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32900892 | From 2018, EU residents will be prevented from hiding undeclared income in Swiss banks.
The EU and Switzerland will exchange information on the bank accounts which their respective citizens hold.
The EU Commission said it was a "deterrent" against hiding income abroad.
"This new transparency should not only improve member states' ability to track down and tackle tax evaders, but it should also act as a deterrent against hiding income and assets abroad to evade taxes" the EU Commission said.
The Commission is also negotiating similar agreements with Andorra, Liechtenstein and Monaco.
EU commissioner Pierre Moscovici said that the agreed automatic exchange of information was "another blow against tax evaders and (represents) another leap towards fairer taxation in Europe".
It follows an agreement for "strengthened transparency" made between EU member states last year. | The EU and Switzerland have signed an agreement that is intended to clamp down on tax evasion, the European Commission has said. |
39923153 | The Nailsworth-based club, who once played in the Stroud League, beat Tranmere 3-1 at Wembley and next season fans from Coventry City, Swindon Town and Port Vale will be weaving through the Gloucestershire countryside to reach their New Lawn home.
Forest Green's road to promotion has been a long one - this was their 19th consecutive season in the National League.
But when they reached the fifth tier in 1998, the odds against them progressing to the EFL were steeper than the Nympsfield Road that leads up the hill to their ground.
"It is an unbelievable achievement to put a village team in the Football League," manager Mark Cooper told BBC Sport.
"People talk about us having a lack of fans but you've got to remember we're on the top of a hill in the middle of nowhere. They were brilliant [at Wembley]."
Former Swindon and Notts County boss Cooper has forged a strong working relationship with chairman Dale Vince, but it is the latter's unique business strategies that have attracted plenty of attention.
Even the address of Forest Green's stadium hints at alternative thinking: The New Lawn, Another Way, Nailsworth, GL6 0FG.
Whether it be the vegan diet for the players, the barring of any red meat being served in their ground on match days, the cow manure used to help fertilise the pitch or the solar-powered lawnmower cutting it, this is a club breaking from convention.
"It's always good to be different," Cooper added. "The chairman is certainly different, his ethos and what he believes in.
"There's no right way or wrong way, but we've had success doing it, so he's been vindicated in what he's done.
"We've had a lot of animosity towards Forest Green. When I played for them, they were a friendly little club, part-time. Everyone loved them because they weren't a threat. Once they became a threat, nobody liked them, so I'm just chuffed for the chairman.
"He gave me the opportunity to have full control over the football side, and I've never had that. That was what enticed me to come here."
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Vince, the owner of electricity company Ecotricity, has ambitious plans for the club to one day compete as high as the Championship, and on Sunday he was quick to continue looking up the football pyramid.
Highlighting the additional promotion places available at the top of League Two, compared to the National League, Vince declared that getting into League One "will be easy" for the Green Army.
But what can EFL sides expect from the Gloucestershire outfit on the pitch next season?
"We've got some great games, Newport, Swindon, some big crowds, Coventry, so it will be fun getting them up that hill, that's for certain," said Cooper.
"We're not going to go in there to make the numbers up. Knowing what the chairman's like, he will want to be a threat in that league.
"This National League is the hardest league to get out of, one trillion per cent, because with so many big teams in there, it's a graveyard.
"Next year we might not be the favourites every week, but a bit of pressure comes off us."
With a population of 5,794, Nailsworth will be the smallest place to ever have an EFL club. So how did they do it?
Having solid financial backing has undoubtedly helped, but Cooper is adamant it's been about more than that.
"When you're on the outside, you think everybody [here] is earning 10 grand a week," he continued. "When you get on the inside, you realise that is not strictly true.
"We have to pay sometimes to attract players because of where we are, but we have a competitive budget. But that doesn't guarantee you anything.
"We try to play football the way we believe it should be played. Our fans know that we've got a little bit of an identity in how we play football. Lincoln are long ball. We're a football team."
Vince told BBC Radio Gloucestershire: "Our budget is nowhere near as big as people say it is.
"People just get carried away but that's football. Nobody at the club really cares about that."
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Even the richest clubs in the world can only go so far without a reliable goalscorer, and Forest Green certainly had one of those this season in the shape of former Dagenham and Redbridge frontman Christian Doidge.
His 27th goal of the campaign put Forest Green 2-1 up at Wembley this season, as he found the back of the net with a typically crisp finish.
"He is an unbelievable professional. If you had 11 or 12 of him in your squad, you wouldn't go far wrong," Cooper said.
"He's just desperate to be a footballer, works hard every day. And he's getting better and better. Someone said at the start of the season 'he'll never score 20 goals' - he's definitely shut them up."
So what of the future? Other so-called 'smaller clubs' have climbed through the divisions in recent years, including now-Championship outfit Burton Albion and League One play-off semi-finalists Fleetwood Town.
"The chairman is going to build a new stadium," Cooper, Forest Green's top scorer in 2001-02, continued, referring to Vince's plans for a new eco park and wooden stadium.
"That is 100% certain that will happen, knowing him. Right on the M5, it will be state-of-the-art, an unbelievable facility.
"As we grow, we will gradually attract more supporters and become even more sustainable."
Forest Green may be small - but having reached the EFL, they fully intend to take root. | They may be known as the 'little club on the hill', but Forest Green Rovers have reached new heights by winning promotion to the English Football League for the first time. |
38656523 | There are at least 14 suspected cases.
Most companies on the RHI scheme are based in mid-Ulster and north Antrim, according to information passed to the BBC.
A regional breakdown of installations published by the Stephen Nolan Show shows the biggest cluster is around Dungannon, County Tyrone.
There are 342 boilers there - about one-in-six of the total.
The Ulster Unionist economy spokesman Steve Aiken told the BBC that the Economy Minister, Simon Hamilton, has questions to answer.
"When you have a minister say there's potential for or likely to be fraud, and it hasn't been contradicted, i would think that's enough evidence for the PSNI to become involved in the situation".
The statistics, passed to the BBC, show the total of 2,128 recipients are split roughly between commercial and farming interests.
Around Ballymena and Ballymoney there are 276 boilers.
Poultry farmers are heavily represented, accounting for 871 of the installations.
The two main clusters are close to Moy Park's processing plants in Northern Ireland, in Ballymena and Dungannon.
Poultry farmers use the boilers to heat chicken houses where the birds are reared.
Many switched from LPG gas to biomass in recent years.
Other areas where there are significant numbers of boilers by postcode include Armagh which has 112 and Omagh which has 82.
Last week, Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir said a Moy Park briefing with his officials had raised "issues" about the operation of the RHI scheme.
Moy Park later issued a statement but made no reference to those issues.
On Monday, the former DETI minister Jonathan Bell claimed under assembly privilege that he had been told DUP special advisers Timothy Johnston and John Robinson had extensive interests in the poultry industry, and that he would not be allowed to reduce the RHI tariff as a result.
The DUP later issued a statement of categorical denial on behalf of both men.
John Robinson said he had "no personal interest" in the poultry industry. He said two of his brothers were poultry farmers but were not in the RHI.
Timothy Johnston said he had "no family connections to the poultry industry". He said he had two brothers in law in the poultry industry but neither had any connection with the RHI.
On Tuesday, Mr Bell said he was prepared to repeat allegations he made about the role played by special advisers in the RHI scheme, to a judge-led inquiry.
He was speaking during an an opposition debate in the Assembly calling for a public inquiry into the controversial scheme.
He also made further allegations about the RHI scheme - suggesting at least one DUP special adviser might have up to eight boilers. The party said it was an "outrageous claim".
MLAs later voted for a public inquiry to be called into the controversy in a debate where Sinn Féin were absent.
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme was an attempt by the Northern Ireland Executive to help to increase consumption of heat from renewable sources.
But flaws in setting the scheme's subsidy rate left it open to abuse as claimants could earn more cash the more fuel they burned, with the overspend estimated to be about £490m.
It has been centre stage in politics in Northern Ireland over the past month, with the resignation of Martin McGuinness as deputy first minister bringing the issue to a head.
Sinn Féin's refusal to re-nominate a deputy first minister on Monday left Secretary of State James Brokenshire with no option but to call fresh Assembly elections on 2 March.
Former first minister Arlene Foster set up the scheme in 2012 when she was enterprise minister. | The PSNI has said it is considering a request for the chief constable to investigate allegations of fraud in the Renewable Heat Scheme (RHI). |
33637226 | In 2014, he lasted just 70 days as Leeds boss and has worked for Swindon Supermarine and Coventry since then.
Hockaday, 57, claims he set up England's first football academy in Cirencester in the 1990s.
"After 20 years I've returned to it and will set up a super football academy," he told BBC Wiltshire.
"Twenty years ago I established the first football academy in this country, long before the academies we see in the pro game today. They followed my blueprint."
After leaving Leeds in August 2014 following just six games in charge, Hockaday joined non-league Swindon Supermarine as assistant manager on a temporary basis before becoming professional development coach at Coventry City in February until the end of last season.
Now he is turning his attention to developing young players in Wiltshire, an area he calls a "black hole" of talent.
"If you are an Under-16 player and think you are an exceptional, or you know someone who fits that description, then my academy will be the place for you," he said.
"The academy I had 20 years ago was the best and won everything. I don't shy away from the words elite and excellent and winning.
So I am going to set up the best academy in the area and then the country and I want the best local talent to come to my trials and see if they can get into my academy."
He added: "I believe massively in the talent in this country.
"We go wrong from the 15 to 19 age group which I call the twilight zone, I want to fill that gap.
"I had great success at Cirencester 20 years ago. People develop at different time scales, I believe there is a lot of talent in this country but there is no patience." | Former Leeds United head coach David Hockaday is to open a new talent academy in Wiltshire to train and develop Under-16 players. |
35806707 | The 15-year-old has been giving evidence in the trial at Leeds Crown Court since Tuesday.
She and her friend allegedly killed alcoholic Angela Wrightson in her home in Hartlepool, County Durham, in December 2014.
Mr Justice Globe told the jury the girl had a history of self-harming.
He said they would hear evidence from psychiatrists who had been in court to hear the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, giving evidence.
The judge said: "You're going to hear that [the girl] has had a number of incidents in the past of self-harming and there have been incidents of attempted suicide.
"In the context of her giving evidence, there have been three such incidents.
"One of them apparently occurred at the place where she's staying last Wednesday, the second one occurred while she was at this court last Friday and the third one occurred over the weekend.
"Being aware of these incidents, you will perhaps appreciate a bit more the reason why we have been so careful in relation to making sure she's alright and in a fit state to continue giving her evidence."
The court has been sitting for short days during the trial and the girl has been giving her evidence in half-hour time periods. She has been speaking via video link from a separate room.
The girl, who was 14 at the time, has admitted manslaughter and told the court she repeatedly hit and kicked Miss Wrightson but did not think she could die from her injuries.
The second younger girl, who is now 14 and was 13 at the time, says she played no part in the attack.
Miss Wrightson, who was 5ft 4ins and weighed six and a half stone, was found in her blood-spattered living room with more than 100 injuries.
Both girls admit to being present at the time the injuries were inflicted but deny murder.
The trial was adjourned until Tuesday. | One of two teenage girls accused of murdering a 39-year-old woman has tried to commit suicide three times in the last week, a jury has been told. |
39774783 | Margaret Lee flew from Tennessee to Amsterdam to meet someone she had been chatting with online.
The 16-year-old was arrested by Dutch police in the city of Zwolle over the weekend on suspicion of identity theft.
Police say she used her sister's passport to leave the country after hers was confiscated by her family.
Ms Lee ran away from her home in Clarksville on 1 April, according to the Montgomery County Sheriffs office.
She then flew to Amsterdam, via Iceland, by herself.
Dutch police began searching for the girl near The Hague, based on her details from her social media accounts.
Ms Lee was found by Dutch police at a train station in Zwolle, located about 75 miles (120km) east of Amsterdam.
She was reunited with her mother, who flew to the Netherlands to join the search.
Police have yet to reveal the identity of the person she travelled to meet.
It is also unclear whether she will face any criminal charges in both the Netherlands and the US. | An American teenager who ran away last month has been found in the Netherlands and reunited with her mum, but is reportedly refusing to return home. |
36576565 | Organisers have revealed the landmark and its rocky foundation will act as a canvas for animated projections charting 350 million years of history.
The free, ticketed event, called Deep Time, will be set to a specially-composed soundtrack by Mogwai.
It marks the start of Standard Life's three year sponsorship of the Edinburgh International Festival.
A viewing arena will be created on Castle Terrace for the late-night show on Sunday 7 August, developed by the company 59 Productions with academics from Edinburgh University.
It follows last year's, The Harmonium Project, which attracted thousands of festival-goers onto Lothian Road to see the transformation of the Usher Hall.
Leo Warner, creative director of 59 Productions, said: "Deep Time gives us an opportunity to build on the success of The Harmonium Project and to create a spectacular event that is more deeply connected to the story of the city."
Deep Time will explore the geology of a landscape formed by volcanic activity and the work of renowned Edinburgh scientist James Hutton (1726-1797), often referred to as the father of geology.
Standard Life chief executive Keith Skeoch said: "We are delighted to be supporting the Edinburgh International Festival in our sponsorship of this exciting and very unique opening event.
"This exciting highly-visual and visceral event is another great example of innovative and creative work which will be enjoyed by the live audience and millions of others through the power of social media and online."
Festival director Fergus Linehan said: "Standard Life has shown itself to be innovative and creative in its sponsorship of major events, and we look forward to working together to offer the people of Edinburgh and beyond a spectacular start to the summer festival season." | Edinburgh Castle will provide the backdrop for a show to mark the opening of this year's International Festival. |
35771805 | Mr Grayling, who wants Britain to leave the EU, warned the country could be shut out of decisions as the eurozone nations integrate further.
He also hit back at the PM's claim that Leave campaigners thought losing jobs was a "price worth paying" for exit.
He said leaving the EU "would create the opportunity for more jobs".
In his speech Mr Grayling warned that Mr Cameron's concession in his EU renegotiation that the UK would not stand in the way of eurozone integration could undermine its position.
"One of the inadvertent consequences of the renegotiation discussions is that we have agreed that Britain 'shall not impede the implementation of legal acts directly linked to the functioning of the euro area'. This is a significant - and underappreciated - loss of leverage," he said.
"We now lack a key tool in preventing further EU integration - which we might be dragged along into. In fact we may be in a worse situation than we were before."
BBC Assistant Political Editor Norman Smith said Mr Grayling and the other Leave campaigners were trying to switch focus back to Mr Cameron's deal, after all the "sound and fury" of recent days, as they believe this is what the referendum is meant to be about - and it is an issue they feel they can "win more easily on" than the economy.
Mr Grayling - one of six members of Mr Cameron's top team backing the Leave campaign - warned the UK would still be choosing to stay in an "unreformed EU which will Hoover up more money and more power at every opportunity it gets".
"The degree to which the European Union now governs our lives is not changed by this agreement," he said.
"The renegotiation has not returned powers to Parliament or the people elected and accountable to it."
The minister told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he had "huge respect" for the prime minister and was "enormously grateful" to him for allowing ministers to speak their minds ahead of 23 June referendum on whether Britain should remain in the EU.
He also claimed the government could work together after the referendum but the public expected a "grown-up discussion" on the EU, adding: "They don't expect us to be automatons."
Addressing Mr Cameron's claims - due to come in a speech to car workers later - that the Leave campaign believed "lost jobs and a dented economy might be... a price worth paying" - he said "European Union regulations cost jobs in the country".
"Outside the European Union, we can take decisions and make laws that are in our own national interest," he added.
Mr Cameron claimed to have secured protections for the City of London in his reform treaty, agreed last month at a Brussels summit.
He also secured an exemption for Britain from the EU's commitment to "ever closer union".
But Vote Leave, the cross-party group to which Mr Grayling is a member, is publishing research later that challenges this claim.
It will suggest the UK has "seemingly given up" its right to veto any future EU treaty drawn up to cement the process of economic and monetary union across the eurozone.
Mr Grayling told Today: "It is not a static situation. I believe we have already given up to much control now to the European Union to govern our affairs.
"But in future as they move to integrate further the danger is we will simply not be able to stop them doing things that will have an impact on us anyway."
He added: "As the eurozone moves towards being much more integrated, towards being a single government, the decisions they take will, nonetheless, impact on the City of London, for example." | Commons leader Chris Grayling has criticised David Cameron's EU reform deal, saying it could leave Britain in a "worse situation" than before. |
38762643 | Police were called on Wednesday night to the city's south side after a gang ambushed the vigil.
Among the victims was the mother of the 20-year-old dead woman whom mourners had gathered to remember.
Last year the Illinois city recorded 762 homicides, according to police records.
Police spokesman Ron Gaines said the 12-year-old girl suffered a bullet-graze wound to her head, and is currently in hospital in stable condition.
"Another gang saw them on social media and came out and shot up the memorial," community activist Jedidiah Brown told the Chicago Sun-Times.
"No regard for life, they shot up anybody who was there."
A 16-year-old boy and a 20-year-old woman are in hospital in a serious condition after suffering gunshot wounds, Officer Gaines said.
The other victims, ranging in age from 17 to 43, are in a stable condition.
No arrests have yet been made.
The attack came hours after President Donald Trump threatened to "send in the Feds" if Chicago officials are unable to stop the "carnage" of gun violence.
It is not clear what type of federal intervention Mr Trump had in mind for the city of 2.7 million people.
So far in 2017, 43 people have been killed in Chicago, according to the Chicago-Sun Times. | A 12-year-old girl was among six injured at a shooting during a memorial for a victim of gun violence in Chicago. |
35145300 | The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) said in a letter that the money to pay her came from "government corruption and human rights violations".
Minaj, 33, entertained thousands in the Angolan capital, Luanda, on Saturday.
The Christmas event was hosted by mobile phone company Unitel, which is part-owned by the family of Angola's President Jose Eduardo dos Santos.
Since the end of the conflict in 2002, Africa's second-largest oil producer has witnessed an economic boom, but critics of the elected government say the wealth has only benefited a small elite.
HRF's Thor Halvorssen wrote in the letter to Minaj last week that her participation in a performance sponsored by a government "involved in gross human rights violations would be improper".
Mr Halvorssen points out that Unitel is controlled by Isabel dos Santos, daughter of the president and said to be Africa's richest woman.
Transparency International recently named the billionaire as one of 15 symbols of grand corruption worldwide.
Two days after the accusation, Ms Dos Santos's company Fidequity issued a statement insisting it is an independent company and does not use public funds.
Before going on stage on Saturday, Minaj posted a photo of herself with Angola's flag on Instagram along with one of her posing with Isabel dos Santos with the words: "She's just the 8th richest woman in the world. (At least that's what I was told by someone b4 we took this photo) Lol. Yikes!!!!! GIRL POWER!!!!! This motivates me soooooooooo much!!!!"
Minaj also shared the stage with several local acts.
Her performance came a day after a judge ordered the release of 15 Angolan activists, including prominent rapper Luaty Beirao, who were arrested six months ago during a book reading where one of the books on the agenda was about non-violent resistance to repressive regimes.
The group will return to court next month for their trial's conclusion on charges of "rebellion" and attempting to carry out a "coup".
Minaj is not the only performer to be criticised by rights groups for their choice of gigs.
Singer Jennifer Lopez was criticised in 2013 for singing Happy Birthday to the leader of Turkmenistan, who was accused of human rights violations.
In 2011, Nelly Furtado said that she would give away $1m (£615,000) she was paid to perform for the family of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. | US rapper Nicki Minaj has gone ahead with a concert in Angola despite a rights group asking her to cancel it. |
30624897 | Eric Meyer described the feature as "jarring" and "wrong" after he logged on to discover a picture of his six-year-old daughter, who had died earlier in the year, was selected.
The photo album, which is automatically generated, includes photo uploads and wall posts that received the most "Likes" over the past 12 months.
Facebook say it is looking at ways to improve the app to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
In a blog Meyer wrote: "I know, of course, that this is not a deliberate assault.
"This inadvertent algorithmic cruelty is the result of code that works in the overwhelming majority of cases.
"The Year in Review ad keeps coming up in my feed. There wasn't enough thought given to cases like mine or anyone who had a bad year.
"The design is for the ideal user, the happy, upbeat, good-life user. It doesn't take other user cases into account."
Jonathan Gheller, product manager for Facebook, told the Washington Post that the social network site had been in touch with Mr Meyer.
Gheller said: "[The Year in Review feature is] awesome for a lot of people, but clearly in this case we brought him grief rather than joy."
Facebook has also seen complaints from users after pictures of deceased pets and an urn containing human remains were selected as "highlights" of the year.
Writer, Julieanne Smolinski, uploaded one of the images automatically chosen to select her best bits of 2014, a picture of her ex's house on fire.
She wrote: "So my (beloved) ex-boyfriend's apartment caught fire this year, which was very sad, but Facebook made it worth it."
The photo album, which users could personalise before sharing also ended with the caption, "See You Next Year!"
Facebook, which boasts 1.35 billion monthly active users, was launched in 2004.
The company also owns WhatsApp and Instagram.
Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube | Facebook has apologised over its Year in Review feature after some users complained about the images chosen to sum up their 2014. |
39209982 | Lisa Hauxwell, 48, was sentenced to 14 years in her absence in November 2016 for rape and indecent assault.
Hauxwell, from Darlington, was arrested in Newark, Nottinghamshire on Tuesday, police said.
Hauxwell, who police said was living as a man when found, was tracked down after dozens responded to the appeal.
Nottinghamshire Police said of the 48-year-old, who committed the crimes as Craig John Hauxwell: "The fugitive had carried out the offences while living as a man, but was sentenced under the name of Lisa."
Det Insp Yvonne Dutson of Durham Police said: "This a fantastic result and due entirely to the calls we had following the appeal on Crimewatch.
"We understand Hauxwell had been living at the address in Newark for several months, without anyone knowing his true identity."
The sex assaults took place in the Newton Aycliffe area of County Durham during 2001 and 2002.
The two rapes and seven indecent assaults were described by police as "horrendous".
Hauxwell will be handed over to police in Durham "in due course", police said. | An on-the-run sex offender who committed crimes as a man but was tried as a woman has been arrested following an appeal on BBC's Crimewatch. |
36511028 | The attacker threw a bottle containing explosives, which went off near a check-in counter in Terminal Two.
The man then took out a knife and stabbed his own neck, officials say.
In 2013 a man in a wheelchair detonated a bomb at Beijing airport to highlight a personal grievance. He was later sentenced to six years in prison.
The latest incident happened at about 15:00 (07:00) on Sunday.
Eyewitness Ni Bowen told the Associated Press news agency that she was waiting to check in at Pudong International Airport when there was a loud bang.
"A beer bottle filled with white smoke rolled right by my feet. I was scared and made off at once,'' she said.
The four victims sustained light wounds and are being treated in hospital. The unnamed attacker is said to be in a critical condition. | A man has set off a homemade explosive device at Shanghai international airport, injuring four people as well as himself, Chinese officials say. |
36592171 | Pacemen Ben Cotton (4-28) and Tony Palladino (4-30) shared most of the wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 164, before making 24-1 second time around for the loss of Daryl Mitchell.
Resuming on 319-3, Derbyshire finally declared on 467-5 after home skipper Billy Godleman's maiden double century.
His 204 was backed by New Zealand batsman Neil Broom, who made 93.
It was the second time in a month that Broom has been out in the nineties on this ground but, despite the loss of the entire first day, he and skipper Godleman have helped put Derbyshire in a potentially winning position.
The Derby wicket suddenly looked a different proposition when the visitors batted after lunch under the floodlights as they slumped to 18-5, Cotton taking 3-0 in six balls, before a stand of 66 between Ben Cox (40) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (29).
Ninth-wicket pair Matt Henry (31) and Ed Barnard (28) held up Worcestershire's expected follow-on with a stand of 55.
When they did bat again, Cotton quickly struck to remove out-of-form captain Mitchell for the second time in successive sessions, caught in the gully, as his side ended the day needing 279 runs to avoid a final-day innings defeat.
Derbyshire fast bowler Ben Cotton:
"It was great to see Billy get 200. We knew we had a good platform and it was our job to make early inroads.
"The early wickets set us up and we just kept going from there. We were relentless with the ball. There was just a fraction of movement off the wicket.
"When the lights are on the ball seems to go through a little bit more and that's why we got a little bit more bounce but we don't scientifically know why.
"That wicket before the close sets us up for tomorrow. We only have to take nine wickets to win the game."
Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes told BBC Hereford & Worcester:
"We had one of those days where we didn't apply ourselves. If that happens, you lose your wickets.
"But I don't want to be too critical because they've played really well this year and scored plenty of runs and everyone is entitled to a bad day.
"When you have fielded for that length of time while you are probably not physically feeling tired you are mentally not as sharp as you could be. I call that batting tired.
"But take nothing away from the Derby bowlers. They bowled really well. They were nice and fresh and had a new ball in their hand and a big score under their belts so you tend to run in with a real zest." | Derbyshire are in line for their first Championship home win since 2014 after forcing Worcestershire to follow on. |
35979802 | Jurors will decide if the supporters were unlawfully killed in the 1989 disaster.
