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28839343 | After struggling to survive in the Sinjar mountains for five days without water and food, these refugees were taken by Kurdish fighters to Newroz camp in Derik city, in an area of north-eastern Syria under Kurdish control.
"Hundreds of people were killed and beheaded by IS fighters and hundreds of women have been taken by them. We are dying - the Yazidi minority has seen genocide," said 65-year-old refugee Khidier Shamo.
Two sisters and their families were found by Kurdish forces in the mountains, two hours before this photo was taken. One sister had jumped from a truck because she was thirsty and desperate for water, spraining her ankle.
One sister said: "All of my family walked 12km in the mountains, my children are dehydrated and got diarrhoea. We lost a lot of relatives." Meanwhile, Farman Jendi (right), a 65-year-old refugee, said it was "a religious war; it's not a political or an economic war".
"We will never convert to Islam as IS want, we prefer to die," said 18-year-old Amina Kalo from Sinjar.
Refugees travelled from the Sinjar mountain via a safe corridor, by truck. Only large trucks can cross the bumpy roads leaving the mountains.
Photographs by Jewan Abdi (Twitter: @abdijewan)
Who are the Yazidis?
Struggle for Iraq: In maps | Pictures from a BBC reporting trip from northern Iraq into Syria, as Iraqi refugees fled Mount Sinjar after days of fighting. |
33995268 | Photographs seem to show that the audience at the Ponghwa Theatre was appreciative, if not completely sure of what to make of the concert.
Laibach describe themselves as "a music and cross-media group" and are known for playing eclectic cover versions of famous songs.
The songs were accompanied by images styled from North Korean propaganda posters projected on to a screen, with translations in Korean.
But what was on Laibach's setlist in Pyongyang? And what could their choices of songs signify?
As the band promised before travelling to North Korea, they played a number of songs from The Sound of Music, including Edelweiss, Do-Re-Mi and The Hills Are Alive.
It is not the first time they have performed the songs - but the choice to sing them in Pyongyang was deliberate.
The tour's organiser, Morten Traavik, told the BBC the film "is very well known in North Korea".
The 1965 musical is one of the few western films people are allowed to watch in the secretive state.
When a journalist with Vanity Fair visited Pyongyang in March, one North Korean complained to him that he had to watch The Sound of Music more than 100 times as it "was our English-language textbook at university".
The fact that The Sound of Music is about a family escaping from Nazi Germany does not seem to have set North Korean alarm bells ringing.
If you spent any time on a European dancefloor in the 1980s or early 90s, you would know this hit for the Austrian band Opus.
Again, it's a regular on Laibach's setlists. But a closer look at the lyrics of the song do show how it might sit well with North Korea's so-called "juche" principle of self-reliance, as well as the Communist values of the state.
When we all give the power / we all give the best
Every minute of an hour / don't think about a rest
Then you all get the power / you all get the best
When everyone gives everything and every song everybody sings.
But, of course, the selection of this song could be just coincidence.
This is, again, a regular for Laibach.
The song was written during the period when John Lennon was most interested in transcendental meditation. As such, it has a strong spiritual theme and includes a mantra in Sanskrit.
One North Korean defector told the NK News website last year that people from his country were deeply spiritual while not at all religious.
"Human communication with the spirit world is something that is very popular in North Korea, where it crops up most often in the form of fortune-telling," Ji-min Kang wrote.
"Like anywhere in the world, when things get too much and life gets unbearably hard, people like to know what is ahead of their future."
Laibach did well not to make any references to North Korea's nuclear programme here.
The second verse begins with the lyric: "We're heading to Venus", and while North Korea has not announced plans to send a manned mission to Venus, there are indications it is planning to launch another satellite into space.
The decision to play a traditional Korean folk song reportedly went down very well with the audience in Pyongyang.
The Arirang genre of songs - also well-loved in South Korea - have been placed on Unesco's list of "intangible cultural heritage".
Unesco says the songs "speak about leaving and reunion, sorrow, joy and happiness" and "function as an important symbol of unity".
The image above may not make it appear that people enjoyed their evening, but the official state news agency said: "Performers showed well the artistic skill of the band through peculiar singing, rich voice and skilled rendition."
"They seemed to really enjoy it," said Simon Cockerell, general manager of the Beijing-based North Korean travel agent Koryo Tours. "It wasn't an audience pulling faces of distrust or confusion.
"Everyone sat in their seats the whole time and there wasn't really any clapping along or singing along, but then that's the norm at concerts here anyway.
"I imagine most of the people there really had no idea what to expect, but the whole show seemed to be well received." | On Wednesday, the Slovenian band Laibach say they became the first western rock group to play inside North Korea. |
32717123 | This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
If you want to receive Breaking News alerts via email, or on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App then details on how to do so are available on this help page. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts. | Man charged with murder of Polish national Marta Ligman, whose body was found in a suitcase in a London canal |
39711077 | The 27-year-old Senegal international was shown a straight red card for a tackle on M'Baye Niang during Hull's 2-0 win over the Hornets on Saturday.
However, Hull, who are two points above the relegation zone with four games to play, made a successful appeal to the Football Association.
It means Niasse will be available for Hull's trip to Southampton on Saturday. | Hull City forward Oumar Niasse has had a three-match ban overturned after his red card against Watford was rescinded. |
40067670 | Natasha Marke-Jones gave the visitors the lead in the 22nd minute, only for Amy Brodie to bring Scotland level within two minutes.
But Phoebe Richards restored the lead early in the second half and Wales hung on for a crucial win.
The remaining two matches are on Sunday at 14:00 BST and Monday at 11:00 BST.
Wales are ranked 26th in the world and are preparing for the European Championships in Cardiff this August, so will relish an important win over 17th-ranked Scotland.
Find out how to get into hockey with our special guide. | Wales Women hockey beat Scotland Women for the first time in more than a decade in the first of a three-Test series in Glasgow on Friday. |
37914763 | Knockaert's father Patrick died aged 63 last Thursday and the former Leicester player missed Albion's trip to Bristol City in the Championship on Saturday.
Midfielder Steve Sidwell dedicated his goal in the 2-0 win to the Frenchman.
"Coming all the way from England it's just unbelievable. My dad had the best tribute ever," Knockaert, 24, tweeted.
Sidwell was among 10 Brighton players seen alongside Knockaert in pictures posted on Twitter.
Goalkeepers David Stockdale and Niki Maenpaa, defenders Bruno, Gaetan Bong, Lewis Dunk, Connor Goldson and Liam Rosenior, midfielder Dale Stephens and winger Jamie Murphy also made the trip to Leers, on the outskirts of Lille, on Tuesday.
"I will never forget that day! The respect of this football club is too much... You are not just my team mates but my friends forever," Knockaert added on Twitter,
"They give me the power to be where this club has to be. Road to the Premier League... Let's do it for my dad." | Brighton boss Chris Hughton and several first-team players travelled to France to support Anthony Knockaert at the funeral of the winger's father. |
37807393 | Media playback is not supported on this device
Craig Jones had given Westfields, who play in the ninth tier of English football, a dream start when he fired a ninth-minute penalty low and hard into the net to put his side in front.
Curzon, the Greater Manchester side from National League North, enjoyed the majority of possession but the home side always looked dangerous on the counter and deserved their lead going into the interval.
Marshalled by the superb James Febery, the Westfields defence stood firm and the home side almost doubled their advantage when Jones met Richard Greaves' pass on the hour mark.
But the linesman's flag came to Westfields' rescue when Kane Kahaki turned the ball into his own net with 20 minutes to go.
And with less than 10 minutes remaining, Westfields' hearts were broken as Morgan was quickest to react when a Luke Clarke corner created panic in the goalmouth.
Ashton continued to press in the closing stages but Westfields goalkeeper Kieron Blackburn claimed a number of dangerous crosses to ensure the game finished level and set up a replay for his side.
Report supplied by the Press Association.
Match ends, Westfields 1, Curzon Ashton 1.
Second Half ends, Westfields 1, Curzon Ashton 1.
Attempt missed. Chris Ham (Westfields) right footed shot from long range on the left is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Sam Archer-Plane.
Attempt missed. Connor Hampson (Curzon Ashton) header from very close range is too high. Assisted by Rory Gorman with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Curzon Ashton. Conceded by Kane Kahaki.
Attempt blocked. James Baillie (Curzon Ashton) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rory Gorman.
Joe Guest (Curzon Ashton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Chris Ham (Westfields).
Substitution, Westfields. Jamie Saunston replaces James Febery.
Offside, Curzon Ashton. Paul Ennis tries a through ball, but Adam Morgan is caught offside.
Foul by Paul Ennis (Curzon Ashton).
Kane Kahaki (Westfields) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Curzon Ashton. Conceded by Kane Kahaki.
Substitution, Curzon Ashton. Paul Ennis replaces Niall Cummins.
Attempt missed. Jamie Stott (Curzon Ashton) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Luke Clark with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Curzon Ashton. Conceded by Kane Kahaki.
Rory Gorman (Curzon Ashton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sam Gwynne (Westfields).
Goal! Westfields 1, Curzon Ashton 1. Adam Morgan (Curzon Ashton) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal following a corner.
Connor Hampson (Curzon Ashton) hits the right post with a header from very close range. Assisted by Rory Gorman with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Curzon Ashton. Conceded by Sam Gwynne.
Attempt blocked. Luke Clark (Curzon Ashton) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Rory Gorman (Curzon Ashton) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Niall Cummins.
Alex Brown (Curzon Ashton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Chris Ham (Westfields).
Attempt saved. Niall Cummins (Curzon Ashton) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Adam Morgan with a cross.
Attempt saved. Luke Clark (Curzon Ashton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by James Baillie.
Corner, Curzon Ashton. Conceded by Sam Archer-Plane.
Attempt saved. Craig Jones (Westfields) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Richard Greaves.
Substitution, Westfields. Sam Gwynne replaces Aidan Thomas.
Substitution, Curzon Ashton. Adam Morgan replaces Iain Howard.
Offside, Curzon Ashton. Connor Hampson tries a through ball, but Niall Cummins is caught offside.
Corner, Curzon Ashton. Conceded by Keiron Blackburn.
Attempt saved. Niall Cummins (Curzon Ashton) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Joe Guest.
Substitution, Curzon Ashton. Rory Gorman replaces Ryan Hall.
Attempt missed. Jamie Stott (Curzon Ashton) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Luke Clark.
Attempt blocked. James Baillie (Curzon Ashton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Guest.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Aidan Thomas (Westfields) because of an injury.
Corner, Curzon Ashton. Conceded by Chris Ham. | Adam Morgan's late equaliser earned Curzon Ashton a draw and forced the lowest side still in the FA Cup, Westfields, into a first-round replay. |
32132125 | The 31-year-old joins New Zealand international Grant Elliott in the Foxes squad for the competition.
O'Brien has played 125 T20 games, scoring 1,980 runs with a strike rate of 132, and has taken 68 wickets at an average of 22.94, with an economy rate of just under 7.5 runs per over.
In 2011 he hit the fastest-ever World Cup century as Ireland beat England.
O'Brien, who played in the recent tournament in Australia and New Zealand, is the brother of Leicestershire batsman and wicketkeeper Niall and will be at Grace Road between 15 May and 26 June.
He has had previous spells with Gloucestershire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset and Surrey, and has played in the Bangladesh Premier League and Caribbean Premier League. | Leicestershire have signed Ireland all-rounder Kevin O'Brien for this season's T20 Blast campaign. |
29337566 | Paige Chivers, 15, was last seen in August 2007 in Bispham, Blackpool. Her body has not been found.
The men, aged 45 and 59 and from Blackpool, were arrested on Monday on suspicion of murder and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
A court hearing, held earlier, granted officers an extra 36 hours to question them. | Police investigating the suspected murder of a teenager have been given more time to question two men. |
39352070 | A major search operation is continuing after the man fell into the River Tay shortly after 04:00 on Saturday.
The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) has now been instructed to investigate.
The police watchdog will then submit its findings to the Crown Office and procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).
Rescuers from the police, coastguard, ambulance and fire service were called to the scene of the incident on Saturday.
The inshore lifeboat from RNLI Broughty Ferry and a search and rescue helicopter were also involved.
The police's dive and marine unit carried out searches near to Moncrieffe Island on Monday.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "The matter has been referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further." | A watchdog is to investigate the police response before a 25-year-old man fell from the Queens Bridge in Perth. |
34006723 | The Bears took one point from their first three games and Wednesday's wash-out in their final group match against Kent ended their last-eight hopes.
"We can't think we're unfortunate, we started poorly," Brown told BBC Coventry and Warwickshire.
"The games that we lost, we lost very heavily, and that cost us."
Big early defeats by Nottinghamshire and Essex undermined the Bears' hopes of advancing, and Brown said the match schedule did not help.
"We had no time to prepare for the competition," he added, after taking his side through 14 days of cricket in a 26-day period across three competitions.
"We knew what the schedule was like but we went from a T20 game at Headingley, straight to Nottingham and then to Lord's.
"Flitting from one competition to another while you're on the road, and playing your first four One-Day Cup games away wasn't ideal."
Although out of the One-Day Cup, Warwickshire have a chance to defend their T20 Blast title at Finals Day on 29 August and are eyeing runners-up spot in the Division One of the County Championship.
England all-rounder Chris Woakes is set to miss Friday's match at Nottinghamshire with a hamstring strain as the Bears look to close the 12-point gap on second-placed Middlesex. | Warwickshire's failure to reach the quarter-finals of the One-Day Cup is a result of their poor start, says director of cricket Dougie Brown. |
35912192 | As the team most likely to stop them, Tottenham have become the pantomime villain in the Foxes' fairytale. But with the chance to win their first league title in 55 years, Spurs' own story is as remarkable as it is impressive.
Last season Tottenham finished fifth in the Premier League - 23 points behind champions Chelsea - and conceded as many goals as relegated Burnley.
In less than 12 months, the north London side's improvement has been remarkable. Not only are they the top scorers in the league, but they also now have the best defence.
Only in terms of taking their chances have Spurs failed to improve, despite Harry Kane having another excellent season.
Ranked as sixth favourites for the title at odds of 150-1 by many bookmakers at the start of the season, Tottenham could become the first side to finish outside the top four one season and win the title the next since their arch-rivals Arsenal in 1989.
Achieving that feat would see them win their first top-flight title since 1961 and only the third in their history, moving them level with the likes of Blackburn Rovers and Huddersfield Town.
It is 20 years since Alan Hansen's famous claim that "you can't win anything with kids" was disproved by a title-winning Manchester United side brimming with talented youngsters such as Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Gary Neville.
However, if Tottenham do win the title this season, they would outdo even that side to become the youngest champions in Premier League history.
While Manchester United did have more players aged under 23 than this current Spurs side, it also had experienced veterans in their 30s such as Denis Irwin, Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister to lead them, while the oldest outfield player in Tottenham's squad this season is 28-year-old centre-back Jan Vertonghen.
Although there is concern over the number of English players in the Premier League, Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has placed great faith in them, with Harry Kane, Eric Dier, Kyle Walker, Dele Alli and Danny Rose heavily involved in Spurs' title challenge.
Only four Premier League teams have given more minutes this season to English players than Tottenham, while the three title favourites at the start of the campaign - Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal - have, along with Newcastle, given the least.
Pochettino's trust in English players has been to the benefit of the national team, with Rose, Dier, Alli and Kane all starting and starring in England's 3-2 win over Germany on Saturday.
The understanding between Alli and Kane is actually the most prolific in Europe's top five leagues this season, with the midfielder setting up seven of the striker's goals - a fact that will please England manager Roy Hodgson heading into the summer.
If the club's English players continue to play such an integral part and help them win the Premier League, Tottenham would be the champions with the most English representation since Manchester United lifted the trophy in 2001.
One of the reasons why Leicester's title challenge is so remarkable is that they are outdoing the big-spending clubs of the Premier League.
But while Tottenham have spent £256m on players over the past five seasons - still significantly less than the two Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Liverpool - they have sold an incredible £293m worth of talent, meaning they have actually brought in more money than they have spent in that time.
Even Leicester in their two seasons back in the Premier League have a net spend of £48m compared to Tottenham's £7m.
In an era in which it is often claimed that English players are too expensive, it is worth noting that Rose, Alli and Dier - all of whom started alongside academy graduate Harry Kane on Saturday in Germany - cost a combined £10m.
It is well known that Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri is yet to win a major league title in his managerial career, but Tottenham's title challenge is being led by a man who is yet to win a trophy of any kind as a manager.
Ranieri has experience of winning the Coppa Italia with Fiorentina and the Copa del Rey with Valencia. However, Tottenham boss Pochettino would become the first manager for whom the Premier League trophy would be his first silverware if Spurs were to be successful in May.
In any other Premier League season, a club going from title outsiders to title challengers by shrewdly assembling a squad of young players with a strong English core under a manager yet to win a trophy would be the story of the season.
That it is not makes Tottenham the Cristiano Ronaldo of this season's Premier League - a fantastic story in their own right, but just unfortunate that an arguably even better one is taking place at the same time.
Leicester's story is undoubtedly incredible, but Tottenham lifting the trophy in May would arguably also be the most remarkable title win in Premier League history. | From relegation strugglers to title favourites in less than a year, Leicester's remarkable rise has been the story of the season, with many neutrals hoping they can clinch the Premier League title in May. |
15684591 | Kudankulam plant Chief Superintendent MK Balaji said that the delay was due to public protests at the site which had disrupted building work.
He said that the site had been subjected to a total blockade by protesters since 13 October.
Protesters say the facility is unsafe and in an earthquake area.
They fear a repeat of the disaster at Japan's Fukushima plant. But officials say it is in a low seismic activity area.
The nearly $3bn plant - which has been either under design or construction for two decades - is equipped with two reactors built with Russian assistance.
"Definitely there is a delay," Mr Balaji told BBC Tamil.
"We have completed hot runs in August and are in the process of completing inspection work. But the the public agitation has disrupted our work."
He said that there would be at least a "three to four months delay" in commissioning the first part of the plant, and because of that the second part was also likely to be behind schedule.
Mr Balaji strongly denied media reports that Russian scientists at the plant were planning to go back home because of the continuing protests.
He insisted that it was safe and that there was no possibility of a radiation leak, although still no decision has yet been taken on where to store nuclear waste. The government insists that no waste will be kept at Kudankulam.
On Monday former Indian president and scientist APJ Abdul Kalam - on a visit to the plant - said that it was fully safe.
He said it was equipped with "sophisticated safety features and there is no need to panic".
Mr Kalam said that he was neither a mediator nor a government envoy, but "a technologist".
"I support nuclear energy along with solar and wind power as it is a clean and green energy which is very much required for the country's rapid growth," he said.
But protesters said they were disappointed with Mr Kalam's support for the plant. | Commissioning of a controversial planned nuclear plant in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu has been delayed by a few months, officials have told the BBC. |
40512969 | Two people were seriously hurt and 31 injured in a suspected gas blast at New Ferry, Wirral, on 25 March.
The man, from Cheshire, was arrested in May on suspicion of conspiring to commit arson with intent or recklessness and a fraud offence.
A Merseyside Police spokesman said he is "no longer under investigation".
Police are still investigating a 62-year-old man from North Wales and a man, aged 55, from Wirral. | A 65-year-old man arrested following an explosion which resulted in 100 people being evacuated from their homes will not face charges. |
15792001 | Voodoo is completely normal in Benin.
People across West Africa, especially Togo, Ghana and Nigeria hold similar beliefs but in Benin it is recognised as an official religion, followed by some 40% of the population.
Voodoo Day is a public holiday and there is a national Voodoo museum.
It has none of the negative connotations it has in the West and many of those who are officially Christian or Muslim also incorporate some Voodoo elements into their beliefs, especially in times of crisis.
In pictures: Voodoo priestess
But Voodoo is more than a belief system, it is a complete way of life, including culture, philosophy, language, art, dance, music and medicine.
The Voodoo spiritual world consists of Mahou, the supreme being and about 100 divinities - or Voodoos - who represent different phenomena, such as war and blacksmiths (Gou), illness, healing and earth (Sakpata), storms, lightning and justice (Heviosso) or water (Mami Wata).
Voodoo priests ask these gods to intervene on behalf of ordinary people but local adherents stress that they have nothing to do with sorcery or black magic.
People here do not stick needles into dolls to cause misfortune to their enemies, as you see in some Western films - this image may have arisen from the icons of a particular god which a priest may have in their shrine.
Some Voodoo priests use herbs to cure the sick - and possibly to poison enemies.
They also sometimes ask for offerings, such as a chicken or a sheep, which is then sacrificed to the divinity, or some alcohol is poured onto the floor.
This can happen when asking for help or when you wish has been granted.
People seek help on a variety of issues - to be cured of a disease, find a job, complete a business deal, find a spouse or have a child. | As Pope Benedict XVI visits Benin, widely seen as the home of Voodoo, Virgile Ahissou from BBC Afrique explains the reality behind what is often a misunderstood religion. |
37116752 | The 52-year-old said he wanted to "focus on a different phase" in his life not involving "front-line politics, in any shape or form - whatsoever".
Mr Burns became Labour group leader in 2008 and has headed the city's Labour SNP coalition since 2012.
He will stay in office up until the elections next May.
Mr Burns, who has been a councillor for almost 18 years, said: "Nothing I've done in my life beforehand, and I'm sure nothing that I'll do with my life in the future; will match the hugely enriching local experiences I've had over those two decades.
"But today, I'm confirming that I won't be putting my name forward for a fifth consecutive occasion, and thus will not be standing for potential re-election in 2017.
