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34955274 | Jones officially starts at Twickenham on Tuesday, and has said he will meet the 29-year-old before deciding whether to keep him on as England captain.
But, after Quins' narrow 26-25 loss at Exeter, O'Shea singled the flanker out, saying: "Chris Robshaw was outstanding.
"I hope people take a long, hard look before they start writing him off."
Jones' predecessor Stuart Lancaster departed following a disappointing World Cup campaign which saw England make a pool-stage exit.
Robshaw, who has captained his country 42 times, has been criticised too for his performances in the defeats by Wales and Australia.
But O'Shea praised his performance as Quins secured two losing bonus points from a dramatic encounter in dreadful weather conditions in Devon, which could have gone either way right to the last kick, as the visitors missed a late penalty.
"He has been one of the outstanding back-row forwards in this country for many a year," said O'Shea. "I don't normally single out players but he made yards today when you didn't think he could make yards.
"He was turning the ball over, he was tackling, he was working. I am gutted for us as a team, but I am incredibly proud of the performance."
England's Six Nations campaign begins at Murrayfield against World Cup quarter-finalists Scotland on 6 February. | New England coach Eddie Jones must think carefully before "writing off" Chris Robshaw, says Harlequins boss Conor O'Shea. |
36131552 | Adrian Galliers, 50, from Guernsey, was found guilty of 10 counts of fraud over a four-and-a-half year period.
Galliers carried out the deception through his company Guernsey Financial Consultants Limited.
The Royal Court heard he had taken money from his clients' pension funds after suffering financial difficulties.
The company was fined £42,000 last year by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission after concerns were raised about the way the business was being run.
The court heard how Galliers initially moved money with the intent of paying it back to his clients, but the situation spiralled out of control.
The prosecution said three of the people Galliers had defrauded were long term friends who "trusted him implicitly".
Will Giles told the court one individual had known the financial adviser for 20 years and they had a long and well established friendship.
Galliers had suffered from depression and the GFSC fine had impacted him greatly, it was said.
He was described as being too "proud" and "ignorant" to admit the extent of his problems.
Judge Russell Finch sentenced him to three years for each of the 10 counts of fraud, to run concurrently.
Mr Finch said Galliers was trusted and regarded as a friend by his victims, but in reality he stole from them.
The "wholly despicable" offences reflected badly on the local pensions and insurance sectors, he added. | A financial adviser who defrauded clients out of £157k has been jailed for three years. |
28957864 | Media playback is not supported on this device
Asha Philip, Ashleigh Nelson, Anyika Onuora and Desiree Henry won the race and beat the 42.24 the team ran to become European champions.
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James Dasaolu (10.06) was third behind Jamaica's Kemar Bailey-Cole (9.96) and Michael Rodgers (10.05) in the 100m.
Dasaolu's training partner and fellow Briton Adam Gemili (10.13) was fifth.
Former world record holder Asafa Powell and ex-world champion Tyson Gay, both of whom returned from drugs bans this summer, finished fourth and ninth respectively in a high-quality field.
Jamaica's 2013 world bronze medallist Nesta Carter was sixth and Britain's Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (10.31) eighth.
"In lane one you have to run your own race and today was about mixing it with the best sprinters in the world," European 100m champion Dasaolu told BBC Sport.
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"Coming off the back of two championships, it's hard, but it's nice to get among these guys and beat someone like Nesta Carter," said Gemili, who won 200m European gold and 100m Commonwealth silver behind Bailey-Cole.
Chijindu Ujah, who ran 9.96 early in the season only to miss out on 100m selection for the Commonwealths and the Europeans, claimed a morale-boosting victory in the B race in 10.16.
Nelson, the individual European bronze medallist, was sixth in 11.20 in a women's 100m won by Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown in a photo finish from Ivorian Murielle Ahoure as both finished in 11.04.
World record holder and Olympic gold medallist David Rudisha could only finish third in the 800m, finishing behind Botswana's Nijel Amos and Ayanleh Souleiman of Djibouti.
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Amos, who beat Rudisha to Commonwealth gold last month, won in one minute 43.77 seconds.
Souleiman finished in 1:43.93, edging out Rudisha on the line by three hundredths of a second.
"It has been a tough season for me," Rudisha told BBC Sport. "My preparation wasn't perfect this year because I was carrying over an injury from last year. But I'm looking forward to next year."
World champion LaShawn Merritt comfortably won the 400m in 44.36, beating fellow American Gil Roberts (44.96). Britain's Martyn Rooney came fourth in 45.10.
Dawn Harper-Nelson of the United States beat Olympic champion Sally Pearson and Britain's European champion Tiffany Porter in the women's 100m hurdles. | Britain's women broke the national 4x100m relay record for the second time in 11 days with a time of 42.21 seconds at the Zurich Diamond League meeting. |
37728461 | The fourth Cardiff Contemporary is set in traditional galleries but also in derelict buildings - and even on the roof of a car park.
Artists are working to the theme of communication.
The festival, subtitled Are You Ready?, is inspired by Guglielmo Marconi's radio experiments on Flat Holm Island.
Those were the words transmitted in Morse code across the Bristol Channel to Lavernock Point in May 1897.
The biennial festival has already grabbed the headlines after a sighting of a "meteorite" off Penarth seafront, which went viral on social media, turned out to be a deliberate hoax by artist Mark James.
It was part of his work 'A Response', inspired by "a response from whatever life lives out beyond the stars, who might be watching us and the state our world is in".
There are 45 artists involved in different projects across the city, some of them arts spaces but also in derelict buildings and pop-up venues.
Ruth Cayford, festival manager, said: "It's been incredible how the city has come together to make this work - from artists, businesses, the hotels, the council, the support from Arts Council Wales - it's quite a beautiful story how everyone has been working to make something cultural happen in the city."
Musician Richard James has been working with artists Angharad Van Rijswijk and Andy Fung, as well as comedian and writer Stewart Lee, on themes explored in Arthur Machen's book The Hill of Dreams.
"We're using stereo surround sound - trying to make it an immersive experience. I wanted a project which incorporated different types of visual art, sonic art and composition," said James, co-founder of the band Gorky's Zygotic Mynci.
"It was all about trying to capture the magic of childhood and childhood landscapes and how they inform us as we get older and mature into adults."
It is one of the installations in a former derelict motorcycle garage in the city centre.
"It's quite dilapidated - I quite like the idea of having it in this sort of place. It takes it out of conventional galleries and I like making use of buildings no longer in use."
The event is sitting alongside the start of the Artes Mundi exhibition at National Museum Wales and Chapter. | Some unusual sights in some unfamiliar places can be expected in Cardiff from this weekend as part of a month-long visual arts festival. |
38864683 | The Queens Park Rangers loanee performed heroics to keep out efforts from Tony McMahon, Billy Clarke and Nathaniel Knight-Percival as the visitors pressed for a winner.
Rovers took a 15th-minute lead when Chris Lines picked up the ball just outside the right-hand corner of the box and curled an exquisite left-footed shot into the opposite corner of the net.
But the lead lasted only 11 minutes as Charlie Wyke's clever back-heel inside the box allowed Nicky Law to beat Lumley with a clinical finish from 10 yards.
Both sides attacked with purpose from the opening whistle, Rory McArdle heading just over for Bradford and Rovers winger Cristian Montano having a goal-bound shot blocked by McMahon in a competitive first half.
Bradford had the better chances after the break, but the hosts stood firm thanks largely to Lumley's bravery and agility.
Report supplied by the Press Association.
Match ends, Bristol Rovers 1, Bradford City 1.
Second Half ends, Bristol Rovers 1, Bradford City 1.
Attempt missed. Stuart Sinclair (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Attempt saved. Timothee Dieng (Bradford City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Corner, Bradford City. Conceded by Lee Brown.
Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Jamie Lucas replaces Luke James.
Corner, Bradford City. Conceded by Lee Brown.
Attempt missed. Ryan Sweeney (Bristol Rovers) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Ryan Broom (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Nathaniel Knight-Percival (Bradford City).
Attempt missed. Ryan Sweeney (Bristol Rovers) header from the centre of the box is too high.
Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Rory McArdle.
Substitution, Bradford City. Jordy Hiwula-Mayifuila replaces Billy Clarke.
Corner, Bradford City. Conceded by Chris Lines.
Foul by Ollie Clarke (Bristol Rovers).
Billy Clarke (Bradford City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Rory Gaffney (Bristol Rovers).
Tony McMahon (Bradford City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. Mark Marshall (Bradford City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high.
Attempt saved. Charlie Wyke (Bradford City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Foul by Lee Brown (Bristol Rovers).
Billy Clarke (Bradford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Romain Vincelot.
Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Rory Gaffney replaces Ellis Harrison.
Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Ryan Broom replaces Cristian Montaño.
Ollie Clarke (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Romain Vincelot (Bradford City).
Attempt saved. Charlie Wyke (Bradford City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Luke James (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Tony McMahon (Bradford City).
Ryan Sweeney (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Ryan Sweeney (Bristol Rovers).
Billy Clarke (Bradford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Charlie Wyke (Bradford City) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Attempt saved. Nathaniel Knight-Percival (Bradford City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Corner, Bradford City. Conceded by Tom Lockyer.
Attempt missed. Ellis Harrison (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Foul by Ellis Harrison (Bristol Rovers).
Tony McMahon (Bradford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. James Meredith (Bradford City) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. | Goalkeeper Joe Lumley produced a trio of fine second-half saves to earn Bristol Rovers a League One draw with Bradford at the Memorial Stadium. |
35521423 | Ronaldo scored his 20th La Liga goal of the season as he curled home Real's opener after just two minutes.
Athletic levelled when Javier Eraso side-footed in but James Rodriguez made it 2-1 with a long-range strike.
Toni Kroos added a third just before half-time and after Raphael Varane had been sent off, Ronaldo scored again before Gorka Elustondo's late header.
Relive Madrid's win as it happened
The win lifted Real above Atletico Madrid into second place in the table, although Atletico and Barcelona both play on Sunday.
Real remain unbeaten under coach Zinedine Zidane after winning their seventh successive home league game.
But it wasn't as comfortable as the score suggested in the first half as Athletic created several chances against an uncertain home defence.
Top scorer Artiz Aduriz, 35, could have had a hat-trick before the break as he headed wide, flicked an effort against the bar and saw Keylor Navas save another heading opportunity.
Real made their superior finishing count though, with Ronaldo taking his total this season to 31 goals in all competitions with the opening goal.
Rodriguez made it two goals in three games, having not previously scored in La Liga since November, while Kroos scored his first goal of the season as he turned onto a Ronaldo pass to score with a deflected shot.
Real, who play at Roma in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday, then cruised through the second half before the late flurry of activity.
Varane, who had been at fault for Athletic's first-half equaliser, received a second caution for an innocuous looking aerial challenge on Aduriz with seven minutes to go.
Ten-man Real added a fourth when Ronaldo controlled a cross from Lucas Vazquez to drill the ball home before Elustondo nodded in an Oscar de Marcos cross in the last minute to pull one back for the visitors.
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane: "The Press are here to opine on whether Ronaldo plays well or badly, if he is finished, but today he has showed he is brilliant.
"You will always have errors but I am not worried about that. I think we were good physically, on the ball and I am happy with what we did.
"We are ready for the match against Roma. We are in shape, playing well, and very pleased with how we played today against a very good rival. We are prepared for Wednesday." | Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao 4-2 to go a point behind league leaders Barcelona. |
38008492 | Guled Omar, 22, was one of three Somali-American men sentenced on terror-related charges by the court in the state of Minnesota on Wednesday.
The other two, Abdirahman Daud and Mohamed Farah, also 22, were each jailed for 30 years.
Six other defendants have already been sentenced to terms of up to 15 years.
Omar, Daud and Farah were convicted by a jury in June of conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organisation and conspiracy to commit murder outside the US.
As he awaited his sentence, Omar told the judge that he understood the gravity of his conviction.
"I always had energy for justice as a young man but I lost my way," he told the court.
But US District Judge Michael Davis described the group of nine as a "terrorist cell" and said he didn't believe Omar's words of contrition.
Prosecutor Andrew Winter said Omar's crying was crocodile tears.
"Only when backed into a corner, does he attempt to offer false contrition," he said.
"You can't fix manipulative. You can't fix deceitful. And you can't fix Guled Omar."
Prosecutors said the plot had involved a group of friends who planned to travel to Syria and fight alongside IS.
The Minneapolis area is home to the largest concentration of Somali immigrants in the US.
Since 2007, at least 22 Somali men have travelled oversees to support Islamic State or Al-Shabab, a separate militant group based in Somalia. | A man described by a US judge as a leader of a group who plotted to travel to Syria to fight for the Islamic State group has been jailed for 35 years. |
37395286 | The head of the federal euthanasia commission said the teenager was "suffering unbearable physical pain".
Belgium is the only country that allows minors of any age to choose euthanasia.
They must have rational decision-making capacity and be in the final stages of a terminal illness.
The parents of the under-18 year olds must also give their consent.
Euthanasia commission head Wim Distelmans said the teenager was "nearly 18". He said doctors used "palliative sedation", which involves bringing patients into an induced coma, as part of the process,
Assisted dying around the world
Belgian Paralympian 'not ready' for euthanasia
"Fortunately there are very few children who are considered [for euthanasia] but that does not mean we should refuse them the right to a dignified death," he told the Het Nieuwsblad newspaper.
Mr Distelmans told Reuters news agency the case had been reported to his committee by a local doctor last week.
The case occurred in Flemish-speaking Belgium, reports RTBF (in French), the public broadcaster for Belgium's French-speaking community.
The Netherlands also allows euthanasia for minors, but they must be aged over 12 years old.
Belgium lifted the age restrictions in 2014. The law passed by parliament said the child would have to be terminally ill, face "unbearable physical suffering" and make repeated requests to die before euthanasia is considered.
Many people, including church leaders and some paediatricians, questioned whether children would be able to make such a difficult choice.
Senator Jean-Jacques De Gucht said he was proud the legislation had passed.
He said having the possibility to ask about euthanasia "makes a big difference to many people".
Only the Netherlands and Belgium permit euthanasia for patients under the age of 18.
In the Netherlands, a competent patient between the ages of 16 and 18 may request euthanasia or assisted suicide. The parent or guardian does not have a veto, but must be consulted. Competent patients aged between 12 and 16 may also qualify, but only if their parent or guardian consents.
In Belgium, a competent patient under the age of 18 may request euthanasia with parental consent. Additional scrutiny of the child's competence is required, and suffering based on a psychiatric disorder is excluded.
The rate of euthanasia in the Netherlands has remained fairly stable at 2.8% of all deaths (in 2010), according to Penney Lewis, Professor of Law at King's College London.
The most recent survey of doctors in the UK was in 2007-08. The rate of euthanasia was reported to be 0.21% of all deaths, and a similar rate has been reported in France (in 2009), even though euthanasia remains illegal in both countries.
In contrast, research carried out in Flanders, Belgium found the rate prior to legalisation was unclear, with separate surveys reporting rates of 0.3% of all deaths in the region (in 2001-02) and 1.1% (in 1998). The rate has risen steadily since legalisation in 2002 to 4.6% of all deaths in the most recent survey in 2013.
Euthanasia is an intervention undertaken with the intention of ending a life to relieve suffering, for example a lethal injection administered by a doctor
Assisted suicide is any act that intentionally helps another person kill themselves, for example by providing them with the means to do so, most commonly by prescribing a lethal medication
Assisted dying is usually used in the US and the UK to mean assisted suicide for the terminally ill only, as for example in the Assisted Dying Bills recently debated in the UK | A terminally-ill 17-year-old has become the first minor to be helped to die in Belgium since age restrictions on euthanasia requests were removed two years ago, officials say. |
37263432 | Tjaronn Chery's sublime 25-yard free-kick had given the hosts the lead just past the hour mark at Loftus Road.