The seven women and three men will also consider if fans' behaviour added to a dangerous situation outside the stadium in Sheffield.
The hearings are the longest running inquests in British legal history.
Liverpool had been due to play Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup semi-final on 15 April 1989.
But police asked for the match to be stopped six minutes in after noticing a crush on the terraces occupied by Liverpool fans.
Four hundred people needed hospital treatment after Britain's worst sports stadium disaster.
The jury will respond to a 14-section questionnaire on how the supporters died.
Four sections of it asks whether police "errors or omissions" caused or contributed to the dangerous situation at the match and the crush on the terraces.
Two other questions ask whether the police and ambulance service responses to the crushing "contributed to the loss of lives".
Question six asks if the 96 were unlawfully killed.
To answer yes to that question, jurors must be "sure" that Ch Supt David Duckenfield, who was in overall command of the police operation, was "responsible for the manslaughter by gross negligence" of the 96 who died.
Coroner Sir John Goldring has told them to put their "feelings" about the disaster "to one side" and to "assess the evidence dispassionately and without emotion".
The jury "should not make critical findings unless they are justified by the facts" but they "should not shrink from making such judgments if they are", he added.
He began his summing up on 25 January and had been speaking to the jury for 26 days in total.
Since the inquests began on 31 March 2014, it has heard from more than 500 witnesses, been shown more than 4,000 documents and watched footage from the day of the disaster.
The jury has heard how a dangerous crush built up before the match as Liverpool fans tried to enter the stadium.
Mr Duckenfield told the inquests he gave an order to open exit gates and allow the fans inside to relieve the pressure.
Around 2,000 supporters went into the ground through exit gate C. Many of them went down a sloping tunnel that led into fenced enclosures on the Leppings Lane terraces, which already had hundreds of fans inside.
The coroner has laid out four steps jurors must go through when answering question six in the questionnaire.
Only if they answer yes to each can they conclude the 96 were unlawfully killed.
For the final point to be proved, the jury has to be sure the match commander's breach in his duty of care was so bad that it amounted to a criminal act or omission, and that a "reasonably competent and careful" match commander in his position would have foreseen a "serious and obvious risk of death" to the supporters.
Read profiles of all those who died in the disaster
During his summing up, Sir John reminded the jury that Mr Duckenfield admitted several "mistakes", including that he did not think about where fans would go after opening gate C.
Sir John also referred to Mr Duckenfield's evidence that he believed many people contributed to the disaster, including the fans, with those who arrived late overwhelming police resources and the turnstiles.
The coroner has told the jury to consider his evidence "with great care".
He added: "You should make your judgments on his conduct by asking whether he could and should have acted differently in the situation he was facing.
"You should take into account the conditions he was facing when deciding what he should have done and what consequences he should have foreseen."
Sir John said there were "significant conflicts" in the evidence about what happened at the disaster.
One "highly controversial" area concerned what caused the crush among Liverpool fans before kick off, the coroner added.
He said some of the police officers who had given evidence were "critical of the behaviour of the supporters" in Leppings Lane.
But he said "many of the supporters gave evidence to a very different effect", saying the fans behaved "normally, sensibly" and "did not contribute to the dangerous situation in any significant way".
Sir John said: "This is a highly controversial part of the evidence of the day, and you will have to make your own assessment of that evidence and your own decisions as to what you accept and what you reject.
"You will have to resolve the conflict. No doubt, in doing so, you will consider all the witness evidence and the evidence of the [video] footage and photographs."
The jury will also answer questions about whether there were any defects in the stadium and if there was any "error or omission" in the licensing and local authority oversight of the ground.
There are questions about the conduct of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, both before the disaster and on the day, and of the club's engineers, Eastwood & Partners.
Legal teams for the families claimed that "coordinated efforts were being made to manipulate the evidence and present a false narrative of the disaster", Sir John said.
But he added the police involved in the process had "denied they had done anything improper" and were following the "guidance of experienced lawyers".
The coroner told the jury: "It is entirely a matter for you what view you take about the way in which statements were gathered and then amended. You will take your own view about the motivations of those involved." | The jury at the Hillsborough inquests into the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans has been sent out after hearing more than two years of evidence. |
36538217 | And there is no shortage of discussions about the benefits of leaving or remaining in the EU during this referendum campaign.
Issues have included the rights of EU citizens while studying in other European universities.
Also the value of exchange programmes, with Leave campaigners arguing little would change post-Brexit.
What are EU students entitled to?
Students coming to study in Wales from the European Union are entitled to the same grants to cover course fees as students from here.
That means EU and Welsh students are entitled to claim a grant of up to £5,190 a year towards tuition fees from the Welsh Government - although students from the rest of the UK do not qualify.
Jean Francois-Poncet, 22, originally from rural France, is studying international and European politics at Aberystwyth University and said equal treatment of EU students was a valuable principle.
"I got the grant from the Welsh Government - the great thing is it allowed me to meet people from different countries and study here," he said.
He added that the EU provides a platform for collaborative research and does not believe it could be replicated.
"The EU facilitates students moving from one university to another, acquiring knowledge and by the scientific community working together, enables it to be more effective."
How many students are there here - and studying in other EU countries?
As well as nearly 5,500 EU students in Wales, there are another 18,805 non-EU international students here.
There are no comprehensive figures on the number of Welsh people studying in other EU countries, but they too qualify for financial assistance in the host country.
Samuel Sparrenius Waters is a former pupil at Monmouth Comprehensive School, now studying at a business school in Amsterdam, where he can claim support from the Dutch government.
"I've always been keen into hotel management and specifically into business management as well and I found a university in the Netherlands which was number three in the world for hotel management," he said.
"It was not so much a conscious choice of wanting to go and study in the EU but more a choice of where the best schools were.
"Since we are an EU member I am able to apply for all of those loans and grants that Dutch students get. However, there are a few conditions on them, like I have to work a certain amount of hours per month in order to get a larger loan."
5,425 Students from the EU in Wales
2,335 successfully applied for tuition fee grants
£11.2m value of tuition fee grants to EU students
£24.1m paid into Welsh universities by EU students (2013/14)
EU support for building links
The Erasmus programme is one of the EU's most high profile schemes, giving support to study or train in other member countries and some outside the EU.
Those campaigning to Remain argue this scheme has offered invaluable opportunities to tens of thousands of student building links which lead to social, cultural and economic benefits.
But another Aberystwyth University student, Mark Norton, who is campaigning to Leave, argues these links are not dependent on Britain remaining in the EU and can still happen with countries outside its boundaries like Israel and Iceland.
He also said Welsh universities would still be attractive places to study.
"Britain currently has the highest fees paid by students but students from the European Union come here - that's more of a reflection of the excellence of the universities, not their costs, and I think the same people who study here would still come."
Last year, 80 Erasmus students from elsewhere in the EU studied at Aberystwyth University, while 58 Aberystwyth students went abroad.
They included Branwen Miles, an international politics and French student who spent a year in Strasbourg in France.
"I spent a year in the sciences po [political studies] part of the University of Strasbourg - taking courses in law, politics and history," she said.
"It gave me the opportunity to meet new people, to travel and just to see new things.
"You experience a different culture - a different way of living."
The referendum arguments are generally not focused on the value of these links to students, society and the economy.
Instead, it is a debate about whether these connections would be destroyed by pulling out of the EU or whether they would continue regardless. | Student campuses have historically been the centre of debates on the big political questions of the day. |
37311755 | The state prosecutor in Salzburg told the BBC that the men - Moroccan and Algerian nationals - were suspected of being accomplices of the attackers.
Salah Abdeslam, the only known surviving member of the jihadist team, has appeared in a Paris court for a third time, but again refused to speak.
The co-ordinated attacks were claimed by so-called Islamic State (IS).
The state prosecutor in Salzburg told the BBC that one of the suspects was a 26-year-old Moroccan and the other one was an Algerian citizen aged 40.
The pair, who have not been named in keeping with Austrian privacy laws, have been charged with being part of IS. They were reportedly arrested at a refugee centre last December.
They are suspected of helping two other suspects - whom Austria extradited to France this year - with "logistics as well as through gathering information and arranging contacts".
Those two extradited suspects have been identified by a number of media outlets as Algerian-born Adel Haddadi and Muhammad Usman, a Pakistani national.
They are believed to have been part of the same cell that carried out the Paris attacks.
In Paris, Salah Abdeslam again refused to answer questions from French anti-terror judges.
"He exercised his right to silence," Mr Abdeslam's lawyer Frank Berton told reporters.
Mr Abdeslam is believed to be angry about a 24-hour video surveillance of his prison cell in the high-security Fleury-Merogis jail just outside Paris.
In France, judges are responsible for investigating the case and questioning suspects ahead of any trial.
Salah Abdeslam is being investigated over charges of terrorism-related murder and attempted murder.
Arrested in Brussels in March after months on the run, he was transferred to French custody the following month.
His arrest took place just four days before bombings at Brussels airport and metro station, and he has been linked to several of the suspects believed to have carried out those attacks.
Belgian authorities have been accused of failing to connect him and his brother, Brahim Abdeslam, to ringleader Abdelhamid Abaaoud.
Brahim Abdeslam blew himself up on 13 November, while Abaaoud was killed during a police raid in Paris days afterwards.
The Belgian authorities have already admitted making serious blunders in the months leading up to the Paris and Brussels attacks. | Two men have been charged in Austria in connection with last November's Paris attacks which killed 130 people. |
35581976 | The men, three of whom have US or Canadian dual nationality, were arrested in August 2014.
Two went on trial in late 2015, while three were only charged last month with funding, supporting and co-operating with terrorist organisations.
The UN experts said there was credible information they had been tortured and forced to sign confessions.
Most were also suffering from serious health conditions as a result of their mistreatment and a lack of access to adequate medical care, the experts added.
The experts identified the detainees as Salim Alaradi, a Libyan-Canadian citizen; Kamal Ahmed al-Darrat and Mohamed Kamal al-Darrat, father and son, both Libyan-American citizens; and Adel Rajab Beleid Nasef and Moad Mohamed al-Hashmi, both Libyan citizens.
Following their arrest by State Security officials, the men were allegedly held incommunicado in secret detention locations and in solitary confinement for prolonged periods of time.
Mr Alaradi and Kamal and Mohamed al-Darrat were charged with funding, supporting and co-operating with alleged terrorist organisations on 18 January. Their trial was scheduled to open on Monday.
However, the UN experts expressed concern that the three men had been charged under a law that had not yet entered into force at the time of their arrest.
Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch said they had denied the charges and alleged they had been tortured into confessing links to the Muslim Brotherhood, which was designated a terrorist group by the UAE in November 2014.
Mr Nasef and Mr al-Hashmi have been charged in a separate case and their trial opened in late 2015.
The UAE government had no immediate comment on the experts' appeal on Monday.
The experts said they had been in contact with authorities previously and found their reply "unpersuasive". | UN human rights experts have urged the UAE to release five Libyans who they say are being detained arbitrarily. |
18059282 | The teenager played Sir William Walton's Cello Concerto with the Northern Sinfonia at the competition's final at The Sage in Gateshead.
Accepting the £2,000 prize, van der Heijden, from East Sussex, said she felt "amazing" and "so, so lucky".
She beat pianist Yuanfan Yang and Charlotte Barbour-Condini, the final's first ever recorder player.
Born in England to a Dutch father and a Swiss mother, van der Heijden started her musical education with the recorder at the age of four.
She soon progressed to the piano and then the cello at the age of six.
Since late 2008, she has been a student of the British-Russian cellist Leonid Gorokhov. Last year they performed together at the Brighton Festival and in Germany.
Her winning performance on Sunday was something of a risk as the Walton concerto is not a well-known piece.
"It's not played very often, but I think it deserves to be played," she said. "The colours and ideas in it... it's a very imaginative piece."
Conductor Kirill Karabits, who was leading the Sinfonia, said: "I really understand why she wanted to play that. It suits her really well. She enters in the music and it changes her."
The Young Musician contest is held biennially, and was previously known as Young Musician Of The Year.
The competition's last winner - pianist Lara Melda - gave a guest performance at Sunday's final.
Her predecessor, trombone player Peter Moore, became the youngest ever winner when he took the prize aged 12 in 2008. | Fifteen-year-old cellist Laura van der Heijden has won the BBC's Young Musician prize for 2012. |
36133214 | The 27-year-old Australian is on a season-long loan with the Red Devils, having missed the end of last season after being suspended by the Tigers.
The former Sydney Roosters and Canberra Raiders player has scored six tries in 12 outings so far this season.
"I feel right at home at Salford," Carney told the club website.
"[Owner] Marwan Koukash was there from day dot for me and there are a lot of people like Michael Dobson, Weller Hauraki and Junior Sa'u I have played with previously and I work well with."
Head coach Ian Watson added: "Justin is a real good bloke to have around the place.
"He is a 100-miles-per-hour player and he is the top metre-maker in the competition this year. That's a big plus for any team." | Salford Red Devils have confirmed the signing of on-loan Castleford winger Justin Carney on a three-year deal from next season. |
40741524 | It came as Coroner Sir Peter Thornton QC said plans to hold the hearings in September were "no longer viable".
Inquest lawyers have also asked Irish police to interview self-confessed IRA bomber Michael Hayes.
Twenty-one people died when two bombs were detonated in the city in 1974.
A pre-inquest review in Birmingham was told by lawyers for Sir Peter that "a request to the Irish Gardai to interview Mr Hayes" had been made.
Gardaà (Irish police) told the BBC: "While we do not discuss named individuals, we can confirm that Gardaà have received a request for assistance from the West Midlands Police, UK, through Interpol and we are facilitating their request."
Mr Hayes, 69, recently told a BBC interview that he accepted "collective responsibility" for the bombing but did not know who planted the devices.
Peter Skelton QC, counsel to the inquests, added: "We're discussing our involvement in any interview with West Midlands Police."
The force also confirmed that it was "also considering an application for Mr Hayes to be interviewed".
Hours before the review took place, Justice4the21, the main campaign group representing many of the relatives, said it will "no longer participate" in the hearings.
The families were "devastated" when Sir Peter ruled out naming the IRA suspects believed to be behind the attack.
The group said its decision was based on the fact that material held by Devon and Cornwall Police, which reviewed the original criminal investigation, had not been disclosed.
It added it was seeking a judicial review of the coroner's ruling on the scope of future inquests.
Sir Peter said the possible judicial review application meant the September timeframe was no longer viable.
He said it was "unlikely the inquests will commence until certainly December, maybe later - maybe substantially later - I just cannot say at the moment".
The victims' families have fought for years to have the inquests reopened. Hearings were held days after the bombings but closed without hearing any evidence.
No one has been charged with the attacks since six men were freed from prison in 1991. | Families of the Birmingham pub bombings victims have announced they will not attend the fresh inquests after the coroner ruled out naming alleged suspects in evidence. |
39991889 | Hassan Minhaj hosted the the White House Correspondents' Dinner in April - an event President Trump snubbed.
Speaking to the BBC, Minhaj said there was "something cool" happening in response to Mr Trump's policies.
He said the political atmosphere was such that it gave him an unexpected opportunity to host the correspondents' dinner.
Speaking during a Facebook Live Q&A with the BBC, Minhaj said he would "probably not" have been given such an opportunity had Hillary Clinton won last November's election.
"I think the narrative of the country would have been different," he said. "I think the collective feeling around who the White House Correspondents' Association should choose to represent, and be the comedian that night - that narrative would have been different."
Mr Trump became the first commander-in-chief to skip the dinner since 1981, when then-President Ronald Reagan was recovering from a gunshot wound.
During his election campaign, Mr Trump said he would establish a register of Muslims and since then, he has attempted but failed to introduce bans on people from seven Muslim-majority nations travelling to the US.
Those moves were met with protests, but Minhaj - a Muslim-American - said the policies had sparked a response among Asian-American and Muslim comedians, adding that "there's something amazing in the chai right now".
Six takes from the White House Correspondents' dinner
How much has Trump achieved so far?
"What I think is really cool is there's different shades of the narrative," said Minhaj, who appears on The Daily Show on Comedy Central. "People are bringing their own personal perspectives, and everyone's being unapologetically themselves."
Minhaj is not the only comedian to have benefited from a Donald Trump presidency - the TV show Saturday Night Live, which has regularly skewered the president and his cabinet, has reported its highest ratings in about 20 years.
Wajahat Ali, an author and New York Times contributor who was also a guest of the Facebook session, said he wanted to thank Mr Trump for helping give comedians a voice.
The policies of the White House had, he said, "awakened slumbering giants, queens and kings, princes and princesses, who had stayed dormant". He added: "Sometimes it takes a crisis to wake up." | Comedians have a new-found energy in the era of Donald Trump, says a rising US comedy star. |
37189134 | Financial analysts Deloitte say top flight clubs' gross spending hit £880m on Thursday - beating the £870m set in last year's summer transfer window.
At the same stage last year clubs had spent £685m.
Dan Jones from Deloitte's sports business group said: "This is the fourth summer in a row where we have seen record-breaking spending."
He added: "This is particularly striking considering we still have the best part of a week to go before deadline day.
"With the third round of games in the new Premier League season to come this weekend and a number of clubs keen to strengthen with a view to competing in European and domestic cup competitions, total spending in this window will likely break the £1bn barrier for the first time."
Premier League clubs are benefitting from a new £5.1bn television deal coming into force, meaning they have more spending power.
Earlier this month Manchester United set a new British transfer record when they spent £89m on Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.
But some managers have complained that British clubs are being asked to pay too much for players on the back of the TV deal. Chelsea boss Antonio Conte last week said the market was "crazy", and that he was being asked to "pay £50m for medium players".
The transfer window in England closes at 23:00 BST on 31 August.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | Premier League clubs have broken their transfer spending record with six days of the transfer window to go. |
39311084 | The National Youth Advocacy Services (Nays) said some youngsters are waiting weeks for assessments, with some placed in adult accommodation while they wait.
A report said this raised "safeguarding issues" for unaccompanied children.
Cardiff council said it did not believe there was a delay in the process.
The authority said young people were placed in suitable accommodation while assessments were being completed.
The Cardiff Nays team, which acts as a guardian for the unaccompanied children, raised concerns about the support given by the council's children's services department.
Between August 2016 and January 2017, Nays saw an increase in referrals from unaccompanied young asylum seekers looking for advocacy during the age check process.
The report pointed to "inconsistencies" where young people are housed while the age checks are carried out, with some getting support from the service while others do not.
"Some of these young people are then later assessed as children and have not been in receipt of looked-after services whilst other unaccompanied asylum seeking young people are accommodated pending assessment and get the full ambit of services," the report said.
"Such a practice also raises safeguarding issues for this vulnerable group of young people who find themselves placed in adult accommodation."
The report, considered by the council on Tuesday, also highlighted issues with children seeking support from the department during their asylum claim.
It said feedback from the service pointed to "capacity issues" in attending solicitors appointments, court hearings and if they are detained in an immigration centre.
"Whist we recognise that children's services have limited resources they have a duty of care for this extremely vulnerable group who urgently require robust intervention and support at this difficult and traumatic point in their lives," the report said.
Last year, Monmouth Conservative MP David Davies came under fire from dentists after suggesting unaccompanied child migrants entering the UK should be given mandatory teeth checks to reassure people about their age.
In a joint statement, Cardiff council cabinet members Susan Elsmore and Sue Lent said they were "surprised" by Nyas' concerns as they had not previously been raised.
They said the authority had a sufficient number of social workers undertaking the age checks and young people were placed in suitable accommodation while assessments were completed.
"City of Cardiff Council is proud of its commitment to supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking children," they said.
"Indeed at very short notice, in October and November last year, we were the only Welsh authority to set up reception facilities for children arriving from Calais.
"We continue to support the most unaccompanied asylum seeking children in Wales."
The council has asked Nyas for specific examples of age check delays.
Nyas was asked to comment. | Child asylum seekers arriving in Cardiff are being put at risk due to "substantial" delays in checks to verify their age, an advocacy agency has said. |
35744204 | A top division of eight teams will be introduced next year, down from nine, with 10 counties in the second.
Each county will now play 14 games rather than 16, while the Royal London One-Day Cup moves to early season.
"The changes for 2017 will be good for fans, players and our international teams," ECB chairman Colin Graves said.
One-Day Cup group games in April and May ahead of a July final does away with the end-of-season Lord's showpiece, and allows the T20 Blast to take centre stage in the second half of the season.
A two-tier T20 Blast has been rejected, at least until the next broadcast deal in 2019, when plans to change the competition to a city-based franchise tournament could also be revived.
Four-day cricket will again largely take a break during July and August.
"The season is easier to follow," Graves added. "The blocks help players focus on specific skills, and there's a better balance across all three formats."
In Short: County cricket needs a new tournament - Vaughan
Have you added the new Top Story alerts in the BBC Sport app? Simply head to the menu in the app - and don't forget you can also add alerts for the Six Nations, cricket scores, your football team and more. | Only one team will be promoted from Division Two of the County Championship this summer in order to reduce the number of top-tier teams in 2017. |
28237052 | Local elites and communities protect pirates because they lack an income, says the study by two UK universities.
The EU, US and China have all sent ships to the waters off Somalia in order to keep shipping lanes safe.
This has led to a decline in attacks off the Somali coast, with the UN estimating that about 40 people are still being held by pirates.
At the peak of their activity three years ago, the pirates held more than 700 crew members and more than 30 ships.
The World Bank estimates that pirates netted more than $400m (£230m) in ransom money between 2005 and 2012.
Somalia has been a largely lawless state since the fall of long-serving ruler Siad Barre in 1991.
Warlords, religious groups and clans have been fighting for control of Somalia.
The study, by the University of Oxford and King's College London and published in the British Journal of Criminology, says Somalia witnessed a surge in pirate attacks when territory was contested or elections took place.
This suggested the behaviour of clan leaders in Somalia was similar to that of politicians in Italy and Taiwan, who extended protection to criminals when they needed extra funds to further political ambitions, the study adds.
"Local communities support pirates when there isn't a better alternative income stream," said Federico Varese, a co-author of the report based at the University Oxford.
"By improving the infrastructure of Somalia, building new harbours and roads to link the remote areas to trade routes, our research concludes that poorer communities would be less likely to resort to piracy," he added.
People in Somalia's north-eastern city of Bosasso cut ties with pirates once the economy grew, the study says.
"As the city regained its importance as a major trading port for livestock and an import centre for the wider region, pirates were no longer tolerated - pirate hostages were freed and pirates were imprisoned by the local clan leaders," the study adds. | Building roads and harbours in Somalia is a better way of tackling piracy than deploying warships, a study says. |
37857457 | Ron Jones, of Bassaleg, has been collecting for The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal for more than 30 years.
He was a prisoner of war in the Nazi death camp Auschwitz while serving in the 1st Battalion of the Welch Regiment during World War Two.
The Royal British Legion said he was one of its oldest poppy collectors and described him as "a true hero".
Mr Jones, who sells the poppies at Tesco on the Harlech Retail Park, had planned to retire last year but after carrying on for another 12 months has finally called it a day.
He said he was stepping down as he no longer had a car and had to rely on others for a lift.
"I've met a lot of people, it's an important cause," the grandfather-of-two said.
"I have made a lot of friends which has been nice."
Mr Jones was captured in 1943 while fighting in the Middle East and after nine months in Italy was transferred to forced labour camp E715, part of the Auschwitz complex.
He has previously recounted his experiences at the camp where he worked six days a week in a factory and being permitted to play football with his fellow soldiers on Sunday.
Lynne Woodyatt, The Royal British Legion's community fundraiser for south east Wales, said: "Ron is one of our oldest poppy collectors and one that we hold in very high regard.
"The poppy appeal is something very close to Ron's heart and I have no doubt that he would miss being involved as much as we at the legion, and the general public, would miss him.
"He is a true hero and a gentleman. But whatever he decided to do we will support him." | A former soldier from Newport is set to retire from selling poppies at the age of 99. |
29790933 | Media playback is unsupported on your device
27 October 2014 Last updated at 18:17 GMT
A nurse quarantined in New Jersey after treating Ebola patients in Sierra Leone will be discharged after being symptom-free for 24 hours.
And the World Health Organization (WHO) says more than 10,000 people have been infected with Ebola in the outbreak that came to light last March, and nearly half of them have died, mostly in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Here is the latest Ebola news for Monday 27 October - in 15 seconds. | The head of the UN's Ebola Response Mission says hundreds more foreign health workers are needed to tackle the outbreak in West Africa. |
38539427 | The 28-year-old met Michail Antonio's cross in mid-air to hit a left-footed effort that tore past Eagles keeper Wayne Hennessey to make it 2-0.
Sofiane Feghouli had put the hosts ahead from close range earlier in the second half for his first Premier League goal.
Manuel Lanzini sealed victory late on with a sublime chip over the advancing Hennessey to leave Palace boss Sam Allardyce still searching for his first win.
Relive the action from London Stadium.
Reaction to all Saturday's Premier League games.
The result moved West Ham up into 12th place, while Palace only stay out of the relegation zone on goal difference.
