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Willie Clarke, who was first elected to Fife Council in 1973, stepped down on Wednesday for personal reasons. The 80-year-old technically sat as an independent in recent years due to ballot paper rules, but still identifies himself as a Communist. He said he hoped the movement could "pick up strength" again in the future. A Fife Council spokeswoman said a date had not yet been set for a by-election to replace Mr Clarke. The Ballingry resident served on the education and social work committees during his four decades in public office. There are elections to all of Scotland's councils in 2017, but Mr Clarke told the Edinburgh Evening News that it was "time to call it a day" now due to personal reasons. He said: "It has been a hard decision to make. I had hoped to see things through to the council elections next May, but over the past few months one or two problems have made it difficult to be able to be as committed as I want to be to this very important job." Scottish Labour deputy leader Alex Rowley, who was elected to The Lochs ward alongside Mr Clarke in 2011, paid tribute to him as "a great servant to the people". He added: "Willie has been a great inspiration and friend to so many people including myself, and we owe him a great debt of gratitude for all the work he has put in." The Communist Party of Britain contested the North East list in May's Scottish election, but won only 510 votes. As of 2014, the party had 917 members across the UK.
A Fife councillor believed to be the last elected Communist in Britain has retired from office.
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More than 70 firefighters and other emergency crews are at the scene near Docks Road after the fire broke out just before 23:00 BST on Tuesday. Mid and West Wales Fire Service have 10 fire appliances at the scene. At its height, 21 appliances and more than 100 firefighters fought the fire with South Wales Fire and Rescue Service assisting colleagues. Nobody is reported to have been hurt, but nearby residents have been advised to keep their windows and doors closed. The incident has also led to road closures. Check if this is affecting your journey
A large fire has been burning throughout the night at a tyre recycling plant in Port Talbot.
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It says the storm is now near the town of San Juan de Nicaragua. Costa Rica declared an emergency and ordered the evacuation of 4,000 people from Atlantic coastal areas. Meanwhile, a powerful earthquake shook Nicaragua and El Salvador on Thursday triggering a brief tsunami alert. The 7.0 magnitude quake in the Pacific Ocean was about 120km (75 miles) off the coast of El Salvador. There were no reports of damage or casualties but residents were initially advised to evacuate coastal areas. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later said the threat had passed. Nevertheless, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega declared a state of emergency due to the hurricane and the quake. Potential for destruction Hurricane Otto has wind speeds of up to 110mph (175km/h) and is expected to weaken to a tropical storm by Thursday night. Forecasters have warned of heavy rains which they fear could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. Four people died in Panama earlier this week as a result of severe weather caused by the approach of Hurricane Otto. A number of flights were cancelled in Costa Rica, but local media reported that US hard rock band Guns N' Roses were able to land ahead of their concert on Saturday. Costa Rica has not been directly hit by a hurricane since records began in 1851. A resident of the capital, San Jose, praised the authorities for their response. "The government has been doing a great job in keeping people informed. We get messages constantly through our cell phones, mobile numbers," Gabriela Hernandez said. Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis urged residents to heed official warnings. "Let me be clear: the hurricane is potentially highly destructive. We hope no-one gets hurt, but that is why we must be prepared, and follow the authorities' orders."
Hurricane Otto has made landfall over a sparsely populated area of southern Nicaragua after strengthening to a category two storm, meteorologists from the US National Hurricane Centre say.
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Election officials said the turnout was about 39%, compared to 60% in February polls. The opposition had called for the boycott, saying new rules favoured pro-government candidates, who now dominate the 50-seat chamber. The result also saw minority Shia MPs win their biggest tally, at 15. Shia form 30% of the 1.2 million population and had seven candidates in February's assembly, which was later dissolved by the Constitutional Court. Three women were also elected to the new parliament, the National Election Commission said. Islamists, liberals and Bedouins were among the main groups refusing to take part in Saturday's election. The opposition boycott means 60% of the assembly are new MPs. The biggest change is for Sunni Islamists. The boycott reduced their representation from 23 to four. The opposition said the new assembly was "unconstitutional". The Popular Committee for Boycotting the Election said the new body "does not represent the majority of Kuwaiti people and has lost popular and political legitimacy". It said any legislation would be illegal. Kuwait has seen months of confrontations between the opposition and government. The crisis was sparked in June, when the Constitutional Court annulled the elections held in February, in which the Islamist-led opposition made significant gains. The court also reinstated the previous assembly, allied to the ruling family. After months of protests, Kuwait's emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Sabah, ordered the dissolution of that parliament and announced new elections. His decree last month cut the number of candidates a voter could elect from four to one, saying it would ensure a fairer representation of people in the parliament. But critics of the amendment said it gave the government greater influence over the outcome of the ballot. Opposition MPs say the changes breaches the Gulf state's constitution. As a result they decided not to participate in the election.
Opposition groups say their demand for a boycott of Kuwait's parliamentary election has been a success and called the new chamber unconstitutional.
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United were keen on the France forward and were considering whether to trigger his 100m euro (£87m) escape clause. However, a source close to United said Griezmann, 26, is no longer a priority. It is understood the long-term injury to Zlatan Ibrahimovic has forced the club to change their priorities, with doubts over the Swede's future beyond the expiry of his contract on 30 June. No decision has yet been made over an extension but, given he is unlikely to play until January, the odds are against him being offered a new deal. United are now thought to be targeting a main striker rather than a number 10, believing they already have enough players to fill that role. After his side beat Ajax to win the Europa League last week, manager Jose Mourinho said executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has had his targets "for more than two months". Atletico have had their transfer ban upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, meaning they would not be able to replace Griezmann until January should he leave this summer. If Griezmann is not coming to Old Trafford, who are United going to get instead? Everton's Romelu Lukaku is an obvious one, a battering ram of a striker in the Didier Drogba mould. And United have also mbeen linked with Torino's Andrea Belotti - who has a release contract of £87m - and also Real Madrid's Alvaro Morata. No-one from the club is saying it, but by targeting a replacement for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, United appear to be indicating the Swede has no future at Old Trafford once his contract expires on 30 June.
Manchester United have cooled their interest in Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann.
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The fly-half suffered a head injury in Leinster's Champions Cup defeat by Wasps on Saturday but has joined up with the Ireland squad at Carton House. Sexton, 30, has passed two of the three return-to-play protocols and is set to complete the third on Tuesday. Leinster prop Marty Moore has been ruled out of the Six Nations after sustaining a grade 2 hamstring tear. The front row limped out of the fray against Wasps at the Ricoh Arena just after the hour mark and will be out of action for six to eight weeks. With first-choice prop Mike Ross in a fitness battle and likely to miss the start of the tournament due to his own hamstring injury, Connacht's Finlay Bealham has been drafted in as cover. Ross and Cian Healy are being monitored by the Leinster medical staff, but are thought to be a couple of weeks away from a return. Robbie Henshaw suffered no ill-effects after starring for Connacht at the weekend, the centre having not played since breaking his hand in November. Sexton was forced to come off after eight minutes of Leinster's record 51-10 reverse at the hands of quarter-finalists Wasps after a clash of heads with former Leinster team-mate Brendan Macken. He subsequently passed two head injury assessments. The ex-Racing Metro number 10 is regarded as a pivotal figure in the Ireland team as they attempt to win a third consecutive Six Nations crown. They begin their campaign against Wales in Dublin on 7 February. Sexton missed Ireland's Six Nations opener against Italy last year after being stood down from all rugby for 12 weeks after a series of concussions in a short space of time. His World Cup campaign was cut short with an adductor muscle injury sustained in the pool win over France, which led him to miss the quarter-final defeat by Argentina.
Jonathan Sexton's prospects of being fit for Ireland's Six Nations opener against Wales appear to have improved.
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Nintendo will not reveal official sales figures until April. But games magazine Famitsu says more than 330,000 units were sold in the first three days in Japan, way more than its previous console the Wii U. Media reports suggest European and US sales have also been strong. The Daily Telegraph quotes sources at Nintendo Europe saying Switch sales were better than any previous piece of Nintendo hardware. And The New York Times reported the head of Nintendo America had claimed sales had surpassed the Nintendo Wii, which launched in 2006 and went on to sell more than 100 million consoles. On Wednesday, Nintendo shares climbed 1.2% to a two-month high in Tokyo trade. The Switch can be seated in a dock to play games on a television, or used as a stand-alone portable device. The early sales figures suggested "Nintendo's fans like it best when it innovates," according to Sam Reynolds, gaming analyst with IDC. "While a solid launch for Nintendo in Japan is expected, what's even more impressive is its success in North America," he told the BBC. According to Mr Reynolds, first weekend sales for Nintendo Switch were "miles ahead" of the Wii, the Wii U, the N64 and the Game Cube. The stakes are high for the Japanese firm, after the Wii U failed to replicate the success of the original Wii. And it has not been plain sailing for the firm. Thousands of customers have complained about dead or stuck pixels - which they say create distracting and annoying dark squares on their screens. Nintendo said such pixels were "normal and should not be considered a defect". Meanwhile some critics have said the Switch launched with too few games.
The Nintendo Switch has become the Japanese firm's fastest selling console in many years - and possible ever - according to several reports.
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The show is expected to begin a global tour in late 2015, before the release of three Avatar sequels currently in pre-production. The award-winning 2009 epic is Hollywood's highest grossing film ever. Cameron previously worked with Cirque Du Soleil in 2012, executive producing its 3D film Worlds Away. "Over the years, I have discovered the extraordinary talents and imaginations of both the artists and the creative forces behind Cirque du Soleil," said Cameron. "I know we share the common goal of bringing audiences to another level of entertainment experiences. I look forward to doing just that on this project." He and Cirque Du Soleil president and CEO Daniel Lamarre announced their plans at the C2MTL-Commerce and Creativity Conference in Montreal. Lamarre said he was "thrilled" the circus company was getting to "explore the very inspirational Avatar realm for the live stage". The live show is going to be a co-production between Cameron and Jon Landau's company Lightstorm Entertainment, Cirque Du Soleil and Twentieth Century Fox which financed and distributed Avatar. "Avatar remains a phenomenon that continues to inspire people around the globe, and combining it with the live event ingenuity of Cirque de Soleil is a perfect synthesis of imagination and talent," said the film company's chief Jim Gianopulos. Avatar has made $2.7bn (£1.6bn) worldwide and been awarded three Oscars, two Baftas and two Golden Globes. The three sequels are expected to hit cinemas between December 2016 and December 2018 and will start filming later this year. Both Sam Worthington, who playS former marine Jake Sully, and Zoe Saldana, who is Na'vi huntress Neytiri, are returning for the sequels. It is the first time Cirque Du Soleil has used a film for inspiration, although it has produced hit shows using the music of Michael Jackson and The Beatles.
Director James Cameron has teamed up with Cirque Du Soleil to create a touring arena show based on his 3D blockbuster Avatar.
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The social network said an "internal code change" had led to the problem, which lasted six hours 10 minutes. "We reverted the change, which fixed the issue," it added. Many of Twitter's 300 million users were unable to log in, or if they could, were unable to make searches or post tweets during the affected period. Twitter's shares fell by nearly 7% following the disruption. The BBC was later contacted by a US-based group of hackers who attempted to claim responsibility. A spokesman from Twitter said it had "no comment" about the claim. However, the BBC understands the company's systems indicate there were no outside factors involved in the disruption.
Twitter has blamed a botched software update for a fault that caused its service to become unavailable or glitchy for much of Tuesday.
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The tribute portraits have been created in his native city of Glasgow to mark the Big Yin's 75th birthday. Visiting the murals, he said: "I'm truly amazed at the effect these have had on me. They've just completely stunned me. "I thought I'd be all light-hearted on seeing them and jokey - but they're so big - the effect on me is so profound." He added: "You know, people going to that length for me, it's just taken my breath away. "I'm just flabbergasted, overjoyed, it's been a brilliant experience - being painted and otherwise by these genius people taking the time to do it. It just takes my breath away, I love it." The murals, which are more than 50ft (15m) high, have been created by BBC Scotland together with Glasgow City Council and arts project manager Art Pistol Projects. They are based on original portraits of Billy from top Scottish artists - John Byrne, Jack Vettriano and Rachel Maclean - commissioned by BBC Scotland. The story of the artworks will be told in the programme Billy Connolly: Portrait of a Lifetime, to be screened on BBC One Scotland on Wednesday. Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning
Comedian Billy Connolly has said he is "flabbergasted" by three giant murals in his honour.
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The walk out resulted in "some interruptions" to clearing and settlement operations at the central bank, but it said that its systems were largely operational. Four unions had called for the strike to demand better pension benefits. It was also against reforms that would reduce the RBI's regulatory powers. The central bank has been in debate over its policy independence with the government, which has been trying to assert more influence over the RBI's interest rate setting process. The government wants to create a rate-setting board with its appointed members to vote on such decisions. The RBI has cut interest rates four times this year, with the latest move in September to boost growth as inflation hit a record low on tumbling commodity prices. Union leaders said the dispute over retirement benefits showed that the bank was losing its independence, because it used raise pensions without approval from the government. Workers want their pensions to be increased to reflect rising costs and payments to former employees raised by $75 (£49) a month so that they can afford healthcare. The unions have warned of longer strikes in the near future if the central bank does not meet its demands.
Most of the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) 17,000 employees went on strike on Thursday in what the central bank described as "mass casual leave".
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Five of the eight candidates attended the live debate on BBC Somerset on Wednesday at Berrow Medical Centre in Berrow, north of Burnham-on-Sea. Candidates said the GP shortage could be tackled by training more GPs, waiving tuition fees and making the career "more attractive". All of the parties agreed waiting times were a problem. The NHS is expected to see 95% of A&E patients in four hours. Nationally, this has not been met on a weekly basis since September. In Somerset, Yeovil District and the Royal United Hospital in Bath have both been on "black alert" this winter with Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton on "red alert" due to the pressure on A and E services. Liberal Democrat Tessa Munt said the most important thing was to "get people out of acute hospitals as soon as possible and as soon as it is safe, and into community hospitals". James Heappey for the Conservatives, agreed with Ms Munt, saying patients need to be moved out of wards to convalesce at home and be visited by a carer, or moved into community hospitals. Chris Inchley from Labour said bed blocking was "a major issue" and said the social care system in Somerset and the health service needed to be "joined up better". UKIP candidate Helen Hims said her party would bring in "a pilot programme to put GPs on duty in A&E departments seven days a week". Green candidate Jon Cousins said the issue of how to relieve pressure on A&E was "a huge question" he did not know the answer to, and said anyone who claimed to know the answer would "probably not be telling the truth". The candidates for the constituency are: Paul Arnold - Independent Jon Cousins - Green Dave Dobbs - The Birthday Party James Heappey - Conservative Helen Hims - UKIP Chris Inchley - Labour Tessa Munt - Liberal Democrat Gypsy Watkins - Independent
A&E waiting times and GP shortages have been debated by candidates hoping to become the next MP for Wells.
