-half hours, is due to begin in Newburn and finish on the quayside. | A planned 3,000-person drinking trip on inflatable dinghies on a city centre river has been criticised by police. |
35454548 | 31 January 2016 Last updated at 13:59 GMT
Tim is currently spending six months on the International Space Station.
He shared a little video of himself cooking a breakfast of scrambled eggs in the space lab.
The process for making the eggs seems pretty easy (you just add warm water and they fluff up), but Tim doesn't look particularly excited about eating it!
He Tweeted: "Not quite as good as at home, but they are definitely scrambled! Space scrambled eggs." | Record breaking British astronaut, Tim Peake, has revealed how he makes scrambled eggs for breakfast, in space. |
40083391 | Media playback is not supported on this device
McKaigue attempted to block a Donnelly run before the Tyrone man raised his right hand to the Derry player.
Referee Maurice Deegan took no action against the Tyrone centre half-forward.
"It's clear Mattie Donnelly strikes Chrissy McKaigue," said BBC Sport NI's Championship pundit Oisin McConville.
"If that's the case, it's a sending-off."
Donnelly has already been in disciplinary trouble twice this season.
The Trillick man was sent off for striking Cavan's Seanie Johnston in a Dr McKenna Cup in January and was banned retrospectively for one match during the Football League following a post-match altercation with Mayo's Aidan O'Shea in March.
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The incident happened 10 minutes into the second half as Tyrone were on their way to earning a 0-22 to 0-11 victory.
"It's something that the disciplinary committee may have a look at," added McConville.
"It wasn't dealt with on the day so they are able to have another look at it.
"Us looking at the pictures, can you conclusively say it was a punch in the mouth? It's a difficult one.
"I can imagine if Tyrone went up to defend that, they would be able to get (Donnelly) off on this occasion.
"(But) From what we saw, it was a clear enough strike. Certainly at that stage, Derry were were well in the game and it (a Donnelly red card) would have made a huge amount of difference to that match." | Tyrone will hope that influential Mattie Donnelly avoids censure after TV replays showed him appearing to strike Derry's Chrissy McKaigue in Sunday's Ulster SFC game at Celtic Park. |
39006341 | Sidney Fillery was accused of the crime following the murder of private detective Daniel Morgan, who was found with an axe in his head outside a London pub in 1987.
But the High Court ruled Mr Fillery was unfairly prosecuted on the evidence of a "doubtful witness".
Damages have yet to be agreed.
The judge, Mr Justice Mitting, threw out the claims of three other men accused of carrying out the murder of Mr Morgan - who was found dead in the pub car park.
Daniel Morgan, from Llanfrechfa, near Cwmbran, worked for a private investigations agency, Southern Investigations, during the 1980s.
He was killed after leaving the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London.
Mr Fillery's civil proceeding follows a series of failed police investigations into Mr Morgan's murder, which were dogged by allegations of police corruption.
Several investigations in 1990s and 2000s led to a prosecution being brought in 2011 against Mr Morgan's business partner, Jonathan Rees, and two brothers, Glenn and Gary Vian.
But the case collapsed and it emerged a senior police officer, Det Supt David Cook, had established improper contact with a witness and concealed it from prosecutors.
As a result, Mr Fillery and the three others claimed the Met had falsely and maliciously prosecuted them.
Mr Justice Mitting decided Det Supt Cook "deliberately withheld" details of his contact with the witness from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) - which decided to press charges.
He concluded this amounted to '"misfeasance in public office" but said it was the decision of the CPS as to whether to prosecute all four men, not the Met.
He added the prosecution would have gone ahead even if the evidence of the tainted witness had been left out.
But Mr Justice Mitting found Mr Fillery was prosecuted entirely on this witness's evidence, which made his prosecution unfair.
The Daniel Morgan case remains unsolved and is the subject of an independent Home Office inquiry
In a statement, Mr Morgan's brother Alistair said the case had "focussed simply on the conduct of David Cook."
"Whatever the conclusions of this judgement, we consider that it would be a travesty of justice if David Cook is allowed to become the scapegoat for the failures of the Metropolitan Police over the decades in failing to confront the police corruption that lay at the heart of this case," he added. | A former Metropolitan Police detective has won damages against the force after he was unfairly accused of perverting the course of justice. |
32174181 | The 26-year-old man died after a black Peugeot hit a tree in Bristol Road South, Birmingham, at about 23:00 BST on Wednesday, the IPCC said.
West Midlands Police said they had been in pursuit of the car which failed to stop.
The force said its Professional Standards Department informed the IPCC.
It added this was "normal procedure in a collision where a police vehicle is involved".
The force said the man was pronounced dead at the scene. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is to investigate a fatal crash involving a driver who had been pursued by police. |
39342818 | The authors of a new study say there was a 48% fall in planned coal units, with a 62% drop in construction starts.
The report, from several green campaign groups, claims changing policies and economic conditions in China and India were behind the decline.
However, the coal industry argues the fuel will remain essential to economic growth in Asia for decades to come.
Between 2006 and 2016, India and China together accounted for 85% of the coal plants built around the world.
But according to the Boom and Bust 2017 report, put together by Greenpeace, the Sierra Club and CoalSwarm, there has been a huge swing away from coal in these two countries in just 12 months.
The main causes of the decline are the imposition of restrictive measures by China's central government - with the equivalent of 600 coal-fired units being put on hold until at least 2020.
The Indian go-slow was prompted, according to the authors, by the reluctance of banks to provide funds. Work at 13 locations is currently not going ahead.
However, there have also been significant retirements of coal plants in Europe and the US over the past two years, with roughly 120 large units being taken out of commission.
"This has been a messy year, and an unusual one," said Ted Nace, director of CoalSwarm.
"It's not normal to see construction frozen at scores of locations, but central authorities in China and bankers in India have come to recognize overbuilding of coal plants as a major waste of resources.
"However abrupt, the shift from fossil fuels to clean sources in the power sector is a positive one for health, climate security, and jobs. And by all indications, the shift is unstoppable."
The study comes as other groups analyse the potential for investments in coal to become stranded assets if governments continue to restrict CO2 emissions. The International Energy Agency (IEA) says that hundreds of billions of dollars could be at risk.
"The decline in new coal plants in Asian countries is truly dramatic, and shows how a perfect storm of factors is simply making coal a bad investment," said Paul Massara, now of North Star Solar but a former CEO of RWE npower.
"Growing awareness of the air pollution problems coal causes, the impact of policies to tackle climate change, and the rapid growth and cost-competitiveness of renewable sources of energy, along with emerging battery technologies, are making new coal plants redundant before they are even built," he said.
However, the World Coal Association vehemently disagrees. It says the complexity of large infrastructure projects means that until they break ground, it's no surprise if they don't go ahead.
"Yes, China, is reducing the number of coal-stations but not because it's transitioning away from coal. Instead, the new dynamics is a signal of a more developed economy," said Benjamin Sporton.