"I want to now move on; to focus on a different phase in my life. A phase that once again will not involve front-line politics, in any shape or form - whatsoever."
Tom Connolly, Unison Edinburgh lead negotiator, said: "Andrew has always made himself available to Unison and the other trade unions and has engaged with us on regular basis throughout his time as leader.
"He has always done this in a respectful, positive and constructive manner." | City of Edinburgh Council leader Andrew Burns is to stand down at next year's local elections. |
34775616 | James Watson, 71, was crossing a road when he was struck by a southbound silver Land Rover Freelander on Bentinck Drive, at its junction with Yorke Road, at about 21:10 on Sunday.
He was taken by ambulance to Ayr Hospital where he later died.
Mr Watson's family described him as "a loving family man who will be sorely missed".
Police said inquiries were continuing into the incident. | A pensioner who died after he was hit by a car in Troon has been named by police. |
34206728 | He has asked his party colleague Arlene Foster to take over as acting first minister, after the DUP failed to get enough support to adjourn the assembly.
Prime Minister David Cameron said he was "gravely concerned" but it would not be right to suspend the assembly.
The crisis was sparked by the murder of ex-IRA man Kevin McGuigan, last month.
Police said that IRA members may have been involved in the killing.
The political row escalated on Wednesday, when detectives arrested three senior republicans as part of the murder inquiry, including Sinn Féin's chairman in Northern Ireland, Bobby Storey.
All three men were released unconditionally on Thursday evening and Mr Storey's lawyer said he plans to sue for unlawful arrest.
With the exception of Mrs Foster, the DUP's ministers have all signed their letters of resignation.
Mr Robinson said: "The failure of the SDLP and Sinn Féin to implement the Stormont House Agreement, together with the assessment of the chief constable of the involvement of the IRA in murder, the continued existence of IRA structures, and the arrests that followed has pushed devolution to the brink," the DUP leader said.
"In light of the decision by republicans, nationalists and the Ulster Unionist Party to continue with business as usual in the assembly, I am therefore standing aside as first minister and other DUP ministers will resign with immediate effect with the exception of my colleague Arlene Foster."
The DUP leaded added he has "stepped aside but not technically resigned" and has asked Mrs Foster to play a "gatekeeper role".
"Arlene remaining in post allows us to ensure that no irrational financial decisions are taken by other parties in what might appear to be the last number of days of this assembly," he added.
Mr Robinson said he will not take his salary and will not carry out any departmental work at Stormont while Mrs Foster is in post as acting first minister.
Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly said Mr Robinson's decision to step aside instead of announcing his resignation was intended to avoid an election.
"The DUP are afraid of an election," Mr Kelly said.
A Downing Street spokesperson said the Prime Minister had spoken with Mr Robinson on Thursday afternoon and was "gravely concerned about the situation in Northern Ireland".
"While acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the Prime Minister told Mr Robinson that the UK government did not believe it would be right to introduce emergency legislation now to suspend the assembly.
"They discussed options for what more the UK government could do to comprehensively address all remaining paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland.
"The Prime Minister underlined the need for intensive cross-party talks to identify ways to tackle all paramilitary groups and to get on with implementation of the Stormont House Agreement
Earlier, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers told a press conference that she would not suspend the assembly despite the DUP resignations.
She said the latest developments were "a sign of a complete breakdown in the working relationships within the executive".
"There is an urgent need to get the parties together, find a way to repair those working relationships and address the two issues," she added.
"We did not think the circumstances will justify suspension, that has not changed and obviously suspension would not resolve the two big problems we face, implementation of the Stormont House Agreement and the presence of paramilitary organisations."
Analysis: Mark Devenport, BBC Northern Ireland political editor
In some ways the situation is not quite as grave as had been thought earlier today.
The DUP has not pulled out all its ministers as Peter Robinson had said he would yesterday.
Instead he has stepped aside and Arlene Foster will be in place as acting first minister for six weeks - that's how long an acting FM can remain in place.
There will be no suspension as in the words of the Secretary of State "the time is not right".
It would seem that Peter Robinson was left in no doubt that the government was not offering the option of immediate suspension. And despite pressure on the SDLP from the Irish government, they did not offer the DUP the lifeline of voluntary adjournment.
It looks like Mr Robinson has come up with a clever tactic which gives the government six weeks to rescue the situation.
Last month, Northern Ireland's police chief said the IRA still existed and that detectives believed some IRA members had a role in Mr McGuigan's murder.
But Chief Constable George Hamilton added that there was no evidence at that stage that the murder was sanctioned by the IRA, which he said was committed to politics and not engaged in terrorism.
However, Sinn Féin's leadership has insisted that the IRA no longer exists and said the murder was being exploited by enemies of the peace process. | Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson has stepped aside and other DUP ministers have resigned as a result of the political crisis at Stormont. |
33309674 | Stuart Cullen, 52, from the Lowestoft area, is believed to have died instantly during Friday's attack on a beach near Sousse, by a gunman with links to Islamic State extremists.
Mr Cullen was with his wife, who was injured but has now returned home, Suffolk Police said.
The couple have one grown-up daughter, police said.
Lowestoft mayor Stephen Ardley, who was holidaying in Sousse last week, said his thoughts were with Mr Cullen's family.
"My heartfelt sympathy goes out to not only the Cullen family, but to all the families and friends that have been affected by this devastating act of cruelty.
"I was walking along that very same beach eight days earlier. The wife and I used to go for a walk on it every morning, so it really brings it home," he said.
A total of 38 people were killed in the attack and at least 36 people were injured.
One of those who remains in hospital in Tunisia is Allison Heathcote, from Felixstowe.
She was critically injured in the shooting and is currently in an induced coma in a Sousse hospital, her brother Simon Boon.
His sister was shot twice and had undergone six hours of surgery to have her shoulder rebuilt, Mr Boon said.
He told the BBC the family had "received very little information from the Foreign Office" and had had to "source information" themselves.
Mrs Heathcote's husband is still unaccounted for.
About 3,500 British tourists have flown home from Tunisia since the attack. | A man from Suffolk is among the British holidaymakers killed by a gunman in Tunisia, police have confirmed. |
34295288 | Tejas Hirani is 17 - too young to hold a driving licence in Kenya - but he has won 48 motor-racing championships both locally and internationally. He told the BBC his racing career began when he was 12.
A photo journalist in Somalia's Puntland region pictured a brazen goat helping itself to his after-dinner cup of tea. The animal lapped up the whole glass quickly, despite its heat, Mohamed Jabra told the BBC. We also found out that "Goat" is the nickname for Ghana's President John Mahama as he said he was as inured to strikes as a dead goat was to a knife.
Find out more
Anas Aremeyaw Anas is behind an expose of alleged corruption in the Ghanaian judiciary. When he turned up at the offices of the chief justice to testify about his investigation, he wore beads over his face to safeguard his anonymity.
Find out more
A diplomat told the BBC that when he arrived at the Kismayo airport in Somalia, travellers had to wait under an '"arrivals tree" instead of an indoor lounge. "There is nothing more dignified than being welcomed under a tree at the airport, which has good shade," Mohamed Abdi Afey said.
Find out more
Tweets about the coup this week in Burkina Faso have been accompanied by the hashtag #lwili. It has nothing to do with the political crisis and is used by Burkinabes when discussing news to do with Burkina Faso on social media - and may have been chosen to reflect Twitter's logo.
Find out more | Some of the quirkier snippets from the news in Africa that have been covered this week: |
23572716 | The 48-year-old is accused of harassing Amanda Thomas with tweets, text messages and telephone calls over a fortnight in March.
He is also charged with harassing Andy Stone, who is reportedly a photographer, during the same period.
Gascoigne, of Poole, Dorset, is due to appear at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court on 29 October.
Gascoigne, who formerly played for Newcastle United, Tottenham, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough and Everton, has faced a high-profile battle with alcohol addiction in recent years and has spent a number of spells in rehab.
A spokesman for Gascoigne declined to comment on the case. | Ex-England footballer Paul Gascoigne has been charged with harassing his ex-girlfriend with abusive messages. |
37646972 | Crowds are complex. Some people fear they may turn violent, with individual personalities becoming submerged in the group mentality.
But some leading social psychologists who research crowds believe that this old picture is mistaken.
"The danger with this view of crowds as inherently violent isn't just that it's wrong, it's that it might become true. It might lead us to treat crowds in ways that will enrage them," says psychologist Professor Steve Reicher.
Of course crowds are not all the same - there are different types of crowd and controlling them requires different approaches.
There are violent crowds, of course. Some sporting crowds become violent. For example, British football stadiums in the 1970s and 1980s became notorious as arenas for hooliganism between rival sets of fans.
Political rallies can also become violent, although they often begin peacefully enough. Then there are spontaneous riots, usually sparked by a particular incident such as a police killing. Unrest in the St Louis suburb of Ferguson in the American mid-West in August 2014 began after the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown.
In Britain, in August 2011, a police killing of Mark Duggan in north London set off a wave of violence across the nation. Even when there are outbreaks of violence, the targets are not random: in that sense, it's an error to regard them as crazy, or without reason.
Despite the popular conception of the dangerous crowd, Keele University's Clifford Stott also rejects the view that they are inherently threatening.
"The language of pathology that we use about the crowd, the idea that people become bestial in crowds, robs people of the meaningful nature of that behaviour," he argues.
Some crowds are remarkably non-violent even when baited. A good example is the civil rights movement in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s, where protestors usually remained calm in the face of provocation from the police. "Non-violence" was part of the movement's ideology.
In fact, not only are most crowds peaceful, but we positively seek them out, because we enjoy being among them. Watching a football match in a half-empty stadium is a dispiriting experience.
Much of the joy of being at a music festival is hearing the musical acts while surrounded by other devotees.
Of course, all this raises the question of what counts as a crowd.
Compare sitting at a crowded sports event with fellow enthusiasts and sitting in a train packed with commuters. The former is exhilarating, the latter can be uncomfortable.
That is partly because there is no psychological connection between commuters - they don't feel any sense of shared identity. Now imagine that the train stutters to a halt in a tunnel and the driver announces on the tannoy that, because of a technical fault, there will be an indefinite delay. What will happen?
Well, people might begin to talk to each other and might even share their sandwiches. There is now a psychological connection between them, they are part of a group whose lives have been inconvenienced by the train company.
Having a sense of identity with others can influence us in myriad ways. Prof Reicher, from St Andrews University, ran a test involving sweaty T-shirts, the results of which were published earlier this year.
A group of 135 students were asked to smell the T-shirts. For one group, the shirt had a logo with which they could identify (that of their university). The other group had no connection with the shirt. They sniffed it for a shorter period and washed their hands with more soap afterwards.
The study authors inferred from this that the level of disgust was greater when there was no connection to the clothing.
On a packed train, we often find being squashed up against other human bodies repugnant, but not so when we are at a music festival.
The study of crowds has many practical implications. One is how crowds should be policed. In the past, the British police have used a tactic which they call containment, but which is popularly known as kettling.
During a political demonstration, they may cordon off a crowd, preventing protestors from leaving for a period of time until it is deemed safe to disperse them. After a challenge, the practice was ruled lawful by the European Court of Human Rights.
Lawful, perhaps, but Prof Reicher believes it is a terrible way of dealing with the threat of disorder. When enclosed together, the sense of identity among the demonstrators becomes reinforced - just as it does with commuters stuck on a faulty train.
When demonstrators are kettled, they are forced to share the same fate which can forge a common identity. They may believe their legitimate rights have been trampled on and those within the group who advocate conflict with the police can become more influential.
It is often precisely those who had set out to express their legitimate grievances in a peaceful manner who can become most outraged by harsh policing.
"Every group has notions of right and wrong and it is always possible to enrage people by trampling on their notions of legitimacy," argues Prof Reicher.
"When there is kettling, the irony is that often the activists don't like it but they're used to it. It's people who've never experienced it before - and who suddenly find themselves being treated as if they're the sort of people their mothers warned them against - who are absolutely outraged."
The police often fear the influence of a few violent people, but by treating the crowd in an undifferentiated way, they risk magnifying the very influence they want to curb.
Crowd psychologists like Prof Stott believe a better response is for the police to see their role as supporting lawful gatherings rather than impeding them.
"The best way to manage these problems is through facilitation of legitimate behaviour, not necessarily a focus on the control of illegitimate behaviour," he says.
There is some indication that the police are beginning to take the academic work on crowds seriously. For many years, retired commander Bob Broadhurst was responsible for public order in the Metropolitan Police.
Among many important public events, he oversaw the police operation during the G20 demonstrations in London in 2009, when demonstrators were kettled.
He still defends kettling as a legitimate tactic, but now concedes that "it was used as too much of a blunt tool".
During those G20 demonstrations, newspaper vendor Ian Tomlinson was struck by a police baton and later died. Since then, police forces up and down the country have deployed what are called Police Liaison Officers (PLOs).
Their job is not to arrest, but to talk and de-escalate tension when it emerges. Mr Broadhurst says that even when crowds are forcibly contained, lessons have been learned from past, often unpleasant experiences.
"You need to let the crowd know why you're doing it," he says. "And you need to target as best you can, those individuals who are the problem. The PLOs, by talking to protestors in the planning stage, are helping."
The evidence is beginning to pile up that this different approach to policing - not just at demonstrations, but at sports events too - would reduce violence, tension and police costs.
Good news for the police. And good news too for those who enjoy the thrill, the collective action and the sense of belonging that comes with being in the crowd.
David Edmonds presents Analysis: The Myth of Mobs on BBC Radio 4 on Monday at 20:30 BST. You can listen online or download the programme podcast. | Is our growing understanding of the psychology of crowds feeding in to how we police them? |
29361839 | BBC Sport explains why it was brought in and how clubs in breach of the regulations can be punished.
It was introduced by Uefa to prevent clubs that qualify for its competitions from spending beyond their means and stamp out what their president Michael Platini called "financial doping" within football.
Platini believes the big spending of some clubs is ruining the game and feels that the level of debt carried by many is unsustainable.
Uefa made its first FFP ruling in April based on club accounts from the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.
Clubs can spend up to 5m euros (£3.9m) more than they earn per assessment period, although, under this monitoring period, total losses of 45m euros (£35m) were permitted as long as clubs had owners who could cover such amounts.
From now on, the assessment will be made over a rolling three-year period.
For 2014-15, losses will still be limited to 45m euros (£35m).
For 2015-16, the monitoring period will again cover the previous three seasons, but the limit will drop to 30m euros (£25.5m).
The pattern is repeated in 2016-17 and 2017-18.
In the following years the limit will be lower, with the exact amount still to be decided.
Clubs are also obliged to meet all their transfer and employee payment commitments at all times.
Clubs need to balance football-related expenditure - transfers and wages - with television and ticket income, plus revenues raised by their commercial departments. Money spent on stadiums, training facilities, youth development or community projects is exempt.
The Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) was set up by Uefa to oversee the application of the its Club Licensing System and Financial Fair Play Regulations.
"The atomic bomb is a ban from European competition," said Jean-Luc Dehaene, the first chairman and chief investigator of CFCB, back in 2011 (Dehaene died in May 2014).
The CFCB's investigatory chamber can offer clubs settlement agreements, with potential punishments including warnings, fines, withholding prize money, transfer bans, points deductions, a ban on registration of new players and a restriction on the number of players who can be registered for Uefa competitions.
Nine clubs were found to have breached the FFP criteria in the first assessment period, most notably Manchester City and Paris St-Germain, and a range of fines and sanctions were imposed.
City were fined £49m, £32m of which was suspended, had spending restrictions imposed and could only name a 21-man Champions League squad for 2014-15.
They had posted combined losses of £149m for the first two seasons assessed - £97m in 2012 and £51.6m in 2013 - and the CFCB ruled that not enough of their costs could be attributed to a new training complex and youth development investment.
Qatar-owned Paris St-Germain received a similar punishment to City. They were deemed to have failed the test when the CFCB decided their back-dated £167m sponsorship contract with the Qatar Tourism Authority, which wiped out their losses, had an unfair value.
We will see. Jean-Louis Dupont, a lawyer who helped win the landmark Bosman case, has launched a legal challenge with the European Commission, claiming that FFP breaches European competition law.
An independent Manchester City supporters' club, which has 15,000 members, has voted to back the complaint.
Clubs could also appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Because they posted losses of £49.8m in 2012-13 and £41m in 2011-12 and are back in European competition this season having qualified for the Champions League.
The Reds, along with Monaco, Inter Milan, Roma, Besiktas, FC Krasnodar and Sporting Lisbon - none of whom took part in European competition in 2013-14 - have submitted their accounts to the CFCB but have been told to submit further information on their finances in October and November.
After signing a series of lucrative commercial deals over the past 18 months, Liverpool are confident they have adhered to the FFP regulations.
No. The Premier League has brought in its own form of financial regulation which is not as stringent as Uefa's FFP.
Clubs cannot make a loss in excess of £105m across the 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons (as with FFP, investment in infrastructure and youth development is exempt).
Any club that posts losses in excess of that figure could face severe penalties, including a points deduction.
A loss between £15m and £105m has to be guaranteed by club owners.
The league has also introduced a short-term cost control measure in which clubs are restricted in the amount of increased PL central funds that can be used to improve player wages.
The increase in wages from the fund was limited to £4m in 2013-14, £8m in 2014-15 and £12m in 2015-16 (wages can be increased from clubs' own commercial revenue).
The measure applies only to clubs with a player wage bill in excess of £52m in 2013-14, £56m in 2014-15 and £60m in 2015-16.
Meanwhile, the Football League and its clubs have agreed on a FFP framework across all three of its divisions.
Championship clubs are permitted losses of £8m (£5m funded by shareholders) in 2013-14 (accounts must be submitted by 1 December).
They have to reduce them, season-on-season, to a maximum of £5m (£3m funded by shareholders) by 2015-16.
Clubs promoted back to the Premier League who exceed those losses are subject to a fine.
Most notably, QPR. They posted losses of £65.4m, with a wage bill of £68m, in their 2012-13 accounts.
Chairman Tony Fernandes has indicated he would appeal against a fine from the Football League, which would be around £54m if losses for Rangers' promotion season matched the 2012-13 figures.
There is a sliding scale on the next £10m of losses, with a maximum fine of £6.681m. Once losses exceed £18m, the fine is imposed on a strict pound-for-pound basis.
Should there be an overall loss of £30m, the fine would be almost £19m. If it was £50m, the figure would be nearly £39m.
If the club don't pay, the league can block entry to its competitions, which theoretically could force QPR down to the Conference if they were relegated from the Premier League in 2014-15.
These clubs already have a limit on spending as a percentage of turnover.
Any club that is deemed to have breached the permitted spending threshold can be subject to a transfer embargo. | We are hearing more and more about financial fair play (FFP) in football, with clubs across Europe already facing punishments for breaching its rules, but how does it work? |
29062509 | The search giant said the utensils could detect unsanitary cooking oil - a common concern in the country.
At its annual conference in Beijing, Baidu also unveiled its own wearable headset, a rival to Google's Glass.
The Baidu Eye has an in-built camera but no screen, and conveys information to the user via an earpiece or by connecting to a smartphone.
Both new products are as yet unavailable to consumers, and the company did not specify a date on which they would go on sale.
In a video promoting the new chopsticks, Baidu shows the device measuring the precise heat of various foods, as well as nutrients and sell-by date.
The sticks, which also include a sodium analyser to help users regulate their daily salt intake, can connect to any computer via wi-fi and Bluetooth.
"Chopsticks are the embodiment of Chinese wisdom," a Baidu executive said. "And we have combined it with our advanced technology." | Electronic chopsticks that can detect whether food is unsafe to eat have been unveiled by Chinese tech company Baidu. |
36519359 | The Living Memory project has won the support of broadcaster and journalist Kirsty Wark, whose great uncle fought at the Somme.
She has urged people to visit war graves - including those in more than 1,200 cemeteries across Scotland.
She said people should remember the casualties, and find out their stories.
The campaign was launched at the Western Necropolis on Glasgow which contains the graves of 355 service personnel killed during World War One - the earliest Pte L Maskell, who died on 26th October 1914.
They are maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which looks after memorials in more than 150 countries and in every continent apart from Antarctica.
Kirsty Wark said her relative, James Wark, fought and survived the entire 141 days of the Battle of the Somme, to die of Spanish Flu "just days after the Armistice in 1918".
"He had the most poignant letter in his kit bag, which the family now have, saying how much he looked forward to coming home," she said.
"Sadly, as we know, he never made it, but thanks to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, he is buried and remembered at the Ascq Communal Cemetery in France."
Jennie Sweeney, from the commission, told BBC Radio Scotland's Newsdrive programme that the initiative was "about raising awareness."
She said most people know about the cemeteries in Belgium and France, but she called graves in Scotland and the rest of the UK "the forgotten front."
She added: "We're looking to mark the Battle of the Somme by encouraging community groups to go, find, research, visit, explore and commemorate their local war graves."
The commission has launched a resource pack to help people organise events, and find graves near them or the details of casualties from their local area.
Jennie Sweeney said: "Some people, for example, have wanted to find people from their street. And people are coming to us with their research, and telling us that they've found a Somme casualty in their village, town or city."
The commission claims most people on the UK mainland are no more than three miles from at least one of its graves. | A campaign has been launched to encourage community groups to remember - and visit the graves of - the dead of World War One. |
34952702 | The Kiwis were reduced to 116-5 at stumps to lead by 94 runs with paceman Josh Hazlewood doing the damage with 3-32 under the lights with the pink ball.