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16 March 2015 Last updated at 07:02 GMT The middle eastern country has been crippled by a brutal civil war since 2011. What's happening in Syria? Almost 4 million people have fled Syria since the start of the conflict, most of them women and children. Many now live in refugee camps in neighbouring Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. Some of the children who have escaped the war now have the opportunity to go back to school. Hayley's been looking at what it's like for the Syrian kids living and learning in a camp.
Four years have passed since the start of fighting in Syria.
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The ad compares buying a car to finding a wife, saying "an important decision must be made carefully". It shows a woman having her nose, ears and teeth inspected by her mother-in-law on her wedding day. An Audi spokesman told the South China Morning Post marketing in China was the responsibility of its local joint venture partner. Some are calling for a boycott of the German carmaker - which is recognised as one of the big three in China, along with Mercedes Benz and BMW. One user called it "a terrible ad!" with others branding it "disgusting". "I will not buy an Audi in this lifetime," one user says, and another calls it "disastrous marketing". Many said that a male focus group must have decided it was worth running with. "From the inception of this idea to its broadcasting, was there a single woman who worked on this commercial?", asked one Weibo user. Because the mother-in-law gives her permission to her son to marry the bride, the advert has also generated debate about contemporary marital values. It is just the latest commercial to cause a backlash in China. Last year a Chinese firm apologised over an advert for detergent in which a black man was stuffed head-first into a washing machine before emerging as a light-skinned Asian. The manufacturer of Qiaobi said it strongly opposed and condemned racial discrimination, and was sorry the advert had caused controversy.
Audi has been criticised for an advert in China, which thousands of internet users have branded sexist.
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He was struck on the back of the head in the seventh over and needed support from fielder George Bailey, then sat on the ground to receive treatment. Morgan played no further part, with James Taylor taking on the captaincy. "He's got a lump on his head, but he's fine," said coach Trevor Bayliss. "He's got a bit of a headache but he's up and about now and having a chat. "When anyone gets hit it's an anxious moment, but the fact he walked off the field was a good sign. He was dizzy for a while and took an hour or so to come good. I'm sure the medical staff will keep a close eye on him." The hosts had already slipped to 22-3 in the deciding game when Morgan was replaced by Jonny Bairstow. They went on to lose by eight wickets. The blow to Morgan, who was wearing a helmet, caused immediate concern for the visiting players, less than a year after the death of Phillip Hughes, the Australia batsman who passed away after being struck on the neck by a bouncer. The fielders immediately went to help Morgan, while a shaken Starc was comforted by captain Steve Smith, coach Darren Lehmann, team-mate John Hastings and Morgan's batting partner Ben Stokes. "There were a couple of guys that were a little bit shaken up, Starcy in particular," said Smith. "It was a tough summer for us back home, losing a close mate. Whenever anyone gets hit like that, your first concern is for their health. Mine is that for Eoin, I hope he's OK and can recover well." The new Australia skipper added: "I don't think anyone ever means to do anything like that. It is part of the game to bowl bouncers. "You have to get back on the shop as quickly as possible, you still have got a job to do. You need to take it out of your mind, but you don't like seeing anyone get hit like that."
England captain Eoin Morgan retired hurt with concussion after he was hit on the head by a Mitchell Starc bouncer as they lost the final one-dayer against Australia at Old Trafford.
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James Martin and Veronica Ryan, both from west Belfast, had previously been convicted of the false imprisonment of Special Branch agent Joe Fenton. Mr Fenton was shot dead after being lured to a house in February 1989. Appeal judges quashed their conviction in October, but would not say why. The judges said they would not reveal the reasons why a confidential dossier rendered the guilty verdicts unsafe. However, senior judges have now certified a legal question for their lawyers to take to the UK's highest court. Amid speculation that the dossier contains material on intelligence agents, it is believed to be the first challenge of its kind in the UK. Following the couple's conviction for false imprisonment, Mr Martin, who was also found guilty of making property available for terrorism, was later sentenced to four years in prison. His wife, formerly known as Veronica Martin, was jailed for six months. Their case was referred back to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which examines potential miscarriages of justice. It was given access to sensitive material that had not been made available to prosecutors involved in their case, or the trial judge. In 2012, it emerged that Director of Public Prosecutions Barra McGrory believed the guilty verdicts should be quashed. However, the secretary of state issued a Public Interest Immunity certificate, protecting the confidential dossier. Last month, the Court of Appeal ruled that the convictions must be quashed due to a serious failure in the prosecution's disclosure obligations at trial. However, judges held that the public interest would be undermined by revealing the material covered by the Public Interest Immunity certificate. Lawyers for the couple returned on Tuesday to seek permission to take their battle for disclosure of the reasons to the Supreme Court. Although leave was formally refused, judges agreed to certify a question on whether the principles of open justice required a judgement containing a resume or gist of the information contained in the certificate. It will now be up to the Supreme Court to decide if it wants to examine the case.
The Supreme Court is to consider whether to examine a married couple's attempt to find out why their conviction for falsely imprisoning a police informer was quashed.
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Cameron looked into the issue of rising prices after a request by shadow sports minister Clive Efford. Efford proposed fans at board level but Cameron instead called for regular meetings between them and clubs. The Football Supporters' Federation (FSF) welcomed the Prime Minister's comments regarding the issue. From next season, Premier League clubs will benefit from a new three-year £5.1bn domestic television rights deal. When overseas rights contracts are taken into consideration, that sum jumps to about £8bn. Media playback is not supported on this device "At a time when there is more money flowing into the Premier League than ever before, it should not be forgotten that this success is built upon the hard work and the money of millions of loyal supporters," Cameron wrote in a letter to Efford. "Clubs need to ensure that their ticket policies provide the right balance between value for supporters and generating the income necessary to sustain their businesses." Last month, Liverpool fans walked out of a game after 77 minutes in protest at a top-price ticket of £77 for next season before the club's owners scrapped the plan. BBC Sport's Price of Football study found two thirds of Premier League tickets were frozen or reduced in price in 2015. "Clubs should also take note of the PM's belief that there needs to be stronger dialogue between clubs and fans - it's something clubs have signed up to via an Expert Working Group and they must deliver on that commitment," the FSF said.
Prime Minister David Cameron wants top-flight ticket prices at a "sensible level" but stopped short of backing fan representation on the boards of clubs.
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Dyer, who joined Swansea from Southampton in 2009, had one year left on his previous contract. The 28-year-old returned following a season-long loan spell at Leicester City, where he picked up a Premier League winners medal in 2015-16. "I'm happy to be back here at the club that first gave me the opportunity to show what I can do," he said. "I had a good year at Leicester - the experience I had was unbelievable. "Coming back, there was only one thought in my mind - impress the new manager, speak to the chairman, get into the team and play games. "I was going into the final year of my contract, so it was nice to sign a new deal. The new deal will keep me here until I finish." Dyer has scored 31 goals in 271 appearances for Swansea having initially joined on loan from Southampton in January 2009 before making the move permanent five months later. He is the latest player to commit to the Swans after midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson also signed a new four-year deal. The Swans have rejected a £10m bid from Everton for central defender and captain Ashley Williams and chairman Huw Jenkins said new additions to the squad were imminent.
Swansea City winger Nathan Dyer has signed a new four-year deal that will keep him at the club until 2020.
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England under-21 international Abraham, signed on a season's loan from Chelsea, headed home in the 80th minute. Paul Clement's side - without injured Fernando Llorente and transfer-target Gylfi Sigurdsson - took a first half lead through Oliver McBurnie. But substitute Franck Tayou equalised on 69 minutes for the Kickers before Abraham had the last word. Manager Paul Clement told BBC Radio Wales: "I was satisfied with the way we played, lots of players got minutes under their belts. "Half the team played 60 minutes, the other half played 30. Lots of things to work on, but with three and a half weeks to go to the start of the season, we are moving in the right direction." Swansea drew 2-2 with Philadelphia Union in the first game of their tour, having previously lost a friendly 1-0 at Barnet. They complete their American training trip against North Carolina, on Saturday.
Tammy Abraham scored a winning goal on his debut as Swansea City beat Richmond Kickers in the second USA tour game.
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The actress's mother, Gladys Pearl Monroe, had ancestral links to Scotland, according to Clan Munro USA. It believes that an ancestor of Monroe, an alternative spelling of the Scottish surname Munro, was a Highlander banished to America in the 1650s. Free DNA tests are available, but there has been a lower uptake than expected. Clan Munro USA launched its offer of the test kits to Munro men of Highland origin last summer in the hope of learning more about film star Monroe's Scottish ancestry, and the wider Munro clan in general. The search was unveiled to coincide with what would have been Monroe's 90th birthday. The star of 1950s movies Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Seven Year Itch and Some Like it Hot, Monroe was born as Norma Jeane Mortenson in Los Angeles in 1926. She died of an overdose at 36 in August 1962. So far, one man who has taken the DNA tests has had results back showing a relatedness to Monroe's line. The association's genealogy committee said it was "surprised" more Scots had not taken up the offer of the free test kits, but remains hopeful they will be forthcoming. Clan Munro USA hopes to trace Monroe's Scottish roots through YDNA testing. The Y chromosome is only carried by men and is passed virtually unchanged from father to son. The society has already successfully tracked down and tested a living descendant of Monroe's great grandfather. The results were compared to the others in its Munro DNA Project, a database of hundreds of samples provided by Munros living all over the world whose family trees have been studied. The project includes the descendants of Munros from Easter Ross in the Highlands, also the fifth US president James Monroe and Scots soldiers who were imprisoned and then banished to the American colonies after the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Worcester was the last battle of the English Civil Wars and involved thousands of Scots combatants. The association said the YDNA test already done had shown that the Hollywood actress was a descendant of one of those soldiers, said to be a Highlander whose family came from Aldie, near Tain, in the Munro clan's Easter Ross stronghold.
A clan association says it is surprised more Scots have not wanted to discover if they are a relative of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe.
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Harrad, 32, rejoins the Gulls after leaving Wrexham, subject to international clearance, having spent the second half of 2015-16 at Torquay. He comes in to replace Nathan Blissett, who is set to move to Plymouth Argyle. Reid, 22, who moved to Plainmoor on loan in the summer, has scored three times in 26 National League games. "I was delighted to get the call and be here to help the club progress up the league table," Harrad told BBC Sport. "I want to help us finish as high as possible, there are some talented players who came in here over the summer and we're looking to get some consistency into the performances to progress and get up that league table. "The reason I've come back is that I'm wanted ,and as a player that's essential. Kevin (Nicholson, Torquay manager) knows what he's going to get from me and vice-versa and I think we have a good working relationship." Nicholson commented: "His work-rate, what he brings off the pitch in terms of his leadership qualities, and how he is is as a man will be something that the lads can look up to." On Reid's loan extension, Nicholson said he expects the forward to improve as the season goes on. "It's great for him, great for Exeter to have a player playing regularly and it's great for us because he's shown in patches how good he is, but I think there's still a lot more to come," he added. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.
Torquay United have signed striker Shaun Harrad and extended the loan of Exeter City forward Jamie Reid until the end of the season.
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The Sentinel reported Sanctuary Supported Living enforced the ban in communal areas at Baskeyfield House, Stoke-on-Trent, following a dispute over a "59p decoration". Residents said they are being "treated like children". The Sanctuary Group cited "unacceptable behaviour" for the "short-term" ban. More on this and other stories from Stoke and Staffordshire Resident Geoff Lawton told BBC Radio Stoke: "The management has decided we can't have any form of entertainment after 5pm." He added: "We can't drink alcohol in the communal area, which is a public area. "Somebody who's middle aged comes along and starts treating older people like children". Julie Swinnerton, who lives in the flats and owns karaoke equipment used by fellow residents, said there is a split between those who enjoy entertainment and those who don't. She said one lady started an argument over a "59p decoration" at a Christmas party and it "escalated". "They took my karaoke equipment away and said I could only have it back if I kept it in my room", she added. Tracey Spencer, service manager at Sanctuary Supported Living, said: "We have a responsibility and a duty of care to all residents at Baskeyfield House and continue to work with them to ensure a welcoming environment for all. "The decision to temporarily suspend all activities within the communal areas was taken after unacceptable behaviour at a recent social occasion." Baskeyfield House is an extra care scheme, made up of a number of individual apartments where residents live independently.
Bosses at a housing complex for the over 55s have introduced a ban on alcohol and karaoke following a festive bust-up.
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An IFA Disciplinary Committee opted not to punish Carrick Rangers over a touchline ban irregularity, which resulted in Carrick staying up. The Northern Ireland Football League have now fixed provisional dates for the promotion play-off. Warrenpoint may face Institute on June 14 and 17 if they win their appeal. If 'Town fail to be reinstated to the top flight, Ballinamallard and Institute will play the second leg of their play-off on Wednesday 15 June. Ballinamallard won the first leg 2-1 at Institute on 6 May before off-field events led to the postponement of the second leg. The IFA granted NIFL an extension to the season due to the uncertainty of the various appeals and Arbitration processes. However only players eligible to participate in the first leg of the play-off are eligible to play in the second leg. Proposed play-off games have a 19:45 kick-off.
Warrenpoint Town's Arbitration hearing to contest their relegation from the Irish Premiership takes place on Thursday 9 June.
