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South Central Ambulance Service said it called in the service from 21 December to ensure it met critical calls.
Fire appliances, with trained trauma technicians and defibrillators onboard, were sent if it was quickest.
In a two-and-a-half week period over Christmas the fire service attended 240 critical calls.
Firefighters responded to a medical call every 30 minutes at peak times and performed CPR on numerous occasions.
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue's chief fire officer Dave Etheridge said: "Our staff have made this transition successfully, from the call handling to arriving at scene and assessing the patient up to the final handover to ambulance crews."
The fire service, which is continuing to answer ambulance calls, said sharing responsibilities had not affected its ability to tackle its own emergencies. | Fire engines have been used to respond to emergency ambulance call outs in Oxfordshire following a surge in demand over the Christmas period. | 30724426 |
This is because one extra second was added to the minute from 11:59pm to 12:00am on New Year's Eve, making the last minute of 2016 last for 61 seconds.
This is called a leap second, and we've done this since 1972, so that the time on our watches matches how the Earth is rotating.
To find out more about exactly why we have leap seconds in the first place, click here.
But what might you do with the extra time? A lot can happen in a second!
Lightning could strike 6 times, the ISS can travel 7,700m around the Earth and a bee can beat its wings 270 times.
Check out Newsround's ideas...
See how many times you can blink. We wonder how many times this tiger managed!?
Feeling fancy? Why don't you see how many times you can WINK?
Toss a coin. Have a little bet with yourself - heads or tails. Did you get it right?!
Look at this picture of a squirrel who can't quite believe that 2016 was a second longer than normal.
Push the off button! Go on, get outside.
Say cheese!
Strike a pose. It only takes one second to channel your inner superhero!
Click on the word 'Newsround' above and explore what other stories are going on in the world!
Get some extra sleep. The extra second has been added in the middle of the night, so you could use it to get some extra shut-eye! | 2016 was a second longer than everyone might have expected. | 38289805 |
The move follows a decision to award additional payments to prison officers but not to other staff.
The majority of officers are men and the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) said that not extending the payments amounted to discrimination.
The PCS said "Our women members' jobs have been rated independently as equal, so pay should be equally rewarded."
Prison officers will receive an extra £1,000 this year and another £1,000 next year on top of annual pay awards.
The payments were sanctioned by senior Scottish government ministers, including finance secretary Derek Mackay and justice secretary Michael Matheson.
The move will cost the prison service £3.7m in each year.
Similar payments were made in 2015 at a cost of £7.4m.
The women who are claiming discrimination work for the prison service in areas including administration, psychological services, HR, payroll, IT and procurement.
PCS national officer for Scotland, Lynn Henderson, said "These payments have been made despite there being no change in the role of the prison officers.
"It is scandalous that the Scottish government has knowingly sanctioned discriminatory treatment of hard-working women workers in our prisons.
"It flies in the face of their own Fair Work Principles which include the need for equality." | Almost 100 female workers have filed sex discrimination and equal pay claims against the Scottish Prison Service. | 40379643 |
There has been a public disagreement this week between the Stormont expenses watchdog, the Independent Financial Review Panel (IRFP) and the cross-party group which manages the Assembly.
The panel says the Assembly Commission was wrong to pay £150 000 in expenses to a company which Sinn Féin MLAs had claimed for on the basis that it was doing research.
In response, the commission insisted it had applied the panel's rules correctly.
However, on Thursday night in a statement to the BBC, the panel again rejected the commission's position.
The IRFP said: "It remains the panel's view that these expenses should not have been claimed and should not have been paid."
The statement also said that it is incorrect to suggest the panel "made a mistake" in a ruling of March 2012 and "sought to amend it" in another determination in December 2012.
The assembly has claimed that the payments of £150 000, which were made between April and December 2012, were allowed because the contract for the work pre-dated the ruling.
But the IRFP has said: "The panel is absolutely clear that its March 2012 determination allowed MLAs to employ staff to provide research and/or secretarial services, but that that determination did not allow MLAs to seek payment for contracts with third-party providers for such services." | The panel that sets MLAs' allowances has said it believes it did not make a mistake in a ruling in 2012 which is at the centre of a row over expenses. | 35609589 |
Paul McCauley was attacked in 2006 by a mob at a barbecue in the Waterside. He has never regained consciousness.
His father, Jim, said the family felt the apology was an admission by police that there were failings in the case.
Only one person has ever been brought to justice.
Daryl Proctor, is serving a 12-year term for grievous bodily harm over the attack.
Addressing the McCauley family at a policing board meeting in the city on Wednesday, Chief Constable George Hamilton said: "It's a tragic devastating story and I'm sorry that not more people have been brought to justice for the suffering that your son and your family have had to endure over the last eight years."
Mr McCauley told BBC Radio Foyle's News at One programme that he felt the apology showed that Mr Hamilton was "quite informed" about his son's case.
"He knew exactly what he was talking about and it also showed strength of the man," he said.
"He was quite happy to apologise for the failing within his organisation in the early stages of the investigation. We know the case has been passed to a higher grouping, with the serious crime squad now helping the case.
"The police are facing massive frustrations in getting the information that they deserve and that the family deserve to get in order to put people behind bars." | The family of a Londonderry man who was left in a vegetative state after a violent sectarian attack have said they appreciate an apology by the PSNI chief constable. | 29938856 |
New Zealander Coman, 28, has been with Edinburgh for three seasons after moving from Hawke's Bay Magpies.
The back row led Edinburgh to last season's European Challenge Cup final and played two seasons of Super Rugby for the Wellington Hurricanes.
"Having spoken to Tom Coventry and seeing where he wants to take the club, I was happy to sign," Coman said.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed my time at Edinburgh and will continue to work hard for the remainder of the season."
London Irish head of rugby operations Glenn Delaney added: "The addition of Mike to our squad for next season is a huge coup.
"He's a proven leader and will bring plenty of physicality to our forward pack." | London Irish have secured the signing of Edinburgh captain Mike Coman from next season on a three-year contract. | 35463437 |
9 July 2016 Last updated at 21:34 BST
Williams beats Kerber to win 22nd Grand Slam | Serena Williams spoke about this week's gun attacks in the United States after winning her seventh Wimbledon title on Saturday, describing the situation in her homeland as "very painful". | 36755601 |
10 November 2014 Last updated at 15:23 GMT
The instruments are designed and created by Customuse and have recently been used by indie rock band Klaxons on their latest tour.
Co-founder Mahdi Hosseini came up with the idea after realising his dream of a personalised guitar was financially out of his reach, unless he could get one printed. | Graduates from the University of Sheffield have set up a business making bespoke electric guitars using 3D printer technology. | 29987139 |
One of the four crew of the Louisa was rescued by a lifeboat after swimming for shore and then clinging to rocks.
Two men were found dead and the fourth, who also swam for shore, is missing.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch's examination of the incident is ongoing, while further searches for the missing man are under review.
The boat, which was used for crab fishing, was understood to have taken on water, forcing the crew to abandon ship.
Ch Insp Gordon Macleod from Police Scotland said: "Our thoughts are very much with the families at this time. It is tragic accident for the community to deal with but primarily for the families that are affected. We have officers working with them and keeping them up-to-date with inquiries as they go on.
"We are obviously wanting to establish what has happened here and we are working very closely with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch.
"We will be looking at the safety around the boat and looking to establish what happened that led to this tragic accident."
Finlay MacLeod, superintendent of the Fishermen's Mission in Stornoway, said: "The four crewmen ended up in the water but with the cold and the exposure, hypothermia started to set in and two of them decided to swim to the shore, which they could see.
"During that swimming one of them drifted away from the other and he was lost whilst the other one made it to the shore." | Investigations have been continuing into the sinking of a fishing boat off Mingulay in the Western Isles in the early hours of Saturday morning. | 36014067 |
Atkinson, 19, clinched gold in the women's 200m butterfly, adding to the 50m title she won on Wednesday.
Her winning time of 2 minutes 7.06 secs also secured a consideration time for this summer's World Championships and smashed the Manx record.
"I knew I felt good and it's great to set a time for Budapest," she said.
Her winning time in Thursday's final would have placed her fifth in the women's 200m butterfly final at the Rio Olympics.
Alys Thomas, representing Swansea Aquatics, finished 0.81 seconds down in second with Emily Large third.
Earlier in the week, Atkinson became the first Isle of Man-born swimmer to become British champion by claiming the 50m title.
The Loughborough University student said: "It feels amazing. I was so determined after the 50 to get the 200 and I've still got the 100 on Sunday.
"Going fast in the 50, which isn't my main event, gave me loads of confidence in the 200 - I feel great."
She will attempt to add the 100m title to her collection on Sunday. | Manx teenager Charlotte Atkinson has claimed her second British title in as many days at the British Swimming Championships. | 39666037 |
The girl was lured into a silver hatchback at 08:51 BST on 28 September in Summertown.
She was attacked in the car by two men before escaping, seeking help from residents three hours later in Cavendish Drive, Marston.
No arrests have been made, and 30 police officers are investigating.
The first man is described as white, in his mid-20s, about 6ft (182cm) tall, with short blonde hair, of average build, and speaking with a northern accent. He is thought to have been wearing a grey hoodie and black trousers.
The second man is white, in his late teens, muscular, and was wearing black clothing.
Deputy Superintendent Chris Ward said: "A team of specially-trained officers continues to support the victim and we are working with her to gather further information surrounding the incident." | E-fits of two men suspected of abducting and raping a 14-year-old girl on her way to school in Oxford have been issued by police. | 37620934 |
Sixteen Category One Academies, including many from Premier League clubs, have been included this season.
Portsmouth's board voted against the EFL's proposal in the summer.
"Once the games kick off, we'll all walk out to show our contempt for this decision," Bob Beech from group SOS Pompey told BBC Radio Solent.
"We thought if fans boycotted the games completely, the club would suffer financially through no fault of their own.
"We voted through unanimously at our own meeting to walk out shortly after kick-off."
Traditionally a competition for just League One and League Two clubs and previously known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, the tournament has been expanded to 64 teams.
Portsmouth have been drawn in a group alongside Reading under-21s, Bristol Rovers and Yeovil.
SOS Pompey's opposition to the EFL Trophy has been echoed by other clubs since the new format was confirmed.
Cambridge United chief executive Jez George said the changes may not have gone ahead had EFL clubs known some Premier League sides would reject the invitation to play.
Six clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham, declined the chance to enter under-21 sides. | A Portsmouth supporters group says they plan to walk out of EFL Trophy matches shortly after kick-off in protest at the competition's new format. | 36953689 |
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) said it received a referral on Thursday night after the death of a person in custody in Dundalk.
It said a GSOC team had been deployed and "inquiries are ongoing".
No further details were immediately available. | The death of a man at a police station in Dundalk, County Louth, is being investigated. | 40529122 |
A selection of the best photos from across Africa and of Africans elsewhere in the world this week. | Images courtesy of AFP, EPA, Getty Images and Reuters | 40118373 |
The Hollywood star stepped in after two teenagers on the bike crashed into a car in Richmond, south-west London, on Sunday afternoon.
They ran off before one was grabbed by the Mad Max and Taboo star and the other was arrested by a police officer.
Two 16-year-olds have been arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, police said.
Witness Arun Pullen told The Sun newspaper: "Tom must have been walking down the road.
"He went off like a shot in pursuit and looked furious.
"I asked Tom what happened and he told me he chased him through my back garden and caught him around the block - but the route was like an assault course."
A Richmond Police spokesman said: "We can confirm that there were two people on a stolen moped that went through a red light and crashed into another vehicle.
"The males ran off and one was detained by Tom Hardy.
"Both suspects were initially taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries."
A Metropolitan Police spokesman later clarified the stolen vehicle was a motorbike and that members of the public detained the rider.
One of the arrested teenagers was riding pillion, it added.
The two teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of various motoring offences including taking a vehicle without consent and theft of a motor vehicle, and remain in police custody.