Earlier, Australia were dismissed for 224 with wicketkeeper Peter Nevill top scoring with 66.
Australia lead 1-0 in the three-match series.
A crowd of 42,372 attended the second day, after 47,441 watched day one at the Adelaide Oval.
The hosts had added only 64 runs to their overnight total for the loss of six wickets when the scoreless Nathan Lyon was controversially reprieved by the decision review system at 118-8.
New Zealand appealed for a catch at slip after a Mitchell Santner ball hit Lyon's upper arm during an attempted sweep shot and then called for a review after it was turned down.
'Hot spot' technology showed a mark on Lyon's bat but third umpire Nigel Llong upheld the on-field decision.
The decision cost New Zealand their second and last review and triggered a momentum shift.
Lyon smashed Santner for 15 runs in one over, sweeping a four and a six, then another four behind square in three consecutive balls.
Nevill brought up a half-century before Lyon was caught by Kane Williamson in the slips off Trent Boult, having scored 34 vital runs in a ninth-wicket stand of 74.
Left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc hobbled to the crease after suffering a stress fracture to his right foot on day one - but blasted spinner Mark Craig for 20 runs in one over, smashing two fours and two sixes over wide long on, as Australia charged past New Zealand's total of 202.
The Kiwis eventually polished off the tail when Nevill lofted to Santner to give Doug Bracewell impressive figures of 3-18.
After Kiwi openers Martin Guptill (17) and Tom Latham (10) survived a tricky 30 minutes before the dinner break, Australia's bowlers dominated the evening session under the lights.
Hazlewood accounted for both openers before Mitchell Marsh chipped in with the wickets of Kane Williamson (nine) and skipper Brendon McCullum (20).
Australia tightened their control when Hazlewood trapped in-form Ross Taylor leg before for 34 just before the close of play.
Australia's team masseur and logistics co-ordinator Grant Baldwin was drafted in as a substitute fielder during New Zealand's second innings.
The 28-year-old, who played second XI cricket for Victoria eight years ago, was chosen to replace the injured Mitchell Starc.
Australia had three young players from their academy system available, but Cricket Australia opted for Baldwin, who has experience of fielding in tour matches. He even bowled an over for an Australia XI in South Africa last year.
However, Baldwin made several errors and South Australia's Sam Raphael has now been called up to fill in for Starc for the remainder of the Test. | New Zealand face a battle for a victory to level the series after an eventful second day of the first day-night Test in Adelaide. |
37411137 | Christy George, 38, from Hucknall, was jailed in July for causing a crash on the M1 in Leicestershire after becoming distracted on her phone in 2014.
Her car crashed into a lorry which ploughed onto the opposite carriageway in an eight vehicle pile-up.
Leicestershire Police released the image in a warning film.
The release of the film follows the announcement that penalty points and fines for drivers caught using handheld mobile phones are to double next year.
More on this and other Leicestershire stories
George deleted a record of calls made during her journey after her Skoda hit a lorry which crashed through to the opposite carriageway.
It spilled its load of beer barrels and crashed into a BMW travelling in the opposite direction, killing Murray Simpson, from London.
Liese Bowers-Straw, from Nottinghamshire, was also involved in the crash which broke her neck in two places, tore muscles across her hips and stomach, and injured her brain.
She has not returned to work and struggles to leave her home because of the trauma.
She said: "I remember thinking 'that's it, I'm a goner, I'm dead' and then I don't remember anything else until the following day.
"The collision has completely changed my way of life. I have gone from having a career I loved... to being a prisoner in my own home doing absolutely nothing."
Det Con Pete Davies said it was the "largest collision site" he had ever investigated.
He said: "Someone died in this collision and Liese has been left with the most appalling injuries as a result of someone who was too selfish to wait to make a call."
George was jailed for five years and banned from the road for 10 years. | A shocking picture of a motorway smash which left a driver dead and another severely injured has been released to warn about using a phone while driving. |
28123802 | Almost every one of Canvey Island's 13,000 inhabitants had to leave their homes during the North Sea tidal surge.
The floods have been depicted on panels along a mural on Concord Beach, painted by professional artists and Canvey inhabitants.
The project was made possible with a £10,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The idea to paint the mural was put forward by the charity Friends of Concord Beach.
Its chairman, Colin Letchford, said the mural was intended to "involve and educate the community".
He said school groups and others had already been to visit the wall and learn about the history of the island and its relationship with the sea.
"People have wept at the pictures because of the memories they've brought back. They've also wept with joy," he said. | Floods which devastated an island in 1953, killing 59 people, have been remembered on a 262ft (80m) sea wall. |
39361079 | Donald Trump Jr tweeted an article written last year, in which Sadiq Khan said terror vigilance had become "part and parcel" of life in a global city.
Mr Trump quoted the headline and tweeted: "You have to be kidding me?!"
He angered many Britons who accused him of exploiting the tragedy and implying the quotes were made after the attack.
Dozens were hurt in Wednesday's attack, when an assailant drove a car through pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and then fatally knifed a police officer who tried to stop him entering the Houses of Parliament. He was then shot dead.
Two hours later, Mr Trump tweeted an article from the Independent newspaper in September 2016.
In the article, Mr Khan was speaking shortly before a meeting with New York Mayor Bill De Blasio, on the day after three bombs exploded in New York City and nearby towns, wounding 29 people.
The attacks had given him a sleepless night, he said, as he pondered the dangers faced by big Western cities like New York and London.
"Part and parcel of living in a great global city is you have to be prepared for these sorts of things, you have to be vigilant, you have to support the police doing an incredibly hard job, you have to support the security services," he said.
On Wednesday, after the attack in Westminster, the mayor said that Londoners "will never be cowed by terrorism" and that the city stood together in the face of those seeking it harm.
Mr Trump's tweet incensed many British people on Twitter, including MP Wes Streeting, who called him a "disgrace" for exploiting the tragedy.
Others accused him of implying that Mr Khan's comments were made after the attack.
Mr Khan, London's first Muslim mayor, has previously clashed with Mr Trump's father, in January denouncing the US president's travel ban as "shameful and cruel".
Last year, he accused the then-candidate Trump of being "ignorant" about Islam.
Mr Trump responded by challenging the mayor to an IQ test. | President Donald Trump's son has come under fire for criticising London's mayor, shortly after a terror attack on the UK capital killed three people. |
26785736 | Burke, who replaces Beverley Knight in June, said it was "a dream come true" to land the "iconic" part of troubled superstar Rachel Marron.
The film, which co-starred Kevin Costner in the title role, gave Houston one of the biggest-selling singles of all time with I Will Always Love You.
Burke beat JLS to win 2008's X Factor.
"I am a massive Whitney Houston fan so to be given the opportunity to play a role made famous by her every night will be a real privilege," said Burke.
The Bodyguard musical, directed by Thea Sharrock, is set to run at London's Adelphi Theatre until the end of August where it has been since 2012.
Burke added: "I start rehearsals very soon with my fellow cast mates and the brilliant creative team and, with a little trepidation, I am looking forward to our first performance in June."
Burke was mentored to X Factor success by Cheryl Cole and has since released two albums.
Her debut winner's single - a cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah - sold more than a million copies in the UK.
As well as the cover of Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You, the musical features renditions of several other classic Houston tracks, including So Emotional, One Moment in Time and I Wanna Dance With Somebody. | Former X Factor winner Alexandra Burke is joining The Bodyguard musical in the West End to play the role made famous by Whitney Houston in the 1992 film. |
39634287 | Mr Danczuk, 50, was suspended in 2015, pending an investigation, following revelations he exchanged explicit messages with a 17-year-old girl.
He currently serves as an independent MP but has asked Labour's head office about having his hearing held in time to him stand for the party on 8 June.
Labour said the hearing's timeline has yet to be decided.
Mr Danzcuk said: "I hope and expect to fight the general election for Labour in Rochdale on 8 June.
"I don't take anything for granted but I go round talking to the people of Rochdale regularly, and they say they have faith in me.
"I have a strong track record."
Labour's National Executive Committee conducts investigations.
Regarding Mr Danczuk, the party said: "The process for selecting candidates in all our seats, including Rochdale, will begin shortly."
Mr Danczuk, who has been an MP for the town since 2010, said he is the "best-placed person" to fight the snap general election for the party.
Best known for his campaign work on historical child sex abuse and he co-authored a book on alleged abuse by former Rochdale MP Cyril Smith.
In July 2015, shortly after separating from his wife Karen, the MP announced he was stepping back from his work on child sexual abuse to seek help for depression.
Five months later he was suspended from Labour following tabloid newspaper claims that he sent lewd texts to a teenage girl. He said while the story had been blown out of all proportion by the tabloids, it referred to "an extremely low point" in his life.
In January 2016 he admitted taking payments from a photo agency for pictures of him sold to tabloid newspapers and magazines, but denied any wrongdoing.
Two months after that, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority ordered him to repay more than £11,000 after he admitted an expenses claims "error" over money he claimed for the cost of his children living in London.
In August 2016 he was arrested in Spain for two nights following an alleged row with his estranged wife Karen.
In October a rape case against him was dropped by police due to "insufficient evidence". | Suspended Labour MP Simon Danczuk said he expects to be the party's Rochdale candidate in the general election. |
37628303 | The two-year Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programme will work with offenders to change their ways.
It is a voluntary scheme for fathers aged 18 and over who have been asked to participate as part of a child protection plan or child in need plan.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson is launching the project.
Read more news for Birmingham and the Black Country
A support service for female partners and children will also be provided by the West Midlands Domestic Violence Consortium.
Mr Jamieson said: "The Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programme will work with offenders to change their ways and improve the safety of their families.
"I hope it will make a real difference and improve the lives of hundreds of families."
The Office of the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner is now looking to appoint an organisation or consortium to deliver the programme. | A £700,000 project to tackle domestic violence and abuse is being set up in the West Midlands. |
37420339 | The Holywood native has been cast as an Irish soldier who led his men through a siege during a UN peacekeeping mission.
The actor is best known for starring as the sadomasochist Christian Grey in the film version of the erotic novel, Fifty Shades of Grey.
Dornan also currently plays a sadistic, sexually motivated serial killer in the BBC TV drama, The Fall.
So was it difficult to move on from such characters to take on the role of a man Dornan considers to be a real-life Irish war hero?
"It's your job, I guess. That's what I'm paid to do" the actor said.
"You can never allow any character that you've played before to seep into a new project."
His new film, the Siege of Jadotville tells the true story of Irish UN troops who were attacked and taken prisoner in Congo in 1961.
"I actually just couldn't believe the story, I couldn't believe that I didn't know it, coming from this island," Dornan said.
He plays Comdt Pat Quinlan, who was leading a company of about 150 inexperienced Irish troops when they came under attack from thousands of tribesmen and mercenaries.
Against overwhelming odds, the Irishmen held out for six days, before surrendering and being taken as prisoners of war.
"To have a chance to play the man who led them through it - such an inspirational figure in Irish history should be more known," Dornan said.
About 40 of the Irish troops involved in the battle are still alive today, and have campaigned for the role they played to be recognised by the state.
"Rightly so, they've had such a bad rap," Dornan said.
"There's a whole derogatory term 'Jadotville Jacks' that was pinned on them all.
"Any sort of acts of cowardice in the military going forward - they were known as Jadotville Jacks, which is a total disgrace to be honest.
"So hopefully, we're showing them in the right light."
The film's director, Richie Smyth, agreed, saying: "Basically, within the army itself, which is a closed community, they were made to feel ashamed."
The film is due to be released in cinemas next month.
In a bid to channel the soldiers' spirit, the cast were sent to "boot camp" in South Africa before filming began.
"The most valuable part of that was just bonding with the lads," Dornan said, speaking of his fellow actors.
He added the training was also useful for "safety reasons".
"You've got to know how to handle a gun."
The film's director said that even in the boot camp, he put Dornan in charge of the other actors, so he could "create the dynamic" of leading men.
Dornan is soon to return to the small screen in the third and final series of The Fall.
However, there is no need for a spoiler alert as he is giving nothing away.
"I can't say anything, you'll just have to watch it.
"There's a lot of big twists this series," he added
"There are big things that happen that I just couldn't touch upon without ruining it.
"I've been trying to work out ways of leaking stuff but I actually don't know how to say it without wrecking the story." | Film star Jamie Dornan is used to playing the bad guy but he is hoping to right some wrongs with his latest role. |
30458341 | His appearance follows Wall Street Journal reports that he bought the home from a construction firm whose parent company had won large public contracts.
Mr Videgaray is not accused of anything illegal and he says he will neither sell his home nor step down.
The affair comes in the wake of a similar case involving President Enrique Pena Nieto.
Last month, Mr Pena Nieto's wife was forced to sell a $7m (£4.4m) house she had bought from the same company and also made a televised address explaining the source of her income.
The Wall Street Journal says it has seen property records that show Mr Videgaray bought a luxurious home in Malinalco in the central State of Mexico from Bienes Raices H&G.
The firm's owner, Juan Armando Hinojosa, has other companies which have won public works projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars during President Pena Nieto's time in office, the newspaper says.
In a radio interview, Mr Videgaray said the home purchase was carried out with "honesty and legality".
The transaction took place before Mr Videgaray was finance minister.
"There was no conflict of interest," he said in a written response to the Journal.
"I did the deal when I was not holding public office and the deal was within market parameters."
However, BBC Mexico correspondent Will Grant says there are uncomfortable questions for the government and Mr Videgaray personally.
Among them are why he chose to finance the property through a minor mortgage lender belonging to Juan Armando Hinojosa, rather than a major Mexican financial institution.
Mr Videgaray has suggested that the government's reform agenda has disturbed vested interests in Mexico and that is why details of his personal finances are coming to light.
Mr Pena Nieto is facing the lowest popularity ratings of any president for many years, recent polls show.
He has faced severe criticism over his handling of the disappearance of 43 students in Iguala who were allegedly abducted by local police and handed over to a gang who murdered them. | Mexican Finance Minister Luis Videgaray has gone on national TV and radio to defend how he bought his luxury home. |
20640580 | "It is with immense sadness that we have to let you know our great friend of many years and fellow musician Huw Lloyd Langton passed away peacefully last night," the band said on its website on Friday.
Lloyd Langton played on Hawkwind's debut album in 1970. He rejoined the group in 1979 and played with them for the next 10 years.
"Huw had been bravely fighting cancer for a couple of years, but was determined not to let the battle affect his day to day life," said the Hawkwind statement.
"He continued to play his guitar, laugh, joke and share the great love he had in his heart, with all who knew him.
"As he wished, he was at home when the time came, with his ever strong and loving wife Marion at his side.
"Huw was one of the great guitarists with an individual style and character. He is gone but never forgotten by any of us. He will live on in our music and in our hearts."
Lloyd Langton, who was born in Harlesden, north London, also played with Widowmaker in the 1970s, and formed the LLoyd Langton Group in 1982.
He continued to make guest appearances with Hawkwind and played solo support slots on tour.
In August 2009, the guitarist played an acoustic set at Hawkwind's 40th anniversary concert at Porchester Hall, in London.
One of the world's longest-running bands, Hawkwind have undergone countless changes of personnel and musical styles over the years.
Former members and collaborators include Motorhead's Lemmy, science fiction writer Michael Moorcock, and ex-Cream drummer Ginger Baker. | Former Hawkwind guitarist Huw Lloyd Langton has died, aged 61, after a two-year battle with cancer, the band has announced. |
36917726 | The controversial proposals would appoint a single person - usually a teacher or health visitor - to look out for the welfare of every child.
But the Supreme Court ruled that part of the legislation relating to data sharing breached human rights laws.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said the necessary changes to the scheme would be made.
Mr Swinney told the BBC: "What the government is going to do is to consider carefully the judgement of the Supreme Court, which requires us to make some changes to the information sharing arrangements of the named person scheme.
"Then we will proceed to implement the named person scheme, which the Supreme Court judged to be unquestionably legitimate."
Campaigners against named person appealed to the Supreme Court in London after their case was dismissed as "hyperbole" by the Court of Session in Edinburgh last year.
They have described named person as a "state snooper" scheme that would undermine parents and divert resources away from the most vulnerable children.
But the Scottish government accused opponents of misrepresenting the proposals, and insisted they would help to protect vulnerable children while giving a single point of contact for parents who needed help or advice.
In its ruling, Supreme Court judges allowed the campaigners' appeal and said the legislation made it "perfectly possible" that confidential information about a young person could be disclosed to a "wide range of public authorities without either the child or young person or her parents being aware".
This meant that the data sharing part of the legislation was "incompatible with the rights of children, young persons and parents" under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which deals with the right to privacy and a family life.
But the judges also said that the purpose of the legislation was "unquestionably legitimate and benign" and gave Scottish ministers "an opportunity to correct the defects".
Mr Swinney said named person was an "important scheme that is designed to support the wellbeing of young people in Scotland, to provide them with the support when they require it".
He added: "It has been very broadly supported by the Scottish Parliament, and it will be taken forward by the Scottish government."
The scheme was originally to be rolled-out across the country by 31 August, but the Supreme Court ruling means that will not now be possible.
However, BBC Scotland understands that the government is hopeful the legislation can be relatively easily redrafted to make it fully compliant with the ECHR, and that it could potentially be introduced before the end of the year assuming the changes are approved by the Scottish Parliament.
Lawyer Elaine Motion, who represented The Christian Institute and six other petitioners in the legal challenge, said: "This is a highly significant and extremely unusual judgement. Successful challenges to legislation are very rare.
"In layman's terms, the Supreme Court has said that the Scottish Government has overstepped the line drawn by Article 8 to protect and respect private and family life."
The Christian Institute co-ordinated the successful legal action, with its director Colin Hart saying: "This ruling is crystal clear that the named person scheme's cavalier approach to handling private information is unlawful and must not happen."
Simon Calvert, spokesman for the No to Named Persons (NO2NP) campaign group, claimed: "The Big Brother scheme is history.
"It's wonderful news for mums, dads and children all across Scotland who no longer have to worry about this unjustified invasion of their private lives."
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said the "important ruling by the most senior court in the land" was a "victory for campaigners who have exposed this from the outset as illiberal, invasive and deeply-flawed".
She added: "We have consistently argued against the named person legislation on grounds of principle and practicality. I hope today's ruling will make the SNP stop and think again."
The Scottish government wants Scotland to be "the best place in the world for children to grow up".
It has said that most children and young people get all the help and support they need from their parents, wider family and community, but sometimes they might need a bit of extra support.
As part of its Getting it Right for Every Child strategy, the government proposed giving all children and young people from birth to 18 years access to a named person under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.
The Scottish government says the named person is intended to be single point of contact if a child or their parents want information or advice, or if they want to talk about any worries and seek support.
They will also be a point of contact for other services if they have any concerns about a child's wellbeing.
The law had been due to come into force across the country on 31 August of this year, although the policy had already been rolled out in parts of Scotland, including Highland, Edinburgh, Fife, Angus and South Ayrshire.
Mr Swinney said the government would start work to amend the legislation "immediately", so that the scheme can still be rolled out "at the earliest possible date".
He welcomed the judgement as a sign that "the attempt to scrap the named person service has failed".
Read more about named person here
Labour is broadly in favour of named person in principle, but has previously called for a "pause" to ensure it is introduced "properly and proportionally".
Education spokesman Iain Gray said the handling of the scheme had been "a shambles from the very beginning".
He said: "Labour will always support the need to protect vulnerable children and ensure that families get the support they need and deserve.
"In light of this ruling, however, the implementation of this scheme must be paused for as long as it takes to sort it properly. That is the case Scottish Labour have made for many months now and it is more compelling than ever following the court decision."
Ross Greer of the Scottish Greens said his party would continue to give its full support to named person, but called on the Scottish government to do more to build public confidence and better explain what the scheme means in practice.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats submitted a motion calling for parliament to be urgently recalled.
Education spokesman Tavish Scott said: "A recall of parliament is the only way to ensure that reforms receive the scrutiny required. This is not a decision for a minority minister to make in his office. It needs full parliamentary approval." | The Scottish government still intends to introduce its named person scheme despite a Supreme Court ruling. |
32885748 | Conservation organisation Nabu say there are fewer than 50 Maui's dolphins left on the planet now.
The organisation said fishing should be banned in the waters off New Zealand, where the species live.
Dolphins are often caught in fishing nets which can harm and even kill them.
"New Zealand has to abandon its current stance, which places the interests of the fishing industry above conservation," said Dr Barbara Maas from Nabu.
A spokesperson for the New Zealand minister for conservation said no comment would be made until after the scientific committee reported its findings and recommendations in June.
The number of dolphins has declined since the 1970s.
Scientists say the main threat is fishing using trawling nets. It's thought the nets kill five Maui's dolphins each year. | The smallest and rarest marine dolphin in the world could be extinct within 15 years if protection is not stepped up, experts have warned. |
21021697 | New laws to allow gay marriage are expected to be introduced in England and Wales before the next election in 2015.
There are no plans for similar legislation in Northern Ireland, assembly members as recently as October rejected a proposal that same-sex couples should have the right to marry.
But the issue of gay marriage is on the political radar in the Republic.
In Dublin, a group of tourists are taking photographs of Leinster House - home of the Irish houses of parliament - through the railings on Kildare Street.
Jackie Mullins is standing close by, holding a large placard.
"I'm in support of the right of gay and lesbian persons to marry in this country" she said.
"I don't believe that the state should pick out people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender and say to them, 'you're the wrong orientation so we're going to say you can't get married'.
"The state needs to protect its minorities and I feel that protecting the rights of gay and lesbian people is really important."