"Contrary to the picture being portrayed by certain quarters, China's climate pledge suggests that coal will continue to be central to its energy solutions, albeit through efficiencies including the use of new coal technologies.
"In India's case, it's simply not true that renewables are displacing coal. The International Energy Agency has said that India's coal demand will see the biggest growth over next five years with an annual average growth rate of 5% by 2021.
"For these countries, excluding coal from the energy mix is not an option; it is essential for economic growth and critical in securing energy access."
According to the authors of the study, the slowdown brings the possibility of keeping global warming under 2 degrees C since pre-industrial times "within feasible reach."
However, the study says that much more progress needs to be made to reduce the number of coal-fired plants under development in Vietnam, Indonesia, Turkey, Japan and elsewhere.
Follow Matt on Twitter and on Facebook. | Twenty-sixteen saw a "dramatic" decline in the number of coal-fired power stations in pre-construction globally. |
38537258 | Yassar Yaqub, 28, from Huddersfield, was shot when police stopped a car near junction 24 of the M62 on Monday.
Dee Collins, West Yorkshire Police chief constable, said she understood the desire of Mr Yaqub's family "for answers to their unresolved questions".
She also extended sympathy to the dead man's family.
Her comments come on the day Mr Yaqub's funeral was held at the Jamia Masjid Bilal mosque in Huddersfield.
An inquest into his death was also opened and adjourned in Bradford.
The force's boss set up the meeting after protesters carrying banners saying "stop the killings" on Tuesday evening brought traffic to a halt in Leeds Road, Bradford.
During that protest earlier in the week, a police car was kicked and its wing mirror broken during the protest, although no arrests were made.
"I completely understand and empathise with the heightened community tensions and people's wish to peacefully demonstrate", Ms Collins said.
The police chief said she had met "politicians and community representatives" to discuss their concerns and how "to work together in the public interest" . Ms Collins said the discussions would continue.
However, she also said she could not "comment directly on the policing operation".
Monday's operation at Ainley Top, near junction 24 of the M62, is being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
Ms Collins said its investigation had to "run its course, properly and thoroughly".
The IPCC has said post-mortem tests showed Mr Yaqub died of gunshot wounds to his chest. He was was shot by a West Yorkshire Police firearms officer.
Mr Yaqub was in the front passenger seat of a white Audi stopped by police. The IPCC has said a gun was found in the car.
On Wednesday about 100 people, including the dead man's parents, gathered near the site to lay flowers and light candles.
Meanwhile, Mohsin Amin, 30, from Dewsbury, who was arrested as part of the operation, has appeared in court charged with firearms offences. | The chief constable of West Yorkshire has met "community representatives" after a police operation on the M62 in which an officer shot a man dead. |
38667115 | Separate polls conducted by The Washington Post/ABC and CNN/ORC both found Mr Obama with 60% approval.
A majority approve of his economic policy, but polls show a deep divide between Democrats and Republicans.
The nation's first African American president will hold his final press conference later on Wednesday.
Only Presidents Ronald Reagan, Franklin D Roosevelt and Bill Clinton have handed over the White House keys with higher favourability ratings.
President Barack Obama is set to leave office with some of the highest popularity ratings in his presidency. The man who will replace him, despite having some of the lowest ratings of any incoming president, is poised to roll back much of his legacy.
A closer look at these recent surveys helps explain the apparent contradiction. The US is sharply divided along partisan lines, with Mr Obama touting high support among Democrats and low ratings with Republicans.
Throw in that voters in key Midwestern swing states feel more pessimistic about the state of the nation - many of whom backed Mr Obama in 2008 and 2012 and switched to Donald Trump in 2016 - and it's a recipe for a narrow presidential win for the Republican Party.
Mr Obama's reservoir of goodwill as he departs, like Hillary Clinton's popular vote victory in November, must be cold comfort for Democrats shut out of the Washington corridors of power.
In 2001 they were in a similar situation, with Bill Clinton riding an even higher wave of support, and it took them six years - and an unpopular war - to climb out of that political hole.
About a quarter (25%) of Americans view him as one of the greatest presidents, however about the same number (23%) view him as a poor president.
Among Democrats, Mr Obama has near-universal support (95%), however just 18% of Republicans approve of his eight years in office.
Mr Obama's approval continued to climb during the bitter 2016 presidential election, as views of the economy improved.
When Mr Obama took office in 2009 only 5% of Americans rated the economy as "great" or "good" according to the Washington Post's figures, and that number never rose about 20% during his first four-year term.
Although few now rate the economy as "excellent", those rating it as "poor" have dropped from 62% to 14% during Mr Obama's presidency.
On Tuesday a Washington-Post/ABC News poll found the President-elect Donald Trump has one of the lowest approval ratings of any incoming president in history.
He dismissed the poll as "rigged" after it was found that his 40% approval rating is lower than any arriving president since Jimmy Carter.
How reality derailed the Obama dream
Did Obama improve US race relations?
Obama and the tale of US jobs
Unexpected things named after Obama | Two new polls show President Barack Obama leaving office with one of the highest approval ratings for any departing US president. |
35872841 | The 44-year-old started his playing career with the Iron and has agreed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the League One club.
Nick Daws, who had previously been placed in charge until the end of the season, will be Alexander's assistant.
His first game in charge of the 13th placed side will be Good Friday's trip to Barnsley.
"I'm an ambitious guy, I want to win things. The guys in charge at the club are exactly the same and I'm sure we'll do great things here," Alexander told the club website.
"There are a lot of good players in this squad without a doubt. For whatever reason it hasn't fulfilled its potential this season, but that's my remit - to come and assess, and try to improve it.
"Any manager when he comes into a new club has to look at where he needs to put his stamp on things, and get the players to enjoy their football and play as well as they can."
The former Scotland international guided Fleetwood to League One in 2014, but was sacked last September after a poor start to the season.
He will be the third person to take charge of the team this season after Mark Robins was sacked in January following a 5-0 defeat at struggling Blackpool.
Iron chairman Peter Swann added: "Over the last couple of weeks we've felt it quite important that, if we were to have a manager in place, now would be a good time.
"It made a lot of sense. We have nine games remaining this season and we'll do whatever can be done within that, but it will give him a chance to get organised for the summer, target any new players and plan what we need to do for pre-season training." | Scunthorpe United have appointed former Fleetwood boss Graham Alexander as their new manager. |
38604328 | Gary Carruthers, 35, admitted his guilt and was jailed on Wednesday.
Ch Supt George Clarke said PSNI officers had identified the children in the photos held by Carruthers and have already spoken to their parents.
He said none of those in the images had reported "contact offending".
Mr Clarke also reassured parents of children at the school that Carruthers had not shared the images with anyone else.
Carruthers was caught by police with about 30,000 indecent images of children, some of the victims were as young as two years old.
In a safe at his home, detectives also found computer discs and storage devices, manuals on how to abuse children, and even classroom registers.