But Gallagher met Corry Evans' cross and sent the ball over goalkeeper Alex Smithies reach to bring Rovers level.
QPR striker Idrissa Sylla was denied late on by Jason Steele as the visitors held on for a share of the points.
An injury to new signing Charlie Mulgrew forced the Blackburn striker off after only 34 minutes in an uneventful opening half.
The match sparked into life when Ben Marshall's foul allowed Chery the opportunity to curl the ball into the top right-hand corner.
Rovers looked to be heading to their fifth league defeat, but Mulgrew's replacement Evans scooped the ball into the box and Gallagher rose highest to net his second league goal of the season.
Despite their hard-earned draw, Rovers remain bottom of the Championship and are the only club yet to win a league match.
QPR manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:
"I thought the performance was really good. We deserved more, but you have got to put the ball in the net.
"We created chances with good play, had three one-on-ones and their keeper made some good saves.
"Did we deserve more from this game? Yes, big time. But you have to go and earn it. If you think you can stroll through this division, you are wrong.
"But we knocked on the door and on a better day would have won 2-1 or 3-1. That is why I am happy with the performance and happy with the players."
Blackburn manager Owen Coyle:
"Our first two games of the season were very poor but from there we have progressively got better with each game.
"We've brought a number of players in and the more you work together, the more you see what type of team you're going to be.
"Regardless of how the game went, if we continue to perform consistently like that we will win games and will move up the table.
"It's not about a knee-jerk reaction after four or five games. It's about 46 games and there's work to be done."
Match ends, Queens Park Rangers 1, Blackburn Rovers 1.
Second Half ends, Queens Park Rangers 1, Blackburn Rovers 1.
James Perch (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Martin Samuelsen (Blackburn Rovers).
Attempt saved. Idrissa Sylla (Queens Park Rangers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Conor Washington with a headed pass.
Jake Bidwell (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Corry Evans (Blackburn Rovers).
Karl Henry (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Gordon Greer (Blackburn Rovers).
Foul by Nedum Onuoha (Queens Park Rangers).
Marvin Emnes (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt blocked. Tjaronn Chery (Queens Park Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Olamide Shodipo (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Jason Lowe (Blackburn Rovers).
Nedum Onuoha (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Marvin Emnes (Blackburn Rovers).
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Martin Samuelsen replaces Danny Graham.
Foul by Olamide Shodipo (Queens Park Rangers).
Corry Evans (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Idrissa Sylla replaces Abdenasser El Khayati.
Attempt missed. Abdenasser El Khayati (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Tjaronn Chery.
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Marvin Emnes replaces Sam Gallagher.
Attempt missed. Danny Graham (Blackburn Rovers) header from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Craig Conway with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Karl Henry.
Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Jason Steele.
Attempt saved. Conor Washington (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt blocked. Jordan Cousins (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Olamide Shodipo.
Jason Lowe (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card.
Goal! Queens Park Rangers 1, Blackburn Rovers 1. Sam Gallagher (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Corry Evans following a corner.
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Grant Hall.
Foul by Tjaronn Chery (Queens Park Rangers).
Craig Conway (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt missed. Tjaronn Chery (Queens Park Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Karl Henry.
Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Jason Steele.
Attempt saved. Conor Washington (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tjaronn Chery.
Attempt missed. Sam Gallagher (Blackburn Rovers) header from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right.
Goal! Queens Park Rangers 1, Blackburn Rovers 0. Tjaronn Chery (Queens Park Rangers) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the top right corner.
James Perch (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Ben Marshall (Blackburn Rovers).
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Karl Henry. | Sam Gallagher's header earned Blackburn just their second Championship point of the season as they salvaged a draw against Queens Park Rangers. |
37953042 | The show, a sequel to JK Rowling's books, opened in the West End this summer to five-star reviews.
Ralph Fiennes was named best actor for both The Master Builder and Richard III, while Billie Piper won best actress for Yerma at the Young Vic.
The ceremony, presented by Rob Brydon, was held at London's Old Vic theatre.
Accepting the best play award from Dame Maggie Smith, Cursed Child director John Tiffany said: "It's a show about the peril of isolation, about unity, about family and about love."
JK Rowling sent a message read by actress Noma Dumezweni - who plays Hermione - praising Tiffany and writer Jack Thorne for "crafting the bare bones of a story into something very special".
Among the celebrities handing out the awards were Orlando Bloom, Dame Joan Collins, Tom Hiddleston, Tom Hollander, James McAvoy, Mark Rylance, Sheridan Smith and Ruth Wilson.
Fiennes saw off competition from Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Kenneth Branagh, James McArdle and O-T Fagbenle in the best actor category.
Piper, who triumphed in the best actress category over Dumezweni, Helen McCrory and Sophie Melville, thanked Yerma director Simon Stone for "scaring" her with the role of a woman who is desperate for a child.
Glenn Close won the best musical performance prize for Sunset Boulevard at the London Coliseum, beating Sheridan Smith's performance in Funny Girl and Andy Karl in Groundhog Day.
Accepting the award from Sir Elton John, Close said that reprising the role of Norma Desmond after 22 years had been a "once-in-a-lifetime experience."
Evening Standard owner Evgeny Lebedev co-hosted Sunday evening's ceremony alongside Sir Elton.
The Duke of Cambridge presented the first award of the evening, the beyond theatre award, to Sir David Attenborough for his outstanding contribution to broadcasting.
John Malkovich took home the award for best director for his production of Good Canary at the Rose Theatre, Kingston, beating Tiffany for Harry Potter and Dominic Cooke for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at the National Theatre.
Sean Mathias's production of Harold Pinter's No Man's Land at Wyndham's theatre, starring Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart, was named best revival.
Earlier, the theatrical knights had taken part in a comedy sketch in which Sir Ian appeared as a pantomime fairy godmother, complete with an illuminated wand.
Glee star Amber Riley entertained guests with a song from the musical Dreamgirls, which opens at the Savoy Theatre next month.
One of Riley's co-stars in the show, Tyrone Huntley, was presented with the emerging talent award for his earlier role in Jesus Christ Superstar.
The ceremony ended with Sir Kenneth Branagh receiving the special Lebedev award for his season of plays - which included Romeo and Juliet and The Entertainer - at the Garrick Theatre.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram at bbcnewsents, or if you have a story suggestion email [email protected]. | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has woven its magic by winning best play at the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards. |
37461319 | She was found after emergency services were called to a flat on Dixon Avenue at about 07:00 on Saturday.
Police said the woman was pronounced dead at the scene and that they were following a definite line of inquiry in the case.
A post-mortem examination is due to take place to establish the exact cause of the woman's death. | The death of a 43-year-old woman in the Govanhill area of Glasgow is being treated as suspicious. |
32992330 | The palace took the unusual step of confirming the "pre-scheduled" visit to London's King Edward VII's Hospital.
The BBC issued an apology after tweets were "mistakenly sent" from the Twitter account of a BBC journalist during a "technical rehearsal" for an obituary.
"The tweets were swiftly deleted and we apologise for any offence," it said.
"Tweets were mistakenly sent from the account of a BBC journalist saying that a member of the royal family had been taken ill," it added.
Screen grabs on social media showed that the same producer had later tweeted that the Queen had died.
The BBC said an investigation will take place as part of its disciplinary process. | The Queen has attended hospital for her "routine" annual check-up, Buckingham Palace has said following social media speculation about her health. |
32548084 | Bercot is the first female director to launch the event since Diane Kurys in 1987.
The prize jury is headed by the Coen brothers and includes Sienna Miller and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Nineteen movies will compete for the best film - the Palme d'Or - with stars like Michael Fassbender due to attend.
Here is a pick of some of the films which are being shown both in and out of competition.
Asif Kapadia's documentary about the late singer Amy Winehouse, simply titled Amy, has already found itself at the centre of some controversy.
Made with the assistance of the Winehouse family using old tapes and footage of the singer, who died in 2011 aged 27, Winehouse's father Mitch has now distanced himself from the film, suggesting its is misleading.
The film is showing at Cannes at a special midnight screening and, based on the teaser trailer which surfaced earlier this year, it will be a stark reminder of a stunning musical talent and vibrant personality taken far too soon.
Kapadia is known for his Bafta-winning documentary Senna, about the late F1 driving champion Ayrton Senna.
Based on the novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith, Carol is set in 1950s New York, and tells the story of a young female department-store clerk who falls for an older, married woman.
It stars The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo's Rooney Mara and Oscar winner Cate Blanchett in the main roles.
The romantic novel was considered hugely controversial on its release in the 50s because of its lesbian storyline but is now regarded as a groundbreaking work.
Haynes has previously directed Blanchett when she played a version of Bob Dylan in the 2007 film I'm Not There.
Pixar's latest film is not in competition but gets its world premiere at this year's event.
The animation will be set in the mind of a young girl, where five emotions - Joy, Anger, Disgust, Fear and Sadness - try to lead her through her life.
Voices include Amy Poehler, Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling.
Docter has previously directed Monsters, Inc and the huge critical and financial success Up, which opened the 2009 Cannes Film Festival - the first animated feature to do so.
It will be preceded by a short, Lava - a musical love story directed by James Ford Murphy, inspired by tropical islands and ocean volcanoes.
Cannes loves an auteur and it loves Woody Allen.
His new film Irrational Man stars Joachim Phoenix and Emma Stone as a philosophy professor in an existential crisis and a student who gives him a new lease of life.
Stone clearly enjoys working with the veteran director, having also starred in his 2014 film Magic in the Moonlight. Allen's career has been a critical hit and miss in recent years with Blue Jasmine, starring Cate Blanchett in Oscar-winning form as a clear high.
To Rome with Love and Fading Gigolo did not enjoy the same success.
Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos has already tasted success with his dark drama Dogtooth which won the prize in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2009 festival.
His new film The Lobster is in competition for the main prize this year.
It is set in a dystopian near future where lonely people are obliged to find a matching mate within a 45-day period in a hotel. If they fail, they are transformed into animals and sent off into the woods. What is not to love about that?
Filmed on location in Ireland, its all-star cast includes Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Ben Whishaw, Olivia Colman and John C Reilly amongst others.
This is Michael Fassbender's take on Shakespeare's doomed Scottish King, co-starring Marion Cotillard, David Thewlis and Paddy Considine.
The film is directed by Australian director Justin Kurzel, best known for his 2011 film Snowtown - based on a series of real life murderers.
Rumours are that the cast will be speaking with Scots accents save for Cotillard, who will retain her French tongue - the reason being that it would be not unreasonable to suggest that she had spent some time in French court.
Filming took place through locations in Scotland and England last year.
It is being screened in competition for the Palme d'Or.
Mad Max: Fury Road is George Miller's own reboot of his original Mad Max trilogy, the film which helped make a global star out of Mel Gibson.
This film sees British actor Tom Hardy in the title role and sets him against a bloodthirsty gang of marauders in a post-apocalyptic landscape.
It co-stars Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult.
Expect fast cars, explosions and some truly astounding stunt work.
Gus Van Sant's elegiac The Sea of Trees sees Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey as an American who travels to the "Suicide Forest" at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan to kill himself. There, he encounters the equally suicidal Ken Watanabe.
Expect some powerhouse acting from both stars and Naomi Watts, who co-stars in the film.
Van Sant has some pedigree at Cannes, having won the Palme d'Or for his drama Elephant in 2003. His 2005 film Last Days, a fictionalised account of a Kurt Cobain-style rock star, was show at the 2005 festival.
Actress Natalie Portman is making her Cannes debut as a director with A Tale of Love and Darkness.
The drama is based on the memoir of Israeli writer and journalist Amos Oz. The book was translated into 28 languages and more than a million copies have been sold.
Since 1967, Oz has been an advocate of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Portman, who also plays Oz's mother, shot the movie in Jerusalem last year.
Italian director Matteo Garrone was feted for his gangster film Gomorrah in 2008. It was nominated for the Palme d'Or and won the Grand Prix - effectively the silver medal - at the festival.
In 2012, he again found himself in competition with the film Reality, which created some controversy as its lead actor Aniello Arena was a convicted former gangster, who has been serving life in prison for murder since 1991.
Garrone's visually sumptious new film The Tale of Tales, is an altogether starrier affair - a fairytale collection featuring Salma Hayek, John C Reilly, Vincent Cassel, Toby Jones and Shirley Henderson.
Many critics were left wanting by Miike's 2013 film Straw Shield, which was screened in competition in 2013. His latest film Yakuza Apocalypse is a tale of vengeance pitting a Japanese gangster against his vampire boss.
Miike became best known to western audiences with the hyper-violent films Audition and Ichi the Killer.
Martial arts film fans will recognise long-haired Yayan Ruhian from Gareth Evans' 2011 Indonesian film The Raid.
Sorrentino's heart-breakingly beautiful film The Grand Beauty, set in the modern decadence of Rome, was acclaimed when it premiered at Cannes in 2013. It went on to win the Oscar for best foreign language film.
His new film, Youth, his second in the English-language, sees Michael Caine as a retired orchestra conductor who is invited to perform for the Queen and Prince Philip.
The film co-stars Paul Dano, Rachel Weisz and Harvey Keitel. | The 68th Cannes Film Festival is about begin, starting with Emmanuelle Bercot's French drama La Tete Haute (Standing Tall). |
35192815 | Rosales Mendoza's body was found along with three other bodies by a motorway in western Mexico.
All four victims had been shot dead, forensic experts said.
Rosales Mendoza, 52, was one of the founders of La Familia Michoacana, a drug cartel with a reputation for extreme violence which claims to defend family and religious values.
He was on the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)'s most wanted list.
The four bodies were found in the car park of a tollbooth on a motorway in the western state of Michoacan.
Forensic experts said the four had been tortured and killed somewhere else before their bodies were dumped in the car park.
It is not clear who may be behind the killing.
Rosales Mendoza is believed to have got involved in drug trafficking in the 1980s in Michoacan.
He rose through the ranks of local drug gangs and forged key alliances with members of the Gulf and Zetas cartels.
In 2000, he founded his own organisation, which he named La Familia Michoacana (The Michoacan Family) after the state that was his power base.
La Familia became a powerful criminal force in Michoacan. Cartel members trafficked in drugs, but were urged not to use them themselves.
The cartel claimed to protect the poor and said it defended traditional family values.
Its hit-men said they had the "divine right" to kill and dismember their enemies, which included members of rival gangs.
Rosales Mendoza is believed to have trained some of the men who later became powerful drug lords in their own right, including Servando "La Tuta" Gomez, Enrique "El Kike" Plancarte, Nazario Moreno and Dionicio "El Tio" Loya Plancarte.
In 2004, he organised an armed assault on a maximum security prison to spring a jailed ally from the Gulf cartel.
His men managed to free 25 inmates, but Rosales Mendoza was arrested on suspicion of masterminding the jailbreak and spent the next decade in prison.
While Rosales Mendoza was in prison, the men he had trained founded their own cartel, which they called the Knights Templar.
The Knights Templar, which claimed to follow in the footsteps of the Christian military order of the Middle Ages of the same name, soon became one of the main targets for the Mexican government.
Police say the cartel has been dismantled after all four of its main leaders were arrested or killed in the past two tears.
The security forces feared that Rosales Mendoza was trying to re-organise his drug-trafficking empire after his release from prison in 2014. | Carlos Rosales Mendoza, the founder of one of Mexico's most violent drug cartels, has been killed. |
35717339 | Alan Lloyd Paul Evans, 38, denied seven charges of starting fires early on 24 October. He previously admitted setting fire to another car.