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"We're actually in the studio in the moment cutting new stuff," Keith Richards told BBC 6 Music. Guitarist Ronnie Wood added that the band recently "cut 11 songs in two days. Just 'bang' - like that." "It was a surprise to us. We didn't intend doing it," he told Matt Everitt. "I wish I could play them to you now. I'm so excited about them." The Rolling Stones haven't released a studio album since 2005's A Bigger Bang, although they wrote two new songs for the 2012 compilation record Grrrr! The sessions have included new material and a series of blues covers, including songs by Little Walter and Howlin' Wolf. "They sound so authentic it's frightening," said Wood. "We didn't spend any time rehearsing them or anything. We just picked a song that suited Mick's harmonica or a guitar riff... and they worked out pretty good. "It was like, 'this is what the Stones do, we play blues.'" "It's sounding really good," added Mick Jagger. "We did one session before Christmas. We'll probably do more." "It's very easy and free," said drummer Charlie Watts. "Keith plays the same now as he ever did. He sits there and plays a song and if something comes to him, he'll put that into it." Wood said the new music would be released "sometime this year", while Jagger said the band would be announcing more shows in the coming months. "We'll come back to the UK, indeed," he said. "It doesn't feel very long since we played [here] but actually it's ages ago now." "I think our main thing is playing live these days," Richards added. "Within the band, we always feel like the next show is going to be better. "For a bunch of reprobates we have an incredible dedication to our job." The band were speaking at the launch of Exhibitionism, a career retrospective at London's Saatchi Gallery. Billed as the largest exhibition of Stones memorabilia ever mounted, it includes a recreation of the studio where they recorded Sympathy For The Devil, and the band's filthy first flat in Edith Grove, Chelsea. It also includes key instruments, album art, diary entries, tour posters and the band's flamboyant outfits. But, as Richards told 6 Music: "I don't remember wearing any of it."
The Rolling Stones have confirmed they're working on a new, blues-inspired album for release this year.
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The 27-year-old was attacked by a man on a path near Wallace Primary School, Elderslie, at about 20:00 on Monday. Police have urged people to check gardens and bins for discarded clothes. The suspect was white, aged between 35 and 50, with dark hair, receding on top, and of medium to stocky build He was clean shaven and wearing dark trousers and a light T-shirt. The woman had been walking on the pathway between Byres Road and Glenmalloch Place in Elderslie when she was struck by the man, causing her to fall over. He then raped her. Det Insp Louise Harvie, of Police Scotland, said: "As part of this ongoing investigation, officers have carried out a full search of the area. "As a result of these inquiries, it has been established that the woman's trousers are missing. "Officers are, therefore, asking local residents in that area to check their gardens and bins for any item of discarded clothing which they don't recognise as belonging to them. "Officers have been carrying out extensive inquiries in the local area including door-to-door inquiries and are reviewing CCTV footage from the surrounding areas." She added: "The man responsible must be traced and I would re-appeal to anyone with information that may assist this ongoing inquiry."
Detectives investigating the rape of a woman in Renfrewshire have asked for help to trace her missing trousers.
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Harry Hood, 46, and Ross Russell, 35, attacked Arthur Green at his home in South Ayrshire in November 2014. The High Court in Glasgow heard how Hood's parents said they had endured years of trouble at the hands of 60-year-old Mr Green and his family. The judge criticised the local council's handling of the dispute. Judge Bill Dunlop QC suggested South Ayrshire Council should not have dealt with it by encouraging the alleged victims to move. "The reaction of the council which I heard was disturbing," he said. "That they should make themselves homeless and move to an area away from the place they loved living in and to leave their home was frankly disappointing, wholly inadequate and on one view, cruel. "That failure to act on the part of the council was explained to the court as due to there being no corroboration, as a lawyer I can say that's nonsense. "I am afraid I am driven to conclude that the council went for the easy option, persuading the good guys to move would be simple and more straightforward than evicting those causing the trouble." A jury had heard how Harry Hood flew into a rage when it emerged his parents' window had been smashed. Hood and his violent friend, Russell, later went to Mr Green's home where he was punched, kicked and stamped to death. The men fled the scene with Hood heard saying: "If I murdered him, I will happily do time for it." Mr Green's young grandson discovered his body the next day. The pair boasted they had "got away with murder" after police initially believed Mr Green had fallen. After a new investigation, Hood, from Ayr, and Russell, from Maidens, were arrested. Hood's 76-year-old father, also called Harry, told the court how Mr Green had been a "nightmare" to live next to. Both Hood and Russell gave evidence during the trial and effectively blamed each other. Dale Russell, from Girvan, Ayrshire, had also been charged with murder before prosecutors dropped the allegation during the trial. He instead pled guilty to attempting to defeat the ends of justice by setting fire to his brother's trainers. He was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.
Two men who boasted they had "got away with murder" after a dispute with a neighbour have been jailed for life with a minimum of 14 years each.
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The men in their 20s were driving at up to 160km/h (100 mph) on a main shopping street when one smashed into another car, killing the 69-year-old driver. Prosecutors argued that the men had accepted their actions were potentially lethal, showing "conditional intent". Defence lawyers had called for charges of manslaughter and dangerous driving. One of the defendants, named only as Hamdi H, appeared bewildered by the ruling, Bild newspaper reported. But Judge Ralph Ehestadt at the Berlin regional court told him: "Of course you had no intent to kill. You did not want to kill Mr W in his jeep. But you were acting with conditional intent." Hamdi H and his co-defendant, named as Marvin N, encountered each other in their Audi and Mercedes cars in February last year. They accelerated down the Kurfurstendamm - one of the German capital's most popular shopping streets - before Hamdi H crashed into the jeep. Marvin N then crashed into Hamdi H's car. The collisions flung the jeep 70m down the road. Both men walked away from the crash with minor injuries. During the case a psychologist said one of the men had "massively overestimated himself" as a driver, wanted to win the race to "enhance his ego" and had no sense of his own guilt, Deutsche Welle reported. The judgement at the Berlin regional court is not yet legally binding, Deutsche Welle said.
A Berlin court has sentenced two men to life on murder charges for killing a motorist during an illegal car race in the first case of its kind in Germany.
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The plan is a bid to improve air quality and reduce transport-related emissions, said Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council. The LEZ will only apply to buses which account for up 80% of the pollution in the city centre, authorities said. Oxford's LEZ will be the second to be introduced in the UK outside of London. Labour councillor John Tanner, of Oxford City Council, said buses would also be banned from keeping their engines running for more than one minute at a bus stop. Mr Tanner said buses which break the rules could lose their operator licence, granted by the Traffic Commissioner. "Oxford City council will continue to press for other improvements until nitrogen dioxide pollution is below 40 parts per million everywhere in the city," he added. Conservative councillor David Nimmo Smith, cabinet member for environment on Oxfordshire County Council, said the city had some of the highest bus use in the UK. "Buses are vital to Oxford's economy and environment so I'm delighted to see the LEZ coming into effect to make the city's buses even cleaner," he added. However, the Oxfordshire Green Party said the new LEZ didn't go far enough. "A LEZ is long overdue - air quality is continuing to deteriorate in the city centre," said Green group leader Craig Simmons. "Our concern is that the limited measures proposed will have a minimal effect. "It applies only to buses, many of which were already in service last year, when air quality again declined. And there are several exemptions." Mr Simmons said a "clear plan" to extend the LEZ to cover all polluting vehicles was needed. The city council said the LEZ was developed in response to Oxford City Council's last Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP 2006).
Oxford city centre is to become a low emission zone (LEZ) from 1 January 2014 under council plans.
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Students climbed on to the roof of the Welsh-language hall of residence, Pantycelyn, last June to protest its proposed closure. The Pantycelyn Project Board was set up to secure its future and its report on Friday has tabled two options for more than £8m in improvements. The university's council will discuss the report in its meeting next month. Protestors have accused the university of not valuing the language enough. The university had recommended the halls close to make them "fit for purpose". The report outlines options for developing Welsh-medium student accommodation in Pantycelyn with 199 rooms, including 114 with en suite facilities or the preferred choice - 200 en suite rooms. The report calls on the university council to commit to renovating and reopening Pantycelyn by September 2019.
A board looking at the future of Welsh accommodation at Aberystwyth University is calling for it to be overhauled.
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In its annual review of death penalty use across the planet, it said some countries were using it in response to "real or perceived" security threats. More than 500 more death sentences were issued than in 2014, mainly because of sharp rises in China and Nigeria. However, excluding China, the number of actual executions reportedly dropped. Amnesty recorded 607 executions in 2014, down almost 22% on 2013. However, this figure does not include China, which executes more people than the rest of the world put together but keeps the exact numbers a state secret. Executions were recorded in 22 countries in 2014, the same number as in the previous year. Apart from China, Amnesty said the world's top executioners in 2014 were: In Egypt, hundreds of people have been sentenced to death in mass trials over the past two years in a crackdown on Islamists. The trials have drawn widespread international criticism, with the UN describing them as "unprecedented". In Nigeria, 659 death sentences were recorded in 2014, Amnesty said, a jump of more than 500 compared with the previous year. Military courts handed down death sentences against dozens of soldiers during the year in separate trials. They were convicted of mutiny in the context of the armed conflict with Islamist militants Boko Haram. Earlier this month Pakistan lifted a seven-year moratorium on executions in the wake of a Taliban massacre at a school in the city of Peshawar in December.
Human rights group Amnesty International has said there was an "alarming" increase in death sentences around the world in 2014.
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Perry Beeches Academy Trust, once praised by ex-prime minister David Cameron, has been criticised by watchdog the Education Funding Agency. It breached Charity Commission regulations by sponsoring the Labour Finance and Industry Group. The money has since been returned, the EFA said. The trust has adopted recommendations. The EFA investigated the trust - which runs five schools in the city - in March after allegations of "novel and contentious use of trust funds and assets" and irregular expenditure. More updates on this and other stories in Birmingham and the Black Country Information from a whistleblower prompted the investigation, which found an additional salary of £160,000 was paid to chief executive Liam Nolan, over two years, through a third-party agreement - on top of his £120,000-a-year salary. He resigned in May. The agency's full report, revealed on Thursday, details breaches and failures by the trust to follow its procurement processes. It looked at how contracts and jobs were awarded and highlighted the employment of Mr Nolan's nephew and niece, the latter being promoted six times in three years. There was also no evidence of tendering for contracts for legal and PR services worth thousands of pounds or reasons for the payments. EFA key findings: In a statement the trust said the report related to historical allegations and board of trustees resigned in April and a new management structure was in place. The new team has been working "very closely" with the EFA and department for education "to move Perry Beeches The Academy Trust and its schools forward to a better future". "All recommendations in the report have been adopted by the trust," the spokesman added.
A flagship academy chain gave £5,000 to the Labour Party and spent £20,000 with a consultancy firm run by the wife of a school director, a report has found.
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The ministers were announced on Friday afternoon, 70 days after voters went to the polls to elect a new government. Charlie Flanagan, who has been heavily involved in peace talks in Northern Ireland, has been re-appointed as minister of foreign affairs. The Cabinet also includes a number of independent elected representatives. The support of independents was necessary to allow Mr Kenny's Fine Gael party to lead a minority government, after the general election of 26 February produced a hung parliament. Among the new independent ministers is Katherine Zappone, a high-profile campaigner for same-sex marriage who was born in the US but moved to the Republic of Ireland 28 years ago. In May 2015, she famously proposed to her wife on live state television after Irish voters approved the introduction of same-sex marriage in a referendum. Ms Zappone, who became the first openly lesbian member of the Irish parliament earlier this year, has been appointed as minister for children and youth affairs. Other independent ministers include former business journalist and senator Shane Ross and Denis Naughten, who resigned from Fine Gael in 2011 in protest at cuts to hospital services. The new Cabinet consists of: Independent member Finian McGrath will also attend Cabinet and have special responsibility for disability. Frances Fitzgerald, who has been re-appointed for a second term as minister for justice, has also been named as tánaiste (deputy prime minister).
Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Enda Kenny has appointed a new Cabinet just hours after he was re-elected to govern for a second term.
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Piutau suffered delayed onset concussion after last week's win over Ospreys while van der Merwe sustained an ankle ligament injury in the game. Tommy Bowe provides a boost with the Ireland wing making his first start in six months following a knee injury. Connacht have made six changes from the side that beat Edinburgh last Saturday. Cian Kelleher will start on the left wing in place of the injured Matt Healy. Peter Robb and Kieran Marmion are both sidelined with injuries so inside centre Craig Ronaldson will make his first appearance of the season following his return from long-term injury while Caolin Blade starts at scrum-half. Media playback is not supported on this device Up front, hooker Dave Heffernan has been handed his first start of the campaign in the absence of the injured Tom McCartney. With Denis Buckley ruled out, returning Ireland international Finlay Bealham comes in at loosehead. Andrew Browne, who returns from injury, is handed his first appearance of the season and partners Ultan Dillane in the second row. Ulster scrum-half Ruan Pienaar is rested by director of rugby Les Kiss while Callum Black comes into the front row. Robbie Diack and Peter Browne form a new second-row partnership and Clive Ross replaces Sean Reidy at openside flanker. Defending champions Connacht, who have only earned one win over Ulster in 20 attempts, are ninth in the standings. Connacht: T O'Halloran; N Adeolokun, B Aki, C Ronaldson, C Kelleher; J Carty, C Blade; F Bealham, D Heffernan, C Carey, U Dillane, A Browne, E McKeon, J Heenan, J Muldoon (capt). Replacements: S Delahunt, R Loughney, JP Cooney, L Stevenson, J Connolly, S Kerins, S O'Leary, S Ili. Ulster: J Payne (capt); T Bowe, L Ludik, D Cave, C Gilroy; P Jackson, P Marshall; C Black, R Best, R Ah You, R Diack, P Browne, I Henderson, C Ross, R Wilson. Replacements: R Herring, A Warwick, R Kane, K Treadwell, S Reidy, D Shanahan, B Herron, R Lyttle.
Pro12 leaders Ulster will be without injured pair Charles Piutau and Franco van der Merwe for the derby against Connacht in Galway on Friday night.
