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But Peter Robinson found himself out of his depth on Sunday - while cleaning out his koi carp fish pond.
The DUP leader took to Twitter to describe how he plunged in to the water, while removing algae from the sides of the pool.
"Half way through making my fish feel better about themselves I lost my footing and headlong fell into the pond," he tweeted.
"That was the easy part. Getting out of a pond with slippy sides is not easy, especially as the water level is beyond the level of my mouth and nose."
The First Minister said his afternoon dip provided plenty of laughs for his family.
The slip-up is also likely to raise a smile or two from his election opponents.
"My call for help went unanswered as family either chortled and convulsed or searched for insurance policies.
"The First Minister issue was almost settled," he added.
He later said that he only wanted "tweets of sympathy", not "responses about slippery slopes or expressions of concern about my fish".
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As First Minister of Northern Ireland he's used to getting out of slippery situations.
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Residents in Overdale Road, Old Basford, reported a number of shots being fired just after 15:00 BST on Tuesday.
A 22-year-old man suffered a minor injury in the disturbance but did not require hospital treatment.
Nottinghamshire Police said a 24-year-old man was detained on suspicion of firearms offences on Saturday.
The force added two women, aged 33 and 30, and a 32-year-old man who were previously arrested have been bailed pending further enquiries.
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Police have arrested a fourth person in connection with a suspected shooting in Nottingham.
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Scotland Yard Det Insp John Reilly told the Kenyan court it was among messages sent by defendant Jermaine Grant.
He said the messages were sent to a man referred to as Habib, who was at the time believed to be the partner of British terror suspect Samantha Lewthwaite, known as the "White Widow".
Mr Grant denies the charges.
One message, read out in the court in Mombasa, Kenya, by Mr Reilly, said: "There are lions inside. One of them is very watchful. Like a bird watches a stone."
Kenyan police have previously said they believe Mr Grant had links with Ms Lewthwaite, the widow of the 7/7 bomber Germaine Lindsay.
She is wanted in Kenya in connection with the same case but police have been unable to find her.
Mr Reilly also told the court on Friday that items recovered from Mr Grant - who is also accused of possessing explosive materials - could have been used to make a "highly volatile explosive substance".
The remaining part of the hearing was taken up with a dispute between the defence and prosecution about whether a document by Mr Reilly should be heard by the court, and the case was adjourned until 18 August.
The UK has provided forensic assistance to the Kenyan local authorities in this case, and Mr Grant was arrested in a raid on a flat in Mombasa in December 2011.
One officer with knowledge of the case has previously told the BBC how on the night of Mr Grant's arrest, police raided a number of other addresses associated with him.
At one of these addresses they found a "white lady" who presented a South African passport in the name of Natalie Faye Webb. It later transpired the passport was a fake and Natalie Faye Webb was Ms Lewthwaite.
Police returned some days later to search for her but she had disappeared.
The trial continues.
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A British man accused of intent to cause explosions sent a text message to an alleged accomplice warning them they were being watched, a court has heard.
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Nigel Farage's party is standing in 624 of the 650 Westminster constituencies, according to the Press Association. That is 66 more than 2010.
Natalie Bennett's Green Party is standing in 571 seats - far more than the 335 they contested last time.
The Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats are fielding full slates in England, Scotland and Wales.
Those three parties will not be contesting the re-election of Commons Speaker John Bercow in Buckingham, in accordance with tradition, but Mr Bercow will face a challenge from Green and UKIP candidates.
The Conservatives are also standing in 16 of Northern Ireland's 18 constituencies.
Meanwhile, the SNP is contesting all 59 seats in Scotland and Plaid Cymru all 40 in Wales.
The British National Party is standing in just eight constituencies.
That is a dramatic reduction from the last general election, when it stood 338 candidates.
The overall number of candidates across the UK, including all parties and independents, appears to be down slightly, from 4,150 to 3,963.
Figures also suggest more woman are standing than in 2010, with 1,020 compared to 854 last time.
George Galloway's Respect is standing in four constituencies- seven fewer than 2010.
UKIP's Mr Farage said: "We are delighted to be standing in almost all constituencies in the country.
"It is a significant increase on 2010 and means that in all four nations of the UK, there is now the chance to vote UKIP, a chance that we hope millions will take up."
BNP spokesman Simon Darby denied the decline in the number of candidates for his party reflected a collapse in the party's support and membership.
He said the party could have fielded more candidates, but took the decision not to waste deposits.
Nominations closed on Thursday.
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UKIP and the Green Party are fielding a record number of general election candidates, figures suggest.
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Customs officials said the 139 Radiated and six Angonoka tortoises had been "wrapped inhumanly" in plastic bags.
Two Radiated tortoises were found dead, with broken shells, but the rest were alive, officials said.
The tortoises were being smuggled from Madagascar to Nepal, with Mumbai as a transit point, they added.
No arrests have been made so far.
Assistant Customs Commissioner Kiran Kumar Karlapu tweeted that only 600 Angonoka tortoises are left in the wild.
Angonoka tortoises, also known as Ploughshare, are highly prized for their distinctive gold and black shells and fetch exceptionally high prices on the international black market.
Officials said the tortoises would be sent back to Madagascar in accordance with Indian laws.
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Indian custom officials say they have seized 146 endangered tortoises from an abandoned bag at Mumbai airport after noticing a strange smell.
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Farah, 33, won the event in 2011 but had to settle for second earlier this year behind American Garrett Heath.
Scotland's Callum Hawkins, who finished ninth in this year's Olympic marathon, will also compete in the men's race.
Hawkins finished third at the European Cross Country Championships in Sardinia last Sunday.
Andy Vernon, who came fifth, will also compete for Britain in the Edinburgh XCountry race, along with Ben Connor, Dewi Griffiths and Ross Millington, who helped GB win team gold in Sardinia alongside Hawkins and another Scot, Andrew Butchart.
European 5,000m bronze medallist Steph Twell and Gemma Steel, who won the Edinburgh event in 2014, will head up Britain's women's team.
Farah, the only Briton to have won the senior men's race in the Scottish capital, said: "Holyrood Park is always a great venue and I'm sure the course will offer the usual challenges.
"I have been back in full training for the past few weeks and this event will offer me a good opportunity to measure my fitness and see how training is going ahead of the 2017 track season."
Hawkins, 24, added: "It will be a great way to kick-start 2017. It's a good opportunity to compete back on home soil; it's an event I always enjoy racing in.
"This year has been incredible for me and hopefully I will continue to head in the right direction in the New Year."
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Two-time double Olympic champion Mo Farah will aim to win the Great Edinburgh International XCountry race for a second time on 7 January.
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The Labour leader first worked as a colliery blacksmith before becoming a community health council chief officer.
He had said he would stand down in May after nearly 40 years as a councillor.
First Minister Carwyn Jones said Mr Reynolds was a "dedicated public servant who worked tirelessly for the people of Aberbargoed", the ward he represented since 1979.
"His passing will be felt deeply not just by his family and friends but by communities across Caerphilly where he made his impact as a councillor, local campaigner, and civic leader."
Caerphilly council's deputy leader David Poole added: "Keith was an outstanding public servant, who had an unrelenting drive and determination to do his very best for his local community and for our county borough."
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Tributes have been paid to Caerphilly council leader Keith Reynolds, who has died at the age of 71.
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The Scot was broken in the first game of the match and also at 5-5 on his way to losing the first set.
Murray was 6-2 behind in the second set tie-break before valiantly recovering to win it 11-9 and force a decider.
He broke a tiring Robredo three times in the third as he won his first title since winning Wimbledon last year.
Murray said: "I got lucky, basically, at the end of the second set. I fought hard, tried my best and thankfully managed to turn it round."
The victory moves Murray up to 10th in the rankings in the race to reach the ATP World Tour Finals in London during November, with the top eight qualifying.
The 27-year-old is now 105 points behind Tomas Berdych, who is currently eighth, and is next scheduled to play at tournaments in Beijing, Shanghai and Paris.
Murray had beaten Robredo in the third round at SW19 last year and, in their first meeting since then, again emerged victorious - albeit following a closely-fought contest.
The Scot opened the match with two double faults on his way to losing the first game and, despite recovering the break, again gave up his serve at 5-5.
A powerful forehand return to Murray's feet was put long by the Scot as Robredo went 6-5 up before holding his nerve to close out the first set.
Murray came back from 0-40 at 3-2 to break Robredo in the second set, only to be broken straight back in the next game.
The Spaniard saved two set points at 5-4 down before the second set went to a tense tie-break.
Murray appeared beaten when facing four match points in a row, only to save them all as well as another at 7-6, as he fought back to win 11-9 courtesy of some powerful forehands.
That proved to be the breaking point for Robredo as he succumbed to the sapping heat and a determined opponent, with Murray raced through the third set.
Meanwhile, Murray's older brother Jamie and doubles partner John Peers were beaten 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 10-5 in the Malaysian Open doubles final in Kuala Lumpur by Marcin Matkowski and Leander Paes.
In the singles final, US Open runner-up Kei Nishikori of Japan beat Frenchman Julien Benneteau 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.
British number two James Ward has failed to qualify for the ATP tournament in Tokyo after retiring against American Rajeev Ram.
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Andy Murray saved five match points before going on to beat Tommy Robredo 5-7 7-6 (11-9) 6-1 in the Shenzhen Open final in China.
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Luis Reece's 66 saw the hosts to their target of 162 with three balls to spare and three wickets in hand, lifting them to second place in the North Group.
A 61-run win for Middlesex over Gloucestershire left a tight South Group table even more congested.
The six teams from third to eighth positions all have 12 points, with only two of them able to go through.
Leaders Glamorgan had already guaranteed a last-eight place and Hampshire's qualification for the quarter-final stage was confirmed by Middlesex's victory at Uxbridge.
The hosts posted 161-5 from their 20 overs, despite England limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan making a second-ball duck.
Steven Finn (4-24), Tim Southee (3-9) and Tom Helm (3-14) then starred with the ball as Gloucestershire were bowled out for 100 in 15.5 overs.
The Falcons' only previous last-eight appearance since the tournament's inception 14 years ago was in 2005, but with two group matches remaining they are in a strong position to qualify.
Matt Henry (3-42) helped restrict Durham to 161-7 in their 20 overs, Stuart Poynter making 61 not out off 32 balls after discarded England Test opener Keaton Jennings had been run out for just one.
Derbyshire were cruising towards their target but a flurry of late wickets stalled their progress, until stand-in captain Daryn Smit struck the winning boundary off Paul Coughlin in the final over.
Have your say: Which teams do you think will qualify from the South Group?
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Derbyshire boosted their hopes of qualification for the T20 Blast quarter-finals by beating Durham.
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Howard suffered the injury in a collision with Posh striker Shaquile Coulthirst in Sunday's 1-0 defeat.
The 30-year-old joined Bolton in the summer from Sheffield United and had started every league game so far.
"To lose someone of his quality is a blow for us," manager Phil Parkinson told the club website.
"But it is also an opportunity for Ben Alnwick to stake his claim for a place in the team."
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Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Mark Howard could be out for 12 weeks with a broken thumb and ligament damage suffered in their League One loss at Peterborough.
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Abas Abdullahi Siraji was in his car near the presidential palace in Mogadishu when he was killed by Ahmed Abdullahi Abdi, who reportedly mistook him for a militant Islamist.
The minister's death caused shock and anger at the time.
The military court which sentenced the soldier said he can appeal.
His lawyers argued that the killing was an accident, the AFP news agency reports.
They said that the minister's car attracted suspicion after it drove up behind the car carrying the auditor general, who the soldier was protecting.
At 31, Mr Siraji became Somalia's youngest-ever member of parliament last November before becoming the minister of public works earlier this year.
He grew up as a refugee in neighbouring Kenya, home to hundreds of thousands of Somalis who fled drought and conflict, and was seen a role model for his widely admired determination to succeed.
Sensing his popularity with the youth, President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo appointed him to the cabinet.
When Mr Siraji was killed, the president cut short a visit to Ethiopia to attend his state funeral.
Somalia has been wracked by conflict since the long-serving ruler Siad Barre was ousted in 1991.
It is currently battling militant Islamists from the al-Shabab group, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda.
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The Somali soldier who shot dead the country's youngest-ever cabinet minister last month has been sentenced to death by firing squad.
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Waseem Baloch and three others were charged in a court in Multan, police investigator Atiya Jafri told the BBC.
When arrested in July soon after the murder, he publicly confessed to strangling his 26-year-old sister for bringing "dishonour" to the family.
Qandeel Baloch was well known for bold and risque social media posts.
She divided opinion in socially conservative Pakistan, and had expressed fears for her life as a result.
The threats and abuse outspoken Pakistani women receive
Killing reflects divided country
Waseem Baloch and Ms Baloch's cousin, Haq Nawaz, have been charged with murder. Two other men, including a taxi driver, have been charged with conspiracy to murder and facilitation, Ms Jafri said.
One of them, Mr Nawaz's brother-in-law Zafar Zain Khosa, left for the Middle East after being granted bail, she added. He is being sought by police.
All three men present in court denied the charges, Multan city district public prosecutor Jam Salahuddin told BBC Urdu.
Watch Part Two: 'Pakistan's Kim Kardashian'
Watch Part Three: 'The naming and shaming of a sex symbol'
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The brother of murdered Pakistani social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch has been formally indicted in connection with her death.
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Microsoft's launched a test version of the Skype Translator which decodes conversations in Spanish and English in real time.
It means that during video calls people who speak those languages will be able to talk freely.
Gurdeep Pall from Microsoft says it follows more than 10 years of investment.
"Skype Translator will open up endless possibilities for people around the world to connect, communicate and collaborate," he said.
"People will no longer be hindered by geography and language."
It's been trialled on school children in Mexico City and Tacoma in Washington, one classroom speaking Spanish and the other speaking English.
They played a game called Mystery Skype where pupils from one school asked questions to try to work out which part of the world the other school was in.