Four cars were targeted but the fires affected other vehicles, Mold Crown Court heard.
The judge said Evans could not have been responsible for other car fires in the area as he had been in custody at the time.
After the hearing, Det Chief Insp Neil Harrison said: "In recent years the Wrexham area has been overwhelmed by the number of arsons taking place, particularly where vehicles have been set on fire.
"The sentence given to Evans today should serve as warning to others that arson is a serious offence and it will not be tolerated."
Henry Hills, defending, said his client was engaging with the mental health services while in prison.
He had been on a 12-week suspended sentence at the time after admitting setting fire to another car. That sentence will now run consecutively. | An arsonist has been jailed for four years for torching cars in Wrexham. |
38356841 | Jack Morrisson was reported missing on Friday, leading to searches of the water in Sutton at Hone, near Dartford. His body was found on Saturday.
His death is not being treated as suspicious, a Kent Police spokesman said.
His family said: "Jack, you were like a beautiful angel that we were sent. We have been so lucky to have you."
Jack played football for Volenti Football Academy, but his one true love was fishing, his family said.
In a statement, Jack's family said: "You were like our little golden boy, your life was so charmed and everything you wanted seemed to come to you.
"You have brought so much joy to us and we feel so blessed to have had you." | A 16-year-old boy whose body was found in a fishing lake has been described by his family as their "golden boy". |
35053294 | They claim the gardai failed to properly investigate his killing in a remote cottage in County Donegal, and allege that PSNI officers may have contributed to his death.
Denis Donaldson was shot dead in April 2006, months after being exposed as an agent who had worked for the police and MI5 for 20 years.
The murder was claimed by the dissident republican Real IRA.
An inquest into his death was adjourned for the 17th time on Wednesday, after the gardai requested more time to pursue their enquiries.
The Donaldson family has alleged that his PSNI handlers may have been responsible for exposing his role as an informer.
They claim the gardai has breached Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which says there should be fully independent investigations of killings by the state.
The family also says repeated gardai requests for more time have denied them their legal right to have an inquest into the circumstances of the death.
The family solicitor told the BBC that legal action is now planned.
"The family will be consulting with their full legal team during the next few weeks with a view to lodging proceedings with the European Court, challenging the fact that they have not had an Article 2 compliant inquest or investigation into Denis Donaldson's death, as is their right," he said.
"This is the 17th time the gardai have made an adjournment application. They say it's because they have to follow lines of inquiry, but we don't know what those lines of inquiry are, we haven't been advised exactly what they may be.
"The family are simply at their wits end. In the absence of any satisfaction from the Coroner's Court, the director of public prosecutions or the gardai, they have been left with no alternative but to go to Strasbourg."
The solicitor and the Donaldson family boycotted Wednesday's inquest hearing in Donegal.
In a letter to the coroner, Mr Shiels said they opposed the request for additional time, but viewed attending the hearing as a "pointless exercise". | The family of Sinn Féin official and republican informer Denis Donaldson is to take legal action against An Garda Síochána (Irish police) in the European Court in Strasbourg. |
23690244 | Media playback is not supported on this device
Gerrard said he could not guarantee Gunners target Suarez, 26, would still be at Anfield when the transfer window closed, but added he was sure he would not be going to another English club.
"I don't know what is going to happen over the next few weeks," said Gerrard.
"But I am really confident he won't be going to anyone else in England."
Suarez has excelled since joining Liverpool from Ajax for £22.7m, scoring 51 goals in 96 appearances.
However, has been training alone since trying to engineer a move this summer, with Arsenal having had a bid of just over £40m turned down.
Gerrard could not escape one of the transfer sagas of the summer, despite speaking on the eve of England's first match against Scotland in 14 years.
But he said he would do all he can to prevent Suarez from leaving the club.
"He is one of the best players in the world, so I can understand why clubs are showing an interest in him," he said. "If I can use my influence to try to make him stay, of course I will do that.
"I enjoy playing with him and I don't want him to go. For Liverpool to be successful and to keep moving forward, we need to keep our best players."
When Gerrard was asked how he saw the situation panning out, he said: "At the moment? I haven't got a clue."
Gerrard went on to add that, in his view, the Premier League transfer window should be closed before the season starts in order to prevent clubs being unsettled by long-running transfer sagas during the season.
This season's deadline is on Monday, 2 September - over two weeks after the opening round of fixtures. | Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard says he is confident that Uruguay striker Luis Suarez will not be sold to Arsenal this summer. |
30295254 | Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and Rochford District Council will now formulate detailed plans.
Regeneration, environmental improvements and transport proposals are included in the Joint Area Action Plan (JAAP).
The aim is to start construction in 2016 after detailed plans are adopted.
The JAAP presented to the inspector provided evidence for the creation of 4,200 additional jobs excluding direct airport-related employment up to 2021 and up to 2,000 additional jobs later.
The aim is for an additional 1,180 jobs within the airport boundary.
Borough council leader Ron Woodley said: "This is a golden opportunity for Southend-on-Sea and we will also be working to ensure that our policies reflect the skills required and give our young people every opportunity to fill these new jobs that will be created." | A scheme to create more than 7,000 jobs on a business park next to London Southend Airport has been approved by a government inspector. |
32843558 | The letter tells reservists which regiment or unit to join in the event of war, he told the BBC.
He insisted that the correspondence was not related to Russia's annexation of Crimea or recent fighting in Ukraine.
However, neutral Finland has increased co-operation with Nato this year.
In April the Finnish navy dropped depth charges in waters near Helsinki as a warning to a suspected submarine, which some media reports said was Russian.
The air force in recent months has also had to deal with some airspace violations by Russian warplanes.
Russia has repeatedly warned Finland not to join Nato and has criticised its co-operation with Nato members.
Finland's defence ministry said letters to conscripts were sent throughout May to inform them of changes to the structure of Finland's military.
"The letter reminds them of their responsibilities and what they will be expected to do in the event of a military crisis," the spokesman told the BBC. "The process was started before events in Crimea and Ukraine and is done in part to ensure that we have the right contact details."
But recipients say it is the first time such correspondence has been sent for many years and that the mass communication tactic reflects the concern of the authorities about Russia's intentions.
The Soviet Union invaded Finland in 1939, seizing more than 10% of the country's territory before a peace deal was signed in 1940.
Finland was part of the Russian empire for more than 100 years before it won independence in 1917.
During the Cold War, Finland was officially neutral, but remained under the influence of its neighbour. It forged close ties with the Soviet Union.
Finland shares a 1,340km (833-mile) border with Russia. It has a system of universal male conscription under which all men above 18 serve for 165, 255 or 347 days.
The regular army has about 12,000 soldiers and can rapidly expand to about 280,000 troops if reservists are called up, the defence ministry says. | Finland has sent letters to nearly a million reservists to collect their contact details and remind them of their duties in case of combat, a defence ministry spokesman said. |
39946532 | Willem-Alexander acceded to the throne in 2013 but his other role, in the cockpit, has continued.
"I find flying simply fantastic," he told De Telegraaf newspaper.
He intends to carry on as co-pilot but will spend the coming months learning how to fly Boeing 737s.
Until now Willem-Alexander has worked behind the joystick of a Fokker and it was already known that he had appeared as a "guest pilot" before being crowned king, in order to maintain his pilot's licence.
What was not clear was that he was co-piloting passenger flights incognito, twice a month as king, often with KLM Captain Maarten Putman.
The Dutch government said last month that he had flown Fokker 70 aircraft for both the government and KLM Cityhopper service, and that the plane was being replaced this year with a 737. Cityhopper flights are aimed mainly at business travellers in dozens of European destinations, particularly in the UK, Germany and Norway.
Willem-Alexander once said that if he had not been born in a palace, his dream would have been to fly a big passenger plane such as a Boeing 747, so it is no surprise that he intends to retrain for the updated plane.
He told De Telegraaf that he never used his name when addressing passengers and was rarely recognised in uniform and wearing his KLM cap. However, he admitted that some passengers had recognised his voice.
"The advantage is that I can always say that I warmly welcome passengers on behalf of the captain and crew," he said. "Then I don't have to give my name."
Passengers were more likely to realise they were being flown by royalty before the 11 September attacks on the US in 2001 as the cockpit door was unlocked. But there was now less contact with the cabin, he said.
The Dutch king's appetite for flying was apparently encouraged by his mother, Beatrix, who abdicated as queen in 2013. And he is on a long list of royal pilots:
In his interview, King Willem-Alexander appeared enthusiastic about his future prospects as a co-pilot.
"It also seemed nice to fly to other destinations one day, with more passengers and bigger distances. That was the real motive for training on the 737," he said.
The king explained that the most important thing for him was to have a hobby he could fully concentrate on and that flying was his biggest way of relaxing.
"You have a plane, passengers and crew and you are responsible for them. You can't take your problems with you off the ground. You can completely switch off for a while and focus on something else." | For 21 years, the king of the Netherlands has flown twice a month as co-pilot while his passengers were in the dark, he has told a Dutch newspaper. |
40054832 | The Ross County striker cut inside before rifling low into the net after six minutes and the hosts dominated the remainder of the first half.
New Zealand finally posed a threat after the break with substitute Kosta Barbarouses denied by the woodwork.
It was a deserved victory and a good workout for next week's crucial World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan.
Boyce jinked past his marker with a step-over and his left-foot strike whistled past a flat-footed Stefan Marinovic.
Northern Ireland should have added to their advantage but an improved All Whites side almost clinched a draw when Barbarouses curled his post onto the post.
The absence of Conor Washington and Jamie Ward gave Boyce and Josh Magennis a chance to shine in attack and they impressed in their 45 minutes together.
All eyes were on Boyce after top scoring in the Scottish Premiership last season and he linked up with Magennis for the only goal.
They complemented each other to form a promising partnership which gives boss Michael O'Neill a selection headache for the Baku qualifier.
Azerbaijan will provide a tougher test and O'Neill may pack the midfield with just one up top.
Tom Flanagan had a solid debut in defence although his mistake let in Barbarouses for New Zealand's best opportunity.
There was also a first appearance for forward Shay McCartan as he replaced Magennis with seven minutes left.
The big forward squandered a few openings but he was a constant menace to the visitors and showed he is much more than a physical force.
Two early efforts were saved while tireless running saw him dispossess Tommy Smith before his angled drive was blocked by Marinovic.
Media playback is not supported on this device
His pinpoint cross was poked wide by substitute Kyle Lafferty early in the second half before he headed just wide.
Magennis has just one goal in 28 appearances but he offers so much to the team and is expected to lead the line against Azerbaijan.
O'Neill is taking the squad for warm-weather training in Turkey to acclimatise for possible stifling conditions in next Saturday's Group C game.
The eight-day gap between the matches also gives defensive duo Gareth McAuley and Craig Carthcart time to regain full fitness.
Northern Ireland lie second, five points behind Germany but on course for the play-off spot.
Match ends, Northern Ireland 1, New Zealand 0.
Second Half ends, Northern Ireland 1, New Zealand 0.
Foul by Tom Flanagan (Northern Ireland).
Monty Patterson (New Zealand) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, New Zealand. Michael Boxall tries a through ball, but Chris Wood is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Oliver Norwood (Northern Ireland) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Shane Ferguson.
Attempt blocked. Shay McCartan (Northern Ireland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Andrew Durante (New Zealand) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Shay McCartan (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Andrew Durante (New Zealand).
Foul by Paul Paton (Northern Ireland).
Shane Smeltz (New Zealand) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Northern Ireland. Roy Carroll replaces Michael McGovern.
Substitution, Northern Ireland. Shay McCartan replaces Josh Magennis.
Offside, Northern Ireland. Paul Paton tries a through ball, but Aaron Hughes is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Paul Paton (Northern Ireland) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Oliver Norwood (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Michael Boxall (New Zealand).
Substitution, New Zealand. Shane Smeltz replaces Ryan Thomas.
Foul by Tom Flanagan (Northern Ireland).
Chris Wood (New Zealand) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Northern Ireland. Paul Paton replaces Stuart Dallas.
Foul by Oliver Norwood (Northern Ireland).
Ryan Thomas (New Zealand) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, New Zealand. Michael Boxall tries a through ball, but Chris Wood is caught offside.
Substitution, New Zealand. Deklan Wynne replaces Tom Doyle.
Aaron Hughes (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Kosta Barbarouses (New Zealand).
Kosta Barbarouses (New Zealand) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the left side of the box.
Offside, New Zealand. Bill Poni Tuiloma tries a through ball, but Tom Doyle is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Josh Magennis (Northern Ireland) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Shane Ferguson with a cross.
Tom Flanagan (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Kosta Barbarouses (New Zealand).
Shane Ferguson (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Michael Boxall (New Zealand).
Substitution, New Zealand. Kosta Barbarouses replaces Kip Colvey.
Substitution, New Zealand. Monty Patterson replaces Marco Rojas.
Offside, New Zealand. Bill Poni Tuiloma tries a through ball, but Chris Wood is caught offside.
Offside, Northern Ireland. Michael McGovern tries a through ball, but Josh Magennis is caught offside.
Offside, New Zealand. Andrew Durante tries a through ball, but Chris Wood is caught offside. | Liam Boyce scored his first Northern Ireland goal to secure a friendly win over New Zealand in Belfast. |
26061749 | A limited service was in place for the second evening rush hour of the strike, which began on Tuesday at 21:00 GMT.
The RMT and TSSA unions said they would take part in talks with management on Friday aimed at resolving the dispute.
The first of two planned strikes has ended, but services will not be back to normal until Friday morning London Underground (LU) said.
LU said up to 190 of 270 stations were open, but a full service could not resume immediately because of shift patterns.
Further industrial action is planned for Friday between 09:30 and 11:30 and 18:30 to 20:30, when the unions are asking members to leave ticket barriers open.
They are also urging members not to issue penalty fares.
LU's chief operating officer Phil Hufton said the company was "not obliged to pay employees in full if they refuse to carry out their full range of contractual duties".
Earlier Transport for London (TfL) said nine of the 11 lines were running and nearly 75% of stations were open, more than on Wednesday.
For a second day millions of commuters were affected, many to relying on buses instead of the Underground.
Ahead of Friday's planned talks, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson told BBC London 94.9, there was "wiggle room".
He apologised to people who had experienced disruption and repeated that he thought passengers would be safer and better protected with members of staff on concourses, instead of "behind plate glass".
The mayor said the unions had shown a "failure to engage" in talks, adding: "Rather than hurting hard-working Londoners and hard-pressed small businesses they should have been talking to TfL this week."
RMT leader Bob Crow said it was the first he had heard of "wiggle room", adding: "My negotiators have been told for the last five weeks there is none."
TSSA leader Manuel Cortes said it was time for the mayor to "get serious", saying 70% of the network was at a standstill.
He said: "We want no more stunts or PR baloney from Boris. We want serious and detailed talks on our genuine fears for the safety and security of passengers and staff under these far-reaching plans."
James, from Harrow, who supervises a small station, told BBC London 94.9 he was worried about his job and the safety implications of the changes.
By Tom EdwardsTransport correspondent, London
These Tube strikes have been brewing for years.
Different mayoral administrations have toyed with the idea of closing ticket offices before but only now, with advances in electronic ticketing like Oyster and the dawn of bank card payments, has London Underground (LU) felt confident enough to try to get rid of them.
LU think about 950 fewer staff will be needed (they have been hit by a reduction in their government grant and need to make big savings) and they want to redeploy staff from behind ticket offices onto gate lines. There's a side issue that 200 jobs could be created if the Tube runs for 24 hours.
LU's documents show some bigger stations will have more visible staff but outlying stations will have more employees on their own working to a supervisor in charge of six stations.