A spokeswoman for the 39-year-old actor, who has also starred in films including The Dark Knight Rises, The Revenant, Inception and Legend, declined to comment.
Hardy has also appeared in BBC TV drama Peaky Blinders and read a bedtime story on the BBC children's channel CBeebies.
Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning | Actor Tom Hardy helped to apprehend a man who had allegedly stolen a motorbike in London, police have said. | 39703528 |
Ronald Barret was seriously injured when his Honda 1300 left the road at 15:30 on Saturday near Glenamour Farm.
He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow for treatment but died on Monday morning.
Police Scotland said investigations into the cause of the crash were still ongoing. | Police have identified a 74-year-old motorcyclist from Lancaster who died in hospital following a crash on the A712 north of Newton Stewart. | 37550349 |
Condor Ferries say it will be a number of days before a normal service can resume between the islands and Poole in England.
The company says its has made some repairs after a problem was found with the exhaust system on Thursday.
A revised timetable will run between Guernsey and Poole until it is fixed.
Jersey chief minister, Senator Ian Gorst said Condor needed to improve its service.
He said: "The government's view is they need to get the problems sorted out and provide the level of service we expect from them."
Condor have drafted in all available staff to help with customer phone lines and apologised to delayed passengers.
A spokesman said: "All passengers are being rebooked as quickly as possible and refreshments are being provided for all disrupted passengers." | Passengers of Channel Island ferry operator Condor face further delays after technical problems with its fast ferry. | 34293063 |
Robert Dowd scored the 100th goal of the tournament before Brendan Brooks struck to double Britain's lead.
Matthew Myers scored twice and Britain defended their advantage in a goalless final period to ensure they ended the competition unbeaten.
It is Britain's first promotion from the World Championship Division 1 Group B since 1993.
Head coach Peter Russell said: "This is the biggest moment of my career and it is a fantastic feeling.
"To do it on home ice in front of so many fantastic supporters really is amazing. Those boys deserve it. They were so focused all week. Nothing fazed them." | Great Britain beat Japan 4-0 to secure promotion to the World Championship Division 1 Group A in Belfast. | 39759857 |
The appeal for funds were made on the government's official Facebook page.
It comes after the European Union said it will withhold more than $2m (£1.3m) of funding for the elections.
There have been weeks of violent protests and a failed coup against President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term.
The plea asks for money "from patriotic citizens to reinforce a culture of democracy based on the choice of the people". It then gives details of a bank account to put the money directly into.
Money to carry out the the elections was already running low as the former colonial power Belgium has also suspended a similar amount to the EU. The EU said it will withhold the money unless "conditions for a free, peaceful and credible election are secured".
In addition, a French diplomat told AFP news agency that France has suspended its security co-operation with the country.
The parliamentary elections were due to be held on Tuesday but have been delayed by 10 days.
Mr Nkurunziza's critics say the third term contravenes the constitution, which requires him to step down after two terms.
Burundi's Constitutional Court says that Mr Nkurunziza's first term does not count because he was elected by parliament and not voters.
10.4m population
50 years - life expectancy for a man
2nd poorest country in the world
85% are Hutu, 14% Tutsi
300,000 died in civil war | Burundi's government has asked its people to donate money to help with controversial elections scheduled for June. | 32886071 |
World number 19 Konta, 25, lost 6-3 6-3 to Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer, who is 30 places below her in the rankings.
Watson, 24, ranked 55th, lost 7-5 6-4 against Czech Barbora Strycova, who has been as high as number 12 in the world but is currently 30th.
Fellow Britons Naomi Broady and Tara Moore were beaten in the first round.
"I've played four very good matches, so I'm really happy with the amount of time I've been able to get on the grass," said Konta.
"However, I need to get used to players coming out and playing at a better level against me and that's inevitable as I climb the rankings."
Watson felt that Strycova handled the distractions of playing on a small court better than she did.
"On the court we were on, I was getting distracted and I don't think my focus was there today," she said.
"I feel like I'm striking the ball really well, there are just a few tweaks that I need to make going into Wimbledon. I'm feeling very optimistic, even though I lost."
The next grass event starts at Eastbourne on Sunday, before Wimbledon begins on 27 June.
Media playback is not supported on this device | British number one Johanna Konta and number two Heather Watson were both knocked out in the second round of the Aegon Classic in Birmingham. | 36562563 |
A National College of Teaching and Leadership panel found Marc Richardson, 34, guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.
The panel heard CCTV footage showed the pair emerging from beneath a stage at Tottington High School, Bury, where he was head of drama.
The married teacher had been previously warned about his behaviour.
In 2012, he sent "inappropriate communications" to another student, whom he said was "too attractive to teach" and asked her to keep quiet. He was given a final written warning by the school in January 2013.
Richardson, who did not attend the hearing, admitted being alone with a student in a room under the stage outside teaching hours in 2014.
He resigned, was arrested and released without charge.
The panel heard he sent messages to the girl, engaging in sexual conversations.
Her mother said she had "niggling feelings" about the teacher when her daughter asked about the contraceptive pill.
Another witness said her friend told her she had "done everything" with her boyfriend, who she admitted was Richardson.
Mark Tweedle, panel chairman, said: "The panel considered it is plain that sexual conversations took place between Pupil B and Mr Richardson, and they contained explicit references to sexual acts between them."
He said Richardson's conduct fell "significantly short of the standards expected of the profession."
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said of the arrest in 2014: "A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of sexual activity with a child and the sexual grooming of a child.
"A full investigation was conducted by the Greater Manchester Police public protection investigation unit and the man was released without charge." | A teacher who had an inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old student could face being struck off. | 34396049 |
Dumfries and Galloway Council is looking at the possibility of acquiring the collection for permanent display.
It would be part of the proposed development of a new art gallery of national significance in the town.
However, the council said raising the funds for the treasure was beyond its means and would need public backing.
The hoard, which was uncovered by a metal detectorist in south west Scotland last September, is said to be one of the most significant finds of Viking treasure ever made in Scotland.
It includes gold and silver artefacts such as armbands, a cross and brooches.
The collection has yet to be valued but is thought to be worth between £500,000 and £1m.
All accredited museums in the UK can apply to the Treasure Trove Unit to bid for ownership.
Dumfries and Galloway Council is working to try to find £100,000 to kick start a public funding appeal.
The authority wants the hoard to be a focal point for ambitious plans - which are seeking Heritage Lottery Fund support - to transform Kirkcudbright town hall into an art gallery.
It is claimed the Viking artefacts would be a considerable draw for visitors and provide a significant boost for the local economy.
However, the local authority is set to face competition for ownership of the hoard with the National Museum of Scotland having indicated that it also intends to bid for the collection.
It has indicated a willingness to loan out the treasure assuming proper security could be put in place. | A public appeal could be launched to help raise up to £1m to bring one of Scotland's most important hoards of Viking treasure to Kirkcudbright. | 33410516 |
Figures show a "spike" in reports of the model, recently the subject of a recall, catching alight, LFB said.
Although other car firms may record more fires over a 12-month period, the upsurge in Zafira-related calls was "more worrying", it said.
Vauxhall said affected cars were made between 2005 and 2007, and faults would have come to light in subsequent years.
More on this story and other news from London
The brigade found no more than 10 Zafira fires a year between 2009 and 2012, but 24 in 2013 alone.
There were 28 incidents last year, and 21 between January and November 2015, according to the figures.
73
fires in London since 2013 (excluding arson)
21 2015 (to 16 November)
28 2014
24 2013
10 2012
Earlier this year Vauxhall found the root cause of the problem was the improper repair of the heater fan resistor's thermal fuse, which protects the system.
The firm is writing to 220,000 Zafira B owners, instructing them to have their car's heating and ventilation system inspected by a local dealer.
Sue Freemantle, 37, from Ivybridge in Devon, who escaped from her vehicle with three children before it burst into flames, said the figures were "shocking".
She said: "My fear is somebody leaves their child in the car to go and pay for their petrol and all of a sudden something starts then. Our worst fear is that a child dies."
Denis Chick, from Vauxhall, said the problem was "not a design fault, but a maintenance issue" and related to attempting to repair a broken fuse rather than replace it.
He said: "Between 2013 and now there are more of these models available, which has increased the number of vehicles coming into this problem." | Callouts to fires involving Vauxhall Zafira B cars have doubled since 2012, London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said. | 34860211 |
The accident happened when a cargo ship crashed into a fish farm on the Horsens Fjord on the Jutland peninsula.
There are fears that the fish, weighing about 3kg (6lb 10oz) each, could upset the ecological balance by eating the eggs of other trout species.
A local environmentalist urged "anyone with fishing gear to... go fishing".
Soren Knabe, chair of the environmental group Vandpleje Fyn and a member of the Danish Angler's Association, told the Copenhagen Post that it was the worst possible time for rainbow trout to be released into Danish waters.
"Sea trout are currently coming up into Funen streams to spawn, and sea trout eggs are a favourite food for rainbow trout," said Mr Knabe, referring to Funen island, south of the farm.
"The escaped rainbow trout will follow right behind the tails of the sea trout and eat their eggs."
The ecological threat posed by the fish was confirmed by Jon Svendsen, a researcher at Denmark's National Institute of Aquatic Resources, who spoke to Reuters news agency.
However, an angler who spoke to the agency said it would take four or five days for the escaped fish to adjust to their new environment and begin to bite.
The cargo vessel was en route from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, to the east, to the Danish port of Kolding when it crashed on Tuesday. | Up to 80,000 farmed rainbow trout have been accidentally released into the sea in Denmark, prompting a call for anglers to try to catch them. | 37629377 |
World number 21 Dave Gilbert was knocked out in the quarter-finals after referee Rob Spencer failed to call a time foul on China's Xiao Guodong.
Gilbert, 35, expressed his anger over the manner of his defeat.
"We will review this," said WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson. "Extra fail-safe is needed for the future."
This is the first year the Shoot Out has counted as ranking event.
Each match has a maximum time of 10 minutes, with players on a shot clock of 15 seconds for the first five minutes and 10 seconds for the second half of the frame.
'No way this should be a ranking event': McGill wins Shoot Out tournament
Spencer was unable to hear the clock had run out on Xiao because of the noise from the crowd.
"Current rules state players have the opportunity to intervene at the time and call the referee's attention," Ferguson added.
"You have to feel for Dave here, though, not easy at the time with the noise, distractions, time restraints etc."
Fellow players Judd Trump, Neil Robertson and Mark Williams were among those to offer their support to Gilbert, while one of his sponsors described the situation as a "debacle".
Anthony McGill won the event, beating Xiao 67-19 to make it two victories from two in career ranking finals, having won the Indian Open last May
He said: "It is a coin-toss tournament. In no way on God's earth should this be a ranking tournament."
Find out how to get into snooker, pool and billiards with our fully inclusive guide.
Sign up to My Sport to follow snooker news and reports on the BBC app. | Snooker's governing body will consider changes to its one-frame Shoot Out after controversy on the final day of this year's tournament in Watford. | 39102022 |
The Dow closed 0.7% higher at 18,506.41 - its third consecutive record close.
The S&P 500 index added 0.5% to close at 2,163.75 - the index's fourth record close in a row.
Shares in JP Morgan Chase rose 1.6% after it posted second quarter profits of $6.2bn. That helped other banking shares including Goldman Sachs which jumped almost 3%.
"The fact that JPMorgan's earnings came out favourably bodes well for the entire banking sector," said Mark Heppenstall, chief investment officer of Penn Mutual Asset Management.
"If banks are healthy ... then that clearly has more positive implications for economic growth," he said.
In the biggest stock market debut for a technology firm this year, shares in Line Corp began to trade on the New York Stock Exchange.
Shares in the company, which is best known for its Japanese messaging app, soared as much as 37%, before closing almost 27% higher at $41.58.
The company raised $723m from the share sale.