The Skype Translator service is available in English and Spanish but Microsoft says it will eventually be available in more languages.
There are more than 40 instant messaging languages available to customers who have signed up via the Skype Translator page and are using Windows 8.1.
According to Microsoft more than 300 million people use Skype each month, totalling more than 2 billion minutes of conversation a day.
Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube
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Instant translation of foreign languages on Skype has moved a step closer.
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The club said the surgery on Tuesday was "a minor but important procedure which required immediate attention."
Graham Barrow and Andy Welsh will take charge if the ex-Manchester United Under-21 boss does not attend the game.
Joyce, 52, was appointed by Wigan in November after Gary Caldwell was sacked five months after guiding the club to the League One title.
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Wigan boss Warren Joyce could miss their vital match against relegation rivals Blackburn after minor surgery.
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The move, which the government says is aimed at combating "terrorism", has been criticised by human rights groups.
Many Muslims in Xinjiang say they face widespread discrimination.
The Chinese government is eager to eradicate sporadic violence in the province, which it blames on Islamist militants.
Why is there tension between China and the Uighurs?
Did China's crackdown on terrorism work?
Uighurs, which makes up about 45% of Xinjiang's population, have often complained about being refused documents allowing them to travel.
In June police in Xinjiang ordered residents to provide DNA samples and other biological data when applying for travel documents.
Under the new regulations all people in Xinjiang are required to hand in their travel documents to police for "safekeeping".
The BBC's Stephen McDonell in Beijing says that all residents must now apply for permission to leave the country before they can retrieve their passports.
Human Rights Watch has described this as a violation of freedom of movement.
The World Uyghur Congress says that although the new measures are ostensibly aimed at all residents, they will in effect target the Uighur community.
Over the years China's authorities have attributed attacks to Uighur militants, who they say are inspired or aided by foreign terror groups.
Uighur leaders have denied being behind the violence.
Why is there tension between China and the Uighurs?
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Chinese authorities have begun confiscating passports from people in the western region of Xinjiang, which has seen regular unrest.
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23 November 2015 Last updated at 23:09 GMT
She came to the UK as a refugee and was discovered by a modelling scout, despite the fact her dark skin and Dinka features were at odds with the more European look favoured for black models at the time.
Now based in New York, Wek is one of the most recognised fashion models in the world and a passionate campaigner for refugees.
As part of the BBC's 100 Women season she talks to Anne Soy about being a top model, about life as a refugee and about being a unique beauty by western standards. Listen and download the full interview here.
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Alek Wek's idyllic childhood was rocked by the civil war in her native southern Sudan.
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After resuming on 48-1, in reply to table-topping Lancashire's 462, Glamorgan had slipped to 182-6 when the threatened downpour arrived 19.2 overs into the afternoon session.
It leaves Glamorgan still 280 behind going into the final day.
Their first target will be the 131 runs they still need to avoid the follow-on.
The patience of Lancashire's bowlers was rewarded as the home side took five wickets, two of them for for Australian all-rounder James Faulkner and two for 41-year-old veteran Glen Chapple, who is now within 18 of reaching a career haul of 1,000 first-class wickets.
Nightwatchman Andrew Salter was Glamorgan's top performer with 45 before being stumped by Alex Davies off Simon Kerrigan.
Lancashire now need to take 14 wickets in the final three sessions if they are to win this Division Two promotion clash on Monday and take a major step closer to promotion back to Division One.
Lancashire veteran Glen Chapple told BBC Sport:
"We've played well in this game. We laid a foundation in the first couple of sessions and gradually we increased the scoring rate and put ourselves in a strong position.
"The pitch was slow to start with. Our batters tried to wear them down and we did that successfully, then Alex Davies and Jimmy Faulkner really picked up the rate on the second day.
"I also think we bowled pretty well. I don't know if I'm leader of the attack but it's nice to be involved and I'm enjoying my cricket.
"We've got them at 182-6 and there's a chance of enforcing the follow-on. To take 14 wickets on there will be a good effort but, if we can take four in the first session, that'll give us a chance."
Glamorgan all-rounder Andrew Salter told BBC Wales Sport:
"This game, we really wanted to hit it running and it hasn't quite happened for us. With them scoring over 400 it wasn't the ideal start with us fielding 140 overs.
"But it's important we just do things right and finish this game strongly. We've still got quite a lot of batting to come with the likes of Graham Wagg and Mark Wallace, so we should be able to post a good total.
"I've been working quite hard on my batting with our head coach Toby Radford and it was a good challenge coming in as nightwatchman.
"I felt good. I'd have liked to score a 50 and then kick on again for 100, but unfortunately not."
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Heavy rain wiped out the second half of the day's play at Old Trafford after Lancashire had bowled themselves into a winning position against Glamorgan.
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Tobefair, a seven-year-old gelding, has won his last seven races.
He was gifted as a colt to Michael Cole three years ago, in return for looking after two fillies on his farm.
Unable to afford the training costs on his own, he decided to offer 50% of the ownership to people he knew through his local pub, the Cresselly Arms at Cresswell Quay.
The syndicate grew to 17 members but none except Mr Cole had owned a racehorse before.
They said they were amazed when Tobefair started winning races and never dreamed he would make it to Cheltenham.
The festival runs from Tuesday to Friday and culminates in the showpiece contest, the Gold Cup.
Mr Cole said: "There's a lot of these big people now, they've got 40, 50, 60 horses, and it doesn't mean anything. But it means something to us."
Syndicate member Andy Pannell described the experience as "total exhilaration", adding: "We were stood on the steps at Newbury and I thought I was going to have a heart attack. My heart was pounding, thumping."
This is also a first appearance at the Cheltenham Festival for Tobefair's trainers Debra and Paul Hamer's, whose yard is at Nantycaws near Carmarthen.
At least two bus loads of supporters will be travelling from the Cresselly Arms to Cheltenham for Tobefair's race, the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle, on Thursday.
But syndicate member Jennifer Cole said they have only one real wish: "Win or lose, just get him round the track and bring the boy home."
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A racehorse owned by a syndicate from Pembrokeshire is a favourite to win at this year's Cheltenham Festival.
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The 32-year-old, who was injured in Afghanistan, finished third on 11-2 chance Ballyallia Man at Sandown Park.
Disney lost his right leg from the knee down when on duty for the Light Dragoons.
He rode the horse for trainer Tom George in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup won by favourite Cowards Close.
Disney, from near Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire, was badly injured when his vehicle was struck by a grenade in Helmand province in July 2009.
The annual meeting at Sandown is more than 150 years old and restricted to horses that are owned or leased by those who are serving or have served in the Royal Artillery.
Top jump jockey Ruby Walsh spoke to Disney before the race and said he was glad to have been at the track to witness his achievement.
"It's amazing. It just goes to show that any human being who puts their mind to something, can do it," Walsh, the Cheltenham Festival's all-time leading jockey, told the BBC.
"I'd say it was a bigger mental battle than it ever was physical. I tip my hat to that.
"To pick yourself up from that, I think the guy is an inspiration to most people."
George said he was delighted with the third-placed finish, and admired the jockey.
"It's great to be able to give him a ride. It's important and part of history really," said the trainer.
"You have to take your hat off to Guy. He's thinking of the future not the past. He's showing that you can still live your life and do what you want to."
Disney, who rode in the race twice before his injury, politely declined interviews after the race.
"I completely understand why he doesn't want the whole day about him," said winning jockey Lance Bombardier Jody Sole.
"It's about racing and I think it's brilliant. Why can't we have more like him, there's nothing to say we can't."
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Amputee soldier Captain Guy Disney has become the first jockey with an artificial leg to ride over fences in a race in Britain.
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Gerry McDonagh's third goal of the season gave Wrexham the lead after an excellent ball from Jordan Evans.
Mark Carrington nearly doubled the lead but his shot struck a post while Moore and Nathan Blissett hit the crossbar.
Moore headed wide before the on-loan debutant scored with two minutes remaining.
Wrexham substitute Paul Rutherford had a goal disallowed in injury time and Dean Keates is still seeking his first win since taking permanent charge of the Dragons.
Wrexham manager Dean Keates told BBC Radio Wales Sport: "I'm frustrated and disappointed. For the effort and work rate and the guts that we showed we deserved the three points.
"On another day we could probably have gone in at half time two or three up.
"We got put under a lot of pressure in the second half but the lads stood up to it. But two mistakes and we've conceded a goal."
Match ends, Torquay United 1, Wrexham 1.
Second Half ends, Torquay United 1, Wrexham 1.
Goal! Torquay United 1, Wrexham 1. Kieffer Moore (Torquay United).
Substitution, Torquay United. Jamie Reid replaces Dan Sparkes.
Substitution, Torquay United. Sam Chaney replaces Joe Ward.
Substitution, Torquay United. Shawn McCoulsky replaces Nathan Blissett.
Joe Ward (Torquay United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Second Half begins Torquay United 0, Wrexham 1.
First Half ends, Torquay United 0, Wrexham 1.
Mark Carrington (Wrexham) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Goal! Torquay United 0, Wrexham 1. Gerry McDonagh (Wrexham).
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
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Kieffer Moore's late goal rescued a point for Torquay United and denied Wrexham a first win in five National League games.
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The 31-year-old has added an extra year to his current deal to keep him at the club until the end of the 2015 season.
Anderson, who is centrally contracted by England, played a key role in the recent Ashes win and heads to Australia for the return series this winter.
"I am always proud to wear the Lancashire shirt and I am delighted to extend my stay," said Anderson.
Jimmy has been an outstanding player and a great ambassador for the club
"It was great to return to Emirates Old Trafford in the summer for the Ashes Test match and use the great facilities after the ground's redevelopment."
Anderson has played 87 Test matches, 174 one-day and 19 Twenty20 internationals for England, taking 592 international wickets across the three formats, and signed a new two-year deal at Lancashire 13 months ago.
Lancashire director of cricket Mike Watkinson added: "Jimmy has been an outstanding player and a great ambassador for the club.
"It is great to see him play for us when his international duties allow him to, and we are pleased that he has signed a new deal for Lancashire."
Lancashire secured promotion back to Division One at the first attempt after they drew with Leicestershire and third-placed Essex drew at Kent last month.
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England bowler James Anderson has signed a contract extension with Division Two champions Lancashire.
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Gambira had been taken from a monastery in Rangoon early on Friday morning, his brother told the BBC.
Officials had said he was merely being questioned and was not charged.
Gambira had been released as part of an amnesty last month, but continued his criticism of the civilian, military-backed government.
The US State Department had expressed concern over his latest detention.
One of the leaders of the All-Burmese Monks Alliance, the 31-year-old was arrested in November 2007, weeks after the monk-led ''saffron revolution'' protests were crushed.
Less than three weeks later, he was jailed for 68 years, including 12 of hard labour.
He was one of 651 people freed on 13 January in what was the most significant release of political prisoners since the country began a series of reforms aimed at encouraging the lifting of sanctions imposed by the European Union and United States.
But after his release, Gambira reportedly began re-opening monasteries that were locked up by the authorities since the protests.
In interviews, he expressed deep scepticism about reforms taking place in Burma, says the BBC's Rachel Harvey in Burma.
An EU official is due to visit Burma on Saturday to offer 150m euros ($199m, £126m) in aid following the series of recent reforms.
Andris Piebalgs, the European Union development commissioner, will meet with President Thein Sein as well as pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is contesting upcoming by-elections.
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Burmese monk Shin Gambira, one of the leaders of anti-government protests in 2007, has been released after briefly being detained by the authorities.
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The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) added 19 Singaporean terms and 13 Hong Kong terms in its latest update.
"Wah" is an expression of delight or surprise, "shiok" means cool, and "yum cha" is a type of Chinese brunch.
Additions also include "blur", which means confused or ignorant, and "sabo", which means to harm or play a prank on.
The dictionary included formations of English that are mostly used in Singapore or Hong Kong.
For example, "compensated dating", a Hong Kong term, refers to the practice of teenage students providing companionship or sex in exchange for money or gifts.
And "Chinese helicopter" is a derogatory term referring to a Singaporean whose schooling was conducted in Mandarin Chinese and has limited knowledge of English.
The OED records the meaning and development of the English language.
It says that, for a word to qualify, there must be "several independent examples of the word being used, and also evidence the word has been in use for a reasonable amount of time".
Hong Kong English words:
Char siu: roast pork marinated in a sweet and savoury sauce
Dai pai dong: an open-air food stall
Kai fong: a neighbourhood association
Wet market: a market for the sale of fresh meat, fish, and produce
Singapore English words:
Ang moh: A light-skinned person, especially of Western origin or descent; a Caucasian
Hawker centre: A food market at which individual vendors sell cooked food from small stalls, with a shared seating area for customers
Chilli crab: A dish consisting of crab cooked in a sweet and spicy gravy containing red chillies and tomato
Killer litter: Objects thrown or falling from high-rise buildings, endangering people
Read more: The rise of Singlish
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Several Singaporean and Hong Kong English terms, including "wah", "shiok" and "yum cha", are now officially recognised as acceptable English.
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News Group Newspapers (NGN), which has previously settled a large number of cases brought against the now-defunct News of the World, has always said there was no hacking activity at its sister tabloid.
But on Thursday in London, Mr Justice Mann allowed the claims to proceed.
More than 1,000 phone hacking claims have been settled by NGN - now News UK.
The judge said four claimants could amend their cases to include the daily newspaper for the first time in the proceedings against NGN.
Two of those claims are among a number scheduled for a trial in July.
Chris Hutchings, one of the lead solicitors for those claiming their private voicemail messages were hacked, said: "Today's ruling brings the Sun squarely into the civil litigation being brought against News Group."
"The court has now allowed claimants, for the first time, to include claims of phone hacking by the newspaper.
"The decision will also affect up to 50 further cases which are about to be commenced against the Defendant and will widen the disclosure of documentation it will have to provide going forward."