He pleaded guilty to possessing the indecent images and was sentenced to three years in prison.
At the time of his arrest, parents at his former workplace were sent a note explaining that there was a child safeguarding issue at the school.
Some parents have told the BBC they were not given enough information about the arrest and trial of the part-time cleaner at their child's school for such serious crimes against children.
They also expressed concern about images of their children being distributed online, with one father asking: "Is my wee girl's face on computer screens in other countries?"
Mr Clarke advised parents at the school that if they have not been contacted by police at this stage, they should not be concerned.
The officer told the BBC that Carruthers "used one of those images to manufacture an image of abuse".
"So he took an abuse image he manufactured on the image of a child at the school.
"He also had a number of other images of children at the school, so any child that is in that group we have identified.
"We have spoken to the child and their parents and none of those have disclosed contact offending, so that should be a reassurance to the parents that we haven't spoken to that they're not in that category."
"It's also very important to note that there's no suggestion whatsoever that he was involved in distribution of these images," he added. | The police have moved to reassure parents at a County Down school after a former caretaker was convicted of superimposing pictures of children onto those of others being sexually abused. |
28490544 | The presidents of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador met Mr Obama at the White House on Friday to discuss the crisis at the US southern border.
More than 50,000 children, many unaccompanied, have been detained at the border since October.
Mr Obama said they must deter more children from attempting the journey.
"All of us recognise that we have a shared responsibility to address this problem," Mr Obama told reporters at the White House on Friday, flanked by Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina, Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and El Salvador President Salvador Sanchez Ceren.
He praised his Central American counterparts for their ongoing efforts within their own nations to deter children from travelling illegally to the US, but said more work must be done to combat the "significant challenge" and alleviate the conditions that move parents to send them on the perilous trip.
"We have to deter a continuing influx of children putting themselves at great risk," he said. But he said, "Children who do not have proper claims and families with children who do not have proper claims at some point will be subject to repatriation to their home countries."
The Guatemalan president, Otto Perez Molina, told the BBC that he felt frustrated and distressed by the situation. He called for the root of the problem to be addressed.
"At the heart of this are issues of extreme poverty and a lack of employment opportunities" he said.
"These are the real reasons for immigration and, as a country, we have to work hard to ensure Guatemalans don't look towards the US, but rather find decent living conditions in Guatemala", he added.
The migrants - mostly from Central America - have been driven north by a spike in gang violence in their home countries, by extreme poverty, and amid incorrect rumours children will be allowed to stay if they make it across the border.
Also at issue is a 2008 US law that grants unaccompanied children from countries that do not border the US an automatic asylum hearing, thereby preventing their immediate removal from the country.
In his remarks, Mr Obama called on Republicans in Congress to postpone their upcoming August recess until they can approve legislation increasing funding to ease the crisis.
Earlier this month, his administration requested $3.7bn (£2.2bn) in emergency funds for tighter border security, care for the children, detention and removal programmes, and immigration courts.
Source: White House
But Republican lawmakers said they would not give Mr Obama a "blank cheque" without changes to US immigration policy.
Conservative politicians have blamed Mr Obama's immigration policy for the crisis, and some in the Congress have called for the repeal of the 2008 asylum law.
Meanwhile, House Republicans are developing an immigration proposal not to exceed $1.5bn, while Senate Democrats are floating one for $3.6bn to meet increased immigration and security needs.
"We need action and less talk," Mr Obama said of Congressional politicians, naming Republican House Speaker John Boehner in particular. | President Barack Obama has told Central American leaders that migrant children flooding into the US without legitimate legal claims will be sent home. |
23751440 | The Shanghai stock market went on a roller coaster ride after an apparent trading error that led China Everbright Securities, a major mainland brokerage firm, to make billions of yuan of buying orders within seconds during the morning trading on Friday.
Shanghai Composite index jumped 5.6 per cent in a flash on Friday morning, but ended the day with a loss of 0.6 per cent.
China's securities watchdog says the chaotic trading was caused by "design flaws" in China Everbright Securities' computer-based automated trading system and "obviously inadequate" internal risk controls.
However, some industry insiders and traders are making calls in the media for an investigation into possible market manipulation behind the firm's "own goal".
The China Daily says some are also dismissing reports that a trader may have made a buy order, thinking it was on a virtual trading system, when it was on a computer connected to the real exchange market.
"I've still got a lot of doubts and questions. In general there is a firewall between the two computers, and any big purchasing order should be approved by the compliance department," Yang Guoying, a researcher with China Finance Thinktank, tells the newspaper.
One director of an investment agency was incredulous at how such a massive purchase could be made without prior approval and called the transaction "a serious fraud, manipulation and disruption of the stock market" in an interview with The Beijing News.
"If Everbright Securities are not punished, the trustworthiness of China's securities market will drop from the 17th level of Hell into the 18th level of Hell," says Ye Tan, a financial commentator for Shanghai's National Business Daily, in her call for full compensation for short-sellers who suffered losses.
Meanwhile, a New York Times online report on JP Morgan Chase facing a US probe for allegedly hiring "princelings" - the children of senior Chinese officials - to boost its business in China, has been picked up in the mainland press, but there has been little comment so far.
Turning to other news, the Southern Metropolis Daily says a former top official at China's top economic policy-making body, Liu Tienan, has been placed under criminal investigation for suspected bribe-taking.
Just days ahead of the long-awaited corruption trial of fallen Chongqing party chief Bo Xilai that begins on Thursday, many media are paying tribute to an outspoken senior forensic scientist who has resigned in frustration over the standard of forensic evidence presented in trials.
Wang Xuemei, who quit as vice-president of the Chinese Forensic Medicine Association, had previously questioned the government's inquest into the murder of Briton Neil Heywood, whom Gu Kailai, Mr Bo's estranged wife, was convicted of poisoning.
Ms Wang said in her resignation video on Saturday that her name could not be related to an academic organization that offers "ridiculous and irresponsible" conclusions.
"We would like to pay tribute to Wang Xuemei not only because of her long-standing professional commitment, but because she was brave enough to expose shady dealings in the industry, as well as vowing to defend the bottom line of the industry to the death," says a Beijing Youth Daily commentary.
Hong Kong's South China Morning Post gives details of an open letter signed by 70 police officers in Guizhou province accusing the acting president of the Shanghai High Court of corruption and abuse of power during his time as a provincial police chief.
Finally, the media are shocked at another "baby-throwing" incident that has gone viral on the internet, but this time there is even greater outrage because the alleged perpetrator is a policeman.
The Southern Metropolis Daily says the arrested suspect, Guo Zengxi, should be severely punished if found guilty of taking a 7-month-old girl from her father's arms, lifting her up and then throwing her to the ground.
The Beijing News asks why the police officer was not investigated until last Saturday, when the alleged incident took place on 20 July.
A similar case occurred on 23 July when a Beijing man allegedly picked up and threw a two-year-old girl to the ground during a dispute with her mother over a parking space. The girl later died.
BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. For more reports from BBC Monitoring, click here. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook. | Media in China are demanding an investigation into the chaotic surge in Shanghai's stock exchange triggered by what many described as an "own goal" trading error on Friday. |
34948928 | Richard Maycock, 43, from Walsgrave in Warwickshire, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl at a school in Coventry in 2013.
The girl told her parents Maycock touched her after a swimming lesson and said she would be in trouble if she told anyone.
He also admitted sexually assaulting a second girl at a school in Redditch.
The Redditch abuse came to light during the Coventry investigation, when a former pupil at a school in the Worcestershire town reported Maycock had abused her between 2005 and 2006 when he was a teacher there.
Det Con Sarah Rose from Warwickshire Police said: "Maycock used his position as a teacher to abuse the trust these two girls had in him.
"I cannot commend them enough for their bravery in reporting what happened to them. We also hope this case shows that we take such allegations extremely seriously and encourages other victims to come forward."
Maycock will also be placed on the sex offenders register. | A PE teacher has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for sexually assaulting female pupils in his care. |
38356946 | MPs are expected to ask him about British cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins' therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs).
They allow the use of banned substances if athletes have genuine medical need.
Brailsford is also expected to be asked about an allegation in the Daily Mail about a medical package delivered to Team Sky in France in June 2011.
He has previously refused to comment on the contents of the alleged delivery, said to have been made on the day Wiggins won the Criterium du Dauphine in La Toussuire.
Team Sky have said they conducted an internal review and were "confident there has been no wrongdoing".
Brailsford will be one of six witnesses - along with British Cycling technical director and Team Sky coach Shane Sutton, and World Anti-Doping Agency president Sir Craig Reedie - appearing at the hearing.
Sports minister Tracey Crouch told BBC 5 live's Sportsweek programme she would be watching with "great interest".
"He will be asked some extremely important questions and he will have to justify himself and his actions, and it's not for me as sports minister to say otherwise," said Crouch.
Wiggins, a five-time Olympic champion, was granted a TUE to take anti-inflammatory drug triamcinolone before the 2011 Tour de France, his 2012 Tour win and the 2013 Giro d'Italia.
His use of the drug, which treats allergies and respiratory issues, was released by Russian computer hackers known as Fancy Bears.
Wiggins' TUEs were approved by British authorities and cycling's world governing body the UCI, and there is no suggestion either the 36-year-old or former employers Team Sky have broken any rules.
Former Team Sky cyclist Jonathan Tiernan-Locke has said painkiller Tramadol was "freely offered" when he was riding for Great Britain at the 2012 World Championships.
British Cycling, the national governing body, put the allegation to the medic in question, doctor Richard Freeman, on the BBC's behalf. He denied it.
UK Anti-Doping says it is investigating allegations of wrongdoing in cycling. | Team Sky chief Sir Dave Brailsford will appear on Monday in front of a Culture, Media and Sport select committee on sport's fight against doping. |
35233534 | The Chiefs led 19-0 at the break through two Thomas Waldrom tries and another from Olly Woodburn, while Gareth Steenson kicked two conversions.
Greig Laidlaw got Gloucester on the board with a penalty before Charlie Sharples went over in the corner for a try, which Billy Burns converted.
Exeter pushed for the bonus point but despite late pressure could not cross.
The hosts lost wing Jack Nowell to a knee injury midway through the second half and that could have implications for England's Six Nations squad, which is announced next week.
The club's backs coach Ali Hepher said Nowell had suffered a "twisted knee" and he would be "assessed in the week", but added: "Sometimes the least painful ones can be the longest out."
With the wind in their favour, Exeter scored twice inside the opening 10 minutes as Waldrom crossed after Julian Salvi charged down James Hook's kick and then went over off the back of a driving maul.
Woodburn scored in the corner from Steenson's chip over the Gloucester defence, but to their credit the Cherry and Whites staged a mini-fightback.
Laidlaw sent over a penalty shortly after the break and Sharples touched down with 12 minutes left.
Exeter had a late effort ruled out by the TV official as they failed to score the fourth try that would have secured the extra point.
Exeter Chiefs backs coach Ali Hepher:
"At the start of the day we would have taken four points. To not concede a losing bonus point is obviously important.
"It was one of those days when you just have to battle through it and not having the ball was the best option. We showed good enthusiasm and intent to battle away and got our tries off our defensive work.
"We played pretty well with the conditions and all in all we are really pleased. This sets us up nicely for the two-week break in the Premiership."
Gloucester director of rugby David Humphreys told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:
Media playback is not supported on this device
"The conditions were horrific for both teams. We conceded three tries - three in the first 20 minutes, two in the first 10 minutes - all three from our errors.
"All three I don't think Exeter had to play through any phases of play at all, so once you give a team as good as Exeter in these conditions that much of a lead it's a long way back - but I actually thought we played some good rugby.
"There's no secret as to why they are at the top of the table - they've been building this, they're a very, very hard team to play agains and they do their jobs very, very well."
Exeter: Dollman; Woodburn, Nowell, Whitten, Short; Steenson; Chudley; Hepburn, Yeandle (capt), Francis, Atkins, Parling, Armand, Salvi, Waldrom.
Replacements: Taione, Moon, Low, Hill, Horstmann, Lewis, Hooley, Campagnaro.
Gloucester: Cook; Sharples, Meakes, Twelvetrees, Purdy; Hook, Laidlaw (capt); Wood, Hibbard, Thomas, Savage, Thrush, Kalamafoni, Kvesic, Morgan.
Replacements: Lindsay, Murphy, McAllister, Galarza, Moriarty, Heinz, Burns, Atkinson.
For the latest rugby union news follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter. | Exeter bounced back from last weekend's loss to Northampton to beat struggling Gloucester in the Premiership. |
30099482 | He added the situation might change if any long-term targets became available but said they would not consider "short-term fixes".
United spent just over £150m in the last window, including a club record £59.7m on winger Angel Di Maria.
They are currently seventh in the Premier League table.
"We are not looking to enter the market for short-term fixes," said Woodward, speaking on the day United posted a 9.9% fall in revenue to £88.7m for the three months to the end of September, which reflected "absence from the Champions League".
"However, we have targets we are looking at for next summer.
"Should any of them become available in January, which is obviously rare, we will consider acting. But it is a low probability."
During the summer transfer window, United also bought Ander Herrera (£28m), Luke Shaw (£27m), Marcos Rojo (£16m) and Daley Blind (£13.8m), as well as spending £6m to bring in Radamel Falcao on loan.
However, they have been hit by a succession of injuries, most recently to midfielder Blind and goalkeeper David De Gea. | Manchester United are unlikely to make any signings in the January transfer window, says the club's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward. |
37332494 | Wood's brother Chris Foote Wood said the donation from Dame Judi, who played M in the Bond movies, was a "massive boost" to the appeal fund.