Line, which is controlled by South Korea's Naver Corp, will list its shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Friday.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq index climbed 0.5% to 5,034.06.
Shares in KFC owner Yum Brands rose 3% after it reported strong second quarter results late on Wednesday.
Net income rose to $339m from $235m a year earlier, and the company also raised its outlook for the full year, expecting a 14% increase in core operating profit. | (Close): US shares closed at record levels, lifted by better-than-expected results from JP Morgan Chase. | 36797035 |
The real annual salaries of emergency workers, many of whom will be working over Christmas, have dropped by thousands of pounds, it said.
The Treasury said "difficult decisions" on public sector pay would protect 200,000 jobs.
It added that public sector wages had kept pace with the private sector.
Midwives and firefighters have seen a real terms annual pay cut of more than £3,000 on average, and nurses' and ambulance drivers' salaries have dropped by more than £2,000, the TUC said.
Police officers' pay is down £1,300, it added.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Nearly a million people will be working on Christmas Day this year.
"Ministers should show some seasonal goodwill and end the real-terms pay cuts.
"The government's Scrooge-like public sector pay cap has to go, to ensure that wages at least keep up with prices."
But the Treasury said: "The government has made difficult decisions on public sector pay to maintain fiscal discipline and protect public sector jobs." | Many people working in the public sector have suffered real terms pay cuts over the last five years, according to the TUC. | 38411886 |
Media playback is unsupported on your device
23 June 2015 Last updated at 08:22 BST
The pilot came in for a shock when he discovered the little stowaway peering into the cockpit.
The BBC's Phillip Norton reports. | A daredevil cat has used up one of its nine lives after hiding in the wing of a microlight aircraft before take-off. | 33236532 |
Keates, along with Joey Jones and Andy Davies, was again in charge for Wrexham's shock 3-2 FA Cup qualifying replay defeat by Stamford on Tuesday.
"They're on trial. You don't know who's in the stand. You don't know whoever's watching," said Keates.
Wrexham host Bromley in the National League on Saturday.
Keates says aspects of their loss to Stamford underlined how much better things could be at the Racecourse.
The home fans roared Wrexham on as they tried to fight back with a spirited response after they went 2-0 behind.
"The fans have every right to feel hurt. It's a fan-owned club.
"They want people out there who are passionate about representing them and we said to them for that 10 minutes you've seen what it's about and what the fans can be like - they'll push you on.
"The lads need to take that on and multiply it by nine and get it done for 90 minutes."
Macclesfield manager John Askey has been touted as favourite to succeed Mills while Wrexham legend Mickey Thomas believes Keates could hold on to the role.
Keates says Wrexham's players must perform well to impress any new boss.
"If the manager's not here, it might be his agent, it might be his assistant manager," said Keates.
"The lads who are scouting for the jobs have got the chance to see the players who represent the football club from now until April.
"They have to make sure that... they're doing what they need to be doing give themselves a chance of having a job." | Wrexham caretaker manager Dean Keates has warned the club's players they are on "trial" as the club seeks a new boss following Gary Mills' sacking. | 37701343 |
Powell said she had to ask three times for volunteers to take the spot-kicks.
England eventually lost 4-3 in the shootout after the match ended 1-1.
"I don't think anyone's a coward and that's not the impression I got from Hope when she debriefed us after the game," Stoney told BBC Radio 5 live.
"She said she was very proud and we should hold our heads up high."
Injured striker Kelly Smith and forward Karen Carney were the only non-defenders to take penalties.
You've got to want to take a penalty, but other players should have come forward and they didn't. That's weak, it's cowardice
They both scored, with 29-year-old Stoney tucking the third penalty away before Claire Rafferty and skipper Faye White missed the last two kicks to send England home.
Rafferty, 21, only came onto the pitch nine minutes before the end of normal time for her World Cup debut.
Powell said on Saturday: "Faye said 'Right, if no-one else wants to do it I will do it'."
The missed kick may have been the 33-year-old's last act in an England shirt.
"Three times I had to ask [for volunteers] before anyone stepped forward," added Powell.
"'Where are you?' I was thinking, and then a young kid is the first to put her hand up. And Kelly Smith was dying on her feet but she stepped up and took one.
"You've got to want to take a penalty, but other players should have come forward and they didn't. That's weak, it's cowardice." | England defender Casey Stoney has hit back at coach Hope Powell after she accused some players of "cowardice" ahead of the Women's World Cup quarter-final penalty shootout against France. | 14094540 |
The Conference North side began talks with the X Factor contestant and I'm a Celebrity runner-up in January.
Quickenden, 26, who was a youth-team player for Scunthorpe United, has played at non-league level with Frickley Athletic and Bottesford Town.
Trinity chairman Richard Kane said a contract was possible if he impressed them at the pre-season trial.
Quickenden scored four goals last weekend when he played in a celebrity match to raise money for SwansAid, a Swansea City fund to encourage children and young people to become more active.
Mr Kane told BBC Radio Linconlshire the club is continuing to search for a striker.
"If he makes the grade we might give him a contract," he said.
"It is something we have talked about and something we have looked at.
"We watched him play in the celebrity match at Swansea where he scored four goals and if he does the same here, he might get a contract on the table."
His management did not respond to the BBC's request for a statement.
In January, Quickenden's management told the Daily Mail he had declined Trinity's offer and had been approached by other football clubs. | Gainsborough Trinity have confirmed reality television star Jake Quickenden is to be offered a trial with the team. | 33023477 |
The work, which will begin early in the new year, will cost £29m and involve repairs to the clock's hands, mechanism and pendulum.
The "Big Ben" bell after which the Palace of Westminster's Elizabeth Tower is more commonly known will fall silent to allow the work to take place.
The work is part of a three-year restoration project.
The bells will not ring for several months as part of the restoration work, although it is not yet known when this is likely to happen. They will toll for important events like Remembrance Day and New Year's Eve.
Parliamentary officials said the mechanism of the clock was in a "chronic state", with fears that it may fail if work is not carried out urgently. There are also concerns that the fabric of the tower itself is reaching an "acute" condition.
A lift will be installed and the 157-year-old tower will be upgraded to bring it into line with modern health and safety standards. The lift will provide greater access for disabled people who are unable to climb the tower's 334 steps.
It is more than 30 years since the last significant conservation work took place on Big Ben, between 1983 and 1985.
Clock faces will be covered, although at least one will remain visible at any time.
Final tours of the tower were taking place on Friday. | Big Ben is to fall silent for the first time since 2007 for a renovation project. | 38341089 |
The Hornsea Project Two scheme would see 300 turbines built 55 miles (88 km) off the East Yorkshire coast and provide enough electricity to power almost two million homes.
Developer Dong Energy is already building a smaller site nearby.
The company said it would make a final investment decision on whether to construct the new site later.
Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark said his decision to give consent would lead to "jobs and economic growth right across the country".
"The UK's offshore wind industry has grown at an extraordinary rate over the last few years, and is a fundamental part of our plans to build a clean, affordable, secure energy system," he said.
Brent Cheshire, Dong Energy's UK chairman, said development consent for the project was "very welcome".
"We have already invested £6 billion in the UK, and Hornsea Project Two provides us with another exciting development opportunity in offshore wind," he said.
Hornsea Project Two is the second stage of Dong Energy's planned development of the Hornsea Zone in the North Sea.
If built, the four wind farms would cover an area of 662 sq miles (1,725 km sq).
At 623 feet (190m) high, each turbine would be taller than the Gherkin building in London. The first of the turbines will be made in Siemens' newly-built Hull factory.
The aim is for Project One to be operational by 2020.
The energy firm said it expected to submit a planning application for Hornsea Project Three in 2018. If approved, construction was anticipated for sometime between 2022 and 2025. | The second stage of the "world's biggest offshore wind farm" has been given the go-ahead by the government. | 37094921 |
About 550 civilian staff - two-thirds of the total - transferred to G4S on 1 April 2012 when the £200m, 10-year contract came into effect.
G4S said for April 2011-12, 89% of 999 calls were answered within 10 seconds. This went up to 93% for April 2012-13.
The company also said it had exceeded its first year savings' target.
John Shaw, managing director for G4S policing support services, said: "Hopefully the service people get from the police is as good as it was, if not better."
He said G4S had initially promised to save £2.8m in the first year but it had actually saved £3.7m.
Alan Hardwick, Lincolnshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), said there was "room for manoeuvre" when it came to considering an extension of the G4S contract.
"All the targets are being met, it [the contract] is saving us money and that's saving the people of Lincolnshire money.
"We're looking to the future and if G4S can help with [other areas] within the present contract, it would be foolish indeed not to listen."
But Peter Savage, regional organiser for union Unison said G4S was concerned with profit and not policing.
"I think the problems that arise from this process are exactly the same, whoever you privatised it to," said Mr Savage.
"The primary concern of any private company isn't to serve Lincolnshire, it is to give money back to the shareholders."
A plan by Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire police forces to outsource services to G4S collapsed in January after the respective police and crime commissioners rejected the proposal. | The private company which took over the running of some parts of Lincolnshire Police force last year claims it has improved emergency call-handling times. | 22338332 |
Around 500 births will be moved from Walsall Manor Hospital to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton after its maternity unit was judged "inadequate" by inspectors.
The hospital said the measures were needed "to ensure the safety and stability of maternity services".
It has blamed a shortage of midwives and increased demand for care.
More on this story and others from the Black Country
From 21 March, newly-expectant women living in the west of Walsall will be directed to New Cross Hospital to receive care.
A number of pregnant women already booked to have their babies at the Manor may be asked to give birth elsewhere if they live closer to an alternative hospital.
The hospital said it had "real challenges" with recruitment and despite taking on more midwives, could still not cope with demand.
The closure of maternity services and birth restrictions at neighbouring trusts has also led to more women choosing to give birth in Walsall, the hospital said in a statement.
Almost 5,000 babies were born at the hospital last year.
The Care Quality Commission ruled services were inadequate following an inspection in January.
Dr Amrik Gill, clinical chair for NHS Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "Those mums that are diverted to the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust can be assured that the hospital has sufficient capacity to cope with the transfer of services to New Cross Hospital."
Richard Kirby, chief executive at Walsall Healthcare Trust, said: "We want to ensure that every mother and baby gets the highest quality care and need to get the numbers closer to what the unit was originally meant to take.
"We are continuing to invest in more midwives and the development of our maternity estate and we are investing £3m into expanding our neonatal unit." | A failing maternity unit is to send births to a hospital nine miles away as it struggles to cope with demand. | 35843146 |
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Sexton, 31, missed the opening two Six Nations games with a calf problem, which came soon after hamstring and shoulder injuries.
He kicked 11 points in a superb display in the 19-9 victory in Dublin.
"I've never had a nine-month injury - it's not as bad as it is made out to be," said Sexton.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt heaped praise on Sexton after the win over the French, which leaves his team second in the standings.
Sexton was sidelined for five weeks with the calf injury, sustained in a European Champions Cup match against Castres.
"The longest I've been out is for a shoulder injury at the end of last season," he added.
"When I came back from that I was moving badly, carrying the shoulder still and that's why I got a couple of hamstring niggles and the calf.
"I've been fortunate - I'm surrounded by guys that have had their career cut short by injury or been out for a year."
However, Sexton admits it was difficult to cope with being out for the start of the Six Nations campaign.
He said: "There's no-one more frustrated and upset when I'm injured - it was a really difficult time after all the work I had done before Christmas.
"You get stronger from these things and find out about a lot of people around you and yourself.
"It's important to bounce back. You are going to have setbacks and I'm sure I'll pick up more injuries in my career.
"It's just the nature of the game but I'll do everything I can to stay as fit as possible. | Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton says he has been "lucky" with injuries after returning from his latest lay-off in Saturday's win against France. | 39109718 |
Rose Ann Moir, of Montrose, was taken to Dundee's Ninewells Hospital on Monday 8 June, after her car collided with a lorry near Inverkeilor.