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Claims against the Sun newspaper by phone-hacking victims can go ahead, a High Court judge has ruled.
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Wells, 23, impressed in the T20 Blast last season, scoring 373 runs at 28.69 - with a strike rate of 138.66.
Wells said: "It's clear that the club is going in the right direction and it's really exciting.
"The environment created by the coaches is of elite performance and it's making the lads want to be a part of it."
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All-rounder Tom Wells has signed a new two-year contract which will keep him at Leicestershire until the end of the 2018 season.
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Yorkshire Building Society (YBS) Group said it would be rebranding Barnsley Building Society and Chelsea Building Society under its own name.
The move will see 22 of the group's 230 branches close, including six Barnsley and seven Chelsea branches.
YBS said 13 jobs were at risk, but most staff would be redeployed.
The group merged with Barnsley Building society in 2008 and Chelsea Building Society in 2010.
The Barnsley branches marked for closure are in Cudworth, Doncaster, Mexborough, Rotherham, Wakefield and Wombwell, while the Chelsea Branches include Croydon, London Kings Road, Exeter, Ipswich, Leicester, Southampton and Westminster.
The branches that remain open will be rebranded as Yorkshire Building Society.
Nine Yorkshire branches will also shut.
A YBS spokeswoman said the closures largely fall where branches were less than a mile apart, and would happen between April and September.
Chief executive Chris Pilling said the changes would make the group "more efficient" and support the changing needs of its members.
"Our branch network always has been, and remains, at the heart of our business, providing the face-to-face service that many of our members prefer," he said.
The group said its Norwich & Peterborough Building Society branches would not be affected by the overhaul.
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One of Britain's largest building societies has announced it is to close branches and rebrand two of its mutual societies as part of an overhaul.
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Letters announcing the ban were sent out on Monday, giving businesses 48 hours to get rid of their stock, the reports stated.
There was no official announcement from the government, but unnamed officials told outlets the decision was made due to "security concerns".
It is unclear if Morocco is now intending to ban the garment outright.
A high-ranking interior ministry official confirmed the ban to the Le360 news site, adding that "bandits have repeatedly used this garment to perpetrate their crimes".
The burka, which covers the entire face and body, is not widely worn in Morocco, with most women favouring the hijab, which does not shroud the face.
Women in Salafist circles, and in more conservative regions in the north, are more likely to wear the niqab, which leaves the area around the eyes uncovered.
The decision has split opinion in the North African kingdom, led by King Mohammed VI, who favours a moderate version of Islam.
Hammad Kabbaj, a preacher barred from standing in parliamentary elections in October over his alleged ties to "extremism", denounced the ban as "unacceptable", mocking the "Morocco of freedom and human rights" which "considers the wearing of the Western swimsuit on the beaches an untouchable right".
Meanwhile, the Northern Moroccan National Observatory for Human Development said it considered the measure an "arbitrary decision that is an indirect violation of women's freedom of expression and wearing what reflects their identities or their religious, political or social beliefs".
But Nouzha Skalli, a former family and social development minister, welcomed the ban as "an important step in the fight against religious extremism".
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Morocco has banned the sale, production and import of the burka, according to local reports.
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The €8.7bn (£6bn; $9.6bn) Fehmarn Belt project will get €589m of EU funding.
The EU Commission said it complied with EU state aid rules and would boost transport links between central Europe and Scandinavia.
The tunnel will connect the Danish island of Lolland with Germany's Fehmarn island. Construction will start in January, and it should open in 2024.
There will be a four-lane motorway alongside a double-track railway.
The link will provide a fast corridor between Copenhagen and Hamburg. It is expected to slash that rail journey from just under five hours currently to little more than two hours.
The Oresund road-rail bridge already connects Copenhagen with Malmo in southern Sweden.
The EU contribution to the Fehmarn tunnel will come from the Connecting Europe Facility, a scheme for modernising Europe's transport infrastructure.
In a statement on Thursday, the Commission said the new tunnel would be integrated with Denmark's public transport and it was "neither liable to distort competition nor to affect trade between member states".
The tunnel will be built by Denmark's state-owned Femern A/S.
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Denmark has got EU approval for a 19km (12-mile) undersea road-rail tunnel that will cut journey times to Germany.
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Seventeen others, among them eight police officers, were injured during the clashes at Las Bambas mine project.
The project is owned by a consortium led by MMG, a subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned Minmetals Corporation.
Its backers say that once completed, Las Bambas will be one of the top three copper mines in the world.
The MMG-led consortium bought the project from mining giant Glencore Xstrata in 2014.
Locals fear the $7.4bn (£4.9bn) project will cause environmental damage to the Andean area.
They also want more locals to be hired to work at the mine.
An estimated 15,000 people took part in the protests, which started on Friday.
Peruvian authorities sent 1,500 police officers and 150 soldiers to the area.
MMG officials said that many of the protesters were not from the area, but anti-mining activists who had travelled there.
In a statement, MMG said it remained open to dialogue: "Las Bambas has demonstrated through the years its vast capacity for working with communities in the area of influence."
Eyewitnesses said police had opened fire on the protesters as they tried to enter the mine.
Interior Minister Jose Luis Perez defended the officers' actions.
"Police used non-lethal weapons at the start, and then, to defend themselves, had to use lethal weapons," he told Peruvian television.
Peru is currently the third biggest producer of copper after Chile and China.
It is seeking to overtake China but has been hampered and delayed in its ambition by local opposition to the projects.
In May, troops were deployed to the Tia Maria mine in Peru's southern Arequipa region after a protester and a policeman died in violent clashes.
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At least three people in Peru were shot dead in a clash between police and locals protesting against a copper mine project in the Apurimac region.
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Traffic has been stopped from using a section of the A344 next to the stones, in Wiltshire. It will now be dug up and grassed over.
The road has been closed in both directions between Airman's Cross and the A303 at Stonehenge Fork.
Drivers are advised to follow the diversion via the A360 Longbarrow roundabout.
English Heritage wanted to close the road to "restore the dignity" of the World Heritage Site.
Peter Carson, from English Heritage, said the move would also improve the experience for visitors.
He said: "The stone circle and the avenue that links it with the landscape will at last be reunited, which means people can explore the wider landscape and see the wonderful archaeological features contained within."
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Work to permanently close a main road running alongside Stonehenge has started.
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He said Amer Khayyat planned to detonate an improvised explosive device 20 minutes into an Abu-Dhabi bound flight with 400 passengers onboard.
The plan was allegedly only aborted after the luggage containing the devices was deemed overweight.
Four men were arrested in Sydney counter-terrorism raids in July.
Two were released but Lebanese-Australian brothers Khaled Khayat, 49, and Mahmoud Khayat, 32 were charged with "preparing for, or planning, a terrorist attack".
Australian authorities at the time confirmed the arrests related to a credible plot to bring down an aeroplane.
It then emerged the target was an Etihad flight from Sydney on 15 July.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Deputy Commissioner Michael Phelan described the plan as "one of the most sophisticated plots that has ever been attempted on Australian soil".
He said components for the IED were sent through international cargo from IS members to the men in Australia.
It is claimed a fourth brother, Tarek, is a senior member of the so-called Islamic State in Raqqa.
At a news conference on Monday, the Lebanese Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk said Amer Khayyat was forced to abandon the plan and to travel to Lebanon without the luggage after the bag was deemed overweight.
His story contradicts Australian authorities who previously claimed the travelling brother had the bomb planted on him unknowingly.
The minister said his country co-ordinated extensively with the Australian government over the plot.
He also claimed the brothers had been under surveillance for over a year since their brother travelled to Syria.
The arrested brothers were then said to begin planning an attack with an "improvised chemical dispersion device" after the initial bomb plot failed.
Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning
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Lebanon's interior minister has claimed a terror cell attempted to blow up a flight from Australia with bombs hidden in a Barbie doll and a meat grinder.
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One man was treated for a head wound following the clash on Exchange Square in Manchester city centre on Wednesday.
The trouble flared before Manchester City's Champions League win over Spanish team Sevilla.
Waliczek Marcin, Jaroskaw Gumula, Karol Daiewicz and Przemysiaw Borkowski are due to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates on Friday.
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Four men from Poland have been charged with violent disorder after a fight in which football fans threw chairs.
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The Dubliner won the main event by 11 seconds from Derek McGee, who took an impressive five second places overall.
William Dunlop won Supersport 600cc race one, with Adam McLean taking his first win in that class in race two.
James Cowton overhauled McGee on the final lap to clinch a thrilling Supertwins triumph, with Sam Wilson taking victory in the 125cc/Moto3.
McLean completed the podium in the Supertwins, with Sweeney, Sheils and Jordan making up the top six leaderboard.
Ballymoney's Paul Robinson followed Wilson home in the 125cc, then Justin Waring, Nigel Moore and Gary Dunlop.
Yamaha-mounted Dunlop edged out Mullingar man McGee in Supersport race one, McLean taking third and Cowton, Sheils and Jordan completing the top six.
Kawasaki rider McGee was again forced to settle for second best in the Open race, with Dunlop third on the Temple Golf Club Yamaha which he will ride for the remainder of the season.
Skerries competitor Michael Sweeney was fourth, Guy Martin fifth and Waterford's Brian McCormack sixth.
McLean saw off McGee and Cowton in the second Supersport event, while Dunlop was fourth, then Sheils, Jordan, Sweeney and Martin.
The racing was punctuated by a number of red flag incidents throughout, but none of the riders involved are thought to have been seriously injured.
Czech rider Michal Dokoupil crashed in Friday night's Supersport outing and McAdoo Racing pilot Cowton was off in the Open race without injury.
Cookstown 100 Results
Feature Race - 1 Derek Sheils; 2 Derek McGee; 3 Michael Sweeney; 4 William Dunlop; 5 James Cowton; 6 Alistair Kirk
Open Race - 1 Derek Sheils; 2 Derek McGee; 3 William Dunlop; 4 Michael Sweeney; 5 Guy Martin; 6 Brian McCormack
Supersport 600cc Race 1 - 1 William Dunlop; 2 Derek McGee; 3 Adam McLean; 4 James Cowton; 5 Derek Sheils; 6 Paul Jordan
Supersport 600cc Race 2 - 1 Adam McLean; 2 Derek McGee; 3 James Cowton; 4 William Dunlop; 5 Derek Sheils; 6 Paul Jordan
Supertwins - 1 James Cowton; 2 Derek McGee; 3 Adam McLean; 4 Michael Sweeney; 5 Derek Sheils; 6 Paul Jordan
125cc/Moto3 - 1 Sam Wilson; 2 Paul Robinson; 3 Justin Waring; 4 Nigel Moore; 5 Gary Dunlop
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Derek Sheils repeated his double of 12 months ago by winning the Feature and Open races at the Cookstown 100.
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The response was carried on the Somali Memo website which is affiliated to the al-Qaeda-linked group.
On Thursday, President Farmajo offered the militants an amnesty at the same time as declaring war on the group.
The UN-backed government in Mogadishu has been fighting the militants for control of Somalia for nearly a decade.
Mr Farmajo promised that fighters who gave themselves up within 60 days would get training, employment and education.
The president's statement was made "just to please the West", an al-Shabab official is quoted as saying.
Mr Farmajo announced the amnesty at a news conference in the capital, Mogadishu, dressed in full military fatigues.
"We want to pardon the Somali youth who were misled by al-Shabab," he said.
He also announced a major shakeup in the drought-stricken country's security services.
Senior officers in Somalia's intelligence service and police force have been replaced to prepare for the escalating war against the militants.
Mr Farmajo named a new military commander, director of national security and intelligence, commander of police and a new head of prison forces.
The new president was elected in February promising a "new beginning" for the country.
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Somali Islamist militant group al-Shabab has dismissed President Mohamed Abdullahi Faramajo's declaration of war.
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The local authority spent £2m on fuel for its fleet between April and December last year, its audit and scrutiny committee has heard.
Reducing the chances of workers making personal use of vehicles is seen as a way of helping to cut the fuel bill.
Councillor Richard Laird said only "a small minority" of staff were involved.
However, Mr Laird, who is the audit committee's chairman, welcomed the council's decision to install tracking devices on all its vehicles.
He told BBC Alba: "There is anecdotal evidence that a handful, or a small minority, of council staff are maybe using their council vehicle for domestic purposes.
"At the moment it is only the heavy fleet that gets tracked and the bulk of the council's fleet is a light fleet."
Tracking is now to be rolled out across the light fleet so that movements of all the council's vehicles can be checked.
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All Highland Council vehicles are to be tracked following reports of alleged misuses by staff, including the use of a van for transporting sheep.
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Svetlana Kuznetsova will hope not, after she hacked some of her own hair off midway during a match at the WTA Finals in Singapore on Monday.
"I thought, 'what's more important? My hair, which can grow, or the match?'" said the Russian world number nine, complaining that it was affecting her game in a three-set win over Agnieszka Radwanska.
Unfortunately, many a sports star has failed to embrace this philosophy of substance over style.
With the help of Sportsday readers, BBC Sport looks at some of the worst sporting hairstyles.
Former basketball star Dennis Rodman had a series of 'unconventional' styles - this was just one of them. He also adopted the bleached blonde look long before Aaron Ramsey, Messi and Neymar re-ignited the craze.
Rodman looks like he has just caught sight of himself on the big screen and is seriously questioning his life choices - as is the dude behind.
Giovanni Simeone, son of Diego, was seen sporting this quirky style when playing for Argentine side River Plate.
Yep, that's 'early noughties Joe Cole' when he tried to make it trendy to shave your initial into your head and dye it red.
Younger readers may be wondering if it caught on. It didn't.
Former Arsenal forward Gervinho revealed he had a hairline higher than his outrageous salary when he uncovered his forehead behind a pair of braided curtains.
It was the elastic headband that really caused a stir - it looked painful!
Striker Ronaldo decided this would be a good idea for the 2002 World Cup - Brazil went on to win it.