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Jason Duff was discovered falling in and out of consciousness on Bo'ness Road in Polmont, Stirlingshire on 31 May last year. The case was described by a prosecutor as one with "unusual circumstances". The 44-year-old, of Cowdenbeath, Fife, was also banned from driving for four years. Depute fiscal Siobhan Monks said a member of the public was driving along the road when he came across Duff's 15-year-old Peugeot 206. Miss Monks said the Peugeot engine was running, but the vehicle was stationary, and Duff was not in it. The other motorist stopped and found Duff "lying in the road, under the influence, with his trousers down, falling in and out of consciousness". A blood sample taken at Forth Valley Royal Hospital three hours later showed Duff was still over twice the legal drink drive limit. Duff told police he had drunk alcohol and slept in his car following an argument with his girlfriend. Miss Monks said that when Duff woke up he decided to drive to work, but felt unwell, stopped his car and got out, but could remember nothing more. Solicitor advocate Stephen Biggam, defending, said: "He had become dehydrated, that's why he passed out." Duff pleaded guilty at Falkirk Sheriff Court to a charge of drink-driving. In addition to the driving ban and unpaid work order, Sheriff John Mundy placed Duff under social work supervision for 18 months. He said: "This is a serious matter. "The court does have the power to impose a custodial sentence, but it would be better for you to receive some kind of structured support."
A drink driver found by another motorist lying in the road with his trousers down has been ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
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Celtic Array, a joint venture between Centrica and Danish company Dong Energy, plans to build between 150 and 450 turbines by the end of the decade. The Rhiannon wind farm would be situated about 12 miles (19km) north-east of Anglesey and about 21 miles (34km) from the Isle of Man. A company spokesman said the public consultation will run until 19 May. The Rhiannon wind farm is one of a dozen sites around the UK where offshore wind farms could be built in the next 10 years. First announced in January 2010, the project could generate up to 2.2 GW of electricity, or enough to meet the needs of around 1.7 million homes. Two years of assessment have already been completed to establish the physical, environmental and engineering constraints of building out in the Irish Sea. If the planning inspectorate gives permission, construction could start as early as 2017. Among the proposals are a new overhead power connection across Anglesey and the Menai Strait, maximising use of existing network on the mainland, and replacing three underground cables in the Glaslyn estuary with 12.
A two month public consultation has begun on plans to build a giant offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea.
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María Lorena Ramírez defeated 500 other runners from 12 countries in the female category of the Ultra Trail Cerro Rojo in Puebla, in central Mexico. She ran without any professional gear, and her pair of sandals was reportedly made from recycled tyre rubber. The Tarahumara are famous for being excellent runners. The race was held on 29 April, but only now has word about her victory spread. Apart from the sandals, she wore a skirt and a scarf in the race. The runner did not have any professional training. She finished the race at seven hours and three minutes, and was awarded 6,000 pesos ($320; £250). Reports said her job is herding goats and cattle, walking some 10-15km every day. Last year, she came second in the 100km category of the Caballo Blanco ultramarathon, in Chihuahua.
A 22-year-old woman from Mexico's Tarahumara indigenous community has won a 50km (31 miles) ultramarathon wearing sandals.
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Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group's (CCG) chief officer Katherine Sheerin and chief finance officer Tom Jackson have both left their posts. In June, the CCG's deputy chairwoman Prof Maureen Williams quit after a committee she chaired was criticised for making decisions on pay increases. The CCG has made no further comment. Ms Sheerin, who has worked for the CCG for five years, said after 25 years in Liverpool, she had "decided it is the right time to move on", while Mr Jackson said that following his colleague's resignation, "I too have decided to stand down". The government ordered a review into the CCG in March after Rosie Cooper, the Labour MP for West Lancashire, raised concerns about pay increases for governing body members between 2013-14 and 2014-15. Most of the pay rises related to the 2014-15 financial year, when chairman Dr Nadim Fazlani's salary rose from approximately £105,000 to £155,000. The review said the remuneration committee, of which Prof Williams was chairwoman, had "acted outside its terms of reference" by making decisions on pay increases, rather than making recommendations. It also highlighted conflicts of interest, particularly in the CCG's first year of operation in 2013-14, which "were not managed robustly with a lack of independent advice and scrutiny of decisions".
Two NHS officials whose pay rises were reviewed as part of a government investigation of their clinical commissioning group have resigned.
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The Dow Jones industrial average fell 188 points, or 1.1%, to 16,431 points. The S&P 500 lost 1.3%, or 24.2 points, to 1,921.29 points, while the Nasdaq composite fell 1.5% to 4,503.1 points. Oil prices fell again, with US crude down 4.6% to $31.87 a barrel and Brent crude dropped to $33.27. Shares in Dow Jones member JP Morgan fell 4.3% after the bank said it would set aside an extra $500m to cover losses from loans to oil and gas companies. Bank of America slid 3%, while Citigroup dropped 3.4%. Energy shares were also hit. Chevron fell 4.4%, while Halliburton and Baker Hughes both slipped more than 2%. Traders said investors remained cautious, with trading volumes far lighter on days the market has risen and heavier on days it has fallen. That suggested that there was more interest among investors in selling shares rather than buying them. Ryan Larson, head of US equity trading at RBC Global Asset Management, said: "We aren't seeing the buying interest that you would usually see in a major upward swing in the markets. Although we have come off the bottom, it's still quite volatile out there."
(Close): Wall Street finished lower on Tuesday as oil prices slipped, leading investors to worry about banks' exposure to the energy sector.
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Tom Bradby described in a series of tweets how he dived in after the man but "couldn't get him out". The father-of-three, who was in Rafina on a family holiday, said he believed the man had committed suicide. The Rafina Port Authority in Greece confirmed a man had died after his car went off the wall. A spokeswoman said the incident happened at about 16:30 local time, but would give no further details. Mr Bradby, who is ITV's political editor, said he was "shaking with shock and anger" after complaining that officials nearby did not do more to help. He claimed that of the nine or 10 officials on the quay, one went in to try to get the driver out as the car sank, and "the rest watched". Bradby, 48, has been announced as the new host of ITV's News at Ten. He was previously a royal correspondent, and secured the first official interview with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after their engagement.
An ITV journalist has described how he tried in vain to save the life of an elderly man who drove his car off a harbour wall in Greece.
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The 38-year-old batsman scored 1,039 runs at an average of 49.47 in the County Championship this season. Sangakkara also scored 278 runs in seven innings in the One-Day Cup as Surrey reached the final, and 228 runs in eight T20 Blast appearances. "Nice to have the King back again," Surrey head coach Michael di Venuto posted on Twitter.
Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has signed a new one-year contract with Surrey.
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The facility has already helped groom 100 national and one world champion as well as Commonwealth Games medallists. Ms Jones, 18, from Bangor, Gwynedd, recently brought back a gold medal from the Youth Commonwealth Games in Apia, Samoa. The grant-funded extension has new physiotherapy and activity areas.
Gold medal weightlifter Catrin Jones has opened a £125,000 extension at the Holyhead and Anglesey weightlifting and fitness centre.
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These are the elements, according to Giorgos Stathakis, the Economy Minister, in an exclusive BBC interview. First and foremost, the European Central Bank must keep Greek banks alive for a week to 10 days, so that rescue talks can progress between Athens and its creditors, eurozone governments and the International Monetary Fund. In a best case, he said, the ECB would provide an additional €3bn of Emergency Liquidity Assistance (ELA) later today. But even if the ECB simply continues to freeze ELA, Mr Stathakis said the current cash withdrawal and transfer restrictions on banks could stay in place till Friday, without any of them collapsing. Naturally if the ECB decides to reduce ELA, which its mandate would allow it to do, then banks would be in dire straits. The second element of a rescue would be Mr Tsipras's letter to creditors last week, when he accepted most of their proposals for spending cuts, tax rises and structural economic reforms - with relativity modest changes to the nature of proposed pension cuts. Finally the government wants a 30% reduction in its debt burden, as per the IMF's debt sustainability analysis of last week, either through direct write-offs or through lengthening the repayment term. Goodness only knows whether the eurozone - led by Berlin - and the IMF will deal on this basis. But, as Mr Stathakis conceded, with Greek banks on the verge of collapse, there is no longer any scope to put off a decision on whether Greece is in or out of the euro for much more than 48 hours. For what it's worth, he said that his government does not have a mandate to quit the eurozone. But with the Greek economy seizing up for want of a functioning banking system, a mandate for euro exit may be a luxury too far.
So what is the Greek government's plan to save its banks and stay in the euro?
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An army spokesman said a total of 253 people had been summoned. Fifty-three did not report and 76 were in custody. Conditions for the release appear to include agreeing to avoid political activity and informing the army of travel, a BBC correspondent says. Coup leaders, who took power last week, received royal endorsement on Monday. Thailand's former prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, has been released but remains under some restrictions. The army also says it is releasing a group of "red-shirt" protest leaders who support the ousted government. The anti-government protest leader has already been freed. So far, almost all of the 124 people who the army said they had detained and released have kept a very low profile, says the BBC's Jonah Fisher in Bangkok. It remains to be seen whether these "red-shirt" leaders - who support the ousted government - do the same, our correspondent adds. The military seized power in Thailand on 22 May, saying it wanted to return stability after months of unrest. The move followed six months of political deadlock as protesters rallied against Ms Yingluck's government. At least 28 people were killed and hundreds injured during the protests. On Monday a royal command approved the coup. But the military's actions in removing an elected government has drawn widespread international criticism. Correspondents say there is also a degree of scepticism about the total number of people in custody provided by the military, with reports of more widespread detentions. Rights groups have expressed alarm over the detentions, as well as the tight restrictions on media. On Monday, there were reports that internet users were briefly unable to access social media site Facebook. The country's information and technology ministry told the BBC there was a gateway problem. Experts have said that the coup is unlikely to heal highly polarised political divisions in the country. The current deadlock dates from 2006, when the military ousted Ms Yingluck's brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, in a coup. Both have strong support in rural and northern areas, propelling them to successive election wins. However, many in the middle class and urban elite, who comprise the heart of the anti-government movement that began in November 2013, oppose them bitterly.
Thailand's army says it has now released 124 people, including politicians and activists, who were taken into custody after the coup.
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Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat made his comments as a British-Irish council meeting was being held in Wales. The implications of leaving the EU were discussed at the summit by the first and deputy first ministers. The talks were hosted by Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones. In a BBC interview, Mr Muscat, whose country assumes the EU's presidency in January, said: "There will be issues relating to borders, especially the Irish issue, which I think is one of the most politically sensitive issues. I think there is a political willingness from everyone to have it resolved." The prime minister of Malta also said EU leaders were not "bluffing" when they said the UK will be left without access to the single market when it leaves the bloc if there is no free movement of people. "This is really and truly our position and I don't see it changing," he said. The talks in Cardiff were also attended by the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, James Brokenshire, as well as Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny. Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said it was still not clear what Brexit would involve and said Prime Minister Theresa May should have been there. "I think the British prime minister should have been here today," he said. "She is a new British prime minister, this was her first opportunity to attend the meeting of the British Irish Council and to meet with the devolved institutions and the crown dependencies and I think it was a missed opportunity on her behalf." This is the third summit for the normally biannual group in 2016, after an emergency session also hosted in Wales following the EU referendum. Varying approaches to early years education and child care are also expected to be on the agenda.
The next EU president has told the BBC "the Irish border issue" must be settled before talks on Brexit can start.
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Media playback is unsupported on your device 4 December 2014 Last updated at 07:38 GMT Well, new research suggests that they do help police officers to do their job. A report by Oxford University claims that a police horse helps people see the police, and makes people more likely to speak to officers. Police horses are often used to manage large crowds of people. Jenny went to meet Captain, a police horse with Greater Manchester Police, to see how he goes about his day.
You might have seen police horses in your neighbourhood, in city centres, or even at events like football games.
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In February the group announced that it lost £154m last year on the project, which is nearing completion. But Petrofac is now expecting a further pre-tax loss of about £130m in 2015. It blamed the projected loss on poor weather, industrial action and failings by some sub-contractors. However, it added that it still expected to complete the project on behalf of French oil company Total in the third quarter of this year. In an update, Petrofac said: "During late March and early April, activity on the Laggan-Tormore site has ramped up substantially as we have moved into the final construction and commissioning phases of the project. "Continued adverse weather conditions during March on Shetland and industrial action has delayed this ramp-up by almost a month from our original expectations." Petrofac added: "The additional costs we expect to incur reflect our firm intention to devote all the necessary resources to the project to meet the delivery commitments we have made to our client. "We anticipate that construction activity on the site will be substantially complete by mid-June and we intend to provide an update to the market on the status of the Laggan-Tormore project with our trading statement scheduled for 23 June 2015." Group chief executive Ayman Asfari said: "We are deeply disappointed by this additional cost to complete on the Laggan-Tormore project. "As we noted in our year-end results announcement, given the extent of direct construction involved in the project, Laggan-Tormore is different from the rest of our EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) project portfolio, where we typically utilise sub-contractors to deliver construction services. "We had to take on this level of direct construction responsibility when some of our sub-contractors failed to deliver in line with their agreed scopes. "Our lack of experience of operating a direct construction model in a wholly new geography for our Onshore Engineering & Construction (OEC) business, particularly in a location where labour costs are much higher and productivity much lower than we are used to, has cost us dearly." Petrofac shares were down by about 12% in early trading on Monday.
Petrofac shares fell sharply on Monday after the oil and gas services company said it expected to take another big financial hit on its Laggan-Tormore gas plant project on Shetland.
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Andy Dowie's own goal gave the visitors the lead before Dumbarton hit back through Christian Nade. Two goals in the last 20 minutes from Declan McDaid and Robbie Crawford kept Ian McCall's men three points ahead of Ayrshire rivals Kilmarnock. Killie were 4-2 winners over Clyde to gain their first points of the group. Rory McKenzie gave Killie an early lead before Darren Ramsay and Kevin Nicoll edged Clyde in front. That is how it stayed until 53 minutes when summer signing Dominic Thomas scored, with the former Motherwell man adding his second soon after. After McKenzie scored again to make it 4-2, Jordan Stewart was sent off for the visitors following a late challenge to curtail any hope of a Clyde comeback. In Group F, Greenock Morton scored twice in the final five minutes before beating Queen's Park 4-2 in a penalty shootout. The Spiders had taken the lead through Bryan Wharton with 20 minutes to go, and when Thomas Orr scored with nine minutes left it looked to have earned the League One side a shock win. Bob McHugh turned in Scott Tiffoney's cut-back to set up a frantic finale, and Darren Barr's volley two minutes into time-added-on took the game to penalties. Morton won the bonus point to stay top of the group on five points with Tiffoney, Andy Murdoch, Ricki Lamie and Gary Harkins all scoring from the spot for the hosts, with Adam Cummins and Bryan Wharton netting for the visitors. Elsewhere in Group F, Berwick Rangers also needed a late goal in the 90 minutes, but lost 4-2 on penalties to Edinburgh City. Ashley Grimes had twice given Edinburgh the lead but goals from Aaron Murrell and Pat Scullion pegged them back. The capital side won the shootout after Chris MacDonald and Andrew Irvine missed for Berwick.