Police Scotland has now confirmed that she died on Friday.
Officers are continuing their investigations into the full circumstances of the crash and appealed for information. | A 66-year-old woman injured in a crash on the A92 Arbroath to Montrose road last week has died. | 33137697 |
Ivars Rubenis, 46, was found unconscious in Marine Drive West, Bognor Regis, at about 06:00 GMT on Saturday. He died in hospital in Southampton on Sunday.
A post-mortem examination held at Worthing Hospital found he had died of a head injury.
A police investigation into his death has been concluded, a spokesman said. | The death of a man who was found injured on the seafront in Bognor was not suspicious, police say. | 35486505 |
Kerryanne Clarke, 38, transferred money from Elmwood Construction Services Ltd into her own accounts in more than 360 transactions.
The former bookkeeper made "duplicate" payments at the property development company based at Eagle Street in Glasgow between 2010 and 2014.
As a result, 92 employees were made redundant around Christmas 2014.
At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Sheriff Paul Crozier jailed Clarke for three years, reduced from four "standing the gravity of this offence".
Defence lawyer Ryan Sloan said the company had since gone into liquidation.
He told the court Clarke was a mother of two young children and had a drug problem. | A woman who admitted embezzling more than £370,000 from her employer has been jailed for three years. | 38994783 |
Peter Hayman told a fatal accident inquiry the headstone at Craigton Cemetery was made with a limited mortar bed and without dowels for stability.
However, he said this was not why it had toppled over, but instead tree roots had caused the headstone to lean.
Ciaran Williamson, eight, was killed by the falling gravestone on 26 May 2015.
Expert stonemason Mr Hayman was called in to inspect the site after the incident.
The inquiry, at Glasgow Sheriff Court, aims to establish if there were any reasonable precautions that could have prevented the tragedy.
It also aims establish if there were any defects in the system of work which caused or contributed to Ciaran's death.
Giving evidence, Mr Hayman said the granite headstone was built in the 1920s and its foundations did not meet modern safety requirements.
But he said the stone had to be upright to remain stable and had been forced to lean forward by the roots of a nearby tree.
The inquiry heard the gravestone was constructed using a "very limited mortar bed" and no dowels were used to hold the pieces of the structure together.
The inquiry before sheriff Linda Ruxton continues. | A stonemason has said the foundations of a 1920s gravestone which fell over, killing an eight-year-old boy, would not be acceptable by today's standards. | 39029202 |
Sir Nicholas topped ArtReview magazine's annual Power 100 list for helping Tate "punch above its weight in the global network of influence".
He has been the Tate's director since 1988 and oversaw the opening of Tate Modern in 2000.
The gallery, in a former power station on London's Southbank, is the world's most visited contemporary art museum.
Sir Nicholas, 68, who has appeared in the top 10 of every list since it launched in 2002, is the first representative of a public museum to reach the top spot.
ArtReview said that he was ranked number one this year "on account of the way in which Tate has, since the launch of Tate Modern, consistently deployed an international - rather than a national - perspective on art production".
It added: "Tate has come to epitomise almost all the elements of the current 'global' art world, where the distribution of art is arguably now more important than its production."
The full list can be found on the ArtReview website.
Sir Nicholas ran London's Whitechapel Art Gallery from 1976-88 and Oxford's Museum of Modern Art from 1973-76.
He co-curated Tate Modern's recent Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs - its first show to attract more than half a million visitors.
In 2013-14, more than seven million people visited the Tate's four galleries - Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives.
American painter Christopher Wool is one of the highest new entries on the ArtReview list at number 55.
ArtReview said it was the result of the 59-year-old's influence "on a younger generation of artists who are currently fuelling the auction fires".
Last year's list was topped by Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the sister of the emir of Qatar, who heads the country's museums authority. | Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota has been named the most powerful figure in the art world. | 29729210 |
25 May 2016 Last updated at 19:53 BST
The former London mayor is campaigning for the UK to leave the EU in the upcoming referendum, while Lord Sugar is in favour of staying.
Lord Sugar - who has just been appointed as enterprise tsar by the government - was speaking to BBC Newsnight's Evan Davis.
In the interview, he also expressed concern about US Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump. "If I was an American I would be very, very worried," he said.
Watch the full interview on Newsnight at 22:30 on BBC Two - or catch up afterwards on iPlayer | Lord Sugar has referred to Boris Johnson as "an ex-mayor who has gone off the rails" with some of the claims he is making on the EU. | 36380985 |
The Met Police said the incident happened at a residential address in Tilson Gardens in south Brixton.
At 09:45 BST, unarmed police and a housing officer tried to enter the property to evict the man. Police then withdrew and armed officers and a negotiator were called to the scene.
The man was shot at 16:46 outside the premises, the Met said.
Neighbour Jay Elwes said on Twitter that he had heard "what sounded like shots" and about 15 minutes later a person was "brought out".
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said the 36-year-old man was in a critical condition at King's College Hospital.
It said that during the incident "shots were fired, injuring the man".
The IPCC said it was in the process of identifying and contacting the man's family. | A man is in a critical condition after being shot by police following a siege lasting seven hours in south London. | 34020120 |
Erasmus has led Munster to the European Champions Cup semi-finals in his first season in charge while the team are also strongly challenging in the Pro12.
He has been linked with a director of rugby role with South African Rugby but played down the issue on Monday.
"It's definitely not a done deal. It's really just speculation," Erasmus said.
The South African, 44, signed a three-year contract with Munster last year but there have been reports the deal includes a clause that would allow him to give six months' notice to leave the Irish province.
Munster's director of rugby worked as general high-performance manager of South African Rugby before his current role.
Erasmus received huge praise for his leadership role at the club after the sudden death of head coach Anthony Foley in October.
On Monday, the South African denied that the speculation about his future could become a distraction for Munster as they chase honours on two fronts during the remainder of this season.
Munster will face European Champions Cup holders Saracens in the semi-finals in Dublin on 22 April while only a collapse in form in their remaining four regular-season games in the Pro12 will prevent them reaching the semi-finals in that competition.
"It isn't a distraction for the team. There's a lot of talk like that but it isn't something we discuss internally," added Erasmus.
"The team has grown so much that we shouldn't let stupid things distract us at this stage."
For the latest rugby union news follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter. | Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus says reports he is set to leave the Irish province to return home to South Africa are "just speculation". | 39485342 |
There are no beds available at either site due to "a significant surge in demand," University Hospitals Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust said.
It is asking those with minor illnesses to use other healthcare services.
The trust issued similar advice in March following "increased pressure".
In a statement, a trust spokesperson said: "Patients are likely to experience long waiting times, whilst those who need urgent treatment are seen first.
"Please help us make sure our staff are free to treat those most in need... If you do attend, please be patient with staff who are doing their best in difficult circumstances." | Patients are being urged to stay away from Accident and Emergency (A&E) units at Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Furness General Hospital unless they are seriously ill. | 36697738 |
Local officials in Vallauris have said they will restrict access to a stretch of beach to ensure the security of the king and his 400-strong entourage.
Public access to the sea will be prohibited intermittently for the duration of the king's stay.
Beach users have complained about the arrangements.
"Looking after their security is fine, but they should at least let us go for a swim," Mohamed, a disgruntled fishing enthusiast, told the AFP news agency.
Locals were also angry when a project to build a lift between La Mirandole beach and the villa involved pouring a huge slab of cement directly on to the sand.
The local authorities have allowed work on the lift to continue, but the Saudis have promised to dismantle it when they leave.
Coastguards will also stop anyone coming within 300m (984ft) of the villa by sea.
"This is not about privatising a beach, but to avoid endangering the king of a country at war," local official Philippe Castanet told Nice-Matin newspaper.
"We would do the same if it was the [French] president visiting."
Some 20 years ago, then Saudi King Fahd illegally closed a local coastal path, but was forced to reopen it following legal proceedings, Nice-Matin reports. | A row has erupted over the closure of a public beach on the French Riviera to allow King Salman of Saudi Arabia to holiday in private. | 33592014 |
Gunfire was heard on Tuesday night after the 30 presidential candidates were announced, reports AFP.
Francois Bozize is one of 14 candidates banned from running for office in the vote scheduled for 27 December.
He accused the constitutional court of banning him because of foreign pressure.
Mr Bozize was president of CAR for 10 years until he fled to neighbouring Cameroon in 2013 when a group of mostly Muslim rebels - called the Seleka - briefly took control of the country.
This sparked reprisals from a mainly Christian militia, called the anti-Balaka, who are seen as close to Mr Bozize.
Violence between the rival militias has killed thousands and displaced nearly a quarter of the CAR population.
Pope Francis recently urged rival factions to stop fighting, when he visited a mosque in the capital, Bangui.
The UN sanctions committee accused Mr Bozize of "providing support to acts which undermined the peace".
He is banned by the UN from travelling and his assets have been frozen.
Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona, a leader of the anti-Balaka, was also banned from running for president.
On Friday, Nourredine Adam, who heads a Seleka splinter group, said he would not allow elections to go ahead in the areas under his control, including the northern town of Kaga-Bandoro.
The election has already been delayed from 18 October. | The former president of Central African Republic (CAR) has called the ban on him from running in the country's election a "shameful decision". | 35051477 |
He needs to take responsibility for what happens around him
New Zealand Cricket said Bracewell, 22, was hurt on Saturday in an "unfortunate accident while cleaning up", amid reports of a party at his home.
"Doug is very sorry for any inconvenience he has caused," said team manager Mike Sandle.
Seamer Ian Butler, 31, could make his first Test appearance for eight years.
Bracewell did not attend New Zealand's final training session at Dunedin's University Oval on Tuesday, and Sandle said he had been "reminded of his obligations and responsibilities as a NZC contracted player".
"We've told Doug that he needs to take responsibility for what happens around him and that he needs to do all he can to ensure his preparation for international cricket is not compromised," added Sandle.
"Doug has apologised to his neighbour in Napier."
New Zealand Cricket Players' Association chief executive Heath Mills, who has worked closely with Sandle on the matter, added: "We want to ensure that incidents like this are not repeated and that we provide ongoing support for young players to ensure they are meeting all their obligations and responsibilities." | New Zealand fast bowler Doug Bracewell has been ruled out of Wednesday's first Test against England in Dunedin after cutting his foot on glass. | 21651977 |
The action is being led by Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian leader jailed by Israel for life for five murders.
Barghouti has been touted as a possible future successor to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Israeli authorities have placed him under solitary confinement for calling the strike - now in its second day.
Barghouti was "instigating mutiny and leading the hunger strike and that is a severe violation of the rules of the prison," said Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan.
"We have no reason to negotiate," Mr Erdan told Israeli public radio.
"They are terrorists and incarcerated murderers who are getting what they deserve," he added.
Protests in support of the prisoners were held in the occupied West Bank on the first day of the strike on Monday, with youths clashing with Israeli security forces in Bethlehem.
There are fears that the hunger strike - observed by 1,187 detainees, according to Israel's prison service - could fuel tensions across the Palestinian areas.
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The issue of Palestinians held in Israeli jails is an ongoing source of tension between the two sides.
Palestinians regard the detainees as political prisoners. Many have been convicted of attacks against Israelis and other offences.
Others are detained under so-called Administrative Detention, which allows suspects to be held without charge for six-month intervals.
There were about 7,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails at the end of last year, according to Palestinian prisoners' groups. | Israel says it will not negotiate with more than 1,000 Palestinian detainees who have begun a mass hunger strike against conditions in Israeli jails. | 39628860 |
Ben Needham, from Sheffield, vanished when he was 21 months old during a 1991 family holiday on the island of Kos.
Det Insp John Cousins said people had contacted the inquiry team from Greece and "other areas of Europe" following the TV appeal in Greece.
The programme was watched by 60% of the Greek population.
Police appealed for information about Ben's disappearance and also for anyone who thought they could be him to come forward.
A new image of what Ben could look like today, aged 25, has been created.