Yes, the pinnacle of your career and you have that haircut, shown on the front page of newspapers round the world.
Sorry Ronaldo. Brilliant footballer. Awful haircut.
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Some people say you are only as good as your last haircut.
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Relatives found the mutilated body of Zainab al-Hosni by chance at a morgue in the city of Homs, the group says.
They had been called to the military hospital to pick up her brother's body three days after his arrest.
A total of 103 people are reported to have been killed in Syrian custody since the uprising began in March.
'Disturbing'
According to the London-based human rights group, the 18-year-old's body had been decapitated, the arms cut off and the skin removed.
"If it is confirmed that Zainab was in custody when she died, this would be one of the most disturbing cases of a death in detention we have seen so far," said Philip Luther, Amnesty's deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa.
Ms Hosni was abducted by men suspected of belonging to the security forces in July, apparently to put pressure on her activist brother Mohammad Deeb al-Hosni to turn himself in, according to Amnesty.
The case emerged as the office of the UN human rights chief warned that the Syrian government's crackdown also appeared to be targeting activists outside the country.
"Prominent human rights defenders, inside and outside the country, are reported to have been targeted," spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said.
She gave no further details of the attacks but said the reports were significant enough to raise alarm.
More than 2,700 people have been killed in Syria's crackdown, the UN says.
Reports said there was more violence after Friday prayers in Homs.
Events from Syria are hard to verify as international journalists have been largely prevented from reporting there.
Reuters news agency quoted activists as saying that security forces fired on pro-democracy protesters after Friday prayers, killing nine people in Homs province.
Two others were shot dead in suburbs of the capital, Damascus, they said.
The violence has drawn widespread condemnation. US President Barack Obama urged the UN Security Council to sanction the Syrian regime.
The Syrian government has blamed the violence on "terrorists" and "armed gangs", but has become increasingly isolated.
The EU and the US have both imposed sanctions on Syria's regime. EU countries have been trying to tighten them, with stricter measures due to take effect on Saturday if approved by all 27 member states.
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An 18-year-old whose brother opposed Syria's regime is believed to be the first woman to die in custody in Syria, Amnesty International says.
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Heatley raced on to a superb long ball by Billy Joe Burns and got past keeper Conor Devlin to score the winner.
Burns was later sent-off for two yellow cards while Cliftonville substitute George McMullan got a red for comments made from the touchline.
Crusaders remain seven points ahead of second-placed Linfield.
Overall, referee Ross Dunlop issued two red cards and 11 yellow in what was a highly-competitive north Belfast derby.
Cliftonville, League Cup winners last weekend, now find themselves 12 adrift of the leaders.
They had a Johnny Flynn header ruled out for offside and also felt they should have been awarded a penalty for hand ball against Jordan Owens.
However, the points went to Crusaders and the way their players celebrated on the pitch after the final whistle, illustrated just how import the victory was as they go for back-to-back titles.
Cliftonville, champions in 2013 and 2014, really needed a victory to throw the title race wide open.
But now, many will view the battle for the Premiership crown as a two-horse race between the holders and David Healy's Linfield.
Crusaders scorer Paul Heatley: "In my opinion Cliftonville are out of it now, and I think most people will see it that way.
"We have been beaten just two times this season and it shows how consistent we have been.
"It is why we are 12 points ahead of Cliftonville of seven of Linfield with a game in hand."
Cliftonville manager Gerard Lyttle: "The big decisions didn't go our way today and we seemed to get all the bookings.
"It is not the first time we have come down here and the decisions have gone against us.
"Declan Caddell made about nine fouls before he actually got booked while we make one foul and get booked for it."
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Paul Heatley's goal after just three minutes proved enough to seal a vital win for Premiership leaders Crusaders against third-placed Cliftonville.
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Burns succeeds team-mate Paul Heatley in winning the award which is presented annually by the Castlereagh Glentoran Supporters' Club.
The choice of former Linfield player Burns was no surprise after his tremendous season the Crues.
Glenavon's Joel Cooper picked up the Ulster Young Footballer award.
Cooper has helped the Lurgan Blues reach the Irish Cup final where they will face Linfield on 7 May.
The Ulster Footballer of the Year award was first presented in 1950-51, when Cliftonville's Kevin McGarry was the recipient and Burns becomes the sixth Crusaders player to win the award.
Albert Campbell won the 1960-61 award with Pat McCoy (1985-86), Kevin McKeown (1994-95), current manager Stephen Baxter (1996-97) and Heatley (2014-15) the other winners from the Seaview outfit.
Burns, 26, has won two league medals since joining Crusaders in May 2014 after eight years with Linfield.
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Crusaders defender Billy Joe Burns has been named as the Ulster Footballer of the Year after helping his club land the Irish Premiership title on Tuesday.
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Their places will be taken by Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust and Rentokil.
The companies included in the UK's top tier index are reviewed every quarter and reshuffled according to their market capitalisation.
Dixons Carphone shares have lost nearly 20% of their value over the past six months.
The domestic appliance to mobile phone retailer reported increased profits at the end of last year but is battling higher import costs due to the weaker pound as well as increased competition from online retailers.
"Dixons Carphone's share price has dropped off of late as a result of increasing competition within the sector, particularly from the likes of Amazon," said Helal Miah, an analyst at The Share Centre.
Shares in outsourcing giant Capita fell after a profits warning in September.
The changes, which will see the companies drop to the FTSE 250, will take effect on Monday 20 March.
Only 30 of the original FTSE 100 from 1984 still remain in the index.
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Dixons Carphone and Capita are to be relegated from the FTSE 100 index after their shares fell sharply in the last quarter.
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4 February 2015 Last updated at 11:38 GMT
The Keelman's Way, close to Ryton Golf Club, has been closed off, after what is thought to be coal waste from an old colliery caught fire.
Council officials fear some sections of the path could collapse.
Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade believe the blaze may have started in November and could continue burning for several months or even years.
Look North's Gerry Jackson reports.
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An underground fire beneath a popular riverside footpath on Tyneside could keep burning for years, firefighters believe.
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The Dow Jones fell 0.06%, or 11.61 points, to 18,116.04, while the broader S&P 500 fell 0.17%, or 3.68 points, to 2,104.42.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq index fell 0.31%, or 15.45 points, to 5,010.97.
The US oil benchmark, West Texas Intermediate Crude, rose 1.7% to $47.36 a barrel, due to a weaker dollar, which makes oil cheaper for foreign buyers.
After rising steadily in the past few weeks, the dollar weakened after comments on Monday from a US Federal Reserve official.
St Louis Fed President James Bullard told CNBC that the dollar index was not far from fair value. He added that it was uncertain by how much more the dollar would rise against the euro.
The currency fell by 1.23% against the euro, making a dollar worth €0.9129.
Among individual shares, Pfizer rose 2.3% after it said that it and Eli Lilly would restart late-stage testing for the painkiller Tanezumab. This came after the US Food and Drug Administration lifted a partial hold on it.
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(Close): The main US share indexes all closed lower on Monday, despite a modest rise in the price of oil.
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Watson, 24, was fined $12,000 (£9,043) for jamming her racket into the grass having squandered three match-points.
The fine is almost one-third of her total tournament prize money (£30,000).
Italian Fabio Fognini was handed a record $20,000 (£15,702) penalty for his conduct during a 2014 match.
Elsewhere, defending champion Serena Williams was fined $10,000 (£7,536) for smashing her racket during her second-round win against Christina McHale.
Serb Viktor Troicki was also fined $10,000 for his rant at chair umpire Damiano Torella during the climax of his five-set loss to Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
The reaction came a result of the official over-ruling a line call that gave Spaniard Ramos-Vinolas match point, which he took.
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You can now add tennis alerts in the BBC Sport app - simply head to the menu and My Alerts section
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British number two Heather Watson was given the second biggest fine in Wimbledon history for unsportsmanlike conduct during her first-round loss to Annika Beck.
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Porter scored 16 goals for the U's in 2016-17, his best season for a decade, but turned down the offer of a new contract from the Essex club.
The 33-year-old, who began his career at Bury, played for Oldham Athletic, Motherwell and Derby County before joining Sheffield United in 2011.
Porter is the third summer signing by boss David Artell for Crewe, who finished 17th in League Two.
They have also brought in fellow striker Jordan Bowery, who arrived initially on loan from Orient in January, as well as Carlisle United defender Michael Raynes.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.
For more local news and sport, BBC Local Live: Staffordshire & Cheshire
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Crewe have signed Colchester forward Chris Porter on a two-year deal.
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Crowds gathered on the banks of the Thames to watch the 120-metre long model go up in flames.
The inferno in 1666 raged for four days, destroying most of the city, which then was largely of wood.
It paved the way for large-scale reconstruction including the building of today's St Paul's Cathedral.
More than 13,000 homes, businesses and structures, including the old St Paul's, were destroyed.
Following the fire, stone started being used in the capital as a building material and an organised fire service and insurance industry were established.
The burning of the replica of London took place during a festival held to commemorate the Great Fire.
London's Burning, which was held from 30 August to 4 September, featured a series of art installations, performances, talks and tours and was organised by the company Artichoke.
Helen Marriage, director of Artichoke, said: "I feel so relieved that it actually went off, because obviously when you do a live event you never know."
Tim Marlow, the artistic director of the Royal Academy of Arts, said it was a unique event.
He said: "I've seen a shed blown up in the name of art, I've seen fireworks, I've seen artists bury themselves, I've seen the trace of an artist shooting himself in the hand or nailing himself to a car, but actually I've never seen anyone collaborate with so many people in such an extraordinary and exciting way, to make a commemorative replica of a skyline 350 years ago and then set fire to it.
"I mean this is spectacle and then some."
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A giant wooden replica of 17th century London has been set ablaze on the River Thames in a retelling of the Great Fire of London 350 years ago.
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Jim Rushton, from Telford, was issued with the penalty following the discovery of stowaways on his vehicle after he left Calais on 12 January.
He is appealing, saying he did all he could to secure his vehicle.
Telford MP Lucy Allan has backed his case, which is being considered by the Home Office.
Mr Rushton warned hauliers were having to begin journeys further away from Calais because of the risks of people trying to board lorries when drivers were sleeping or refuelling.
"We try to protect our vehicles and ourselves, but what chance do we have when there are four or five of them?" he said.
£2,000
Maximum on-the-spot fine a driver faces for each unauthorised person found in their vehicle
3,319 Fines served in 2014-15, up from 998 in 2012-13
7% Of all drivers fined in 2013-14 were British
1 in 3 Lorries entering the UK are believed to have lower than basic standards of security
Hauliers undergo training to help them secure their lorries, and have to go through checkpoints that can detect the heartbeat of anyone inside the back of their vehicles.
Mr Rushton said he had completed all the security checks before he re-entered the UK.
"We're basically just doing a job, and we're getting penalised for it through no fault of our own," he said.
Jack Semple, director of policy for the Road Haulage Association, said drivers were avoiding Calais due to the increasing dangers, causing traffic problems at other ports.
He called for the French and UK governments to "find a solution" to the "extremely difficult" conditions.
"It's a serious problem for drivers, migrants and the economy," he said.
"We support the Border Force's work, but it isn't perfect, and if someone has done all they can [to secure their vehicles] they should not be fined."
Ms Allan's office confirmed she has written to the home secretary to highlight the case.
A Home Office spokesman said the fines were to ensure drivers were "taking reasonable measures" to secure their vehicles.
While not discussing Mr Rushton's case, the spokesman said: "Drivers and haulage companies who can show they have taken appropriate steps as set out in the codes of practice will not receive a penalty."
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A haulier who faces a £10,000 fine after five migrants were found on his lorry has called for more help for drivers around the Channel Tunnel.
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It has now been discovered that war poets Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon and Robert Graves met at Baberton Golf Club in Juniper Green.
A university lecturer searched libraries and archives for clues to solve the mystery.
The answer was found in letters from 1917 at Southern Illinois University.
Neil McLennan, a former head of history at Tynecastle School who now works as a senior lecturer at Aberdeen University, said where the men met had remained unknown for 100 years.
He said: "Confirming this venue has been something that I really got between my teeth.
"We always knew the three men met in Edinburgh but not where.
"Many may wonder why this matters but it is an important piece of the city's literary history.
"One of Edinburgh's golf clubs can say it held potentially the most powerful meeting of English literature in the 20th century.
"The three most significant war poets were there.
"Owen is often referred to as the most powerful war poet, perhaps even the most powerful poet in English literature and this meeting was key to his success."
Alan Goodman Baberton Golf Club Captain said: "We were excited to learn that this historic meeting took place in our clubhouse and led to such an important collaboration between three of Britain's greatest war poets.
"We intend to create a permanent reminder of this meeting for members and visitors to view."
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An Edinburgh golf club held potentially the "most powerful meeting" of English literature in the 20th century, new research has revealed.
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They reached 11 under but trail world number four Jordan Spieth, who moved up from fifth with six birdies in his 67.
Phil Mickelson, one shot off the halfway lead, dropped six shots in his 75 and is six shots back in joint 18th.
US Ryder Cup player Patrick Reed had a hole-in-one with a five-iron at 16, the 20th ace on the PGA Tour this season.
Mickelson claimed a share of the lead after a birdie at his first hole but unravelled with some untidy play, registering a double bogey at the fifth.
"I didn't play well today," he said. "The last three bogeys hurt. I fought all day without really playing well to keep it at even par and then the last three holes got me."
Playing alongside the five-time major champion was qualifier Austin Cook, a 24-year-old from Arkansas.
He led the tournament before a double bogey at the 15th, but birdied 17 in a round of 70 and is one shot behind Spieth, who is hoping for a good performance before the Masters at Augusta, which starts on Thursday.
"Today was as comfortable as I've ever been with the lead on a weekend," Spieth said. "I wanted to get into contention as much as I could prior to the Masters, to have as much experience as I could to limit those nerves.
"Then I'll take even more confidence into next week."