Ayr United made it six points out of six with two late goals securing a 3-1 win over Dumbarton in League Cup Group E.
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Mr Cunha was accused of taking $5m in bribes from a company that won contracts with the state oil company, Petrobras. He has vigorously rejected all the allegations. Mr Cunha was for many years one of Brazil's most powerful politicians. He led the impeachment process against President Dilma Rousseff, who was dismissed in August. Mr Cunha, from the centre-right PMDB party, was expelled from the Brazilian Congress last month. He was arrested in the capital, Brasilia, and has been transferred to the southern city of Curitiba, where federal judge Sergio Moro is leading the corruption probe. Mr Moro said he had ordered the arrest because there was "a real possibility of [Mr Cunha] fleeing the country as he has resources hidden abroad". The fact that he has dual Brazilian and Italian citizenship also increased the risk of him trying to evade justice, added Mr Moro. Mr Cunha has been detained for an indeterminate period. Petrobras is at the centre of a massive kickbacks scandal which cost the company $2bn (£1.5bn) and has led to the arrest of dozens of lawmakers and top businessmen. At least three businessmen have said under interrogation that they paid bribes to Mr Cunha, which they deposited in his overseas accounts. Along with his seat he has lost the partial immunity from prosecution that comes with being an elected representative. In March 2015 Mr Cunha stated that he did not have "any type of account anywhere that is not declared on my income tax". But authorities in Switzerland later gave information to a corruption inquiry in Brazil stating that Mr Cunha and his wife, former journalist Claudia Cruz, were beneficiaries of secret accounts worth about $5m (£3.7m). During the proceedings against him in Congress, Mr Cunha threatened to reveal secrets and destroy the reputation of many of those who, in his opinion, had betrayed him. Former President Dilma Rousseff said Mr Cunha had decided to accept a request to open her impeachment case in December last year after she refused to back him up in a corruption probe in Congress. She was replaced by her vice-president, Michel Temer, who is also from the PMDB party. Ms Rousseff accused Mr Temer of leading a political coup against her left-wing government.
The former speaker of the lower house of the Brazilian Congress, Eduardo Cunha, has been arrested in connection with a major corruption investigation.
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Media playback is not supported on this device The 31-year-old has won gold medals at the last two Games but will not travel to Brazil this summer. James led the Cavaliers to the NBA title last week but said on Thursday: "I could use the rest". James, the NBA's four-time Most Valued Player, is the US team's all-time scoring leader with 273 points and second in career rebounds with 95. The US are already without Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry, as well as James Harden and Chris Paul.
Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James will not play for the United States at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
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The six-year deal with St Asaph-based Qioptiq, which will create eight jobs, was announced by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Monday. Qioptiq will service equipment such as night-vision goggles and weapon sights. Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said it was an "enormous vote of confidence in the Welsh economy". The Welsh Government is investing £2.5m in a new purpose designed facility for the company. It comes after the announcement in November that the Flintshire-based Defence Electronics and Components Agency at Sealand would help repair F-35 fighter plane components in a multimillion pound deal. MoD Parliamentary Under Secretary Harriett Baldwin announced the new Surveillance Target and Acquisition Support deal at the IDEX trade show in Abu Dhabi on Monday. She said: "This deal will provide our troops with the equipment they need to stay safe, while also delivering £47 million of savings." The savings came from 20 separate support contracts being merged into one deal, she revealed. Mr Cairns said the "massive" contract "underlines Wales' reputation as a world leader in the defence technology sector". "This enormous vote of confidence in the Welsh economy demonstrates that we offer the highly-skilled workforce and facilities that investors need," he added. The contract covers equipment from across the Armed Forces, from frontline infantry and Royal Marine soldiers, to military specialists such as bomb disposal experts and includes infantry periscopes, laser aimers and target-locating equipment. The Welsh Government is constructing a new 24,000 sq ft facility on land it owns next to Qioptiq's premises at St Asaph Business Park. Mr Skates said: "I am delighted the Welsh Government was able to support the company's successful bid from the early pre-qualification stage through to the development of a purpose designed facility that is vital to deliver the contract."
A Denbighshire firm has won an £82m defence contract to maintain surveillance and targeting equipment for the UK's Armed Forces.
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Group trading profit rose 25% to £515m for the six months to 31 January. Wolseley also said it was changing its name to Ferguson, which is its main US brand. The group makes about 84% of its profit in the US. Wolseley was the biggest riser in the FTSE 100, with the share index closing up 50 points at 7,343.42. Shares in Tesco finished 1.25% ahead at 191.20p. The supermarket giant announced on Tuesday that its subsidiary, Tesco Stores Ltd, had in principle struck a deferred prosecution agreement with the Serious Fraud Office over its 2014 accounting scandal. The agreement - which still requires approval by the High Court - only covers Tesco Stores and does not address whether liability of any sort applies to the larger international group Tesco PLC or any of its employees. Tesco is paying a £129m fine and will also pay £85m in compensation to shareholders. Separately, one of Tesco's biggest shareholders has warned that the retailer is paying too much for its planned takeover of wholesaler Booker. Schroders fund manager Nick Kirrage told the BBC that Tesco was paying a "premium" and he had "major concerns" about the deal. On the currency markets, the pound was down 0.35% against the dollar at $1.2514, and 0.28% down against the euro at 1.1528 euros.
(Close): Shares in plumbing goods supplier Wolseley bolstered the market, ending the day 5.57% higher after the company reported a big rise in profits.
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Sections of sites owned by the European Union, the BBC and Wikipedia currently fail the search giant's Mobile Friendly Test developer tool. "Mobile friendliness" will affect how prominently websites appear in Google search results pages from 21 April. Criteria includes text size, the amount of space between links and whether the content fits across a mobile screen. A Google representative said mobile friendliness was "one of many" factors used by the search engine to rank results, but in a blog post the company said it would have "a significant impact" on search results. "As people increasingly search on their mobile devices, we want to make sure they can find content that's not only relevant and timely, but also easy to read and interact with on smaller mobile screens," the representative said. Google is also offering developer tools for making websites compliant with the mobile-friendly guidelines. Kevin Dallas, chief product officer at global payment processor Worldpay eCommerce, welcomed the changes. "This move by Google should send a message to companies whose websites are poorly configured for smartphone users that optimising for mobile is no longer a matter of choice," he said. "This is particularly relevant for online retailers." The BBC said that while its bbc.co.uk domain failed the test, mobile users would soon be automatically redirected to a mobile version of the site, m.bbc.co.uk, which did pass the test, and was responsive, meaning it should adapt to fit the device on which it is being accessed. The EU and Wikipedia have also been contacted by the BBC for comment. The European Union's home page appears to be the only part of its site to currently fail the test. Google clashed with the EU last week when European Union competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager announced a complaint had been filed against Google over alleged anti-competitive behaviour. Google has denied the allegations, which include promoting links to its own shopping services above those of rivals.
Google is updating its search algorithms to favour websites that work well on mobile devices.
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The two women, one in her 20s and the other in her 40s, were assaulted at the Excel Leisure Centre, in Waterside Drive, Walton-on-Thames. The attacks took place in April. A police spokeswoman said: "If you are the man we would like to speak with, or if you can identify him, please contact police as a matter of urgency."
A CCTV image of a man police want to question after two women were sexually assaulted at a leisure centre has been released.
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The Welsh region were beaten 29-12 at home by Racing 92, their second defeat in this year's tournament. It leaves them seven points behind Northampton and four behind Racing, who have played only one game in Pool 3. "It makes it very tough [to qualify] and they'll have to be a lot of turnarounds," said Pivac. "We came up against a big, heavy pack and it's shown us the standard we've got to aspire to. "It keeps us grounded, I guess, to see we have a long way to go to get to that standard, and we know that and we've just got to keep working hard. "We'll see how it goes over the next couple of weeks and we'll see how we go into the Glasgow game looking to get a win." Scarlets face Glasgow in their next two pool matches, before a home tie against Saints and a trip to Paris. Pivac's team are among the early season pace setters in the Pro12, lying third behind Connacht and Munster. But they showed little of their domestic form as Racing pounced on turnovers and defensive slips to claim a bonus point before half-time. Even after the visitors' flanker Bernard Le Roux was sent-off for a stamp early in the second half, Scarlets struggled to impose themselves on the French side. After facing the classy Parisians, Scarlets take on Italian strugglers Zebre in the Pro 12 on Sunday, 29 November. "We've got to re-focus on the Pro12 and improve against Zebre in a week's time," added Pivac.
Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac admits his team face a "very tough" task to qualify for the knockout stages of the European Champions Cup.
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Jairo Medina, 62, a professional carer from Chelsea, was found near Speakers' Corner on the morning of 12 August by a member of the public. A post-mortem examination did not find a cause of death, but showed that he had been assaulted, police said. Hani Khalaf, 21, of no fixed address, will appear before magistrates in Wimbledon on Saturday.
A man has been charged with the murder of a carer who was found dead in London's Hyde Park.
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Phones 4U set up the shops-within-a-shop at Dixons-owned Currys and PC World before the merger between Dixons and Carphone Warehouse was announced. The 160 concessions were due to end next year as Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4U were competitors. The Phones 4U business went into administration on Monday. The move put 5,596 jobs and more than 700 outlets at risk, and came after Vodafone, EE and O2 did not renew their contracts with the company. Dixons Carphone said via Twitter that it had secured an agreement to offer jobs to Phones 4U employees who work in concessions in its stores. Separately, mobile phone network operators Vodafone and EE are in discussions to buy parts of stricken retailer Phones 4U, sources say. Phones 4U blamed its decline on EE's decision not to renew its contract. This followed a similar move from Vodafone earlier in September. Accountancy firm PwC was appointed to see if any of the 560 stores and 160 concessions could be re-opened or sold. As well as Vodafone and EE, overseas operators with an eye to entering the UK market have expressed an interest, a source told the BBC. In an e-mailed statement, Vodafone said: "We can confirm that we have been approached by the administrators of the Phones4U business." EE and PwC declined to comment. The Financial Times first reported the network operators' discussions late on Tuesday. John Caudwell, the founder of Phones 4U, has blamed the demise of his former company on the "ruthless actions" of "predatory" mobile phone networks. Phones 4U said it had been a profitable business, with turnover of £1bn, underlying profits of £105m in 2013 and plenty of cash in the bank, but that without the contracts from the phone networks it no longer had a business. This was an "unprecedented assassination", Mr Caudwell told the BBC's Today programme on Tuesday. The mobile firms rejected his claims. Mr Caudwell sold Phones 4U to Providence Equity and Doughty Hanson for £1.5bn in 2006. The retailer, now owned by private equity firm BC Partners, has said established mobile contracts taken out through Phones 4U will not be affected, although phones ordered and not despatched - for example anyone ordering the new iPhone 6 over the weekend - would be.
Dixons Carphone will offer to hire the 800 people who work in Phones 4U concessions at its Currys and PC World stores.
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Paul Alexander Brady, of Minterburn Road in Caledon, is accused of causing the death of Phelim Brady on the A4 road in Dungannon on 25 June 2014. The 45-year-old is also charged with causing death by driving while disqualified and without insurance. Another man, 51-year-old William Mark Murphy, is also charged with causing Mr Brady's death by dangerous driving. Both Mr Murphy, of Prospect Road in Ballyward, County Down, and Paul Brady appeared at Dungannon Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. The charges against them arose after a tractor driven by Paul Brady was in collision with a lorry driven by Mr Murphy, causing injuries that claimed the life of 69-year-old Phelim Brady. The judge said he was satisfied there was sufficient evidence to return the case to Dungannon Crown Court for trial. Both men chose to remain silent during the hearing. The judge released both defendants on bail of £200 and ordered them to appear again on 18 February.
A County Tyrone farmer has appeared in court charged with causing his father's death by dangerous driving.
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The operation began on Thursday, when the LÉ Niamh ​arrived on the scene and deployed two rhibs (inflatable boats) to the vessel. The rescued migrants on board received water, food and medical assistance where required. This is the ship's 20th operation since its deployment to the Mediterranean. ​LÉ Niamh is currently en route to another vessel 9km south of its current location where it is expected to begin a further operation.
Irish Naval Service ship, LÉ Niamh, has rescued 124 people from a rubber boat in the Mediterranean sea, 58​km north east of the Libyan capital of Tripoli.
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No-one is under arrest following the discovery on Monday, but the aeroplane was impounded on arrival at Heathrow Airport so it could be searched for several hours. The crew's passports were temporarily seized. Pakistani reports say it was an aircraft of the national carrier, PIA, flying from the capital Islamabad. They say the narcotic was distributed in bundles around different parts of the plane. The plane has now made a delayed trip back to Pakistan with a new crew. The UK's National Crime Agency says no arrests were made but enquiries were ongoing.
Police in the UK say a "quantity of heroin" has been found on board a plane that flew to London from Pakistan.
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Sark in the Channel Islands was named a Dark Sky Community by the International Dark Sky Association in 2011. The Sark Astronomy Society (Sastros) has raised the money for the observatory, which is costing about £10,000. Chairwoman Annie Dachinger said it would house the group's £1,500 telescope. She said: "None of this could have happened without the support of Sark residents and the generosity of members of Sastros." The group, which was set up when the island was awarded its Dark Sky status, now has more than 30 members. The one-storey wooden structure will have a sliding pitched roof, broadband, two rooms - one for the telescope and a "warm room" - with the telescope mounted on the only concrete used in the building. Ms Dachinger said the warm room would have a screen linked to the telescope allowing comfortable viewing on cold nights. The site, a field in the middle of the island, has been cleared and foundations prepared for work to begin in July or August and due to be completed by the end of the summer. The only other Dark Sky Island in the world is also in the British Isles - Coll in the Inner Hebrides, which was awarded its status in 2013.