Palace had looked comfortable in the first half, but they did not force West Ham keeper Darren Randolph into making a meaningful save until the dying minutes of the match.
Carroll admitted afterwards that he had tried something similar to his brilliant goal in training during the week, but that his effort had hit the post that time.
The old adage about never leaving your best on the training ground seems apt here.
Carroll told BBC Sport: "It's been a while in the making - I've been trying for a couple of years. It's got to be the best goal I've scored."
Carroll's attempts at scissor kicks in practice had left manager Slaven Bilic more than a little worried.
"With his history of injuries I go a bit crazy when he does that in training because you don't want him to get hurt," admitted the West Ham coach, while his Palace counterpart had nothing but admiration for the goal and its execution.
"It's a terrific finish from Andy Carroll and he's always had that in his locker," said Allardyce. "The volley was outstanding."
The goal also impressed Chris Sutton and Martin Keown on BBC's Final Score, with former striker Sutton describing it as a "contender for goal of the season."
Media playback is not supported on this device
Keown compared Carroll's effort favourably with Olivier Giroud's 'scorpion' goal, also scored against Palace.
"There's a lot of instinct involved, but he knows what he's doing. Is it better than Giroud's scorpion? There was an element of chance with Giroud but Carroll knows exactly what he's doing," he said.
Much of the build-up to this match had revolved around West Ham's Dimitri Payet, who manager Slaven Bilic had revealed "does not want to play" for the club any more.
Bilic omitted the French midfielder from his matchday squad altogether, and his side looked to be lacking the kind of spark needed to break down a resilient Palace defence.
But a tactical switch from the Hammers boss, which saw Sam Byram replace Angelo Ogbonna at half-time, reaped dividends with a host of chances coming thanks to the rejigged four-at-the-back formation.
Antonio menaced the Palace backline throughout the second half, and Lanzini popped up where Payet may have been had he played, but the errant midfielder will have slipped out of many minds following this fine second-half display by Bilic's side.
Allardyce had to deal with speculation over Christian Benteke's future prior to the game, stating that the Belgian international was "not for sale" and had a "big part to play" following rumours that the 26-year-old could leave a mere five months after he moved to Selhurst Park.
The striker made his presence felt, catching West Ham defender James Collins with his arm in the first half, and could have put his side ahead if their best chance had fallen to him rather than James Tomkins.
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The ex-West Ham player stabbed the ball across the goal rather than on target from close range in what turned out to be the closest the Eagles came to scoring.
The south London side, who have now gone seven games without a win and are level on points with Hull City, look in need of fresh blood during the current transfer window.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: "Payet is a great player so you are losing quality, but the team showed it is about the team and not individuals. This is a great example for that.
"So let's talk about Carroll, or Darren Randolph, or Mark Noble. Michail Antonio had flu and a temperature of 38.4C last night. He showed brilliant determination, brilliant quality. That's what I want to talk about."
Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce: "We don't have the capability to make sure we don't lose. That's the first thing to put right at a struggling club and at the moment we don't know how to get that result.
"Today after 70 minutes we didn't look in any real trouble, but once we gifted them the first goal we lost our shape and our discipline.
West Ham travel to Middlesbrough on Saturday, 21 January at 15:00 GMT, while Palace have two games in the next week. They replay Bolton Wanderers at home in the third round of the FA Cup on Tuesday, 17 January at 20:00, then host Everton next Saturday at 15:00.
Match ends, West Ham United 3, Crystal Palace 0.
Second Half ends, West Ham United 3, Crystal Palace 0.
Attempt blocked. Damien Delaney (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Yohan Cabaye (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Sam Byram (West Ham United).
Attempt missed. Loïc Remy (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Jeffrey Schlupp.
Foul by Yohan Cabaye (Crystal Palace).
Andy Carroll (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Joel Ward (Crystal Palace).
Sam Byram (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, West Ham United. Ashley Fletcher replaces Michail Antonio.
Offside, Crystal Palace. Yohan Cabaye tries a through ball, but Christian Benteke is caught offside.
Substitution, West Ham United. Edimilson Fernandes replaces Manuel Lanzini.
Manuel Lanzini (West Ham United) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
Goal! West Ham United 3, Crystal Palace 0. Manuel Lanzini (West Ham United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Michail Antonio following a fast break.
James Tomkins (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Andy Carroll (West Ham United).
Foul by Loïc Remy (Crystal Palace).
Pedro Obiang (West Ham United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jeffrey Schlupp replaces Joe Ledley.
Goal! West Ham United 2, Crystal Palace 0. Andy Carroll (West Ham United) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Michail Antonio with a cross.
Foul by Jason Puncheon (Crystal Palace).
Sofiane Feghouli (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Michail Antonio (West Ham United) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Manuel Lanzini.
Attempt missed. Loïc Remy (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Christian Benteke with a headed pass.
Attempt missed. Lee Chung-yong (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Attempt blocked. Loïc Remy (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jason Puncheon.
Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Mark Noble.
Hand ball by Andy Carroll (West Ham United).
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Lee Chung-yong replaces James McArthur.
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Loïc Remy replaces Andros Townsend.
Sam Byram (West Ham United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Goal! West Ham United 1, Crystal Palace 0. Sofiane Feghouli (West Ham United) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Michail Antonio.
Attempt missed. Sam Byram (West Ham United) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right misses to the left. Assisted by Pedro Obiang.
Attempt missed. Manuel Lanzini (West Ham United) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Foul by James Tomkins (Crystal Palace).
Andy Carroll (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Hand ball by Joe Ledley (Crystal Palace). | Andy Carroll scored with a stunning volley as West Ham beat Crystal Palace at London Stadium. |
30126430 | Messi finally matched Telmo Zarra's 251 goals with a fantastic free-kick, having failed to score in his last three La Liga matches.
Sevilla levelled through a Jordi Alba own goal, but Neymar made it 2-1.
Ivan Rakitic scored a header before Messi's record breaker from a counter-attack and goal number 253 came after a one-two with Neymar.
The 27-year-old's goal tally is all the more remarkable given his goals have come in only 250 starts for Barcelona.
Earlier in the month, Messi drew level with Raul's all-time Champions League record of 71 goals after scoring twice in Barcelona's 2-0 victory against Ajax.
"Messi is without doubt the best player I've seen as a player and a coach," said Barca manager Luis Enrique after that feat.
Against Sevilla he was in irresistible form, equalling the record with a breathtaking free-kick around the wall and past goalkeeper Beto to give Barca a 1-0 lead.
He struck again from close range in the 72nd minute and scored a third goal six minutes later with a powerful low drive from the edge of the penalty area.
After scoring the goal that took him past Zarra's total, Messi's team-mates picked him up and threw him into the air several times while the crowd at the Nou Camp roared its approval.
The legendary Zarra scored 251 goals in a 15-year stay at Athletic Bilbao in the 1940s and 50s.
Messi, who joined Barca's academy at the age of 13, has taken 10 seasons to overhaul Zarra - also setting a record for goals in a single campaign with 50 in 2011-12.
The Argentine became became the third-youngest player to play for Barcelona when he made his debut aged 17 years and 114 days in October 2004 and scored his first senior goal for the club against Albacete Balompie the following May.
Match ends, Barcelona 5, FC Sevilla 1.
Second Half ends, Barcelona 5, FC Sevilla 1.
Foul by Adriano (Barcelona).
Iago Aspas (FC Sevilla) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, FC Sevilla. Conceded by Gerard Piqué.
Foul by Dani Alves (Barcelona).
Vitolo (FC Sevilla) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Gerard Piqué (Barcelona).
Kevin Gameiro (FC Sevilla) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt saved. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Neymar.
Corner, FC Sevilla. Conceded by Adriano.
Offside, FC Sevilla. Iago Aspas tries a through ball, but Gerard Deulofeu is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Neymar (Barcelona) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt missed. Adriano (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Iago Aspas (FC Sevilla).
Rafinha (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Vitolo (FC Sevilla).
Substitution, Barcelona. Adriano replaces Jordi Alba.
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Gerard Deulofeu.
Goal! Barcelona 5, FC Sevilla 1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Neymar.
Substitution, Barcelona. Rafinha replaces Xavi.
Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Grzegorz Krychowiak (FC Sevilla).
Substitution, Barcelona. Pedro replaces Luis Suárez.
Substitution, FC Sevilla. Iago Aspas replaces Carlos Bacca.
Goal! Barcelona 4, FC Sevilla 1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Neymar following a fast break.
Dani Alves (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Diogo Figueiras (FC Sevilla).
Attempt missed. Jordi Alba (Barcelona) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Luis Suárez with a through ball.
Neymar (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Éver Banega (FC Sevilla).
Offside, FC Sevilla. Beto tries a through ball, but Carlos Bacca is caught offside.
Dangerous play by Luis Suárez (Barcelona).
Daniel Carriço (FC Sevilla) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Goal! Barcelona 3, FC Sevilla 1. Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona) header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Luis Suárez with a cross.
Neymar (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Coke (FC Sevilla).
Corner, FC Sevilla. Conceded by Sergio Busquets.
Attempt missed. Grzegorz Krychowiak (FC Sevilla) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Kevin Gameiro. | Barcelona's Lionel Messi became the Spanish league's all-time top scorer with a hat-trick against Sevilla. |
38217512 | Media playback is not supported on this device
After a goalless 90 minutes, Plymouth were awarded a penalty in the first half of extra time only for Paul Garita to hit the post.
But Carey made no mistake with Argyle's second spot kick after Darren Jones' rash challenge on David Goodwillie.
Argyle will be away to Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool on Sunday, 8 January.
The second-round replay saw League Two's bottom side host the division's leaders after the original tie had ended 0-0 at Home Park.
Chances had been at a premium for both sides in normal time until the last quarter, when fog descended on Rodney Parade.
County's Josh O'Hanlon was denied by Luke McCormick while at the other end Joe Day made a good save to thwart Plymouth midfielder Carey.
Jordan Green fired wide for Newport early in extra time before the visitors were awarded a penalty with Jennison Myrie-Williams adjudged to have handled the ball.
Garita, on loan from Bristol City, hit the post and Newport cleared the danger.
But Argyle converted their second penalty of the game with top-scorer Carey sealing a lucrative trip to Anfield in the new year.
Match ends, Newport County 0, Plymouth Argyle 1.
Second Half Extra Time ends, Newport County 0, Plymouth Argyle 1.
Attempt missed. David Goodwillie (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is too high. Assisted by Paul Garita.
Foul by Josh Sheehan (Newport County).
Connor Smith (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jennison Myrie-Williams (Newport County).
David Goodwillie (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt blocked. Connor Smith (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is blocked.
Jazzi Barnum-Bobb (Newport County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by David Goodwillie (Plymouth Argyle).
Substitution, Newport County. Abdoulaye Méité replaces Joss Labadie because of an injury.
Goal! Newport County 0, Plymouth Argyle 1. Graham Carey (Plymouth Argyle) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Penalty conceded by Darren Jones (Newport County) after a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty Plymouth Argyle. David Goodwillie draws a foul in the penalty area.
Attempt saved. Josh Sheehan (Newport County) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Darren Jones.
Attempt blocked. Jordan Slew (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by David Fox.
Jordan Slew (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Joss Labadie (Newport County).
Foul by Jordan Slew (Plymouth Argyle).
Joss Labadie (Newport County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Joss Labadie (Newport County) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a corner.
Corner, Newport County. Conceded by Oscar Threlkeld.
Oscar Threlkeld (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jordan Green (Newport County).
Second Half Extra Time begins Newport County 0, Plymouth Argyle 0.
First Half Extra Time ends, Newport County 0, Plymouth Argyle 0.
Attempt saved. Rhys Healey (Newport County) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Josh O'Hanlon with a headed pass.
Foul by Gary Miller (Plymouth Argyle).
Josh Sheehan (Newport County) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. Scot Bennett (Newport County) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Rhys Healey with a headed pass.
Foul by David Goodwillie (Plymouth Argyle).
Joss Labadie (Newport County) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Paul Garita (Plymouth Argyle).
(Newport County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Penalty missed! Still Newport County 0, Plymouth Argyle 0. Paul Garita (Plymouth Argyle) hits the left post with a right footed shot.
Penalty conceded by Jennison Myrie-Williams (Newport County) with a hand ball in the penalty area.
Corner, Plymouth Argyle. Conceded by Joss Labadie.
Attempt blocked. Jordan Slew (Plymouth Argyle) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Rhys Healey (Newport County) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Josh Sheehan.
Jordan Slew (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half. | Plymouth Argyle secured an FA Cup third-round tie at Liverpool as Graham Carey's extra-time penalty ensured they won their replay at Newport County. |
36443013 | Keziah Flux-Edmonds was discovered lying next to the bodies of her father, Darren Flux-Edmonds, 44, and two dogs in East Cowes on Wednesday.
She was taken to St Mary's Hospital in Newport but died a short time later.
More than 200 neighbours, family and school friends gathered at the home in Cromwell Avenue, on Thursday evening.
As flowers, toys and candles were laid outside the house, Keziah's favourite song "Roar" by Katy Perry was played.
Pupils and teachers at Keziah's school, Queensgate Foundation Primary, will be offered support after the half term holiday.
Family friend, Lucie McMahon said: "How do you explain it to five and six-year-olds? The best way you can explain it is that she's gone to the stars."
Hampshire Constabulary said Keziah's mother was being supported by specialist officers.
Isle of Wight councillor Julia Baker-Smith, who lives nearby, said: "We're absolutely shocked and saddened.
"The whole community is grief-stricken, by what's happened."
Investigations into the exact circumstances of the deaths are ongoing. | Hundreds of people have gathered on the Isle of Wight for a candlelit vigil after a six-year-old girl and her father were found dead. |
35299984 | The fire broke out at Housing Options premises on High Street in the city centre at around 19:20 GMT.
Fire investigators have been at the scene and inquires are continuing.
Anyone with information about the man or the incident has been asked to call 101. | Police investigating a suspicious fire at a Swansea council housing office have released images of a man they want to speak to in connection with the blaze. |
24533511 | Mike Nicholson said universities and schools were worried about the limited evidence available on reforming exams.
He said plans to make AS-levels a stand-alone qualification would hinder attempts to increase the numbers of disadvantaged students doing degrees.
Ministers said single exams would end the "test treadmill" in sixth-forms.
Speaking at a Westminster Education Forum in central London, Mr Nicholson, who is director of undergraduate admissions and outreach at Oxford University, said changing A-levels was "another great example of a government's tendency to meddle in things they should probably just leave alone".
He said: "There is widespread concern, not restricted to the secondary-school sector, but also to higher education, about the limited evidence that there is need for any change and widespread concern that the impact of bringing in both GCSE and A-level changes at the same time is going to just wreck the English education system.
"Part of the problem is a total misunderstanding and confusion over activities and information that is in the public domain," he said.
Under the government's plans, teenagers will no longer take "modular" A-levels with exams throughout but "linear" A-levels with exams at the end of the two-year course.
AS-levels will be separated from A-levels to form a qualification in their own right.
Mr Nicholson said that there was an assumption that linearity was good, partly because some universities still operated a system of exams at the end of a three-year degree course. But he added that universities had "managed to cope with modularity".
He said students also applied for degree courses with different types of qualifications, including the International Baccalaureate, the Cambridge Pre-U and A-levels.
Mr Nicholson also raised concerns about the planned changes to the AS-level.
"The loss of AS-levels will have tragic consequences for widening participation and access to higher education.
"AS-levels are excellent because they give students a very clear indication of what they are capable of achieving.
"The real danger is students will plough on believing that they may not be capable of applying to a highly selective course, but equally believing that they are capable of applying to a highly selective and competitive course.
"Losing AS-levels will have a really significant result on the likelihood of students from a disadvantaged background progressing to higher education."
Source: Russell Group
Mr Nicholson also said there were misconceptions around the A-level subjects that Russell Group universities - which are considered among the best in the UK - required from prospective students.
In 2009 - following calls for universities to be clearer about their admissions procedures - the Russell Group published a list of subjects that tended to be required more often than others.
Mr Nicholson told Tuesday's forum:"We tried to respond and give advice. That however has been totally misinterpreted. It states very clearly in the document what the intention is.
"People choose to ignore that and say what it's basically saying is here are the 12 subjects that will guarantee you a place at a Russell Group university.
"That's total nonsense. If you believe that's the case then I'm sorry but you are deluded."
He also said that no university required students to have the government's English Baccalaureate at GCSE. This covers English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography.
"If anything, with GCSEs, we much prefer students to have high grades across a range of subjects," Mr Nicholson said.
A spokeswoman for the Department for Education said: "We are putting universities, not politicians, in charge of A-levels to ensure they prepare children for work and higher education.
"According to [the exams watchdog] Ofqual, the clear majority of universities favour A-level predictions over AS-levels as an indicator of ability.
"Returning A-levels to single exams will end the test treadmill in sixth-forms - something which many teachers complain about." | Plans to overhaul A-levels and GCSEs could "wreak havoc" to the exams system in England, Oxford University's admissions tutor has said. |
25654155 | Some of the largest oil fields China operates are in areas controlled by fighters backing Riek Machar, the country's vice-president until he was sacked in July.
Oil production has already dropped by 20% since the onset of the conflict three weeks ago and more than 300 Chinese workers have been evacuated.
The spectre of their Libyan experience also weighs heavily on the Chinese minds - project after project now lies deserted because of heavy fighting during the Arab Spring uprising of 2011, inflicting huge losses on China.
It is no surprise then that China is putting its full weight behind the peace talks in Addis Ababa.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in the Ethiopian capital on Monday and made it clear that China wanted both sides to stop fighting and seek a reasonable and rational way out.
According to media reports, he was even willing to mediate personally between the warring sides.
It is unclear if Mr Wang has been able to do this, but his message was important, reports the BBC's Emmanuel Igunza from Addis Ababa.
It demonstrates how seriously the international community is taking the crisis - with many diplomats present at the talks, he says.
Apart from China's Africa envoy Zhong Jianhua, US special envoy Donald Booth and EU special representative Alexander Rondos are also attending.
China invested some $20bn (£12bn) in Sudan before it split into two countries in 2011, according to Chinese media reports.
Another $8bn was pledged to President Kiir during his visit to China the year following secession, to be used for infrastructure projects and the oil sector.
The heavy investment seems to have borne fruit, as in the first 10 months of 2013, China imported 1.9 million tonnes of oil (nearly 14 million barrels) from South Sudan, twice as much as China imports from Nigeria each year.
Though amounting to less than 1% of China's total oil imports, it makes up roughly two-thirds of oil exported by the world's youngest nation and is expected to increase.
Two years ago, China suffered heavy losses in its Libyan projects, including infrastructure, telecommunications and oil.
Many constructions were halted and sites looted or destroyed during the revolution which toppled long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi.
The total loss was estimated by several Chinese media reports to be in the region of $20bn, although no official figures exist.
Compensation talks with the new Libya government stalled as their priority was very much on nation-building and improving the living conditions of the Libyan people.
Experts point out that China has taken tremendous risks in its search for oil.
This is because the country's economic boom continues to require a great deal of oil - home production is limited and reliance on exports reached 56% in 2012.
But all the known global markets have been dominated by Western companies or have been off-limits because of sanctions, leaving China with little choice but to adopt high-risk strategies.
Nowadays, more than half of China's investment in the overseas oil sector is found in areas which are considered unstable, including Iran, Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan and Venezuela.
Chinese workers have been caught in the conflicts for control of oil by various forces in Sudan.
In 2008, five Chinese oil workers kidnapped by rebels in Sudan's South Kordofan province were killed during a rescue attempt.
Four years later, another 29 Chinese construction workers were abducted in the same province and were only released 11 days later after intense negotiations.
The Sudanese rebels were quoted as saying that they did not want to harm the workers, but they aimed to send a signal to the Chinese government that they did not want them to be involved in the conflict over oil in Sudan.
But what is currently happening in South Sudan seems far more serious than kidnappings.
China must be praying for a quick end to the trouble so life on the oil fields can return to normal.
In the meantime, some experts also predict that China might be forced into re-thinking its high-risk oil strategy. | The stakes could not be higher for China, the largest investor in South Sudan's oil sector, as fierce fighting continues between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those of his former deputy. |
33552431 | Staffordshire Police found Mr Bachta lying in All Saints Road, where he lived, at 06:30 BST on Wednesday. He had a stab wound in his neck and later died.
Twelve people have now been arrested in connection with the murder inquiry.
Police said they were supporting Mr Bachta's family.
Staffordshire Police said it arrested five men and one woman on Wednesday.
It arrested a further six men earlier, taking the total to 12.
Of the 12 arrested, seven remain in custody and five have been released on bail.
Those who have been bailed are four men, aged 34, 26, 25 and 26, and a 24-year-old woman.
Officers said they had been responding to a report of damage to vehicles on the street when they found the man.
A police cordon remains in place on All Saints Road, between Branston Road and Uxbridge Street.
Ch Insp Steve Maskrey said: "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Tomasz at this difficult time and we will ensure they get all the support they need.
"An investigation to understand exactly what happened in All Saints Road yesterday morning is ongoing." | A 29-year-old man who died after being found unconscious by police in a street in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, has been named as Tomasz Bachta. |
38817150 | Le Fondre, 30, previously spent time on loan with Wanderers in 2015, scoring eight goals in 17 league appearances.
He started the season on loan with Wigan but scored just once in 12 league games for the Latics.
Solomon-Otabor, 21, has scored once and started just twice in 25 Championship appearances for Blues.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page or visit our Premier League tracker here. | Bolton Wanderers have signed Cardiff striker Adam le Fondre and Birmingham winger Viv Solomon-Otabor on loan until the end of the season. |
34825279 | A bus carrying four players to the course took two hours to complete a trip that normally takes 15-20 minutes.
Being more than five minutes late usually results in disqualification but officials decided to waive the rule because of "exceptional circumstances".
World number one Inbee Park carded six birdies for a three-stroke lead.
Park was on an earlier bus that, though delayed, arrived well before her tee time.
The 27-year-old shot a five-under 67 to move to 10 under, with fellow South Korean Sei Young Kim in second.
Halfway leader Minjee Lee slipped seven shots off the pace after a three-over 75.
American Angela Stanford, who finished the day nine shots off the lead after a four-over 76, was one of the players on the delayed bus.
She tweeted: "Learning that GPS is a wonderful thing. Hour in a bus and still no sign of the golf course.
"Two hours and 15 min later we arrive. Thank you LPGA for letting us play!" | The final three groups at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Mexico were allowed to delay their third rounds by nearly an hour because of traffic. |
39339834 | Sadly for the 33rd President of the United States, you would need a lot of hands to explain today's surprisingly rapid increase in inflation.
Rising global commodity prices are pushing up inflation pressures around the world.
As global growth strengthens, that upward pressure is likely to increase.
In 2015 and early 2016, we saw a period of deflation - falling prices - in key sectors such as fuel and clothing, so the rise now (in comparison with a year ago) is particularly stark.
More recently, poor weather in southern Europe has meant that foods such as salad have increased in price by over 60%.
Although, as Alan Clarke from Scotia Bank, points out, "the lettuce crisis didn't cause today's big upwards surprise."
What did were increases in the prices of food (the first year-on-year rise for more than two years), fuel and what are described as "recreational" goods (such as televisions and laptops).
These increases can all be linked, at least in part, to the cost of importing goods into the UK.
And a large part of that increase in cost comes from the fall in the value of sterling since the referendum.
Although it is always worth pointing out that sterling's fall was evident before the referendum (many economists argue it was over-valued) and that the dollar has been particularly strong as the Federal Reserve raises interest rates.
Will the increase in inflation continue and put pressure on the Bank of England to raise interest rates?
Well, input prices - what manufacturers pay for the materials and fuel they use - are rising by over 20% a year, the fastest since 2008.
And those costs will increasingly be pushed through to consumers.
So in the medium term, inflation is on an upward trajectory and could peak above the Bank's own forecast of 2.7% in the first three months of next year.
But, and it is a significant but, wage growth (a long-term motor of inflation) is actually slowing.
Last month, incomes grew by 2.3%, significantly down on a month earlier and the same number as today's inflation figure.
Yes, it is only one month's data, but as it stands, real income growth has stalled and groups such as the Resolution Foundation believe it will now turn negative.
The great wages squeeze which followed the financial crisis could well have returned.
And that is a worry for Theresa May, as I wrote last week.
Given that trend, the dovish position of the Bank is likely to remain in place.
Yes, the markets have upped their expectations of a rate rise, but the Bank has been clear: a cut to support economic growth as the UK begins its Brexit negotiations is as likely as an increase.
And any increase, if it were to come, is likely to be small.
Which is bad news for savers, of course.
It would be ridiculous to say that Brexit is not affecting the UK's course on inflation.
But it is not the whole story. To tell that, you need plenty of hands. | It was Harry S Truman who famously pleaded for a one handed economist, so tired was he of proponents of the dismal science saying "well, on the one hand, sir... but on the other..." |
37202921 | The children appear to be about 10 to 13 years old and the boy captioned as Abu Abdullah al-Britani is white.