The unions have concerns about safety and they also feel the process of voluntary redundancies was started without their blessing.
Add to that poor industrial relations, the roots of which go back to 2010 when LU steamrollered through a reduction in ticket office opening hours, even after multiple strikes.
Read more from Tom Edwards
He said he was currently a supervisor at one station and had one other staff member with him. Under the changes, he would have to oversee five stations.
He said: "I don't want to strike. It's the first time I've ever been on strike.
"But there are incidents every day - someone who is blind, or someone who wants guidance. Very rarely do you have one person at a station."
Philip, from Croydon, works in a ticket office and said workers still had to handle lots of Oyster-related problems, including visitors from overseas wanting refunds before they return home.
TfL has said its proposed changes, which will lead to 960 job losses - but none compulsory - will modernise systems and save £50m a year.
The industrial action came as the government said it was considering plans to declare London Underground an essential service, akin to the police, in order to curb the threat of future strikes.
Thousands of Metropolitan Police civilian staff are planning to strike for two days in a row over a 1% wage rise. The action will coincide with the next planned 48-hour Tube strike.
You can follow any disruption on the BBC London travel Twitter feed @BBC Travel Alert or on the BBC London Travel Page. You can also get regular travel updates from the BBC London 94.9 travel team. | Londoners endured a second day of Tube disruption during a 48-hour strike over ticket office closures and job cuts. |
21834632 | He is Ghassan Hitto, a Damascus-born IT expert who spent decades in the US. He was elected at a meeting of coalition leaders in Istanbul in Turkey.
Mr Hitto's first task will be to form a government to oversee services in areas captured from government forces.
Meanwhile, the US and France denounced a Syrian airstrike on the Lebanese border as a "violation of sovereignty".
Reports from Lebanon say Syrian aircraft fired four rockets at the border between the two countries, near the Lebanese town of Arsal on Monday.
There were no casualties from the raid. Lebanese officials had earlier said it was not clear whether the rockets had landed inside Lebanese territory.
The US described the attack as a "significant escalation" of the conflict. France said the raid constituted "a new and serious violation of Lebanon's sovereignty".
In Monday's vote in Istanbul, Mr Hitto won with 35 out of 48 votes, in what coalition leaders described as a "transparent, democratic" election.
Government forces
Rebel groups
But some senior coalition leaders are reported to have withdrawn from the vote in protest over Mr Hitto's lack of military experience.
Last November, the 50-year-old moved from Texas to Turkey to help co-ordinate aid to rebel-held areas.
Earlier, the commander of the rebel Free Syrian Army said his group would work "under the umbrella" of any new government.
"Any institutions not following this government would be considered to be acting illegitimately and would be prosecuted," Gen Selim Idriss Idriss told AFP news agency.
Large swathes of northern Syria have been seized by rebels in recent months.
They are currently administered by a patchwork of local councils and armed groups who have been running some institutions, such as courts and prisons.
But reports say basic supplies such as electricity and water are limited.
Also on Monday, the US said it would not stand in the way of other countries arming Syrian rebels.
Last week France and the UK said they supported lifting the EU arms embargo on Syria to allow weapons to reach anti-government forces, citing guarantees from rebels that arms would not fall into the wrong hands.
However, other EU countries have expressed scepticism over any such move. The embargo is expected to be discussed at a meeting of EU foreign ministers later this week and a vote is due in May.
US Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters on Monday: "The United States does not stand in the way of other countries that made a decision to provide arms, whether it's France, or Britain or others."
But top US military commander Gen Martin Dempsey warned against acting too quickly.
"I don't think at this point I can see a military option that would create an understandable outcome. And until I do, it would be my advice to proceed cautiously," he told the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank.
Last week saw the second anniversary of the Syrian uprising against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad, which initially began as a wave of peaceful protests but which is now often described as a civil war.
An estimated 70,000 people have been killed and more than one million people have fled Syria since the uprising began. | Syria's opposition National Coalition has chosen a prime minister to head a government for rebel-held regions. |
39144700 | A bust is being unveiled of Patrick O'Connell at the Seville club's Estadio Benito VillamarÃn before the home game with Real Sociedad.
Among those attending will be his grandson Michael O'Connell from Leigh.
Patrick O'Connell, who died in poverty in London in 1959, is also credited with saving Barcelona in the 1930s.
The Patrick O'Connell Memorial Fund raised more than £10,000 for the project which has been backed by some of football's biggest names.
The fund previously raised money for a memorial on his unmarked pauper's grave in north London.
Fergus Dowd, one of the appeal's organisers said: "Patrick O'Connell had an incredible career. He was like Brian Clough with Nottingham Forest.
"He took Real Betis from Spain's second division, beating Real Madrid to the club's only championship in La Liga."
O'Connell, who was the first Irish player to captain Manchester United, also skippered Ireland to their first British Home Championship.
The former Belfast Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City player, nicknamed 'Don Patricio' in Spain, joined Barcelona after a four-year spell as coach of Real Betis where he masterminded its promotion from the second division before securing the title in 1935.
When Barcelona almost folded in the 1930s under pressure from General Franco's forces, O'Connell, their manager, helped organise a money-spinning tour to Mexico and the US which raised $12,000.
"He was in Ireland when the civil war broke out. He was told he didn't have to return but he came back," said Mr Dowd.
"One writer has said that in terms of Barcelona's history his name should be up there with Cruyff, Maradona and Messi."
O'Connell was inducted in the Catalan club's hall of fame in December 2015. | The former Manchester United and Ireland skipper who steered Real Betis to their only La Liga title will be honoured in Spain later. |
29594895 | Tear gas was fired and security forces were seen outside his house before he was detained, a BBC reporter says.
Mr Ravalomanana's previous attempts to return were blocked by Andry Rajoelina, who seized power in 2009.
Last year, the rivals agreed not to contest elections intended to end years of political unrest.
Former Finance Minister Hery Rajaonarimampianina - an ally of Mr Rajoelina - become president in January.
Before his arrest, Mr Ravalomanana told his supporters in the capital, Antananarivo: "I am here to support peace and democracy."
The BBC's Tim Healy in Antananarivo says security sources confirmed the arrest, which was reported on local news channels.
Mr Ravalomanana was ousted in 2009 following a military coup and two months of bloody protests that left more than 100 dead.
He fled to Swaziland before later moving to South Africa.
In 2010, he was sentenced in his absence to life imprisonment with hard labour over the deaths of 30 opposition protesters by his guards in February 2009.
Despite this, he made attempts to return home. In 2012, a plane taking him to Madagascar was turned back during the journey.
A spokesman for the South African department of international relations, Clayson Monyela, told news agency AFP he had no information on Mr Ravalomanana's return.
Madagascar has become more politically stable following the elections in late 2013 that saw Mr Rajaonarimampianina elected president.
The elections were a bid to end Madagascar's economic paralysis after the international community imposed sanctions following the coup.
The country was also allowed to rejoin the Southern African Development Community and African Union. | The former president of Madagascar, Marc Ravalomanana, has been arrested on his return to the country after five years in exile in South Africa. |
37067522 | Summer signing Ajose bundled home Athletic's opener just before half-time and netted the winner, also from close range, on 74 minutes, moments after Kieron Morris had fired Walsall level.
Walsall had the best of the opening half-hour but Charlton goalkeeper Declan Rudd made a superb double save on 29 minutes, foiling Simeon Jackson's point-blank strike and Morris' follow-up.
Back came Charlton as Ajose's classy 20-yard chip clipped the top of the bar.
The Addicks claimed a 42nd-minute lead as Ajose netted home from close range after Josh Magennis nodded down Ricky Holmes' inviting cross.
Walsall levelled on 72 minutes as Rudd allowed Morris' speculative 20-yard strike to find the bottom corner.
But the Addicks were back in front within two minutes as Magennis raced past James O'Connor and crossed for Ajose to poke home from a couple of yards.
Walsall almost levelled deep into stoppage time but Rudd pulled off a spectacular save to tip Jackson's volley onto the bar.
Report supplied by the Press Association.
Match ends, Walsall 1, Charlton Athletic 2.
Second Half ends, Walsall 1, Charlton Athletic 2.
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Chris Solly.
Simeon Jackson (Walsall) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the left side of the box.
Attempt missed. Florent Cuvelier (Walsall) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Foul by Isaiah Osbourne (Walsall).
Ademola Lookman (Charlton Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Amadou Bakayoko (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Patrick Bauer (Charlton Athletic).
Substitution, Charlton Athletic. Patrick Bauer replaces Nicky Ajose.
Substitution, Walsall. Erhun Oztumer replaces George Dobson.
Substitution, Charlton Athletic. Tareiq Holmes-Dennis replaces Ricky Holmes.
Joe Edwards (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ricky Holmes (Charlton Athletic).
Nicky Ajose (Charlton Athletic) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the right side of the box.
Attempt saved. Florent Cuvelier (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Declan Rudd.
Attempt saved. Amadou Bakayoko (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Substitution, Walsall. Florent Cuvelier replaces Franck Moussa.
Goal! Walsall 1, Charlton Athletic 2. Nicky Ajose (Charlton Athletic) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Josh Magennis.
Goal! Walsall 1, Charlton Athletic 1. Kieron Morris (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Franck Moussa.
Attempt missed. Josh Magennis (Charlton Athletic) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
James O'Connor (Walsall) is shown the yellow card.
Chris Solly (Charlton Athletic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Corner, Charlton Athletic. Conceded by Franck Moussa.
Attempt missed. Matt Preston (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Chris Solly.
Substitution, Walsall. Amadou Bakayoko replaces Andreas Makris.
Simeon Jackson (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ezri Konsa Ngoyo (Charlton Athletic).
Substitution, Charlton Athletic. Ademola Lookman replaces Johnnie Jackson.
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Jason Pearce.
Attempt missed. Andreas Makris (Walsall) header from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Johnnie Jackson.
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Johnnie Jackson.
Attempt missed. Josh Magennis (Charlton Athletic) header from the right side of the six yard box is too high.
Attempt missed. Johnnie Jackson (Charlton Athletic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Corner, Charlton Athletic. Conceded by Neil Etheridge.
Attempt saved. Chris Solly (Charlton Athletic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Second Half begins Walsall 0, Charlton Athletic 1. | Nicky Ajose scored twice to open his Charlton account as the Addicks ran out 2-1 winners in an entertaining affair at Walsall. |
40743648 | The man was taken to hospital with chest injuries after falling during a performance of the Windsor theme park's Pirates of Skeleton Bay show on Wednesday.
The Sun newspaper reported he had fallen several metres to the ground.
Legoland Windsor Resort said it was in touch with the man's family who said he was "recovering well".
South Central Ambulance Service confirmed it was called at 13:24 BST after a man in his 20s had fallen and suffered chest injuries.
Thames Valley air ambulance, an ambulance and an emergency response vehicle were sent to the attraction and the man was taken to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital.
An investigation is underway, a Legoland spokeswoman said. | A stunt show at Legoland has been shut down after a performer was injured in front of watching crowds. |
34285007 | Lyn has directed programmes including Doctor Who, Happy Valley and Broadchurch.
The award is presented to someone who has made a significant contribution to international feature films or network television.
The announcement was made on Thursday at a party to celebrate the nominees for this year's Bafta Cymru Awards.
Dylan Thomas biopic Set Fire to the Stars has received seven nominations.
Meanwhile, Doctor Who's Peter Capaldi is in the running for best actor - up against Hinterland's Richard Harrington and Rhys Ifans for his role in Dan y Wenallt - the Welsh language film of Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood.
The ceremony will take place at St David's Hall in Cardiff on 27 September, hosted by BBC Radio 1 and Radio Cymru presenter Huw Stephens. | The director Euros Lyn will receive the Siân Phillips Award at this year's Bafta Cymru Awards ceremony. |
36582178 | The British number three converted two of his seven break points - one in each set - to set up a second-round tie with Russian world number 32 Alexandr Dolgopolov.
Edmund's compatriot James Ward, the world number 177, lost 6-1 3-6 6-4 to Tunisia's Malek Jaziri.
Canadian Frank Dancevic beat Briton Alexander Ward 7-6 (7-3) 6-7 (3-7) 6-2.
Australia-born Briton Brydan Klein was beaten 7-5 6-4 by France's Stephane Robert.
On Sunday, British number four Dan Evans beat compatriot Liam Broady. He will play Lithuania's Ricardas Berankis in the second round. | Kyle Edmund reached the second round of the Nottingham Open with a 6-4 6-3 win over Czech Lukas Rosol. |
36091526 | This relative fame, achieved off the back of one song uploaded to the internet, came far quicker than members of Pretty Vicious could have imagined.
So much so, they turned down a slot supporting rock heavyweights Muse because it would have been their fifth gig and they did not think they were ready.
A year on, there is a feeling this adulation came almost before they achieved anything and now they must earn it.
At an industrial unit on the outskirts of Merthyr Tydfil, the band are working on their first album - that is still more than six months away.
Yet, it was not long ago that singer and guitarist Brad Griffiths was running round his living room "singing Queen, 'Phonics and ACDC songs with a Hoover".
"I wanted to be a rock star and I knew I'd do it since I was 13 because if I'm not into it, I won't stick to it," said the 17-year-old.
It was in March 2014 that the band started to form around him at The Lido - a field where local teenagers go to "camp and drink flagons around a fire".
Brad discussed with Tom McCarthy, now 17 (guitar) and Elliot Jones, 16 (drums) about leaving the bands they were involved with and playing together.
"I wanted to be in involved too and they said if I got a bass by Friday, I was in," said Jarvis Morgan, 18.
"So I bought a guitar and amp off Gumtree for £65 and met a guy at the train station to buy it.
"I even got him to give me a lift home - which probably wasn't the wisest thing for a teenager to do."
While they gelled musically, they described their first performances - two at the Redhouse in Merthyr and one at an art exhibition above a Brynmawr paint shop in Blaenau Gwent - as dire.
At the time, they only had two songs - Cave Song and Black Sheep, about the pessimism that exists in their hometown and the desire to break free and achieve something.
It was when they uploaded the first to internet site Soundcloud that views kept rising; DJs such as Huw Stephens and Zane Lowe championed their cause and record labels began watching them rehearse.
"That was when we turned down the tour with Muse. It would have been our fifth gig - we didn't have enough songs and weren't ready," explained Tom.
"Instead, we did a gig at Blackwood Miners' Institute in front of 50 people."
This was the time "the world went crazy", according to Elliot's dad Bryn Phillips, who co-manages the band with Tom's father Mark McCarthy.
"Every record label was after the boys, including a Chinese one willing to pay double what everyone else offers," he said.
"In the end, we negotiated with Virgin, with a couple of precedents that nobody had had before."
The band members quit their jobs in a call centre and gym reception, while Jarvis dropped out of college and Elliot took a GCSE exam in the morning, before supporting Manic Street Preachers during their June 2015 Cardiff Castle gig.
During that summer, they played every major UK festival, including headlining the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury.
Supporting roles for The Vaccines, Noel Gallagher and Wolf Alice followed, while they were flown out to play at Club Quattro in Tokyo.
"It was crazy, Japanese people were waiting for us off the plane with picture collages and asking us to sign autographs," said Brad.
"They were singing our songs and there were Welsh flags at the gig."
In an eventful period, they were also caught up in the November 2015 Paris terrorist attacks, when they were performing at a venue close to the Bataclan Theatre where 89 people died.
The band is now working with Owen Morris, who helped produce Oasis' Definitely Maybe and What's the Story (Morning Glory), with their managers keeping a watchful eye.
Mr Phillips worked as a maths teacher, while Mr McCarthy was part of 1980s band Blue Rondo a La Turk, before he quit the industry to become an engineer.