An observatory is being built on the world's first designated Dark Sky Island.
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The plane is powered completely by the sun and has been in Nanjing in China waiting to leave for a month. So far on its epic round-the-world, Solar Impulse has only had to do short journeys of about 20 hours'. The plane is now trying to fly non-stop from Nanjing in China to Hawaii in the Central Pacific. The carbon-fibre aircraft has a huge wingspan of 72m - that's wider than a Boeing 747 jet - but it weighs about the same as a large car. For a passenger airliner, the 8,000km journey would take around 10 hours. But for this solar-powered, prop-driven, experimental aircraft - it could take 5-6 days and nights of non-stop flight. Completing this journey will involve smashing several aviation records - not least the longest-duration journey for a single-seater plane. The Swiss engineer Andre Borschberg, who will be at the controls, has lots of confidence in the technology, but he knows how tough the next mission will be. "It's more in the end about myself; it's going to be an inner-voyage," he told the BBC. "It's going to be a discovery about how I feel and how I sustain myself during these 5-6 days in the air." Solar Impulse: The journey so far
The first round-the-world solar-powered flight, known as the Solar Impulse Two, is hoping to make the next and most difficult part of its journey.
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The 23-year-old former Middlesbrough trainee has scored seven goals in 44 matches for the Iron, but has started just one league match this campaign. He missed three months of this term through injury. Williams comes in following the season-ending injury to Sam Hoskins and Alex Revell's calf problem. "I think he is a player who will fit perfectly into the style of play we are implementing," said manager Justin Edinburgh. "He has some good experience of this level and above, he is a very gifted footballer with plenty of natural ability and he will be a good fit." Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page or visit our Premier League tracker here.
Northampton Town have signed forward Luke Williams on loan from League One rivals Scunthorpe United for the rest of the season.
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Pupils and staff at Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College have set a new world record for the highest number of people doing sit-ups simultaneously. Its head of physical education, Stuart Donald, said they had to surpass the previous record which stood at 503. "We got 827 people. We smashed it - we annihilated it," he told the BBC. "In the process we raised thousands for Sport Relief." He described it as an "outstanding achievement for the school". Mr Donald was the driving force behind the world record challenge, which took place in March, on the final day of term before Easter. However, they had to wait until this week before the record was officially confirmed. "It was quite a wait, because with Guinness World Records it's such a credible and reputable process that you have to provide so much evidence. You have to justify and prove your record," the head of PE said. "I spent five weeks submitting and collating evidence - my colleagues actually said I'd be getting a world record for submitting so much paperwork. "But it was fantastic. It was all about giving our kids a unique and educational experience." The record attempt was witnessed by independent counters, timekeepers as well as stewards from the police, Army, RAF and Royal Navy. Several other departments from the school also got involved in helping to organise and promote the event, and a video of their efforts was published online. This week, details of the school's accomplishment were published on the Guinness World Records website. "It was really, really lovely way to end the term and it was a fantastic start to the term to have the record confirmed," Mr Donald said. The PE teacher came up with the idea by taking inspiration from sporting stars who have achieved global success - such as sprinter Usain Bolt and other world record breakers. He said his pupils would now also "be able to say they're number one". "Our kids will get a copy of that certificate that says they broke the record. "They'll be able to frame it, put it on their wall and whenever they are fathers, grandfathers, mothers, grandmothers, they can tell their kids 'that's from when I was number one'."
A Northern Ireland school has made the world sit up and take notice by breaking a world record while raising thousands of pounds for charity.
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The unrest broke out when a goal was awarded to Guinea Bissau after 81 minutes, with Kenya's players arguing the ball had not crossed the line. Play was halted for 30 minutes as Kenya fans threw missiles at the Guinea Bissau bench and the fourth official. Kenya, who were beaten 1-0 in Nairobi, could face sanctions. The result takes Guinea Bissau to the top of their qualifying group and leaves Kenya with little chance of qualifying for next year's tournament. Elsewhere in Group E, Congo and Zambia drew 1-1 in an identical scoreline to their result in Ndola on Wednesday. Jordan Massengo put Congo ahead in Brazzaville just after half-time, with Winston Kalengo equalising in the 72nd minute. Guinea Bissau lead the group on seven points, one point ahead of both Congo and Zambia, with Kenya bottom, six points off the top. In Sunday's first Nations Cup qualifier, Ghana lost their 100% record in Group H with a 0-0 draw in Mozambique. The result in Maputo leaves the Black Stars on 10 points, four ahead of Mauritius, the surprise package in Group H. Mauritius could close that gap with a win over Rwanda in Kigali on Tuesday. West Bromwich Albion's Stephane Sessegnon scored twice for Benin in Cotonou as the hosts beat South Sudan 4-1 to go top of Group C. Mickael Pote and Jodel Dossou were also on target for Benin, with Atak Lual grabbing a consolation for the away side. Mali could regain the lead in that group if they beat Equatorial Guinea in Malabo on Monday. Comoros, who got their first win in a major qualifying competition when they beat Botswana at home on Thursday, were brought back down to earth with a 2-1 defeat in the return fixture. Comoros looked like they might complete a double over their opponents when Mchangama Youssouf scored just before the break. But second-half goals from Galabgwe Moyana and then Joel Mogorosi gave Botswana the win which puts them level on points with the top two, Uganda and Burkina Faso, who play each other in Kampala on Tuesday. All group winners are guaranteed places at the 2017 tournament in Gabon, with the best two runners-up joining them.
A riot stopped play in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Sunday as fans threw missiles and police fired tear gas into the stands.
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Netherlands player Cruyff died aged 68 in March. He made his name as a forward with Ajax and Barcelona, and was named European footballer of the year three times. The work on the £250,000 Catherine Street Court all-weather project is expected to take about two-and-a-half months. Aberdeen City Council joined forces with the Denis Law Legacy Trust and the Cruyff Foundation for the development. The Cruyff Court Denis Law will also honour the Aberdeen-born football great. Law starred for Manchester United and Scotland. He was named European footballer of the year in 1964. There are almost 200 Cruyff Courts in more than 15 countries around the world.
Work to create a community sports facility named after football legend Johan Cruyff has got under way in Aberdeen.
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The former Llanfyllin Union Workhouse in Powys, known locally as Y Dolydd, opened in 1839 and could house up to 250 men, women and children. Today, it is the only one of its kind in Wales which people can visit and accommodates tourists, hosts activities and has opened up a visitors' centre. Its octagonal roof in the middle of the site needs £50,000 of repairs. The Llanfyllin Dolydd Building Preservation Trust also eventually wants to restore the master's house to include a new entrance, lift and toilets at a cost of £100,000.
The owners of a Victorian workhouse are trying to get funding to repair part of the roof.
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Chelsea, last year's Champions League winners, will meet Russian side Rubin Kazan, while Tottenham face Swiss club FC Basel after Friday's draw. Both teams have home advantage in their first legs, while Newcastle travel to Portuguese giants Benfica in their tie. Chelsea v Rubin Kazan Tottenham Hotspur v FC Basel Fenerbahce v Lazio Benfica v Newcastle United Fenerbahce also face Lazio, with all last-eight ties taking place on 4 April and 11 April. Rubin say they want to play their return leg against the Blues in Kazan after they were forced to host last-16 opponents Levante in Moscow because of problems with the pitch in their home stadium. Uefa will decide where the match against Chelsea will be played following a pitch inspection in Kazan next week. The trio of Premier League clubs booked their places in the final eight in dramatic style on Thursday. Newcastle left it late to beat 10-man Anzhi, with Papiss Cisse scoring the only goal of the tie in the 93rd minute to keep them in with a chance for a first major trophy in 44 years. Chelsea were at risk of going out but beat Steaua 3-1 on the night, with Fernando Torres scoring the third and then missing a penalty. The Spaniard's strike secured a 3-2 aggregate victory. Earlier, Spurs lost their second leg at the San Siro 4-1 after extra time but Emmanuel Adebayor's away goal was enough to send them through as they won the first leg 3-0.
Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle have been kept apart in the draw for the Europa League quarter-finals.
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Margaret Henderson, whose address was given as Verner Street in Belfast, was remanded in custody. Mr Girvan, 67, was found dead in his home on Station Road by police on Monday night. His hands were tied and he had a stab wound to his chest. A defence barrister said the accused was an "extremely vulnerable lady" with "complex needs". He told Belfast Magistrates Court that she was "fragile" and "susceptible to others" and would require immediate care in custody. She replied "aye" when asked if she understood the charge. Two men arrested in connection with Mr Girvan's murder were released unconditionally on Thursday.
A 29-year-old woman has appeared in court charged with the murder of Greenisland pensioner Eddie Girvan.
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21 September 2015 Last updated at 11:56 BST The £750m refurbishment has seen a new concourse, large atrium which lets the light into the station for the first time in years and a new shopping centre, Grand Central, complex being built. BBC Midlands Today Transport Correspondent Peter Plisner spoke to rail passengers.
A snap-shot of commuters who have seen Birmingham New Street's revamped concourse describe it as "really pretty" and "really wow", with one man saying it cannot be compared to the old station which was a "relic of the past".
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The writers took out a full page advert in Mexican newspaper El Universal to defend the right of all journalists to be free from fear and censorship. The statement by the PEN International writers group was signed by 170 of the world's most acclaimed authors. PEN says 67 journalists have been murdered in Mexico since 2000. Among those signing the declaration "to the journalists and writers of Mexico" were Nobel laureates JM Coetzee, Nadine Gordimer, Toni Morrison, Orhan Pamuk, Wole Soyinka, Mario Vargas Llosa and Derek Walcott. Other famous signatories included Chinua Achebe, Margaret Atwood, Ariel Dorfman and Salman Rushdie. "We, writers from around the world, stand with you and all Mexican citizens who are calling for the killing, the impunity, the intimidation to stop," the newspaper advert said. "These violations diminish us all and threaten the right of Mexican citizens to live lives both safe and free from censorship," it went on. "We call on your government to apprehend and prosecute all who have silenced your colleagues and seek to silence you". Mexico is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists. The majority of the killings have been linked to organised criminal gangs, with journalists targeted because of their coverage of drug-trafficking. There is also widespread intimidation, and some media practice self-censorship to protect their staff.
A host of international authors - including seven Nobel laureates - have called for an end to attacks on journalists in Mexico.
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The burglary took place some time overnight on 28 November at Grange Avenue in Stockton. Stolen presents included a Samsung Galaxy S4 tablet, children's tracksuits, three Jasper Conran dresses, electronic toys and a Makita still saw. Cleveland Police believe some of the goods may already have been sold. Homeowner Claire Hunter said she was devastated after discovering the theft. She told BBC Tees: "I went downstairs and saw the paper opened, the mess. "It was hurtful, stealing is one thing but from children at Christmas is another."
Burglars have broken into an outhouse, unwrapped Christmas presents and then stolen the most expensive gifts.
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Both sides wasted good chances in the first half to take the lead. However, the deadlock was broken when the visitors failed to deal with a free-kick, and Kyle Benedictus' cross found the head of Toshney. Kevin Cawley almost provided a perfect cross for Eamonn Brophy to finish but the striker could not get to it as Raith held on to claim the win.
Lewis Toshney's second-half header earned a win for Raith in a closely-fought encounter with Dumbarton.
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That sum could reach $13-15bn by 2015, it says. It calculates that a pirate can earn up to $79,000 a year. "Given the supply and demand for piracy services... there is plenty of room for expansion," the report warns. The EU Navfor anti-piracy force says 23 vessels and 530 hostages are currently being held. Geopolicity, which specialises in economic intelligence, forecasts an annual increase of 200-400 in the number of pirates operating off the Somali coast. Piracy cost between $4.9bn and $8.3bn in 2010, it estimates, taking into account the effect on maritime trade volume, the expanding area in which pirates operate and the more sophisticated tactics used to combat them. Piracy risks becoming a problem across African, Mediterranean and Pacific Rim waters, it warns. Total income to pirates and from piracy was $75m-$238m in 2010, the study says. And it highlights the earning potential of pirates in an impoverished country with few other opportunities, no government and no rule of law. While an individual pirate could earn $33,000-$79,000 a year, the next best alternative would bring in only $500 annually, or $14,500 over a lifetime. The consulting group highlights what it calls the "Pirate Value Chain" of pirates, financiers and sponsors. "Pirates are visible and known, financiers are harder to track, and sponsors remain invisible," it says. Geopolicity says its research charts "largely unknown territory", underlining the "relatively weak application of economics to the problem of piracy". "The supply of pirates, therefore, is closely related to the expected benefits of being a pirate and the associated risk-adjusted costs," the study says.
Piracy off the Somali coast costs the international community up to $8.3bn (£5.1bn) a year, a new report from the Geopolicity consultancy estimates.
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The Shia-led Hashd al-Shaabi forces said human remains had been found at the site "with prison uniforms". So-called Islamic State (IS) is alleged to have killed hundreds of inmates, most of them Shia Muslims, when it seized Mosul in 2014. Badoush prison was recaptured earlier this week. A spokesman for the Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitary forces, Karim Nouri, said the bodies had been "lined up in a way that indicates they were shot dead in groups". On Saturday, Iraqi forces said that a "large mass grave" had been found that contained the remains of hundreds of "civilian prisoners who were executed by (IS) gangs after they controlled the prison during their occupation of Mosul". The news follows a 2014 report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) which said that hundreds of male inmates were murdered by IS gunmen at the time. "We are waiting for forensic teams and human rights officials to begin unearthing the grave to uncover the whole story," Mr Nouri said on Sunday. After Badoush prison was seized in June 2014, some 1,500 inmates were rounded up and transported by lorry to an isolated stretch of desert about 2km (1.2 miles) away, survivors told HRW. According to the rights group's report, IS gunmen separated the Shia inmates from the Sunnis and Christians and then marched them to a ravine, where they were forced to kneel along its edge. The Shia inmates were shot in the head or back with assault rifles and automatic weapons, according to the survivors, who escaped by pretending to be dead or because they were shielded by the bodies of victims who fell on top of them. The Iraqi army's 9th Armoured Division and allied militiamen recaptured Badoush prison, north-west of Mosul, last week. A statement released by the Iraqi forces did not say whether they found anyone who was being detained by IS. On Sunday, the Iraqi military said it had retaken two more neighbourhoods in the western district of Mosul from IS. Iraqi security forces said they now control more than a third of west Mosul. Iraq's government launched an operation to retake Mosul in October, and announced that the city's eastern side had been liberated in January. Troops are now continuing their push into the more densely-populated west.