"We've had a lot of information which is consistent with information we've had before but we've also had a lot of good new information," Det Insp Cousins said.
"I have to follow every line of inquiry and I think this is the best opportunity we've had to find out what happened to Ben."
Over the coming weeks, members of the inquiry team will be travelling to Greece and elsewhere in Europe to speak to those who got in touch.
Some of them believe they might be Ben and police said DNA testing will take place.
Ben's mother Kerry Needham, who travelled to Greece with the inquiry team, said it had been "an emotional" few days.
She said: "I'm feeling positive. I'm optimistic, it was a huge success in Greece.
"It's been an emotional rollercoaster but it's something I've got to do."
In January, the Home Office granted South Yorkshire Police £700,000 of funding to support the Greek authorities in continuing inquiries to find Ben.
Last year, a DNA test on a young man featured in video footage shot in Cyprus proved negative. | More than 80 calls with information about the disappearance of a toddler on a Greek island 24 years ago have been received by police after an appeal. | 32781797 |
The incident happened on the A48 near Merthyr Mawr Road, Bridgend, on Tuesday at 17:15 BST.
Rhys Rubery, from Pencoed, was taken to Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales but died from his injuries.
His family said: "We are just completely and utterly broken and devastated. He was loved by so many people."
In a statement, they said: "Following the incident yesterday afternoon Rhys never regained consciousness.
"He passed with his family beside him during the night. He achieved so much in such a short time on this planet that we were and will always be proud of him."
The motorcyclist riding the black Suzuki bike was also taken to hospital after suffering concussion.
The road was closed in both directions for five-and-a-half hours after the crash. | A 16-year-old boy has died after being hit by a motorcycle, South Wales Police have said. | 36781010 |
President Obama pledged to bolster military support for Saudi Arabia after tensions were strained following a US-brokered nuclear deal with Iran.
The US Congress now has 30 days to stop the deal if it wishes to do so.
Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest buyers of US weapons.
The Saudi-led campaign against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen has drawn criticism, with several reports of civilian casualties on the ground.
Washington has backed the campaign and Saudi Arabia - who is a central ally in the air assault against the so-called Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq.
US-Saudi ties are said to have been strained by Mr Obama's unwillingness to take military action against Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, and his support for a nuclear deal with Iran that the Saudis fear will ultimately allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.
The sale, if it is not blocked by the US congress, "will replenish the Royal Saudi Air Force's (RSAF) current inventory, augmenting Saudi Arabia's capability," a State Department spokesman said.
In May, King Salman skipped a summit of Gulf Arab leaders at Camp David, which was widely interpreted as a snub for the US president.
However, relations seemed to warm after Saudi King Salman's visit to the Washington in September.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said his country was satisfied that the deal would contribute to security and stability in the Middle East. | The US State Department has approved the sale of $1.29 billion (£848.6m) worth of bombs to Saudi Arabia, as its military carries out air strikes in neighbouring Yemen. | 34838937 |
Teenage Korean amateur Choi Hye-Jin and compatriot Amy Yang are tied in second having both shot two-under-par 70s at Trump National Golf Club.
Fellow Koreans Sung Hyun Park (-6), Mirim Lee, Ryu So-yeon and Jeongeun6 Lee (all -5) complete the top seven.
England's Charley Hull is tied for 18th on one under par after a one-over 73.
Compatriot Georgia Hall hit four birdies but two double bogies to card a five-over 77 and sits in tied 55th place.
Having hit eight bogeys, Scot Catriona Matthew dropped to 57th on six over after a third-round 79. | China's Shanshan Feng carded a third-round one-under-par 71 to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Women's US Open in New Jersey. | 40621450 |
The 17ft x 10ft (5m x 3m) recently refurbished wooden beach hut with views of Christchurch Harbour is on sale for £280,000.
Estate agent Andy Denison said a hut recently sold for £275,000 and he was hopeful this would go for the higher asking price.
He said prospective owners would be buying into a "nice way of life".
Hut 78 has modern facilities and appliances as well as a mezzanine level for sleeping. Occupants are allowed to stay overnight between March and October.
Mr Denison said: "It's such a lovely place - you've got the sea on one side and the sand on the other. You could spend the whole six weeks of the school holidays in a safe environment, or go down there after work in the evenings."
On the price, he said: "We're just going with the market - it's still quite vibrant."
The new owners will also have to pay a licence fee of about £3,500 a year to Christchurch Borough Council as well as Council Tax of about £500.
According to property website Zoopla, £280,000 would buy a four-bedroom detached house in Tittensor, Stoke-on-Trent, a one-bedroom flat in Croydon or 7.4 acres of farmland in Dumfries. | A beach hut on the Dorset coast, which could be the most expensive sold in the UK, has gone on the market. | 40686211 |
The Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes last year responded to 39,000 requests for help from the NHS.
Volunteers work at night and at weekends delivering blood, samples, medical notes, donor breast milk or medical equipment between hospitals.
Northumbria branch chairman Peter Robertson said the service was "invaluable".
"We're making a difference to the lives of local people as well as saving the NHS money," he said.
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said the service was "of great benefit", especially in serious cases when "time really is of the essence".
The organisation was "finding it harder than anything else" to fill positions for volunteers to take calls from hospitals and then dispatch riders, Mr Robertson added.
Few people know the charity exists, which limits donations and new recruits, the organisation said. | A charity which helps deliver blood and urgent medical supplies to hospitals needs more volunteers, it says. | 33935447 |
The body of Nicholas Williams was found by neighbours at his home on Bottom Boat Road, Stanley, on Thursday.
West Yorkshire Police said a post-mortem examination revealed he died on Wednesday evening as a result of multiple stab wounds.
A 33-year-old man from the Rotherham area has been arrested and is being questioned.
Det Ch Insp Elizabeth Belton said: "Police are continuing to investigate this incident and a 33-year-old man is now in custody for questioning in relation to the murder of Mr Williams.
"We continue to appeal for information and witnesses and anyone who can assist the investigation at all is asked to contact police on 101, referencing Operation Packburg." | A man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a 27-year-old in Wakefield. | 35142087 |
The bank said net profit rose to $3.34bn (£2.43bn) compared with $344m in the last quarter of 2014 when it paid $3.5bn in legal and other charges.
The bank's legal and repositioning costs fell to $724m for this quarter.
Citi - which is undergoing a restructuring - is the third largest US bank when ranked by assets.
The picture at Citi echoed that at JP Morgan Chase, which reported results on Thursday. Profits there also jumped thanks to lower legal expenses and better cost control.
Citigroup has been restructuring to focus on more profitable businesses and markets, and has closed consumer operations in 11 overseas markets.
Operating expenses fell 23% to $11bn, partly thanks to the fall in legal-related costs.
Chief executive, Michael Corbat, said: "We have undoubtedly become a simpler, smaller, safer and stronger institution.
"We have sharpened our focus on target clients, shedding over 20 consumer and institutional businesses in the process."
Citi's shares were down 5% in early trading on Wall Street.
The US's biggest mortgage lender, Wells Fargo, also released results on Friday.
It reported a 0.8% fall in profits for the final quarter of 2015 to $5.34bn after it set aside more to cover bad loans.
However, mortgage banking revenue rose 9.6% to $1.66bn, the first quarterly rise all year.
Its shares were 2.5% lower in early trading. | US bank Citigroup has reported a jump in fourth quarter profits compared with a year earlier, helped by a big fall in legal costs. | 35325729 |
Officers went to Troon beach at 04:30 after receiving a report that a man had fallen.
It is understood that he had been in the water.
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said there were no suspicious circumstances but there were "ongoing inquiries" to find out what happened. | Police are investigating the circumstances of the death of a 44-year-old man at an Ayrshire beach. | 36850010 |
The 24-year-old Netherlands midfielder, who signed for Chelsea in 2013, has extended his deal by a year to 2019.
He helped PSV win the Dutch title while on loan during the second half of the 2015-16 campaign and will now return to Eindhoven until the end of this season.
In recent months he has had treatment for a recurring knee injury but said he is "now ready for top football".
"Rest and physiotherapy were necessary," Van Ginkel said.
Van Ginkel has played four competitive matches for Chelsea since originally joining for £8m from Vitesse Arnhem.
He was loaned to Stoke at the start of the 2015-16 season, playing 21 times, before moving to PSV, where he scored eight times in 16 appearances.
This season, Phillip Cocu's side sit third in the Eredivisie, eight points behind leaders Feyenoord. | Marco van Ginkel has extended his contract with Chelsea - and rejoined PSV Eindhoven on loan on the same day. | 38479147 |
The government sold its last shares today, nine years after it sank a total of £20bn into the beleaguered lender in the depths of the financial crisis.
The government is expected to make a profit of around £500m. That sounds a lot but is not a great return on an initial outlay of £20bn over nearly a decade.
But this wasn't an investment - it was a rescue of a bank that had made a bad situation much worse by agreeing to take over its more toxic rival HBOS.
Lloyds had always been a boring bank - a quality which would have spared it the worst of the crisis had it not agreed to saddle itself with the fallout from years of risky commercial lending by HBOS, which turned sour in the great downturn.
That decision was widely thought to have been taken under pressure from Gordon Brown's government, who hoped that a takeover could help HBOS avoid a government bailout.
It didn't pan out like that, and the merger eventually cost chief executive Eric Daniels and chairman Sir Victor Blank their jobs.
They are both due to give evidence in an upcoming court case brought by Lloyds shareholders who claim they lost out as a result of the doomed merger.
The years in between have been marked by criminal scandals and £17bn of PPI mis-selling but the bank is now making healthy profits and paying dividends.
The government has had mixed success with its bank rescues.
It still owns 73% of RBS which is still losing money all these years later.
The Chancellor Philip Hammond recently hinted that he would be prepared to start selling off those shares at a loss.
You win some, you lose some. | Lloyds banking group has finally settled its tab with the taxpayer. | 39941641 |
Chairman Jeremy Peace wants a sale for around £150m to be completed so it does not impact on summer transfer dealings.
Groups from the Far East and USA are keen, with some already performing due diligence, but Peace will dismiss any deal which runs into June and July.
The Baggies - 13th in their fifth straight Premier League season - posted pre-tax profits of £14.7m in February.
Peace, chairman for 13 years, owns 90% of the company which owns West Brom.
The 58-year-old has a reputation for being a tough negotiator and suitors for the club are thought to value it at about £40m less than the sum for which he expects to sell.
The position of head coach Tony Pulis is not under threat despite the potential takeover.
Pulis has never been relegated as a manager - an achievement Peace deems crucial next season before the Premier League's new £5.136bn television rights deal begins in 2016-17. | West Bromwich Albion have set a deadline of 31 May for interested parties to purchase the club. | 32491549 |
Five people were immediately killed by the leak on Sunday, while another five died later in hospital, said local authorities in a post on Weibo.
Officials are investigating the cause.
China has tightened industrial safety regulations following a chemical blast in Tianjin that killed 140 people.
Local authorities named the company responsible for Sunday's leak as Zouping County Shandong Fukai Stainless Steel Company.
They added that the seven survivors were in stable condition.
The Tianjin blast in August decimated a large part of the city's port. The high-profile incident reignited nationwide concerns about industrial safety and proximity of industrial areas to residential districts. | A gas leak at a stainless steel factory in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong has killed 10 people and poisoned seven others, authorities said. | 34960883 |
Montero picked up the injury after coming on as a substitute in the Swans' 4-1 home defeat by West Ham.
The 27-year-old Ecuador international has made 11 Premier League appearances for Swansea City this season.
Paul Clement's side are 16th in the Premier League, two points off the drop zone and play Burnley on Saturday. | Swansea City winger Jefferson Montero has returned to group training after being sidelined since Boxing Day with a hamstring injury. | 39130131 |
The 10-metre (32.8ft) Man Engine will travel the length of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site to mark the 10th anniversary Unesco heritage status.
The puppet is the same height as a double decker bus when in "crawling" mode but more than twice that height when standing.