He said it meant the appeal to erect a statue of his sister in Bury, Greater Manchester, where she grew up, was halfway towards its £20,000 target.
The Bafta-winning comedian and writer died aged 62 in April.
Mr Foote Wood said he was delighted by the donation from Dame Judi and hoped it would encourage other stars to make pledges to the appeal.
He said his sister once dismissed the idea of being a national treasure - nominating Dame Judi rather than herself.
Mr Foote Wood, who has the backing of Bury Council, wants to show his sister "in typical pose" seated at a piano in the statue.
Wood was born in Prestwich and lived in Bury until she was 18. | Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench has donated £1,000 towards a fund for a statue of entertainer Victoria Wood. |
35520077 | McCullum, who will retire from all cricket after the Test series against the same opponents this month, scored 47 from 27 balls in his side's 246.
Australia regularly lost wickets and were bowled out for 191.
"I feel incredibly lucky to play for 14 years, meet some great blokes and make some great friends," said McCullum, 34.
"Not many people get that opportunity and I want to thank everyone for supporting me and supporting this team over a long period of time.
"The memories will hold for the rest of my life."
McCullum hit three sixes and six fours as he finished his ODI career with 6,083 runs, which included five centuries and a highest score of 166.
He played 228 innings in 260 ODI's, with an average of 30.41 and a strike rate of 96.37.
McCullum also led New Zealand to their first World Cup final in 2015, where the Kiwis lost to Australia.
His final match was not without its share of controversy.
Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh took 3-34 during New Zealand's innings and had reached 41 with the bat when he hit a delivery back to bowler Matt Henry.
The bowler's appeal for a caught and bowled was turned down but a replay was shown on the big screen, during which the crowd reacted noisily after the ball appeared to hit the batsman's boot before looping up to the bowler.
Umpires Ian Gould and Derek Walker then asked third umpire Sundaram Ravi to review the incident and Marsh was subsequently given out.
"A bit of controversy there, I don't think there was much of an appeal," said Australia skipper Steve Smith. "And they went upstairs after the replay, a bit disappointing.
"The right decision was made no doubt about that. I don't want to take anything away from the Black Caps, they deserved to win." | New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum ended his one-day international career with a 55-run win over Australia which gave the Kiwis a 2-1 series victory. |
39290345 | Gillies Mackinnon's feature stars Eddie Izzard, James Cosmo, Gregor Fisher, Kevin Guthrie, Ellie Kendrick, Naomi Battrick and Sean Biggerstaff.
It was premiered at 70th Edinburgh International Film Festival last year.
The films are adaptations of a book by Compton MacKenzie, whose story was inspired by the sinking of the cargo ship SS Politician off Eriskay in 1941.
The boat's cargo included more than 250,000 bottles of whisky.
Hundreds of cases of whisky were hidden from customs officers by islanders.
Some locations of these secret stashes have since been forgotten, according to islanders today.
The SS Politician was headed for Jamaica when it ran aground on the northern side of Eriskay, in the Western Isles, in bad weather.
Scottish author Mackenzie published the novel Whisky Galore in 1947. It was adapted for cinema in a 1949 Ealing comedy.
The new film will be released in cinemas on 5 May. | A remake of 1949 film Whisky Galore is to be released in cinemas in May, it has been announced. |
38912888 | Shafiq Mohammed, 50, said he had been spat at and faced Nazi salutes and yells of "Sieg Heil" at a protest by the Scottish Defence League (SDL).
Mr Mohammed had himself been accused of racially abusing a woman and three men.
Sheriff Robert Weir said the atmosphere at the demo had been "rendered toxic by other people".
He ruled that Mr Mohammed should not receive "further punishment" and gave him an absolute discharge.
During an earlier court hearing, the sheriff heard how tempers flared as members of the far-right anti-immigration SDL staged a counter demonstration against pro-refugee demonstrators on 15 November 2015.
It followed 150 Syrian refugees being granted emergency accommodation at the Adamton Country House Hotel in Monkton, near Prestwick, in Ayrshire.
Mr Mohammed was said to have shouted that the group were "nothing but white bastards".
He denied behaving in a racially aggravated manner which was intended to cause alarm and distress.
Mr Mohammed claimed the four witnesses had conspired to make up the allegations against him.
However, Sheriff Robert Weir QC found that Mr Mohammed had behaved in the manner outlined in the charges.
The sheriff also said he did not believe the group were in collusion over the allegations.
He adjourned the case from November last year to consider his verdict.
Delivering his verdict, Sheriff Weir noted Mr Mohammed had no previous convictions, was of low risk of re-offending and positive references had been given to the court.
He gave Mr Mohammed an absolute discharge, meaning no conviction or punishment.
The sheriff said: "I am satisfied that a formal conviction would make any future employment in your chosen field difficult, if not impossible."
Outside court, Mr Mohammed said the decision had made him "all the more more determined" to stand up to racists and support refugees and asylum seekers.
He said he had been hopeful of being cleared but that the other demonstrators should have been charged.
Mr Mohammed added: "Their behaviour was appalling with spitting, Sieg Heils and Hitler salutes. There was about 300 mainly white refugee supporters there yet it was me they went for.
"I reported it to the police but they took no action." | An anti-racism activist has been cleared of racially aggravated behaviour after he was targeted by far-right extremists at a demonstration. |
31419988 | Media playback is unsupported on your device
11 February 2015 Last updated at 17:04 GMT
The flight lasted about an hour and a half and a massive rocket helped to blast the two tonne craft into space.
The space plane successfully landed in the Pacific Ocean, and the director-general of the ESA said that the test "couldn't have gone better."
Scientists launched the spacecraft to try to figure out how to overcome the problems they face when trying to come back to Earth.
When spacecrafts re-enter the Earth's atmosphere, the air slows down the space ship causing friction.
This friction then causes the craft to heat up, and could be quite dangerous for the mini-plane.
On its return to Earth the surface of the mini-space shuttle reached temperatures of 1,700 degrees Celsius.
The ESA hope that this test will help improve how space shuttles re-enter the Earth's atmosphere allowing them to be reused more than once. | The Europe Space Agency (ESA) has successfully completed its first test flight of a new space plane. |
31587588 | Both MPs say they have broken no rules and have referred themselves to the Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards and Sir Malcolm has been suspended from the Conservative group of MPs in Parliament.
Reporters for the Daily Telegraph and Channel 4's Dispatches posed as staff of a fake Chinese firm.
It is claimed that Mr Straw was recorded describing how he operated "under the radar" and had used his influence to change EU rules on behalf of a firm which paid him £60,000 a year.
On the subject of payment, Mr Straw is heard saying: "So normally, if I'm doing a speech or something, it's £5,000 a day, that's what I charge."
Sir Malcolm is reported to have claimed he could arrange "useful access" to every British ambassador in the world.
He is heard saying: "I am self-employed - so nobody pays me a salary. I have to earn my income."