More evidence has been discovered of a reported massacre in 2014 of up to 600 inmates at Badoush prison near Mosul, Iraqi forces say.
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The warrant accuses Mr Gulen of "ordering the 15 July coup attempt", the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Turkey has repeatedly urged the US to extradite Mr Gulen. He denies any role. Turkey has cracked down heavily on those it believes responsible for the coup attempt, with much of the emphasis on perceived supporters of the cleric. Tens of thousands of public sector workers have been suspended or dismissed, with many having their passports cancelled. There has also been a massive reshuffle of the military. About 18,000 people have been detained or arrested. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also pledged to tackle businesses linked to Mr Gulen. He told heads of the chambers of commerce in Ankara on Thursday: "This organisation has an extension in the business world. Maybe it is what they are most powerful at. Because it is a rule: no project can be successful without financing. "We are determined to totally cut off all business links of this organisation, which has blood on its hands." More than 270 people died in events surrounding the coup attempt. Mr Gulen lives in self-imposed exile in the US state of Pennsylvania. Turkey has yet to make a formal request for his extradition. The US has said its judiciary will consider a request when filed. It also asked for evidence of the cleric's involvement, which Turkey says it has supplied.
A court in Istanbul has issued an arrest warrant for US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen over Turkey's recent failed coup, media reports say.
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20 October 2015 Last updated at 12:45 BST But Anna Bowes, of SavingsChampion.co.uk, argues that compound interest - which means interest builds up more significantly over time - and good habits mean students should think about saving during their studies. Video journalist: Kevin Peachey
Students face mounting debts during their university years, with many having to work for years before paying them off.
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The 46-year-old was pulled from the water by emergency services at Waterside Road, Burton-upon-Trent, on Monday night. He was treated by paramedics but later died in hospital, said Staffordshire Police. Ch Insp Steve Maskrey said: "Tragically, this incident proves just how dangerous open water can be." He added: "Although it may seem fun at the time, the public need to be aware that swimming in open water brings many dangers including the risk of drowning, catching diseases and hypothermia." The police force initially said the man had been pulled from a canal, but later confirmed it was the River Trent.
A man has died after reportedly jumping into a river in Staffordshire "to cool off" in hot weather.
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John Dennis, 43, from Redditch, Worcestershire, who raped four women over 16 years, was jailed for 10 years in April at Birmingham Crown Court. Judges declared the term was "unduly lenient". Lady Justice Rafferty said "this was a chronicle of cold, callous sexual degradation of four women", with the youngest a vulnerable 15-year-old. The judge, sitting in London alongside two others, described the offending as "grave" and emphasised the need to impose a sentence to "deter others". Dennis, who watched proceedings via videolink from prison on Wednesday, had been convicted of five counts of rape and three of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. A four-year extended period on licence imposed by the trial judge remains part of his sentence. Solicitor General Robert Buckland asked the Court of Appeal to look at the 10-year term "under the unduly lenient sentence scheme because of the seriousness and magnitude of rapes committed over a sustained period of time". Speaking after the ruling, he said: "John Dennis's highly predatory behaviour caused untold misery to his victims, who should be commended for finding the courage to come forward. "I hope that the doubling of this sentence to 20 years offers some degree of comfort to them and reassures the public that offences of this kind will be treated with the utmost seriousness and the perpetrators will serve a long time in prison."
A rapist has had his jail sentence doubled to 20 years by judges at the Court of Appeal.
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She did not elaborate on what the signs were, but ordered the military to be prepared, Yonhap news agency said. It comes after reports in local media about increased activity at the North's Punggye-ri nuclear test site, where the previous nuclear tests took place. A new test would be further defiance of tougher sanctions imposed by the UN last month. "We are in a situation, in which we don't know whether North Korea could stage provocation as a move to overcome its isolation and to consolidate its internal unity," Ms Park said told her top aides, Yonhap reported. In January, the North conducted its fourth nuclear test and a rocket launch a month later, raising tensions on the peninsula. Observers have been saying another test could come before North Korea holds its Workers' Party congress in Pyongyang in May. Experts believe the North does not possess the technology to mount a nuclear device on an intercontinental ballistic missile - although it has made progress in recent years on its nuclear weapons programme.
South Korea has detected signs that the North is preparing for a fifth nuclear test, President Park Geun-hye said.
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The two sides have agreed a batch of reforms that will be presented to the Greek Parliament on Thursday. The eurozone countries insisted on the measures before releasing €2bn (£1.4bn) in loans and up to €10bn in support for the banks. The agreement will help pave the way for further payments under the country's third bailout. The eurozone has agreed to provide Greece with up to €86bn in total. Like the first two bailouts, the third, which was agreed in July, came with an extensive list of conditions that Greece had to meet before it receives instalments of the loans. It has so far received €13bn under the third programme. The next payment had been held up by differences between the two sides over protection from repossession for home owners in arrears with their mortgages and about reforms to the banks. These and other issues have now apparently been resolved although Greece still has work to do to put the measures it has agreed into effect. Of the €12bn of delayed funds, €2bn is for general support for the Greek government budget. The remainder is for recapitalising the banks - repairing their financial foundations so that they can function effectively. The banks are also asking private investors to come up with some cash, but a contribution from the bailout will also be needed. The Greek Finance Minster Euclid Tsakalotos described it as a difficult negotiation and said the pressure to get the deal finalised came from the need to support the banks. The eurozone has also held out to Greece the possibility of debt relief after a review of progress under the new bailout. However, it has said that relief would come in the form of longer delays before repayments start or finish, not a reduction - or so-called "haircut" - in the amount that has ultimately to be repaid.
Greece has secured a tentative deal with the eurozone to unlock the latest tranche of financial aid.
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The suspected migrants were picked up about a mile and a half off the Kent coast in the early hours by a lifeboat crew concerned for their safety. They were located after staff on a passing ferry spotted the light from their mobile phone. Both men had not eaten for two days and were said to be cold and in a state of shock. They were taken into Dover Harbour and treated by paramedics before being handed to the authorities. Andy Roberts from Dover RNLI said: "The Pride of Canterbury P&O ferry, leaving Dover harbour, spotted a very weak light that flashed occasionally and they slowed down and diverted towards this light. "It was a mobile phone that was being held up. "They [the migrants] had been at sea for in excess of seven hours and they were very cold and rather shaken up but Dover lifeboat diverted because of their condition and concern." The pair had called 999 for help at about 02.30 BST saying they did not know where they were but the RNLI were unable to locate them until they were spotted by the ferry. A spokesman for the Home Office said the two man were "handed to immigration officials by Kent Police for questioning". He said border security was "paramount" and they always worked with partners to "detect and deter" people who tried to reach the UK illegally.
Two Iranian men have been rescued after spending eight hours in the English Channel in an inflatable dinghy.
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Wales are third in their qualifying group after four consecutive draws, four points behind leaders Serbia with five games remaining. On Thursday manager Chris Coleman will name his squad for the qualifier against Serbia in Belgrade on 11 June. "It goes without saying how important it is," the West Bromwich Albion forward Robson-Kanu said. "We'll come together, be ready and try and get the result which we know we can. "In every competitive international game to have to try and get points and the one in the summer will be no different." Wales will hold a training camp at the Vale do Lobo resort in Portugal ahead of the qualifier in Serbia. Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale and Aston Villa defender Neil Taylor are suspended for the game. Liverpool youngsters Ben Woodburn and Harry Wilson are set to be included in the senior squad after being omitted from the Wales Under-20 squad at the Toulon Tournament. Everton defender Gethin Jones, who spent the second half of the 2016-17 season on loan at Championship side Barnsley, could also be named in the squad. The 21-year-old was born in Perth, Australia, and the Socceroos have been keen to bring the Porthmadog-raised youngster on board. Jones, who has captained Wales sides at various levels including the Under-21 side, turned down an invitation to join Australia's development squad camp in Spain in March.
Hal Robson-Kanu says Wales have little room for error in their remaining 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
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Martin Construction will convert the iconic Sinclair building on the Abercorn Road into 52 apartments, There will also be 36 new flats behind the building and seven terraced houses at Wapping Lane are to be converted into 14 apartments. The developer said residents were consulted at several public meetings. Catherine Pollack , who lives opposite the building on George Street, said the plans won't meet the needs of the community. "I'm not saying that housing is not something that we should be considering, it's the type of housing and the fact that we would like people to stay there long term and create a community with the people of the Abercorn Road and the Fountain. "That is an area of high need, for jobs, training and businesses to be developed in that area." Donna McCloskey, from the Triax neighbourhood management team, said residents have not been fully consulted. "The actual development of the factory is not a concern but it's the lack of consultation. For anyone who knows the area, it's overrun by traffic at the minute from the city centre and residents can't get parked as it is. "There are many properties in the Fountain area that could be used instead so it's not for a demand for housing." A spokesperson for Martin Construction said the redevelopment was not only extremely important to built heritage but would also bring much needed employment and help address the housing crisis in the city. "We adhere to a very strict letting procedure which we apply to all of our residential rental properties and this will be the same with the apartments at the Abercorn Factory development. Like most of our other larger apartment buildings, we will also have a '24 hour' on site manager." The developer said the plans had been amended to address concerns.
Some residents have said they are angry at plans to develop a former shirt factory into an apartment block in Londonderry.
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He was found dead at Navan Retail Park on Navan's Athboy Road in County Meath just after 06:00 local time. The Garda Síochána (Irish police) has started an investigation.
A man's body has been found at a retail park in the Republic of Ireland after what is thought to have been a workplace accident.
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The 55-year-old victim answered the door of his home in Wallace Court, Prestwick, to a woman at about 16:30 on Sunday. As they spoke, a man pushed his way into the house, attacked the wheelchair user with a knife and demanded money. The couple stole more than £1,000 before escaping. Detectives believe it was a targeted attack. The victim was taken to Ayr Hospital for treatment to a neck injury. His condition was described as "stable". The suspects are both white and in their early 40s. The man was about 5ft 10in tall, slim and was wearing a blue beanie hat, jeans and a blue fleece. The woman was between 5ft 6in and 5ft 8in tall, slim and had long, dark hair. She was wearing a dark jacket which may have had white writing on the back. Det Insp Alan Sommerville said: "Thankfully the man was not seriously injured during the attack but it was a terrifying and very nasty experience for him. "I do believe that he was targeted and would appeal to anyone who recognises the descriptions, who may have seen the couple hanging about either prior to or after the robbery, to contact police."
A wheelchair user has been treated in hospital after being attacked by thieves in his own house.
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The company said more than 20 tonnes of fat and waste end up in the city's Park End Street sewer alone each year. Thames Water said it mixes with waste such as wet wipes and hardens, blocking the city's sewer system. The company found 80% of 200 eateries surveyed did not have any grease-trapping equipment. Updates on this story and more from Oxfordshire Spokeswoman Becky Trotman said in Oxford the problem "seems to be getting worse" and a blockage the size of two double-decker buses was removed in February. She said food outlets are being urged to fit grease-trapping equipment that prevents oil from being washed into the city sewers. A further 15% of food outlets were found to be using ineffective grease traps, while less than half of managers and owners surveyed knew what they were. Thames Water regional manager Sean Walden said: "It was particularly useful to speak to business owners about their responsibilities. "The majority are keen to learn more about what they can do to help reduce fatbergs, which is really encouraging." In 2014 a fatberg caused the sewer under Hollybush Row to collapse and work to remove it caused caused traffic delays in the centre of Oxford.
Oxford has persistent problems with "fatbergs" because only 5% of food outlets are correctly disposing of oil, fat and grease, Thames Water has said.
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It involves assisting the delivery of Universal Credit, Child Maintenance and Personal Independence Payment services. Another 100 workers will be redeployed from offices with surplus staff. The Department of Communities already employs approximately 1,400 staff who provide services to claimants in Great Britain on behalf of DWP. The 170 new posts will be offered, in the first instance, to people who have been successful in previous civil service recruitment processes. The jobs will be shared between sites in Belfast and Armagh and will need to be in place by April 2017. Communities Minister Paul Givan said: "This additional investment is clear acknowledgement by DWP that they value the high quality services currently being provided by our staff."
The Department of Communities is to recruit 170 staff to work on a contract it has been awarded by the UK's Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
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Eliaquim Mangala is expected to depart, which would leave City with Vincent Kompany, John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi as established centre-backs. "We don't have too much more to spend but we are going to see," said Guardiola, speaking before Saturday's friendly against Tottenham (23:00 BST). City have spent about £200m this summer - £120m of that on three full-backs. This month, England right-back Kyle Walker moved from Spurs for £45m, Brazil international Danilo joined from Real Madrid for £26.5m and France left-back Benjamin Mendy was recruited from Monaco for £52m. They join Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva (£43m) and Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson Moraes (£35m) in arriving at City this summer. City have also been linked with moves for Arsenal's Chile forward Alexis Sanchez and another Monaco player, £160m-rated 18-year-old France striker Kylian Mbappe. However, Guardiola declined to answer questions on that duo, stating that "they are Arsenal and Monaco players".
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says the club "will try" to sign a central defender this summer.
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Reckord, 24, is former Wolves trainee spent the last two seasons at Scottish Premier League side Ross County, but left them in April. He previously spent time on loan at Northampton, Scunthorpe, Coventry, Plymouth and Swindon while at Wolves. Woodland, 20, was at Oldham on loan in 2013 and joins on a six-month deal. He has won five caps for the Philippines. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.
Oldham Athletic have brought in left-back Jamie Reckord on a one-year deal and re-signed Bradford Park Avenue midfielder Luke Woodland.