Casey, 37, a three-time Ryder Cup veteran, won the KLM Open on the European Tour last year and was second at the Northern Trust Open in February.
The world number 48 had four birdies in five holes on his front nine.
Day, 27, who is ranked 1,045 and plays on the second-tier web.com Tour, did not drop a shot in round three and had four birdies on the back nine.
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Englishmen Paul Casey and Kelvin Day carded rounds of 68 to earn a share of sixth place, three shots adrift, after round three of the Houston Open.
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The 22-year-old forward has made over 100 appearances since his Rugby Park debut in April 2011.
Having scored three goals in 33 appearances last season - often in a wide position - McKenzie is hoping to play a more central role.
"I'm looking forward to next season. There have been big changes at the club," he said.
"The whole place needed a revamp."
Manager Lee Clark is planning a major overhaul after keeping Killie in the top flight following a play-off final with Falkirk.
Eight out-of-contract players have moved on and another seven were placed on the transfer list, with Kevin McHattie, Mark O'Hara and David Syme having found new clubs.
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Rory McKenzie is excited to be part of a much-changed Kilmarnock squad after signing a new two-year contract.
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The abductors freed four other children after "profiling" their parents, police said, apparently referring to the fact that they were not regarded as wealthy.
The men came through a swampy forest bordering the state-run Model College school, and cut a hole in the fence to enter, police said.
Schools in Lagos have been hit by several kidnappings for ransom.
Four children were abducted from the same school in October 2016, and three from another school in Lagos in southern Nigeria in March this year. They were later freed.
Lagos police spokesman Olarinde Famous-Cole condemned the abductions as "dastardly" and said an operation was under way to rescue the girls and apprehend the kidnappers.
In north-eastern Nigeria, militant Islamist group Boko Haram has carried out a space of abductions since launching an insurgency in 2009, using girls as sex slaves, labourers and suicide bombers.
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Nigerian police are searching for six children abducted from their school on the outskirts of the main city, Lagos.
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Butcher finished calmly from inside the box at the end of a first half delayed by an injury to Spireites defender Liam O'Neil at the Pirelli Stadium.
The home side had the best of the chances, with forward Stuart Beavon denied by goalkeeper Tommy Lee.
Defeat leaves Chesterfield just a point above Fleetwood and the bottom four.
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Calum Butcher scored the only goal of the game as League One leaders Burton Albion move seven points clear at the top with victory over Chesterfield.
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One hundred drivers aged 75 and over are involved in the project, focussing on driving off at road junctions.
Figures show drivers aged 20 to 59 caused four-and-a-half times more road accidents than those aged 60 to 99.
But Dorset Council said it was looking at ways to manage having the highest amount of elderly drivers in the UK.
Dorset County Council's road safety manager Rob Smith said its research showed "a large proportion of crashes where the older driver is deemed blameworthy occur at junctions when turning right".
He added this "may be due to failure to judge speed and distance properly due to the ageing process".
The council is working with Dorset Road Safe and a research specialist from Warwick University to evaluate whether a series of theory and practical lessons, costing £6,000 in total, will reduce the county's elderly driver accident statistics.
Initial results will be announced in the spring.
Dorset Police figures show the highest amount of road accidents between April 2012 and 2013 actually involved young drivers, with those aged 20-29 involved in 223 incidents.
This compares with 44 drivers aged 70 to 79, 26 drivers aged 80 to 89 and five drivers aged 90 to 99 in the same period.
Young-versus-old driver data is used by a number of road safety charities to argue elderly drivers do not pose the greatest danger behind the wheel.
Mr Smith said young drivers were also a "priority road user group" but that offers of free or reduced price refresher sessions had a "very low take up".
The AA said it supported the older driver project.
Spokesman Paul Watters said: "There are now more than 1m drivers in the UK who are over 80 and, with an ageing population, this is only going to increase."
He added the AA's studies decades ago "identified some older driver issues setting in at around 55 years".
At the moment, motorists over 70 must declare they are fit every three years, but they do not have to take a driving or medical exam.
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A research project involving elderly drivers in Dorset is analysing whether free coaching sessions can reduce their involvement in road accidents.
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The world number 10 from Antrim compiled breaks of 65, 76 and 56 against Welshman Day in Sofia.
The title earns Allen 25,000 euro and a place in the Champion of Champions event, which starts on Tuesday.
"I'm very happy to get another tournament win under my belt - to win 4-0 in the final shows my game is in good shape," said the 29-year-old.
Allen won seven matches in Bulgaria to secure his third ranking event success.
He will be back in action on Tuesday with a first-round game against Barry Hawkins at the Champion of Champions in Coventry.
"To get a place in the Champion of Champions is a massive bonus and I'll be going into it with a lot of confidence having won in Sofia." added Allen.
"I haven't been too happy with my performances this season even though I've been winning matches, but now I'm getting closer to where I want to be."
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Mark Allen eased to a 4-0 victory over Ryan Day in the Bulgaria Open final to win his first title in 15 months.
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President Goodluck Jonathan declared Boko Haram and Ansaru to be terrorist groups, his office said.
The army has been waging an offensive against the militants in their northern strongholds since a state of emergency was declared last month.
The insurgency has killed about 2,000 people since 2009.
The activities of both Boko Haram and Ansaru would now fall under the Terrorism Prevention Act, Mr Jonathan's office said, in a statement.
It means that "any person who knowingly, in any manner, directly or indirectly", offers support to Boko Haram and Ansaru would be jailed for "not less than 20 years" if convicted, the statement added.
Boko Haram: From preachers to slave raiders
On Monday, the US said it was offering rewards for information on Islamist militants in West and North Africa.
The highest reward of up to $7m (£4.6m) is for information leading to the location of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, the state department said.
Boko Haram launched the insurgency in 2009, carrying out a wave of bombings and assassinations in north and central Nigeria.
Ansaru, which is suspected to be an off-shoot of Boko Haram, joined the insurgency in 2012, taking foreigners hostage.
It said it had killed seven European and Middle Eastern nationals abducted in February 2012 in the northern Bauchi state.
Last month, Mr Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, the three main strongholds of the Islamist groups.
It led to the army launching a ground and air assault to flush out the militants.
Rights groups repeatedly accuse government troops of targeting innocent people after falsely accusing them of backing the militants.
The army denies the allegation.
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Nigeria has officially banned two militant Islamist groups, warning that anyone who helps them will face a minimum jail sentence of 20 years.
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The incident originated in the Wheatfield stand at Tynecastle.
Both Premiership clubs told BBC Scotland they are aware of a complaint but would not comment further.
"We can confirm we have received a report of racial abuse," said a police spokesman. "Enquiries are ongoing."
It is not yet clear if the episode involves one fan or more.
Northern Ireland international Magennis, 25, is in his second season at Kilmarnock and has scored 10 goals this term.
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Kilmarnock striker Josh Magennis has made a police complaint, alleging he was racially abused from a section of the Hearts support during Saturday's 1-0 defeat.
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The North York Moors National Park commissioned report has looked at the impact of the nearly five-year construction of the site.
Developers Sirius Minerals claimed the mine would create 1,000 direct jobs.
The park authority will make a decision on whether to grant permission for the mine at a meeting on 30 June.
Even after completion of the York Potash Project, consultants Amec Foster Wheeler believe it could cost a further £5m a year to the tourism industry.
The tourism sector is of key importance to the economy of the National Park and of Whitby, bringing in £177m - £104m of it to Whitby - in 2013, according to a separate report.
But a spokesman from York Potash said the company had already committed to contribute £500,000 a year during construction.
He said this would be split between Welcome to Yorkshire, the North York Moors National Park Authority, Visit England and Visit Britain, and was predicted to generate a return of £60.3m over the construction period.
York Potash said it would also double train services between Whitby and Middlesbrough, and give £400,000 for directional signage to the North York Moors National Park from main roads nearby.
Amec Foster Wheeler raised particular concerns about the volume of HGV traffic on the area's roads as a result of the mine.
The report said there was a "legitimate concern" that visitors may choose to go elsewhere if they know there is a major construction site.
Potash is a salt which contains potassium and is usually used in fertilisers.
Councillors at Redcar and Cleveland Council have already approved plans for the mine and mineral transport system but Sirius Minerals - which owns York Potash - still needs permission from the national park.
A tunnel planned to run underground from the Doves Nest Farm site to a processing plant at Teesside would be 37km long.
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A billion-pound potash mine proposed for near Whitby would cost the local tourism industry £10m a year during construction, a study has claimed.
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Police received a report that the building on Glen Road was on fire shortly after 21:00 GMT on Friday.
They said the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service extinguished the blaze but the building was "gutted".
Police said they were investigating the circumstances of the fire, but believed it was started deliberately.
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A sports and social club in west Belfast has been gutted in a suspected arson attack.
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The proposed £6m facility at Woodford Leisure Centre would see the closure of East Hull Pools on Holderness Road, which has been open since 1898.
The Hull City Council consultation is running until 5 January.
The local authority has said the new 25 metre pool would be more modern, energy efficient and less expensive to maintain and run.
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A consultation has been launched into plans for a new six lane swimming pool in Hull.
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Clwyd West Tory MP David Jones said he backed proposals for "English votes for English laws" but it was important to define clearly what those issues were.
He said many of his constituents used public services in England and many voters there relied on Welsh hospitals.
The UK government said it was bringing about constitutional reform to serve people living in all parts of the UK.
The House of Commons rule changes would also limit some votes to English and Welsh MPs only.
Speaking during a Commons debate on the Queen's Speech, Mr Jones said of the policy: "I strongly approve of that commitment, since it will restore fairness that has been eroded in the wake of the 1999 bout of devolution.
"However...I say that we should treat that proposal with caution and what is most important is that defining what are English or English and Welsh issues is of paramount importance."
Mr Jones said many of his constituents used hospitals in the north west of England.
"The people of north Wales have an absolute right to expect that that their representatives in this place should be able to speak in this House on those issues that concern them."
He added: "I would say to my right honourable friends on the front bench that this is extremely important if the fairness that we seek to achieve by creating by English and Welsh votes for English and Welsh laws, or English votes for English laws, is not to be brought into disrepute."
Business Secretary Sajid Javid said: "As a one nation government we will revise the rules to make the law-making process fair - bringing about constitutional reform that serves people living in all parts of the United Kingdom.
"The introduction of English votes for English laws will do just that for England."
He was challenged by Delyn Labour MP David Hanson, who said he represented a part of Wales that uses English hospital services, transport, employment and airports.
"I want to know from you, why I can't speak or vote on those issues," he said.
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Plans to restrict the role of Welsh MPs should be treated with caution, a former Welsh secretary has warned.
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Siobhan Yap, 27, from Hertfordshire, treated her mother to dinner after her Audi A3 convertible was hit while parked on Watford Audi's forecourt.
Watford Audi agreed to pay for a meal for two, so Ms Yap headed to L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in Covent Garden.
Watford Audi said the £714.61 bill was "excessive", and offered to pay half.
In response, Ms Yap said that Audi should have "specified a price limit".
The garage repaired Ms Yap's car - which she had bought second-hand for £20,000 - after it was damaged by a delivery vehicle before she could pick it up from the forecourt.
Audi gave her a courtesy car and offered to cover the cost of a meal for two "for the inconvenience caused".
While at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Ms Yap and her mother enjoyed four glasses of champagne, two bottles of wine costing £69 each, six cocktails totalling £86 and a sloe gin.
The "small tasting dishes" they tried included one La Truffe Noire at £35, two St Jacques scallop dishes costing £29 each and two La Volatille risottos totalling £42.
Ms Yap told the JVS show on BBC Three Counties Radio that Audi should pay the whole bill because she had to send the car back for further repairs, and the cost was "relative to what they put me through and their customer service levels".
"They put me through a lot of stress and it was a really nice restaurant," Ms Yap said. "They should have specified a limit."
A Watford Audi spokesman said it was "excessive expenditure for two diners", but as it was "keen to make amends for the incident" it agreed to cover half the bill, equating to £357.
"We believe this is a fair and reasonable amount given the circumstances, and we stand by the decision taken," said the spokesman.
Etiquette expert William Hanson said the garage should have set an upper limit and should "learn a lesson" and "absorb the cost". But he said that "you don't need to perhaps drink that much if someone else is paying".
Source: L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon website
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A woman who was offered a free meal by an Audi garage which damaged her car ran up a £700 bill at a celebrated Michelin-starred London restaurant.
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American Biles, 19, slipped and put her hands on the beam during her routine.
Wevers, 24, became the first Dutch woman to win an Olympic gymnastics medal, while 16-year-old American Laurie Hernandez took silver.
Biles, who has won all-around, vault and team gold at Rio 2016, competes in the floor final on Tuesday.
Wever won with a score of 15.466, with Hernandez awarded 15.333 and Biles 14.733.
Find out how to get into gymnastics with our special guide.
Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.
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Simone Biles missed out on a fourth gold at the Rio Olympics, winning bronze on the beam as the Netherlands' Sanne Wevers took gold.
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Mariusz Krezolek, 36, died of a heart attack in January 2016 at Full Sutton prison in Yorkshire after complaining of chest pains but refusing help.
He was given a life sentence in 2013 after being convicted of murdering Daniel in Coventry.
Daniel's mother, Magdalena Luczak, was found hanged in her cell in July 2015.
She was also found guilty of Daniel's murder and the pair were ordered to serve a minimum of 30 years each.
Krezolek also tried twice to kill himself after Luczak's suicide at HMP Foston Hall, the report by the Prisons Ombudsman into his death found.
It said he had been treated for a fistula and inflammatory bowel disease but refused to go to hospital as he was afraid he would be recognised.
He also refused to be admitted to the prison's inpatient unit.
On 27 January last year he complained of chest paints but again refused to go to the healthcare unit. He was found unresponsive in his cell the next morning and confirmed dead a little while later.
The cause of death was given as a heart attack.
The report also reveals Krezolek twice tried to kill himself after Luczak killed herself at HMP Foston Hall.