There are no rules banning MPs from holding other sources of employment, and many do. Opinion is divided on whether this is a good thing.
For some, having work outside of Parliament means MPs have a broader range of experience and are less likely to be "career politicians".
But critics of the current policy, including Labour leader Ed Miliband, say banning second jobs would increase public trust in politicians.
£65,738
MP's salary
£78,298 Headteacher
£72,649 Police superintendent
£88,000 Senior civil servant
£63,032 NHS director
The Commons Code of Conduct states that MPs must not act as a "paid advocate" - taking payment for speaking in the House, asking a parliamentary question, tabling a motion, introducing a bill or tabling or moving an amendment to a motion or bill or urging colleagues or ministers to do so.
They have to declare their financial interests, including paid employment outside Parliament, in the Register of Members' Financial Interests.
There are also guidelines for ministers leaving office: former Cabinet members must normally wait three months after leaving office before they can accept any kind of paid employment, and should not lobby existing ministers on behalf of any organisation for which they are employed for two years after leaving office.
It is the job of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to look into complaints against MPs. The commissioner reports to the Committee on Standards, which then decides on a course of action to take against an MP, including recommending suspension from the Commons, if this is necessary.
MPs vote on whether to implement the recommendations.
They are both political veterans and former UK foreign secretaries.
Jack Straw, 68, has been Labour MP for Blackburn since 1979. He was a shadow Labour spokesman throughout the 1980s before serving as Home Secretary, from 1997, in Tony Blair's first term as PM, becoming Foreign Secretary from 2001 to 2006 and then holding a series of other front bench roles until Labour lost power in 2010. He is due to step down as an MP in May.
Sir Malcolm Rifkind, 68, was MP for Edinburgh Pentlands from 1974 to 1997 and has been MP for Kensington and Chelsea/Kensington since 2005. He was on the Conservative frontbench from 1975 to 1997, including spells as transport, defence and, from 1995 to 1997, foreign secretary. He is currently chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, which oversees the UK's intelligence agencies.
Both MPs have said they have not broken any of the rules governing MPs' outside interests.
Mr Straw, the Labour MP for Blackburn, said he had been discussing options for when he leaves Parliament after May's general election. He said he had followed the letter and the spirit of the rules, saying he did not agree with Mr Miliband's call to change the law.
Sir Malcolm, the Conservative MP for Kensington who chairs Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee, said he had never accepted an offer from the fake firm, saying it was a "preliminary" discussion "about what they had mind".
He said he had "nothing to be embarrassed about". He said the allegations were "unfounded" and he vowed to fight them "with all my strength". | The debate over MPs and second jobs has been reignited after former Foreign Secretaries Jack Straw and Sir Malcolm Rifkind were secretly filmed apparently offering their services to a private company for thousands of pounds. |
33166220 | Chad's government accused Nigerian militant Islamist group Boko Haram of the bombings which killed more than 20 people.
The prime minister said the veil was used as a "camouflage" by militants and said the security forces will burn all full-face veils sold in markets.
Chad is to host a new regional force set up to tackle Boko Haram.
The militant group has not commented on the attack but has previously threatened to attack Chad, after its forces started to help Nigeria.
At a meeting with religious leaders, Prime Minister Kalzeube Pahimi Deubet said the ban applied everywhere, not only public places.
He added that any clothing that covers everything but the eyes was a camouflage.
The attackers were on motorcycles when they blew themselves up outside two police buildings in the capital, N'Djamena.
Borno state, at the heart of the insurgency, is on the Nigerian border with Chad and Chadian forces have played a key role in helping Nigeria battle the jihadist group.
The US announced on Tuesday that it will give $5m (£3.2m) towards a multi-national task force headquarters in Chad.
The BBC World Service's Africa editor Richard Hamilton says Boko Haram militants have increasingly been using female suicide bombers in Nigeria, as they are more likely to smuggle bombs into public places without detection.
The majority of the population in Chad is Muslim and the burka is worn mainly for religious reasons, but also helps protect women from the hot, dusty climate of the Sahara.
The full-face Islamic veil was also banned in May in public places in Congo-Brazzaville, to "counter terrorism".
Although there has never been an Islamist attack in the country and less than 5% of the population of Congo-Brazzaville is Muslim, thousands of mostly Muslim people had fled the neighbouring Central African Republic and had taken shelter in mosques.
Africa as it happened | Chad has banned people from wearing the full-face veil, following two suicide bomb attacks on Monday. |
18948285 | Media playback is not supported on this device
The 42-year-old South African birdied the 18th to end seven under as Australia's Scott bogeyed the last four holes to come second by one shot.
Els, who began the day six shots adrift, clinched his fourth major title and first since winning the 2002 Open at Muirfield.
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The 1994 and 1997 US Open champion carded 68 to the 75 of Scott, who had led since the sixth hole on Saturday.
The 32-year-old Scott was four shots clear on the 15th tee and needed to hole from 10ft on the last to force a play-off.
"I am just numb at the moment, I feel for Adam Scott, he is a great friend of mine," said Els, who picked up £900,000 in prize money.
"We both wanted to win so badly, but I really feel for him. That is the nature of the beast, that is why we are out here.
"It was my time. I was hoping at best a play-off. A lot of people never thought I would win but I started believing this year, getting a lot of help from my family and the professionals around me."
Tiger Woods threatened at times but a triple bogey via a greenside bunker at the par-four sixth and three straight bogeys from the 13th sank his chances of a 15th major and first since the 2008 US Open.
The 36-year-old carded a three-over 73 to end tied third at three under alongside playing partner and fellow American Brandt Snedeker (74).
Woods said: "It's part of golf - we all go through these phases, some people it lasts entire careers, others are a little bit shorter. Even the greatest players to ever play have all gone through little stretches like this."
Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, was playing in the final group for a second straight major but again struggled to engage the leader.
The Northern Irishman took 75 to tie for fifth at two under with England's world number one Luke Donald, who climbed up the leaderboard with a 69.
Scott's capitulation must rank worse than Rory McIlroy's Masters meltdown in 2011 and up there with Jean van de Velde's final-hole drama at Carnoustie in 1999.
"Els didn't do anything sensational, he just kept playing solid golf.
"They have been rebuilding his putting stroke for years now, but something has clicked psychologically. It is incredible the power of the mind.
"Adam Scott's Achilles heel is pulling his mid irons, which he did at 17. After that he should have throttled back with a two iron or something off the tee at the last to keep out of the bunkers.
"It will be scarring for him to get into such a position in a major. It will take a lot of fixing."
His defeat called to mind his compatriot Greg Norman's loss at the Masters in 1996 when Nick Faldo overhauled a six-stroke deficit to snatch victory at Augusta in the last round.
"I'm very disappointed but I played so beautifully for most of the week I really shouldn't let this bring me down," said Scott.
"I know I've let a really great chance slip through my fingers today, but somehow I'll look back and take the positives from it."