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It sits inside a tube that can be fitted on top of a bottle and purifies water as it is poured on a cup. The designer behind the filter, Dr Eugene Cloete, from the Stellenbosch University in South Africa, says the filter is only as big as an ordinary tea bag. He says the product is cost-effective and easy to use. "We are coming in here at the fraction of the cost of anything else that is currently on the market," says Dr Cloete on BBC World Service. According to him the filter will not only stop harmful bacteria from getting into the water, it will also kill them. "We cover the tea bag material with nano-structured fibres, and instead of tea inside the tea bag, we incorporate activated carbon. "The function of the activated carbon is to remove most of the dangerous chemicals that you would find in water." He says that the function of the fibres is to create a filter where harmful bacteria is physically filtered out and killed. According to the World Health Organisation the number of people who can access clean drinking water has been improving steadily across the globe. But there are millions of people - many in Sub-Saharan Africa - who still do not have access to drinkable water. The filter will also improve the taste of the water says Dr Cloete. "If you take ordinary tap water that you get in the city," he says, "that is chlorinated for instance." But with the new filter, "the activated carbon will remove the chlorine so the water will actually taste better," he says. Dr Cloete says his team wants to have an impact on 1.2 billion people around the world who do not have access to safe drinking water. He says there have been extensive interest about the filter since the invention was announced. "We have had many, many inquiries from aid organisations and from philanthropists who are quite prepared to sponsor these filters to people that need them most," he says. But there are also commercial potentials, "for those people who go camping and those people who go hiking and so on," he adds.
A group of researchers in South Africa has developed a filter that can purify water straight from the bottle.
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They say the service is a "lifeline" for their mental health and well-being. The Western Trust has outlined proposals to close the service at Owenkillew community centre in the village of Gortin. Fermanagh and Omagh District Councillors are due to raise the issue at a meeting later on Tuesday. The Western Trust has suggested users be bussed to a similar facility in Newtownstewart, about eight miles away. Ita Flanagan, 82, suffers from Parkinson's disease and is confined to a wheelchair. She started attending the day care service in Gortin after her husband died. She said she did not think she would be able to go to the alternative facility. "It's a 14 mile round journey and it's not very pleasant sitting on a wheelchair in a bus on a bendy road which is not very well surfaced. "I don't see the necessity to move because we have everything so well where we are in Gortin. "So please just listen to our plea, we're just looking to be left where we are and that the decision-makers will listen to our plea and see the sense of it." Rosalla McCrory is a 96-year-old retired nurse who lives a short distance away from the Gortin centre. "It's the loneliness that gets you. I have bad eyesight and I no longer drive so I'm dependent on people taking me out," she said. "I'd like to say please don't close Gortin. We all like it, we all benefit so much for it and we all look forward to going there. It's a lifeline." Ita and Rosalla are two of 14 pensioners who attend the centre every Monday. In a statement the Western Trust said that in August it was agreed to move forward with the recommendations contained within the Reform of Day Care Services Consultation Feedback Report. The existing service users will get the same quantity of day care they currently receive, but it may be in a different facility that better meets their need. The Trust will review current transport services to ensure that all service users can be accommodated in a timely manner. It will undertake to give feedback on the consultation process and is committed to implementing its plan by 31 March 2016.
A group of pensioners at a day care centre in County Tyrone have made a plea to prevent its closure.
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In the open letter, the group said the government crackdown on the population amounted to "ethnic cleansing". More than 34,000 Rohingya have been forced to flee military operations in Rakhine state, according to the UN. Ms Suu Kyi, Myanmar's de facto leader, is accused of failing to protect the minority group. "A human tragedy amounting to ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity is unfolding in Myanmar," the group, which includes South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, wrote in a letter to the UN Security Council. "If we fail to take action, people may starve to death if they are not killed with bullets," it added. The group, consisting of Nobel laureates, politicians, philanthropists and activists, said it was "frustrated" that Ms Suu Kyi, herself a Nobel laureate, "has not taken any initiative to ensure full and equal citizenship rights of the Rohingyas". At least 86 people have been killed in operations in Rakhine state, launched after armed militants attacked border posts in Maungdaw on 9 October, killing nine policemen. Earlier this month the government of Myanmar was criticised by the UN over its treatment of the minority Rohingya Muslim population. Myanmar's government said it was conducting counter-terrorism operations in the region and has denied reports of killings and other abuses. Most of the displaced Rohingya have fled across the border into Bangladesh. On Friday, director general of Myanmar's ministry of foreign affairs, Kyaw Zaya, told Reuters news agency that Myanmar recognised that 2,415 of its citizens were in Bangladesh, adding that they were welcome to return. The estimated one million Muslim Rohingya are seen by many in mainly Buddhist Myanmar as illegal migrants from Bangladesh. They are denied citizenship by the government despite many having lived there for generations. Communal violence in Rakhine state in 2012 left scores dead and displaced more than 100,000 people, with many Rohingya still remaining in decrepit camps. They face widespread discrimination and mistreatment. Hundreds of thousands of undocumented Rohingya are estimated to live in Bangladesh, having fled Myanmar.
Eleven Nobel peace prize winners have urged the UN to "end the human crisis" of Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims in a letter criticising Aung San Suu Kyi.
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The Liberal Democrats and Green Party said the role, held by Joe Anderson, should be scrapped as it will duplicate much of the city region mayor's remit. He has launched a petition aimed at sparking a referendum which could lead to the return of a leader and cabinet. The Labour Party said the Lib Dems were ignoring public support for a mayor. Lib Dem leader Richard Kemp said his petition needed 17,000 signatures to trigger a referendum. Green Party Councillor Lawrence Brown also called for a return to the former structure of having a leader and cabinet. "We believe the current system puts too much power in the hands of one person and away from individual councillors," he added. The Liverpool City Region mayor - to be elected in May 2017 - was created as part of former chancellor George Osborne's plans for a Northern Powerhouse. The region comprises Liverpool, St Helens, Knowsley, Sefton, and Wirral, as well as Halton in Cheshire. Mr Anderson on Wednesday lost out to Steve Rotheram in his bid to become Labour's candidate. The other parties have yet to declare their candidates. Liverpool's city mayor is currently elected every four years - Mr Anderson comfortably retained the role earlier this year. Mr Kemp said having two elected mayors - as well as a ceremonial lord mayor - was too complicated. He said: "It's for the people of Liverpool to decide what system of government they want. "Constitutional change should be the prerogative of the people of Liverpool, not the politicians of Liverpool, and that's why we'll be taking that petition out to them. "If they support it, we'll have a referendum," he added. A Labour Party statement said: "Joe Anderson has just been re-elected with over 51,000 votes because he delivered on all his promises from the 2012 election. "Almost 100,000 people took part in the democratic process of electing the mayor this year, and the Lib Dems are trying to pretend that didn't happen."
Liverpool should not have its own mayor following next year's elections for a post covering the whole city region, opposition councillors have said.
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The 40-year-old stepped down as the county's captain on Thursday. The opener, who made his Somerset debut in 1993, has scored 23,531 first-class runs and played 76 Tests for England between 2000 and 2006. "As long as Marcus retains that enthusiasm, he can still be around for a few more years yet," Maynard told BBC Somerset. "Brian Rose [former England batsman] took on a fearsome West Indies side at the age of 45 and Brad Hodge [41-year-old ex-Australia batsman] is still playing Big Bash cricket." Maynard insists Trescothick, who scored 1,284 County Championship runs at an average of 45.85 in 2015, remains one of England's best batsmen and will continue to be a prized asset for Somerset. "He is still one of the best batsman in the country," added Maynard. "I want him to carry on playing. He is a great ambassador for the club and he is an inspiration the all of the young players coming through."
Somerset batsman Marcus Trescothick is still years away from retirement, says director of cricket Matt Maynard.
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At least four dogs were suspected of contracting the illness after being walked in the same woodland near Marlborough in the run-up to Christmas. The disease, causing skin lesions and potential kidney failure, was first identified in the US in the 1980s. David Walker, from Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, said: "At least we now know what we're dealing with." Several suspected cases of Alabama Rot, or cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV), were reported in December after dogs were walked in West Woods near Marlborough. One of the dogs - a cocker spaniel called Pippa - died just before Christmas. Test results have now confirmed the animal, along with another dog in Salisbury, both had Alabama Rot. Owner Jessica Worthington said Pippa developed sores on her legs after walking in West Woods. "Unfortunately after a few days Pippa's condition deteriorated and she was showing signs of kidney damage," she said. "Not long after that - despite trying many intensive treatments - we unfortunately lost her." Mr Walker, who treated Pippa, said even before the toxicology reports came back positive, there were "very strong" suspicions that it was CRGV. "This is a very rare disease which affects very few dogs but the best thing pet owners can do is be vigilant and if they're seeing skin lesions of unknown cause then go and speak to your local vet." Possible cases of Alabama Rot were identified in 71 dogs across England between November 2012 and March 2014.
A mystery dog disease that killed two pets in Wiltshire at the end of last year has been confirmed as Alabama Rot.
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It aims to make it an offence to post content that is discriminatory, threatening and causes distress. Internet service providers and social media firms would be forced to remove offensive material. The 10-minute rule bill being presented on Wednesday would need UK government support but has already secured cross-party backing. It would combine measures against digital crime from about 30 different existing laws and aims to update regulations covering online surveillance, monitoring and abusive digital content. "The existing laws are fragmented and inadequate and must be made fit for purpose without delay," Ms Saville Roberts said. Business leaders have called cyber crime one of the biggest threats facing firms, after an attack on TalkTalk in 2015.
A bill to tackle online abuse and cyber crime is being introduced by Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts.
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Ray Matthews from Maltby, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, is to start the first 26.2-mile run on Saturday. Most of the marathons will be around his home county but he will also complete two in France, he said. It is to raise funds for Newman School in Rotherham which caters for a range of special educational needs and disabilities. Mr Matthews described the plan as a birthday present to himself that would last 75 days. "I like doing extreme distance challenges," he said. His last distance challenge was to run 150 miles in 36 hours when he was 71. "I hoped that would take me to the extreme edge of what I was capable of - and it didn't," he explained. Most of the marathons have been organised by running clubs around South Yorkshire. However, two are being held in St-Quentin, France, Rotherham's twin town. He started running as a "little lad" as part of his boxing training and "has an ability to keep putting one foot in front of the other more times than other people". Mr Mathews intends to run into Newman school on 14 September at the end of the challenge with "my arms aloft", he said. He hopes to raise money to improve the external areas of the school and provide new equipment. Katharine Ryan-Murray, deputy head teacher at the school said: "It's such an amazing event, we wish him all the best. "We're delighted he's fundraising for the school".
A man who has just turned 75 is planning to run 75 marathons over 75 days to raise £75,000 for charity.
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Hussain Saeed Alnahdi, 24, was attacked on Sunday outside Topper's Pizza in downtown Menomonie, Wisconsin, near his university. Local media reported police found Mr Alnahdi unconscious and bloodied. He died on Monday. The motive of the crime is unclear and police have asked for any information about a possible assailant. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported the suspect was a white male, about 6ft. According to a statement on Facebook by the university, Mr Alnahdi, was in his third year of studies pursuing business administration. University chancellor Bob Meyer said: "Our deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers go out to Hussain's family in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia, and his friends at UW-Stout." The Minnesota Council on American Islamic relations said in a tweet they were "monitoring" the death of Mr Alnahdi.
A Saudi student at the University of Wisconsin-Stout has died after being assaulted by an unidentified man.
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The 5ft (1.5m) boat, named Crimson Tide, had been released thousands of miles away across the Atlantic by students in New Jersey. The boat was launched in South Carolina by Morristown-Beard School on 1 December 2012 to test the effect of tides and the weather. Paris Broe-Bougourd came across the boat while fishing on 16 February. On the deck were images of pupils from a class at the school. He contacted the school students who had left contact details on the boat. The fisherman said: "I found it about two and a half miles south of Guernsey. "We read all the information on it and discovered where it had come from." The boat has GPS for tracking and it had a sail that had snapped off. Mr Broe-Bougourd said: "I am going to repair all the damage, put a new sail on it and take it to the north of the island and set her off again. "I have spoken to the school and they asked me to let it go. "It's more interesting that it is still out there rather than keep it as a souvenir." Teacher Lisa Swanson said: "We were using the boat as a way to study the physical geography of the Earth, the currents and the weather. "We could see on the GPS that the boat wasn't moving any more. "The students heard about the storms you have had and feared the worst." She said the school hoped to exchange information about the project with a Guernsey school. "We had put in goodies, a flash drive and a T-shirt into the boat, but those have been lost," she said. "We hope it will go south to the Canaries and then back to us eventually. "It will be quite an adventure."
A Guernsey fisherman has made one of his strangest catches ever - an unmanned boat from the US.
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Media playback is not supported on this device Saturday's 1-0 Premier League defeat at Watford leaves Clement's side two points behind 17th-placed Hull City with five games remaining. Under Brendan Rodgers, the Swans won promotion to the top flight by beating Reading at Wembley in May 2011. "With the position we are in, Stoke becomes a must-win game," said Clement. "It is probably the biggest game the club has seen in a few years, probably since the play-off final." Clement has previously been dismissive of the notion of "must-win" games. "I've been asked a lot since I joined, 'is that a must-win game?' but there were still lots of games to play," he said. "Now the next game is huge. We have to win, we have to beat Stoke. The players know that, what we need is to embrace this pressure. "When the pressure is gone, we won't be able to stay in this league. So we have to continue to believe. We have three home games at the Liberty and with the fans' support, hopefully it will be enough." Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, who Clement tried to sign prior to his retirement, says Swansea's poor form is down to a lack of confidence. "I understand if Paul Clement seemed downcast at full-time," he said. "It was disappointing from Swansea's perspective - the one thing you expect as a manager is effort and a desire to get out of the situation they are in. "That was slightly lacking from the start. Swansea were short in their energy and what they put into the game. "It's a confidence issue - they are on a bad run and gave sloppy balls away throughout the game. "It looks like a straight fight now between Swansea and Hull for that last relegation position. "I watched Hull today and they are a team creating chances. You can see that they have some momentum." Media playback is not supported on this device Clement said defender Alfie Mawson was distraught after his mistake led to Etienne Capoue's winning goal for Watford. "I hope Alfie Mawson would have learned after the last game, because he was taking some risks in that one," Clement said. "I said to him at half-time: 'That has to be it now.' "He's a good player and he will learn from it. He's going to end up being a very good player, but his job is to keep it simple. "Alfie is really upset, he knows he's made a big mistake."
Swansea's match against Stoke next Saturday is probably the club's biggest since the 2011 Championship play-off final, says manager Paul Clement.
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