After hearing their sons practicing and recognising their talent, they decided to become closely involved and now drive them to all their gigs.
They also ensure the boys keep to a daily routine - which includes practising for four hours each day.
"When they started gigging, they would come off the stage and say 'Where are we going out to now?'" said Mr McCarthy.
"We also had an incident in Glasgow, when we had a call at 3.30am to say they couldn't find Tom.
"But now they realise it's hard work and when they are on the road, travelling, they don't go out. If they have a day off, there are no issues."
The band are all still teenagers and with their first album not due out until December, their careers have yet to get going in some ways.
In others, they appear seasoned professionals, with the maturity and knowledge that comes with it.
"I've tried [going out partying before gigs] but I can't sing," said Brad.
"But we still go out when we are home. We don't want people to be different around us as I have known all the boys from school since I was five.
"I've got a bit of money now though, so I don't drink flagons any more - I think I'd be violently ill." | They played every major UK festival in 2015, had fans greeting them off the plane in Japan and a string of record labels clamouring for their signature. |
36881186 | Residents at Bryn Bras, Llanfairpwll, said the birds are noisy early in the morning, and that they pose a danger to small children as they swoop down.
The birds have been nesting at the estate for about two years.
Anglesey council said it had received complaints about the gulls - but its hands were tied as the birds are protected.
Some residents said they were afraid to take their dogs for a walk or eat in their gardens.
Janet Roberts said: "They're around the house about five o'clock in the morning waking everyone up.
"There is bird poo everywhere on the house walls and I have tried to get rid of it."
The council said it was a criminal offence to intentionally kill or harm any seagull, or to destroy a nest, and, therefore, the council was not able to provide any service to get rid of them. | People living on Anglesey have said they are "at the end of their tether" due to seagulls. |
20683378 | Mr Finucane's death was one of the most controversial killings during the Troubles - the decades of conflict in Northern Ireland that claimed the lives of more than 3,000 people.
Pat Finucane was a high-profile solicitor who lived and worked in Belfast. The 39-year-old Catholic was shot dead by loyalist paramilitaries in 1989.
In his role as a defence solicitor, he had represented clients who included convicted members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and families involved in shoot-to-kill allegations against the then police force, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).
There have been long-standing allegations that members of the UK security forces colluded in his murder.
Pat Finucane was shot in front of his wife and three children at their family home in north Belfast on 12 February 1989.
The family were eating a Sunday meal at their kitchen table when loyalist paramilitaries used a sledgehammer to break into their house.
They opened fire, shooting the solicitor 14 times. He died at the scene.
Mr Finucane's now adult son, Michael, later wrote that the image of the attack had been "seared" into his mind. "The thing I remember most vividly is the noise; the reports of each bullet reverberating in the kitchen, how my grip on my younger brother and sister tightened with every shot," he recalled.
The Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), a loyalist paramilitary group with links to the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), later admitted carrying out the murder.
The UFF claimed they had killed "Pat Finucane, the IRA officer".
The solicitor's family have always vehemently rejected any claim that Mr Finucane had been a member of the IRA, and have been supported in this by the police.
In the course of his work, Pat Finucane had represented a number of high-profile IRA prisoners, some of whom had taken part in hunger strikes at the Maze Prison.
The year before he died he had defended former IRA hunger striker Pat McGeown, who had been charged with helping to organise the murder of two Army corporals who drove into an IRA funeral cortege in west Belfast.
The mourners dragged the corporals from their car and took them to waste ground where they were shot dead by IRA gunmen.
The abduction was captured on TV and remains among the most disturbing images of the Troubles.
Mr Finucane succeeded in getting the charges against his client dropped, but it is claimed a double agent passed a photograph of the solicitor, taken outside the court, to the UFF gunman who carried out his murder.
The double agent was Brian Nelson, who compiled information on potential targets for the UFF, while at the same time working for British Army intelligence.
In June 1999, a former UDA quartermaster and ex-RUC Special Branch agent, William Stobie, was charged with murdering Mr Finucane.
Stobie admitted supplying the guns used in the killing but denied murder.
Just over two years later, the case against him collapsed due to the refusal of a key witness to give evidence.
Stobie walked free from court but within weeks had been shot dead outside his own home by loyalist gunmen.
In May 2003, the loyalist Ken Barrett was arrested and charged with the murder of Mr Finucane.
Barrett later confessed in court to killing Mr Finucane and was sentenced to 22 years' imprisonment in September 2004.
The de Silva report of 2012 was not a new inquiry but rather a review of all the existing documentation on the Finucane murder.
The Finucane family have campaigned for a full public inquiry into the murder for many years and have repeatedly insisted that they will not accept anything less.
The Finucanes believe that a public inquiry, where the veracity of documents and witnesses can be tested under cross-examination, is the best way of getting to the truth about the extent of security force collusion and exactly who knew what. | The family of the murdered Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane have lost a legal challenge against Prime Minister David Cameron over his refusal to hold a public inquiry into the case. |
38217657 | Wednesday led against the run of play courtesy of Angus MacDonald's own goal towards the end of the first half.
Barnsley rallied after the break as chances for Tom Bradshaw and Stefan Payne were saved by Keiren Westwood.
But Sam Hutchinson's half-volley inside the area doubled the hosts' lead before Barnsley's Adam Hammill was sent off.
Confusion followed the Barnsley midfielder's dismissal, following a challenge on Hutchinson, when referee Peter Bankes initially appeared to show Hutchison the red card.
After the protests on the touchline, Tykes manager Paul Heckingbottom was sent to the stands while Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal was given a warning.
A second successive home win for Wednesday takes them to sixth and above Birmingham on goal difference, while Barnsley drop to 11th following their back-to-back victories.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Carlos Carvalhal:
"I think we prepared very well. I'm happy my team understands the moments of the game very well.
"I saw my team try to press up, try to play fast attack, sometimes all the players back together, not taking one goal when we were winning 1-0 and try to get the second.
"And I saw my team after the second goal and when Barnsley had 10 players press high and moving the ball until the game finished. These kind of things I like in my team."
Barnsley head coach Paul Heckingbottom:
"You get what you deserve and Wednesday won 2-0, they deserved to win because they took their chances.
"My frustration is I saw the ref give Sam Hutchinson a red card, and then I knew Adam had been sent off, but it wasn't until I got upstairs that I realised Wednesday had 11 men. I know I saw him give him a red card.
"I think me and Bully will end up suffering for mismanagement. When you turn around after an incident and there's four or five of their staff in your technical area and the fourth official trying to get them out it's only going to end one way."
Match ends, Sheffield Wednesday 2, Barnsley 0.
Second Half ends, Sheffield Wednesday 2, Barnsley 0.
Foul by Atdhe Nuhiu (Sheffield Wednesday).
Josh Scowen (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Conor Hourihane (Barnsley) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Stefan Payne.
Offside, Sheffield Wednesday. Kieran Lee tries a through ball, but Adam Reach is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Atdhe Nuhiu (Sheffield Wednesday) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Ross Wallace with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Atdhe Nuhiu (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Daniel Pudil.
Ross Wallace (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Andy Yiadom (Barnsley).
Foul by Atdhe Nuhiu (Sheffield Wednesday).
Sam Winnall (Barnsley) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Atdhe Nuhiu (Sheffield Wednesday).
Marc Roberts (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Adam Hammill (Barnsley) is shown the red card.
Sam Hutchinson (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Adam Hammill (Barnsley).
Foul by Atdhe Nuhiu (Sheffield Wednesday).
Marc Roberts (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal! Sheffield Wednesday 2, Barnsley 0. Sam Hutchinson (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner following a corner.
Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Angus MacDonald.
Atdhe Nuhiu (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Marc Roberts (Barnsley).
Substitution, Barnsley. Saidy Janko replaces Ryan Kent.
Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Atdhe Nuhiu replaces Steven Fletcher.
Offside, Barnsley. Andy Yiadom tries a through ball, but Stefan Payne is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Adam Reach (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Kieran Lee.
Kieran Lee (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Josh Scowen (Barnsley).
Attempt saved. Stefan Payne (Barnsley) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Adam Hammill.
Attempt missed. Ryan Kent (Barnsley) right footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by James Bree with a cross.
Sam Hutchinson (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Stefan Payne (Barnsley).
Substitution, Barnsley. Stefan Payne replaces Tom Bradshaw.
Substitution, Barnsley. Adam Hammill replaces Sam Morsy.
Attempt missed. Tom Lees (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from very close range is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Ross Wallace with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Tom Bradshaw.
Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. David Jones replaces Barry Bannan.
Steven Fletcher (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Marc Roberts (Barnsley). | Sheffield Wednesday moved inside the play-off places as they beat Barnsley courtesy of goals in each half in the South Yorkshire derby at Hillsborough. |
34245204 | The musicians were returning home after performing at a Cornish wedding when the M5 was brought to a standstill by a horse on the road near Tiverton, Devon.
Violinist Emma Waller, from Portishead, said it was an "impulse decision" to play Johann Pachelbel's Canon.
Helen Delingpole, from the Rhondda Valley, Wales, who captured the moment on her phone, said it was "fantastic".
Ms Delingpole was heading home on Saturday after spending a week in Devon and said the music had "really cheered everyone up".
"It was fantastic - I'm so glad I filmed it because I wanted the musicians to see it, they're stars," she said.
The quartet, comprising of violinists Emma Waller and Lu Jeffrey, from Portishead, cellist Alison Gillies, from Bristol, and viola player Craig Pecherek, from Gloucester, said they have been astounded by the reaction.
Ms Waller, who has performed for the Welsh National Opera orchestra, said: "It's a little bit crazy, we only did it as a bit of fun to entertain people and certainly not for publicity or self-promotion.
"We knew there hadn't been a serious accident because there was an animals on the road warning sign flashing and we could see the end of the traffic queue, so we thought, why not?
"Everyone looked bored so we joked 'shall we play something' - it was a bit of an impulse decision." | Drivers stuck in a motorway traffic jam were treated to an impromptu "concert" by a string quartet. |
30905394 | The 55-year-old fell to the ground as he was attempting to flee the snowball attack near Stainton Way in Middlesbrough at 17:30 GMT on Sunday.
Cleveland Police said one of the group punched the man in the face as he tried to stand up.
Officers said it was an unprovoked attack by a group of 12 people in their mid and late teens. | A man was left with facial injuries after being attacked by 12 people throwing snowballs. |
31555801 | The annual event, which takes place on the Llyn Peninsula in Gwynedd, has been running for 14 years.
But event director Stuart Galbraith said now was a "good time to take a year off and work on the festival's development for future years".
He added: "We have already started work on 2016 and look forward to coming back after our rest."
The event combines the sport of wakeboarding with the music festival, and has continued to grow in size since the first small event near Abersoch in 2000. | North Wales music festival Wakestock will not take place in 2015, organisers have said. |
40436972 | They might been further bolstered by comments after Prime Minister's Questions, if they had been watching the news this afternoon, when Number 10's spokesman suggested that although it was important still to balance the books, the government understands people are "weary" after years of the limit.
And, in line with Michael Fallon and Chris Grayling's comments, the government is ready to listen to the case to "scrap the cap" - bringing a potential end to the policy that was designed to save £5bn for the public purse by 2020.
By teatime however, after the Treasury had slightly less enthusiastically said they were "open to discussion", that nurse, social worker, teacher or doctor had slightly less cause for feeling optimistic about a bigger pay rise any time soon.
Number 10 had perhaps not changed, but certainly tweaked, their tune - saying when asked repeatedly that the policy has not changed, the independent pay review bodies will report in due course and the government will consider their proposals.
So far, so confusing. Neither Number 10 nor the Treasury, who it's suggested were not entirely thrilled with the suggestion, are ready by the end of this political day to be able to make such a big change, or to give Labour such a big victory.
The problem for them however is not just what appears to be a changing mood among some voters, but also very public hints by cabinet members that the cap, becoming painful for some as inflation starts to lift, could disappear along with Theresa May's majority. | Nurse, social worker, teacher, doctor - pretty much any public sector worker in England, Wales and Northern Ireland would have been justified in feeling a bit more chipper this morning, had they had time to listen to comments from the defence secretary or the transport secretary, both hinting that the limit on their pay rises might be about to come to an end. |
38662090 | The reality TV star and her half-sister Kendall Jenner will make cameo appearances in the film.
It will be the fourth movie in the Ocean's franchise in 17 years - confusingly coming after Ocean's Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen.
Kardashian and Jenner were photographed in New York on Monday after reportedly filming their cameos.
The pair will apparently appear in scenes set at a fictional gala being held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
One scene in the film features a jewel robbery at New York's annual Met Gala - an event packed with celebrities.
The news comes three months after Kardashian was held at gunpoint during a robbery in Paris.
She took a break from social media and public appearances as a result but has recently returned to Twitter and visited Dubai last week.
Rihanna, Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway are due to take some of the main roles in Ocean's Eight.
Vogue editor Anna Wintour and fashion designer Zac Posen have also recently been spotted near the set - could they be making cameos in the same scenes?
We'll find out when the film hits cinemas in June 2018.
The original Ocean's 11 was released in 1960 and starred Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin - and was remade as Ocean's Eleven in 2001 with Brad Pitt and George Clooney.
Unlike Ocean's Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen, the new film won't have major roles for Pitt and Clooney.
Matt Damon will reprise his role for a brief appearance, and James Corden and Damian Lewis will also have cameos.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]. | The upcoming all-female Ocean's Eight film has just added a new cast member - Kim Kardashian. |
36567873 | In a letter dated 17 June to both Fufa and the Ugandan government, Fifa warned of possible sanctions if the FA registers under the government's "Trustees Incorporation Act."
It comes after Uganda's government gave all Uganda's sporting Federations a deadline of June 30th to register.
But the Uganda FA has refused to abide by the order which came through Uganda's National Council of Sports (NCS), insisting that by doing so, it will go against Fifa rules.
Fifa have now responded with a warning to the government.
"Fifa points to the bold fact that any form of forced incorporation of Fufa under the Trustees Incorporation Act would be considered as interference in contravention to the Fifa Statutes" stated the letter which was signed by Fifa's Deputy Secretary General (Administration), Marco Villige.
The letter also highlighted the consequences of government interference in Fufa matters which it states "would consequently be brought to the attention of the relevant Fifa bodies to take appropriate measures against Fufa, including sanctions."
The Uganda FA President, Moses Magogo said although they remain a law abiding body in their country, they do not want to sign a document which will contravene with the statute of football's world body.
"Let the government accept to meet the Fifa people and discuss the way forward," Magogo told the BBC.
Any possible sanctions, which could involve a world ban, would hurt the Cranes who are on the brink of qualification for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. A victory over Comoros in September will take them to the finals in Gabon.
They are also the only nation in the Cecafa region still involved in the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers. | Fifa warned the Ugandan government against forcing the country's Football Association (Fufa) to register as a trustee, which Fifa says would be "considered as interference." |
33988967 | The letter, signed by 26 business figures, said they were "disappointed" Sir Howard Davies's report recommended that Heathrow was expanded.
In July, the commission said a third runway at the west London airport would make the most money for the economy.
Heathrow said more than 270 business figures publically supported its plans.
The business leaders who signed the letter sent to the prime minister included 15 chamber of commerce presidents, the chairman of the Gatwick Diamond Imitative and regional representative of the Federation of Small Businesses in East Sussex.
They claim "flaws" in the commission's report include an under estimation of the number of passengers that would use Gatwick by 2024 and a lack of acknowledgement of how many business travellers use the airport.
The letter also argues that a second runway at Gatwick can be delivered at "lower cost and risk" than expansion at Heathrow.