Daniel Pelka weighed just over a stone and a half at the time of his death in March 2012.
He had been denied food, poisoned with salt, locked in a small room, forced to perform punishment exercises and subjected to water torture.
The trial at Birmingham Crown Court heard experts said Daniel's emaciation was "unprecedented" in Britain.
The trial judge said his mother and stepfather had acted with "incomprehensible brutality" towards him, causing the boy "severe physical and mental suffering".
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The stepfather of beaten and starved Daniel Pelka refused hospital treatment because he feared he would be recognised, a report says.
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Rosemary Butler told the BBC's Sunday Politics Wales show that the Isle of Man and Jersey had introduced the change.
She wants youth councils and forums for young people to consider the change from the current age of 18.
In Scotland the SNP Government wants 16 and 17-year-olds to take part in the referendum on independence there.
"Some people are a bit afraid of it, and other people think - I've got a job at 16, I'm paying tax so I should be able to vote," Mrs Butler said.
She added that it is a very interesting debate and that she hoped more people will take part in it.
"They're (16-year-olds) certainly up to it, whether they've got the confidence to do it, that might be a different matter, but then that goes for the whole of the population.
"If we encourage everybody to vote, then we'd have a true mandate," she said.
Kay Swinburne, Conservative MEP for Wales said she would rather a "broader" look was taken at voting patterns, as at the moment 18-24 year-olds are at the "poorer end of the spectrum" when it comes to turning out to vote.
"What we need to do is encourage everyone to use their democratic right," she added.
Throughout Europe only Austria had lowered the voting age since 2007, she said.
North Wales Liberal Democrat AM, Aled Roberts, said his party was in favour of lowering the voting age.
"But we need to get people to understand that voting for the assembly is important... that a vote can make a difference," he added.
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The assembly's presiding officer has called for a debate on lowering the voting age in Welsh elections to 16.
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The Scotland international, 32, picked up the injury during the club's training camp in Portugal on Wednesday.
Hull, relegated from the Premier League least season, open their Championship campaign with games against Aston Villa, Burton, Wolves, QPR and Bolton.
"It was a very unfortunate injury," new head coach Leonid Slutsky told Hull's website.
"We expect to be without him for a maximum time of about six weeks."
Hull's other senior goalkeepers are Eldin Jakupovic, 32, and Allan McGregor, 35.
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Hull City goalkeeper David Marshall will miss the start of the new season after suffering ankle ligament damage.
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Last week, the UK government announced new onshore wind farms will be excluded from a subsidy scheme from 1 April 2016, a year earlier than expected.
Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said the decision would disproportionately affect Scotland.
The move was part of a manifesto commitment by the Conservative party.
UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd said it will give local communities the final say over any new wind farms.
The ministers are due to meet at a renewables conference in London, where both will be speaking.
Mr Ewing is expected to seek clarity about whether wind projects already in development will still receive funding.
He said Ms Rudd and Scottish Secretary David Mundell had given apparently contradictory statements on which projects would still go ahead.
He said: "The UK Tory government's decision to scrap investment in onshore wind is completely wrong-headed, and makes no economic or environmental sense - but it is absolutely essential that developers know whether projects already in the pipeline are going to receive financial support or not.
"Amber Rudd and David Mundell's different positions show that there is either confusion between UK cabinet members about the UK government position on the crucial issue of grace periods, or there is a welcome change in policy towards that set out by the Scottish government.
"I hope it is the latter and I will be raising this issue with Amber Rudd at our meeting - investment and jobs hinge on the UK government ensuring continued support to projects already in the pipeline."
Energy firms had been facing an end to subsidies in 2017.
The funding for the subsidy comes from the Renewables Obligation, which is funded by levies added to household fuel bills.
While subsidies will end from 1 April 2016, there will be a grace period for projects which already have planning permission.
About 3,000 wind turbines across the UK are awaiting planning consent.
Scottish Renewables have said the move was "neither fair nor reasonable" and could cost Scotland up to £3bn in business investment.
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The Scottish and UK energy ministers are due to meet for the first time following a row over an early end to wind farm subsidies.
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The sculpture, depicting a sprawled murder victim surrounded by police tape, was crowned winner of the Cornwall Beach Games sandcastle competition.
But Devon and Cornwall Police was criticised after boasting officers tweeted about their victory.
Labour councillor Hannah Toms said some would find it "very offensive".
The force said it was a "fun event" and officers had not intended to cause any offence.
Ms Toms acknowledged officers had intended to be "light-hearted" but said the sandcastle "somewhat misses the mark and is in a bit of poor taste".
"I like a joke as much as the next person but this is a family beach event," she said.
"As a parent I would not be very happy to explain to my child what it was all about.
"It's trivialising quite a serious matter."
Ms Toms added: "I think there's a level of sexual stereotyping with the large bottom and the large breasts. Police have been working really hard to break down barriers on reporting sex crimes and I don't think this image really helps their cause."
Reaction on social media was mixed, with some defending the sandcastle.
Hazel Jago said on Facebook: "So it's a team of police officers representing the type of work they deal with. What's the problem!? There is always someone that will whinge about something."
Lorraine Lardon said: "People need an injection of humour."
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "If any offence has been cause by the nature of the sculpture, this was never intended and we apologise for that."
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A police force has apologised after its officers made a sandcastle "crime scene" featuring a naked dead woman.
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The release of a series of hidden-camera videos has prompted renewed scrutiny of the healthcare provider.
Planned Parenthood says its employees were discussing foetal tissue donations for research, not for-profit sales.
Democrats have said they would block efforts to cut the group's funding.
In the videos filmed by the anti-abortion group, Center for Medical Progress, activists posing as medical researchers discuss acquiring intact organs removed from aborted foetuses.
Foetal tissue is sometimes used by researchers to study diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. However interest from the medical research community is declining, according to reporting by Reuters.
"Planned Parenthood's criminal conspiracy to make money off of aborted baby parts reaches to the very highest levels of their organization," said David Daleiden, the activist who helped create the videos.
Planned Parenthood received $528 million (£338 million) from taxpayers in 2014. Of the roughly one million abortions performed in the US, about a third occurred in clinics run by Planned Parenthood.
Critics of the effort to defund the organization point out that funding received from the federal government is not legally permitted to be used for performing most abortions.
Planned Parenthood also provides family planning advice, cancer screenings, and contraceptive health which pro-choice advocates say would be put at risk if the Republican bill succeeds.
President Obama said that he would veto the bill if it passes, which experts say is unlikely. Republicans may then attempt to write the law into the government budget, which could possibly trigger a government shutdown.
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Republican Senators are moving ahead with plans to defund Planned Parenthood after anti-abortion activists claimed its employees were selling the organs of aborted foetuses.
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The move comes 24 hours after Coulibaly accused Egypt's most successful club of treating him "like a slave".
Coulibaly's arrival in England last week prompted the Cairo Red Devils to lodge a complaint with Fifa, saying he was absent without permission.
But Coulibaly, who played for Kilmarnock in Scotland's top flight during the first half of the 2016/17 season - issued a statement on Twitter, saying he had no choice but to walk out on his contract, which runs until 2020.
They treated me like a slave all because of money
The 22-year-old accused one of African football's most iconic clubs of confiscating his passport and making his family feel uncomfortable practising their religion.
"I had to flee the first chance I had hold of my passport. They treated me like a slave all because of money," said Coulibaly.
Al Ahly have since issued a statement confirming the termination of Coulibaly's contract and vowed to investigate any allegations of mistreatment.
Ahly chairman Mahmoud Taher said: "Ahly totally rejects Coulibaly's allegations; these are all faulty accusations which never happened."
Coulibaly joined the eight-time African champions last January from Kilmarnock and played 12 matches, scoring six goals.
But he claimed his team-mates refused to pass the ball to him and would be willing to accept accept a ban from football rather than return to Cairo.
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Egyptian club Al Ahly have terminated Souleymane Coulibaly's contract after the Ivory Coast forward's decision to remain in the UK.
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Media reports claim Moores will be dismissed when Andrew Strauss becomes England's director of cricket.
Flintoff, who played under Moores during the 52-year-old's first stint as England coach, wrote on Twitter: "His agenda is England winning, he needs the players to hold up their end too."
Moores' side drew their recent Test series in the West Indies 1-1.
Former Lancashire all-rounder Flintoff, 37, said it was not Moores' fault England "underperformed", adding he hoped the reports about his sacking were not accurate.
Moores, reappointed England coach in April 2014, was in charge for a disastrous World Cup campaign, which saw them eliminated by Bangladesh.
He also oversaw the draw with a West Indies side labelled "mediocre" by incoming England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves.
Stand-in captain James Taylor said Moores was "positive and bubbly" during Friday's one-day international against Ireland, despite the speculation about his future.
Some reports on Saturday said Moores' dismissal would happen before the expected appointment of former England captain Strauss, who retired in 2012.
Former England opener Geoffrey Boycott wrote on Twitter that ex-Lancashire coach Moores was "a nice man" but "out of his depth at international cricket".
Boycott also questioned the selections and tactics of Moores and captain Alastair Cook during the recent series in the Caribbean, which concluded with a five-wicket defeat inside three days at Bridgetown.
Moores first led the national team between 2007 and 2009 but was sacked after being involved in a dispute with batsman Kevin Pietersen.
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England coach Peter Moores is a "great man" who "deserves better", says former national captain Andrew Flintoff.
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While not everyone hated the sequel to 2015's Fifty Shades of Grey, the vast majority of critics were not impressed.
The New York Times said the film was "Fifty Shades Darker and only half as watchable" as its predecessor.
"What an incredibly, indelibly idiotic movie," is how Rolling Stone's Peter Travers summed it up in his 0.5-star review.
"Fifty Shades Darker is an ordeal to watch not because of its gothic eroticism but because of its utter blandness," wrote The Independent's Geoffrey Macnab.
"When the inevitable spanking scene takes place, it is tongue in cheek (although not quite literally so)."
"Buff, bland, bonking machines are possessed of prodigious libido but bereft of personality," The Daily Mirror's Chris Hunneysett wrote.
"If you want to watch a movie about a billionaire playboy with a penchant for darkness, inflicting violence and dressing up in masks, you're far better off seeing The Lego Batman Movie."
But Variety liked it a little more, writing: "For all its structural and psychological deficiencies, it's hard not to enjoy Fifty Shades Darker on its own lusciously limited terms."
"It sure ain't boring," observed Deadline's Pete Hammond, who also gave the film a more positive review.
"Best of all, like the first film, this one has a killer soundtrack that makes Fifty Shades Darker sound just as good as it looks."
"There's one significant problem with both Fifty Shades movies that's impossible to ignore: [Jamie] Dornan is just a dud," said Time's Stephanie Zacharek.
But, she adds: "It's all fantasy, so what's the harm? There isn't any. And if millions of girls or guys go out to see Fifty Shades Darker with their friends for a giggle or two, then the world is a happier place."
Other publications who didn't quite consider the film a masterpiece included The Guardian, The Telegraph and The New Yorker.
To be fair - we're fairly confident everyone involved in making the film wasn't pinning their hopes on critical praise.
Like the first film in the franchise, Fifty Shades Darker will still likely be a huge box office success.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected].
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The reviews of Fifty Shades Darker are in and err, well... oh dear.
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It was spotted by a walker on Tal y Foel, near Dwyran, at about 13:40 BST on Tuesday.
The item has now been sent for forensic examination, while the coroner will be informed.
North Wales Police said it was continuing to look into the circumstances surrounding the discovery.
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An object believed to be a human foot has been found on a beach on Anglesey, police have confirmed.
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Gavin Killeen is the managing director of the Londonderry firm Nuprint Technologies, which prints labels for several UK high street retailers.
He said it was essential a new Northern Ireland Executive was established to take such strategic decisions.
Mr Killeen was speaking on the BBC's Inside Business programme.
"We've the highest uptake of people leaving school, going to university, but we have the lowest level of provision," he said.
"Every year, a third of our young people leave the province and we're then left with the people at the other end who are either failed or failed by education.
"So this needs to be addressed and this needs to be a critical thing for our executive."
The previous Northern Ireland Executive collapsed in January following a row over an £490m overspend on a green energy scheme.
A snap election was held on 2 March and the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin were returned as the two largest parties.
All the political parties were given a three-week deadline to form a new power-sharing government, or face a second snap election.
Mr Killeen is a former president of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce.
He is also member of the board of governors of Foyle and Londonderry College and North West Regional College.
He said: "It's really important that we have an executive that's functioning in three week's time, that can address these issues".
Inside Business will be broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster at 13:30 GMT on Sunday 12 March.
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Northern Ireland needs more investment to provide the skilled workforce necessary to grow its economy, a leading businessman has said.
| 1.34922 | 1 |
Naveed Ahmed, 27, of Tampa, US, wrote a programme that helped a group of scammers bombard mobile phones with unsolicited text messages.
Recipients were told they had won gift cards for an electrical retailer that could be claimed by visiting a website.
He was sentenced to two years probation and can continue to work with computers monitored by probation officers.
Contact information harvested by the scam was submitted to Internet Cost Per Action networks, which are companies that gather personal information and pay for submissions.
ICPA networks are legal - but the way Ahmed and his group obtained the details they submitted was not, said Assistant US Attorney Jimmy Kitchen.
Ahmed is thought to have earned more than $2,000 (£1,400) a week between September 2011 and February 2013 by taking part in the scam, according to the Associated Press.
It is believed the money raised was channelled though a Swiss bank account controlled by a so far unidentified co-conspirator.
Ahmed was one of 12 people charged for advertising their computer skills for illegal use on a cybercriminal marketplace which was shut down by the FBI in July.
Ahmed told the judge: "I know my actions were irresponsible... I had this naive, immature view of being invincible."
Defence lawyer Melvin Vatz said Ahmed was "a man of considerable intelligence" who had "succumbed to directing those talents in the wrong way".