The video shows the children shooting dead five men identified as captured Kurdish fighters who are kneeling.
The identity of the boy said to be British could not be verified and the Foreign Office has not commented.
The child is pictured in full military fatigues and a black hat alongside four other boys, and the prisoners are wearing orange jump suits.
One of the children, identified as Abu al-Bara al-Tunisi (the Tunisian), addresses the Kurdish fighters in Arabic, promising more violence and saying the battle against them has not yet begun.
The other children are captioned as Abu Ishaq al-Masri (the Egyptian), Abu Abdullah al-Britani (the Briton), Abu Fu'ad al-Kurdi (the Kurd) and Yusuf al-Uzbaki (the Uzbek).
Children have featured prominently in Islamic State propaganda in which the militant group boasts about preparing the next generation of fighters. | The Islamic State group has released footage showing five boys, including one it identifies as British, carrying out the killing of prisoners in Syria. |
30934979 | Gates beat nine other nominees to take home the £40,000 prize - the largest award for the arts in the UK.
The other nominees were from 70 countries including Portugal, Israel and Iceland, and were shortlisted from more than 800 entries.
First Minister Carwyn Jones presented Gates with his prize at the National Museum Cardiff on Thursday night.
The winning installation, A Complicated Relationship between Heaven and Earth, or When We Believe, is a series of symbolic objects that the artist says challenges the dominance of Christian ideology in the western world.
Gates said he was "grateful" to Artes Mundi for the global platform to "expand the context" of his work.
Artes Mundi director Karen Mackinnon said Gates stood out for "his ability to be not just an artist but an urbanist, a facilitator and a curator".
Held every two years, Artes Mundi was founded in 2002 by Welsh artist William Wilkins and supports contemporary visual artists from around the world who are still gaining international recognition. | Chicago-based artist Theaster Gates has won the coveted Artes Mundi 6 award in Cardiff. |
27511103 | The party, which was the largest at Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point and Southend councils, has mainly suffered losses to UKIP and those authorities now have no overall control.
Labour has lost control of Thurrock to no overall control, but retained control of Harlow.
The European Parliament election vote will be counted on Sunday.
UKIP made 11 gains in Basildon and five in both Southend and Castle Point.
A party source said there was no particular strategy to target Essex.
"It's just a reflection on how organised we are becoming in areas of the country," he said.
In Basildon, the Tory council leader Tony Ball, who pushed through the controversial traveller evictions at Dale Farm, lost his ward to UKIP.
He was one of seven Conservatives to lose their seats, while Labour lost three and the Lib Dems one.
The Tories remain the largest party with 17 seats, UKIP has 11, Labour 10, the Lib Dems one and there are two independents.
In Castle Point, the Conservative leader of the council Pam Challis lost her seat to UKIP.
In Brentwood, the Conservatives lost one seat to the Liberal Democrats, one to the Brentwood First party and one to Labour, which means the council now has 18 Conservative, 11 Lib Dem, five independent and three Labour councillors.
In Southend, the council now has 19 Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats join UKIP on five after losing four seats, Labour gained three seats bringing their total to nine and there are 13 independents.
Labour lost two seats in Thurrock as UKIP gained five seats there. Overall, Labour now has 23 seats, the Conservatives 18, UKIP six, there are two independents and the Lib Dems remain without a seat.
Labour retained control of Harlow Council, despite losing three seats to UKIP, who won five seats in total as the Conservatives lost one and the independent lost his.
The Conservatives have retained control of Rochford.
Colchester remains with no single party in overall control.
The Conservatives retained control of Epping Forest but lost two seats. The Lib Dems also lost one but UKIP took two and the Green Party one.
Voting also took place across Essex for the European Parliament's East of England constituency and the count is due to take place on Sunday night. | The Conservatives have lost control of four councils in south Essex following voting in Thursday's local elections. |
34101132 | He said he would use a "carrot and stick" approach to force up pay if he leads the Labour Party to power.
Those who embrace the £11 rate would be rewarded with lower NI contributions under Mr Burnham's plan.
He faces Yvette Cooper, Jeremy Corbyn and Liz Kendall in the leadership vote.
At the start of the final 10 days of campaigning, Mr Burnham will set out the proposals at an event in Pudsey - a seat Labour failed to win at the election.
He is expected to say Chancellor George Osborne's National Living Wage plan - announced in the Budget - is a "complete con" because it only applies to over-25s and fails to compensate for cuts in tax credits.
Mr Burnham's proposed rate, which would rise to over £12 in London, would apply to all age groups.
It would also be adjusted for the loss of tax credits and linked to the cost of housing, food and household items.
Firms that failed to pay the rate would face penalties devised in consultation "with independent experts and with business, ensuring a credible, deliverable and fair plan", Mr Burnham is set to say.
"The Labour Party I lead will stand for a true living wage for everyone," Mr Burnham is expected to say.
"It will be based on the simple principle that the same hour's work deserves the same hour's pay, regardless of your age. So I will abolish the youth rate minimum wage, apply the higher rate to everyone and give incentives for companies to go even further."
The shadow health secretary, who is trailing Mr Corbyn according to recent polls, is expected to add: "Businesses will be helped to pay a true living wage, but as more firms pay this fair wage it would be wrong for the unscrupulous few to hold out. So over the next Parliament I will phase in National Insurance penalties for those not paying the rate.
"By 2025, we will end the scourge of low pay in the UK for ever."
At-a-glance profiles of the four contenders | Firms who failed to pay a proposed new higher living wage of £11 per hour could face penalties including higher national insurance payments, Labour leadership hopeful Andy Burnham says. |
40279795 | The photos were mostly taken in Calgary, Alberta, and pictured women's clothed breasts, buttocks or genitals.
Twitter has since suspended the account, CanadaCreep, which amassed 17,000 followers in just under a year.
Calgary police say the man was identified thanks to an "overwhelming" response from the public online.
So far, police have laid voyeurism-related charges for three separate incidents, but more charges may follow. After arresting the suspect, police searched his residence and seized a laptop, storage devices and other electronics.
Investigators are now examining multiple terabytes of data, including hundreds of thousands of images, and trying to identify victims.
Friends told 22-year-old Alexandra Constantinidis on Monday evening about a minute-long video of her walking downtown. She immediately reported it to the police and by Tuesday morning the account was taken down.
"It was less that he'd taken the video of me, and more that he'd taken these terrible, horribly humiliating videos of other women and nobody said anything in a year," she told the BBC.
"And he had 17,000 followers who thought this was appropriate."
Many of the images and videos on the account were filmed up a woman's skirt. Since news of the account has spread online, many have circulated images from the account which appear to show the photographer reflected in mirrors or windows.
"On the hunt to find this dirtbag," said one internet sleuth.
Staff Sgt Cory Dayley said the videos are "clearly disturbing".
In Canada, a person can be charged with voyeurism if they "surreptitiously" observe someone who has "reasonable expectation of privacy".
A conviction can carry a sentence of anywhere between six months and two years per offence.
"If you're not punishing this behaviour, you're endorsing this behaviour," said Ms Constantinidis. | A 42-year-old Canadian man has been charged with secretly photographing hundreds of women and posting their images on Twitter. |
39139737 | Payne, 31, made his return in Ulster's Pro12 win over Zebre after three months out because of a kidney injury.
Leinster fly-half Joey Carbery comes in at the expense of Munster counterpart Ian Keatley, while forwards Dave Kilcoyne and Jack Conan are recalled.
There is no place in the squad for Ulster winger Tommy Bowe however.
Carbery, who made his three international appearances to date in the November autumn international series before injuring his ankle, will offer back-up for Johnny Sexton and Paddy Jackson at number 10.
Loose-head prop Kilcoyne boasts 17 international caps and has recently scored tries for Munster against the Dragons and the Ospreys in the Pro12.
Ireland play Wales in Cardiff on 10 March and then face England in a potential title decider in Dublin on 18 March.
Full-back Rob Kearney underwent a scan on Monday after being forced off in Saturday's win over France because of a groin injury.
While no details of the scan results have been revealed, the Ireland management appear reasonably confident that the Leinster man will be available for the Wales game.
If Kearney was ruled out, Payne would be a full-back option although a switch for Simon Zebo from wing to the number 15 jersey, with Andrew Trimble coming into the starting line-up. might be a more likely scenario.
Payne came off the bench in the second half of Ulster's game in Italy on Sunday to make his first appearance since sustaining a fractured kidney in Ireland's game against Australia in November.
The New Zealander, who has been a regular at centre alongside Robbie Henshaw since Brian O'Driscoll's retirement, is expected to get further game time with Ulster against Treviso on Friday.
Connacht lock Ultan Dillane is recalled to coach Joe Schmidt's squad, with Quinn Roux providing additional cover in the second row.
Ireland extended 36-man squad for the Six Nations against Wales and England:
Forwards (19): Rory Best (Ulster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Ultan Dillane (Connacht), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Dave Kilcoyne (Munster), Dan Leavy (Leinster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Sean O'Brien (Leinster), Tommy O'Donnell (Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Quinn Roux (Connacht), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), John Ryan (Munster), Niall Scannell (Munster), CJ Stander (Munster), Devin Toner (Leinster), James Tracy (Leinster).
Backs (17): Joey Carbery (Leinster), Andrew Conway (Munster), Keith Earls (Munster), Craig Gilroy (Ulster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Paddy Jackson (Ulster), Rob Kearney (Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Connacht), Luke Marshall (Ulster), Luke McGrath (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Tiernan O'Halloran (Connacht), Jared Payne (Ulster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Johnny Sexton (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Simon Zebo (Munster). | Fit-again Ulster player Jared Payne has been included in a 36-man Ireland squad for the Six Nations matches against Wales and England later this month. |
36061047 | The teams were separated only by goal difference before the match and that was reflected in the closeness of the contest.
The difference was the presence of a proven match-winner in the visiting ranks.
Kane Hemmings' 24th and 25th goals of the season rendered Kris Doolan's effort meaningless.
The win moves Paul Hartley's side three points clear in seventh place, with the Premiership now split in two for the final weeks of the campaign.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Hemmings' first goal came marginally against the run of play, with Dundee goalkeeper Scott Bain having earlier had to move sharply off his line to block Ryan Edwards' goal-bound shot.
But after Gary Harkins skewed a shot wide, team-mate Hemmings showed typically predatory skills to put his side ahead.
He darted towards the near post as Paul McGinn burst down the right, but as the cross came in, Hemmings checked his run and tapped in unmarked from close range.
Thistle were always well in the game and Doolan was denied by the impressive Bain, who tipped the striker's shot round the post.
But the Thistle frontman did notch his 10th goal of the season 20 minutes before the end to give his side hope of victory.
Abdul Osman drifted a cross in from the Thistle left and Doolan headed past Bain to the delight of the home fans.
But they were to be disappointed before the end as the excellent Greg Stewart played a perfectly-weighted pass in behind the Thistle defence, allowing Hemmings to race through and slip a shot between the legs of keeper Ryan Scully.
David Amoo blasted over the bar from point-blank range in injury-time when he should have earned his side a draw, as Dundee again left Glasgow's west end with all three points. | Dundee continued their dominance over Partick Thistle at Firhill with a third away win against the Jags this season. |
36158451 | The 46-year-old Scot joined Blackburn in November, but has activated a clause in his contract to leave after their final game against Reading on 7 May.
At the start of the April, former Aston Villa boss Lambert stated he would 'wait and see' about his future after talks with the club's owners Venky's.
He has won 10 of his 31 games in charge as Rovers sit 18th in the league.
Lambert has been quickly installed as odds-on favourite with several bookmakers to take over at Celtic, where he spent seven seasons as a player.
"I would like to place on record my thanks to the owners and especially the players, staff and fans for the tremendous backing and support I have received since I arrived," he told the club website.
"It's a brilliant club, with great people, and I wish it every success in the future. For now, I remain fully focused and determined to try to win the final two games of the season starting this Saturday against Rotherham."
Blackburn say the search for a new manager will begin 'with immediate effect'.
After replacing former boss Gary Bowyer, Lambert steered the club to a season-high position of 11th in the Championship table in December but they have struggled for form since.
Last month debts of £102.4m were revealed by Venky's, run by the Rao family that owns the club, who are based in India.
Blackburn are the sixth club he has managed, following spells at Livingston, Wycombe, Colchester, Norwich and Aston Villa.
"Paul Lambert deciding to leave is no surprise.
"Over recent weeks he has grown increasingly frustrated at the lack of communication from the owners in India, with regards his plans for next season.
"His departure next month will leave Blackburn Rovers without a manager, chairman, chief executive or managing director. A situation that can not continue going forward." | Blackburn Rovers manager Paul Lambert will leave the Championship club at the end of the season. |
37154458 | Members of Lifestage, currently only available on Apple devices in the US, upload pictures and videos based around feelings, likes and dislikes. These are then turned into video profiles.
All posts are public and there are no options to restrict viewing. The idea is to connect members of the same school, its creator said.
One expert told the BBC the lack of privacy settings was a concern.
School members can view each other's profiles once the individual school has registered 20 members or more.
Users aged more than 21 are only able to view their own profiles, reports the Tech Crunch website.
However the app warns that it cannot guarantee whether all its users are genuine.
"We can't confirm that people who claim to go to a certain school actually go to that school. All videos you upload to your profile are fully public content," it says.
Lifestage has no messaging functionality but users can display contact details from other sites such as Snapchat and Instagram.
The app currently has a 2.5 star rating on the iTunes store with comments describing it as "kinda sorta creepy" and "confusing".
According to statistics website Statista only 8% of Facebook's US users are aged 13-19.
It has been designed by Facebook product manager Michael Sayman, who is 19 years old.
In a Facebook post he wrote that the app was based around the original social network's early days.
"Back in 2004, Facebook was all about 'who I am'. I could post my relationship status. I could share what my favourite music was. And it was all about expressing myself," he said.
"Today as Facebook has grown into so much more, we see the opportunity to explore that concept of 'who I am' once again, but for Generation Z in 2016."
Dr Bernie Hogan from the Oxford Internet Institute told the BBC the app's lack of privacy settings could prove unpopular.
"The lack of privacy settings on this app in its current state is indicative of Facebook ideology - which is to stay open and connected as much as possible," he said.
"From their point of view that's a great idea but sometimes being so open can get in the way of getting connected. They already know this as people become reluctant to share things online if they have to share them with everyone.
"It seems yet again that they are trying to push the boundaries of what we think is appropriate to share online and then walking back when they face public criticism." | Facebook has launched a new social media app aimed at school teenagers. |
39442296 | Saving Banksy explores attempts to preserve and profit from the anonymous Bristol artist's work.
The premiere is being held on Saturday 15 April at the Belmont Filmhouse, as part of the NuArt Aberdeen festival.
Belmont manager Colin Farquhar explained: "Banksy is a cultural phenomenon and we are sure the showing will be popular."
Banksy's images are daubed on walls around the world, and are worth vast sums of money.
James Finucane, general manager of the NuArt Festival, said: "Saving Banksy has received widespread critical acclaim since its release in the US earlier this year.
"It's a great coup for Aberdeen and a fascinating insight into current debates about street art practice and the traditional art establishment's efforts to remove the 'street' from 'street art'."
NuArt Aberdeen has been brought to the city by Aberdeen Inspired and Aberdeen City Council.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of business-led initiative Aberdeen Inspired, said: "Banksy symbolises the debate that goes on around street art and this film is a brilliant platform for discussion.
"We want to get people talking about art and bring it to a new audience in the city and are hugely looking forward to the premiere." | The UK cinema premiere of a documentary about famous street artist Banksy is to be held in Aberdeen. |
38278017 | Media playback is not supported on this device
The Swans were bottom of the table before beating fellow strugglers Sunderland 3-0 on Saturday.
Bradley had been under pressure having won only one of his first seven games in charge - but insisted he was not worried about his own future.
"It's not about me, it's about the work," Bradley said.
"I don't spend all week worrying about myself. I only know one way to work, and that's to think about the team, engage the staff, engage the players.
"Criticism is part of the job for a manager in the Premier League. I don't think I was the only one to be criticised in the last week."
The win against Sunderland was a fine response from Bradley and his players after they were humiliated 5-0 at Tottenham a week earlier.
Victory over the Black Cats means Swansea are now above the Premier League's bottom three by virtue of goal difference.
"We did get a good response. The players deserve full credit. That's the part of the job, a result gets a little bit out of hand, you can cry about it but you have to look at it in a strong way," said Bradley.
"This is a step but we have to build upon it, there's still plenty of work to do. It's a nice bonus to be out of the bottom three, but the work is still there and we can't get ahead of ourselves.
"The word many players used when we talked this week was 'pride' and the only thing I did was I tried to get back at them and say: 'What does pride look like actually on the pitch?'
"Pride has to turn into intensity, pride has to turn into clean sheets. Don't just talk about pride - put it into something more. At the end of that, for a few seconds you can look at the table and say you're not there yet, but it looks better than last week and we can continue move forward." | Swansea City manager Bob Bradley has warned his side they still have "plenty of work to do" despite climbing out of the Premier League relegation zone. |
36311644 | The decision to admit Montenegro must next be ratified in each of the alliance's national capitals - but the basic decision has been taken.
Montenegro's contribution to the alliance's defences will, in fairness, be limited.
It has a tiny population and an active-duty military of only a little more than 2,000 members.
But, as Nato says: "Montenegro has provided troops for the training mission in Afghanistan and financial support to the Afghan security forces."
"Montenegro, also plays a constructive role in the Western Balkans region."
This points to another aspect of Montenegro's perceived value as a Nato member.
After the bitter Balkan wars, Nato is slowly bringing the new democracies of the region into its fold; a means of spreading a security blanket across Europe's once fractious south-eastern flank.
Nato's expansion since the end of the Cold War has been dramatic.
As a journalist covering defence matters during the late 1980s, I used to receive a regular copy of a journal called Nato's Sixteen Nations.
Once the Berlin Wall came down and Nato's doors were opened, it had to change its name with the arrival of each new member, and then it gave up.
Today, with Montenegro, there will be 29 Nato members in all.
Two countries, Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina have been offered what Nato calls membership action plans, a kind of waiting-room for membership.
Montenegro and Nato: Foes to friends?
Russian menace pushes Sweden towards Nato
Why Nato-Russia relations soured before Ukraine
Nato unveils plans for closer relations with Georgia
Bosnia-Herzegovina's status is still pending until it resolves some issues about ownership of defence property, while the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - that's what Nato has to call it - is unlikely to join until it resolves Greece's objection to it being called simply Macedonia, which also happens to be the name of a region of Greece itself.
So could Nato membership stall at 29? Nato has grandly stated that Georgia and Ukraine will one day be members.
But a deeply divided Ukraine is not, at present, seeking to sign up, and Georgia has so many problems with Russia (with whom it fought an unsuccessful war not so long ago) that it is almost impossible to see it becoming a member under current circumstances.
Nato may have to look north for new members.
Russia's growing assertiveness is leading to ever closer defence ties between the alliance and Sweden in particular, but also with Finland.
In neither country, though, is there any consensus about actually joining Nato.
Sweden may ultimately feel it can achieve its goals by enhancing its practical cooperation with the alliance.
So, for Nato, these are in some ways the best and the worst of times.
The steady stream of new candidates for membership has reassured the alliance that even with the Cold War over it still has a purpose.
Indeed Russia's increasingly aggressive behaviour - not least its seizure of the Crimea and its war in eastern Ukraine - has taken Nato in a sense back to its roots - the defence of the territory of its own members.
After years of counter-insurgency operations in the Balkans and Afghanistan, Nato must again contend with, at least the possibility of, a classic all-arms encounter with Russia.
Defending the Baltic Republics and Poland is now its top priority.
But Russia's war in Ukraine has also revealed significant shortcomings in Nato's military capabilities.
US military experts have watched, for example, Russia's use of electronic warfare on the Ukrainian battlefield with great respect.
Many of the more traditional aspects of high-intensity warfare have been, if not so much forgotten in Western armies, given a much lower order of priority.
There is a good deal of ground to make up.
The whole debate about burden-sharing in Nato itself is bound to be given new impetus with a Donald Trump candidacy for the US presidency.
He has questioned Nato's value and has described many of Washington's allies as freeloaders.
Some of Nato's European members are doing more, but many still have a great deal more to contribute.
Its fitting then, perhaps, that the alliance will meet for its next summit in the Polish capital, Warsaw, in early July.
Poland, of course, was one of the key members of the then Soviet-led alliance, the Warsaw Pact.
It is now a stalwart of Nato and eager to see the permanent basing of alliance forces on its soil.
Nato's continued expansion greatly annoys Moscow.
A Nato summit so close to home will annoy the Kremlin even more. | Nato will celebrate the arrival of its latest member, the small Balkan state of Montenegro, as a sure sign of the alliance's continuing relevance at a time of renewed tensions in Europe. |
35497209 | Championship outfit Alloa this week added Ryan Finnie from Annan Athletic after Doyle rejected a new contract.
Doyle, who joined the Wasps in 2011, had been poised to move to the League of Ireland to play full-time football.
St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright said: "I know Michael well. He was about to sign for Cork City."
Doyle, who began his career with Kilmarnock and had a spell on loan to Stirling Albion, joins the Saints squad for Saturday's visit of Scottish Premiership title challengers Aberdeen.
"He wants full-time football in Scotland and this opportunity has come up at the right time for him," said Wright.
"He's a good athlete and experienced and will give us good cover at a critical stage in the season."
Mackay played through the pain barrier in St Johnstone's Scottish League Cup semi-final defeat by Hibernian on Saturday.
However, the 35-year-old now faces more surgery on his hip after initially returning successfully from a summer operation.
"Dave's been able to manage the problem since returning to action, but he has been in a lot of discomfort this week and so we sent him for further consultation and the outcome is that he needs another operation," added Wright.
"He's looking at an absence of four to five months, so unfortunately his season is over.
"I'm very disappointed for him because he put a lot of work into his recovery back in the summer and autumn."
Wright is hoping chairman Steve Brown to give him some of the £500,000 the Perth club will receive from the sale of forward Michael O'Halloran to Rangers.
Apart from Celtic, few Scottish clubs have been willing to pay transfer fees in recent years, but Aberdeen and Hearts were both been prepared to spend money to improve their squads during January.
"I've spoken to the chairman about it and feel we need to be a bit more pro-active," said Wright. I'll try my best to get him to loosen the purse strings because it is getting tougher.
"Ross County can go out and get David Goodwillie on loan - we couldn't afford that."
Meanwhile, Alloa manager Jack Ross has turned to Scotland Under-19 cap Finnie to replace Doyle, who made 178 appearances for Alloa.
The 20-year-old was coached by Ross at Dumbarton while on loan from Hamilton Academical before he won a move to Rangers.
Finnie failed to break into the first team at Ibrox and subsequently with Partick Thistle.
However, following trial spells with Dunfermline Athletic and Brechin City, he made 17 appearances for Annan after joining the League Two outfit in September. | St Johnstone have signed former Alloa Athletic right-back Michael Doyle after captain Dave Mackay was ruled out for the rest of the season. |
37930038 | The 25-year-old will partner the recently-recruited Nico Hulkenberg at the French team as they build up to competitiveness following their return to F1 as a factory entry this year.
Palmer said he was "over the moon" to be staying with Renault.
The British driver joined the team's predecessor, Lotus, as third driver in 2015 before graduating to race driver with Renault for the 2016 season.
It was also revealed on Wednesday that Dane Kevin Magnussen would be leaving Renault to move to the US-based Haas team for 2017.
Renault returned to Formula 1 as a constructor this season after taking over the Lotus team.
Palmer, who has started 18 Grands Prix to date, scoring his first World Championship point at this year's race in Malaysia, added: "I can't wait to reward the team's faith in me on track.
"Having worked out of Enstone [in Oxfordshire] since 2015, I can fully appreciate the development of the infrastructure this year. This means I share the excitement of the team looking to 2017 and our new car.
"For me, it's been a steep learning curve driving in Formula 1 and I know that I am performing better than ever, and that there's still more to come."
Jerome Stoll, Renault Sport racing chairman, said: "We are delighted to retain Jolyon as our driver for the 2017 season.
"Jolyon has shown his hunger to develop with us as the team grows and we have been impressed with his increasingly strong performances on track as the season has progressed.
"We are confident that the combination of Jolyon and Nico Hulkenberg offers a very promising driving force to meet our goals." | Jolyon Palmer will continue to drive for Renault for the 2017 season. |
35851019 | A suspicious object was found in an alleyway between Lancasterian Street and Albert Road on Saturday.
It was examined by army bomb experts and found to be "nothing untoward".
A number of nearby properties had been "evacuated as a precaution" during the alert. Residents have been allowed to return to their homes. | Police say a security alert in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, has ended. |
20135446 | Sandy has flooded subway and road tunnels in much of Lower Manhattan.
Beyond New York City, public transport has been halted in several eastern US cities, and thousands of flights have been grounded.
And US stock markets have had to close again on Tuesday, the longest period since 9/11.
It is also the first time the weather has shut them for two consecutive days since 1888. The estimate of damage comes from disaster risk modelling firm Eqecat.