"We will continue to press for you and your government to ultimately choose Gatwick, as we believe it to be the right choice for the country and for the region," it states.
A spokesman for Heathrow said business leaders from across the UK were firmly behind their plans for a third runway and wrote to the prime minister in July urging him to implement the commission's recommendation.
"The Airports Commission undertook a £20m, two-and-a-half year, detailed study of where the next runway should be in the UK," he added.
"It unanimously and unambiguously chose Heathrow because it is the only option that will connect the whole UK to global growth."
The final decision on which airport will get the new runway will be made by the government by the end of the year. | Business leaders in Sussex have written to David Cameron urging him to back a new runway at Gatwick, despite the recent Airports Commission's decision. |
40920037 | Alexander Palmer, 23, is accused of repeatedly stabbing 83-year-old Peter Wrighton in the neck and head.
Mr Wrighton, from Banham, Norfolk, was found in woodland near the village of East Harling on 5 August.
Mr Palmer, of Dereham Road, Bawdeswell, was remanded by Norwich magistrates to appear before the city's crown court on Tuesday.
Mr Wrighton's body was found near the Fiveways Junction, three miles south of East Harling.
The retired BT engineer, from Banham, had been walking his dogs Gemma and Dylan when he was attacked. | A man charged with the murder of a grandfather who was attacked as he walked his dogs has appeared in court. |
37651100 | Media playback is not supported on this device
The 30-year-old won heptathlon gold at London 2012 and added a silver medal at the Rio Olympics.
Ennis-Hill also won the World Championships in 2009 and again in 2015, just 13 months after the birth of her first child, Reggie.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Cram told the BBC: "She fully deserves to be called an all-time great."
And former Olympic relay gold medallist Darren Campbell called her achievements "mind-blowing".
Ennis-Hill's heptathlon gold was one of the the iconic moments at London 2012 and occurred on 'Super Saturday', when British trio Ennis-Hill, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah all won gold with 44 minutes.
The Sheffield athlete announced her retirement on social media on Thursday, writing: "Retiring now is right. I've always said I wanted to leave on a high and have no regrets and I can truly say that."
Former Olympic gold medallist Campbell told Radio 5 live: "It's a sad day but it's also a day where we should celebrate what a phenomenal athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill was. She gave so much to sport, achieved so much, had so many inspirational moments throughout her career.
"She is a normal girl, but she has achieved things that are exceptional and mind-blowing. It is only when you sit back and reflect that you realise how mind-blowing they are."
Media playback is not supported on this device
Media playback is not supported on this device | The newly retired Jessica Ennis-Hill is one of Britain's greatest athletes, says former world 1500m champion Steve Cram. |
39206863 | Neighbours told her trial they found Stephen Rayner, 25, collapsed in a pool of blood outside the flat the couple shared in Acton, west London, in September last year.
They described hearing "hysterical screams" moments earlier.
Jewellery designer Elizabeth "Lizzie" Hart-Browne, 27, denies murder.
David Winkworth told the Old Bailey he went outside to investigate after hearing the screams.
He told the jury he saw Mr Rayner's legs sticking out on the ground, then noticed Ms Hart-Browne sitting alone on her doorstep repeating "what have I done, what have I done".
Another neighbour, Katie Harrington, described trying to save Mr Rayner's life before paramedics arrived.
She said: "I heard some noise coming from the car park area. I couldn't hear exactly what was said, what was happening.
"A couple of moments later, I heard a female voice that was very distressed saying 'he's been stabbed, he's dead'.
"I put my shoes on and went outside. There was a man on the floor with a large pool of blood and there was a young lady who was leaning over looking and holding his neck.
"I ran inside and got some towels then I went back out there and tried to feel for a pulse."
Ms Harrington said she asked the "hysterical" woman to move away so she could roll him on his side as the ambulance operator gave instructions over the phone.
The court has heard that Ms Hart-Browne says she killed her boyfriend in self-defence during a violent attack by him.
The trial continues. | A mother of two accused of murdering her boyfriend wailed "what have I done, what have I done" after stabbing him in the neck, a jury has heard. |
37193602 | Stormont's Finance Committee wrote to Mr Ó Muilleoir this week asking him to step down during an investigation.
The move followed allegations its former Sinn Féin chairman coached a blogger who was set to give evidence.
Daithí McKay resigned as a Sinn Féin MLA over the scandal. Mr Ó Muilleoir denies knowledge of the communication.
Mrs Foster told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme: "It would be to the benefit of the institutions if he had stepped aside even temporarily."
Analysis: BBC News NI Political Editor Mark Devenport
Arlene Foster's first comments on the Daithí McKay affair were intended to send out a few different messages:
That said, she also acknowledged Máirtín Ó Muilleoir's future was a matter for Sinn Féin, and since the party was backing its minister, that's probably an end to the matter.
Although she made it clear she does not trust Sinn Féin, Mrs Foster clearly is not contemplating any wider action which would disrupt the stability of the DUP and Sinn Féin dominated coalition at Stormont.
But she added: "Sinn Fein have decided he is to remain in place and at the end of the day it is their call."
Last September, loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson used a meeting of the committee to name former First Minister Peter Robinson as "Person A" - whom he said had personally benefitted from the £1.2bn sale of Nama's Northern Ireland property portfolio.
The then first minister of Northern Ireland strongly denied he had sought to benefit in any way from the deal.
Mrs Foster said direct Twitter messages between Jamie Bryson, Daithí McKay and Sinn Fein member Thomas O'Hara were a "disgraceful attempt to impugn and discredit" her former colleague.
Nama is the Republic of Ireland's "bad bank", set up to deal with toxic loans after the 2008 property crash.
The finance committee started investigating the 2014 sale to a US investment firm following an allegation made in the Dáil (Irish parliament) that a politician or political party in Northern Ireland stood to profit from the loan sale. | First Minister Arlene Foster has said Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir should have stepped aside while the Nama coaching scandal was investigated. |
32905067 | This is the one Nigerian president who will assume office on Friday with unprecedented goodwill across the country - even from people who did not vote for him in the presidential election held two months ago.
His pre-election albatross of being a stern disciplinarian during his first time as as military head of state in 1983 has suddenly transformed to a quality which Nigerians are yearning for in the face of the excruciating pains of mass poverty and social insecurity pervading the land.
With his inauguration, he will have achieved his long-cherished dream of becoming a democratically elected leader - having made history as the first opposition candidate to win a presidential election in Nigeria.
But he will need prayers to have the courage and wisdom to confront the huge tasks he will inherit immediately after he is sworn in.
Muhammadu Buhari profile
President Buhari's to-do list is indeed a long one.
Earlier this month, his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, said that 110 million out of Nigeria's population of 170 million were living in "extreme poverty" while the largest chunk of the nation's wealth was going into the pockets of a small percentage of the population.
This situation has been brought about by the mindless corruption of the past six years, mainly fuelled by a cabal in the oil and gas industry.
When I walk through the streets of the commercial capital, Lagos, in the morning I pass endless groups of young men and women idling in front of houses and shops, most of them without any idea of when or if breakfast will come and what to do with themselves for the day.
They easily snap and lurch at one another in senseless fights.
You dare not try to make peace if you are not of their neighbourhood. Otherwise, they transfer the aggression to you.
Teenage prostitution and pregnancy are commonplace because the young have nothing else to do and also because the girls easily fall prey to the lure of a decent meal and gifts by men old enough to be their grandfathers.
Sola Odunfa:
"Was he not the same man who 32 years ago corralled scores of corrupt politicians into prison and forced Nigerians to imbibe the queue culture in public places, Nigerians ask?"
Naturally, the crime rate is very high.
All these are the first born of, again, corruption in high places.
Of the 110 million Nigerians suffering extreme poverty, many are young college graduates of the past seven years but who have no hope of gaining employment.
Several thousands more will join them when new sets graduate in a few months' time.
In the mainly Muslim north, many of the unemployed end up in the ranks of militant Islamist group Boko Haram which has been behind the six-year insurgency in the north-east.
Factories and other businesses are closing down at a rate which the government Office of Statistics cannot publish.
Social services hardly exist anymore in my country.
Public hospitals are short of everything - beds, drugs, nurses and doctors.
I have not had electric power in my residence in the past 10 days, like everyone else in my lucky economic situation I rely on a power generator - and I pay through the nose to fuel it.
Talking of fuel, transportation has been crippled in this Opec-member country this month because of a recent row between the government and petroleum importers over fuel subsidies.
The fuel business in Nigeria is a huge scam in which importers demand payment for cargoes which the government is convinced are never delivered - and the amount they are talking about is millions of US dollars.
Where does Mr Buhari begin to tackle Nigeria's problems?
Unfortunately my country people believe that he has the magic wand to command instant solutions and give us a better life within a few months.
He has had to come out to appeal for patience and confess that he does not have such magical powers.
Was he not the same man who 32 years ago corralled scores of corrupt politicians into prison and forced Nigerians to imbibe the queue culture in public places, Nigerians ask?
They want him to do it again - but without the horse whip. | In our series of letters from African journalists, Sola Odunfa looks at the challenges ahead for Nigeria's incoming President Muhammadu Buhari. |
37286731 | Darren Stephenson-Bennett, from Newton Aycliffe, crashed on a roundabout at the junction of the A68 and A1(M) near Darlington, County Durham.
The 28-year-old was last seen at a party on Saturday 27 August and was found dead by police seven days later after a phone call from the public.
He was confirmed dead at the scene but police say they are not sure when the crash happened.
It is thought Mr Stephenson-Bennett failed to negotiate the roundabout and went through a chevron board before hitting some trees, police said.
Insp Ed Turner said: "It's inevitable those questions will be asked of the police as to why we haven't found him before this time.
"There was a comprehensive missing from home investigation undertaken by Durham Constabulary. We didn't locate him.
"He went missing on the Saturday and wasn't reported missing until the Tuesday so we had a bit of catch up to play with."
In a statement, Mr Stephenson-Bennett's family said: "Darren was a much-loved husband, father, son and brother who was devoted to his family and his daughters.
"Darren was a popular person who would do anything for anybody.
"He was well-liked by all who knew him, extremely laid back and easy going, and no-one had a bad word to say about him." | A driver found dead in a car in bushes had been missing for up to a week. |
40893536 | Speaking to reporters in New Jersey, he said he wanted to thank the Russian leader for saving the US money.
Several US investigations are looking into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, which allegedly meddled in the 2016 election.
Mr Trump has rejected the inquiries as a "witch hunt".
At the end of July, President Putin said 755 staff would have to leave US diplomatic missions in Russia, in retaliation for new US sanctions against Moscow.
Many employees are believed to be "local hires", meaning it is likely far less than 755 people will actually have to leave the country.
He said they had to leave by 1 September, bringing staff levels to 455, the same as Russia's complement in Washington.
Staff in the embassy in Moscow as well as the consulates in Ekaterinburg, Vladivostok and St Petersburg were affected.
At the time, the US State Department said the move was a "regrettable and uncalled for act".
But Mr Trump thanked Mr Putin for reducing the US government's "payroll".
"I want to thank him because we're trying to cut down our payroll and as far as I'm concerned I'm very thankful that he let go of a large number of people," he said.
Also on Thursday, President Trump said he was "very surprised" by raids on the Virginia home of his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort by federal agents on 26 July.
Special counsel Robert Mueller, who is heading up the main investigation into Russian election interference, left Mr Manafort's Alexandria home with "various records", the Washington Post reported on Wednesday.
The president, who is on a working holiday at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, also told reporters he had not thought about the possibility of firing Mr Mueller, who was appointed as special counsel in May following Mr Trump's sacking of then FBI Director James Comey. | US President Donald Trump has thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for ordering the departure of 755 staff from US diplomatic missions. |
39208798 | He smiled as he held the red box aloft in Downing Street, knowing that inside his Budget speech painted a better picture of the public finances than had been previously predicted.
In the House of Commons, his first sentence from the despatch box described an economy that had "confounded commentators" with its "robust growth".
But despite the chancellor's confident demeanour through a speech littered with jokes and jibes at Labour, this was a Budget steeped in caution.
Borrowing figures were better than expected, but the UK still has a hefty deficit, so true to his nickname "spreadsheet Phil" wasn't prepared to splash the cash.
He brushed off the suggestion that lower borrowing made the case for more spending and spoke of the need for responsibility.
He might have relaxed the rules set by his predecessor around eliminating the deficit, but Mr Hammond made the case for balancing the books and placing the economy on a "strong and stable" platform ahead of Brexit.
The UK's impending departure from the EU was barely mentioned, but undoubtedly shaped this Budget.
With Brexit negotiations approaching, the chancellor was keen to keep any financial flexibility to one side in preparation for the uncertainty ahead.
Giveaways were followed by takeaways; measures to help businesses facing hefty rate rises preceded a rise in National Insurance contributions for the self-employed.
There were echoes of George Osborne when the chancellor spoke of the need for a strong economy in order to improve the lot of ordinary working people, as the prime minister has long promised.
But while his speech was heavy on rhetoric, it wasn't packed full of announcements compared to budgets of the past.
Mr Hammond's self-imposed economic restraint was designed to reassure, but Labour called it complacent, criticising the lack of investment in key public services or measures to raise living standards.
And while the government wants to portray confidence about the Brexit process, the chancellor's caution shows he's not entirely convinced there won't be some bumps in the road. | For his first and last spring Budget, Philip Hammond did seem to have a spring in his step. |
35235705 | The teenager was grabbed from behind by a man on a footpath between Mainway East and Wince Close in Middleton at about 16:45 GMT on 10 or 17 December.
Greater Manchester Police said the girl did not initially report the attack but told officers about it on Sunday.
She described the man as white, in his 20s or 30s, and with "teeth behind his teeth, as if it was a second row".
The "medium build" attacker was also said to have a local accent and lips that looked like they had a rash around them.
He was wearing a black polo shirt, black jeans or tracksuit bottoms and black trainers, a force spokesman said.
Det Insp Damian Simpson said it had taken the girl "some time to speak out but thankfully now she has come forward, we can give her specialist support for what is clearly a very disturbing incident.
"These offences are very rare and we will have extra officers patrolling the area over the coming days, especially around the time this offence occurred to reassure and safeguard the community," he said. | A 13-year-old girl has been raped while walking home from a bus stop in Greater Manchester, police have said. |
39289726 | McGhee was sacked a fortnight ago, with Robinson taking temporary charge.
"I spoke to Mark in depth on Tuesday morning when he offered me his advice and best wishes hoping I got the job," Robinson explained.
"So it's with Mark's blessing we do this and I'll give it my best shot to turn the football club around again."
Robinson, 42, was sacked as Oldham manager in January and rejoined McGhee's coaching team in February, having previously been assistant to the former manager and his predecessor Ian Baraclough.
"I'm delighted and honoured to be working for this club," he said.
"It's got a great history and tradition and as I've said numerous times there are a lot of good people around the football club that we owe performances to."
Robinson, who has signed a contract until May 2018, says having been interim boss following McGhee's departure will work in his favour.
"It gives me a head start," he added. "I know the vast majority of the players really well and I now what's needed.
"Both previous managers let me take a lot of the training - I'm used to that I don't think loads will change from what I've done in the last two weeks. We tried to put at structure in place where we're hard to beat and stop conceding goals and we'll continue to do that to stay in this division.
"The be all and end all is to keep the club in the Premiership, we'll worry about things after that and we'll make plans for going forward after that because at this time we can't sign any other players, we have to deal with what we've got.
"We've got to deal with the injury situation which we have and rectify that and make sure we get through to the end of the season."
Robinson confirmed James McFadden will remain in position as assistant manager.