Same-sex couples in the Republic of Ireland have been able to enter a civil partnership since January 2011, but not marriage.
"Human rights affect people and we are talking, in this case, about the right of people to equal treatment" says Fine Gael TD Jerry Buttimer.
"If we want to see an Ireland of equals then the next logical step for me is the achievement of marriage equality."
Last year, Jerry Buttimer became the first Fine Gael Dail deputy to come out as gay after his party launched a new forum to push for gay equality.
"In my case it was about showing leadership, especially on the issue of marriage equality, and it's about having a position where I can come out and say as a gay person, I think we should have equality," he said.
"The support I have received has been tremendous, from people of different age groups and walks of life.
"It's a personal journey for everyone but it's also a shared journey where we can advance the lives of so many people."
Opponents claim that gay marriage would change what they say is now child-centred to a more adult-centred institution.
"Marriage cannot be gender neutral without changing the very nature of what it is," Dr John Murray, a lecturer in theology at the Mater Dei Institute in Dublin said.
"As far as I can see society is either going to have to promote the heterosexual view of marriage, in relation to mothers and fathers and children, or promote a gender neutral view, which will deny the other, I can't see how you can do both.
"Up until now we have promoted the more traditional view and I think that's the way to go, to try and strengthen that whilst at the same time trying to avoid any violence or bullying of gay people."
The Irish prime minister, or Taoiseach, has not outlined his own view on gay marriage.
Enda Kenny instead points to the Constitutional Convention, a group set up to examine possible changes to the Republic of Ireland's constitution.
Same sex marriage is at the top of the list.
Mr Buttimer said: "I believe that the Constitutional Convention is the forum within which to initiate the debate and to make a recommendation and hopefully it will make that recommendation."
He added: "Leading on from that is the need to have a referendum campaign which will have a debate, a discussion and ultimately a vote and it will be the democratic will of the people that will be the ultimate decision at the end of the day." | In the Republic of Ireland, same-sex couples can enter a civil partnership, but now the debate has moved on to whether or not they should be permitted to marry. |
38921732 | James John Boyle failed to return to the open prison near Dundee following a period of home leave
The 24-year-old was reported missing at 15:40 on Wednesday.
Police Scotland said it was understood that Boyle travelled to the Clydebank area for the home leave visit and has connections to the Drumchapel area of Glasgow.
He was described as being 5ft 8in tall, of medium build, and clean shaven with short brown hair. | Police have warned the public not to approach a prisoner who has absconded from HMP Castle Huntly. |
37132974 | The 27-year-old right-arm seamer, who made his Test debut against England in January, has taken 325 first-class wickets at an average of 26.66.
He took a wicket with his first ball in Tests, only the 20th man to achieve the feat, dismissing Alastair Cook.
Viljoen could make his debut for Kent in their match at Gloucestershire, which begins on Tuesday, 23 August.
Kent are currently third in the Division Two table, 24 points behind leaders Essex. | Kent have signed South Africa bowler Hardus Viljoen for the final four games of the County Championship season. |
38254111 | UKIP have been campaigning hard in the Lincolnshire seat, an area which voted heavily to leave the European Union.
The seat has returned Conservative MPs since it was formed in 1997 - Tory Stephen Phillips had a majority of more than 24,000 votes in 2015.
He resigned in November, citing "irreconcilable policy differences" with the government.
Although he backed leaving the EU, he had since been critical of the government's approach to Brexit.
Mr Phillips won with 56.2% of the vote in 2015, Labour came second with 17.3% with UKIP a close third on 15.7%.
But UKIP has been throwing its weight into the by-election campaign, hoping to bring about a similar upset to last week's Richmond Park by-election, which saw the Lib Dems overturn a 23,000 Conservative majority.
UKIP will be hoping to capitalise on Eurosceptic feeling in Sleaford and North Hykeham, situated in Lincolnshire, west of Boston - which had the highest majority of Brexit voters in Britain.
UKIP's former leader Nigel Farage and his successor Paul Nuttall have been on the campaign trail in the constituency, supporting their candidate Victoria Ayling - a former Conservative who stood for the Tories in Great Grimsby in 2010 - running Labour a close second.
Conservative candidate Dr Caroline Johnson, a consultant paediatrician, stood unsuccessfully for Scunthorpe in 2010, losing to Labour. She has said she is "completely behind the government's plans for Brexit".
Jim Clarke, a refuse driver, is standing for Labour. Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has been to Sleaford to give a speech backing Mr Clarke. The party will be hoping for a strong performance after losing its deposit in last week's Richmond Park by-election. Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has been in the constituency backing his candidate, Ross Pepper, an optical assistant.
In all 10 candidates are vying for the seat. The result of the by-election is expected at about 04:00 GMT on Friday.
The full list of candidates is: | The polls have closed in the Sleaford and North Hykeham by-election, called after its Conservative MP quit. |
40665969 | Dywedodd Chris Grayling bod y trenau hybrid diesel-drydanol fydd yn cael eu defnyddio ar y lein yn golygu bod "dim angen" trydaneiddio i'r gorllewin o Gaerdydd.
Ond dywedodd Llywodraeth Cymru bod peidio trydaneiddio gyfystyr â "thorri blynyddoedd o addewidion i bobl Cymru".
Mae'r llywodraeth honno eisoes wedi galw ar Lywodraeth y DU i roi'r grym a'r arian i'r Cynulliad ddarparu trenau trydan ar gyfer y gorllewin.
Dywedodd AC Plaid Cymru, Dai Lloyd, bod y penderfyniad yn "dro pedol sylweddol iawn, iawn", tra bod Cyngor Abertawe'n dweud ei fod yn "frad".
Mewn erthygl i Wales Online fore Iau, dywedodd Mr Grayling y bydd Abertawe'n cael "holl fudd" rheilffordd drydan ond "heb y misoedd o waith" a "gwasanaethau bws dros dro".
Yn ei ddatganiad yn ddiweddarach, dywedodd bod angen "ailystyried y ffordd rydyn ni'n moderneiddio'r rheilffyrdd" a "thrydaneiddio dim ond ble mae 'na fudd go iawn i deithwyr na fedran ni'i gael drwy dechnolegau eraill".
Ychwanegodd y bydd gwelliannau eraill yn cael eu gwneud i'r rhwydwaith, gan gynnwys trenau uniongyrchol i Ddoc Penfro o Lundain trwy Gaerfyrddin a newidiadau i orsafoedd Caerdydd ac Abertawe.
Mewn datganiad, dywedodd Llywodraeth Cymru bod gan Lywodraeth y DU "ddyletswydd i Gymru".
"Rydyn ni wedi galw'n gyson am drydaneiddio'r rheilffordd hyd at Abertawe", meddai llefarydd.
"Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi gwrthod datganoli cyllid isadeiledd y rheilffordd... felly mae'n ddyletswydd arnyn nhw i fuddsoddi yng Nghymru.
"Os yw'r adroddiadau'n wir, bydd gyfystyr â thorri blynyddoedd o addewidion i bobl Cymru."
Dywedodd Rob Stewart, arweinydd Cyngor Abertawe, ei fod yn "ddig" ac mai "brad" oedd y penderfyniad.
Fe ddywedodd bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi addo y byddai trydaneiddio'n digwydd, a'i fod yn codi amheuon am eu hymrwymiad i Forlyn Abertawe yn ogystal.
Mewn cyfweliad ar raglen Y Post Cyntaf fore Iau, dywedodd AC Plaid Cymru ar gyfer Gorllewin De Cymru, Dai Lloyd, ei fod yn "siom enfawr" ac yn "benderfyniad gwarthus".
Ychwanegodd ei fod wedi cael "addewidion pendant gan wahanol lywodraethau" dros y blynyddoedd ac "felly mae'n cynrychioli tro pedol sylweddol iawn, iawn".
Dywedodd Owain Davies o CBI Cymru hefyd bod y cyhoeddiad yn siom.
"Dwi'n siomedig iawn. Mae'r rhaid dweud ro'n i'n edrych 'mlaen i gael y rheilffordd wedi'i drydaneiddio", meddai.
"Mae'n dangos bod Llywodraeth y DU ddim yn barod i fuddsoddi yn yr ardal hon o Gymru sydd angen y math yma o fuddsoddiad.
"Os nad ydy'r cyllid ar gael, rhaid iddyn nhw ffeindio fe." | Mae ysgrifennydd trafnidiaeth Llywodraeth y DU wedi dweud na fydd y rheilffordd hyd at Abertawe'n cael ei thrydaneiddio. |
37737043 | Jordy Hiwula grabbed his fifth goal of the season to give Bradford an early lead, but Tom Elliott levelled for the hosts in the 18th minute.
Wimbledon then took the lead through a 68th-minute Lyle Taylor penalty but Hanson converted a spot-kick of his own before heading a dramatic winner.
Bradford scored in the third minute, Hiwula's shot from the edge of the box deflecting off Paul Robinson into the net.
But AFC Wimbledon were level on 18 minutes as a Hanson header from a free-kick landed at the feet of Elliott, who blasted home.
Wimbledon flew out of the blocks after half-time and deservedly went ahead after Josh Cullen fouled Jake Reeves in the box and Taylor kept his cool from the spot.
But the hosts could not hold on for the win as Matthew Kilgallon was pulled down in the box and Hanson scored the penalty, before he grabbed a late second when meeting Stephen Darby's cross.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Match ends, AFC Wimbledon 2, Bradford City 3.
Second Half ends, AFC Wimbledon 2, Bradford City 3.
Attempt missed. Tyrone Barnett (AFC Wimbledon) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right following a set piece situation.
Corner, AFC Wimbledon. Conceded by Romain Vincelot.
Goal! AFC Wimbledon 2, Bradford City 3. James Hanson (Bradford City) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Stephen Darby.
Tyrone Barnett (AFC Wimbledon) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Tyrone Barnett (AFC Wimbledon).
Matthew Kilgallon (Bradford City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Paul Robinson (AFC Wimbledon) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by James Hanson (Bradford City).
Marc McNulty (Bradford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Paul Robinson (AFC Wimbledon).
Attempt missed. Romain Vincelot (Bradford City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Foul by Tyrone Barnett (AFC Wimbledon).
Romain Vincelot (Bradford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Jonathan Meades (AFC Wimbledon) header from the centre of the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.
Barry Fuller (AFC Wimbledon) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Filipe Morais (Bradford City).
Substitution, AFC Wimbledon. Chris Whelpdale replaces Lyle Taylor.
Attempt missed. Filipe Morais (Bradford City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Substitution, AFC Wimbledon. Tyrone Barnett replaces Tom Elliott.
Substitution, AFC Wimbledon. Tom Beere replaces George Francomb.
Goal! AFC Wimbledon 2, Bradford City 2. James Hanson (Bradford City) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the top left corner.
Penalty Bradford City. Matthew Kilgallon draws a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty conceded by James Shea (AFC Wimbledon) after a foul in the penalty area.
Corner, Bradford City. Conceded by Andy Barcham.
Jake Reeves (AFC Wimbledon) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution, Bradford City. Filipe Morais replaces Josh Cullen.
Goal! AFC Wimbledon 2, Bradford City 1. Lyle Taylor (AFC Wimbledon) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Penalty AFC Wimbledon. Andy Barcham draws a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty conceded by Romain Vincelot (Bradford City) after a foul in the penalty area.
Corner, Bradford City. Conceded by Paul Robinson.
Attempt missed. Tom Elliott (AFC Wimbledon) header from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner.
Corner, AFC Wimbledon. Conceded by Nathaniel Knight-Percival.
Attempt blocked. Andy Barcham (AFC Wimbledon) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Substitution, Bradford City. Mark Marshall replaces Billy Clarke.
Substitution, Bradford City. Marc McNulty replaces Jordy Hiwula-Mayifuila.
Foul by Paul Robinson (AFC Wimbledon).
James Hanson (Bradford City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Jake Reeves (AFC Wimbledon). | James Hanson scored a stoppage-time header against AFC Wimbledon to help Bradford City triumph for the first time in four League One games. |
39930241 | Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau has introduced legislation that will set national standard for how passengers are treated by airlines.
Mr Garneau says the bill will give the government the tools it needs to protect air travellers.
The proposed new rules will apply to any airline operating flights in and out of Canada.
The minister said the details related to passenger rights in instances like overbooking and bumping are still being developed but that there must be compensation in those cases.
"I am convinced the air carriers will take note of these new measures protecting passengers rights, and will know if they don't change some of their practices there will be repercussions," he said.
He said air carriers will not be able to involuntarily remove from flights people who have a legitimate right to travel.
"That is a critical factor. If somebody has bought a ticket for a particular flight that person cannot be removed from that flight. This is non negotiable."
The proposed rules would set minimum compensation standards for overbooked flights and lost or damaged luggage, and set out how airlines must treat passengers when a flight is delayed or cancelled in situation within the airline's control or during events like bad weather. It will also set standards for tarmac delays.
Mr Garneau announced plans for the rights bill last year, but restated the promise as footage of a US passenger being forcibly removed from a United Airlines flight made global headlines in April.
Canadian news has since been filled with stories of people coming forward with travel woes.
Ian Jack, of the Canadian Automobile Association, which lobbies for passenger rights, said it is too early to say whether the minister's promises will mean better travel for passengers because the "devil is in the details".
The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) will establish the details such as levels of compensation and the rules around bumping over the next few months.
"The jury's out on whether they are going to be able to deliver," said Mr Jack.
"There's a big difference between the concept of compensation and whether you're going to be offered a coffee coupon or $750. That has still to be worked out."
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says some 60 countries have some form of passenger rights protection already in place.
The CTA receives an average of about 50 complaints a year from passengers saying they were denied boarding.
Both the European Union and the US have compensation rules for passengers bumped from flights.
The federal government also said on Tuesday it plans to loosen international ownership restrictions in the industry to boost competition. The bill would allow international companies to own up to 49% of Canadian air carriers, up from a 25% cap.
The new rules are expected to be in place by 2018. | Canada is moving to crack down on "shoddy treatment" and overbooking on flights. |
35886332 | He said "The UK government will continue to give farmers and the environment as much support - or perhaps even more - as they get now … after all, non-EU countries like Switzerland and Norway actually give more support to their farmers than we do."
Agriculture in Norway and Switzerland is amongst the most protected in the world.
According to the OECD, 60% of Norwegian farmers' income is generated by state subsidies and other policies. For Swiss farmers it's 55%.
Meanwhile, the average farmer in an EU member state can expect state subsidies to make up around 19% of their annual income.
It should be noted that just because some countries outside the EU offer greater subsidies to farmers, it doesn't automatically mean British farmers could expect the same if Britain left the EU. The only way to ensure greater state support would be to start farming in Norway or Switzerland.
REALITY CHECK VERDICT: True - farmers in some non-EU countries do get higher subsidies, but no reason to think that would be matched in a post-Brexit UK.
READ MORE: The facts behind claims in the EU debate | George Eustice MP, the Minister of State for Farming, Food and the Marine Environment, and campaigner for Vote Leave, has been talking about how British farmers could be better off if the UK left the European Union. |
23424087 | Shillington hammered an unbeaten 114 from just 72 balls at The Hills to help Ireland to a total of 170-1, with Cecelia Joyce not out on 40.
Elena Tice took three wickets as Japan were skittled out for 53, giving the hosts a 117-run victory.
Ireland take on Canada in their next Group B game at Merrion on Thursday.
Shillington smashed 13 fours and two sixes in a superb knock in County Dublin.
Tice (3-10) and fellow teenagers Lucy O'Reilly (2-9) and Kim Garth (2-10) starred with the ball along with Melissa Scott-Hayward (2-8).
Ireland are aiming to clinch one of three qualifying places for the Women's World Twenty20 in Bangladesh next year. | Clare Shillington became the first Irish woman to score a Twenty20 century as the hosts opened the World Twenty20 qualifiers with victory over Japan. |
37565626 | Arthur Simpson-Kent, 49, stabbed Ms Blake to death along with their sons Zachary, eight, and Amon, four.
The Old Bailey heard he killed them when he learnt Ms Blake was planning to leave him and take their sons away.
Ms Blake had motor neurone disease and would not have been able to defend herself, the court heard.
All three were hit on the head before they were stabbed in the neck or throat with a small axe by Simpson-Kent in December, who then buried their bodies in the garden.
He painted over the bloodstains in their bungalow in Erith, south-east London, before fleeing to his native Ghana in January.
Simpson-Kent was arrested at Heathrow Airport in February after being extradited. He admitted murdering his family in June.
Mr Justice Singh said there was "no doubt" that Simpson-Kent should serve the rest of his life in prison.
"In my judgment this was indeed a case where each murder involved a substantial degree of premeditation or planning," he said.
"At the very least that must be true of the murder of each of the two little boys individually, and in turn after the defendant had already killed Sian Blake."
He added there were serious aggravating features as the victims were vulnerable because of age or disability.
Ms Blake's mother Lindell Blake said in an impact statement: "We live knowing that Sian and the children would have been scared, terrified before that monster slaughtered them in their home, a place they should have felt safe and secure.
"Sian was unable to protect her precious children. Little Zachary fighting back trying to protect his mother, himself or his little brother from his own father.
"Our nights are now sleepless despite our constant tiredness and extreme sadness which never leaves us."
The court heard Simpson-Kent told psychiatrist Dr Philip Joseph "something just snapped in me".
He said previously: "I felt as if I had just been pushed off a diving board and was falling."
Simpson-Kent said he grabbed a small axe that was in the kitchen before hitting her repeatedly on the head.
"My mind was blank and I was focusing on doing and not thinking. It was like I was there but not there," he said.
The judge rejected Simpson-Kent's claim that he was depressed and had planned on killing himself.
Ms Blake played Frankie Pierre in 56 episodes of EastEnders between 1996 and 1997. She then went on to work as a voice-over artist, with her last credited work in the video game Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward, as the character Yugiri in 2015. | The partner of former EastEnders actress Sian Blake has been given a whole-life tariff for killing her and their two children. |
32312220 | We hosted a live debate on our @BBC_HaveYourSay Twitter account from 1600-1700 BST on Friday, 17 April, following the #BBCdebate of opposition leaders on BBC One and the News Channel on Thursday.
Here is a selection of some of the best comments and responses we received:
Llywedd in Gwynedd, Wales: I won't be voting because it doesn't matter who I vote for, as this area is a safe seat for Plaid Cymru.
Charles, Bedworth: Anyone who doesn't vote is an idiot. People fought for the right to vote. To throw that away is an insult to their memory
Here are some tweets in response to Charles' comment:
Amy Stott, Huddersfield: It's a disgrace Cameron and Clegg weren't on the BBC debate. How do they expect to get votes if they don't show up?
Karen Lee, Glasgow: I didn't vote in the last election due to apathy. The independence referendum politicised me, my friends and family. I feel this time that my vote counts and that makes me feel like my choice will make a difference for my children.
Peter, Bishops Stortford: Exactly why vote? This is the most boring election ever. No ideas except to counter what the next party is doing.
Mike in Hastings: I've only voted once. Until the first-past-the-post system changes to make it fairer, I will not be voting again.
Antonio, London: I am 57 and have never voted. I've been in the UK since I was 12. I feel I should now vote and have a say in this election.
Adam Turel, Bournemouth: I will always vote but there is no incentive to vote in a safe seat which returns the same party colours every time
Sandy, Essex: This time around, I'm afraid nobody is getting my vote. I'd rather abstain than vote for any of these awful candidates. The only one who's talking to British people is Farage but I don't agree with some of his policies so I cannot vote UKIP.
Here is a tweet in response to Sandy's comment:
Claire Wilkins, Chesterfield: I always vote. I think there will be a larger turnout this time as certain parties generate strong feelings. | We asked if you are planning to vote in the UK general election on 7 May - one of the most tightly contested national polls in living memory. |
35583490 | The France international, 30, joined Bordeaux until the end of the season on 1 February, having lost his place in the Gunners side to Hector Bellerin.
"It would have been magnificent," he said of a move to Old Trafford.
"I discussed it with the coach, who said that obviously he couldn't help out a rival."
Debuchy told French television channel Canal+: "Unfortunately it wasn't the case. Yes, I'm a little bit annoyed with him. It's his choice." | Arsenal defender Mathieu Debuchy said he had a transfer deadline day loan move to Manchester United blocked by manager Arsene Wenger. |
33772261 | But a UK security firm has shown the BBC how one tool, sold around the world to spooks, actually works.
It allows spies to take secret pictures with a phone's camera and record conversations with the microphone, without the phone owner knowing.
Hacking Team's software was recently stolen from the company by hackers and published on the web.
Almost any data on a phone, tablet or PC can be accessed by the tool and it is fascinating how much it can do.
When Joe Greenwood, of cybersecurity firm 4Armed, saw that source code for the program had been dumped online by hackers, he couldn't resist experimenting with it.
Although he had to fiddle with the code to make it work, it only took a day before he had it up and running.
The software consists of the surveillance console, which displays data retrieved from a hacked device, and malware planted on the target device itself.
4Armed was careful to note that using it to spy on someone without their consent would be against the law.
After testing the software on his own PC, Mr Greenwood soon realised the scope of its capabilities.
"You can download files, record microphones, webcam images, websites visited, see what programs are running, intercept Skype calls," he told the BBC.
The software even has some in-built features to track Bitcoin payments, which can be difficult to associate with individuals without additional data about when and how transactions were performed.
In a live demonstration of the system, Mr Greenwood showed how an infected phone could be made to record audio from the microphone, even when the device was locked, and use the phone's camera without its owner knowing.
"We can actually take photos without them realising.