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A computer expert has avoided jail after being convicted of helping to send millions of spam messages.
| 1.346118 | 1 |
North Clwyd Animal Rescue in Trelogan, near Holywell has created the village to ensure its oldest dogs live out their final years in comfort.
Each dog has an individual room with an armchair, bed, outdoor run and even under floor heating after money was left by a supporter after they died.
Fundraising manager Nicky Owen said: "I think they are very happy."
The charity rescues about 1,800 animals a year and the retirement home is for older dogs which are more difficult to find new homes for.
Animal welfare manager Karen Weed said: "You don't want to see older dogs in the kennels. It's not the place for them.
"So we are trying to make it as nice as possible."
The retirement village officially opens at the start of December.
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A new retirement village has opened in Flintshire, but it is not your average old folk's home.
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Skateboarding, surfing, karate, sports climbing and baseball/softball were all recommended for inclusion last month by the International Olympic Committee.
They have now been called "a dynamic and exciting package" by the IOC, with all five sports likely to be confirmed.
A final decision will be announced in Rio de Janeiro on 3 August.
That will be two days before the 2016 Games begin officially in the Brazilian city.
Each sport was analysed in a detailed report which said that the additions would "encompass both traditional and emerging events, all of which are popular both in Japan and internationally".
The IOC hopes to draw in new audiences by focusing on youth-oriented sports, and said in a statement that also important was "the impact on gender equality" and "legacy value".
The five added sports - which would not replace any of the 28 already on the schedule for Tokyo - would include 18 events and involve 474 athletes, the IOC has said.
If climbing is added, Britain could have a medal hope, after Shauna Coxsey became the first Briton to win the Bouldering World Cup last month.
Baseball and softball were included separately at the Olympics between 1992 and 2008, but have made a joint bid to be readmitted to the Games.
None of the other sports have been included before, though surf lifesaving was a demonstration sport at the Paris Games in 1900.
Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.
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Climbing and skateboarding are among five sports which have moved closer to being added to the Olympics for the 2020 Games in Tokyo.
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St Andrew's First Aid said they should learn potentially live-saving skills such using the recovery position.
The charity also said children should know how and when to call an ambulance.
The Scottish government said it recognised the value of children learning first aid skills and insisted individual schools were best placed to decide what was appropriate.
St Andrew's First Aid chief executive Stuart Callison, said: "One of our key priorities is to provide as many people as possible in Scotland with first aid training.
"Research has shown that even very young children can learn the basics of first aid and that the skills and knowledge they develop at a young age will stay with them for years.
"We can equip them with the necessary skills to help a parent, family member, friend or someone in the street. By knowing how to call for an ambulance, put someone into the recovery position or assist a person who has suffered a heart attack, they will help save lives."
He added: "This is why we feel it is so important to partner with local authorities, with the support of the Scottish government, to identify ways in which we can make it easy for teachers in Scotland to deliver basic first aid training to their pupils."
A spokesman for the Scottish government said: "We recognise how important it is that children and young people are able to positively engage with health and wellbeing issues at school.
"Being trained in first aid can help young people develop the skills they may need in an emergency situation.
"Under Curriculum for Excellence, schools already have the flexibility to provide first aid training. It is up to individual schools and local authorities to decide if, and how best, to deliver this."
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All primary school children in Scotland should be given first aid training, a charity has said.
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Woodward, who led England to victory at the 2003 tournament, described the risk of "one stupid tweet" to squad harmony as "the new enemy".
Hosts England start their 2015 campaign against Fiji on 18 September.
"If you allow one player to be distracted, it can all come tumbling down," said the 59-year-old.
Speaking to the Radio Times, Woodward added: "We didn't have to worry about it in 2003. I've had the conversation with Stuart Lancaster.
"Don't let the players be distracted. It could be the media, their family, sponsors, ticket requests, anything."
England have reportedly handed their World Cup squad social media guidelines, keen to avoid any unnecessary distractions.
Meanwhile, Rugby Football Union chief executive Ian Ritchie has refused to be drawn on what Lancaster needs to achieve at the World Cup to retain his job as England coach.
"I'm not going to deal in hypotheticals," he said. "I think we should be going into every game trying to win it and I think that's what we'll try and do.
"We are in here to try and win the event, we will worry about the hypotheticals afterwards.
"Knowing the squad and the coaching set-up, they are all very focused on doing their very best to win and I think we have a chance of doing that."
Listen to 'Woodward's World Cup' on BBC Radio 5 live on Wednesday, 9 September from 21:00 BST.
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Former England head coach Sir Clive Woodward has warned current boss Stuart Lancaster that social media could derail his side's World Cup campaign.
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Former Notts County forward Spencer, 25, will officially join when his contract runs out on 1 July.
Digby, 22, who plays in defence or midfield, joined Ipswich Town in January 2016 but only played 12 games.
Anderson, 28, left Northampton earlier this month following a year-long spell at the League One club.
The length of the trio's contracts have not been revealed.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.
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Mansfield have signed Plymouth striker Jimmy Spencer, former England under-20 international Paul Digby and ex-Nottingham Forest winger Paul Anderson.
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The remains were found in a wooded area at the bottom of the playing fields at Liberton High School, Gilmerton Road, on Tuesday afternoon.
Officers are currently treating the death as unexplained.
A spokesman for Police Scotland said inquiries to establish the full circumstances of the man's death were at an early stage.
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A man's body has been discovered in the grounds of an Edinburgh school, police have said.
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A palm print found on a getaway van has been linked to a set of fingerprints.
The new evidence comes 40 years after the killings by an IRA gang and 13 years after the families began fighting for an inquest.
Ten Protestant men were shot dead in the massacre by an IRA gang near the County Armagh village of Kingsmills in 1976.
Colin Worton, whose 24-year-old brother, Kenneth, was one of the men killed, said the announcement that the PSNI would re-open the investigation was a "total shock".
"I have to be truthful to you", he told the BBC, "I do feel a mixture of emotions, but one of the worst ones I have is anger.
"Why has this taken more than 40 years to come out?"
He called the men who fired the shots "animals" and said he was "totally sickened" that the investigation has gone on so long.
The men who were killed were travelling home from work in a textile factory when their mini-bus was ambushed.
After checking their religion, the gang ordered one Catholic to leave before opening fire.
Only one man survived the shootings.
Alan Black, a 32-year-old father of three at the time, was seriously wounded and spent months recovering in hospital.
On Tuesday, an inquest into the deaths resumed following a short delay.
A senior investigating officer has now been allocated to the case and the criminal investigation re-opened.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton, head of the PSNI's legacy and justice department, said he appreciated this was "a very difficult time" for the victims' families.
"Due to a recent forensic development, detectives from legacy investigation branch are now following a line of inquiry in relation to the murders at Kingsmills in 1976", he said.
"We have been liaising with the coroner's office in relation to this and will continue to do so.
"We are committed to progressing this matter as expeditiously as possible and will keep them (the families) updated as appropriate."
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Police are to re-open their inquiry into the Kingsmills massacre following the discovery of new evidence.
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In two months, six-year-old Tonkinese cat Brigit from Hamilton city brought back 11 pairs of underpants and more than 50 socks.
Her owner, Sarah Nathan, has documented her feline's strange obsession on a widely shared Facebook post.
"Now it's getting silly. Someone must be missing this stuff," she said in a post shared close to 500 times.
Ms Nathan told the BBC that the trouble first began when she started discovering "odd pieces" of underwear among her washing.
"They didn't belong to anyone in the house and one day Brigit walked into our lounge carrying a sock like a kitten," she said, adding that Brigit's unlucky victims were probably a nearby flat "full of blokes".
The family said it has also started distributing street flyers.
"Keeping cats indoors isn't common in New Zealand," said Ms Nathan.
"Brigit doesn't hunt birds or wildlife so it seems unnecessary and our neighbours have been very good natured about it.
"But we are moving to the country soon so hopefully she will run out of opportunity!"
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A nocturnal "cat burglar" has been stealing dozens of socks and men's underwear in New Zealand.
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The 30-year-old has been cast as the psychopathic serial killer Patrick Bateman in the adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis's 1991 thriller.
The production will run at London's Almeida Theatre from 3 December to 25 January 2014.
The show almost completely sold out within hours of Smith's involvement being revealed.
Set in the 1980s, American Psycho tells the story a 26-year-old Manhattan investment banker whose sanity slowly disintegrates, turning him into a brutal murderer.
It was previously adapted for the big screen in 2000 with Christian Bale in the lead role.
The show, which was announced minus cast details in January, will be directed by the Almeida's new artistic director, Rupert Goold, who developed the musical with his former company, Headlong.
Tony Award-winning composer Duncan Sheik has collaborated with Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark scriptwriter Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa to adapt the book for the stage.
Smith said he was "excited" to be part of the production.
"The opportunity to work with Rupert Goold, a director of great vision and flair, combined with the brilliant story and music, seemed like such a cool challenge," he said.
Goold added: "Matt Smith is a wonderful stage performer and the perfect actor not only to lead our exceptional cast but also my first show as artistic director here at the Almeida."
Smith has just finished filming his final scenes for the Christmas special of Doctor Who, which will see his character regenerate into the 12th Doctor, played by Peter Capaldi.
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Doctor Who actor Matt Smith is to star in a musical version of the controversial novel American Psycho.
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The acceptance of the deal by unions will clear a big hurdle for the service which was due to begin last September.
The RMT's 10,000 members will start voting on 11 February.
The Night Tube service will take place on five lines - Jubilee, Victoria, Central, Northern and Piccadilly lines - on Fridays and Saturdays.
More on this story and other news from London
The proposed agreement includes a 2% pay rise in year one, RPI inflation or 1% (whichever is greater) in years two and three, and RPI plus 0.25% or 1% (whichever is greater) in year four, plus a £500 bonus for staff on lines where the night Tube will run.
But three other unions are still to decide on whether they accept the offer.
BBC London's transport correspondent Tom Edwards said the RMT executive's move was a "big step forward".
The train drivers' union Aslef and TSSA, which represents station staff, are yet to decide, although Aslef is said to be "looking like they will also accept".
But Unite, which represents engineering staff, has turned down the offer and wants further talks, Tom Edwards said.
The RMT union is still in talks with London Underground over a planned strike this weekend over the issue of job losses.
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The Rail, Maritime and Transport union will recommend its members accept a pay and conditions deal for the Night Tube service, its executive has decided.
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Fifth seed Nadal beat fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-3 7-5.
Switzerland's Federer, who won his 18th Grand Slam title with a five-set victory over Nadal in January, beat American Steve Johnson 7-6 7-6.
Novak Djokovic beat Juan Martin del Potro, while Angelique Kerber, who is set to become world number one, is out.
The German, who is guaranteed a return to the top of the rankings on Monday following Serena Williams' withdrawal from Indian Wells and the Miami Open, lost 3-6 3-6 to Russian Elena Vesnina.
Serb second seed Djokovic was hugely impressive as he won the deciding set 6-1 against Argentine Del Potro and he will play Australian 15th seed Nick Kyrgios, who earlier beat 18th seed Alexander Zverev of Germany 6-3 6-4.
"That's why I came here, to play against guys like Rafa," said Federer, 35, before a 36th meeting with Nadal, 30. "I'd better be excited now otherwise I came for the wrong reasons.
"I try to see it really as another opportunity to build upon something for the rest of the season.
"So regardless of Australia, winning or losing, I'm going to try to go out there and play free again. I think it's really important."
In earlier matches, unseeded American Donald Young beat French 14th seed Lucas Pouille 6-4 1-6 6-3 in the men's draw, while Japan's fourth seed Kei Nishikori swept past Frenchman Gilles Muller 6-2 6-2.
American 17th seed Jack Sock edged a third set tie-break to beat Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 3-6 6-3 7-6.
In the women's draw, American 12th seed Venus Williams beat Peng Shuai of China 3-6 6-1 6-3, and Czech third seed Karolina Pliskova led Timea Bacsinszky 5-1 when the Swiss retired.
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Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have set up a fourth-round tie at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells - a re-run of this year's Australian Open final.
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For 34 staff at a Japanese insurance firm, that vision just became a reality.
Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance is laying off the employees and replacing them with an artificial intelligence (AI) system that can calculate insurance payouts.
The firm believes it will increase productivity by 30%.
It expects to save around 140m yen (£979,500 / $1.2m) a year in salaries after the 200m yen AI system is installed later this month.
Maintenance of the set-up is expected to cost about 15m yen annually.
Japan's Mainichi reports that the system is based on IBM Japan Ltd's Watson, which IBM calls a "cognitive technology that can think like a human".
IBM says it can "analyze and interpret all of your data, including unstructured text, images, audio and video".
Fukoku Mutual will use the AI to gather the information needed for policyholders' payouts - by reading medical certificates, and data on surgeries or hospital stays.
According to The Mainichi, three other Japanese insurance companies are considering adopting AI systems for work like finding the optimal cover plan for customers.
A study by the World Economic Forum predicted last year that the rise of robots and AI will result in a net loss of 5.1 million jobs over the next five years in 15 leading countries.
The 15 economies covered by the survey account for approximately 65% of the world's total workforce.
Japan kicks off AI supercomputer project
Why Japan is embracing robots for the 2020 Olympics
Stephen Hawking - will AI kill or save mankind?
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Science fiction has long imagined a future in which humans are ousted from their jobs by machines.
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In the last of my short films from the world's second biggest economy, which has shaped our prosperity since 1980, I talk to Chinese business leaders and investors about how bad it could get - and the probability of a fully fledged crash that could hurt us all.
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The Bank of England has today warned that the the stability of Britain's banking system could be put at risk by the economic slowdown in China and emerging economies.
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They were taken off the Beatrice Alpha platform by Coastguard helicopters from Stornoway and Sumburgh after it suffered a loss of power shortly after 22:00 on Thursday.
Twenty personnel remained on board the installation, which is 15 miles off the Sutherland coast.