Els, who was ninth at last month's US Open, becomes the 16th consecutive different major champion and moves up from 40th to 15th in the world rankings. He also finished tied second when Royal Lytham hosted the Open in 1996 and tied third when it was last held on the Fylde coast, in 2001.
Scott led by four overnight and was still four clear of second-placed McDowell by the turn as the expected challenge in a stiffening breeze failed to materialise.
Els was six shots adrift after going out in two-over 36 but he edged into the frame with birdies at the 10th, 12th and 14th.
His putt across the final green set up the prospect of a play-off but Scott found a bunker with his drive and was unable to make his par.
Donald, who like Scott is also still searching for a maiden major title, echoed the Australian's feelings, and the feelings of many in the field.
"Certainly I'll leave this week knowing that my game is definitely good enough to win majors," said the 34-year-old, who finished five shots behind Els.
"Unfortunately I couldn't quite hole the putts, but I'll take a lot of positives away from this week."
Media playback is not supported on this device | Ernie Els clinched his second Open title after long-time leader Adam Scott spectacularly imploded at Royal Lytham & St Annes. |
35586240 | Manchester-based estate agents David Currie and Co said the suggestion to rename Plas Glynllifon near Caernarfon as "Newborough Hall" was made by its marketing department.
Locals have been taking to social media to express their dismay.
David Currie said all references to the new name had now been removed from its marketing material.
He said: "We are always receptive to local feelings and no offence was intended to anybody."
There was a previous backlash after former owners MBI Sales briefly renamed the mansion 'Wynnborn.'
The name Glynllifon has been associated with the 700-acre estate for more than 500 years. It is now listed simply as Glynllifon Mansion on the agent's website. | A second attempt to re-brand a Gwynedd mansion with an English name has failed. |
37839803 | Leanna Taylor said she was "humiliated" by Justin Harris' serial infidelity, but told a jury he loved their son, Cooper, and did not mean to kill him.
The court heard Mr Harris sexted a teenage girl from work as his son was dying in the overheating car outside.
Ms Taylor was appearing as a defence witness for her ex-husband.
Lead prosecutor Chuck Boring suggested that Ms Taylor did not know her husband as well as she thought.
The children left behind in hot cars
He asked if she knew Mr Harris, whom she divorced earlier this year, was using Craigslist to arrange sexual trysts with both men and women.
She testified she had caught him sending text messages to other women, but did not realise he had a sexual relationship with any of them.
"If I had, I would have divorced him then," she said.
The prosecutor reminded Ms Taylor that barely three weeks before their son died in June 2014, Harris had met a prostitute for sex, while telling her he was helping a friend move.
Ms Taylor acknowledged she did not realise the extent of Mr Harris' double life.
"He destroyed my life," she said, looking at her ex-husband. "I'm humiliated. I may never trust anyone again because of the things he did.
"If I never see him again after this day, that would be fine."
She became tearful during her testimony and the judge ordered the court to take an early break.
Ms Taylor earlier told jurors that her sex life with Mr Harris had problems, but he was a good parent to 22-month-old Cooper.
"He wanted to be the one to push him on a swing," Ms Taylor said.
"He wanted to be the one to slide down the slide with him. He wanted to enjoy every second he could with him."
Defence attorney Maddox Kilgore asked her: "Did Ross love his little boy?"
"Yes, he did," she replied. "Very much."
Mr Harris, who avoided eye contact with his wife, cried at times during her testimony.
On the day of Cooper's death, he was supposed to drop the boy off at daycare but instead drove to Home Depot where he was employed as a web developer.
Mr Harris says he forgot that he had left his son strapped in his seat in the back of the car, where he was discovered later that day.
Previous hearings heard that outside temperatures on the day of Cooper's death in June 2014 reached almost 90F (32C).
Mr Harris, who has pleaded not guilty, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. | The ex-wife of a Georgia man who is on trial charged with murder in their toddler son's hot car death has testified he "destroyed" her life. |
35808627 | Police said Jason Dalton, 45, carried out the shootings on 20 February while working for the ride-sharing company.
"When I logged onto [the Uber app], it started making me feel like a puppet," Mr Dalton told investigators.
He claims that the smartphone program told him to kill his victims.
Although none of the victims were Uber customers, police said Mr Dalton continued to pick up passengers during the shooting spree in Kalamazoo, a small city about 150 miles (241km) west of Detroit.
Uber has said Mr Dalton underwent background checks, but passed because he had no criminal record.
Investigators made Mr Dalton's comments public in response to a local television station's Freedom of Information Act request.
According to documents released on Monday, Mr Dalton said the horned cow head of a devil would appear on his phone screen and give him an assignment.
One of the investigators wrote in the report: "I asked Dalton what made him get his gun tonight, and he said the Uber app made him."
Mr Dalton is charged with shooting eight people, killing six of them during a five-hour period.
Police have said Mr Dalton did not know any of the victims and they appeared to be selected at random.
He will undergo a court-ordered mental competency exam, but the results will not affect his criminal responsibility for the shootings.
If convicted, Mr Dalton could be sentenced to life in prison. Michigan does not have the death penalty. | An Uber driver who is accused of killing six people in the US state of Michigan has told police that the Uber app took over his "mind and body", setting off his shooting spree. |
33136997 | Opponents say local authorities are forced to use their government education grant to clear the debts.
A BBC Freedom of Information request shows more than £30m has been cleared.
The Department for Education said local authorities should pay the debts as they were accumulated when the schools were under council control.
The Local Government Association said vital cash was being taken from schools not involved in the scheme.
The BBC's FOI to all local authorities in England revealed £32.5m has been spent by councils on clearing debts since the Academies Act was introduced in 2010.
Under the academies scheme, when council-maintained schools choose to convert, local authorities have to pick up the tab for the costs of conversion including the cost of any deficit and legal fees.
David Simmonds, deputy chairman of the Local Government Association, said: "It is not fair that some schools are burdened with a deficit while other schools can walk away and leave that debt behind at the detriment of other schools in the community.
"It is not right that the taxpayer foots the bill. This money could instead be spent in ways which directly benefits pupils."
In 2012, education chiefs in Birmingham refused to write off at least £1.3 million of debts owed by schools converting to academies. By 2013, there were fears Birmingham's school budget could run out if the practice continued.
A Birmingham City Council spokesman said: "All of Birmingham's children must benefit from any changes to the education system, so we need the government to make changes to enable this to happen so school and council budgets, that are already stretched, are not strained even further."
Councillor John Jones, Blackpool Council's cabinet member for school improvement, said local councils having to pick up the tab to write off debts was "extremely frustrating".
Jonathan Bacon, from the Isle of Wight Council, said other schools missed out when £1.4m was paid for a school to become an academy.
Local authorities said they use the Dedicated Schools Grant to pay the school debts. The grant is paid by the government to local authorities as the main source of income for the schools budget.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: "Councils are only required to cover a school's deficit when it has become a sponsored academy after a prolonged period of underperformance, and the deficit was accumulated under council control.