"So the camera in the background is running, taking photos every number of seconds," explained Mr Greenwood.
It was also possible to listen in on phone calls, access the list of contacts stored on the device and track what websites the phone user was visiting.
Both Mr Greenwood and 4Armed's technical director, Marc Wickenden, said they were surprised by the sleekness of the interface.
Both point out, though, that customers could be paying upwards of £1m for the software and would expect it to be user-friendly, especially if it was intended for use by law enforcers on the beat.
For the tracked user, though, there are very few ways of finding out that they are being watched.
One red flag, according to Mr Greenwood, is a sudden spike in network data usage, indicating that information is being sent somewhere in the background. Experienced spies, however, would be careful to minimise this in order to remain incognito.
At present, spy software like this is only likely to be secretly deployed on the phones and computers of people who are key targets for an intelligence agency.
The version of the spyware distributed online is now likely to be more easily detected by anti-virus programs because companies analysing the source code are in the process of updating their systems to recognise it.
Security expert Graham Cluley said it should be as easy to detect as malware.
"The danger will be that malicious hackers could take that code and augment it or change it so it no longer looks like Hacking Team's versions, which might avoid detection," he added.
The best course of action, said Mr Cluley, is to keep operating systems and software as up to date as possible.
In a statement, a spokesman for Hacking Team said it advised its customers not to use the software once the breach was discovered.
"As soon as the event was discovered, Hacking Team immediately advised all clients to discontinue the use of that version of the software, and the company provided a patch to assure that client surveillance data and other information stored on client systems was secure.
"From the beginning Hacking Team has assumed that the code that has been released is compromised," he said.
The spokesman added that the software would be operated by clients of Hacking Team, not Hacking Team itself, and therefore no sensitive data relating to ongoing investigations had been compromised in the breach.
"Of course, there are many who would use for their own purposes the information released by the criminals who attacked Hacking Team.
"This was apparently not a concern of the attackers who recklessly published the material for all online.
"Compiling the software would take considerable technical skill, so not just anyone could do that, but that is not to say it is impossible," he said. | Intelligence agencies' secretive techniques for spying on mobile phones are seldom made public. |
29367253 | The proposals are specifically aimed at reducing the high rates of teenage smokers in France.
Health Minister Marisol Touraine plans to follow Australia's example, which introduced similar measures in 2012.
Experts say removing branding on packets and adding large health warnings reduced smoking in Australia.
However, some tobacco companies dispute the evidence for this and say France's plans are incomprehensible.
Smoking is the main cause of death in France, with more than 70,000 people dying each year of tobacco-related illnesses.
The new measures, which will come into effect once the law goes through the National Assembly, also includes a ban on smoking in children's play areas in public parks and in cars carrying children under 12.
In addition, advertising of e-cigarettes will be restricted before being banned in May 2016, except at the point of sale and in trade publications.
Ms Touraine says there are 13 million smokers in France - which has a population of around 66 million - and the "number of smokers is growing, especially among young people."
"We can't accept that tobacco kills 73,000 people every year in our country - the equivalent of a plane crash every day with 200 people on board," she added.
The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris says the move goes well beyond what France is required to do under European anti-smoking rules.
EU laws already force tobacco firms to cover 65% of the packaging with health warnings, but Ms Touraine said they would be "the same shape, same size, same colour, same typeset" if the ban came into effect.
Celine Audibert, a spokeswoman for French firm Seita, which is a subsidiary of Imperial Tobacco, described the move as "completely incomprehensible".
"It's based on the Australian experience which, more than a failure, was a complete fiasco," added Ms Audibert.
In 2012, Australia forced all cigarettes to be sold in identical brown packets, largely covered with graphic health warnings.
Tobacco clearances, an indicator of tobacco volumes in the Australian market, fell 3.4% in 2013 compared with 2012.
But Australia also raised cigarette taxes that led to consumer prices increasing, creating doubt over which move made the most difference. | The French government has unveiled controversial new measures to cut the number of its smokers, including introducing plain cigarette packaging. |
30103762 | Christopher Hannah is also charged with causing injury by dangerous driving and other road traffic offences.
He made no plea and was remanded in custody.
Sophie Brannan died following what was described by police as a hit and run incident in the Maryhill area of Glasgow on Friday.
Her 10-year-old friend and 36-year-old Joseph Lloyd were also injured in the incident.
Mr Hannah is expected to appear in court again next Wednesday. | A 32-year-old man has appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court charged with causing the death of an 11-year-old girl by dangerous driving. |
35491882 | The Environment Agency has tried pumping water and towing it with a tractor after it came adrift in Oxford.
It is one of two boats that came loose on Monday. It has crashed into Botley Bridge causing an obstruction.
Russell Robson, waterway operations team leader, said he was "optimistic" the latest attempt would work.
He said the river conditions meant it was too dangerous to put divers inside the 25-tonne boat boat.
"That has prevented us from using flotation to get the vessel higher in the water and pump it out.
"What we're looking to do is to attach steel to it and use a winch to try and winch it across the river and control it coming out via other winches attached to the land on either side.
"Our primary objective at the present time is to reopen the river Thames and get the vessel out of the water. [The boat] is someone's home."
The other boat that came loose has since been recovered. | Engineers are attempting to winch a stranded narrowboat out of the River Thames after several previous methods to remove it have failed. |
36164419 | Coastguards received a 999 call from a member of the public just before 14:30 BST, saying the boat was in difficulty near rocks at St David's Head.
It is thought two local fishermen were on board when it sank.
Five lifeboats and a Rescue 187 coastguard helicopter were called off the search at 22:00 BST on Thursday.
It is due to resume on Friday morning.
Jim Phillips, from the RNLI in St Davids, said a member of the public on the coastal path saw the boat smashed on a rock with two people - thought to be local fishermen - in the water at about 14:40 BST.
The vessel - believed to be "The Harvester" which operated from Milford Haven - was about a mile out to sea near Abereiddi.
He said by the time rescuers got to the scene it had sunk and all that was left on the water's surface was debris.
"We know there were two people on board this boat but unfortunately there's been no sign of them since," Mr Phillips added.
The RNLI said conditions at sea were rough.
A spokesman for St David's Head Lifeboat Station said the search on Thursday was "intensive".
"In that area where there are rocks under the surface, they wouldn't have been fishing, so we are not sure what they were doing there," he said.
"We're trying to plot the tides to try and see where they could have got washed into a cove or washed to shore."
Dyfed-Powys Police said the families of the two missing men were being supported by officers and have appealed for any witnesses to come forward. | A major search for the crew of a fishing boat which has sunk off the coast of Pembrokeshire has been called off until first light. |
35502516 | The closure of Hawarden, Mancot and Queensferry libraries was agreed last year, partly due to funding cuts.
But a group, Friends of Mancot Library, has been set up to to operate the existing building as a community library from March.
The new library opens on 29 February and the others shut on different days. | Three council-run libraries in Flintshire will shut this month when a new facility opens at Deeside Leisure Centre. |
37095168 | School holidays start and finish on different dates depending on where you live in the UK, so lots of you will still be on summer holidays.
But if you're heading back now, let us know about it - will you be returning to the same school or starting a new one? Will you have new teachers, a new uniform or new subjects?
What are you looking forward to the most?
I'm getting a new school building since my old one one had been there since 1886 so i get 3 days extra so they can build it!
Rachel, 10, Scotland
I am excited for school because I really want to see my friends again and I am going to be in year 4.
Jasmine, 8, Coventry
When I go back to school, I will be starting year nine. We will be getting a new form tutor this year and I'm curious about who it will be!
Laura, 13, Port Talbot
I will be heading to high school this year and I am quite nervous but excited at the same time. The school will be a lot bigger than my primary school and everything from classrooms to uniforms will be different.
Medhavi, 11, Essex
I'm moving to high school when the holiday ends and I am a little bit nervous because I don't know many people going but I know I will make new friends. As well as new people and teachers, there will be new subjects and I can't wait to use fire in science!
Louise, 11, Isle of Man
I'm starting secondary school today and I'm so excited. I'm excited to meet new people and learn new subjects. I'm starting secondary school today and I'm so excited. I'm excited to meet new people and learn new subjects.
Elizabeth, 12, Fife
I am looking forward to seeing my friends and a new year in P5.
Connor, 8, Dunfermline
I am looking forward to school because our playground is getting built.
Georgia, 9, Edinburgh
I've got a new teacher so I am looking forward to meeting her!
Cameron, 11, Aberdeenshire
I can't wait to go back to see all the friends I've not seen in ages.
Lara, 11, Edinburgh | If you live in Scotland you'll be on your way back to school already - let us know what you're looking forward to in the new school year! |
37170972 | Newcastle City Council was considering enlarging the Blue House roundabout near Gosforth, which would involve laying road on two surrounding moors.
About 2,000 people attended a protest rally on Sunday against the plans, which they described as "overkill".
The council said it would "review alternative proposals" before submitting its final proposal.
Newcastle City Councillor Ged Bell said: "People have come together to express their concerns and there's been significant public opposition to our outline designs.
"Alternative approaches to making improvements will require a willingness to work together from all parties."
The council said the roundabout was the worst in the city for causing injuries and it had a responsibility to make it safer.
Peter MacDonald, of community group SPACE for Gosforth, said: "The news that they are proposing to form a working group of stakeholders and community groups to work with them is exactly what many of us have campaigned for.
"We'd like to thank the council for listening, considering the feedback and for proposing an alternative way forward." | Plans to expand a roundabout on to moorland in Newcastle will be redesigned, the council has said. |
34626098 | The incident happened on the Suir Road in Inchicore shortly after 22:00 local time.
Those injured are aged from their late-teens to the mid-30s.
Four patients were transferred to three different hospitals for treatment. It is believed there were no serious injuries. | Twelve people were taken to hospital on Friday night following a crash between a car and a Luas tram in Dublin. |
37740678 | The strength of the holders, who top Pool 3 on nine points, was evident in the first two tries - England prop Mako Vunipola dummying his way over and centre Nick Tompkins' fine solo effort.
Marcelo Bosch, Chris Wyles and Michael Rhodes secured Saracens' bonus point.
Flanker Aaron Shingler and Wales centre Jonathan Davies crossed for Scarlets, but too late to affect the result.
The visitors' Rhys Patchell had put the first points on the board with a third-minute penalty.
But when Vunipola picked up the ball out wide, the flamboyant forward threw a back-like dummy to slip one defender, and powered through another two to score the night's first try.
Both teams saw plenty of the ball, with Patchell and Farrell swapping penalties, but it was the home side who looked most dangerous.
And it was 21-year-old Tompkins who stretched the lead, beating defenders with exceptional footwork for a fine solo effort.
Two more Patchell penalties kept Scarlets within touching distance, but it was Saracens who again found the cutting edge at the start of the second half.
Both Vunipola brothers punched holes in the Welsh team's defence, before England fly-half Owen Farrell flung a loopy pass for Bosch to finish on the left wing.
Wyles put the bonus point within touching distance, finishing from 30 metres with aplomb after a Scarlets handling error.
Shingler scored the visitors' first try of the night just past the hour mark as both sides pursued the extra points.
Replacement eight Josh Macleod thundered off the base of the scrum to set up a second try for Scarlets, with Wales centre Davies powering over from close range.
But South African flanker Michael Rhodes swiftly struck back to secure the bonus point and extinguish any hopes the two tries had fanned of a Scarlets come back.
Saracens: Alex Goode; Sean Maitland, Marcelo Bosch, Nick Tompkins, Chris Wyles; Owen Farrell, Richard Wigglesworth; Mako Vunipola, Schalk Brits, Juan Figallo, Maro Itoje, Jim Hamilton, Michael Rhodes, Billy Vunipola, Schalk Burger
Replacements: Jamie George, Richard Barrington, Petrus du Plessis, Kelly Brown, Jackson Wray, Ben Spencer, Alex Lozowski, Mike Ellery
Scarlets: Liam Williams; DTH van der Merwe, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Steff Evans; Rhys Patchell, Gareth Davies; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Samson Lee, Jake Ball, David Bulbring, Aaron Shingler, John Barclay, Will Boyde
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Luke Garrett, Werner Kruger, Lewis Rawlins, Josh Macleod, Jonathan Evans, Dan Jones, Steff Hughes | Saracens produced a fine performance to beat a valiant Scarlets side 44-26 in the Champions Cup at Allianz Park. |
39503371 | Shelby Lauren Maher, 17 and Rachel Murphy, 23, of Preston, were hit by a BMW on the A59 at Brockholes Brow on 20 April 2016, Lancashire Police said.
A spokesman said Mohmed Salma Patel, 35, of Blackburn, had been summonsed to appear in court at an unspecified date.
The location of the hearing was also yet to be confirmed, he added.
Ms Maher and Ms Murphy were walking in a group of five, when three of them were knocked down by a BMW heading towards Preston city centre.
Police said the third person, a girl aged 15, was treated in hospital for serious injuries. | A man has been summonsed to face two charges of causing death by dangerous driving following the death of a woman and teenager after being hit by a car. |
30125852 | 20 November 2014 Last updated at 18:12 GMT
During anti-bullying week you told us that one of the best ways to help with bullying is to be a better friend.
We spoke to the world's top experts in childhood friendship at the University of London - and to kids all around the UK.
We've used this advice to bring you a story about an alien that comes to Earth in search of a best friend.
This programme was first shown on 20 November 2014 at 5.55pm on CBBC. | CBBC wants everybody to say Bye Bye to Bullying - and Newsround has made a special programme about how to be a great friend. |
30582032 | Eventual runner-up on the show, Fleur East, sang the track a month before its scheduled released date.
"I was in America and just saw one of my friends had put on Twitter 'Fleur East doing the Uptown Funk'," he says.
"I was just like, 'Cool she must be covering it, that's interesting'."
"And then everyone was telling me she did this awesome version, and so her version came out and we rushed ours and everything came out for the good."
Mark does question though "why they don't put out records here as soon as they are out, you can hear them".
Uptown Funk went on to win Mark Ronson his first ever UK number one.
His chart reign was short-lived though after X Factor winner Ben Haenow bumped him from getting the Christmas number one with his winner's single, a cover of One Republic's Something I Need.
Showing excellent manners, Ronson says he's not sad to miss out on the festive chart milestone, and instead is "excited to be Christmas number two".
He can console himself with landing a new streaming record instead, as Uptown Funk has the most streams ever of a single in one week, with 2.4 million.
"I know - I kept hitting play," he grins.
Ronson puts the streaming success down to the Christmas party effect, "I went to a Christmas party and I heard it about nine times on Saturday night, by the end I was so embarrassed I left because I assumed people would think that I was putting it on!"
Mark also says it's all "cool" between him and Lily Allen after his friend called X Factor's use of the then-unreleased Uptown Funk, "music industry corruption".
That was because Mark shares a record label with Simon Cowell.
"You know it's cool," he says. "I spoke to Lily and told her it wasn't anything like that.
"It's like you're friends, you want to set the record straight.
"I mean I could see why it maybe looked that way to somebody but that's definitely so far from what happened - they did a cover, we were like, 'Oh cool', and then we put our record out."
Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube | Despite rumours to the contrary, Mark Ronson says "it was a good thing" that Uptown Funk was released early following the success of a cover version on The X Factor. |
25198841 | The body of Keith Pettitt, 50, of Deene Thorpe, Corby was recovered from a Skoda Octavia in the River Nene off North Bank, Whittlesey, on Monday.
Police believe his car may have entered the water as early as 26 November.
Peterborough City Council said the speed limit had been reduced from 60mph to 40mph "as a precaution".
There have been five other accidents on the road since Wednesday but no serious injuries. However a month ago a teenage driver died on the same stretch.
Hannah Yates, 18, died after her car left the same 0.5-mile (0.8km) stretch of road and plunged into the River Nene on 3 November.
North Bank is expected to remain closed until Wednesday while investigations into Mr Pettitt's death are carried out, and Cambridgeshire Police have appealed to anyone who may have seen his Skoda being driven along the road between November 26 and 14:30 GMT on Monday.
Simon Machen, from the council, said initial inspections of North Bank had found "no defects with the road or its surface", both of which it maintains.
"However, we are aware of a number of incidents in the past week, and have therefore decided as a precautionary measure to introduce a temporary 40mph speed limit until we can fully investigate any road safety issues," he added.
"If new measures are required following consideration of the police investigation reports and our ongoing inspection, an appropriate scheme will be designed and implemented."
Road safety campaigners have called for barriers to be installed on North Bank.
Members of the Fenland Road Safety Campaign are currently raising funds for a 250m (820ft) barrier to be installed at a cost of £45,000.
Officials from the council are meeting the group on 12 December to discuss their concerns. | The speed limit has been temporarily cut on a stretch of road in Cambridgeshire after a man died in a sixth accident in six days. |
23413653 | The baby was delivered at 16:24 BST at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London, weighing 8lb 6oz.
The Duke of Cambridge said in a statement the couple "could not be happier". He and the duchess will remain in the hospital overnight.
The news has been displayed on an easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in line with tradition.
A bulletin - signed by the Queen's gynaecologist Marcus Setchell, who led the medical team that delivered the baby - was taken by a royal aide from St Mary's to the palace under police escort.
The document said: "Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm today.
"Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well."
When the news was announced, a large cheer went up from well-wishers and journalists outside the hospital while a large crowd greeted the posting of the bulletin outside Buckingham Palace.
The Kensington Palace press release said the Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth of his son, who will be known as the Prince of Cambridge and who is third in line to the throne.
By Peter HuntRoyal correspondent, BBC News
"The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news," it said.
A Kensington Palace spokesman said the names of the baby - who was delivered in the private Lindo Wing of St Mary's - would be announced in due course.
The Prince of Wales, in a separate statement, said he and the Duchess of Cornwall were "overjoyed at the arrival of my first grandchild.
"It is an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine and we are so thrilled for them on the birth of their baby boy," he added.
"Grandparenthood is a unique moment in anyone's life, as countless kind people have told me in recent months, so I am enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time and we are eagerly looking forward to seeing the baby in the near future."
BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said the duke and duchess spent time bonding with their son before they told the family their news.
Royal doctor Mr Setchell described the new arrival as "wonderful baby, beautiful baby", our correspondent added.
Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking outside Downing Street, hailed the "wonderful news".
"It is an important moment in the life of our nation but I suppose, above all, it's a wonderful moment for a warm and loving couple who've got a brand new baby boy," he added.
He said the Royal Family could "know that a proud nation is celebrating with a very proud and happy couple tonight".
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said: "I am sure that people across Scotland will be absolutely thrilled to hear the news of the birth of a baby boy to the Royal couple and will want to join me in wishing the proud parents many congratulations."
And Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones congratulated the couple "on behalf of the people of Wales" as "they enter their journey into parenthood".
The Archbishop of Canterbury, meanwhile, said he was "delighted to congratulate the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the arrival of their baby boy".
"Along with millions here and around the world, I share in their joy at this special time," he added.
"May God bless this family with love, health and happiness in their shared life ahead."
Catherine and Prince William had arrived at the hospital at 06:00 BST ahead of a Kensington Palace announcement that she was in the early stages of labour.
The world's media had been camped outside St Mary's for days in anticipation of the birth. | The Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a baby boy, Kensington Palace has announced. |
39572008 | Communities Secretary Sajid Javid approved plans for shale gas extraction at Cuadrilla's Preston New Road site at Little Plumpton in October 2016.
The Preston New Road Action Group (PNRAG) said the decision was "flawed", while Gayzer Frackman claimed it did not consider climate change.
But Mr Justice Dove dismissed their judicial review actions.
The decision means that, for the first time in the UK, shale rock will be drilled into horizontally, a process which is expected to yield more gas.
The campaigners had urged the London High Court judge to find that the decision to grant a planning application for the site in Fylde was neither fair nor lawful.
At a hearing at Manchester Civil Justice Centre last month, the judge was told the planning application by developer Cuadrilla was refused by Lancashire County Council in 2015 but later granted following an appeal and a planning inquiry.
David Wolfe QC, on behalf of PNRAG, told the judge the group had been "wrong-footed" because a planning inspector's decision to approve the site was based on an argument made after their closing submissions at the inquiry, when the group's advocate was not present.
He said the inspector's decision that the site would not have a significant impact on the landscape because it was only granted permission for a temporary period was not lawful and breached the council's development plan.
Marc Willers QC, on behalf of Mr Frackman, said the site would lead to a "considerable quantity of greenhouse gas emissions" and the commercial gas produced at the fracking site would go directly to homes and industry.
He said: "There will be no assessment of these greenhouse gas emissions arising from the gas being pumped through the gas grid to homes and industry."
Mr Javid and Cuadrilla were represented at the hearing, but the court was told Lancashire County Council was not taking part.
Mr Justice Dove, giving his ruling on the PNRAG case, said none of the grounds argued "have been made out in substance".
Turning to Mr Frackman, he said one of the grounds was arguable, but added: "It is not made out in substance."
Pat Davies, chair of PNRAG, said the group reacted to the decision with "heartfelt disappointment" adding, "the Fylde Coast will become the guinea pig for this dirty industry and no longer be a safe or desirable place to live, work or retire to."
Cuadrilla chief executive Francis Egan said: "We respected the democratic right of those opposed to this consent to challenge the Secretary of State's decision.
"However, we always remained confident the planning consent would stand."
Lancashire County Council refused permission to extract shale gas at the site in 2015 on the grounds of noise and traffic impact, but Cuadrilla appealed to the secretary of state who subsequently ruled in their favour.