"James is contracted to the end of the season and we'll work together until then," he said. "I'm conscious there's an identity at the football club. There are a lot of boys that have been here a long time so we need to retain that as well." | Stephen Robinson says former Motherwell boss Mark McGhee gave him his backing to become the permanent manager at Fir Park. |
34489078 | Ithaca said it had secured the equity from DKL Investments, a wholly-owned subsidiary of energy firm Delek Group.
The investment was made via a private placement of common shares.
The move gives Delek a 19.9% stake in AIM-listed Ithaca.
Aberdeen-based Ithaca is the operator of the Greater Stella Area development in the central North Sea. It includes the Stella and Harrier fields, which are currently in the process of being developed, as well as the Hurricane discovery and the "Twister" prospect.
First production from the Stella field is expected at the end of the second quarter next year.
The investment from Delek will be used to pursue "satellite" opportunities in the area, as well as strengthen Ithaca's balance sheet and cut its bank debt.
Ithaca chief executive Les Thomas said: "The investment provides a solid vote of confidence in the long term value of Ithaca by a successful oil and gas investor and provides additional flexibility to execute the financial and strategic priorities of the business." | Plans by oil and gas explorer Ithaca Energy to pursue opportunities in the Greater Stella Area of the North Sea have been boosted by a $66m (£43m) investment from an Israeli conglomerate. |
38009280 | Voges, 37, was struck as he turned away from a Cameron Stevenson bouncer in the Sheffield Shield match with Tasmania.
He dropped to his knees and received medical attention before being helped from the pitch and retiring hurt on 16.
Australia's Phillip Hughes died aged 25 in 2014, two days after being hit on the top of the neck in a Shield game.
Voges will play no further part in the four-day match at the Waca, which started on Thursday.
While playing for Middlesex in May, he was taken to hospital and diagnosed with concussion after being struck on the head by a throw from the boundary from team-mate Ollie Rayner.
Voges is among several Australia players featuring in the current round of state matches between the second and third Test of the series against South Africa.
He scored only 30 runs in four innings as Australia lost the first two Tests.
The final Test in Adelaide starts on 24 November. | Australia batsman Adam Voges was concussed after being hit on the back of the helmet by the ball while playing for Western Australia in Perth. |
33309050 | Peacock worked as Derby's academy director for four years from 1998, but has spent 21 years at the Football Association either side of that spell.
"The chance to work once again at this fantastic club was an opportunity I couldn't decline," Peacock said.
The Rams have also named ex-Switzerland international Pascal Zuberbuhler, 44, as their goalkeeping coach.
Peacock and Zuberbuhler have joined manager Paul Clement's new-look coaching set-up and he said their experience would be crucial for his first season in charge.
Clement said: "John is an excellent coach and has a wealth of experience, having worked at the Football Association for a considerable amount of time.
"He is a key signing for me and I am really pleased that we have been able to attract such a highly-skilled coach to my backroom team."
Peacock worked in various roles at the FA and led the England U-17s side to two European Championship wins, in 2010 and 2014.
Zuberbuhler gained 51 international caps and won six league titles in his homeland, a well as playing for West Brom and Fulham in England.
Clement said: "He is an individual who has played at the pinnacle at not only club level, but for his country as well and has been part of sides that have gone on to be very successful.
"That sort of experience will be really important for us and it is something we can call upon to benefit the goalkeepers that we have at the club." | Derby County have appointed England Under-17 boss John Peacock to replace Paul Simpson as first-team coach. |
36436434 | German papers approve of the vote, saying it went ahead despite strong criticism from the Turkish government.
In a commentary ahead of the vote, news magazine Der Spiegel said it would be "the right thing" to pass the resolution.
But it also understood the decision of leading politicians, including Chancellor Angela Merkel, not to attend the vote for fear of endangering the controversial EU-Turkey migrant deal.
Die Welt's Turkey correspondent Deniz Yucel is less sympathetic to the political leaders' predicament, dubbing their absence from the vote "embarrassing".
He describes the Turkish nationalist attitude to the Armenian massacres as "we didn't kill them, but we would do it again", and says only outside pressure like the Bundestag vote can bring "what has been repressed to the surface".
Volker Kauder, the parliamentary leader of Chancellor Merkel's Christian Democrats, urges MPs not to "be silent", despite warnings from Turkey.
"At a time of growing intolerance, naming historic crimes can help prevent them in future," he writes in the Frankfurter Allgmeine Zeitung.
He says the resolution seeks Armenian-Turkish reconciliation, and is not an "accusation" against the people of Turkey.
Sueddeutsche Zeitung says the vote has caused unease in Germany's large Turkish community.
"I feel that 'murderer' is being stamped on the foreheads of us German Turks," Frankfurt law student Elmaci Hilal tells the paper.
"I'm afraid the atmosphere between ethnic Turks and other Germans will change - it's been good so far."
Left-wing Tageszeitung backs the resolution, but says Germany must also come to terms with its own past and recognise the 1904-8 killing of Herero and Nama people in Namibia - a German colony at the time - as genocide.
Turkey's pro-government Sabah dubs the vote a "scandalous decision", registers official Turkish "warnings" about the bill, and notes the absence of Chancellor Markel and other top ministers from the debate.
Opposition Cumhuriyet is less combative, saying that "all eyes are now on Ankara" to see how the Turkish government will respond. The paper dismisses fears of a collapse of the EU migrant deal, as it is a "separate matter".
The Armenian Turkish newspaper Agos compares Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim's reaction unfavourably with the Bundestag's expression of "sorrow" at the failure of the German military mission to the Ottoman Empire to stop the killings in 1915, when the two countries were First World War allies.
Prime Minister Yildirim said the killings were "the sort of ordinary thing that happens in times of war, and could have happened in any country".
The media in Armenia followed the vote avidly. It was aired live with a simultaneous translation on pro-government Ararat TV, as well as on some major news agencies, including official Armenpress and 1in.am.
Lragir newspaper is typical of media reaction in seeing this as "Armenia's turn" to capitalise on the German resolution and press for similar votes in other countries, including Russia.
BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook. | The German Bundestag vote recognising the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turkey in World War One as an act of "genocide" is the top story for the online editions of German newspapers, and attracts considerable attention in the Turkish and Armenian media too. |
35217319 | There were reports of about five bombers at the camp's western gates. So-called Islamic State (IS) said it carried out the attack.
Most of the dead were police recruits.
The attack comes as IS continue to counterattack on the edges of the city of Ramadi, a week after it was recaptured by Iraqi troops.
The BBC's Thomas Fessy, who has just returned from Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, says there has been heavy fighting in the centre and north-eastern districts of the city, and the Iraqi forces have been taking casualties.
The Iraqi government said a week ago that it had "liberated" Ramadi from IS. The jihadist group had held the city since May.
Is Ramadi the model for defeating IS in Iraq?
Did tactical switch help advance?
Islamic State conflict
Life under IS
Viewpoint: How to defeat IS
The attack on Camp Speicher took place in early hours of Sunday morning. At least 20 police were also injured.
They are reported to be police from Nineveh province, training to take it back from IS.
IS said in a statement that it had carried out the attack, adding that it had targeted "trainers from the rejectionist army", referring to Shia Muslims, Reuters news agency reported.
Camp Speicher was the scene of a massacre by IS of up to 1,700 Iraqi Shia troops during their advance across the region in June 2014, some of which has been reversed.
Iraq's Defence Ministry says IS has stepped up suicide attacks since it lost control of Ramadi. | At least 12 members of the Iraqi security forces have been killed in a suicide bomb attack on the former US base of Camp Speicher, outside Tikrit. |
34109024 | The 27-year-old was set upon by his attackers while walking in Dumbarton's Queen Mary Avenue at 04:55 on Sunday.
He was released after treatment at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
Police have appealed for help in tracing the men who are described as white, in their early 20s and of average height. They were wearing light-coloured hooded tops.
Det Sgt Stuart Gillies said: "This was a random and unprovoked attack which left the victim with serious injuries.
"Officers are conducting inquiries in the area including examining CCTV and speaking to local residents.
"I would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw anything suspicious to contact police." | A man has been seriously injured after being attacked in the street by three other men in West Dunbartonshire. |
39393271 | The Irish foursome had played the city several times during the early 1980s with their albums Boy and War - and 1984's The Unforgettable Fire had achieved critical and commercial success.
However the Joshua Tree album, inspired in part by the band's journey into the soul of America, elevated them to a different music stratosphere, with the album going on to sell over 25 million copies worldwide.
Thirty years on, a Radio Ulster programme narrated by Belfast church minister and U2 devotee, the Reverend Steve Stockman, reunites some fans who were at one of Belfast's most famous concerts.
On a cold Saturday morning in February, I persuade Geoff Caves, Brendan Mulgrew and Martin McCarney to meet me at the King's Hall.
No sooner are we standing outside what was, back then, Belfast's biggest concert venue, when memories of the U2 gig come flooding back.
"It was a bright summer's day. I'd just finished doing my A levels, actually my last A level was on that day," Brendan says.
"There were crowds of people milling around (at the King's Hall) waiting to get the best spot inside. It was the sort of feeling you don't get that often in your life and it was there that day in spades."
The concert was completely sold out but that didn't stop some fans without tickets trying to get in.
"A friend of mine didn't have a ticket. So whenever the gates at the King's Hall opened, he ran towards the main door and quickly handed a fiver to the doorman," Martin McCarney says.
Martin laughs as he recalls his mate sprinting into the venue and not being stopped, a lucky escape for one U2 fan.
It was a concert that attracted a lot of media interest and it was Ulster Television that got a real coup, just hours before the gig, when reporter Ivan Little interviewed Bono just minutes after the band's plane had touched down at Belfast International Airport.
"He told me that Belfast had a reputation, outside of Ireland, for being the best audience in the world and then he added 'that's sort of true," Ivan recalls.
"I asked him if they had any surprises in store for the King's Hall concert and he jokingly replied that the only surprise would be if they stayed in tune."
Of course they stayed in tune and there was another big surprise, even before U2 came on stage that night.
The band had persuaded none other than singing legend and former Velvet Underground front-man, Lou Reed, to be their support act.
After entertaining the crowds with several of his hit songs, including Walk on the Wild Side, Lou Reed made way for Bono, Larry, Adam and the Edge.
Christoph Ebbinghaus remembers the moment like it was yesterday. Now a church minister, back then as a 15-year-old this was his first concert and he was about to witness his favourite band live.
"You couldn't always make out what Bono was saying in between songs but I remember in his introduction to the concert, he described them as four friends from Dublin.
"Then he said this is the best audience in the world and we're going to give you the finest rock and roll concert this city has ever seen."
A big question being asked ahead of the King's Hall concert was whether Sunday Bloody Sunday would make it onto the set list.
One of U2's most political songs about the Troubles, the band had first played it at Belfast's Maysfield Leisure Centre in 1982.
Five years on they did play it again and, as Geoff Caves recalls, it made for one of the more memorable moments of the concert.
"There was an (Irish) tricolour and a union jack that had been pulled out during that song. Everyone who was there remembers the flag incident, Bono saying you can take down your flags, we're sick of flags," he said.
"It was quite an iconic moment. A lot of young people coming together in one place in Belfast, who wouldn't normally mix, and there was this call from Bono to take down the flags and it was obeyed."
The Rev Steve Stockman from Fitzroy Presbyterian Church in Belfast was also at the King's Hall gig.
Another memorable moment for him was in the months leading up to the concert - when U2 came to Belfast in March 1987 to launch the Joshua Tree album.
He recalls the band making a surprise midnight appearance at Makin' Tracks, a record store in the city centre.
Steve and the well known artist Colin Davidson queued to meet U2 that night and both remember the band members being "warm, friendly and interested" in meeting the fans.
With U2 set to tour again this year to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Joshua Tree album, some of those songs that filled the King's Hall three decades ago will do so again in venues around the world.
But for many fans, including Paul Duffy, who were there on 24 June 1987 there will only ever be one unforgettable gig.
"I can't drive past the King's Hall now without thinking about that day, that fantastic evening," he said.
"I've seen loads of bands there over the years but to me, U2 and the King's Hall are synonymous with Belfast. It was just such a magical time."
The Unforgettable Gig: When U2 rocked the King's Hall airs on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio Foyle at 12:30 BST on Sunday. | 24 June 1987 was no ordinary day, especially if you were a U2 fan in Northern Ireland, because it's when the band brought their Joshua Tree tour to the King's Hall in Belfast. |
35122699 | The failure to fortify flour has caused serious disabilities, including spina bifida, and resulted in terminations and stillbirths, their study said.
The US and 77 other countries already have a policy in place.
The Department of Health said it was currently considering the matter.
This follows the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition recently saying it was in favour of folic add being added to flour for bread in the UK.
Folic acid is found naturally in some foods, such as green vegetables, nuts and granary bread.
It is added to some breakfast cereals, but it is very difficult for pregnant women to get enough from diet alone.
That is why in 1992, the Department of Health in England recommended that women take folic acid supplements before pregnancy to reduce their risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect (NTD) - which involve defects of the brain, spine or spinal cord.
But recent research shows that only 28% of pregnant women take them at the correct time.
However the government has so far been reluctant to force manufacturers to add folic acid to all bread.
This study, published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, said the current policy was not working and the UK should be following the example of the US in fortifying flour with folic acid.
The US has seen a 23% fall in pregnancies with neural tube defects since the policy was introduced in 1998.
The researchers estimated that a similar policy in the UK would have prevented 1,798 pregnancies with NTD in England and Wales, 152 in Scotland and 64 in Northern Ireland over a 14-year period up to 2012.
This equates to a fall of 21% in pregnancies with neural tube defects over that period.
While most of the NTD pregnancies are terminated, around 75 babies a year are born with serious disabilities.
The research team, led by Prof Joan Morris from the Wolfson Institute of Preventative Medicine at Queen Mary University of London, said putting folic acid in flour was safe and could only be a good thing.
"Europe is the only region not to have a policy of fortifying flour with folic acid, despite evidence that it can cut the risk of neural tube defects by around 70%."
Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England, said too many women had folic acid levels below the new World Health Organization recommendation for women entering pregnancy.
"This highlights the importance for pregnant women, and those trying or likely to get pregnant, of taking a daily folic acid supplement of 400 micrograms - before and up to the 12th week of pregnancy."
Prof Alan Cameron, vice president of clinical quality for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: "Food fortification will reach women most at risk due to poor dietary habits or socio-economic status as well as those women who may not have planned their pregnancy." | UK experts are backing the call for flour to be fortified with folic acid - a move which they say would have prevented around 2,000 cases of serious birth defects since 1998. |
33958450 | About 200 people attended the service in Douglas which included a montage of childhood photographs set to his favourite Backstreet Boys song.
All those who attended the service at St Ninian's Church followed his family's wishes to wear blue.
The entrepreneur, from Plymouth, died following an asthma attack last month.
His mother Rosemary Baggs said: "We didn't want people to wear black - Stuart wouldn't have wanted that.
"His favourite colour was blue so it seemed fitting."
Baggs launched his company Bluewave Communications in 2007 and, days before his death at the age of 27, held a press conference to launch his latest product.
When he was aged 21 in 2010, he became the youngest ever candidate to appear on the BBC One show The Apprentice.
Baggs, who was fired in the semi-final, became famous for his one-liners, which included "Everything I touch turns to sold" and "I'm Stuart Baggs the brand".
Following his death, Lord Sugar was one of the first to pay tribute to the charismatic contestant, tweeting that Baggs was "one of the stand out characters".
Mrs Baggs told Manx Radio: "The Stuart we knew was so different to the Stuart in the public eye.
"He was a very loyal, caring and funny person, who was the life and soul of any party.
"Stuart was always the person someone would want as their plus one because you would be guaranteed a good night."