It was launched in Tavistock and will reach west Cornwall on 6 August.
More updates on the giant puppet, and other Devon and Cornwall news here
The machine is the brainchild of Will Coleman, founder of Golden Tree Productions, and is named after a mechanism used to move miners up and down to working levels.
10m
Height when standing (32.8ft)
4.5m
Height when crawling (14.8ft)
40 tonnes Weight with accompanying vehicle
130 miles Distance travelled in two weeks, Tavistock to Geevor
10 Cornish Mining World Heritage Site areas visited | A giant puppet of a Cornish miner has taken its first steps on a 130-mile journey. | 36882234 |
Thomas 'Slab' Murphy, the alleged former IRA "chief of staff", was found guilty at the Republic of Ireland's non-jury Special Criminal Court.
Mr Adams said: "All citizens have the right to be judged by a jury of their peers.
"It is extraordinary a case involving a failure to complete tax returns is heard before a non-jury court."
He added: "Tom Murphy's rights have been denied to him."
The three judges were told how Murphy had significant dealings in cattle and land and received farming grants, but failed to submit tax returns for nine years.
The prosecution was brought after an investigation by the Irish Criminal Assets Bureau.
Murphy, 66, who lives at Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, County Louth, on a farm that straddles the border with Northern Ireland, had denied the charges.
He was remanded on continuing bail ahead of sentencing in February.
Mr Adams, who represents North Louth as a TD, or member of the Irish parliament, said in a statement there could be "no equivocation" that "everyone has a duty to pay the taxes for which they are liable".
He said "many prominent public figures accused of tax irregularities, including TDs ... have not been treated in the same fashion as Mr Murphy.
"Neither have they been labelled as criminals by those media outlets currently writing lurid headlines about Mr Murphy."
Mr Adams said he considered Murphy to be a "good republican".
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said it was "unbefitting for the leader of a political party to continue to back a convicted criminal".
"The time has come for Gerry Adams to address the nature of his relationship with Mr Murphy and for Sinn Féin to face up to the issue of paramilitary criminality, across the island," he said. | A prominent Irish republican convicted of tax evasion was treated unfairly, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has said. | 35141718 |
The chart-topping song has sold more than 600,000 copies, earning it a commendation from the British Phonographic Industry.
Hello sold 34,000 more copies than this week's number two, Justin Bieber's Sorry, and was the most-streamed track with 4.7 million listens.
Elvis Presley's If I Can Dream was the number one album for a second week.
Presley's classic songs, reworked with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, had a better run that its first week with 88,600 combined sales.
It is just short of the 2015 record set by Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, who sold 89,110 copies of Chasing Yesterday in March.
Former X Factor winners Little Mix's third album, Get Weird, charted at number two, while Ellie Goulding's third solo album Delirium entered the charts at three.
A re-issue of The Beatles' album 1, which originally spent nine weeks at number one in 2000, also made the top five.
Ed Sheeran set a new record as his album x became the longest reigning in the top 10 for a British artist.
It has been in the chart for 73 consecutive weeks after being released in June 2014.
Adele's long awaited new album 25 is due for release on 20 November. | Adele's comeback single Hello has achieved platinum sales status three weeks after it was released. | 34808865 |
Katherine Archuleta said she would step down on Friday to help the department "move beyond the current challenges".
Authorities suspect that Chinese-based hackers targeted the computer systems of the OPM, which acts as the personnel office of the federal government.
Initially the OPM said four million workers were affected by the breach.
However, the department disclosed on Thursday that the data of more than 20 million people, including current and former employees, may have been compromised.
Authorities in Beijing have publicly denied any involvement.
Ms Archuleta resignation comes a day after Democrats and Republicans in Congress called for her to step aside as the scope of the data breach expanded significantly.
Among the data targeted were forms used to vet potential employees of federal agencies including as the CIA and branches of the military.
The stolen data includes health and financial information, criminal records, and the names and addresses of government employees and their relatives.
Experts are concerned that the sensitive information could be used to blackmail US agents.
Source: OPM news release
Last month, US intelligence chief James Clapper said China was the "leading suspect" in the massive data breaches.
His comments came after three days of high-level talks in which China and the US agreed to a "code of conduct" on cyber security issues.
US Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton said China was "trying to hack into everything that doesn't move in America".
But China has dismissed claims of involvement as "irresponsible and unscientific". | The director of the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has resigned after a massive data breach involving more than 20 million people. | 33481285 |
One girl was believed to have serious but not life-threatening injuries.
The accident happened near the Brig Inn on Ellon Road at about 15:15.
The northbound carriageway of Ellon Road was initially closed, but later reopened. | Two girls have been taken to hospital after being knocked down by a van in Aberdeen. | 40134223 |
Some fans of both clubs sang songs related to tragedies involving the other side in the 1-1 second-leg draw at Old Trafford on 17 March, with Liverpool winning the tie 3-1.
Uefa has already charged both clubs for crowd trouble, and Liverpool for illicit chants - reportedly critical of Manchester, rather than referring to the Munich air crash.
Europe's governing body was then made aware of the allegations of chanting about that disaster and the Hillsborough tragedy - and is expected to make a decision on possible new charges next week.
In 1958, eight Manchester United footballers were among 23 people who died after their plane caught fire and crashed in Munich.
The Hillsborough tragedy saw 96 Liverpool fans crushed to death at an FA Cup semi-final tie with Nottingham Forest in 1989.
The initial charges will be heard on 19 May. | Manchester United and Liverpool are expected to discover next week if they will face more charges for illicit chanting at their Europa League tie. | 35935559 |
Additional funding of £5m has been allocated to the budget of the Gosport Independent Panel for 2017/18 after the timescale of the inquiry was extended.
Relatives had called for a public inquiry which they believe would have been quicker and cheaper.
Launched in 2014, the investigation was originally due to end in December 2017.
A review of the deaths at Gosport War Memorial Hospital between 1988 and 2000 found an "almost routine use of opiates had almost certainly" shortened the lives of some patients.
Police investigated the deaths of 92 people but brought no prosecutions.
The end date of the review was pushed back in November 2016 with the work likely to end in spring 2018, the government previously said.
The Gosport Independent Panel is headed by the former Bishop of Liverpool James Jones, who led the Hillsborough inquiry.
Bridget Reeves, whose grandmother Elsie Devine died at the hospital, is among the relatives who criticised the decision for an independent panel.
She said: "The frustration is that when we started we wanted a public inquiry but we were told very clearly that the cost would be far too great."
Department of Health allocated budgets to the Gosport Independent Panel:
The Department of Health said: "Budgets may be reviewed by the new government following the election on 8 June." | The inquiry into the deaths of dozens of elderly patients at a Hampshire hospital will cost more than £13m, the Department of Health has revealed. | 39854745 |
Christopher Meli, 20, was found dead near houses at Glasvey Close. Detectives said he had suffered a sustained and vicious assault.
Police said two girls aged 16 and 17 and a 17-year-old boy were released on police bail pending further enquiries.
On Tuesday, three teenagers appeared in court charged with Mr Meli's murder. | Three teenagers arrested over the murder of a man in west Belfast's Twinbrook estate at the weekend have been released on bail. | 35134218 |
The British Lung Foundation (BLF) found more than 40% of Welsh councils did not have any air quality monitors outside schools.
This prompted the charity to launch a petition calling for urgent action from the UK and Welsh governments.
The Welsh Government said it was "firmly committed to improving air quality across Wales."
The BLF said Wales already had some of the highest rates of lung disease in the UK and exposing children to more polluted air would only make it worse.
The charity's Freedom of Information request to Welsh councils found:
"Children's lung health is particularly vulnerable to air pollution, yet they are not being protected by the government's air quality monitoring guidance," said Joseph Carter, head of BLF Wales.
He said the UK Government needed to bring forward a new clean air act and the Welsh Government needed to change its guidance to councils to make sure it monitored air quality outside schools.
Head teachers' union NAHT Cymru is supporting the BLF's petition.
Rob Williams, the union's director of policy, said: "Schools leaders in Wales strive to create safe and happy environments for children. However, they cannot address the potentially dangerous levels of pollution around their schools."
A spokesman said the Welsh Government was "firmly committed to improving air quality" and provided guidance to councils to help them fulfil their responsibilities for reviewing local air quality.
"We recently launched a consultation on this subject which recognises the immediate and long-term health benefits to be gained by reducing pollution exposure across Wales alongside action on localised pollution hotspots," he added. | Schoolchildren are not being protected from air pollution, a leading health charity has said. | 37647578 |
He was the fiddler and frontman for Edinburgh-based band Shooglenifty, and before that performed with Swamptrash.
With Shooglenifty he helped to create a genre of music called acid croft, described as "a blend of Celtic traditional music and dance grooves".
The band, which has posted a tribute to Grant on its website, said Grant died on Sunday after a short illness.
Grant grew up in Lochaber and was the son of well-known left-handed fiddle player Aonghas Grant.
He played fiddle and wrote music, including the tunes Two Fifty to Vigo, She's In The Attic, Nordal Rhumba, Glenfinnan Dawn and Fitzroy Crossing.
In the tribute on Shooglenifty's website, the musician was described as having "lived without ties and responsibility, but was devoted to his music, his family and his fellow musicians".
Shooglenifty has performed at the HebCelt in the Western Isles, the Highlands' Blas festivals and Glasgow's Celtic Connections.
The band rounded off its 25th anniversary tour last December with a special performance at Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations. | Tributes have been paid to Scots musician Angus R Grant who has died at the age of 49. | 37610327 |
The teenager had to be rescued by fire crews after she tried to squeeze through and enter her house in Malvern, Worcestershire. It took 20 minutes to free her.
On Saturday morning, another girl had to be cut free after she became stuck in a cat flap at her home in Drayton Bassett, near Tamworth.
Both girls escaped without injury. | A 15-year-old girl became stuck in a dog flap after she was locked out of her home. | 28216942 |
The two-week blitz on phone use behind the wheel will see anyone caught fined £100 and given a three-point penalty.
Illegal calling and texting while driving has risen nationally and is expected to be the number one cause of road death and injuries in 2016.
In Wales, more than 500 people were caught during last year's campaign.
Gwent Police is leading the crackdown for the four Welsh forces this year.
Ch Insp Huw Jones said: "Even experienced and competent drivers can be easily distracted and a slight lapse in concentration can have serious consequences.
"Smart phones are a key part of modern life and we are also seeing drivers being distracted whilst checking social media, reading their emails or accessing the internet. Drivers need to be aware that these actions carry the same danger and the same penalty.
"Our main message is clear; keep your eyes on the road. A lapse in concentration when driving can be devastating and this is why officers from all four Welsh forces will be carrying out proactive patrols to target motorists who endanger road users in this way."
Susan Storch, chairwoman of Road Safety Wales, said: "Driving a vehicle requires us to multi-task so anything above and beyond that needs to wait until we are safely parked up or until our journey has finished.
"No call or text is that important."
Last month, lorry driver Tomasz Kroker was jailed for 10 years after killing a mother and three children while distracted by his phone on the A34 in Berkshire. | Motorists who use mobile phones while driving are being warned they face sanctions as the Welsh forces launch a campaign to crack down on the practice. | 37894488 |
The Association of British Commuters (ABC) took legal action over what it described as the Southern "fiasco".
The government has said it will not be publishing any new reports on Southern.
It said an independent report published last week made it clear the responsibility for disruption was "primarily caused" by strike action.
Southern, owned by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), has been embroiled in a bitter dispute with the unions over driver-only operated trains.
The Department for Transport said the Gibb report made it clear "the responsibility for disruption... was primarily caused by industrial action led by RMT and Aslef and exceptional levels of staff sick leave."
It added: "We have been considering whether the extensive disruption to the line last year was entirely beyond GTR's control and our decision was due to be communicated to the company imminently.
"We are more than happy to inform GTR of the verdict within the 14 days required by the judge."