Cuadrilla started construction work at the site at Preston New Road in January and it has been the scene of continued protests by anti-fracking campaigners. | Two High Court challenges against the government's decision to give fracking the go-ahead in Lancashire have failed. |
35693195 | He said he was taken out of context after he was filmed appearing to agree with the view from a member of the public in a BBC Spotlight programme.
He told Radio Ulster's Talkback that he felt unfairly treated by Spotlight.
"They chose to present this as if I had some secret conversation with a man, got caught out and those were my views," he said.
"They know full well they were not my views."
The MP said he had spent four hours with Spotlight on a programme about the EU referendum, and made his views very clear.
"The impression has tried to be given that that was somehow something that was said in secret, away from the camera, away from the interviewer and that I was caught out," he said.
"That was not the case. The camera was following me, I had a mike on and I knew a reporter was close at hand."
He said that during filming, he had asked a man a question about leaving the European Union.
It was this that he had agreed about, not the "ethnics out" comment which the man made.
In a statement, the DUP said it disassociated the party "from the comment made by a member of the public".
BBC Spotlight journalist Conor Spackman explained the background to the incident.
"He [Sammy Wilson] and I were filmed walking around Carrickfergus market talking to members of the public," he said.
"At one point he stopped to talk to a man and I walked on. Mr Wilson then had a conversation with the man out of my earshot.
"At the time he was still being recorded.
"In part of the conversation, Mr Wilson said: "They are doing a programme on the BBC about should we stay in the European Union or get out of it, so I am going around talking to people and then they are going to do an interview with me."
The man replied: "I'd say get out of it. Between you and me get the ethnics out too."
Mr Wilson then said: "You are absolutely right, you know."
Mr Spackman said he had other conversations with people about immigration that day that would be a part of the debate in the run-up to the EU referendum.
But he said Mr Wilson's conversation with the man felt very different.
"I therefore wrote to Mr Wilson and asked him what he meant by appearing to agree with the statement: 'Get the ethnics out too'," he said.
"In response, Mr Wilson wrote back asking me whether the BBC was 'having a laugh'.
"Mr Wilson added: "I am not prepared to spend any more time being interviewed, giving you explanations or responding to what anyone would regard as a disgraceful request to facilitate your biased political slant to this programme."
The DUP said in a statement it "values everyone who comes to Northern Ireland and makes a contribution to our society".
"Ethnic minorities are vital to our biggest and best companies never mind our Health Service," it said.
"Get the ethnics out" is a disgraceful phrase.
"We disassociate the party from the comment made by a member of the public.
"Whilst there needs to be a discussion about how we control our borders, this should be conducted in a factual and respectful manner as part of the EU referendum debates."
The Polish consul in Northern Ireland, Jerome Mullen, said: "He [Mr Wilson] didn't make the comment but he agreed with the racist comments that were clearly made by the gentleman he was speaking to.
"It should be made clear and pointed out we are dependent upon a great many skills that the ethnic minority and particularly with the community that I represent, the Polish community, have been providing to Northern Ireland for many, many years.
"We couldn't survive in many of the businesses here in Northern Ireland without those skills and I don't think he's aware of that." | East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson has denied that he agreed with the comment 'Get the ethnics out'. |
35533112 | Last month, workers at Rio Tinto's aluminium smelter at Fort William were told operations at the plant were under review.
The site is one of Lochaber's biggest employers and has about 150 workers.
The meeting heard that because of the area's small population the impact of losing those jobs would be "huge".
The gathering in Fort William also heard of money the government, local authority and development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) have invested in Lochaber.
Stuart Black, Highland Council's director of development and infrastructure, said: "The recent announcement of the strategic review of the Rio Tinto smelter whose importance as a major employer in the Lochaber economy is seven times as significant as the Tata Steel works to Lanarkshire.
"The impact of around 150 potential redundancies and the knock on effect on local contractors and suppliers within the local economy would be huge."
He added: "Highland Council is keen to hear local concerns regarding employment and to see what it can do to further support the Lochaber economy."
Business Minister Fergus Ewing and local business leaders also attended the meeting. | Concerns have been raised at a meeting involving the Scottish government and Highland Council about the impact of job losses in Lochaber. |
22667015 | "This can be considered a historic day," Olena Semenova, one of the organisers, said.
Police arrested 13 people for trying to break up the rally - in a country where homophobia is widespread and generally accepted.
In neighbouring Russia, more than 20 gay activists were detained by police at an unsanctioned rally in Moscow.
The campaigners tried to march on Russia's parliament building, denouncing what they described as "homophobic" legislation recently approved by MPs.
The bill bans "gay propaganda" in an effort to protect children, but human rights campaigners say its real aim is to curb the rights of sexual minorities.
In Kiev, the gay-rights activists marched outside the city centre amid a heavy police presence.
"This event will go down in the history of Ukraine as one of the key developments in the fight for equal rights," Ms Semenova said.
A number of protesters - including Orthodox Church members - gathered nearby to denounce the march.
"Ukraine is not America, Kiev is not Sodom," they chanted.
The event was held despite an earlier court ruling banning such gatherings.
City authorities had argued that a gay march would clash with the annual Kiev Day festivities and could lead to violence.
The authorities cited 500 complaints from the public to justify their court petition.
A gay-rights event planned for last year in Kiev was called off at the last minute after a gathering of skinheads threatened participants.
A recent Amnesty International report said Ukraine's gay community suffered widespread bias and abuse. | About 100 activists have staged Ukraine's first gay pride march in the capital Kiev, ignoring a court ban. |
36939820 | Dominic Chappell, 49, admitted to driving 63.9mph (102.8km/h) in a 40mph (64km/h) zone in Andover on 6 April.
He was disqualified from holding a licence for six months, at Aldershot Magistrates' Court.
Chappell made headlines when he denied that the £2.6m package he took from BHS, including a £600,000 salary, had contributed to the demise of the brand.
Chappell, of Blandford Forum, Dorset, already had 10 points on his licence for three speeding offences in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
At the time of his speeding offence, he was driving a Range Rover on Churchill Way.
After being pulled over, he told police: "This will cost me £25,000. I've been driving since I was 18 and have never had an accident.
"I drive an average of 35,000 miles a year and I used to be a race car driver."
The former Formula Three driver bought the collapsed retail giant for £1 from Sir Philip Green though his company Retail Acquisitions in March 2015. | The former boss of BHS has lost his driving licence after he admitted doing more than 20mph over the limit. |
32725157 | null | Here are the key dates in the long-running investigation into the death of Poppi Worthington in Cumbria. |
40358478 | The artwork measured 260ft x 210ft (80m x 60m) and was created with the help of local schoolchildren at Haworth Primary School, West Yorkshire.
Made with recycled materials, it marked 200 years since Bronte's birth and the invention of the bicycle.
It was one of about 50 land art creations which celebrated the tour.
The 304-mile (490km) cycle race drew an estimated two million spectators for its third outing in spring. Much of the artwork was so big it was best viewed from the air.
The winning artwork, designed by Andrew Wood, used 3,000 plant pots for the outline of the bike, pieces of an old marquee and "grass-friendly" paint.
Branwell, the brother of famous Bronte writers Charlotte, Emily and Anne, was also a writer and painter but after a troubled life with drug and alcohol dependency died in 1848, aged 31.
The family lived at the parsonage in the village of Haworth.
Mr Wood said: "I have always wanted us to do land art that would link Haworth and cycling."
Almost 4,500 public votes were cast for a shortlist of 12 pieces of art, organiser Welcome to Yorkshire said.
The Tour de Yorkshire began after the county hosted the 2014 Grand Depart of the Tour de France. | A giant image of Branwell Bronte riding a bicycle has been voted the best piece of land art at this year's Tour de Yorkshire. |
35145049 | The attack happened in an alley near St Mark's Church in Matamba Terrace, Sunderland, at about 03:30 GMT, Northumbria Police said.
A 17-year-old male has been arrested on suspicion of rape and is in custody.
Officers have appealed for witnesses to come forward and said they are keen to speak to the driver of a white taxi seen in the Millfield area at the time of the incident. | A woman was raped on Wearside in the early hours of Sunday. |
38150962 | The 41-year-old beat Ricky Walden to progress at the Barbican in York.
The Welshman trailed 5-3 before winning three successive frames.
"I've been watching [at this stage] on TV but it's nice to be here," he said. "As it's colder and I'm not playing golf, I'm really enjoying playing."
Williams said he took "a few months off" after losing 13-3 to Ding Junhui in the quarter-finals of the World Championship in April.
But he moved into the last 16 of the UK Championship by making his experience count in a nervy finale.
"When I went 5-3 down, it could have been 5-3 either way," Williams told BBC Radio Wales Sport.
"I made a lot of one-frame visits but I kept losing the scrappy frames, which are the ones I normally win.
"I'm over the moon because I know it was a big game for both of us. I'm 16th and he's 17th in the rankings so I knew it was going to be a lot of nerves both ways." | Mark Williams says cold weather forced him to ditch golf and focus on snooker again - and helped him reach the last 16 of the UK Championship for the first time in five years. |
37226834 | Media playback is not supported on this device
Hales surpassed Robin Smith's 23-year record as England amassed the highest ever ODI total and claimed a series victory in their 169-run win.
The 27-year-old, who averaged 18 in the preceding four-Test series and had a top score of 14 in the ODIs, said: "The last six weeks have been tough, so to perform like that is pleasing."
The right-hander, playing on his home ground at Trent Bridge, added: "When I got past 150 it came into the back of my mind but I was only aware when the guy announced it.
"It was only when I hit the boundary and the cheering started that the penny finally dropped."
Media playback is not supported on this device
It was a record-breaking game for England, as wicketkeeper Jos Buttler struck the quickest half-century by an England player from just 22 balls.
England hit 59 boundaries - the most conceded in an ODI - after a poor fielding display by Pakistan.
"We missed chances, especially getting wickets with no balls and dropping catches, which didn't help," Pakistan captain Azhar Ali said.
"There were always runs on that pitch and we leaked too many. It was hard to take the control back."
Hales' innings showed how far England's one-day cricket has come since their disappointing 2015 World Cup campaign, when they were eliminated in the group stage.
"That's the most exciting thing for us; that we're still improving," added Notts opener Hales.
"To get the world record is a credit to the work we've put in and what we're hoping to achieve."
Ex-England spinner Graeme Swann on Test Match Special: "I've got to take my hat off to Alex Hales - he played the world's worst one-day innings by an opener at Lord's three days ago, but he came out and played an incredible knock here. He rode his luck, but by the end his ball-striking was phenomenal."
Ex-England seamer Isa Guha on Test Match Special: "Someone who can absorb that pressure and come out and play the way Hales did belongs on the international stage. And let's not forget the role Joe Root played."
England captain Eoin Morgan: "Alex Hales' innings today was monumental. He has needed runs this summer and today they have all come at once. International cricket is about managing lower times as well as higher times. He fully deserves all the recognition." | Alex Hales said he was not aware he was closing in on the highest one-day international score by an Englishman in his scintillating 171 against Pakistan on Tuesday. |
34433028 | Steve Way took up running aged 33 and ditched smoking, drinking and kebabs to come 10th in the Games marathon.
The Bournemouth resident is running the 26.2 mile (42km) race on Sunday as part of the Bournemouth Marathon Festival.
Races are on Saturday and Sunday, including a 5km, 10km, junior races and a half and full marathon.
Mr Way, 41, said: "I have long wanted to race a marathon in my hometown and the schedule works well this year to make it a reality.
"I took part in the half marathon last year and then set the marathon runners on their way as the official starter last year, which was a real honour.
"The atmosphere around town has been brilliant for the first two years of the Bournemouth Marathon Festival. I'm looking forward to enjoying the full 26.2 miles of it."
Ben Smith, from Bristol, is also taking part in the event as he is currently attempting to run 401 marathons in 401 days.
Bournemouth is the only marathon he is set to run twice.
Steve Edwards, 53, from Morton-in-Marsh in the Cotswolds, is due to run his 700th marathon on Sunday.
It is hoped he will set a new world record for running 700 marathons in the fastest average time at three hours and 18 minutes.
He has run every Bournemouth marathon since it started three years ago. | A man who went from a 16 stone smoker to Commonwealth Games competitor is taking part in his first marathon in his home town. |
41070767 | The foreign ministry in Beijing said it was pleased that "trespassing Indian personnel have all pulled back to the Indian side of the boundary".
India's foreign ministry confirmed troops were "disengaging" at Doklam after agreement between the countries.
The row began in mid-June when India said it opposed a Chinese attempt to extend a border road on the plateau.
The area is known as Doklam in India and Donglang in China.
The news comes a week before a visit to China by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The plateau, which lies at a junction between China, the north-eastern Indian state of Sikkim and the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, is disputed between Beijing and Bhutan. India supports Bhutan's claim over it.
Earlier on Monday China made clear it would "continue its sovereignty rights" in the area.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Chinese troops had verified on ground that Indian personnel had withdrawn in the morning.
End of Twitter post by @PDChina
A senior Indian government source told the BBC that both sides had pulled out "personnel and equipment" from the area.
Robin Brant, BBC News, Shanghai
China's president is about to host India's prime minister, among others, at a summit this weekend. No-one likes a reignited border dispute to spoil a showpiece event, especially the Chinese.
But state media here see this as a clear win, referring to Indian troops as "trespassing".
One of the most eye-catching things about this latest stand-off is how it started - road building. China has a vast infrastructure strategy unfurling beyond its western borders but some critics say the One Belt, One Road plan isn't just about economics.
To some the Doklam dispute looked like it fitted this analysis; the army builds a road to establish a physical presence to justify a historical claim. Not dissimilar to the highly controversial island-building China has engaged in for years now in the South China Sea, some said.
Then there's Pakistan, India's arch enemy. It's currently the second biggest recipient of Chinese infrastructure investment. Evidence of a strategy aimed at expanding China's influence around the Indian Ocean, as well as around India.
Sanjoy Majumder, BBC News, Delhi
It might appear as a major victory for China and a climbdown for India - but that is not how Delhi sees it.
The Indian foreign ministry says the troop pullout is a result of sustained diplomatic efforts behind closed doors over weeks and a senior government official described it as "an honourable draw".
There's no way of verifying what's happening on the ground - and little detail of any concessions that either side may have made. But few doubt that the Indian government will be relieved the stand-off is over without it escalating into a major military confrontation, given China's overall superiority.
One question remains - will the road that started this dispute now be built or abandoned?
In the weeks since the row broke out in June, both countries increased troop numbers and even engaged in several minor confrontations in the area.
Both countries also called on each other to back down, with China in particular warning of "serious consequences".
Atul Bhardwaj, adjunct fellow at the Institute of Chinese Studies in Delhi, told BBC News that an agreement was the "only alternative" since a confrontation between the two Asian giants "could not have gone on".
He added that the resolution showed "India had initially given primacy to its relationship and commitments to Bhutan" but officials had clearly changed their mind.
"India needs Chinese markets and Chinese investments," he said, adding it would be interesting to see the political fallout of the decision in India, given that Delhi had said it would not back down.
India and China fought a war over the 3,500km (2,174-mile) shared border in 1962, and disputes remain unresolved in several areas, causing tensions to rise from time to time. | China says India has withdrawn troops from a disputed Himalayan border area, ending a tense stand-off lasting weeks. |
35188634 | Jean-Guy Talamoni, president of the Corsican assembly, said the anti-Arab violence was "totally incompatible with our political tradition and culture".
Protesters in Ajaccio vandalised a Muslim prayer hall and trashed copies of the Koran on Friday. It was apparent revenge for an attack on firefighters.
On Sunday a crowd defied a protest ban.
Several hundred people waving Corsican nationalist flags marched through Ajaccio, but police prevented them from reaching the Jardins de l'Empereur (Emperor's Gardens) housing estate where Friday's attack happened.
About half of the estate's residents are immigrants.
Previous marches had seen participants shout: "Arabs get out!"
Some protesters blamed local Arabs for an attack on firefighters on Christmas Day, in which two firefighters and a policeman were injured.
French regional elections this month put nationalists in power in Corsica for the first time. On the mainland, the anti-immigration, far-right National Front (FN) made big gains.
The French government has condemned both the anti-Muslim attack and the protests that followed.
Mr Talamoni said the perpetrators of the anti-Muslim attack "were people, in our opinion, who tend to vote for the FN; our nationalism is incompatible with that ideology".
Speaking on France Inter radio, he said the continuing demonstrations "will not help calm the situation".
He blamed "some far-right groups which have been active in Corsica for several months".
"It's an imported ideology... Corsica was the first country in Europe to introduce religious tolerance in the 18th Century... Jews were protected here during the war," he said.
In mainland France local collaborators helped Nazi German occupation forces to deport thousands of Jews to Nazi concentration camps during World War Two.
France beefed up security measures for the Christmas holidays, following the 13 November attacks in Paris by Islamic State (IS) jihadists that left 130 people dead.
The Corsican authorities have banned all gatherings in the flashpoint area of Ajaccio until at least 4 January.
The protesters on Sunday rejected accusations that their rally was racist, chanting: "We fight against scum, not against Arabs!" and "We aren't thugs, we aren't racists!"
In Thursday's incident, the firefighters were ambushed by unidentified "hooded youths" with iron bars and baseball bats, French media report. | A newly-elected Corsican nationalist leader has blamed an "imported ideology" for an attack on a Muslim prayer hall on the French island. |
37189882 | Englishman Lewis, 25, was 12 under par after 13 holes in Farso, but finished with a nine-under-par 62, equalling the course record.
"Maybe I thought too much or tried too hard, hence the finish," said Lewis.
He is tied with Joakim Lagergren and Thomas Pieters, who partnered Europe's Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke.
Belgian Pieters is a contention to earn one of the three wildcards in the European team, which will be announced next week.
"I did all I could in front of Darren. He has a lot on his mind other than golf and we will just have to wait and see," he said.
We've launched a new BBC Sport newsletter, bringing all the best stories, features and video right to your inbox. You can sign up here. | Tom Lewis looked set to shoot the first 59 in European Tour history before carding three late bogeys in round one of the Made in Denmark tournament. |
22347581 | Prosecutors allege Dr Kermit Gosnell killed babies born alive after late-term abortions by snipping their spines at the neck with scissors.
His defence lawyer said it was "ridiculous" to say the foetuses had survived in utero injections of a heart-stopping drug.
Jury deliberations began on Tuesday.
Dr Gosnell faces the death penalty or life in prison if convicted.
Several former clinic employees have pleaded guilty to murder and testified against Dr Gosnell and an unlicensed doctor, Eileen O'Neill.
The defence has separately argued that Dr Gosnell is not responsible for the overdose death of 41-year-old Karnamaya Mongar, a refugee from Nepal, saying that was caused by medical complications.
During closing arguments in Philadelphia on Monday, prosecutor Ed Cameron asked jurors to deliver justice on behalf of Dr Gosnell's alleged victims.
"Are you human?" Mr Cameron asked Dr Gosnell, who sat calmly during the proceedings. "To med these women up and stick knives in the backs of babies?"
Calling the clinic an "assembly line with no regard" for patients, the prosecutor argued Dr Gosnell was grossly incompetent as an abortion provider and had sought to get rich by employing unqualified staff and keeping a dirty, out-of-date clinic.
He alleged that two mentally unstable medical assistants and a teenager were on duty delivering anaesthesia the night Mongar came in.
"If that doesn't tell you right away what kind of practice Dr Gosnell ran, nothing will,'' Mr Cameron said.
Defence lawyer Jack McMahon told jurors on Monday prosecutors had manipulated former employees of the clinic into testifying, while creating "the most extraordinary hype and exaggeration in the history of the justice system".
Mr McMahon acknowledged jurors had seen horrifying images during the trial, but argued that prosecutors did not have definitive proof the foetuses were viable and alive.
"Abortion, as is any surgical procedure, isn't pretty," he said. "It's bloody. It's real. But you have to transcend that."
He also called prosecutors "elitist" and "racist" for pursuing Dr Gosnell, who is black and served mostly poor minority women.
"We know why he was targeted,'' Mr McMahon said. "If you don't see that reality... you're living in some sort of la-la land."
During the trial, Judge Jeffrey Minehart threw out three other murder charges involving aborted foetuses, citing insufficient evidence that they were born alive and then killed.
Prosecutors have argued Dr Gosnell would not have cut the foetuses' spines unless he feared they had survived abortion.
Former staff have testified they saw aborted foetuses move after the procedure on at least two occasions, only to have Dr Gosnell explain the movements as an involuntary response.
In one case, Ashley Baldwin, a former employee said, "the chest was moving".
Abortions in Pennsylvania are illegal if not performed by a licensed doctor and if done past the 24th week of pregnancy when the mother's life is not in danger.
According to a grand jury report, records of the length of the pregnancies at the time of the abortions were falsified by non-medical staff. Other records were lost entirely. | A Pennsylvania jury has heard closing arguments in the trial of an abortion clinic doctor accused of killing four babies and an adult patient. |
40533764 | Daisy Evans, 23, was watched by four-year-old springer poodle Boris as she picked up her degree at the University of Reading on Friday.
Her 19-year-old sister Hollie suffers with anxiety, which eases in the presence of her pet.
The university said it was "delighted" Boris could attend.
Hollie was unable to speak for two years at the height of her anxiety, a problem she said improved after Boris's arrival in her life.
She said the university allowing Boris to attend the graduation resulted in her family's first outing together in five years.
The teenager added: "It's lovely to have Boris here. I get very nervous but he helps as he's a bit of a distraction.
"He's part of the family so he should be here. Boris comes with me everywhere - he rescued me."