"Academies are a vital part of our plan for education and are transforming the education for millions of pupils across the country."
Christine Blower, from the National Union of Teachers, said: "This is another example of the financial pressures that the academies policy has brought to bear on local authorities' education budgets.
"As a direct consequence of the academies programme, local authorities have less money to fund and support other schools." | Millions of pounds of debt has been inherited by councils across England as schools convert to academies, a BBC investigation has revealed. |
37617613 | And these students' loans and grants will be available for the duration of their degree course.
The arrangement will be honoured even if the UK exits the EU in that period.
Universities said the announcement gave the higher education sector much-needed clarity on the matter and must be communicated to European students.
The government's guarantee means EU students applying to study from 2017-18 will be able to access the same funding and support they are now.
Ministers say the move will help give universities and colleges certainty over future funding.
Shortly after the EU referendum result in June, the government gave a guarantee that students currently in higher or further education - and those applying for a place this academic year (2016-17) - would continue to be able to access student funding support.
Universities Minister Jo Johnson said: "We know that the result of the referendum brought with it some uncertainties for our higher education sector.
"International students make an important contribution to our world class universities, and we want that to continue.
"This latest assurance that students applying to study next year will not only be eligible to apply for student funding under current terms, but will have their eligibility maintained throughout the duration of their course, will provide important stability for both universities and students."
Universities UK president Dame Julia Goodfellow said the news provided much-needed clarity.
"Every effort must now be made to ensure that this announcement is communicated effectively to prospective students across Europe," she said.
"European and international students are a valuable part of cultural and academic life on British university campuses and play an important role in UK towns and cities, creating jobs and supporting local businesses.
"Looking ahead, as the government develops plans [for] post-Brexit Britain, a commitment is needed to ensure that students, from Europe and beyond, are able to continue to come to the UK to study without unnecessary bureaucratic burdens."
Dame Julia said she hoped the announcement would be followed shortly by similar reassurances from governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The University and College Union said it was pleased the government had clarified the situation for EU students and and hoped the devolved nations would soon follow suit. | EU students applying for a place at English universities for the next academic year will be eligible for loans and grants, ministers have said. |
36553420 | West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed it was called to the scene at Birmingham Trade Park, on Kingsbury Road in Erdington, at about 11:55 BST.
The man, believed to be in his 40s, was confirmed dead at the scene. The lorry driver, another man and a bystander were also treated for shock.
West Midlands Police confirmed it is investigating the incident and is appealing for witnesses.
The road was closed for several hours while emergency services dealt with the incident.
More updates on this and other stories in Birmingham and the Black Country | A man has died after being involved in a collision with a lorry in Birmingham. |
30495153 | Peter Miller, 24, was found stabbed in Camden Place, Great Yarmouth, in 1984.
His brother Tony, now 53, said the case was "flawed" and has met MP Brandon Lewis, who has pledged to help him.
Norfolk Police said forensic review opportunities had been limited by the destruction, but the case remains open.
Mr Miller was found stabbed on the kitchen floor of the family home on Sunday, 9 December, 1984.
He had last been seen by a neighbour in the afternoon,
His brother Tony, a plumber in Gorleston, was originally arrested over the death, but released soon afterwards.
Investigations then led to a number of other arrests, but no-one was ever charged.
Fresh information in 2013 led to a "sharp implement" being uncovered and officers re-appealed to find a woman who called police soon after the killing. However, the case has failed to be taken forward.
Mr Miller said the investigation initially moved at a fast pace, but slowed significantly after the town was rocked 10 months later, by the abduction and murder of three-year-old Leoni Keating. Her killer was jailed in 1986.
Mr Miller claims he has been "fobbed off" by police for many years and recently discovered some of case's evidence was destroyed in 1991.
He believes there were many "missed opportunities", with neighbours telling him officers did not collect formal statements from them in the 1980s, despite pledges they would.
The only way anyone will ever be convicted is if they confess, Mr Miller claims.
"It's left me angry, frustrated, I've pushed and pushed on my own most of the time to get this case recognised," he said.
"You stay as open-minded as possible, but it does become difficult.
"You get your hopes up, but then you stay back from it because you have to prepare yourself, because I've been let down so many times.
"I just want closure for my mum, who's now in her mid-80s. I need to get it cleared up because it's also affecting my health.
"The biggest problem is to get police to admit to their faults."
In a statement, Norfolk Police said: "Case evidence and papers including all statements and the full inquest papers for the murder of Peter Miller are still held by the unsolved case inquiry team and the inquiry remains open.
"However, the exhibits held in the investigation were either returned to their respective owners, or destroyed by the end of 1991.
"The circumstances behind this fact are not clear as records do not provide any details of any decisions taken at that time.
"However, whilst this may have limited the forensic review opportunities, it has not prevented the unsolved case team from progressing any new information with a view to bringing a resolution to the case."
Great Yarmouth Conservative MP Brandon Lewis said he would look into the case, adding: "I can't imagine what it's like for Tony and his family 30 years on to not have any answers, so I'll do whatever I can to help them." | A man who found the body of his murdered brother 30 years ago has called for an inquiry into the original police probe, after it emerged evidence was destroyed just seven years later. |
38519944 | Williams has made 14 appearances for League One side Southend, but has yet to start a game for the senior team.
The 21-year-old ended last season on loan at National League South side Chelmsford City, having previously also spent time at Welling
He could make his Boreham Wood debut when they travel to face Torquay United in the league on Saturday. | National League side Boreham Wood have signed Southend United forward Jason Williams on loan until 8 April. |
38561414 | The 26-year-old could be the next South African to sign a Kolpak deal after David Wiese joined Sussex on Monday.
De Lange has played two Tests, four one-day internationals and six Twenty20 games for the Proteas after making his debut in 2011, and played his last international match in 2015.
South Africa also lost Kyle Abbott and Rilee Rossouw last week, after the pair joined Hampshire as Kolpak players.
Subject to a visa, De Lange would join fellow South Africans Colin Ingram and captain Jacques Rudolph at Glamorgan.
Ingram is preparing for his third summer as a Kolpak player in Wales, while Rudolph is currently Glamorgan's one permitted overseas player.
Kolpak contracts are named after Slovak handball player Marius Kolpak, who won a landmark case at the European Court of Justice in 2003.
It allows sportsmen from countries that have associate trade agreements with the European Union, including South Africa, the same right to free movement as EU citizens without being classed as 'foreigners'.
In cricket, such contracts render the player ineligible to represent their country at international level. | Glamorgan are in talks to sign South Africa fast bowler Marchant de Lange. |
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Therefore it's important that you know how to set up your cleats properly - watch British Cycling's guide to help you.
Inspired to get back on your bike? Take a look at this handy guide to find ways to get into cycling. | Correct positioning of your cleats - the plastic or metal that fixes to your cycling shoes and clips into the pedals - is vital if you want to avoid foot, neck or back pain. |
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