The ruling comes as the drivers' union, Aslef, began a new overtime ban.
Clive Sheldon speaking for the transport secretary said Chris Grayling was "fully aware" of the inconvenience being caused to Southern's 300,000 passengers.
Southern has been forced to introduced a revised timetable axing about a quarter of services affecting services in Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire.
Before the hearing, Summer Dean, of ABC, said: "Passengers are the only people who still don't have a voice in this fiasco, and many thousands of them support us in our efforts to reveal the truth behind the Department for Transport's involvement in Southern Rail."
ABC said ministers acted unlawfully by failing to determine whether managers had breached franchise obligations. | The government has two weeks to decide if Southern rail is in breach of its contract or face judicial review, the High Court has ruled. | 40446450 |
JR was born at Dyfed Shire Horse Farm in Eglwyswrw in 2007 and Joe was born at Tywyn's Caerberllan stud and raised by the Bodsworth family near Llandysul.
Both have been firm favourites at the Eglwyswrw farm but are now embarking on a new life as military drum horses.
They have been bought by a mystery buyer from the Middle East for use in huge military parades.
JR's brother, Celt, already serves with the Household Cavalry in London.
Both horses, weighing between 125-150st (800-950kg) will be trained to take part in military parades like the UK's Trooping the Colour.
Mark Cole from Dyfed Shire Horse Farm admitted there were mixed emotions about their departure.
He described them as "proper characters beloved by the visitors", but said it was also a day of "great pride". | Two Welsh shire horses are leaving Pembrokeshire for a life as military parade horses in the Middle East. | 39247595 |
Find out how you can join in and submit your images and videos below.
To celebrate the festive season, throughout December, we welcome photographs inspired by the 12 Days of Christmas song.
If you have a picture you'd like to share, email us at [email protected], post it on Facebook or tweet it to @BBCEngland. You can also find us on Instagram - use #englandsbigpicture to share an image there. You can also see a recent archive of pictures on our England's Big Picture board on Pinterest.
When emailing pictures, please make sure you include the following information:
Please note that whilst we welcome all your pictures, we are more likely to use those which have been taken in the past week.
If you submit a picture, you do so in accordance with the BBC's Terms and Conditions.
In contributing to England's Big Picture you agree to grant us a royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to publish and otherwise use the material in any way that we want, and in any media worldwide.
It's important to note, however, that you still own the copyright to everything you contribute to England's Big Picture, and that if your image is accepted, we will publish your name alongside.
The BBC cannot guarantee that all pictures will be used and we reserve the right to edit your comments.
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws collecting any kind of media. | Each day we feature a photograph sent in from across England. | 38131330 |
It comes a day after it announced more than 1,000 job losses.
The company usually takes on about 40 apprentices every year for a four year training programme.
The scheme was assessed by the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) last year as "very good" with some "outstanding" elements.
The firm said it will "support existing apprentices to complete their training and gain relevant qualifications".
At the time of the ETI inspection the firm had 140 apprentices, 20 of whom were on the pilot higher level programme.
Over the four year scheme apprentices work towards NVQs in aircraft fitting or engineering.
First Minister Arlene Foster has said she will do what she can to soften the blow of the job losses.
Meanwhile, a company which is one of Bombardier's biggest local parts suppliers says its saddened by the cuts.
However, Raymond Semple of Moyola Precision Engineeering, said he was confident about its own future, despite Bombardier's troubles.
"It's a major thing losing 1,000 jobs. Those people trying to get employment, it's not going to be all that easy for them," he said.
"For us as a company, we're quite confident we'll still be going forward. It's a global business here." | The aerospace company, Bombardier, is suspending recruitment of new apprentices as part of cost cutting plans. | 35605529 |
Former England opener Boycott made 609 first-class appearances for Yorkshire and was president from 2012 to 2014.
The 75-year-old does not hold a board position, but acts informally as an overseas ambassador for the club.
"We want individuals with skills that can guarantee the survival of the club," Denison told BBC Radio Leeds.
Denison, who succeeded Colin Graves in March last year, added: "We are saying no on the back of stability.
"The success we have had in the last two seasons has been on the back of a very stable board and a very stable management team all pointing in the same direction.
"He's a boyhood hero of mine - I invaded the pitch aged 13 when he got his 100th hundred at Headingley - but the problem we face at the moment is the club has been in serious financial difficulty for a long time, propped up by Colin Graves.
"We've had to refinance both this year and try and lay foundations for the immediate future when we have to build a new stand.
"We need specialist skills on our board in relation to finance and construction - and that's the direction of the board over the next few years."
Boycott's return to the board would need to be approved by the club members at the annual general meeting on 26 March.
He received 91.09% of the vote when he was voted club president in 2012.
"Irrespective of the outcome of the member vote, there will be no acrimony involved," added Denison. "We will work with Geoffrey if he gets elected.
"Geoffrey does an excellent job supporting the club when he's on his travels around the world and we want him to do that again. There is nobody better." | Yorkshire chairman Steve Denison has asked club members not to back Geoffrey Boycott's return to the board of directors. | 35689136 |
Police said they were called to a disturbance in Carolside Drive, Drumchapel, at about 10:30.
The man had been stabbed and was taken by ambulance to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital where he is being treated for serious injuries.
Officers said their inquiry into the attack was ongoing and appealed for witnesses to contact them. | A 30-year-old man is in a serious condition after being attacked in the north of Glasgow. | 39793821 |
The couple who live at the farm - both in their 60s - were assaulted while the three men searched the property.
A large amount of cash and jewellery was stolen before the robbers discovered the farmhouse's gun room.
The victims, who were locked in the gun room, required hospital treatment following the raid in West Handley, near Chesterfield, on 14 March.
Crimestoppers, which has offered the reward, said the theft of the guns was a "serious cause for concern".
The crime-fighting charity confirmed the robbers also stole a large amount of shotgun cartridges.
Lydia Patsalides, from Crimestoppers, said: "This violent burglary was immensely distressing for the victims.
"Not only was cash and valuable jewellery stolen, but the theft of such a large number of shotguns is a serious cause for concern.
"These people need to be found and the shotguns traced, before any further harm can be done." | A £5,000 reward has been offered to catch machete-wielding robbers who stole 18 shotguns from a farmhouse. | 39882553 |
End of Twitter post by @BBCScotland
Isla Nelson was honoured for her online appearances on BBC Scotland's Short Stuff News At 3 series.
The feature, which has notched up nearly 100 million views, shows Isla discussing politics and current affairs with her father, comedian Mark Nelson.
The series was also named Best Online Comedy at the awards, held at Edinburgh's Le Monde hotel on Tuesday.
On collecting her acting award, Isla's father Mark told the audience of comedians and industry figures: "Isla can't be here tonight. She's been made Trump's new communications director."
When collecting the second award, Mr Nelson said: "Frankly, it's about time. It's ridiculous it's taken this long. Let this be a lesson to other three-year-olds to stick with it, and you can break the glass ceiling."
The News At 3 series - A Toddler's Take on the News - recently saw Isla and her father appear on the BBC's One Show programme.
Among its most popular posts are Isla's take on the recent general election and her thoughts on Easter.
BBC Scotland executive producer Anthony Browne said: "Isla is the breakout star of our popular Short Stuff comedy series on BBC Scotland's Facebook page.
"News at Three has struck a chord with our audience gathering over 92M views and praise from across the world. We're always proud when we uncover new talent and I think it is safe to say Isla, at 3 years old, is our freshest new talent to date."
The awards, now in their fourth year, saw Still Game named as best TV show, while BBC Radio Scotland's topical comedy show Breaking The News was the winner in the radio category. | A three-year-old girl from Glasgow has taken the Best Actress prize at the Scottish Comedy Awards. | 40802908 |
He joined as youth team coach in 2012 and has been academy boss since 2014.
The 54-year-old has had two spells in charge of the Reds as caretaker manager, in 2014 following the sacking of Billy Davies and last season following Philippe Montanier's exit.
"The academy has produced some outstanding young talent," chairman Nicholas Randall told the club website.
"Securing the continued involvement of Gary will provide much needed continuity and stability.
"A functioning and productive academy is vital to the long term success of any football club." | Nottingham Forest academy manager Gary Brazil has signed a new "long-term" contract with the Championship side. | 40875376 |
The 24th annual Lost Trawlermen's Day service was held in a marquee close to the River Humber.
It is always held in January or February, when most trawlers were lost.
The loss of the Ross Cleveland, St Romanus and Kingston Peridot trawlers in just one month in 1968 were among incidents remembered at the event.
Supt Tracey Stephens, of the Fishermen's Mission charity, said it was important that families had somewhere to go to remember lost loved ones.
She said: "I am one of those family members who comes just in order to remember my uncle. We have nowhere to remember him and as we look out to sea we think of him."
Karl Turner, Labour MP for Hull East, said: "It's very important for people to get together and remember the fishermen of this city.
"We lost thousands of people in the fishing industry from going out to sea in shocking conditions."
The event, at the St Andrews Quay retail park near the Sailmakers' Arms, was designed to maintain Hull's fishing port heritage and remember the men who worked in such a dangerous occupation. | Hundreds of people have attended a memorial service in Hull for more than 6,000 trawlermen from the city who have been lost at sea. | 21112260 |
Pathologist Dr Marta Cohen was giving evidence into the death of Mylee Weetman, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, at Wakefield Coroners Court.
The four-year-old died in 2013 after surgery at the children's cardiac unit at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI).
However, another pathologist, Professor Mary Shepherd, said she had found no evidence of a "surgical mishap".
Professor Shepherd told the court she had examined Mylee's heart and lungs and said there was nothing to indicate complications.
She added she could not rule out rule out an air embolism.
Mylee had been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, Tetralogy or Fallot, after her birth in 2009.
In a statement to the inquest Mylee's mother, Siobhan Casey, said her daughter had a normal childhood until 2012 when she noticed she was becoming very tired.
The operation to repair damage to her heart took place at the LGI on March 15 2013. The family were initially told it had gone well but she had suffered an allergic reaction.
It later emerged she had brain damage and her mother was told she had suffered two strokes.
Further surgery was also carried out but her condition deteriorated and her ventilator was turned off on 21 March.
Ms Casey told the inquest no-one had been able to explain to her how or why Mylee had died.
Her death came amid concerns about death rates at the unit in Leeds. Surgery was later suspended for two weeks, but a review found the centre was safe.
The inquest continues. | A child died after heart surgery because her brain had been starved of oxygen, an inquest has heard. | 33597562 |
The news is another blow for the Ports who cannot sign players until next June after being found to have made undisclosed payments to Gary Twigg.
Portadown also had a £5,000 penalty imposed for the offence by the IFA.
Full-back Redman, who has spent 12 years at his hometown club, joins Crusaders-bound Michael Gault in quitting the Shamrock Park outfit.
Redman said that he had taken the decision "after a lot of thought".
"I have spent 12 years at Portadown and would like to thank the staff, fans and players at the club," said the defender.
"I have enjoyed every minute playing for me hometown club but feel that it is the right time of my career to move on. I wish everyone at Portadown FC the best in the future." | Ross Redman has announced that he is to leave Portadown after turning down the offer of a new one-year deal. | 36208700 |
The move was prompted by decades-old allegations made by multiple women against actor Bill Cosby.
The change means that from January 2017 there will be no time limit on the prosecution of rape cases.
But it will not work retroactively, or help those who accuse Cosby of crimes committed more than 10 years ago.
Dozens of women have accused the comedian of sexual assaults dating from the 1960s to the 1990s.
Cosby, who starred in the long-running sitcom The Cosby Show, has denied the accusations, saying his sexual encounters were consensual.
He is due to go on trial in June 2017 charged with sexually assaulting a woman in Philadelphia in 2004.
Current California law requires prosecution for rape to begin within 10 years of the alleged offence, with some exceptions.
Under the new legislation, SB813, there will be no time limit. The change will also apply to crimes for which the statute of limitations has not expired as of 1 January 2017.