A university spokesman said they were "delighted to hear the family enjoyed their day and that bringing Boris made such a difference." | A mortar board-wearing family dog was invited to a university graduation ceremony to help soothe a guest's anxiety. |
11876821 | Independent MSP Margo MacDonald's End of Life Assistance Bill aimed to make it legal for someone to seek help to end their life.
Ms MacDonald, who has Parkinson's disease, claimed there was wide public support for the legislation.
But the bill was defeated by 85 votes to 16 with two abstentions.
MSPs were allowed a rare free vote on the bill, rather than on party lines, and it was supported by a number of members from across the Holyrood parties.
It is not illegal to attempt suicide in Scotland but helping someone take their own life could lead to prosecution.
The End of Life Assistance Bill would have allowed people whose lives become intolerable through a progressive degenerative condition, a trauma or terminal illness to seek a doctor's help in dying.
It also proposed a series of safeguards which would prevent abuse of the legislation.
Ms MacDonald said it was important to allow terminally ill people some dignity.
Speaking at MSPs debated the bill in parliament, she added: "The idea of assisting someone to achieve a peaceful death, within the law, in accordance with what that person considers to be a dignified fashion, is alive and well."
Ms MacDonald also attacked the "Care not Killing" alliance of 50 groups, including faith-based organisations, which campaigned strongly against the bill.
End of life Assistance (Scotland) Bill
Some critics have claimed it could have led to Scotland becoming a "suicide tourism" destination, along with other countries where the practice is legal, such as Switzerland.
There have also been concerns it could fail to safeguard frail, elderly people.
Holding up a piece of literature linked to the group, she said: "I'll cut to the chase and condemn as unworthy and cheap, the contribution made by the publishers and authors of this catalogue of linguistic contortions, headed 'Care not Killing'.
"This postcard was distributed through churches and caused alarm among frail, elderly and disabled people."
Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said she was opposed to the bill, adding the Scottish government's view was that it did not support a change in the law.
She said: "I personally find myself particularly concerned and fundamentally concerned about the difficulty I think would always and inevitably be present in determining that someone choosing to end their life had not been subjected to undue influence."
During the debate, MSPs from all parties spoke out for and against the bill.
Labour MSP Michael McMahon described it as "dangerous and unnecessary", while the two Green MSPs - Robin Harper and Patrick Harvie - said current laws were unclear and "served nobody".
Lib Dem MSP Ross Finnie, who convened a special Holyrood committee set up to scrutinise the legislation reiterated its conclusion that it was "not persuaded that the case had been made to decriminalise the law of homicide as it applies to assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia".
In England, the director of public prosecutions previously indicated it was unlikely that legal action would be taken against those who assist the suicide of friends or relatives who have a settled and informed wish to die.
However, no such guidance has been given in Scotland.
MSPs are also currently considering a separate bill to strengthen palliative care for the terminally ill, although Holyrood's health committee has questioned the need for legislation to improve services.
The rejection of the bill came after Lord Falconer launched an inquiry into assisted dying in the UK, insisting it would be "an objective, dispassionate and authoritative analysis of the issues". | The Scottish Parliament has rejected plans to give terminally ill people the right to choose when to die, despite claims they were widely backed. |
41046941 | The 32-year-old rejoined Wasps in 2013, four years after first leaving for stints with Stade Francais, Ricoh Black Rams and Highlanders.
He says he is determined to play for at least two more years before retiring.
"There is motivation everywhere. I am playing for a deal at Wasps and to get back into the England side," added Haskell.
"I would like to think I have two or three years left and the most important factor for me is do everything I possibly can to be the best rugby player I can be," said Haskell, who has won 75 caps playing for England.
"There is a different mindset, you have to start looking even more at what you are going to do outside of rugby.
"And everybody I meet who has retired says the real world is terrible, and you should play as long as you can."
After initially missing out on selection for the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand, Haskell was called up to the squad as a replacement for the injured Billy Vunipola.
He appeared in four tour matches, but was not involved in any of the three Tests as the series ended in a draw.
"I think I maximised it as much as I could," said Haskell. "I left no stone unturned in trying to enjoy myself and play the best rugby I could and be as committed as I could be, because it's such an honour.
"I was disappointed not to get opportunities with the Test team, but I loved every moment of it, got to meet players and find out who the good lads are, which turned out to be 99% of them."
After a five-week break, during which time he had surgery on a finger injury, Haskell says he is looking to tinker with his style of play in order to become a better player.
"It's the first five weeks I have ever had off in a 15-year career," he added.
"I let my hair down, put on a bit of weight, but now I am on a full rebuild trying to come back a better player than I have ever been.
"I want to try and play a bit differently this season. I have changed things up and I am looking forward to it." | England and Lions flanker James Haskell says he is "playing for a contract" in the final year of his Wasps deal. |
38109638 | Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson said the call on Thursday from young Billy had "melted all [our] hearts".
"While we do not encourage this use of 911... we are so honoured at the invitation," Mr Adkinson said in a Facebook post.
Thanks to his phone call, two sheriffs paid Billy "a special visit".
The officers also brought him a sheriff's badge and allowed him sit in their patrol car.
A spokeswoman for the sheriff's office, Monica Webster, said: "With all the bad calls we take on a daily basis this one was a welcomed happy call that made all of us smile,"
Mr Adkinson thanked Billy for "making all of our days here" saying the gesture reminded him to "love what matters".
Minister's bullet-proof bathroom mocked
Watchdog cans Heinz beans advert
Texas diner gives waiter $750 to visit family | Emergency call dispatchers in northern Florida received a call from a young boy inviting police to his family's Thanksgiving dinner. |
33286671 | The fountain, in Victoria Square, has not been working since 2013.
Installed in 1993, it was given a £300,000 refurbishment in 2010, £70,000 was spent on repairs in 2009, and about £40,000 in 2006.
Birmingham City Council said it wants to make the square "as attractive as possible" until it is fixed. Planting is due to be completed in mid-July.
A full feasibility study is due to begin in January 2016, to work out what is wrong with the fountain and how much repairs will cost. | The "Floozy in the Jacuzzi" in Birmingham city centre is to be filled with plants and flowers. |
24263548 | At 67, it would seem that Janet Yellen is just getting started.
The new head of the US Federal Reserve has been second in command to the current governor, Ben Bernanke, for the last three years.
Now after a protracted appointment process, Ms Yellen is set to take on arguably the biggest job in the world economy.
So what do we know about this woman, the first to take charge of the US central bank?
Janet Yellen was born in 1946 in Brooklyn, New York. Her father was a family doctor and her mother taught at a local junior school.
She was a star pupil at high school and won a place to study maths at Brown University, but quickly changed to economics, a subject she saw as more practically useful.
While studying for a doctorate at Yale she was mentored by James Tobin, a Nobel prize winner famous for his ideas on taxation.
Her first job was at Harvard in 1971 where she was an assistant professor, going on to teach Larry Summers. He was initially favoured by the White House to head the Federal Reserve, until opposition from liberal Democrats forced him to withdraw his name from consideration in September.
Ms Yellen's first job at the Fed brought her not only experience of working at the world's most influential central bank, it also introduced her to her future husband, the economist George Akerlof, in 1977.
The romance went into fast forward and within a year the couple were married, had both resigned from the Fed and had taken up teaching roles at the London School of Economics.
Lord Desai, emeritus professor of economics at LSE, remembers the couple making quite an impact on both students and lecturers.
"George Akerlof is a complete genius - an economist who is always thinking out of the box."
"Janet was a very serious person and a very good economist. But I think at the time people underrated her as she was 'just' George Akerlof's wife."
Work life and domestic life started to merge for the couple and they started to collaborate on academic research.
"Not only did our personalities mesh perfectly, but we have also always been in all but perfect agreement about macroeconomics," Mr Akerlof wrote in a biographical note after winning the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2001.
The couple returned to the US in the early 1980s, both taking academic jobs in San Francisco.
Together they conducted research on subjects ranging from out-of-wedlock childbearing to the economic reunification of Germany.
Ms Yellen's big break came in 1994 when she was appointed as a member of the board of governors of the Federal Reserve.
She held the position until 1997 when she was appointed by President Bill Clinton to become chair of his Council of Economic Advisers.
Her burgeoning career restricted her time at home with her son Robert, resulting in her husband eventually taking leave from his job to "perform household duties" as he put it. (Robert later followed in his parents' footsteps and is now an assistant professor in economics at the University of Warwick in the UK.)
Ms Yellen took on the role as the Fed's eyes and ears on the west coast when she became head of the San Francisco branch of the central bank in 2004.
By Robert PestonBusiness editor
Is Janet Yellen the 'fall gal'?
The minutes from Federal Reserve meetings show that she did consider the possibility of a property market bubble as early as 2005, but along with the rest of the Fed committee failed to predict the scale of the financial crisis that started in 2007.
"She was one of the people that did raise alarm bells, but I think like many others who saw the problems coming she did not anticipate the magnitude of the difficulties," according to Joseph Stiglitz, the economist who shared the 2001 Nobel Prize with Mr Akerlof, and who knows Ms Yellen well.
"That was a very different attitude from many in the mainstream who saw absolutely no problem right up until the crisis," Mr Stiglitz told the BBC.
Her position at the San Francisco Fed gave her greater exposure to the mechanics of decision making at the Federal Reserve and in 2009 she became a voting member of the interest rate setting committee, the Federal Open Markets Committee.
By 2010 she had become a respected international emissary for the Fed, representing US economic policy at meetings across the world.
Her hard work was rewarded when she was appointed vice-chair of the board of governors at the Fed replacing Donald Kohn, who went on to join the Bank of England.
There is something, perhaps, to be made of her being the first woman to lead the Fed, arguably the second most important job in the US after the president.
Prof Andrew Rose from the Haas School of Business taught with Ms Yellen at the University of California, Berkeley.
He says he hopes the fact that she has broken a "glass ceiling" does not detract from her personal achievement in getting the president's nomination.
"She is the most qualified person in the world for this job. The fact that she's a woman is an additional plus but it's her suitability as the next Fed chairman that I think people should concentrate on.
"It could be that in a few years the two most important positions in the country are filled by women," says Mr Rose.
So what's Janet Yellen like when she's not worrying about quantitative easing and unemployment statistics?
"She's a shy person, but she can also be extremely funny. She likes a glass of wine and is an extremely good cook - her speciality is lamb chops," says Prof Rose.
And for someone taking on such a huge role as Fed chairman, she has shown that she doesn't panic during a crisis situation.
"We were in the same room during the huge 1989 earthquake which hit San Francisco," Prof Rose recalls.
"We thought the building was going to collapse and I was convinced we were going to die. But Janet just stayed remarkably calm during the whole thing." | Workers in the US retire on average at the age of 61. |
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It can only be The Super Bowl.
Originally an opportunity for reporters to interview players and coaches, 'media day' has morphed into a prime-time money-spinner in America, aka 'Opening Night'.
And the build-up to Sunday's NFL showpiece between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers started in surreal style as around 200 TV cameras from across the globe turned up in San Jose...
"It's all in preparation, folks," the Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton told a crowd of reporters at Monday's event.
Tipped as the new 'face' of the NFL, Newton added: "My father taught me proper preparation prevents poor performances. Those are the words that I live by, especially in big moments."
All lenses and microphones pointed to Peyton Manning when the Denver Broncos quarterback arrived.
Rumours have been circulating about the possibility of the five-time most valuable player retiring, but he remained coy on his future during interviews in San Jose.
"I haven't made up my mind, but I don't see myself knowing that until after the season," said the 39-year-old, who will be the oldest quarterback to play in a Super Bowl.
"Whatever cliche you want to use, I kind of stay in the moment and focus on the task at hand and just deal with this week. That's what I've done all season." | A dancing Miss Universe, a pumped-up leprechaun and an American footballer impersonating one of WWE's masked superstars. |
34412956 | The Nigerian military has been in overdrive in trying to control the narrative of its war against Boko Haram in recent weeks.
It says it has cornered the jihadists and the conflict will soon be over - in line with its mandate from President Muhammadu Buhari to end the crisis by mid-November.
Boko Haram's eccentric frontman Abubakar Shekau has not appeared in a video since February, when he threatened to disrupt the elections.
The following month he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group (IS) in an audio message and since IS also reached out to their Nigerian counterpart, Shekau has taken a back seat.
Shekau has released similar audio clips to disprove reports about his death, although the fact that he is not visible leaves room for speculation among the army that they have killed him, as they have claimed on several occasions.
His retreat from the forefront signifies that Boko Haram, also known as IS West Africa Province, now takes orders from the further up the IS hierarchy.
Nonetheless, there was recently room for another message to once again defy the Nigerian government, which sparked the realisation in the military that this game of cat-and-mouse was going nowhere.
Defence spokesman Colonel Rabe Abubakar described Shekau as "irrelevant" and urged Nigerians "not to lose sleep over the concocted audio rhetoric of the waning terrorist sect which is a usual antic of a drowning person struggling to hold on to anything to remain afloat".
Overall, Boko Haram's propaganda campaign has waned since the beginning of the year, when it used social media to promote sleek videos showing speeches and attacks.
The latest video, released to coincide with the Eid al-Adha festival in late September, is poorly produced and appears to show fighters praying but there is no indication of how recent all the footage is.
It has been two years since the US placed a $7m (£4.5m) bounty on Shekau's head but neither he nor his top commanders have been found.
As long as that is not achieved, the group will be able to rethink its strategy, recruit, rearm and develop new methods of operating.
The jihadists have shown that they can continue to inflict significant damage even with few but deadly explosions.
In one recent triple attack, they killed more than 100 people in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, where they were formed in 2002.
Using football to tackle Boko Haram
Who are Boko Haram?
The global concern for the missing Chibok schoolgirls still gives Boko Haram a bargaining chip.
The news of their abduction grabbed the world's attention in a way the deaths of thousands before were unable to.
The resulting scrutiny, as well as criticism from human rights organisations, means that the Nigerian military has taken a more cautious approach to the conflict than it did in the early days, when there were frequent allegations that the military was involved in widespread human rights abuses.
The new chain of command means that it is now more difficult than ever before for the insurgent group to agree to dialogue with the government
As the conflict escalated, Nigeria needed cooperation from its neighbours to secure the borders but this would inevitably come at a cost for Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
Each of these allies has now been attacked, as the IS militants look to extend their reach in West Africa.
Nigeria remains a priority for the Islamist fighters but what was initially a local conflict is changing.
If indeed Boko Haram is defeated in Nigeria, the fact that the group is now part of a wider international network means the campaign of violence could escalate in the neighbouring countries, particularly Chad and Niger, which have broader expanses of land, far more porous borders and are closer to Libya, where IS began its expansion in Africa.
For now, the coalition of the African Union-backed Multinational Joint Task Force should be reminded that a wane in the intensity of Boko Haram attacks says little about the strength of the group as a whole.
While aiming to end the conflict, President Buhari should learn from the mistakes of his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, who gave a series of failed deadlines to defeat the militants.
Mr Buhari's government, like many Nigerians, will be hoping for a speedy resolution but by now they know better than to be naive. | Nigeria predicts that Boko Haram will soon be defeated, but the militant group's ties with Islamic State mean that would probably push the fighters further into neighbouring countries, writes BBC Monitoring Africa security correspondent Tomi Oladipo. |
34700044 | Shauna Hoare, who denies murder, told Bristol Crown Court messages sent to Nathan Matthews were "unfortunate".
The 16-year-old's remains were found in a shed in Bristol in March.
Ms Hoare's boyfriend Mr Matthews has admitted killing and dismembering his stepsister, but denies murder and conspiracy to kidnap.
The prosecution's William Mousley, QC, asked Miss Hoare if it was just an "unfortunate coincidence that you and Nathan were talking about kidnapping a girl and bringing her back to the house" in text messages months before Becky was killed.
Ms Hoare replied: "I don't think it necessarily was a coincidence... It was just extremely unfortunate."
She also told the court it was "bad timing" she showed Mr Matthews a parody video on YouTube called Do You Want to Hide a Body the day after Becky went missing.
The accused was asked if it "just happened" that she was not in the house when Becky was attacked, that she came inside from the garden just after Mr Matthews moved Becky's body to the boot of his car, and that when the body was being dismembered she did not "see, hear or smell anything suspicious?".
Ms Hoare agreed she was with Mr Matthews for most of the time over that period, but said there were explanations why DNA attributable to her had been found on two bags and a face mask found in the shed where Becky's body parts were hidden because they had previously been in her house.
"You thought you could get away with it," said Mr Mousley.
"I didn't have anything to get away with," Ms Hoare replied.
"Are you just very unlucky?," Mr Mousley asked.
"Yes," said Ms Hoare.
Earlier, Ms Hoare told the jury she had heard Mr Matthews using a circular saw for 15 to 20 minutes on Sunday 22 February, three days after she disappeared.
Responding to questions from Andrew Langdon QC, defending, she said she assumed her boyfriend was doing "a boring job" in the bathroom and "just left him to it."
Ms Hoare also told the court it was a "complete shock" when she was arrested after the disappearance of Becky.
Mr Matthews, 28, of Hazelbury Drive, Warmley, south Gloucestershire, admits perverting the course of justice, preventing lawful burial and possessing a prohibited weapon.
Ms Hoare, 21, of Cotton Mill Lane, Bristol, denies murder and conspiracy to kidnap, a weapons charge, perverting the course of justice and preventing a burial.
Two other men, Donovan Demetrius, 29, and James Ireland, 23, deny assisting an offender.
The trial continues. | The woman accused of murdering Becky Watts said texts she exchanged with her boyfriend about kidnapping schoolgirls were "just extremely sarcastic". |
39001880 | Holmes' time of two minutes 32.96 seconds has stood since 2004, the year she won 800m and 1500m Olympic golds.
"It will be tough, but I've everything going for me," said Muir, 23.
"I'm in great shape, hopefully the pacing will be good for me, I'll have a home crowd and a quick track, so fingers crossed it will go well."
Muir has broken two records already this year - the European 3000m indoor record and the British 5000m indoor record, the latter held for 25 years by Liz McColgan.
Last summer, she broke Holmes' 1500m record at the Anniversary Games in London before beating her own time in Paris.
She said of her 2017 feats: "I knew I was in great shape and it was just a matter of putting it on the paper.
"We're still in the heavy training phase so hopefully by the summer I can sharpen up and be even quicker."
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Muir's coach Andy Young told BBC Radio Scotland on Friday that she has been "looking great in training this week" and "she is more than capable of going inside that mark".
In fact, Young reckons if things go well his charge could even lower Maria Mutola's world indoor mark of 2:30.94.
"Assuming that the pacemaker is spot on and the rest of the competitors don't trip her up, I'm pretty confident that she should be able to get inside the British record," Young said. "Looking at how fast she was going on Monday the world record might just be a possibility too.
"It's a mark of confidence as to how well she's been going that it's something we thought she could do and that it would create a bit of excitement, letting the crowd get behind her.
"She has already broken so many British records over the past six to eight months, I think it's realistic. If I didn't think she was capable of it I think we'd have kept it under our hats."
Young emphasised that Muir's main focus this season is the World Championships in London, and the 23-year-old would clearly love to hit peak form at the place where she first took the 1500m record.
"It was extra special when I broke the 1500m record for the first time because that was in the Olympic stadium with a home crowd," she said.
"I still can't believe I ran that time; it's pretty crazy quick. I'm delighted with it.
"To be racing there again at the London World Championships is going to be so exciting because the crowd is phenomenal."
While Muir relishes targeting a record, medals remain her priority.
"For me it's always the medals," she said. "Breaking records is great but you always want the medals to keep in that cabinet." | Dundee Hawkhill Harrier Laura Muir feels well prepared for a tilt at Kelly Holmes' 1000m British indoor record in Birmingham on Saturday. |
20222086 | The move will allow people to share their pictures via PCs rather than just iOS and Android-powered smartphones and tablets.
Facebook said the facility would make it easier for users to discover each others' photos.
But privacy campaigners have raised concerns about the implications.
As might be expected, Instagram's new web-based profiles resemble the design of Facebook's pages.
They feature a profile image and short biography of each user above a grid showing their recent photo uploads.
For the time being members will only be able to view and download images from the service.
"Instagram is focused on the production of photos from mobile devices so users are not currently able to upload from the web," Facebook said in a statement.
Despite this limitation the move should help boost the service's popularity by making it accessible to more people than before.
That, in turn, might make Facebook's environment more appealing to marketers. The firm highlights Nike's Instagram web profile as an example of the new feature at work.
Since its launch in 2010, Instagram has gained more than 100 million registered users, becoming one of the most popular social media services.
Facebook bought the app using its own shares. They were worth about $1bn (£625m) at the time, although they have since fallen in value.
The company has been keen to stress that users can restrict who has access to their uploads.
But Nick Pickles, from Big Brother Watch, expressed concern that the facility would make it easier for users to copy and spread potentially embarrassing photos allowing them to go viral.
"A web-based service makes it easier to collect lots of information about people using the service and also makes it easier for people to share photos their friends post," he said.
"Clearly both of these issues raise privacy questions, and time will tell if the company really has any desire to address them." | Instagram, a photo-sharing app recently purchased by social network Facebook, has extended from mobile devices to the web. |
37687951 | We've put together the seven deadly sins of internet use.
1. Pointless passwords
You use the same password for everything. Why waste valuable brain power? It's easy, isn't it? Maybe it is your name. Hard to forget that one.
Maybe it's your mum's name - her maiden name, you're clever eh?
And if you really are tired and stuck with all those passwords, why not go for that old faithful, yes, that's it: "PASSWORD". Every sucker's favourite.