Both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq exchanges plan to reopen on Wednesday. NYSE said that its famed trading floor - based close to the major flooding in Lower Manhattan - remained undamaged.
Wednesday is a key trading day because it is the last day of the month, when traders price their portfolios.
Sandy threatens an 800-mile (1,290-km) swathe of the US, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes in the Mid-West and killed 66 people in the Caribbean last week before pounding the East Coast of the US.
The storm has closed thousands businesses and severely affected the infrastructure of the nation.
The closure of public transport along the US East Coast means millions of people are unable to get to work.
Air traffic to and from the region has also been severely disrupted and nearly 14,000 flights were cancelled, potentially hurting airlines that were already struggling in the weak economy.
Amtrak has suspended passenger train services across the north-east.
The UN headquarters in New York is also to stay closed, while public transport was suspended in Washington DC, New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston.
Paul Ashworth, an economist at Capital Economics, said that depending on how long flooding lasts, the hurricane could maybe shave one tenth of US output during the quarter.
"But you have to remember that the hurricane generates extra activity too, in terms of the clean-up and rebuilding," he told the BBC.
"In theory, it could even be a positive for the economy."
Peter Morici, an economist and professor at the University of Maryland, estimated that some $15bn to $20bn will likely be spent on rebuilding after the storm, which could create as much as $36bn in an "economy with high unemployment and underused construction resources".
"When government authorities facilitate quick and effective rebuilding, the process of economic renewal can leave communities better off than before in many tangible ways."
Roan Kirby, a farmer in Hope, New Jersey, told the BBC he has had to shut his farm down during the storm.
"I see no mention of the impact on farmers," he said.
"It is easy to forget livestock, stored crops and buildings that are at great risk. If trucks cannot get through to pick up milk at the farms and if the processing plants are affected, milk supply will surely be affected. Milk will have to be disposed of on the farm if it cannot be collected, which will mean a huge loss of income."
In New York, the US financial capital, an explosion at a sub-station caused power outages and darkened most of downtown Manhattan as well as Westchester County and affected more than 650,000 customers, power company Consolidated Edison said.
"This is the largest storm-related outage in our history," said John Miksad, Con Ed's senior vice president for electric operations.
Six million homes are currently without power.
"It will be days before we can know the full extent of the damage left behind by Hurricane Sandy in New York City and the rest of the state," Rob Lillpopp, a spokesperson for the Business Council of New York State, told the BBC.
"We are just a year removed from Hurricane Irene, and what we learned from that devastating storm is that small and large businesses can and will pull together to recover."
In Europe, shares in Swiss Re rose 1.3% and Munich Re shares were also higher. The two companies are reinsurers - they insure insurers, who will have to pay out a large amount to businesses and individuals affected by Sandy. | Businesses on the US East Coast have continued to be disrupted by storm Sandy, with total damage estimated at between $10bn and $20bn (£6bn-£12bn). |
11619379 | Just over 500,000 old and poor people queued up to receive it. They had to be at least 70 years old, have an income of less than 12 shillings a week and not have too much furniture, which was judged as a sign of wealth.
An overhaul of the state pension system will see a single-tier pension - of £155 a week - being paid to some new pensioners from April 2016. Others will get less, and those who qualified for a pension before April 2016 will remain on the old system.
So how will this change the current system and how will it affect you?
How is the state pension run at the moment?
Those who qualify for a state pension currently start to receive payments in their 60s. The exact age is being equalised for men and women. It is rising to 66 for both sexes by 2020, then to 67 by 2028.
People can look at a state pension calculator to find the age at which they will receive it.
Some of those who qualified for a pension under the old system also receive the State Second Pension, or Serps, which is the government's earnings-related additional pension.
There is also an additional means test that tops up the pensions of the less wealthy.
This additional amount is called the Pension Credit, or Minimum Income Guarantee. Those who qualify are guaranteed a weekly minimum £151 for a single person and £230 for couples.
But is it correct that not everyone gets these payments?
Yes. Your state pension depends on how long you have worked and the number of National Insurance qualifying years you have.
If you reached the state pension age on or after 6 April 2010, you need to have 30 qualifying years for a full basic state pension.
If you reached the pension age before April 2010, then a woman normally needed 39 qualifying years, and a man needed 44 qualifying years during a regular working life to get the full state pension.
If you are in a couple, and only one person in a couple qualifies for the basic state pension, then you can still receive top-up state pension payments of up to £64.40 a week by using one partner's National Insurance record.
Currently, those aged 80 and over who do not qualify for a basic state pension because of an incomplete National Insurance record, can get a smaller pension as long as they fulfil factors such as residency requirements.
There seems to be quite a lot of paperwork there?
And there is more. The means test actually puts some people off the top-up they are entitled to.
An estimated 1.5 million people could claim the extra money through Pension Credit but are not doing so.
The government says this is all too complicated. It wants to make the system simpler - but it still will not be simple.
What do the latest proposals say?
The government has outlined proposals for a major overhaul of the system.
This aims to simplify the system by getting rid of all the means-tested sections entirely, for all those retiring from April 2017.
It plans to give a universal payment - of £144 a week at today's prices - for all those who reach their state pension age and have 35 years of National Insurance contributions.
Owing to the complexity of pensions, including "contracting out" arrangements, it will actually be the case that some people will get more than £144 a week, and quite a large number will get less.
Those who start receiving a state pension before April 2016 will not be affected.
Who wins, if these changes happen?
Those who have built up quite big savings for their retirement could be better off. This is because these savings are considered, at present, in the means testing for Pension Credit.
A simple system means that it should be easier to explain why people need to save more - on top of the state pension - for their retirement years.
The self-employed, who have received a relatively small state pension, could also benefit. Those who have taken time out of work to care for children, or people with disabilities will have access to the enhanced single-tier pension.
The flat rate of £144 per week per person at today's prices means that the actual level of payment will be higher than £144 and will depend on the level of inflation between now and then.
The government will want to get implementation right, to prevent confusion during the transfer between the current system and the new one.
Who loses and which aspects could prove controversial?
The timing will be significant.
For example, existing pensioners will remain in the old system, so they could be slightly worse off than new pensioners. In the long-term, those who are aged in their early 20s now may be worse off than they would have been under the current system.
There is also likely to be much discussion on whether a millionaire getting the same state pension as somebody on the breadline is fair or not, although this income would be taxed.
And, on a more technical point, some people on a workplace final-salary scheme pay less National Insurance (NI) because their state second pension is "contracted out".
They will receive a reduced version of the flat-rate pension to acknowledge the fact that they have not been contributing to the state second pension in the preceding years.
Anyone who has not paid NI for at least seven, or possibly even 10, years in total in their working life will not qualify for the new single-tier state pension at all. | When the state pension was introduced in 1909, the maximum payment was five shillings (25p) a week - the equivalent of about £20 today. |
34569881 | Its victory translates into 11 extra seats, giving it 65 out of the total 200 in the lower house.
Europe's migrant crisis boosted support for the SVP, commentators say - though Switzerland is taking in far fewer migrants than Germany.
The right-wing liberal FDP also got an electoral boost, coming third.
Swiss media are speaking of a "Rechtsrutsch" - a "slide to the right" - because the SVP, FDP and some small right-wing parties can now command a majority in the National Council (lower house).
No such slide has occurred yet in the 46-seat upper house (Council of States), as a second round of voting is required in many cantons.
The SVP won the 2011 vote with 26.6%, becoming the largest party, but now it has made further gains.
The SVP is sceptical about Switzerland's many bilateral agreements with the EU, telling voters that the country is better off remaining outside the 28-nation bloc.
In Sunday's election the leftist Social Democratic Party (SP) came second, winning 44 seats - two fewer than last time.
"The vote was clear. The people are worried about mass migration to Europe," said SVP leader Toni Brunner.
The SVP spearheaded the Swiss drive to impose immigration quotas, which got the green light in a February 2014 referendum. But it contradicts the EU's freedom of movement principle, which Switzerland had earlier agreed to respect.
The EU has until January 2017 to resolve the dispute with Switzerland - after that the Swiss government must make the quotas law.
Switzerland has pledged to participate in the EU's controversial scheme to relocate 120,000 refugees from Italy and Greece, but it is not yet clear how many the Swiss will accept.
The SVP is pushing for the three biggest parties to get two seats each in the seven-member government. Its composition will be decided by parliament in December. Currently the SVP has one seat in the governing council.
The newly-elected SVP politicians include Magdalena Martullo-Blocher, daughter of the SVP's controversial vice-president Christoph Blocher, who served in government from 2004-2007.
Mr Blocher, a billionaire businessman, made the SVP the best-funded Swiss party and played a key role in the Swiss rejection of the European Economic Area. EEA membership would have been a stepping-stone to Swiss EU membership.
Roger Koeppel, a leading Swiss political pundit and chief editor of the magazine Die Weltwoche, was elected as an SVP candidate in Zurich. | The right-wing, anti-immigration Swiss People's Party (SVP) has won Switzerland's parliamentary election with a record 29.4% of the vote. |
34230450 | Waghorn's 10th and 11th goals of the season maintained Rangers' perfect points record in the Championship.
The striker's first was a 20-yard left-footed drive and his second came from the spot after Gregor Buchanan was sent off for felling Kenny Miller.
The Sons pulled one back through Garry Fleming's penalty after Danny Wilson fouled Frazer Wright.
Whether it was through a resolve to not become the seventh team to concede five goals to Rangers this season, or because this marked their 300th competitive game at what is now called the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium, Dumbarton had their visitors between a rock and a hard place.
The pink boots of Willie Gibson were the source of some early jitters for Rangers, with the winger narrowly missing with a high, curled free-kick before crossing for striker Fleming to head firmly against the inside of Wes Foderingham's post.
The half-hour mark passed without Rangers creating a clear-cut chance as the well-drilled Sons rear-guard of Buchanan, Darren Barr, Mark Docherty and Grant Gallagher snuffed out what came their way.
Barr even found time to direct a header into the arms of Foderingham from another testing Gibson delivery and Scott Brown blazed over when well-placed for a shot.
In fact it was the 45th minute when James Tavernier's rocket from the edge of the box was tipped over by Dumbarton goalkeeper Mark Brown to register Rangers' first proper shot on target.
The Englishman then almost made it seven for the season with a free-kick that smacked the outside of the upright.
Just when an hour had passed and Dumbarton manager Stevie Aitken's plan appeared to be working, Waghorn picked up the ball and hit a sweet strike beyond Brown, who may have been slightly unsighted.
Harsh on the Sons who went two behind 10 minutes later.
A through ball had Miller bearing down on goal and Buchanan seemed to get tangled up with him as the former Scotland striker shaped to shoot.
Referee Alan Muir dismissed Buchanan and Waghorn stepped up to dispatch his penalty into the left corner.
Wilson's foul on Wright at a set piece allowed Fleming to get his third of the season from the penalty spot, with Foderingham getting a touch but not enough.
Match ends, Dumbarton 1, Rangers 2.
Second Half ends, Dumbarton 1, Rangers 2.
Nathan Oduwa (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Grant Gallagher (Dumbarton).
Goal! Dumbarton 1, Rangers 2. Garry Fleming (Dumbarton) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Dominic Ball (Rangers) is shown the yellow card.
Penalty conceded by Danny Wilson (Rangers) after a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty Dumbarton. Frazer Wright draws a foul in the penalty area.
Foul by Danny Wilson (Rangers).
Garry Fleming (Dumbarton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Andy Halliday (Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
Darren Barr (Dumbarton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Fraser Aird (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Darren Barr (Dumbarton).
Foul by Lee Wallace (Rangers).
Garry Fleming (Dumbarton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Dumbarton. Calum Waters replaces Mark Docherty because of an injury.
Substitution, Rangers. Fraser Aird replaces James Tavernier.
William Gibson (Dumbarton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Dean Shiels (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by William Gibson (Dumbarton).
Dean Shiels (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Scott Brown (Dumbarton).
Garry Fleming (Dumbarton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Nathan Oduwa (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Garry Fleming (Dumbarton).
Substitution, Dumbarton. Frazer Wright replaces Kevin Cawley.
Goal! Dumbarton 0, Rangers 2. Martyn Waghorn (Rangers) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Gregor Buchanan (Dumbarton) is shown the red card.
Penalty Rangers. Kenny Miller draws a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty conceded by Gregor Buchanan (Dumbarton) after a foul in the penalty area.
Danny Wilson (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Garry Fleming (Dumbarton).
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Garry Fleming.
Attempt blocked. James Tavernier (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Nathan Oduwa (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Gregor Buchanan (Dumbarton).
Goal! Dumbarton 0, Rangers 1. Martyn Waghorn (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box to the centre of the goal.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Gregor Buchanan.
Lee Wallace (Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. | Rangers huffed and puffed but two Martyn Waghorn strikes eventually broke down a resolute and gutsy Dumbarton. |
34123834 | The team has been unable to take daily sea readings after fights broke out over food between the bears who settled near the Fyodorov weather station, on Vaygach island in Russia's far north.
The team failed to scare the bears off with flares and have no other weapons.
The Russian government has pledged help, the WWF conservation group says.
Polar bears in Russia live all along the Arctic coast from Murmansk in the west to Chukotka in the east.
Scientists have observed a gradual rise in bear attacks on humans in recent years. | Pictures show how polar bears have besieged a team of Arctic meteorologists working in a remote corner of Russia. |
37541278 | Ibrahim Halawa was 17 when he was arrested during a siege at the Al-Fath mosque in Cairo.
He has been accused, along with more than 400 others, of inciting violence, riot and sabotage.
Mr Halawa's solicitor, Darragh Mackin, tweeted that it was "disappointing, but not surprising" that his trial had now been adjourned until 12 November.
He said it was the 15th time the trial has been adjourned.
The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs said that the hearing did not proceed on Sunday as 2 October was designated the start of Hijra (Islamic New Year) and a public holiday in recent days.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan spoke to Egypt's Ambassador to Ireland, Soha Gendi, about the matter.
"I am very disappointed that the case hearing did not go ahead," Mr Flanagan said .
"We are working closely with Ibrahim's family and with his lawyers in Dublin and Cairo."
He said Ireland's Ambassador to Egypt, Damien Cole, spoke to Mr Halawa's Egyptian lawyers.
"We are seeking urgent clarification from the Egyptian authorities in respect of the next hearing date," said Mr Flanagan.
"I want to reaffirm to Ibrahim, his family and his friends of my own and the government's ongoing commitment to secure his return to Ireland as soon as possible and to ensure his welfare during his detention," he said.
Al-Jazeera journalist Peter Greste, who shared a cell with Mr Halawa for a time, tweeted: "There can be no justification for yet another adjournment in this trial. This is imprisonment by administrative neglect."
Ibrahim Halawa, from Dublin, is the son of Ireland's most senior Muslim cleric.
Three of his sisters were also arrested at the Al-Fath mosque, but were later released on bail.
The family say they were on holiday at the time and had sought refuge in the mosque to escape the violence outside.
They deny claims that Ibrahim Halawa is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is Egypt's oldest and largest Islamist organisation. | An Irish man jailed in Egypt since 2013 has had his trial delayed again. |
26324377 | The council said the move was to allow independent investigators to examine issues linked to protecting vulnerable adults.
Last week, the council confirmed that Llandysul's Awel Deg Residential Home would close due to "staffing problems".
One of the residents' daughters has criticised the council's handling of the closure.
The council intends to re-open the home as a dedicated dementia care centre.
Awel Deg has room for 26 residents but currently has only seven people there.
Inspectors criticised the home in May last year for not having a structured activities programme.
The council, which runs the premises, intends to find somewhere else for the residents to live before the home closes in the next week.
The closure will lead to the start of a month-long redundancy consultation for the home's 29 full-time and 12 relief staff.
A council spokesman said it was likely the home would be closed for at least six months with the intention of re-opening it as a designated dementia centre.
He added: "Eleven staff have been temporarily suspended from their posts.
"This is a neutral measure to enable an independent investigation linked to protecting vulnerable adults to go ahead.
"The home will be closed for at least six months and is likely to re-open as a dedicated dementia care centre."
Ann Jones' mother who suffers from dementia has been a resident at the home since March last year and is being moved to another home.
Mrs Jones, said: "I am very unhappy about the way the council has handled the closure because residents' families were kept in the dark about it.
"I received a letter from the council in June last year stating there were concerns about some aspects of care at Awel Deg without expanding on those concerns.
"I heard nothing more from the council until I got a phone call last Thursday telling me the home was being closed. The council could have kept us better informed.
"I am also unhappy about the way the staff have been treated because as far as I'm concerned they were very good.
"The council need to tell us why some staff have been suspended."
A Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales report in May last year criticised the home because "there was no structured activities programme being provided to people residing at the home".
The report followed an inspection visit a month earlier.
The report added: "People were observed sitting in lounges with the television on and it was stated they were unable to see or hear it adequately.
"The impact for people using the service is that they are under-stimulated, uninterested and not fulfilled."
Responding to the concerns raised by Mrs Jones about her mother, a Ceredigion council spokesman said it acted to notify families "within 24 hours of the decision being made to close the home temporarily".
"The position hadn't changed from the family's perspective until a recent escalation of concerns and families were contacted within 24 hours," said the council official.
The spokesman added that "it is not appropriate to share at this stage the nature of the concerns" regarding the suspensions. | Eleven staff at a residential home set to be closed by Ceredigion Council have been suspended from their posts. |
38727319 | Spurs remain nine points behind leaders Chelsea after they were held by Liverpool, but this game will go down as a missed chance to close the gap.
Mauricio Pochettino's side dominated possession against the Black Cats, seeing 73% of the ball, but could not make the breakthrough.
Much of that was down to a determined defensive effort by the home side, but Victor Wanyama wasted Tottenham's best chance when he headed Son Heung-min's cross over the bar when unmarked at the back post.
Sunderland only managed three shots, Fabio Borini firing straight at Michel Vorm from their only clear sight of goal.
Tottenham had scored 16 goals in their previous five league games, but it was a lack of a cutting edge that cost them two points in the north east.
Spurs managed only one shot at goal in the first 45 minutes, a Wanyama shot from 25 yards that Vitor Mannone pushed away at full stretch.
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They improved significantly after the break, with Kyle Walker and Dele Alli both seeing dangerous efforts deflected off target, but their only clear-cut chance saw Wanyama head wastefully over.
An injury to Danny Rose, who was forced off before the break by a knee problem, only added to Tottenham's disappointment on a frustrating night.
Pochettino's side are now unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions but this result represents a backwards step, despite a point that sees them climb to second place in the table.
Much has been made of Sunderland boss David Moyes signing several of his ex-Everton players during the January transfer window but it was a duo returning from the Africa Cup of Nations who made the biggest impression for the Black Cats here.
Along with Black Cats centre-back Lamine Kone, midfielder Didier Ndong has been away for most of January.
Both players added much-needed energy and industry on their return, with Gabon international Ndong leading the Sunderland resistance with an all-action display in midfield.
When Spurs got past him, they struggled to get past Kone too. The Ivory Coast defender made 15 clearances in total, more than any other player.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino: "We are disappointed because I think we missed two points.
"In the first half it was difficult for us to create chances, which was strange, but in the second half we played better and we had the chances to win the game.
"It was not a good night for us but it is a good thing for us to learn that we need to play from the beginning of the game with the same aggression and attitude we showed in the second half."
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Sunderland manager David Moyes: "It was a really good point for us. We played against a top team and it was tough. We had to hang in there.
"We made some chances in the first half but not many in the second, and it was a hard-worked and well-earned point.
"Their pressure in the second half was hard to contain and the boys did a great job. They gave everything to get us a result."
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy: "Tottenham are on a par with Chelsea in terms of their defence but I look at their bench and I don't see enough game changers there.
"Chelsea can bring Pedro on Liverpool can bring Sturridge on and I look at Tottenham's bench and I just wonder if they have enough."
Former England winger Trevor Sinclair: "It was shocking challenge by Jack Rodwell on Moussa Dembele.
"We don't want to see this in the game, especially from a player who has had injury problems himself.
"He just swipes at Dembele, it is a shocking challenge - he's nowhere near the ball. That could be a leg breaker. It warranted a red card for me."
Tottenham are at home to Middlesbrough in the evening kick-off on Saturday (17:30 GMT). Sunderland travel to relegation rivals Crystal Palace earlier on the same day (15:00 GMT).
Match ends, Sunderland 0, Tottenham Hotspur 0.
Second Half ends, Sunderland 0, Tottenham Hotspur 0.
Attempt missed. Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur) header from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Christian Eriksen with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Sebastian Larsson.
Foul by Vincent Janssen (Tottenham Hotspur).
John O'Shea (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Christian Eriksen.
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Vincent Janssen replaces Mousa Dembélé.
Attempt saved. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Moussa Sissoko.
Foul by Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspur).
George Honeyman (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Jason Denayer (Sunderland).
Foul by Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham Hotspur).
Javier Manquillo (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Christian Eriksen tries a through ball, but Moussa Sissoko is caught offside.
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Moussa Sissoko replaces Son Heung-Min.
Substitution, Sunderland. George Honeyman replaces Fabio Borini.
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Billy Jones.
Attempt blocked. Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Victor Wanyama.
Javier Manquillo (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Javier Manquillo (Sunderland).
Attempt blocked. Son Heung-Min (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mousa Dembélé.
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Lamine Koné.
Attempt missed. Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspur) header from the right side of the six yard box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Son Heung-Min with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Billy Jones.
Attempt blocked. Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked.
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Javier Manquillo.
Attempt blocked. Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Foul by Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur).
Fabio Borini (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Fabio Borini (Sunderland).
Attempt saved. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Didier Ndong (Sunderland).
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Jack Rodwell. | Title-chasing Tottenham had to settle for a point at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland climbed off the bottom of the table with a hard-fought draw. |
36024128 | The Grade I listed Gawthorpe Hall in Padiham has undergone a £500,000 renovation to the external stonework and windows.
Other internal and external remedial work to return the building to its original condition have also been completed.
The Jacobean hall, built between 1600 and 1605, will reopen on 20 April.
Lancashire County Council's Julie Bell said: "Gawthorpe Hall is a very special building and we are delighted that the work has been completed enabling it to be enjoyed for years to come."
Gawthorpe Hall lies in the shadow of Pendle Hill in east Lancashire
The hall was built on the site of a pele tower by the Shuttleworth family who have lived on the spot since the 1400s
Robert Smythson is thought to have designed it and original architecture, plasterwork and oak panelling from that period can still be seen
Colonel Richard Shuttleworth fought in the English Civil War and rallied troops at Gawthorpe Hall in 1642 for the parliamentary cause. Colonel Richard was also involved in sending some of the Lancashire witches to trail at Lancaster.
The Jacobean stately home was redesigned in the 1850s by Sir Charles Barry, who designed the Houses of Parliament
Author Charlotte Brontë stayed at the Hall twice at the invitation of the family in 1850 and 1855
Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth, the last family resident, died in 1967 and was responsible for putting together the collections of intricate lace, embroidery and costume.
Gawthorpe Hall was given to the National Trust in the 1970s. The Trust leases the property to Lancashire County Council who manages it on a day-to-day basis
Source National Trust/Lancashire County Council | A historic hall in Lancashire is set to reopen to the public after being closed for a year for major restoration work. |
28670933 | The American, 38, was a serious doubt for the year's final major but he practised at Valhalla on Wednesday and said he was "pain free".
The 14-time major champion had surgery on a pinched nerve in his back in March and missed the Masters and US Open.
"I knew it was not the site of the surgery. This is different," he said.
Woods said the sacrum bone in his back was dislodged when he played his second shot on the second hole on Sunday, but that his physio had "popped the bone back in".
"My physio is here so if it goes out he is able to fix it," said Woods, who arrived at Valhalla on Wednesday and played the front nine alongside Steve Stricker, Davis Love and Harris English before speaking to reporters.
"I still need to build up strength and it's going to take more time. The treatment has been fantastic, once the bone was put back in the spasms went away and from there I started to get some range of motion."
Woods beat Bob May in a play-off to win the US PGA the last time it was held at Valhalla in 2000, but missed the Ryder Cup when it was held at the Kentucky venue in 2008.
The course has since undergone extensive renovation led by designer Jack Nicklaus, but Woods's caddie Joe LaCava has been scouting the layout.
"I had my (yardage) book from 2000 but it's useless. Joey has been here and got a pretty good handle on it," added Woods, who opted to just chip and putt on the back nine. "I feel pretty good about how I played. I need to get more of a feel how this course is playing.
"I'm going to try and go out and win this event - that's all I'm focusing on."
Woods has not won a major in six years and returned from surgery at the Quicken Loans National in June, but missed the cut before finishing 69th at the Open earlier this month.
His participation at Valhalla is good news for US Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson, who admitted Sunday's withdrawal "did not bode well" for his selection for the team to take on Europe at Gleneagles in September.
The former world number one cannot qualify automatically and Watson has previously said he would pick him if he was healthy and playing well.
"I am encouraged," said Watson. "Obviously he's not in great health and he hasn't played very well. So the question is, will I pick him? Well, I can't tell until things happen in the next three or four weeks.