Senator Connie Leyva, who introduced the bill, said it told victims of sexual assault that they could seek justice "regardless of when they are ready to come forward".
"Rapists should never be able to evade legal consequences simply because an arbitrary time limit has expired."
Statutes of limitations for rape differ across US states. | California Governor Jerry Brown has signed legislation ending the US state's 10-year statute of limitations on rape. | 37504919 |
Devon and Cornwall Police is planning to lose a total of 1,300 personnel, of which 760 will be police officers.
The details feature in an internal staff briefing, seen by the BBC.
The force had expected to lose 500 officers, but sources said a revised analysis of expected budget cuts of £54 million a year by 2020 indicate the impact will be greater.
The force refused to comment on the leaked briefing.
It has emerged the force's 360 police community support officers may also go within five years.
The briefing indicates that in total the force, which covers the largest geographical police area in England, will have to lose 1,300 personnel.
Up to 180 police civilian support staff also face losing their jobs.
One senior police source said the effect on policing would be "absolutely dreadful".
"Officers on the beat in Devon and Cornwall could become an endangered species," he said.
"We risk losing our historic link with communities".
The cuts would reduce the number of police officers in Devon and Cornwall to about 2,240.
In 2010, before the austerity regime began to bite, the number reached a historic high of 3,500.
The impact of the cuts could be reduced if the police's share of council tax is increased.
The Police and Crime Commissioner, Tony Hogg, has raised the prospect of a 20% increase, which would add 20 to 30 pounds to most households' annual bills. Mr Hogg is to hold a consultation on the proposal. | A police force is considering axing more than 700 officer posts as it faces a £54 million budget cut. | 34669800 |
The A48 in Morriston has been shut and there is severe traffic in the area following the collision at Morriston Cross.
Emergency services are at the scene.
Traffic is also affected on Sway Road and Woodfield Street and in both directions on the A48 Pentrepoeth Road. | A pedestrian has been hit by a bus in Swansea, leading to a main road in the city being closed. | 38777362 |
Former world time trial champion Pooley claimed British Cycling - investigating claims of sexism and discrimination in the sport - should also look into why no women's team was formed by Team Sky.
Kennaugh tweeted Pooley should "get over it" before deleting his message.
He later tweeted an apology, saying he came across like a "total idiot".
Pooley, who twice finished second in the Giro d'Italia, believes Team Sky boss Sir Dave Brailsford, the former performance director of British Cycling, should have offered more support for a professional women's road race team.
The 33-year-old Olympic silver medallist told the Guardian: "I wish more questions had been asked of him before he was awarded his knighthood and moved to Sky.
"It was when he was running British Cycling that there was no women's Team Sky."
Kennaugh had earlier supported Shane Sutton, who resigned as British Cycling technical director amid allegations of sexism and discrimination towards elite cyclists.
Kennaugh, who won team pursuit gold at London 2012, told BBC Radio York: "Shane's a great guy with a massive heart.
"It is a sport and if you are not meeting the standards, which are very high at British Cycling, then unfortunately there's no place for you anymore.
"It is ruthless at this level. I think a lot of it has been blown out of proportion." | Double British road race champion Peter Kennaugh has apologised to Emma Pooley over comments he made as part of the ongoing sexism row in British cycling. | 36164265 |
Champions Australia begin their defence against West Indies at Taunton two days later, while Bristol and Leicester are the other group stage venues.
The eight teams play each other in a round-robin format, with the top four sides qualifying for the semi-finals before the final at Lord's on 23 July.
England, ranked second in the world, play Australia in Bristol on 9 July.
Australia, England New Zealand and West Indies qualified by finishing in the top four of the ICC Women's Championship, while South Africa, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan clinched the last four places through the recent World Cup Qualifier.
International Cricket Council chief executive David Richardson said 9,000 tickets had already been sold for the final.
"We are anticipating an exciting tournament and I know the players are looking forward to competing here in front of unprecedented levels of support," he added.
The group games will be played at Bristol, Derby, Leicester and Taunton, with the semi-finals at Bristol and Derby,
Click here for full tournament fixtures | Hosts England will play India in the first match of this summer's ICC Women's World Cup, at Derby on 24 June. | 39199801 |
Liam McMeechan, 23, left Tahir Ahmed with a fractured skull following the raid at A&A newsagents in South Trinity Road on 12 August 2016.
Mr Ahmed, who feared he was going to die, had tried to fight off McMeechan.
Earlier, McMeechan pleaded guilty to assaulting the shopkeeper to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
Accomplice David Allan, 50, admitted to a charge of attempted robbery and was jailed for 32 months at the High Court in Glasgow.
Lord Boyd jailed McMeechan for seven years - but he must first serve 414 days from a previous sentence.
The judge said McMeechan, who has a string of robbery convictions, was a "considerable menace".
McMeechan will also be supervised for two years on his release.
Mr Ahmed needed 14 staples for serious head wounds and has been left scarred for life. | A thief who hacked at a shopkeeper's head with a machete during a robbery bid at an Edinburgh shop has been jailed for seven years. | 39383706 |
Aneta Fortuniak assaulted an 83-year-old woman and a 90-year-old man at Spynie Care Home last year.
She was earlier convicted after a trial at Elgin Sheriff Court.
Cairn Group, which operates the Spynie home, said it was proud that other staff members had alerted the authorities.
Andrew Laing, procurator fiscal for Grampian, Highlands and Islands, said: "There is no excuse for such behaviour, it is wholly unacceptable.
"Aneta Fortuniak had been entrusted with the care of some of the older members of our community and having lost her temper, assaulted two of those she was meant to be looking after.
"Cases such as this are thankfully rare as the majority of individuals in this vital caring profession provide an excellent service, treating their residents with the care and dignity they deserve.
"We would like to assure the older members of the community that we will seek to bring those who do commit such crimes to justice."
Ross Hodgson, operations manager of Cairn Group, told the BBC Scotland news website: "We did employ the lady, we went through all the relevant checks.
"We support the court's decision. Our staff alerted the relevant authorities. We are proud of the way in which they acted." | An assistant at an Elgin care home who assaulted two elderly residents has been ordered to carry out 240 of hours of unpaid work. | 36487573 |
On his first appearance of the 2016 domestic season, Hales batted two and half hours for 34, to add to his first-innings 36, before being bowled by a Jack Brooks delivery that kept low.
David Willey took his first wicket for Yorkshire but Samit Patel (51 not out) guided Notts to 151-5, a lead of 122.
Liam Plunkett's 51 earlier helped the visitors recover from 173-5 to 290.
The defending champions had looked well set resuming on 170-4 at Trent Bridge, but their progress was soon checked with the early loss of Alex Lees (92) to Harry Gurney.
Jake Ball finished with figures of 4-57 as Nottinghamshire limited the Tykes to a slender advantage of 29, with Plunkett the only other player to pass fifty.
England all-rounder Willey, wicketless on day one of his debut, then trapped Steve Mullaney lbw just four balls into the hosts' second innings.
Hales looked far from his fluent best as he dug in for an obdurate 115-ball knock, which featured five fours, before Patel's well-paced half-century helped Nottinghamshire close 122 runs in front heading in to the final day. | England opener Alex Hales again missed out on a half century as Yorkshire edged the day against Nottinghamshire. | 36188463 |
The Reverend James Percival, 64, of Holy Trinity Church in Freckleton, and daughter Ruth, 28, were also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to conceal the birth of a child.
His wife Susan, 65, was also arrested on suspicion of concealing a birth.
Lancashire Police said three people have been bailed until 5 March. A post-mortem examination was inconclusive.
A police spokesman said: "The 64-year-old man and 28-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of murder and conspiracy to conceal the birth of a child and the 65-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to conceal the birth of a child have all been bailed until 5 March 2015."
Further tests to establish how the baby died will be carried out.
Police arrested the vicar and his daughter on Tuesday after reports of a woman giving birth to a stillborn baby boy on 25 November. | A vicar and his daughter have been bailed after their arrests on suspicion of murdering a baby. | 30342999 |
Lewis Knapp was hit by a silver Vauxhall Vectra at 04:30 BST on Saturday as he crossed Anderson Street near the junction with Beach Road.
The 20-year-old, of Boldon Colliery, died at the scene.
Northumbria Police said a 20-year-old man arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving in relation to the crash had been released on bail. | A man who was killed when he was struck by a car in South Shields has been named by police. | 39623991 |
Reid, 30, leaves Glasgow after making 109 appearances in seven years at the Scottish club, in which he helped win the Pro12 title in the 2014-15 season.
The loose-head prop has 24 caps for Scotland and joins Irish after they won the Championship play-off final.
"I had seven enjoyable seasons with Glasgow, but it's now time for a new challenge in my career," he said.
Irish have also secured the services of Australian scrum-half Ben Meehan, 24, who joins from Super Rugby side Melbourne Rebels and 24-year-old Georgian back row Lasha Lomidze from Russian side Krasny Yar.
Meehan switched codes after playing for NRL side Melbourne Storm, while Lomidze has 25 caps for Georgia and previously played for French clubs Montpellier and Beziers.
Reid, Meehan and Lomidze are the Exiles' first new signings for the 2017-18 season following their play-off win over Yorkshire Carnegie and promotion back to the Premiership at the first time of asking. | Scotland international Gordon Reid has joined newly-promoted Premiership side London Irish from Glasgow Warriors. | 40125592 |
Orlando Ortega, 22, criticised the Cuban sports authorities in a phone call to the Associated Press news agency from Padua in Italy.
"It was an extremely difficult and tough decision, but I made it and I won't look back," said Ortega.
Ortega came sixth in the 110m hurdles final in the London 2012 Olympics. But this year his form has been much worse.
He failed to get beyond the qualifying round in his event at the world championships in Moscow recently.
The Cuban authorities suspended him for six months for insubordination after he refused to compete in a June trial event in Russia.
In early August he abandoned the Cuban team in Spain, after the World Championships in Moscow.
He was regarded as one of the island's top athletes and his defection is seen as a big blow, coming after the decision by fellow Cuban hurdler Dayron Robles to move his career to Monaco.
"Right now the only thing and what I want most is to reunite with my mother in the United States," Ortega said. His mother lives in Tampa, Florida.
"They committed a great injustice with me and my trainer," Ortega said. "It affected me a lot and I felt very bad, because I didn't compete during the two months ahead of the world championships," he told AP.
"I am living some hard moments. I know that in Cuba people are talking about betrayal," Ortega said.
He went on to criticise Cuba's sports authorities for "the lack of attention to the athletes". | A top Cuban hurdler who defected earlier this month says he now wants to be reunited with his mother in Florida. | 23862800 |
The 25-year-old helped Arsenal finish in second place in the Premier League and played in eight of Wales' 10 games as they qualified for Euro 2016.
"I've played in some big games and everybody's eyes will be on this tournament," he told BBC Wales Sport.
"I've never been in a tournament before. I want to come here and show what I'm capable of doing."
This summer's competition will be Wales' first appearance at the finals of a major championship since the 1958 World Cup.
And Ramsey believes Chris Coleman's side can perform well when it matters.
"It was one of my biggest targets to help Wales qualify for a major tournament. It was a big achievement not just for me personally but for this team and our country," he added.
"Now we're here, we don't want to be rolled over every game that we play, we want to make a statement and show we're capable of doing it."
Ramsey believes Wales can draw upon the experience of their squad and do not have to rely on Gareth Bale this summer.
"We're delighted to have him in our team but it's not just him, it's the whole team, we've had to work hard," Ramsey continued.
"Defensively we've been solid, we haven't conceded many goals in the [qualifying] campaign and we have players who can counter-attack and create things and put the ball in the back of the net. I think we have a good balance."
Who do you think should start at Euro 2016? Step into Chris Coleman’s shoes and pick your XI - and then share it with your friends using our brand new team selector. | Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey says he will use the European Championships to prove he can play at the highest level. | 36379252 |
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