Beatrice Alpha is owned by Talisman, and operated by Wood Group.
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Seventeen oil workers were flown off a Moray Firth platform after a power failure.
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NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens made the comments over a new pay threshold for non-European workers.
It means means migrants will have to leave the UK after six years if they are not earning at least £35,000.
Exemptions are in place for some, including ballet dancers, but not nurses.
The Royal College of Nursing has warned the rules would "cause chaos" for the NHS and waste money spent on recruitment.
The union has said that by 2017 more than 3,300 NHS nurses could be affected, and by the end of the decade the numbers could be double that.
Speaking at the Institute of Directors annual conference in London, Mr Stevens said: "We're having a national discussion about how to get immigration right.
"My responsibility is to point out that at time when the need for nurses is growing, when publicly funded UK nurse training places will take several years to expand, and when agency staff costs are driving hospital overspends right now, we need to better 'join up the dots' on immigration policy and the NHS.
"Most nurses I speak to struggle to understand why our immigration rules define ballet dancers as a shortage occupation - but not nursing.
"And most hospitals tell me that the idea that we would seriously consider deporting some of our most experienced and committed nurses solely because they're not earning £35,000 clearly needs a rethink."
The Home Office has said the rules are being introduced to reduce the demand for migrant labour and has said it is possible nurses could still be placed on the exemption list, which is for areas where there is a shortage of workers.
Although the government has so far argued the expansion in nurse training places should be enough to meet demand.
NHS Employers and the RCN have both welcomed Mr Stevens' comments.
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A re-think of immigration rules which protect ballet dancers but not vital foreign nurses need re-thinking, the head of the NHS in England says.
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Ministers promised a response after AMs claimed the 2013 Active Travel Act had failed to achieve its potential due to a lack of funding and leadership.
Healthy travel will be promoted in school lessons, public health campaigns, and investment decisions, backed up by monitored targets.
Transport Minister Edwina Hart said there was a need for "culture change".
Local councils are obliged to provide routes for cyclists and walkers and to consider their needs when planning new road and rail links under the 2013 legislation.
But there was "considerable frustration" among supporters of active travel at the lack of progress, the business and enterprise committee reported in February.
Chairman William Graham claimed AMs felt the commitment of ministers had "started to waver before it has properly begun".
The Active Travel Action Plan published by the Welsh government on Tuesday sets out expectations in areas ranging from leadership and infrastructure to skills and training.
An annual progress report will monitor how many more adults and children have been encouraged to take up walking or cycling.
"Increasing levels of walking and cycling offers many health and social benefits," said Mrs Hart.
"We know that most people in Wales currently make no or very few walking and cycling journeys.
"This plan sets out how we can achieve our ambition of making walking and cycling part of everyday life through a culture change, both within organisations, and among individuals, as well as action to reduce barriers to active travel."
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Schools, the health service and planning laws will be used to boost walking and cycling in an action plan.
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The shed, in Ironbridge, has been neglected since coracle maker Eustace Rogers died aged 88 in 2003.
He kept alive a 200-year family tradition, making the boats for museums and people around the world.
The Ironbridge Coracle Trust says the shed is the last one in England and the charity will now conserve it.
Mr Rogers' knowledge of the River Severn was legendary, and he often helped police in the hunt for people who were feared drowned.
But he had no family to pass on his craft-making skills to.
Terry Kenny, a local coracle maker and chair of the trust, said 'We are really pleased to have purchased the shed, which has stood neglected since Eustace died in 2003.
"It will stand as a memorial both to Eustace and to all those who made the Ironbridge coracle a unique part of our river heritage.
"We will be making the shed an important part of the Ironbridge Coracle Regatta on August Bank Holiday Monday this year to celebrate its story."
The flat-bottomed boats are built by weaving strips of wood into an oval-shaped frame.
They have been in use across Europe for thousands of years, particularly in the region of Wales and the Welsh borders, the trust said.
The trust has bought the shed with a £40,000 grant from Telford & Wrekin Council's Community Pride Fund and a further £10,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund will go towards a training place on a local coracle-making course.
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The last coracle shed in England, where the circular boats were made for use along the River Severn, is to be restored and opened to the public.
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The increase adds £31.59 to a Band D property.
Local authorities have been increasing the basic rate of council tax by up to 3% for the first time since 2007, however higher-band properties are paying more automatically after MSPs approved changes.
The 3% rise will see Band H properties in Shetland pay £551.25 more.
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Councillors in Shetland have approved a 3% rise in council tax.
| 1.020362 | 1 |
19 April 2015 Last updated at 12:36 BST
Biologist Karsten Erstad says he came across thousands of earthworms scattered across the mountains while out skiing.
They were unlikely to have tunnelled through the snow because it was too deep, so it appears they rained down from the sky.
Karsten told The Local: "I saw thousands of earthworms on the surface of the snow."
"When I put them in my hand I found that they were alive," he said.
Worms start to emerge from the ground towards the end of winter, and it's possible that some were swept up by strong wind.
It's not unusual for the mountainous areas of Norway to experience high winds, so the worms could have been carried quite a distance, before falling back to Earth as earthworm rain.
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Scientists in Norway think it may be raining worms in parts of the country.
| 2.681932 | 3 |
Jack Cornwell died aged 16 after fighting in the Battle of Jutland. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery.
Memorials across the country are being protected ahead of the centenary of the naval battle.
A ceremony will take place at Manor Park Cemetery in London, where Jack's family will visit his grave.
The battle on 31 May 1916 saw 6,094 British and 2,551 German personnel lose their lives.
Jack was serving on the HMS Chester on 30 May 1916 when it came under heavy fire from four German ships. All of Jack's gun crew were fatally injured.
He remained at his post awaiting orders, despite severe shrapnel wounds, but died on 2 June.
Following a national campaign which hailed him as the "boy hero" of the battle, Jack was awarded the Victoria Cross and buried in a new grave with full military honours.
BBC iWonder: How the Battle of Jutland unfolded
BBC iWonder: Who were the real winners of the Battle of Jutland?
David Evennett, World War One minister, said: "Jack Cornwell is one of the many brave sailors who lost their lives at the Battle of Jutland who we will honour at the centenary commemorations.
"It is important that their sacrifice is never forgotten. It is right that we list these important memorials to ensure they are protected for generations to come."
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The grave of a boy sailor hailed a World War One hero has been given Grade II listed status.
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Australia's success left a place for Ireland as the team who ranked highest at the Hockey World League semi-finals in July, who had not already qualified.
Ireland finished fifth at the Antwerp event and are the 11th team to qualify.
It will be the first time in more than 100 years that an Irish hockey team has participated in an Olympic Games.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Ireland put themselves within touching distance of qualifying for the Olympics for the first time by beating Malaysia 4-1 in a play-off for fifth place at the World League in the summer, but had to wait more than three months to have their place confirmed.
The coronation of Australia as continental champions meant an extra place being allocated to the World League.
The Irish men, who made history by winning a bronze medal at the Eurohockey Championships in August, will become the first to represent Ireland in a team sport at an Olympic Games since 1948.
Ireland picked up silver medals in the inaugural Olympic hockey event, which took place in London in 1908.
"It probably hasn't sunk in yet but we're over the moon. It's testament to what the guys have achieved this year on and off the field," said Ireland coach Craig Fulton.
Ireland will join Brazil, India, Germany, Canada, Spain, Belgium, Great Britain, Argentina, Netherlands, Australia and one remaining qualifier at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, which take place from 5-21 August 2016.
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Ireland men's hockey team have qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after Australia beat New Zealand 3-2 in the Oceania Cup final on Sunday.
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Rherras is a 23-year-old left-sided player of Moroccan descent who has spent the last year playing for Sint-Truiden in the Belgian top flight.
Sammon, the 29-year-old ex-Kilmarnock forward, has agreed a three-year contract as he leaves Derby County.
They will arrive as Hearts prepare for their first Europa League qualifier.
Six players left Tynecastle in the summer, with three first-team regulars - defender Blaze Augustyn, goalkeeper Neil Alexander and midfielder Miguel Pallardo - all now on the lookout for new clubs.
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Hearts are expected to confirm the signing of defender Faycal Rherras and striker Conor Sammon ahead of a return to pre-season training next week.
| 0.391889 | 0 |
The stricken robot, made by Knightscope, was spotted by passers-by whose photos of the aftermath quickly went viral on social media.
For some, the incident seemed to sum up the state of 21st Century technology.
"We were promised flying cars, instead we got suicidal robots," wrote one worker from the building on Twitter.
"Steps are our best defence against the Robopocalypse," commented Peter Singer - author of Wired for War, a book about military robotics.
It is not the first accident involving Knightscope's patrolling robots, which are equipped with various instruments - including face-recognition systems, high-definition video capture, infrared and ultrasonic sensors.
Last year, a 16-month-old toddler was run over by one of the autonomous devices in a Silicon Valley shopping centre.
And earlier this year, a Californian man was arrested after attacking a Knightscope robot.
The man, who was drunk at the time of the incident, later said he wanted to "test" the machine, according to Knightscope.
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A security robot in Washington DC suffered a watery demise after falling into a fountain by an office building.
| 2.268612 | 2 |
The figures point to a sharp drop in the number of new firms operating in the oil and gas sector.
That energy category, known to statisticians as "mining and quarrying", dropped from 215 to 99 start-up businesses.
The total number of start-ups, compiled by the four main banks in the Scottish market, was down 1%, to 11,669.
The Committee of Scottish Bankers reported a 2% drop in the final quarter, compared with the last three months of 2014.
By region, Aberdeen city and Aberdeenshire saw a drop in new companies from 1539 to 1382.
The east of Scotland was the only other region to report a fall, from 3139 to 2956.
Measured by council area, Edinburgh saw a fall but it was Glasgow that stood out for a significant drop compared with 2014 - down from 1468 to 1,330 new firms.
The decline of urban start-ups registered in these statistics may be partly explained by growing competition for business banking from lenders with a smaller presence in the Scottish market.
The Committee of Scottish Bankers includes Royal Bank of Scotland, Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale and TSB. It does not include HSBC, Barclays or Nationwide.
According to the four main Scottish-based banks, most regions of Scotland saw a small increase in start-up business, except in the south of Scotland, where new firms registered by the bankers were up from 477 to 600.
One of the biggest business categories, recreation and personal services, fell from 1686 to 1382.
Adding most new firms was the real estate sector, rising from 3,186 to 3,371 start-up accounts.
There was a drop of 500 in the number of sole traders registering with banks, while the number of legally-constituted companies was on the rise.
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The number of new businesses opening accounts with Scotland's major lenders last year was down on the 2014 figure.
| 1.825887 | 2 |
22 September 2016 Last updated at 07:59 BST
Rio was her third Paralympic Games and she has now won an impressive eight medals including five golds.
Her first Paralympics were in Beijing back in 2008 when she was only 13 years old!
But what did she miss most when she away in Brazil? Find out as Naz asks Ellie some of your questions.
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Five-time Paralympic champion swimmer Ellie Simmonds has just arrived home from the Rio, where she won a gold and bronze medal.
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It is thought 12.6 million adults lack basic digital skills, while 5.8 million have never used the internet at all.
"Stubborn digital exclusion and systemic problems" with education and training need to be urgently addressed, the report said.
It urged the government's digital strategy to be published without delay.
The report found that:
"Digital exclusion has no place in 21st Century Britain," the Commons Science and Technology Committee said.
"While the government is to be commended for the actions taken so far... stubborn digital exclusion and systemic problems with digital education and training need to be addressed as a matter of urgency in the government's forthcoming digital strategy," it continued.
The report calls for businesses to invest more and better training at all levels of education.
"The UK leads Europe on tech, but we need to take concerted action to avoid falling behind. We need to make sure tomorrow's workforce is leaving school or university with the digital skills that employers need," said the committee's chairwoman, Nicole Blackwood.
In response a government spokesperson said: "This government recognises the crucial role digital skills play in our society and economy. Our Digital Strategy, to be published shortly, will set out how we will help employers and individuals access the tools they need to power our digital economy.
"This will make sure we are well placed to remain a tech leader in Europe. We will consider the Select Committee's report and respond in due course," they added.
The Science and Technology Committee says there is no single definition but is generally understood to be the ability to use computers and digital devices to access the internet, the ability to code or create software and the ability to critically evaluate media, and "to navigate knowingly through the negative and positive elements of online activity and make informed choices about the content and services they use".
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Urgent action is needed to deal with the UK's digital skills crisis, warn MPs, or it risks damaging the country's productivity and competitiveness.
| 2.603016 | 3 |
The ceasefire will begin at midday (0900 GMT), the Saudi government announced via state media.
The coalition said the truce could be renewed if the Houthis observed it and allowed aid to be delivered to rebel-held areas in the southwest.
More than 10,000 people have died in 20 months of civil war in the country.
There has been no word yet from the Houthis and several previous ceasefires have broken down.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said earlier this week that the coalition and Houthis had agreed on a ceasefire to begin on Thursday.
But the internationally recognised Yemeni government, led by exiled president Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, rejected the move, complaining that it had been being bypassed.
The truce announced by Mr Kerry held in some parts of the country but not others. More than 20 civilians were killed on Friday in the shelling of a busy market in the war-torn city of Taiz.
International medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said one of its staff was also killed, calling it "another heartbreaking example of a hard-working citizen affected by this ongoing conflict".
Taiz has been one of the worst-affected cities in Yemen's conflict, witnessing some of the heaviest and most sustained fighting in the country.
The UN estimates that more than three million people have been displaced from the conflict and 21 million are in need of some form of humanitarian assistance.
Two million people are malnourished nationwide, including 370,000 children who are severely malnourished.
The conflict has also ravaged Yemen's health system. More than half of the health facilities the country are closed or partially functioning, a survey by the World Health Organisation found earlier this month.
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The Saudi-led military coalition supporting Yemen's government against the Houthi rebels has declared a 48-hour ceasefire to begin on Saturday.
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