"He said to me he really wants to make the team in the worst way. This Ryder Cup is a big thing and these players really want to make the team and bring that cup back to the United States."
Woods is due to play alongside fellow American Phil Mickelson and Ireland's Padraig Harrington for the first two rounds, starting from the 10th tee at 13:35 BST on Thursday. | Tiger Woods will start the US PGA on Thursday after recovering from the back injury that forced him to withdraw from Sunday's final round at Firestone. |
37207475 | Lord Janner's son Daniel says that, as civil proceedings by several alleged victims are "already in train", the courts are the best place to hear them.
He says the inquiry will not offer his family an opportunity to fully cross-examine those who accuse Lord Janner.
Lord Janner's children plan to use the proceeds of his estate to defend him.
A former Leicester MP, Lord Janner is accused of sexually abusing more than 30 men and women during visits to childrens' homes, schools, hotels and Parliament between the mid-1950s and late-1980s.
Lord Janner was not prosecuted despite three police investigations, all started in the 1990s.
A fresh attempt to prosecute him was halted by his death in December last year.
But the ongoing independent national inquiry into child sexual abuse in England and Wales has identified the Janner case as one of 13 separate strands it intends to investigate fully. Others include allegations of abuse in Rochdale, assaults carried out in the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches, attacks by people exploiting children in foreign countries, and abuse facilitated by the internet.
Daniel Janner QC, himself a criminal barrister, told the BBC the child abuse inquiry was wrongly focusing one of its most high-profile investigations on a man who was now dead, had never been convicted, and could not defend himself.
He has prepared a submission for the Home Affairs Select Committee, which will question the former chairwoman of the inquiry, Dame Lowell Goddard, and Home Secretary Amber Rudd, next month.
He and his two sisters, Marion Janner and rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, are furious that the inquiry will consider their father's past, as part of an investigation of potential "institutional failings" within Leicestershire social services.
A review of the case by retired High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques found opportunities had been missed and the Labour veteran should have been charged.
But Daniel Janner says he has been told that under the terms of the inquiry, the family could only question those who accuse Lord Janner "sparingly", rather than subjecting them to a full cross-examination.
"This process actually discredits the important work of the inquiry", he said, "This makes a mockery of justice."
He said the inquiry was "working on an assumption of guilt".
Dozens of people are considering suing the estate of Lord Janner, and Daniel Janner said it was right that the civil courts should hear their evidence, ahead of the inquiry.
"Our family has decided this is what we want, to use such inheritance as there is to clear his name," he said.
The family believes Lord Janner is innocent and that all of the 33 men and women who have accused Lord Janner have fabricated their accounts.
Daniel Janner said the earliest claims, investigated by three police inquiries, were "rubbish".
He believes they prompted others to make allegations, tempted by the prospect of compensation and "bolstered by the weight of numbers". Some, he claimed, had colluded to falsify their accounts.
"I have no doubt that some of them have been abused and of course, my heart goes out to them but they were not abused by my father and it is here where we have to fight back because these are false allegations."
However Liz Dux, who represents some of those accusing Lord Janner, said there was a risk a court would not be able to rule on the truth of the allegations because of legal time limits for bringing a civil action.
She said the inquiry would have decided to consider the case regardless of whether Lord Janner was prosecuted.
Peter Saunders, one those representing child abuse victims within the inquiry, said it was vital the Janner case was fully investigated. | The family of the late Labour peer Lord Janner are demanding the public inquiry into child abuse postpones its plan to examine allegations against him. |
24671184 | Operator Ineos had announced on Wednesday that the plant was to shut, with the loss of 800 jobs, after union members rejected a survival plan.
But the decision was reversed after the union agreed to Ineos's conditions.
Ineos founder and chairman Jim Ratcliffe said it was "a victory for common sense".
He confirmed Ineos would now press ahead with plans to invest £300m in a new gas terminal at the site, following a "significant change in attitude" from the Unite union.
He added: "We have had assurances from the union yesterday that the changes we have requested in order for us to invest in that facility have been agreed and we are delighted to announce that Grangemouth will restart today, both the refining and petrochemicals side."
The announcement on Grangemouth's future was greeted by huge cheers from the workforce, who had gathered at the plant to be told the news.
The move brings to an end a bitter dispute with the Unite union which began over the alleged mistreatment of a Unite official and escalated to the threat of strike action.
This was dropped but Ineos shut down the plant and issued an offer of revised terms and conditions in a survival plan, which was initially rejected by union members.
Unite has been accused of mishandling the negotiations, but the General Secretary of the Scottish TUC, Graham Smith said Unite officials were always prepared to be flexible but were hamstrung by the management's refusal to be reasonable.
"I think they've been placed in a very difficult position by an employer who in my experience very uniquely walked away from its responsibilities that it had with the trade union, tried to impose its will on the workforce with a take it or leave it ultimatum," Mr Smith said.
Reacting to the announcement, Unite Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty said: "Relief will ring right round the Grangemouth community, and across Scotland today.
"Hundreds of jobs that would have been lost can now be saved and £300m will be invested into the plant."
The main points of the Ineos announcement included:
First Minister Alex Salmond described the development as a "tremendous fillip for the workforce and the whole Grangemouth community, following what could have been a potential disaster".
He said it had been "a great team effort from all concerned", including the unions and workforce, the management and governments.
"I am delighted that people have rallied round to protect these jobs, and now we can all agree that Grangemouth has an outstanding future," he added.
Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael also welcomed the announcement, saying that it was "the news that we all wanted".
"The staff and their families have been through a very stressful and uncertain time," he added.
The announcement came as BP said it had reached an agreement with Ineos which would ensure that oil and gas supplies from the Forties Pipeline System would be secured.
The pipeline - which brings oil and gas ashore from more than 50 North Sea fields - as well as BP's processing plant at Kinneil depend on steam and power from Grangemouth.
BP said "some key commercial terms" had been adjusted in an existing deal with Ineos, but did not elaborate.
It added: "By doing this, we have ensured that over a third of the North Sea's total oil and gas supplies will be unaffected, and that our motorist and airline customers will enjoy supply security."
Ineos' future plans at Grangemouth include investing £300m in a new gas terminal at the site.
Grangemouth chairman Calum MacLean said: "It is a huge investment and that investment was only rightly to be done if we had a long-term sustainable base.
"What we have now done is given the chemicals business another 15 to 20 years on the back of new raw materials, new contracts and significant investment."
Mr MacLean would not dismiss the prospect of redundancies, but said they would be "very limited".
The company has also said that 2,000 contractors it laid off after shutting down the complex would be re-hired to support investment in its survival plan.
According to Ineos, the Scottish government has indicated it would support its application for a £9m grant to help finance its gas terminal plans, while the UK government has given "pre-qualification approval" for a £125m loan guarantee facility.
Falkirk Council, which had planned to set up a task force to respond to the threatened closure, said the Ineos announcement was "the best possible outcome for all concerned".
Council leader Craig Martin added: "There has been a tremendous effort behind the scenes to secure the plant's future involving UK and Scottish governments and Falkirk Council, working together to ensure the plant's survival.
"This partnership approach has paid off and a more stable and positive future for the workforce has been delivered." | Political leaders and unions have welcomed news that the Grangemouth petrochemical plant is to stay open after a deal was struck with workers. |
36403295 | Tom Billings, 22, from Oxford, was last seen hiking in the North Shore mountains on 25 November 2013.
His remains and personal belongings were spotted by hikers on Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver last month.
A post-mortem examination has been carried out and officers from Vancouver Police Department said foul play was not suspected.
Mr Billings, who was reported missing after failing to return to his accommodation in Vancouver, had been expected to return to England in December 2013.
He was described as a "seasoned traveller" and an "avid hiker" after spending eight weeks travelling in North America before he disappeared.
Speaking at a police news conference in Vancouver in 2013, Tom's father Martin Billings said his son had been hitch-hiking, travelling by bus and "couch surfing" - staying with hosts he met on the internet.
He last exchanged emails with his father on 22 and 23 November when he visited Seattle in the US, Mr Billings added.
The UK Foreign Office said it was aware of the death and that it was in contact with the family and local authorities. | The remains of a British tourist who disappeared in Canada two and a half years ago have been found. |
36623663 | David McGreavy was jailed for life in 1973 for the murders of four-year-old Paul Ralph, two-year-old Dawn and nine-month-old Samantha.
Their mutilated bodies were found on garden railings at their home in Gillam Street, Worcester.
The Parole Board rejected his application for release.
A board spokesman said McGreavy - who became known as the Monster of Worcester following the attack - would next be eligible to apply for parole in two years.
More on this and other stories from Hereford and Worcester
Dorothy Ralph, the mother of the murdered children, previously said McGreavy should never be freed. | A man who killed three children and impaled their bodies on garden railings has had his application for release from prison turned down. |
40873038 | It's happened many times before because the government in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, has been testing Nuclear weapons.
Reports in the US say North Korea has now made nuclear missiles small enough to reach America.
If you want to know more about North Korea take a look at our guide.
A nuclear missile is a powerful bomb.
Bombs like this can affect people and the environment for years after the bomb has been dropped.
Countries have been angry with North Korea for a long time because of their nuclear testing.
And this is just another part of an ongoing argument between America and North Korea.
This is partly because America has for a long time supported South Korea.
Donald Trump is the latest US president to send warships and submarines to South Korea.
He is trying to get North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to stop his weapon-building plans.
The United Nations has even got involved. They are a group of countries who come together to make rules so that everyone can live in peace.
They have asked North Korea to stop building weapons .
After the new reports of smaller missiles, American President Donald Trump has warned North Korea to stop threatening the US. | There has been a big argument between the United States of America and North Korea. |
39229465 | Hospital bosses said it was "an important milestone" in a £3.2m project to cut patient handover times at Queen's Medical Centre (QMC).
Nottinghamshire University Hospitals NHS Trust said the helipad could reduce patient transfers by up to 10 minutes.
It is hoped the helipad, which is set to be built on stilts, will be in use from early 2018.
Live updates and more from Nottinghamshire
The hospital trust had plans to build the helipad on top of a new research building approved in 2015, but that project was deemed unviable and was never completed.
The helipad will now be built on stilts on top of one of the hospital's car parks.
Patients will then be transferred from the helipad to a lift and then a land ambulance, which will take them for treatment.
Helicopters currently land at a helipad at Highfields Park a mile away and patients are transferred by road ambulance.
Andrew Chatten, from the trust, said: "There remains much to do but this formal planning approval is an important milestone.
"This facility will help improve the care to the most critically injured patients from across the region helping them to be treated more quickly, reducing the transfer time from 15 minutes to less than five minutes from helicopter to our major trauma centre."
The helipad is being funded by a £2.5m donation from the Nottingham Hospitals Charity and a £700,000 investment from the hospital trust. | Proposals for a new helipad over a car park at a hospital in Nottingham have been given planning approval. |
38168855 | Ex-solicitor Margaret Hampshire and husband Alan admitted forging the will of Martin Blanche, who died in 2007.
Mrs Hampshire then transferred Mr Blanche's estate to her cousin, who she held power of attorney over.
Mr Hampshire stole the cash from the cousin which was then used to do up the cottages, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
Updates on this story and more from Nottinghamshire
A series of other charges against the Essex couple, who admitted a total of six offences during their trial, were ordered to lie on file.
Nottinghamshire Police said Mr Blanche, who had lived alone, was thought to be unable to read or write and those who knew him believed it unlikely he would ever have written a will.
Mrs Hampshire, who committed the offences while she was a practicing judge, falsely declared Mr Blanche's will was a true document, the force added.
She then transferred his estate - which included two cottages in Rolleston, Nottinghamshire - to her cousin Josephine Burroughs, who was herself a relative of Mr Blanche.
Mrs Hampshire admitted fraud in dishonestly exceeding her position by transferring the property in Rolleston to her daughter. She also pleaded guilty to making a forged document to avoid inheritance tax.
The couple then knocked the two neighbouring cottages through and moved from Essex into the now extended single house this year.
Mr Hampshire also admitted stealing £23,176 from Ms Burroughs - who died in 2014 - in 2012, much of which police said was used on renovating the cottages.
The couple were arrested in September 2014 but denied the offences.
However, Mrs Hampshire pleaded guilty to fraud and two counts of forgery, while Mr Hampshire admitted one charge of forgery and two counts of theft on Wednesday.
The pair, of Church Road in Wickham Bishops, will be sentenced on December 20.
A Nottinghamshire Police spokesman said: "Their dishonesty unravelled after a complex police investigation undertaken by the fraud department, which included handwriting analysis by an expert, financial investigation and computer data analysis." | A former judge and her husband forged a will to inherit two cottages and stole more than £23,000 to renovate the properties, a court has heard. |
34991338 | On Saturday, the Soyuz crew module was attached to its rocket at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
We watched as the completed vehicle was loaded onto a flat-bed transporter, ready to be carried to the launch pad.
Mr Peake and two other crew members will launch to the International Space Station on Tuesday 15 December.
During his seven-month stay on the orbiting outpost, the former Army helicopter pilot will carry out a programme of experiments and educational activities.
He will be accompanied on the flight by Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and US astronaut Timothy Kopra.
The Soyuz spacecraft - which carries the crew to the ISS - and its rocket are assembled at adjacent facilities at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
On Friday, the crew module was transported by train from its assembly site - known as Building 254 - to the huge hangar-like facility designated Building 112.
More than 40 years ago, Building 112 housed a giant (105m-high) rocket known as the N-1, which was to have taken cosmonauts to the Moon. Now the facility houses the Soyuz launcher which, at 50m long, is half the size of the N-1, and is now the workhorse of Russia's manned spaceflight programme.
At 09:00 local time on Saturday morning, specialist engineers began work to bond the crew module to the rest of the launcher. They finished at about 14:00.
I watched as the rocket was loaded on to a giant flat-bed transporter painted racing green. On Sunday, the transporter will be hauled by train along the railway tracks that snake across the flat steppe of Baikonur to the launch pad where Peake, Malenchenko and Kopra will begin their journey.
The BBC has had unique behind-the-scenes access to Tim Peake's training and launch.
Follow his video diaries on Horizon - Tim Peake Special: How To Be An Astronaut and watch the launch live on Blast Off Live - A Stargazing Live Special at 10:30 GMT on Tuesday 15 December.
You can also see him arrive on the International Space Station, at 19:00 GMT the same evening, on BBC Two in Stargazing Live: Brit In Space.
For Tim Peake, the flight is the culmination of a three-year programme of training that has seen him travel between Houston, Florida, Moscow and Tsukuba in Japan.
"It's a long process and we cover such a huge variety of subjects," he told the BBC recently.
"One of the challenges [for astronauts] is to retain all that information as you're going through the training process and appreciate that the next time you're going to see something is in 18 months or 24 months time in space - in a very different environment."
In 2009, Mr Peake was chosen from a pool of 8,000 applicants to join the European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut training programme, along with five other recruits.
The former Army helicopter pilot is the first Briton to be selected as an ESA astronaut; he will also be the first to visit the ISS.
During his seven-month stay on the outpost, Mr Peake will carry out a programme of experiments in medical science, radiation physics and materials. He is also using the mission to raise the profile of science among young people.
On Tuesday, as tradition dictates, Mr Peake, Mr Malenchenko and Mr Kopra signed the wall at the museum in Baikonur Cosmodrome. Mr Malenchenko also handed over a signed cosmonaut suit to museum staff.
Mr Malenchenko is one of the Russian Space Agency's (Roscosmos) most experienced cosmonauts, having clocked up some 641 days in space over the course of five flights.
During this mission, he will become only the third person to have spent more than 800 cumulative days in space after fellow cosmonauts Sergei Krikalev and Gennady Padalka - who holds the record of 879 days.
The UK government has traditionally been opposed to financing human spaceflight - so prospective British spacefarers have been required to take other routes into orbit.
Helen Sharman - who became the first British citizen to fly to space when she visited the Mir space station in 1991 - was funded by private enterprise and by the Soviet government.
Other British astronauts have flown either as private individuals - including Richard Garriott - or have taken out US citizenship, such as Piers Sellers and Nicholas Patrick.
Follow Paul on Twitter. | The Russian Space Agency has finished assembling the space vehicle that will blast UK astronaut Tim Peake into orbit. |
28463726 | Stimpson timed her surge on the final 10km run leg perfectly to pull away from Canada's Kirsten Sweetland 300m from the line and make up for her Olympic disappointment two years ago.
The 25-year-old from Oldbury had missed out on a place at London 2012 through a controversial British selection policy but won England's first ever Commonwealth triathlon medal with a dominant piece of front-running to finish in one hour 58 minutes 56 seconds.
Sweetland took silver and Holland hung on for bronze in a race that provided a thrilling start to these Glasgow Games just 10 hours after the spectacular opening ceremony.
The exhausted English pair crawled over to hug each other as the unexpectedly hot conditions and fierce racing took their toll.
The summer heat was so intense that the opening 1500m swim in Strathclyde Loch was made non-wetsuit, and England's Lucy Hall went out hard early to tow team-mates Stimpson and Holland with her, just as they had planned.
Within the first lap of the 40km bike a group of 10 had come together that also included Northern Ireland's Aileen Reid as well as double world champion Emma Moffatt and her Australian team-mate Emma Jackson.
On a tough, hilly course no breaks could stay away, and it became apparent from some way out that the gold medal would come down to the 10km run.
Stimpson set a telling pace and within 2km the large group had whittled down to just six, Hall and Moffatt dropping off as New Zealand's Andrea Hewitt came through.
With 4km to go Reid was the next to drift away and, as they came through transition for the final time, Stimpson tried to stretch the pace further, dropping the dangerous Jackson and hurting Hewitt.
Holland could not keep the pace and, as the runners turned for the final long drag towards the finishing blue carpet, neither could Sweetland.
Stimpson's gold was later matched by Yorkshire's Alistair Brownlee, who beat his brother Jonny into second place in the men's race.
But after Stimpson was denied a crack at gold in London two years ago when the British selectors opted to pick two domestiques to aid medal contender Helen Jenkins rather than a team of three individuals, her moment of triumph in Strathclyde Country Park is likely to be savoured.
She said: "Get in England! Come on! Now the boys have got to do it.
"All my family are already crying, it's awesome they got to see me in a championship race after missing the Olympics in 2012.
"The support from the crowd was awesome. No matter what country you were from they were behind you."
Holland, an outsider for the podium before the race began, produced one of her finest performances to take the bronze.
She said: "I knew Jodie would be the biggest threat in the field and I am really pleased she won, not just because she is English but because she really deserves it.
"My legs were failing me towards the end - it was so hard to hold and win this medal I've worked so long for." | England's Jodie Stimpson stormed to the first medal of the 2014 Commonwealth Games as she took triathlon gold with her compatriot Vicky Holland in bronze. |
38853399 | Isabella Lovin, who is also the country's climate minister, published a photo that shows her signing a new law surrounded by female colleagues.
The image has drawn comparisons with Mr Trump's photo in which no women were present.
Within hours the post was shared and liked thousands of times on Facebook.
"Wonderful Picture! Hope you sent it to the man on the other side of the ocean," writes one user.
"Make the Planet Great Again!" writes another.
Facebook user Kimini Delfos said in a post that such an image should not spark the reaction that it has, suggesting that people "calm down".
"Why is it so difficult to see a picture with just women and not difficult to see a picture with only men?" she questioned.
Meanwhile, users of the social media site Twitter have praised what is being described as Ms Lovin's "dig" at the US president.
"Love how the Swedish Deputy PM is taking a dig at Donald Trump in her publicity photo for passing climate change law," writes user Ian Sinkins.
Another, Mikaela Hildebrand, writes: "@IsabellaLovin signs new the Swedish climate law & issues funniest #Trumbburn foto! Epic!"
The comparisons are being made to a photo last month of Mr Trump signing an executive order to ban federal money going to international groups which perform or provide information on abortions.
The image of Mr Trump signing the document surrounded by male colleagues was ridiculed on social media.
On Friday, while signing Sweden's new climate law, Ms Lovin urged European countries to take a leading role in tackling climate change as "the US is not there anymore to lead".
The new law sets long-term goals for greenhouse gas reductions and will be legally binding for future administrations.
Ms Lovin said Sweden wanted to set an example at a time when "climate sceptics [are] really gaining power in the world again".
Mr Trump, who has previously called climate change a hoax, has raised speculation that he might pull the US out of the Paris Agreement, which aims to tackle greenhouse gas emissions and limit the increase in global temperatures.
The Swedish government, which claims to be "the first feminist government in the world", has also issued a statement affirming that gender equality is "central" to its priorities.
"Gender equality is also part of the solution to society's challenges and a matter of course in a modern welfare state - for justice and economic development," the statement reads. | Sweden's deputy PM is causing a stir after posting an image appearing to parody Donald Trump's signing of an anti-abortion executive order. |
39547415 | RNLI volunteers from nearby stations joined Mr Hughes' family for a service. He had been based at Rhyl Lifeboat Station for nearly 60 years.
His ashes were scattered in the sea from Rhyl Lifeboat.
RNLI boats from nearby Llandudno and Hoylake, Wirral, took part in the ceremony.
Rhyl RNLI coxswain Martin Jones said: "It just shows what great respect Gerald had in the community for all these people to be here to pay their respects." | Four RNLI vessels and crews have taken part in a ceremony to honour the memory of former Rhyl coxswain Gerald Hughes who died last month aged 87. |
37256628 | The staff at Community Safety Glasgow (CSG), an arms-length council body, want better pay for shift work.
About 140 members of three trade unions - Unison, Unite and GMB - are expected to take part in the 48-hour action from 9 to 11 September.
Ahead of previous stoppages this year, CSG said it had "business continuity plans in place".
Unison Glasgow branch secretary Brian Smith said: "The trade unions believe that the payment levels are far too low compared to those in other parts of the Glasgow City Council family.
"For example, the nightshift payment in the council is almost double that which CSG intend to pay.
"The trade unions do not believe that the proposed payments adequately compensate workers who undertake shifts and our members have been left with no option other than to take strike action." | CCTV operators in Glasgow are to take strike action on the weekend of the Celtic v Rangers game. |
35312325 | The committee is considering five separate applications made by different developers.
Planners have recommended that the two largest schemes should be approved but said the others should be refused.
The planning committee is due to meet on Tuesday.
There have been a significant number of student housing applications ahead of the expansion of the Ulster University's Belfast campus.
One of the schemes recommended for approval next week is a 14-storey, 590 unit development on York Street.
The other is for 475 units in a 11-storey development on Great Patrick Street.
The three schemes which have been recommended for refusal concern developments planned for Royal Avenue, Stephen Street and Clifton Street.
Some student housing schemes have already been approved.
A 45-bedroom development on Donegall Street is already operating and a major scheme at John Bell House is due to open in September. | Decisions on whether to allow more than 1,500 student housing units in Belfast will be made by the council's planning committee next week. |
34463390 | I Believe in Miracles tells the story of the club's rise under Brian Clough and Peter Taylor, from no-hopers to European champions in 1979 and 1980.
Most of the team, who star in the film, watched with fans on a 60ft (18m) screen in Nottingham.
Director Jonny Owen said supporters treated the former players like "gods".
The side, which included Peter Shilton, John Robertson, Tony Woodcock, Viv Anderson and Trevor Francis, conquered Europe at their first attempt, including a first-round victory over the champions of 1977 and 1978, Liverpool.
Mr Shilton, who watched the film premier with former team players and fans, said: "Really pleased with it, it was a great film.
"It showed everything, really, fantastic. It brought a lot of memories back."
Mr Owen, a Cardiff City fan, said: "There's something about that Nottingham Forest team, they stay in the popular consciousness of football fans across the world.
"Everybody you speak to across the country go 'what a side they were' and 'what a story that was'."
Brian Clough took over as manager of Nottingham Forest in January 1975.
At that time they were in the bottom half of the old second division, but already had some of the players who would go on to become European champions.
Mr Owen said it took a while to locate and get together the 16 players for the making of his film.
He said: "They were all funny, all engaging, all intelligent and they had a spirit you can't engineer."
2
European Cups
2 League Cups
1 European Super Cup
1 Division One title
1 Anglo-Scottish Cup
Along with old archive, some of which Mr Owen said he found in metal tins in Lincoln, the film's soundtrack has been chosen to reflect the era.
He said 1970s disco, soul and funk music suited the "mood" and the film's title comes from the Jackson Sisters' song of the same name.
"I can't begin to tell you how good it looks when you see Tony Woodcock bombing down the wing and Gloria Gaynor is singing," he said.
I Believe in Miracles will be released in cinemas nationwide on Tuesday and on DVD and Blu-ray from 16 November. | Thousands of people have attended the premiere of a film about Nottingham Forest's European Cup triumphs at the club's City Ground. |
40354328 | The sub-prime lender is replacing self-employed debt collection agents with ones employed by the company.
However, it has not had enough applications from existing agents and it has about 450 vacancies.
As a result, debt collection has been "weaker" and sales have fallen.
"The business has experienced higher operational disruption than planned due to reduced agent effectiveness through the period of transition," Provident Financial said in a statement.