Couldn't be easier and a million fraudsters across the world are sitting licking their lips, rubbing their hands together and primed to help themselves to all your worldly goods.
You never, ever update your software... and certainly not your virus software.
It's such a pain when that little box pops up. It's like your mother going on and on and on about cleaning up your bedroom when you have much better things to be doing on Tinder.
Nag, nag, nag, says the little box. Switch it off, why don't you?
But, like the tidying bedroom, you know you'll feel better when you sort it out.
You over-share.
You're on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter - you even have an old Bebo account . You have 100,000 friends and you want to hug them all.
But tell them your date of birth, your mother's maiden name or the moniker of your cute cuddly pooch at your own risk.
Ask yourself... who's reading this? Keep asking.
That webcam. Turn it off.
George Orwell wrote 1984 years before Steve Jobs was a twinkle in his daddy's eye. But he knew the dangers. Big Brother is always watching.
When you're sitting there surfin' in your old jammies and dressing gown with a bucket of popcorn by your side, be very afraid. You are never really alone. Somebody out there could be watching.
Channel your inner Robert de Niro... "Are you lookin' at me? Are you lookin' at me?"Always assume somebody, somewhere is.
Turn off the camera or cover it up. Even Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, tapes up his webcam and mic! If it's good enough for him...
You've won a prize. You've won a big, big prize. You've won a lottery in Nigeria.
Lady Luck is smiling on you. All you have to do is hand over your bank details so they can send the lolly.
Honestly? What planet are you on?
Right so, Ted!
That strange email that popped into your in-box - It's got a good mate's name on it.
She's dying to share something really really funny with you - like that video of the robot vacuum cleaner that hit the dog dirt and boldly went all over the house with it or the cute cats playing pat-a-cake in French.
Come on ... you know you want to. But what really lurks behind that link?
Your finger hovers. You pause.
There's something not quite right about it. But hey, you've got an itch that needs scratched.
You click... the words tumble off your computer screen, letter by letter by letter.
It's Armageddon for you in cyberspace and Bruce Willis is off out somewhere Dying Hard or getting a hair cut.
You have been warned.
Approaching a computer late at night with a drink in one hand and a credit card in the other is so not a good look.
Wake up the next day and that nuclear bunker in Ballymena could be yours... really.
Or there's always the Tornado fighter jet - one for the lads' night out.
Personally, I'm in love with the big Chieftain tank, but the neighbours might not share the love. | Are you an angel polishing your virtual halo in cyberspace or a devil on the D-drive? |
32503702 | The Cheeki Rafiki crew had diverted the vessel after it began taking on water last May but contact was then lost.
Days later the hull of the 40ft yacht was found with its life raft still on board. There was no sign of the crew.
The vessel may have been weakened by previous groundings and subsequent repairs, the MAIB report has said.
Skipper Andrew Bridge, 22, from Farnham in Surrey, was lost in the disaster along with crew members James Male, 22, from Romsey, Steve Warren, 52, from Bridgwater in Somerset, and Paul Goslin, 56, from West Camel in Somerset.
They were returning from Antigua Sailing Week to Southampton when they capsized approximately 720 miles (1,160km) east-south-east of Nova Scotia in Canada.
An air and sea search mission covered hundreds of miles east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts but was eventually called off.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said the cause remained "a matter of some speculation" in the absence of survivors and material evidence.
"However, it is concluded that Cheeki Rafiki capsized and inverted following a detachment of its keel," says the report.
"In the absence of any apparent damage to the hull or rudder other than that directly associated with keel detachment, it is unlikely that the vessel had struck a submerged object.
"Instead, a combined effect of previous groundings and subsequent repairs to its keel and matrix (or lining) had possibly weakened the vessel's structure where the keel was attached to the hull."
It said one or more keel bolts may have deteriorated and it was "probable that the crew were fatigued and their performance was impaired accordingly".
Since the disaster the yacht's operator, Stormforce Coaching Ltd, said it had made changes to its internal policies and taken a number of actions aimed at preventing a recurrence.
A Stormforce spokesman added: "We have worked fully with the MAIB on its thorough investigation into the loss of Cheeki Rafiki and her four crew Andy, James, Paul and Steve.
"Our thoughts continue to be with the families following this tragic accident."
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has been working with the Royal Yachting Association to clarify the requirements for the stowage of inflatable life rafts on such vessels."
Kay Coombes, the sister of sailor Steve Warren, said: "We hope the safety recommendations are implemented by the sailing industry to help prevent a similar tragedy in the future.
"We now await the findings of the Maritime Coastal Agency investigation, which we hope will provide further clarity regarding the incident.
"This is a very difficult time for all the families involved, especially as we approach the first anniversary of the incident."
In a statement, Paul Goslin's wife, Cressida, said she also hoped the safety recommendations would be adopted.
She added: "However, implementing safety recommendations should not detract from the fact that four much-loved men have lost their lives in avoidable circumstances.
"Anyone reading the report on the MAIB website will be able to draw their own conclusions as to the causes of the accident but it is important to remember that the remit of the MAIB is specifically not to apportion blame.
"I am now awaiting the findings of the MCA investigation which is due soon and has a much wider scope. This will determine if they intend to bring any legal action against the parties involved."
David Bridge, whose son Andrew was skippering the yacht, said today's "no fault" report showed its loss "could have been avoided".
Like the other two bereaved relatives, he also hoped the recommendations in the report would be put into place.
Mr Bridge added: "It's factual and they've put down everything that they've found out."
Darren Williams, spokesman for another of the crew's relatives, said Graham Male, who lost his son when the yacht capsized, would not be giving interviews today. | A yacht that capsized leaving four UK sailors missing in the North Atlantic may have been affected by structural weaknesses, a report has said. |
29384632 | Members will also be working to rule and adhering to a 37.5 hour week between 13 October and 9 November.
Earlier this week, the Unison union said its members would go on strike on the 13th between 07.00 and 11.00.
Unions are angry with the government over its 1% pay rise offer for NHS health workers.
This does not apply to those who get automatic, on-the-job pay increases, which are given to about half of staff and are worth 3% a year on average.
The decision by ministers went against the recommendation of the independent pay review board, which called for an across-the-board rise.
Unite members in Northern Ireland will be striking between 11.00 and 15.00 on 13 October. | Unite members working in the health service in England will join a four-hour strike on 13 October, the union has said. |
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Peaty won the 100m breaststroke in a world-leading 58.41 seconds, with Ross Murdoch second and James Wilby third.
Peaty told BBC Sport: "There's no better feeling."
World silver medallist James Guy (400m freestyle) and Hannah Miley (400m individual medley) won their events in Rio qualification times.
Welsh swimmer Jazmin Carlin claimed victory in the 200m freestyle final ahead of Eleanor Faulkner and rising star Georgia Coates.
Carlin's time was not quick enough for a guaranteed individual Rio place, but should be enough for the 4x200m freestyle relay team.
Her main events - 400m and 800m - are later in the week.
Peaty set a world record in the event at last year's British championships in London but has plotted a different strategy this season.
"My coach and I were looking at doing it differently and peak for later in the year, so hopefully there are quicker times to come at the Olympics," he said.
Murdoch's time of 59.31 secs is likely to be enough for Rio 2016 selection, but the world championship bronze medallist will return for the 200m competition on Friday.
Guy had to be taken off poolside while he was physically sick following the 400m freestyle final, which he completed in three minutes 43.84 seconds.
"It was a great swim and I'm so happy to qualify for the Games, but it definitely hurt towards the end and I was sick everywhere," Guy told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Scotland's Miley booked a place at her third Olympics after moving clear of long-time English rival Aimee Wilmott in the closing stages to finish in four minutes 33.40 seconds.
She said: "It's always great to come here and was really pushed by Aimee and I owe her a lot for making me get that time."
British swimmers will be nominated for Rio 2016 selection after the trials with the British Olympic Association [BOA] due to ratify the Team GB squad later this month. | World champion Adam Peaty secured his place at the Rio Olympics with gold at the British Swimming Championships in Glasgow. |
35874185 | Jermaine McGillvary put Giants ahead, before Wildcats opened up an 18-6 lead through Tom Johnstone, Michael Sio and Reece Lyne.
Two Jake Connor tries and a Danny Brough penalty tied the scores before Max Jowitt put Wakefield back in front.
Aaron Murphy replied but Johnstone and Nick Scruton went over to hand Wildcats head coach Chris Chester his first win.
Chester, who was appointed following Brian Smith's resignation, took charge of his first home game with his side having lost 22-4 away at Hull FC last week.
But it was Huddersfield who began the brighter as Leroy Cudjoe found McGillvary on the wing and Brough converted.
Wildcats produced a stirring response as they crossed the whitewash three times only to be pegged back.
Jowitt's superb sidestep gave Wakefield the advantage as the game became scrappy and both Huddersfield's Larne Patrick and the hosts' Mickael Simon were sent to the sin-bin.
Giants replied through Murphy, but Brough missed the conversion to draw his side level and Johnstone and Scruton claimed the victory for the Wildcats.
The defeat means Huddersfield, who reached the Super League semi-finals last season, sit bottom of the table having recorded just one win all season.
Wakefield coach Chris Chester:
"Over the 80 minutes I thought we were the better side - we set the tone early doors, played some decent football, threw the ball around and defended our own line well.
"They have some quality players and we knew it would be a grind and it wasn't until the last six or seven minutes that the game finally went away from Huddersfield.
"Tom Johnstone (who scored two tries) looked good and young Max Jowitt had a fantastic game.
"There was bags of effort from everyone and collectively we worked hard for each other. From one to 17 the attitude was first class."
Huddersfield head coach Paul Anderson:
"We're in hole and we are where we are for a reason because we just aren't good enough at the moment.
"The one thing we must do is stick together and work hard because ultimately it's effort that gets you through and gets wins.
"I'm very disappointed - it's a tough one to take. It's only so long you can keep saying when we get this back and that back... the reality is we've got to stop talking and start doing.
"We'll be in (training) tomorrow because we have some questions to ask."
Wakefield: Jowitt, Lyne, Arundel, Gibson, Johnstone, Miller, Finn, Scruton, Moore, England, Kirkmond, Ashurst, Sio.
Replacements: Simon, Annakin, Howarth, Molloy.
Huddersfield: Simpson, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Connor, Murphy, Brough, Brierley, Huby, Wood, Rapira, Ta'ai, Lawrence, Hinchcliffe.
Replacements: Patrick, Johnson, Leeming, Mason. | Wakefield recorded their second victory of the season to leave Huddersfield bottom of the Super League table. |
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12 September 2014 Last updated at 09:31 BST
The African lions had been hidden away in their den being cared for by their mother, Oshana, at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in California.
But on Thursday Ernest, Evelyn, Marion and Miss Ellen went out to the main enclosure.
Keepers say the cubs follow their mum around at the moment but sometimes run off to play in grass or climb rocks. | Four lion cubs have been shown off to the public for the first time since their birth on 22 June. |
24527339 | Former Cpl Mark Byles said some Iraqi prisoners were hooded with sandbags.
He said he saw well over 20 Iraqis dead on the battlefield and had killed "a handful" himself by rifle fire.
The Al-Sweady inquiry is examining claims - denied by the Ministry of Defence - that troops mistreated and unlawfully killed Iraqi detainees.
After his deployment to Iraq, the former corporal was awarded the Military Cross for "immense professionalism under fire" and bravery in leading an assault on an enemy position.
However, his experiences during the war had a major impact on the soldier's life, and he left the Army in 2008 suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Appearing via video link, Mr Byles said he had never spoken to the Sun, and had not killed up to 20 Iraqis as it reported - but that an account of his role in the battle in the Sunday Times had been accurate: "I could see some dead bodies and (four) blokes, some scrambling for their weapons. I've never seen such a look of fear in anyone's eyes before.
"I'm over six feet, I was covered in sweat, angry, red in the face, charging in with a bayonet and screaming my head off. You would be scared too."
He told the inquiry that he had taken the decision to fix bayonets, even though there had been no explicit order to do so, and used his rifle to kill several Iraqi insurgents pointing weapons at him.
However, Mr Byles insisted that he had not witnessed "any mistreatment of the Iraqi dead on the battlefield or in the vehicles".
"They were all treated with respect. All the injuries looked sustained from battle," he said.
Iraqi witnesses have claimed at the inquiry that some Iraqis were taken alive from the battlefield but later killed at a British camp outside Majar-al-Kabir in southern Iraq, an allegation denied by the military witnesses.
Towards the end of the fight, as he stormed a trench, Mr Byles admitted that he had to use force on the enemy "to get them to surrender".
He told the inquiry that he had had to use his fists and the back of his rifle because "they were standing up in the trench at the time, being violent, aggressive, still armed, wouldn't put the weapons down.
"I had to get them down onto the ground to prevent ourselves from getting shot, myself from getting shot and the others from getting shot," he said.
Mr Byles said detainees had initially had sandbags put over their heads, and were put in plastic handcuffs.
He said he did not recall any instruction saying that sandbags were not to be used to deprive prisoners of their sight.
He also described being issued with radios that could not communicate with one another, or on the frequencies provided, a point made by many of the British soldiers at the inquiry.
In 2005, Mark Byles's address was found on a potential "hit-list" compiled by market stall-holder Abu Mansha from Thamesmead in south-east London.
The trader was jailed for six years, and the court heard that he had singled out Cpl Byles after reading a story in the Sun newspaper describing how the soldier had led a bayonet charge in which he killed "up to 20" Iraqi insurgents.
The former soldier is one of more than 200 witnesses giving evidence to the inquiry in the run-up to Christmas. It is due to report back next year.
The public inquiry was set up in 2010 and is named after one of the Iraqi men, 19-year-old Hamid al-Sweady, who is alleged to have been unlawfully killed while being held after the battle.
Specifically, the inquiry is examining claims that 20 or more Iraqis were unlawfully killed at Camp Abu Naji military base on 14 and 15 May 2004 after being taken prisoner during the battle, and that several other detainees were ill-treated after capture. | A UK soldier decorated for bravery in the 2004 Iraq battle of Danny Boy has told an inquiry prisoners he held were not mistreated. |
36662636 | Former PricewaterhouseCoopers employees Antoine Deltour and Raphael Halet received 12 and nine-month sentences respectively for leaking documents.
Prosecutors had sought 18-month jail terms for the two men.
Edouard Perrin, a journalist who reported on the leaks, was acquitted of all charges.
Deltour, 31, and Halet, 40, also received suspended fines of €1,500 (£1,250; $1,650) and €1,000 respectively.
They have 40 days to appeal against the verdict. Deltour told Agence France-Presse that he intended to do so.
The prosecution accused Deltour and Halet of theft and said they violated a confidentiality agreement in their employment contract with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
The two men faced a maximum sentence of 10 years.
The 30,000 pages of documents leaked by the whistleblowers exposed favourable tax arrangements offered by Luxembourg to some of the world's biggest companies - including Apple, Ikea, and Pepsi - while Jean-Claude Juncker, now head of the European Commission, was prime minister.
Prosecutors accused Mr Perrin of going beyond the remit of a journalist, alleging that he manipulated Halet into releasing the information.
Representing Mr Perrin, defence lawyer Roland Michel argued that the journalist had done nothing wrong.
"My client has done only done one thing - reveal the truth. To condemn him would be immoral and contrary to our rights," he said.
It is now five years since I travelled to Paris to meet French journalist Edouard Perrin. I'd been tipped that he had a huge cache of secret tax agreements between multinational companies and the Luxembourg tax authorities.
The data had been leaked to Edouard Perrin by an insider at accountancy firm, PWC. A year later we broke the story with a BBC Panorama programme in conjunction with a film for France2 made by Edouard Perrin.
Two years later the same data received wider coverage after an international investigation of the data organised by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
But despite the revelations prompting parliamentary debates, select committee hearings, and an EU probe into anti-competitive tax deals, it is the two former employees of PWC and Edouard Perrin who ended up in the dock.
Although they have been given suspended sentences, the guilty verdicts for the two former PWC employees are likely to increase calls for more robust protections for whistleblowers.
And despite Mr Perrin's acquittal, the fact that a journalist was prosecuted at all is likely to leave others in the media wondering whether they might be prosecuted for working with leaked data, no matter how clear the public interest.
French media organisations and rights groups including Oxfam France and French-based anti-capitalist group Attac criticised the prosecution of the three men.
Attac called the verdict "a true scandal" and said it was a victory for multinational companies.
The "Luxleaks" documents were originally used for a 2012 report on French public television in collaboration with the BBC's Panorama and Private Eye magazine. They gained international interest in 2014 with a huge dump of all 30,000 pages into the public domain.
The leak was the biggest expose of corporate tax deals until last month's publication of the Panama Papers, which revealed links between a number of international leaders and offshore shell companies that can be used to hide or launder wealth. | Two whistleblowers have been found guilty in the so-called "Luxleaks" tax scandal and given suspended sentences, while a journalist has been acquitted. |
26671339 | Zero Waste Scotland's Good to Go initiative aims to reduce the stigma of asking to take leftovers home.
The body's research shows most diners would like to see doggy bags offered in restaurants, but are too embarrassed to ask for them.
Figures show that the equivalent of one in six restaurant meals is thrown away.
Iain Gulland, director of Zero Waste Scotland, said: "Over 53,000 tonnes of food is thrown away in restaurants in Scotland each year, which is not only a huge waste of money, it's also a huge waste of good food and the energy and water that went into producing it."
He added: "Research shows that most people want to take leftovers home to enjoy later, but are embarrassed to ask, so the Good to Go pilot is all about making it a normal, mainstream thing to do."
The initiative is being piloted at 11 restaurants in Glasgow, Edinburgh, East Kilbride and Irvine.
Those participating include Two Fat Ladies at the Buttery, Cafe Gandolfi and Mother India in Glasgow and The Edinburgh Larder Bistro.
Branding will be on display in the restaurants to promote the availability of the take-home containers.
The scheme was launched at Two Fat Ladies at the Buttery.
The restaurant's owner Ryan James, chairman of the Glasgow Restaurant Association, said: "What we're trying to do is break through that embarrassment barrier and encourage people to take their food waste home with them and reuse it."
He added: "As a restaurateur I'm obviously passionate about amazing food so I'm delighted to support anything that helps to ensure as little as possible ends up needlessly going to waste."
The pilot will run until 25 May and research will be carried out to investigate the impact and determine if it will be rolled out nationwide.
Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "It's remarkable that the equivalent of one in six meals served in restaurants is thrown away.
"We want to reduce this, not only to make the most of the food we pay for when we're eating out but also to help the environment."
Zero Waste Scotland, funded by the Scottish government, works to maximise the effects of Scotland's resources such as energy and water. | A scheme which aims to cut food waste from restaurants by offering branded "doggy bags" has been launched in four towns and cities. |
40460637 | Researchers found prisoners completing the programme were slightly more likely to offend than a control group.
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) replaced the scheme in March after research confirmed evidence of its weaknesses.
The main programme to psychologically treat the highest-risk offenders has also been replaced, the ministry said.
The MOJ confirmed the change in treating sex offenders following publication on Friday of its own study which suggested the Core Sex Offender Treatment Programme (SOTP) could be making the situation worse.
The scheme, designed to challenge the behaviour of male sex offenders with psychological techniques to change their thinking, was first approved in 1992.
Researchers followed what happened to 2,562 prisoners who took part in the 180 hours of group sessions before their later release from prison.
They then compared their behaviour over the following years with more than 13,000 comparable offenders.
"More treated sex offenders committed at least one sexual re-offence [excluding breach of conditions of release] during the follow-up period when compared with the matched comparison offenders (10% compared with 8%)," said the study.
"More treated sex offenders committed at least one child image re-offence when compared with the matched comparison offenders (4.4% compared with 2.9 %).
"The results suggest that while Core SOTP in prisons is generally associated with little or no changes in sexual and non-sexual reoffending ... the small changes in the sexual reoffending rate suggest that either Core SOTP does not reduce sexual reoffending as it intends to do, or that the true impact of the programme was not detected.
"Group treatment may 'normalise' individuals' behaviour. When stories are shared, their behaviour may not be seen as wrong or different; or at worst, contacts and sources associated with sexual offending may be shared."
An earlier version of the scheme, in place in 2000, had appeared to reduce the offending of medium-risk men.
But a study seven years later, after Core SOTP had been expanded, suggested the sessions had become too generic and based around a "detailed manual", rather than tailored to each offender.
The Ministry of Justice began to review the schemes in 2010 amid emerging evidence of what was working - and concerns about SOTP's effectiveness. On Friday it confirmed it had replaced Core SOTP in March - a decision that was not announced at the time - and the extended version of the scheme for high-risk offenders in March.
Offenders who would have originally taken part in those schemes were now on programmes called "Horizon" and "Kaizen". While the new schemes still involve group sessions, the inmates are no longer required to discuss their own offences.
Horizon, aimed at medium-risk offenders, aims to teach them "to manage unhealthy sexual thoughts and behaviours" and make other positive changes to their lives.
Kaizen, a Japanese word used in business to refer to continual improvements in performance, is focused on the highest risk offenders.
"We keep treatment programmes under constant review to reduce reoffending and protect the public," said the statement.
"The treatment of sex offenders is a complex issue, subject to international scrutiny and research. In the UK, we have been evaluating our Sex Offender Treatment Programmes since before 2003.
"We have discontinued two of the eight programmes and replaced them with new courses as part of this process. These new programmes will be monitored closely." | The main sex offender treatment programme for England and Wales has been scrapped after a report found it led to more reoffending. |
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