Recent vacancy levels have been 12%, it added, more than double the rate anticipated.
"We didn't get it right. The incentives we had in place and the other management actions and communications that were there, were not sufficient to retain the number of agents that we anticipated," chief executive Peter Crook told analysts during a conference call with analysts.
In April, the company said it expected the shortfall in contributions to profits, mainly because of weaker debt collection, to be about £15m in the first six months of the year.
However, recent collections performance has deteriorated, particularly in May, and so the shortfall is now expected to be up to £40m.
Sales to existing customers and customer retention had also been hit, and so credit issued in the first five months of 2017 was £37m lower than last year.
Provident Financial said debt collections were "stabilising" in June because most of the new doorstep collection jobs had now been filled, and would begin to "normalise" from July onwards.
The disruption to the consumer credit division is likely to see pre-exceptional profits fall to about £60m this year, compared with £115m in 2016, the company predicted.
Mr Crook said he was "disappointed" about the "higher than expected operational disruption".
He added: "Nonetheless, the strategic rationale for the change remains strong and I am confident that it will deliver the substantial benefits previously communicated."
FTSE 100 member Provident Financial also owns Vanquis Bank, and consumer credit brand Satsuma Loans. It also owns Moneybarn, which specialises in sub-prime car loans. They are all trading "in line with internal plans". | Shares in Provident Financial ended the day 17.5% lower on Wednesday, after it warned a shake-up of its doorstep lending division would dent profits much more than previously forecast. |
35157339 | Former Real Madrid manager Del Bosque, 64, guided Spain to victory at both the 2010 World Cup and the Euro 2012 finals.
"My retirement is close. If everything goes according to plan it [Euro 2016] will be the end," he said.
"I am a man of the Federation and I have to speak to them before taking a final decision."
Media playback is not supported on this device
Spain are two-time defending champions having also won Euro 2008 under the late Luis Aragones, Del Bosque's predecessor.
They could become the most successful side in European Championship history if they can win the title for a third consecutive time, and fourth overall, in France next year.
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has said in the past he would like to replace Del Bosque as manager of the national team. | Spain coach Vicente del Bosque plans to retire after next summer's Euro 2016 finals in France. |
38030414 | The university plans to demolish part of the Riseholme Park Campus to build housing as part of a big redevelopment.
Gainsborough MP Edward Leigh said the land was protected by an "asset deed", with the legal bid aimed to protect it for "future generations of farmers".
The university said a meeting was booked with the MP to discuss concerns.
The dispute involves land which is owned by the university, but used by Riseholme Agricultural College.
Sir Edward, a Conservative MP, said in an "unprecedented step" the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) was "taking steps to commence legal proceedings" over the plans.
He said: "This is a hugely significant development and one which will hopefully protect the campus for future use by generations of Lincolnshire farmers and other workers."
The university said it was in ongoing discussions with the SFA and their advisors, with its vice chancellor due to meet with Sir Edward soon.
A university spokesperson said: "The university has leading expertise in agri-food technology and is working closely with partners across the sector to develop education and research to support the future of farming and the food industries."
A Skills Funding Agency (SFA) spokesperson said: "The Skills Funding Agency will consider what steps they will take in order to protect the assets at the Riseholme campus for the delivery of further education.
"There is an asset deed in place which protects facilities at the Riseholme Campus for further education delivery." | The government is set to take "unprecedented" legal action against the University of Lincoln in a row over housing plans, according to a local MP. |
37167961 | Mohammed Saleem, 82, was stabbed on his way home from a Birmingham mosque in 2013. Ukrainian Pavlo Lapshyn admitted killing him because he was not white.
The victim's daughter, Maz Saleem, said she and her mother were both recently racially abused and her nieces, aged 11 and 13, were insulted and spat at.
She said the hostility was frightening, especially after her father's death.
The 38-year-old said the family was fearful because of a recent rise in hate crime.
Her mother, who was racially abused by a passenger on a bus, was now too scared to leave her house, she said.
"My mum wears the hijab and abaya (long coat) and [the passenger] started saying that we should 'go back to our own country' and, 'look at what she's wearing'."
Ms Saleem said she was targeted by a woman on the London Underground as she tried to help a Muslim woman in Arabic dress, who was being abused by a passenger.
"I felt extremely disappointed that someone who doesn't know the person is judging them for the way they look, just because they look Muslim," she said.
The abuse her nieces received led to the family contacting local police.
"A lorry driver hurled racist, Islamophobic abuse at them because they were wearing hijabs.
"I don't like using the word, but he called them [the racist word] 'Paki' and then spat at them."
The incident was reported to Greater Manchester Police, but she said no further action was taken because they could not trace the number plate of the vehicle.
Ms Saleem said her family was still coming to terms with what happened to her father who was killed "simply because he was brown and dressed like a Muslim".
"The devastation of the death of our father is still overwhelming. Even today, it's hard for us to comprehend how someone could have such hatred for an 82-year-old man," she said.
Ukrainian student Lapshyn was sentenced to a minimum of 40 years for murder and terrorism related offences.
To hear more on this story listen to BBC Asian Network Reports at 13:00 and 17:00 BST and BBC Radio WM. | Relatives of a Muslim man murdered by a racist claim they have been recent victims of race hate abuse. |
31760785 | The 32-year-old made his name through his scoring feats at Hibernian before signing for Celtic where he played infrequently in his two-year stay.
He returned to Hibernian and had spells in China and with Bristol Rovers before returning to Scotland.
He has been playing as a triallist for East Fife in recent weeks.
The New Bayview side are fourth in Scottish League Two and are aiming for promotion, with the play-offs the most likely route. | The former Hibernian and Celtic striker Derek Riordan has joined East Fife, the club has announced, "subject to receiving SFA approval". |
32371153 | He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show the Lib Dems wanted to "work with other parties in the national interest" in a post-election government.
He also said the public wanted "moderation and stability".
Planned Tory cuts were "potentially horrendous" and Labour had not said how it would reduce the deficit, he added.
Mr Cable said Prime Minister David Cameron would need the Lib Dems for "stability" and "competence" because otherwise his options for support were UKIP and 30 to 40 of his own Tory backbenchers "who hate his guts".
He added that the Lib Dems had been "competent on economics and making the numbers add up" and had combined that with "fairness and social justice".
He said he had no personal preference over whether his party governed with the Conservatives or Labour, should there be another hung parliament.
"We have to respect what the public want... and we have to be able to work with other parties," he said. | Working with either the Conservatives or Labour would be "difficult" for the Liberal Democrats, Business Secretary Vince Cable has said. |
39224680 | Crucially, it is those buying cars with low CO2 emissions that face the highest relative rise in the tax.
Currently many such vehicles don't incur the charges, known formally as Vehicle Excise Duty (VED).
But for cars registered after 1 April 2017 there will be a first year of charges linked to carbon emissions.
After that there will be three bands - zero, standard and premium - determining how much you will pay as a car owner each year.
Importantly, if you have an existing car, these rules changes do not apply and you will continue to pay VED under the existing rates.
The changes reflect the fact that car manufacturers have cut many car models' CO2 emissions.
This means their owners benefit from the existing VED bands that tax lower-emissions vehicles more lightly.
As more cars get cleaner, the existing rules have cut back the Treasury's income - hence these changes. From 1 April, only newly-registered cars with zero emissions will escape VED - so that means electric and hydrogen cars only.
There is a sliding scale of charges for the first year of ownership and after that petrol or diesel vehicles are subject to a "standard" rate of £140 a year.
For those buying cars costing more than £40,000 there will be an additional £310 "premium" levy for the first five years of ownership.
Cars registered before 1 April, 2017, are not affected by the VED changes - so for existing car owners, you will pay as before.
If your car has an engine capacity of less than 1549cc (about 1.5 litres), then you will still pay £145 (if you pay upfront).
If you car has a bigger engine, then the annual charge is £235. Both these figures rise slightly if you pay in instalments. You can get a detailed breakdown here.
If your vehicle was registered after 1 March 2001, then it is emissions which determine how much you currently pay.
Vehicles have to be in Band D, (emitting 121-130g/km of CO2) before you pay any significant annual road tax - in the case of Band D it is £110 a year.
It all depends what type of car you are thinking of buying, but in general it is the most economical vehicles which face the biggest percentage rise in road taxes.
For a small car like a Ford Fiesta 1.0T Ecoboost with CO2 emissions of 99g/km, you pay no Vehicle Excise Duty if you buy before 1 April. If you buy after that you pay up to £120 in the first year and £140 annually thereafter.
For a mid-range car, like the Honda Civic 1.4 i-VTEC Sport, with a higher CO2 emissions figure of 131g/km you currently pay £130 in the first year and then a standard annual rate - also £130. If you buy after 1 April you'll pay £200 in the first year and £140 thereafter.
For a top-end car like the Jaguar XE 2.0i R-Sport with CO2 emissions of 179g/km you currently pay £355 in the first year and £230 after that. If you buy after 1 April you will pay £800 in the first year, but your annual bill will then come down to £140.
From 1 April, only newly-registered cars with zero emissions will escape VED - so that means electric and hydrogen cars only.
Cars with low CO2 emissions of up to 100g/km will pay between £10-£120 in the first year.
After the first year of registration, alternative fuel vehicles such as hybrids, or those using bi-ethanol and liquid petroleum gas will pay £130 a year.
So if you are considering buying a low-emissions car using an alternative fuel, it may make sense to bring forward your purchase to March.
The money raised for this will be paid into a roads fund to help towards the upkeep of the UK's motorway and roads network.
Motoring groups have given a mixed reaction to the changes.
"While zero-emission cars will, on the whole, remain exempt from VED, the new regime will disincentivise take up of low emission vehicles," said Tamzen Isacsson of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
"For example, new technologies such as plug-in hybrid - the fastest growing ultra-low emission vehicle segment - won't benefit from long-term VED incentive, threatening the ability of the UK and the automotive sector to meet ever stricter CO2 targets.
"The introduction of a surcharge on premium cars also risks undermining growth in UK manufacturing and exports, which helps to support some 814,000 jobs in the UK."
The RAC said while costs would rise for many drivers, the fact that new car prices had been dropping in real terms over many years would help offset this. It also welcomed the fact that money raised from VED would be ring-fenced for road investments.
Follow Tim Bowler on Twitter@timbowlerbbc | The way we pay road tax will change significantly from 1 April and it is something to consider if you're going to be buying a new car. |
33042995 | Media playback is not supported on this device
The Mercedes drivers circulated at the front throughout an unusually uneventful race as Williams's Valtteri Bottas beat Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen to third.
After Hamilton led comfortably through the first part of the race, Rosberg came at him after their sole pit stops, but the world champion was never under threat.
Hamilton's fourth win in seven races extends his drivers' championship points advantage to 17.
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The win helps to make up for Hamilton's disappointment in the last race in Monaco, where he lost a dominant victory as a result of a strategic error by the team.
Hamilton led into the first corner from pole position and built a four-second lead before his pit stop and then controlled the gap at little over a second for the rest of the race as the drivers of the two silver cars managed fuel, brakes and tyres to the finish.
Hamilton said: "I love Montreal. I love this track. I love this city. Really just a fantastic weekend, great to get back on the top step.
"I didn't feel I had the most comfortable balance, I had a bit too much understeer. Nico was quick but I didn't feel under too much pressure. I felt I could pull it out when I needed to.
"Did I need this? I think so."
Rosberg said: "It was a challenging race because we had to manage fuel, brakes and all these things. It was a good race but I couldn't quite make it happen.
"I was pushing like mad to try to put the pressure on Lewis but he didn't make any mistakes."
Behind them, Raikkonen was on course for a comfortable third place until a spin at the hairpin on lap 27, caused by the hybrid system kicking in unexpectedly.
That cost him position to Bottas and, although Ferrari chose to pit Raikkonen to fit a set of fresh super-soft tyres with 30 laps to go so he could attack to the end of the race, Bottas was able to do enough to hold him off.
Raikkonen finished ahead of team-mate Sebastian Vettel, who drove an attacking race from the back of the grid following an engine problem in qualifying and a five-place grid penalty for passing illegally in practice.
Vettel rode his luck at times, especially at the last chicane, where he was involved in two near-miss incidents.
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He bounced over the kerbs trying an over-optimistic move on McLaren's Fernando Alonso early in the race, and then did the same with a better-judged move on Force India's Nico Hulkenberg, but still needed his fellow German to spin to avoid contact.
Vettel would have had to race Lotus's Romain Grosjean for fifth, but the Frenchman put himself out of the reckoning by misjudging a lapping move on Manor's Will Stevens and getting a puncture.
Grosjean finished 10th, which he held on to despite a five-second penalty for causing the incident was applied.
His mistake handed sixth to Williams's Felipe Massa, from 15th on the grid.
It was a dire race for Red Bull and McLaren, both struggling with a lack of power, although much more so in McLaren's case.
The best-placed Red Bull was Daniil Kvyat in ninth, behind Lotus's Pastor Maldonado and Hulkenberg.
Both McLarens retired after running close to the back of the field.
The drivers' difficulties coping with the under-powered and thirsty Honda were underlined by a response he gave on the radio to his team when asked to save fuel.
"I don't want, I don't want," Alonso replied. "Already I have big problems now. Driving with this and looking like amateurs. So I'd like to race and then I concentrate on the fuel."
Full race results | Lewis Hamilton took a controlled victory in the Canadian Grand Prix, fending off team-mate Nico Rosberg. |
35192109 | The self-styled Islamic State (IS) is now limited to hideouts in Sufia, the rural district to the north-east of the city, and in small "stay-behind" locations within the ruined urban centre.
There will be ongoing IS harassment in the city, including occasional suicide car bombings and spectacular raids to disrupt stabilisation, but the jihadist group is unlikely to fully control the city again in the manner it has since May 2015.
For IS the loss of Ramadi was inevitable almost from the start but permanent control was probably not their goal. Instead, IS has repeatedly used Ramadi to distract the ISF from attacking the Islamic State's stronghold in Mosul, 450km (280 miles) to the north.
IS tried and failed to seize Ramadi at the same time as nearby Falluja fell in late December 2013.
It fought a battle of attrition for 16 months from Ramadi's rural suburbs, tying down ISF units. Then, when the Iraqi military took Tikrit in April 2015, the Islamic State was able to crack ISF resistance in Ramadi and again use the city to draw ISF effort away from Mosul for 226 days and counting.
With the Ramadi operation beginning to wind down, IS knows that the main event - the battle for Mosul - will now begin.
IS could try another diversionary attack but the Iraqi and Syrian forces are now better prepared and supported with air power from the US-led coalition.
More likely, the slow preparatory phases of the battle for Mosul will now unfold in the first half of 2016.
First, IS' next defensive bulwarks will be ground down - the oil refining hub Qayyarah and other Tigris River Valley towns south of Mosul.
Then the city will be slowly encircled in the summer and air strikes will intensify on IS leadership and logistical targets. Then the assault will begin once the summer heat dies down in the autumn of 2016.
Though IS has benefitted from its use of Ramadi as a delaying operation, the ISF and coalition have also learned from the experience.
Ramadi saw the ISF and coalition work closely together to build highly detailed intelligence on enemy locations and then use air power to precisely target those concentrations.
Ramadi also saw the Iraqi army show off the training and equipment it has acquired from the coalition.
"Combined arms breaching" is one new capability - the ability to clear scores of improvised explosive devices in a single manoeuvre with the aid of US-provided mine-clearing equipment. Combat engineers with US-provided bulldozers rapidly consolidated defences and allowed troops to beat away IS counter-attacks.
The ISF showed that it could rapidly build new bridges to replace the ones that IS demolished. All these skills will be useful in Mosul.
The battle is the latest in a series of operations that show professional military commanders, not militia leaders, in charge of major military operations.
This was the case at Tikrit and Baiji, where militia leaders tried and failed to conquer the city for months. In the end, professional Iraqi special forces and army officers backed by coalition air power tipped the balance in both places within days.
This dynamic is important because Shia militia commanders like Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a US-designated global terrorist, or Hadi al-Amiri will probably seek to play key roles in the liberation of Mosul.
But local political dynamics - particularly the predominately Sunni Arab character of Mosul city - suggest that the Shia militias will not be welcomed as liberators, rather as foreign occupiers.
This makes it important that the assault on Mosul - like the decisive operations at Tikrit, Baiji and now Ramadi - should be an operation commanded by professional ISF leadership under national command.
A related challenge will be the Iraqi government's stabilisation of Ramadi city as the battle slowly winds down.
A newly-announced $50m (£33m) international effort to restore basic services in Ramadi plus plans to man the city's security forces with local Sunnis will have an important effect on resettlement of local people and the long-term stability of the city. The previous example of Tikrit gives reasons for encouragement.
Tikrit was heavily damaged in the fighting to liberate the city and looted by predominately Shia militias thereafter. But the post-battle stabilisation has gone unexpectedly well.
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) is running a successful resettlement programme that has seen Internally Displaced Persons returning to the city and the militias have acted with restraint.
Such a "day-after" resettlement and stabilisation plan will be doubly necessary in Mosul, a city 15 times as big as Tikrit and three times as large as Ramadi.
As a result, Ramadi may have given the Iraqi government and security forces a rare opportunity to better prepare for the main battle and post-conflict period in Mosul.
If Ramadi had not fallen, the ISF might have rushed to failure in Mosul. Although the process will probably be slow, the Iraqi campaign to liberate Mosul may now be on firmer ground.
Dr Michael Knights is the Lafer Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He has worked in all of Iraq's provinces, including periods spent embedded with the Iraqi security forces. His recent report on the Iraqi security forces is available via the Washington Institute website. | The Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) raised their national flag over the Anbar provincial government headquarters in Ramadi on 28 December, marking the return of government troops to the centre of the city after many weeks of intense fighting. |
24944394 | Replacing the old police authorities, they were elected in November 2012 to hold the police to account and to set the budget for their force area.
In a survey for the BBC over a third of people said they did not know they had a PCC.
Despite this commissioners in Wales say they feel they have made a difference.
The findings of the BBC poll, published a year after the first PCC elections were held, indicate that 35% do not know if they have one, while 3% think - incorrectly - that they do not.
Christopher Salmon says a PCC should be "constantly in his (chief constable's) ear saying 'what are you doing to make my life better and my community safer'?".
The businessman told the BBC's Sarah Moore there will never be enough officers but the priority will always be to make sure money goes to the "front line".
Police and Crime Commissioners are here to stay and are already making a difference, says Ian Johnston.
Mr Johnston served Gwent Police for 33 years and then was vice-president and president of the Police Superintendents' Association.
He faced controversy after it emerged he had ordered his then chief constable to "retire or be removed" in June.
Mr Johnston said he has had an "eventful" year but says morale within the force is "off the richter scale" and he had been out and about talking and listening to what people want.
He told Jordan Davies his role has changed the shape and direction of the Gwent Police force in 12 months.
Reducing crime and preventing reoffending is at the heart of everything he does, says Alun Michael.
The former home office minister and MP said he was working hard on "good partnerships" between police and a variety of other agencies as a way to "add value" to what he is doing.
Public recognition of his job is not important but a reduction in crime will be a "tick in the box" at the end of his term, he told BBC Wales' Stephen Fairclough.
Complaints from the farming community about inadequate policing of rural areas have been dealt with by setting up a rural crime team, said Winston Roddick.
He said it was one of the things which he had been able to push through and whilst it had been a success it is still early days for most people to know what the role of a PCC entails.
Mr Roddick, a leading barrister, told BBC Wales' Chris Dearden that despite financial cut-backs being a burden it also means better use is being made of available resources.
'One in three' unaware of local PCC | A year into the job, the four police and crime commissioners (PCC) in Wales have been speaking about how they think things have gone. |
39682899 | Defender Tim Fosu-Mensah suffered a shoulder problem in that game and joins a lengthy injury list, which includes midfielders Paul Pogba and Juan Mata.
Swansea midfielder Jack Cork and defender Martin Olsson are expected to return after recovering from respective ankle and hamstring injuries.
Wayne Routledge is ruled out after having a hernia operation on Tuesday.
Simon Brotherton: "Manchester United's push for a top-four finish continues against a Swansea side who are currently two points from safety in their battle to avoid the drop.
"United equalled their longest ever unbeaten run in the top flight with Thursday's draw in the Manchester derby, making it 24 matches without defeat in the league.
"Holding them back has been the frustrating number of draws, which includes five of the last seven Premier League games at Old Trafford.
"Swansea's win over Stoke last week was their first in seven, giving them renewed hope of survival and they have enjoyed some success against this weekend's opponents in the recent past, winning on two of their last four visits."
Twitter: @SimonBrotherton
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on what the squad lacked before his appointment: "I think they missed happiness, they missed trust, they missed belief and they missed this extra bit that brings resilience and brings you fight.
"And [now] they have it, so the group that will meet again on 9 July for next season is a stronger group. The new players, when they arrive, will find a group more ready to go for big things.
"But the reality is we are fighting to win the Europa League and fighting to finish fourth, so let's go."
Swansea head coach Paul Clement: "United have been playing Thursday and Sunday for many weeks now and they have an injury list which I'm sure the manager is not happy with.
"But we know it will not be easy. You always hope when you play a big team at their stadium that they have a slightly off-day and you have a chance."
Swansea need a win but, although they have beaten Manchester United home or away in each of the past three seasons, I don't see them doing it again on Sunday.
Prediction: 2-0
Lawro's full predictions v Line of Duty star Adrian Dunbar
Head-to-head
Manchester United
Swansea City
SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by @ProfIanMcHale at the University of Salford that is used to predict the outcome of football matches. | Manchester United will be without midfielder Marouane Fellaini after his red card in the Manchester derby. |
28578885 | The expansion plans were unveiled by chairman Cyrus Mistry at an internal meeting this week and confirmed via an emailed statement.
Tata has more than 100 companies, including Tata Motors and Tata Steel.
The global investment plans come amid a sluggish economic environment in India.
Tata said it was creating a special focus on four new clusters, including defence and aerospace, retail, infrastructure and finance.
The group's statement said its new growth project, dubbed Vision 2025, would see it become one of "the 25 most admired corporate and employer brands globally, with a market capitalisation comparable to the 25 most valuable companies in the world".
The conglomerate would not share any further details of its internal meeting, but said its new plans would see it "strongly champion companies which are world class and, where necessary, facilitate creation of new companies".
"This holistic strategy will also include support to companies, if required, to restructure their businesses which do not have the potential to meet performance," the statement said.
Mr Mistry, who took over as the group's chairman in December 2012, has to date kept a relatively low profile since taking the helm.
His predecessor, Ratan Tata, was chairman of the conglomerate for more than 20 years and is one of India's most internationally-recognised business leaders.
The Mumbai-based group has been looking for new growth avenues as some of its key businesses struggle.
Tata Motors, India's top truckmaker, has seen its sales fall in recent months for the first time in 12 years.
A slowing economy and high interest rates have kept customers away, and this is likely to hit its earnings results when they are presented in August.
And in May this year, Tata Steel, one of the world's biggest steelmakers, posted a net loss in its fourth quarter, blaming weakness in Europe. | The Tata conglomerate, India's biggest business group, has said it will invest $35bn (£20.7bn) over the next three years in areas including retail and defence. |
34126942 | For years, Prince's albums came emblazoned with the legend "produced, arranged, composed and performed by Prince".
But that all changed with last year's Art Official Age, where an unknown musician called Joshua Welton was credited as the megastar's co-producer.
The album gained rave reviews, with Billboard calling it Prince's "most imaginative album since the '90s", while the Chicago Tribune wrote: "Prince sounds not just relevant, but renewed."
So it's hardly a surprise that Welton has been retained at Prince's Paisley Park's studios in Minneapolis; and his second collaboration with the musician, called HitNRun, comes out on Jay-Z's Tidal streaming service next week.
Speaking exclusively to the BBC, the 25-year-old talks about the recording process, Prince's working practices, and how he ended up in Minneapolis.
Hi Joshua. How are you feeling?
It's all good, all good. Prince and I, we're excited to hear what people think about the album and we're hoping people will dance around to it and have a good time!
Before we talk about the album, tell me a little bit about your background.
I was born in Chicago, Illinois and I was raised in a suburb called Aurora. I grew up in music. I have five brothers and we are always dancing - because if you didn't dance in our household it was almost a sin! My mother sang, I was inspired by that. My pastor in my church played the keyboard and the saxophone, and I was inspired by that. And my dad is a gospel writer and rapper, so I was inspired by him, too.
Is it true that Count Baisie is part of your family tree?
Yes sir, that's my uncle on my father's side. My family is very musically-oriented. I've always been around music - but being around it here in Paisley Park is definitely a one of a kind experience.
So how did you meet Prince?
It was actually through my wife Hannah, who drums for 3rdEyeGirl. The first time I came out [to Minneapolis], Prince was rehearsing at a sound stage in Paisley Park.
Now, rehearsal is a time when you get things locked in tight, and you perfect what you're working on but Prince goes, "on the one" and the whole band stops. Then he literally jumps up - because he's on the keyboards - and he goes "Joshua!", runs off the stage and gives me a big hug. And I'm thinking to myself, I really enjoy this guy already!
Literally, right after that, we had this two-hour conversation about Jesus. And that was, for nine months, our relationship. I didn't do any music. I was really just supporting my wife. That was my main goal, making sure that I was there for her.
In an interview to announce the album, 3rdEyeGirl said HITNRUN was "super funky" and aimed at Prince's hardcore fans. What should we expect?
Well, I think you'll be able to dance to it! You'll get the groovy Prince, you'll get the fun Prince, you'll get the hilarious Prince, you'll get the serious Prince, and you'll get the going-out-on-a-date-with-my-lady Prince.
What's the studio set-up at Paisley Park? Is there any truth to the story that you have to be ready to record 24/7?
He's walking music, so we always have to be ready to record, and always be ready to lay something down. That's just the heartbeat of any musician.
As far as the myth goes, about everything [that happens] being recorded all the time? I don't know too much about that but I know that we're always recording. So if that counts, it is 24 hours a day.
Prince spent 40 years producing his own records, so what do you contribute?
You know, Prince was asked the same question recently and he said, "Joshua alleviates me so I can do other things". That blessed my heart when I heard that, because that's how it is.
He'll basically say "this is what I want" and I'll make the music in Studio B. He takes the track in Studio A [and] he'll record his voice. Then he'll come and give me his vocal and if he feels like a bass needs to be added, or a guitar needs to be added, then we'll do so.
So give me an example... How was a track like HardRockLover made?
Prince said to me: "I need something that starts off quiet, and then I just want it to erupt and then I want you to go back… like this roller coaster". And so I said, "ok, cool".
So HardRockLover was done literally almost as soon as it came out. Actually, that and the last song on the album were made literally in the same hour.
It can happen that quickly?
Songs literally happen overnight. Say I make a track at 10 at night? He'll go into studio A and the next morning, however many songs I've given him, I get those songs back. And in the same day, I give him the songs back saying "here's the mix, what do you think?" and that just keeps going.
How easy is it to interpret his instructions?
Because we talked for nine months and laughed and played ping pong - it kind of gave me an idea [of his tastes] so I can give him something that I think he would like. But some tracks on the album he didn't touch any instruments on, so that was really crazy for me as a musician.
There must be immense pressure on you to live up to Prince's reputation?
When you've got an iconic person like Prince standing over your shoulder, you've got to produce at this level all the time. As a friend, you don't want to bring anything that is less than what he's looking for. Why would you give your son or daughter a stone if he's asking for bread?
But when you're working with a friend, that's different than trying to make sure your boss is happy. When you've had times you've been on the floor laughing, and you're red in the face and there are tears rolling down your cheeks, and you've got inside jokes. That, to me, made the working experience a breeze.
Does that make it easier for you to say something like "we need another take of that vocal"?
I'm not in that process with him. He does that all by himself, literally. So he'll sing and he'll get into his zone and he'll give me the vocals the next day.
Do you get several takes to choose from, or does Prince just present you with the final version?
Exactly that. He's saying, "Hey, sir, I've recorded these vocals. This is what you get."
But that gave me the opportunity to appreciate the genius of Prince. The harmonies, and where he sits on the beat, which notes he chooses, and the breaths he takes… I'm hearing all this stuff because I'm having to mix it and I can really say that he is a genius.
When I tell you he can hear the sun rise, I'm not lying to you.
How do you know when a song is finished? How does Prince signal his approval?
Either he'll send me a message, or we'll both run out of the room because it's so good! It happens in many ways. But at the end of it, it's an understanding. You look in each other's eyes… and you know, "we shouldn't touch that".
Does your faith play a role in the studio? Or is it there for strength when things get tough?
Anything that him and I do, it's impossible for us not to move in faith.
[But] when you're constantly making music and you're constantly at that speed… it's a lot to try and say "I'm doing this on my own". So I need my wife, I need my friends, but ultimately, I need God because he's really been the core inspiration of the non-stop-ness and the keep-going-ness. It can be a lot, but we work it out.
One of the songs you recorded between Art Official Age and HITNRUN was Baltimore - a response to the death of Freddie Gray in police custody. It's quite a positive song, looking at how America can move on and heal after a spate of similar incidents. What was the thinking behind that?
The black community in America, some of the things we've experienced, it's quite a travesty. I'm not one to try to point out colour - but at the same time we can't ignore the situation and we can't be oblivious to the racism.
The Baltimore song is just a way of saying, "I see what's going on. And here's my voice in the community and I just want to be able to let you know that we are here for you."
Tell me about releasing HITNRUN exclusively on Tidal? Why go there, rather than any of the other streaming services?
Just [the ability to stream] high fidelity music. Because we take time to make it sound great and we would love for people to hear it the way that we hear it, uncompromised. So for us it's really cool on that alone.
Given his prodigious work-rate, is there a scenario whereby Tidal would allow Prince to release music more frequently?
For us to put out music non-stop, I believe Tidal is a great avenue and the relationship with Jay-Z [means] I can definitely see it being that way.
HITNRUN will be available on Tidal from 7 September and on CD at a later date. | Prince's producer Joshua Welton reveals the studio secrets behind the musician's new album, HITNRUN. |
38393793 | Lisa Marie Naegle, 36, who competed in 2010 for a dream wedding and plastic surgery on the show Bridalplasty, last spoke to her husband early on Sunday.
Police arrested a 34-year-old nursing student, Jackie Jerome Rogers, on Tuesday after questioning him.
They said he told investigators Ms Naegle's body was at his home.
"We can confirm a body which we believe is Lisa Marie was discovered in a shallow grave at the suspect's home," police spokesman Sal Ramirez said on Tuesday night of the discovery in Lennox, near Los Angeles International Airport.
"The detectives strongly believe it is her."
Police did not give a motive for the killing.
Ms Naegle was hit on the head seven times with a hammer early on Sunday morning, reports celebrity gossip website TMZ, citing law enforcement sources.
The Daily Breeze, a local newspaper, reported that she taught nursing classes at West Los Angeles College and that Mr Rogers was one of her students.
She had gone to a birthday party on Saturday night at Alpine Village, a beer hall and restaurant in another Los Angeles suburb, Torrance.
Ms Naegle's husband, Derek Harryman, said he had texted her at around 02:00 local time (10:00 GMT) on Sunday to find out where she was.
"Within a minute or two, she called me," Mr Harryman told the Daily Breeze.
"She sounded really, really drunk. She said, 'I'm going to get some food and then I'll be home.'"
But she never made it.
Her family reported her missing on Sunday night and issued an appeal on social media for help in finding her.
They said they obtained photos showing Ms Naegle - who came fourth on E! network's Bridalplasty - leaving the beer hall with Mr Rogers.
Ms Naegle's relatives contacted Mr Rogers after they obtained CCTV footage which appeared to show her getting into the suspect's vehicle.
Her sister, Danielle Naegle-Kaimona, told KABC-TV: "While he was talking to us and telling us his story, multiple different times he said he absolutely did not go home with her, or did not take her home."
After being challenged that Ms Naegle had been filmed getting into his car, Mr Rogers changed his story, the family said.
He acknowledged that the missing woman did get into his car, but said she got out moments later.
The family then contacted police. | Police have made an arrest after the discovery of a former reality TV show contestant in a suburban Los Angeles backyard shallow grave. |
38317367 | The country as we know it today was actually formed quite recently, when south Yemen and north Yemen - which believed the country should be run in different ways - joined together in 1990, after many years of fighting.
However, since then the fighting has not stopped, which has made life for those living in the country very difficult.
Find out more about why there is still a conflict in Yemen with Newsround's guide.
Despite joining together in 1990, the north and south of the country still disagreed with each other.
Fighting between the government and anti-government fighters called the Houthi (also known as 'rebels') continued.
The situation reached a peak in 2011 when protests led to the president at the time, Ali Abdallah Saleh, resigning and his deputy, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, taking over.
However, the fighting still didn't stop, as Mr Hadi struggled to keep everyone in the country happy.
In 2014, the country descended into civil war, as the rebels took over the capital city of Yemen called Sanaa.
This civil war is still going on today.
When the Houthi took over Sanaa, President Hadi fled to the country next door, called Saudi Arabia, which still supports him.
He set up a temporary capital in a different city in Yemen called Aden. He has still not been able to return to Sanaa.
At the moment, the country is locked in a difficult situation.
The Houthi rebels don't accept that Hadi's government makes their rules. They believe in a new ruling group, with a leader called Mohammed Ali al-Houthi.
However, much of the rest of the world - including the UK and the US - do not accept this. They both support the government in Saudi Arabia.
Earlier in 2016, the United Nations - which is an organisation which works to bring peace - helped to make the two sides talk to each other to try to sort out their problems.
But after three months, the talking stopped and the fighting continued.
Another thing making the situation in Yemen more difficult is that it has become a place for extreme groups, like Al-Qaeda and the group that calls itself Islamic State, to base themselves and grow stronger.
It has also always been one of the poorest Arab countries, which has made it difficult to deal with the situation.
The fighting has had a devastating impact on normal people trying to live their lives in Yemen.
Charities are working to try to help them.
A UK organisation called the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which represents 13 aid charities, launched a big appeal asking for people to donate money to help make sure that people in Yemen have what they need to live.
At the end of 2016, the British Red Cross, a charity represented by the DEC, said: "The ongoing conflict in Yemen has devastated millions of people's lives."
"More than half the population don't have enough food. Almost a quarter face starvation. Families are living with no water or electricity."
Restricted deliveries of food and fuel, and roads and buildings being destroyed, has led to as many as 21 million people not having the basics essentials they need to live.
With airports closed and borders blocked, many people are unable to leave the country, despite the problems.
Thousands of people have also been killed and injured in the fighting.
If you're upset by this story, or anything in the news, click here for advice. | Yemen is a country in Middle East, to the east of North Africa and south of Saudi Arabia, Syria and Iraq. |
37250397 | Patients are being denied a proper service, said Dr Frances O'Hagan.
People were often being placed at risk as one out-of-hours doctor had to provide cover for the entire Trust area, said Dr O'Hagan.
"We as doctors are not being able to provide the type of service that we want due to the lack of doctors available to provide cover," she said.
"Unfortunately the service in the Southern Health Trust is already broken."
For six nights from 22-27 August, one doctor had to cover the so-called red-eye shifts - which last from midnight to 08:00 and are normally covered by 3 GPs - for the entire health trust, which serves a population of some 300,000 people, it has emerged.
Working an out-of-hours shift can mean covering from Kilkeel to Pomeroy, and up to Moira, entirely alone, said Dr O'Hagan.
While that doctor is expected to make some house calls, there can often be 100 telephone calls to deal with as well, she added, recalling the midnight start of one recent red-eye shift.
"I received a call from a patient who was actively suicidal," said Dr O'Hagan. "Within an hour I had two similar calls - so three serious mental health cases to deal with. I was the only doctor on call for the entire Trust.
"I had to attend Craigavon area hospital to see whether one needed admitted under the Mental Health Order," she added.
"The police and social services were involved and each of the cases took in excess of an hour.
"And on top of that I had calls regarding children with temperatures, palliative care cases and patients in nursing homes.
"That particular red eye shift was a nightmare."
According to several doctors who spoke to the BBC, one doctor on call is becoming the norm.
Figures obtained by the BBC also reveal that 47 out-of-hours shifts were unfilled from 22-27 August.
According to Dr O'Hagan, it is more common for a GP to be working alone on the red-eye shift than with colleagues.
"I regularly work alone," she said. "It's a huge pressure. It is not fair on us or the patients. Also due to insurance I can only work so many red eye shifts a month - sometimes they need me in earlier but I would be breaking my contract to do that."
The Southern Health Trust says it recognises the problem.
Director of Older people and Primary Care Angela McVeigh said: "Certainly we recognise the service is under pressure and at times the red eye shift there is only one doctor on cover.
"But as I have said we also have nurses available to provide triage and we have the Marie Curie service available overnight to provide a service to patients."
However, the Trust stresses that part of the problem is too many people misusing the out-of-hours service which is only intended for emergencies.
Many of the callers are taking doctors away from urgent cases, said Angela McVeigh.
"A lot of the contacts would not be for urgent care - some are for minor ailments such as headlice, cold sores even hangovers," she said.
"We are asking the public to think carefully when they dial the number and to think of other services that might be available to them."
Too few GPs also means long waiting times for patients.
Julia Cully from Waringstown had to wait almost eight hours to see a doctor after she developed severe pains in her back and stomach over the bank holiday weekend.
"I was in a lot of pain on Sunday becoming very unwell overnight," she said.
"I don't like bothering the doctor but by Monday morning I made the call. That was around 11 am.
"I was told they were very busy and someone would ring back which they did almost 3 hours later. But it was a nurse who rang back. I finally got to see a doctor at 8 pm and was diagnosed with a kidney infection.
GPs who spoke to the BBC said the workload is having a detrimental impact on their own health.
Often after finishing the overnight shift, doctors are expected back in the surgery after having only a few hours sleep, said one GP. | The Southern Health and Social Care Trust's out-of-hours service is "broken", says a GP. |
34127024 | The multi-talented musician won three prizes at this month's Progressive Music Awards in London, including album of the year for Hand. Cannot. Erase. The Guardian's five-star review called it "a smart, soulful and immersive work of art".
Since the 1980s, Wilson has been the driving force in a number of musical projects, the best known of which is the rock band Porcupine Tree.
Now, ahead of two sell-out shows at the Royal Albert Hall, Wilson is releasing a vinyl-only double LP, Transience, to showcase the "more accessible" side of his solo output.
He tells the BBC about his love of vinyl, his busy schedule and explains how comic actor Matt Berry came to be his support act.
What does vinyl mean to you?
I grew up at the very tail end of the vinyl era, and at the time, I remember, we couldn't wait for CD to come along because vinyl was so frustrating. You would buy the record, take it home, and it would have a scratch, and you would have to take it back again.
I love CDs, and for some kinds of music - classical for example - it is better than vinyl. But the problem with the CD and digital downloads is that there's nothing you can really cherish or treasure.
Owning vinyl is like having a beautiful painting hanging in your living room. It's something you can hold, pore over the lyrics and immerse yourself in the art work.
I thought it was just a nostalgic thing, but it can't be if kids too young to remember vinyl are enjoying that kind of experience.
Do you have a piece of vinyl that you treasure?
The truth is I got rid of 100% of my vinyl in the 90s. All the vinyl I have is re-bought. I started off from the perspective that I wanted to recreate the collection I had when I was 15, but it's gone beyond that.
The first record which I persuaded my parents to buy for me was Electric Light Orchestra's Out of the Blue. If I still had my original copy, it would have sentimental value, but, alas, it's in a charity shop somewhere.
Why release your new compilation Transience on vinyl?
It was originally conceived as an idea for Record Store Day, but we missed the boat on that.
My record company had suggested I put together some of my shorter, more accessible songs. I got a bit obsessed by the idea to make something like "an introduction to Steven Wilson", and I was committed to it being a vinyl-only release. Anyone who buys the vinyl does also get a high-res[olution] download.
Do you have a concern that the album won't show your work in a true light?
No - because although I do focus on more long-form pieces of music, there is one thing I have always valued above everything else: melody.
There is a lot of progressive rock which focuses on the technical complexity of the track rather than the melodic side. Pink Floyd, the most successful progressive rock band of all time, have stood the test of time because the emphasis was always on melody and atmosphere.
What do you have in store for your Albert Hall shows?
I don't want to give away too much. The repertoire will be completely different each night.
The first night is going to be a version of the Hand. Cannot. Erase. show I've been doing this year - but on steroids - with a couple of guests.
The second night is going to be more of a trip into my history, which is more aimed at the fans have been following me for years.
How did it come about that Matt Berry is the support act on the second night?
Myself and everyone on the tour bus are massive fans of [Channel 4 comedy series] Toast of London to the point that we are quoting it endlessly.
I thought that I should check out Matt's music, so I picked up a copy of his Music for Insomniacs. I chatted with him about our love of Mike Oldfield and asked him to play at the Royal Albert Hall.
I'm going to be incredibly star struck by my opening act.
You've been remixing albums by the likes of XTC, Tears for Fears and Yes. How much does that influence your own work?
I don't consciously draw from that, but, inevitably, if you are deconstructing these classic albums they really get into your head.
My last solo album, The Raven That Refused to Sing, was without doubt the most old-school progressive album I've ever done. I don't think it was coincidence that I had been remixing King Crimson, Jethro Tull and Yes almost exclusively for the previous year.
The current album, Hand. Cannot. Erase., opened up a lot more because I'd been working on Tears for Fears and XTC.
You are often described as progressive rock's busiest musician. Is that how it feels?
You can remove the word progressive. I think I am probably one of the most work-obsessed people in the music business today, and I don't say that with any sense of pride because believe me it's a curse.
I think I get it from my father, who also had an incredibly strong work ethic. If I don't do anything for a whole day, I start to feel this creeping guilt. That's why the remix work has been such a gift to me because it means I don't have to be doing my own music all the time.
The music industry is a hard place to make a living for yourself. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone as a profession now. I work every day, and I'm not rich, but I make a good living. I love what I do, it's a privilege, but if I was lazy about it, I don't think I'd be able to survive.
Transience is out in the UK on 25 September. Steven Wilson plays the Royal Albert Hall on 28 and 29 September as part of his 2015-16 tour of Europe. | Steven Wilson is often dubbed the hardest working musician in the world of progressive rock. |
33949101 | Police found him and a 23-year-old man with stab wounds in Ashton Road, Oldham, after 03:55 BST.
They were both taken to hospital where the 19-year-old died in the afternoon. The older man has serious injuries but is in a stable condition, police said.
Two 19-year-olds, two 20-year-olds and a man, aged 21, were initially arrested on suspicion of assault. A murder investigation has now been launched.
All of them remain in custody. | A 19-year-old man has died after he was stabbed in Greater Manchester. |
38427394 | Emergency services were called to the fire in Orchard Street at about 02:35 hours on Friday
It was extinguished and the body of a man was found within the flat. He is yet to be formally identified.
Police Scotland said the fire was not thought to be suspicious but a joint investigation with the fire service was being carried out to establish the cause.
A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal. | A man has died following a fire at a flat in Kilmarnock. |
38760203 | Hitachi-GE wants to build a new type of reactor at Wylfa, with a UK stakeholder meeting over the design held in Birmingham last month.
Wylfa opponents say a similar meeting run by NRW is not public - and only open to invited guests.
But NRW said it is holding a series of public drop-in sessions on the island.
However, the campaign group People Against Wylfa B (Pawb) described the individual meeting "for a small number of invitees" being held at the old Wylfa power plant site next Monday as "an affront to democracy".
"This is totally unacceptable. On a matter as important as this, it is an insult to the people of Ynys Môn (Anglesey) and north Wales," said Dylan Morgan, from Pawb.
"To add insult to injury, it is intended to hold the meeting in a room on the Wylfa Magnox site which is far from being a neutral venue and reinforces the perception that Natural Resources Wales and the Welsh Government are dancing to the nuclear industry's tune."
The UK Government is currently carrying out consultations on what is known as the generic design assessment for the type of nuclear reactor that could be built at a new Wylfa power plant.
The Japanese-American nuclear partners want to bring a new advanced boiling water reactor to the site and to the site at Oldbury in Gloucestershire.
It would be the first of its kind in the UK. A decision on the design is expected to be taken by UK ministers in December this year.
Pawb has now written to the Welsh Government's Environment Secretary Leslie Griffiths, asking her to intervene as the minister responsible for overseeing the work of NRW.
"We call on you to instruct Natural Resources Wales to rearrange a public meeting in a neutral, convenient and central location in Ynys Môn," stated Pawb.
"A meeting held to discuss the generic design assessment of the Hitachi ABWR has to be advertised openly and widely and not 'to a small number of invitees'."
However, NRW told BBC Wales that it is holding two public drop-in sessions about the design process on Anglesey next week - including an event at Cemaes on Monday and at Llangefni on Tuesday.
The environmental agency said the sessions would allow people to "learn more about the assessment and how to give their views".
"Our purpose is to ensure that the natural resources of Wales are sustainably maintained, enhanced and used," said Tim Jones, NRW's executive director for north and mid Wales.
"At Wylfa Newydd we will do this in three ways: assessing the design of the reactors, determining site specific environmental permits and providing advice to other organisations on decisions they need to make.
"It is our job to ensure that any new nuclear power station will meet high standards of environmental protection and waste management, ensuring that our communities are kept safe from environmental harm." | Anti-nuclear campaigners have accused Natural Resources Wales of carrying out an "insulting" consultation over designs for a new reactor on Anglesey. |
35819455 | The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse heard Archbishop George Carey failed to act on abuse claims made against Ball, 84, in 1993.
It also heard Ball had "permission to officiate" at church services, despite being cautioned for indecency.
Ball was jailed last year for abusing young men between the 1970s and 1990s.
The allegations are part of Dame Lowell Goddard's inquiry investigation into how the Church of England and other public bodies dealt with claims of abuse.
It will be the biggest in British history and is set to last for five years, with a budget of £17.9m for this financial year alone.
Lawyer Richard Scorer, who represents 17 victims of abuse, told a preliminary hearing of the inquiry that one of the victims, known as A13, reported abuse by Ball to the then Archbishop George Carey, but the complaint was not passed to police.
Mr Scorer said this was one reason why it took more than 20 years to bring Ball fully to justice.
This victim was in his early 20s at the time, not a child, and has been refused "core participant status" at the inquiry.
He is among several victims appealing against this decision.
Ben Emmerson, counsel to the inquiry, said there had been "many incidents of sexual abuse within the Anglican Church over a long period of time, and there have been serious failures to acknowledge, prevent and remedy such abuse".
Previous reviews by the Church had provided a picture which was "less than comprehensive", he said.
Historical child abuse claims: Key investigations
Mr Emmerson said one major inquiry only unearthed details of 13 cases, while another, led by the judge Baroness Butler-Sloss, was misled by senior figures in the Church, requiring her to re-write a report into abuse.
BBC home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds said Mr Emmerson told the inquiry it would have to decide if the allegations are "well-founded".
To meet this test, they will either have to be true, or there must have been enough evidence to have required institutions to take action, he said.
Ball was jailed in October for 32 months after admitting abusing 18 young men across 20 years.
He abused most of his victims while he lived in East Sussex and was serving as Bishop of Lewes - but would go on to carry on the abuse as Bishop of Gloucester.
Lord Carey has previously denied being involved in a cover-up. | A public inquiry is to consider whether there was interference by the Church of England in the case of jailed former Bishop of Lewes Peter Ball. |
36033761 | If you're scratching your head lets let's start briefly with what has actually happened.
Between August 2013 and February 2014 when he was chair of the powerful Commons culture and media committee the Conservative John Whittingdale had a relationship with a woman who he met online on the dating site match.com - he only found out that she was a sex worker when a reporter contacted him with that information, and as soon as he was aware he ended the relationship.
More than a year later he is promoted to be the culture secretary - taking responsibility for press regulation. Crucially he did not tell Downing Street that some of the newspapers had this story about his private life, that Labour's Chris Bryant has described as a 'sword of Damocles' hanging over his head.
The political question is whether or not therefore he knowingly entered into an insufferable conflict of interest - and whether his decisions on the press were influenced by his own situation. He absolutely denies that. Of course Number Ten isn't exactly delighted about it all but they say he is a single man who had a relationship, move on.
Why does it matter now?
There is unfinished business from the Leveson Inquiry into the hacking scandal. The second part of the inquiry looking into ties between the papers and the police hasn't yet taken place. It was put on hold while the legal processes were completed, but there's scepticism around Westminster over whether it will ever take place.
In March, Mr Whittingdale said there wouldn't be a decision until all the criminal proceedings finished and the government has repeated that now.
But there's a suggestion too, put forward by privacy campaigners, that the government has gone soft on the real tightening of the rules on the press. At the end of last year Mr Whittingdale announced that papers could be protected from punitive damages in some cases.
And the recommendation of the Leveson Inquiry that papers be regulated under a Royal Charter hasn't happened, with papers forming their own regulatory body instead.
The newspapers would say things have changed since Leveson in any case, and it's nonsense to suggest it's back to business as usual pre-hacking.
But with this information about John Whittingdale now out in the public domain, Labour is suggesting that he cannot possibly be in charge of press relegation and should step aside from this part of his job - because he is vulnerable to pressure from the press.
There is no sense right now this will happen. Sources in government suggest it would be ludicrous to suggest he should be held responsible for the fact that newspapers decided not to publish a story about his private life. And it's also important to note that John Whittingdale as a political character would always have been likely to go for light touch regulation in any case.
It's also highly likely that there will be a reshuffle in the aftermath of the EU referendum, if the political calculation turns out to be that Mr Whittingdale should be moved.
But this is certainly the kind of headache that the government could do without, and it's the kind of story, involving politicians, the papers, and sex, that could well take an unpredictable turn. | How have we found ourselves in this strange situation where privacy campaigners who have pushed for tighter rules are up in arms because the private life of a single cabinet minister was not reported? |
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