Friend Shelly Rourke said he never judged anyone because he felt so acutely aware that everyone judged him. "He didn't want anyone else to feel like that," she said.
"Stuart would do anything for you. Seeing everyone wearing blue today will be a testament to how much people loved him."
Another friend Jo Cutsforth said: "The guy was exceptionally hard-working and very, very passionate.
"He was a boy with a dream and for almost 10 years he made that dream come true."
Paul Moulton, who spoke at the funeral, said: "Everyone wore blue as it was his favourite colour and his company name.
"Anyone who knew Stuart would know that he would have laughed his socks off at the idea." | The mother of The Apprentice star Stuart Baggs said his funeral was a celebration of her son's life and achievements. |
23707253 | In an article published to mark his 87th birthday, Fidel Castro said he didn't expect to survive the stomach ailment and live for so long.
"I was far from imagining that my life would extend for another seven years."
Mr Castro had been in power since the Cuban Revolution in 1959.
The long article was only published by official newspaper Granma on Wednesday, a day after his birthday.
Mr Castro left office for treatment in 2006 but only formally resigned as commander-in-chief and president of Cuba in February 2008.
"As soon as I understood that it would be definitive, I did not hesitate to cease my charges as president," he said in the article.
Mr Castro also revealed that Cuba had received weapons from North Korea in the early 1980s.
The North Korean weapons shipment was provided after Soviet leader Yuri Andropov warned that his country was no longer prepared to step in to defend the communist-run island.
"He told us that if we were attacked by the United States we would have to fight alone," wrote Mr Castro.
The Soviet Union renewed its commitment, however, to continue providing weapons to the island.
But Cuba decided to gather weapons from "other friends" to arm "one million Cuban fighters."
"Comrade Kim Il Sung, a veteran and exemplary soldier, sent us 100,000 AK rifles and accompanying ammunition without charging a penny," writes Mr Castro.
The North Korean leader, who was succeeded by his son, died in 1994.
The revelations come as a team of United Nations experts investigate an incident in the Panama Canal involving a North Korean ship carrying an undeclared shipment of weapons from Cuba.
The ship was seized last month on suspicion of carrying drugs, but Panamanian officials found weapons - including two Soviet-era combat jets - stashed under bags of sugar.
Cuba came forward saying the "obsolete weapons" were being sent to North Korea to be repaired.
Panama called in the UN to investigate if the shipment breached sanctions imposed on North Korea over its nuclear programme. | Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has said that he decided to step down and transfer power to his younger brother, Raul, because he was diagnosed with a fatal illness in 2006. |
14063927 | Among the 67 Britons killed was Gavin Cushny from the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.
His best friend for the previous 29 years was Joyce Lewis, whom he met at the University of St Andrews, where he was studying classics and philosophy.
Joyce describes the 47-year-old Scot as "very intelligent, very funny, loved arguing, and loved getting out and doing things".
She explains that he actually nearly survived the attack on the World Trade Center.
"Six weeks after 9/11 his body was identified on the second floor of the building, along with some firefighters. He'd been killed by falling masonry.
"So he almost did get out - I think he didn't make it all the way to his floor and sensed that he should turn around and get out the building. He had a fantastic sense of self-preservation."
Eyewitness recalls 9/11 attacks
Gavin's love for America had seen him move there in 1982, after his graduation. He later became an American citizen.
"He had a lot of American friends at St Andrews and he was very drawn to American people," Joyce said. "He liked their sense of optimism."
Gavin took a maths degree and began working for banks in their computer departments.
In 2000, he began working for Cantor Fitzgerald, a capital markets investment bank based on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center's north tower.
"He called me on 8 September to say he was getting married in October and inviting me to the wedding.
"So he certainly would have been married and he probably would have started a family. He was great with kids, and my own children adored him.
"Gavin would have had a happy family life and would have been a great father.
"I think he would have moved out to the west coast of America. I think it would have given him a sense of freedom. He loved New York, but he was ready to do something new."
Joyce said she could imagine Gavin setting up a business "somewhere like Los Angeles, maybe doing something with computers.
"He'd probably have been a consultant for companies, creating great websites for them. He also took acting classes and he would probably have done more acting."
Joyce says she did not attend his funeral on the Isle of Lewis because she was too upset.
"On the anniversary this year I will feel total sadness and a huge sense of loss. No anger, more like a kind of horrible emptiness that Gavin - who was extraordinary to me but also just a person who wanted to have a great life - died in such an extraordinary global event.
"It's always a day when it only makes sense to think of Gavin and remember him and be glad that I knew him for as long as I did."
Joyce says she will continue her annual ritual this year of leaving flowers in Gavin's memory at the 9/11 memorial at the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square in London.
Neil Cudmore died in the north tower of the World Trade Center, having arrived there for a conference which started at 0830 in the Windows on the World restaurant on the tower's top floors. The first aircraft hit at 0846.
The 39-year old, born in Greenwich and raised in Essex, was killed along with his partner, Dinah Webster, 49, who was from Dorset. The couple both worked in publishing for Risk Waters Group.
Neil's father Jim Cudmore, 74, lives in Little Houghton in Northamptonshire. He describes his eldest son as a "gregarious, popular, very social man who loved meeting people".
"One of his lifelong passions was fishing," Jim said. "He fished from a young boy. Wherever he lived, he could escape the pressure of his life by spending time alone on a river.
"He did love the finer things in life, but he also loved a couple of pints in a country pub and long walks in the countryside. He was ambitious and competitive, but he never let it get the better of him and never stopped being a gentleman."
Neil had met Dinah while working for Risk Waters in Hong Kong, where he was posted in 1996. The two were later posted to New York in January 2000, where Neil was the company's marketing director and Dinah its advertising manager.
The company's offices were in the SoHo district, a safe distance away from the twin towers, but the conference appointment on September 11 meant both Neil and Dinah were caught up in the terrorist attack.
They had announced their engagement while working in Las Vegas the week before 9/11.
Jim says that the anger he initially experienced has long since dispersed.
"What anger I did have was not particularly aimed at the terrorists who carried out the attacks - they were merely puppets - but against those who financed them. After all, without funds from likely Middle East sources, the attacks in the USA would not have taken place.
"My emotions are always heightened approaching each 9/11 anniversary and although this year's 10th anniversary is an important landmark it is, in reality, no different to any other.
When thinking about their possible future lives, Jim is certain that Neil and Dinah would have started a family, and probably branched out into a business of their own together.
"Time was against them for having children, as Dinah was in her late 40s - although she already had a daughter, Zoe - and they were talking about adopting a child.
"Neil was desperate to have children, and he loved his nephews and nieces. Any child they had would not have been robbed of love and affection."
Aside from a property in America's Long Island, Neil had already bought a cottage in Dorset, and Jim believes that it "wasn't his plan to work into old age - I think he would have retired back to the UK if an opportunity arose.
"Dorset is where Dinah's mother and father live and Neil would have wanted to return there, with all the opportunities to go fishing in that area."
Neil was not destined to transform his cottage into a family home - but his youngest brother Keith has done just that, moving in some years ago with his wife, who in January of this year gave birth to twins.
"If Neil is able to see all that, he'll be pleased that the cottage is now a family home," Jim said. "He'll be delighted to see his dream fulfilled." | Ten years after the horrors of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the families and friends of those killed that day are still carrying the trauma and pain of their loss. |
32335406 | They voted four to one to refuse proposals at the 2 Sisters factory at Llangefni where 270 jobs are under threat, including 170 agency staff.
Before the vote, Paddy McNaught from Unite union said it would have meant "staff making sacrifices" to save jobs.
Union officials are due to hold further talks with bosses on Friday.
If the company's proposal had been accepted, it was hoped there would be only a handful of compulsory redundancies, with 40 staff taking voluntary redundancy and agency workers being offered work elsewhere.
The company wanted to cut an entire production shift from its operation. | Staff at an Anglesey poultry plant have voted to reject changes to their working conditions in a move which would have saved 50 jobs. |
37700975 | It calls for the Scottish government to act over delays and cancellations.
ScotRail has said one of the largest programmes of modernisation since Victorian times is to blame for the disruption.
But it argued the result of the programme will "transform" travel.
The Scottish government can trigger a clause to remove the contract from a service provider if punctuality rates drop below 84%.
Mr Yousaf said the petition was a "real wake-up call" for everyone involved in Scotland's railways.
"We are putting in place a plan which in the years to come is going to make our railways one of the best in the UK, one of the best in Europe," he said. "I have got no doubt about that at all.
"In fact, when I was meeting with the railways minister of the UK government yesterday, he said to us that they look towards Scotland for some of the improvements that we've made.
"That doesn't mean everything's perfect. I certainly wouldn't make that claim at all - 19,000 people telling me that something is wrong with our railways is a real wake-up call for all of us involved in railways to say where can we improve it?"
Earlier Stewart Kirkpatrick, from the campaign group 38 degrees, told BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that the quality of service on ScotRail trains was "not good enough".
"We've been bombarded with stories from members across Scotland of delays, frustrations, missed appointments, important life events being impacted by the poor service offered by ScotRail and they've had enough," he said.
Phil Verster, managing director of the ScotRail Alliance, admitted that he wanted the company to be in a "better place".
He said earlier industrial action and the disruption caused by the current programme of modernisation had led to customer dissatisfaction.
However, he added that 500 "tweaks" would be made to the current timetable to help alleviate some of the disruption.
He told Good Morning Scotland: "In the next two years we are taking the fleet size from around 800 carriages to a thousand carriages. That is a massive addition of capacity and on some routes, such as Aberdeen to Inverness, capacity will increase by 75%."
He insisted punctuality was improving, particularly over the past four weeks.
"Ending on Saturday, we delivered a punctuality of 90.2%. So considering that our average is around 89.6%, we are consistently now improving our punctuality through a relentless focus on the things that make a difference."
He added: "I am humbled by how patient our customers are.
"When I look at how our customers have responded to the Winchburgh closure, the Queen Street blockade and how our customers have adapted and adjusted their travel patterns. We will continually improve how we run the railway and punctuality will continue to improve." | A petition calling for Abellio to be stripped of the ScotRail contract, backed by about 19,000 people, has been presented to Transport Minister Humza Yousaf. |
33137010 | Mr Orhan Koca, 32, who is originally from Turkey, denies murdering 22-year-old Mr Magee Jr, in west Belfast on 30 May.
A detective said police were concerned about the defendant absconding.
"Given the likelihood that a conviction would result in a significant sentence, this increases the chance of absconding," he said.
"In recent months several thousand pounds has gone through the defendant's account.
"This access to funds would give him the means to flee justice."
The detective said he was also concerned about interference with witnesses.
"The defendant is aware of several witnesses," he said. "The opportunity to interfere with evidence would be very real."
A prosecuting lawyer told Lisburn Magistrates Court that on 30 May, at 2.38am, police were called to Summerhill Park in west Belfast.
They found Mr Magee Jr lying in the road and bleeding heavily from stab wounds.
"Mr Magee had been at the home of his girlfriend, Miss Courtney Ward, and at 2am they ordered a pizza," said the prosecution.
"Shortly after 2.30am, Mr Magee Jr left the house by the rear exit and his girlfriend then heard screaming outside.
"When she left the house she saw two men standing over Mr Magee Jr trying to help him."
The lawyer outlined how Miss Ward was the estranged partner of the defendant and that she had started a relationship with the victim.
The court also heard that jeans, covered in Mr Magee Jr's blood, had been recovered from Beckett's Bar, where the defendant both worked and stayed.
The jeans were found close to items of clothing belonging to Mr Koca.
A defence solicitor said that the defendant had no criminal record in the UK.
Mr Koca was remanded in custody to reappear before Lisburn Magistrates Court on 6 July. | The man charged with the murder of Eamonn Magee Jr has been refused bail over fears he would flee the country. |
35263756 | They say information is power and we've seen that demonstrated in the past year, with the protests about quality and access to affordable education right across the continent.
Watch out for more developments in the #Feesmustfall campaign in South Africa, as students prepare to register for the new academic year. The internet was used to rally support for street protests in opposition to a proposed hike in fees in 2015.
It seemed to catch the government of President Jacob Zuma off guard as senior university academics joined their students at rallies in several South African cities. The leadership of the governing African National Congress (ANC) voiced its opposition to the demonstrations, while upholding the right to protest. The president bought himself a little more time by freezing the fees increase.
Now, the people in charge of the sums believe the fees issue will resurface again early in 2016 for one simple reason. There's been a doubling in the number of students entering higher education since 1994, many of them from disadvantaged backgrounds and government subsidies have failed to keep up. There's now talk of getting industry to chip in more but will they be able to make up the shortfall? Unlikely.
Quality education and class sizes are also likely to dominate the education debate.
Across sub-Saharan Africa, 1.8 billion people are expected to be added to the population in the next 30 years. Africa already has the youngest population in the world and by common consent, education needs to be given greater priority for economies to grow, hence its inclusion in the UN's sustainable development goals.
2016 is likely to see more pressure not only to get more kids behind desks but also to confront the issues of vast class sizes, teacher accountability and poor staff morale.
Kenya's teachers downed tools near the end of last year over pay and conditions but their industrial action was halted after a court ordered them to return to work. Will this be the end of the matter or will other teaching unions feel emboldened by their East African comrades?
Youth crime and youth radicalisation continue to be linked to educational opportunity (although not exclusively - there are clever car thieves and armed militants operating across the region). So expect the global education lobby to seize on this broader issue, to push for accelerated change to mitigate the effects of the ticking time bomb of youth unemployment.
The Malawian parliament is poised to vote on the Termination of Pregnancy Bill in 2016 after some two years of consultation. At the moment a woman who tries to procure an abortion in Malawi faces up to 14 years in jail, unless doctors can prove that the woman's life would be at risk if she continued the pregnancy.
If the legislation gets through, it will bring the southern African state into line with many other countries in Europe and North America who permit abortion when the mother or baby's life is in danger, in instances of rape or incest, or where going ahead with the pregnancy would present a mental health risk to the woman.
The issue has split the Malawian human rights community and put senior politicians at odds with the Catholic Church. Already the stage has been set with Malawi's speaker of parliament, Richard Msowoya, beginning the year castigating the Catholic Church in a country where 17% of maternal deaths are attributed to botched backstreet abortions.
In more than a third of all countries in sub-Saharan Africa abortions are prohibited altogether, so what happens in Malawi, still a socially conservative society, is likely to have reverberations right across the continent, including perhaps in Sierra Leone.
Just weeks ago parliament unanimously approved new legislation on abortion for the West African state, but President Ernest Bai Koroma has refused to give it presidential assent. That could mean a watered-down bill being resubmitted to parliament later this year in order to satisfy opponents.
Gay rights have become a byword for neo-imperialism in some sectors of society, where it is considered a Western import and like abortion, it's put the Church at loggerheads with human rights campaigners.
The visit of US President Barack Obama to Tanzania and Kenya last year "outed" the issue of gay rights in Africa once again, and a schism in the Anglican Church globally is likely to see the issue resurface early on in 2016.
Nigeria will continue to face pressure from the US to back down on "anti-gay" legislation - which includes jail terms for those involved in gay rights organisations and for those that attempt same-sex unions.
But campaigners will need to be careful how they tread, for fear of adding fuel to those who argue that the West is imposing its own moral values on sovereign African states. It is a view gently encouraged by anti-gay US evangelists, for whom the continent has become an important ally. For leaders too, as we have seen in Uganda, whipping up anti-gay sentiment is a helpful diversionary tactic when there are other pressing domestic issues to confront, such as poverty, armed conflict and domestic violence.
While Mozambique quietly decriminalised homosexuality in its revised penal code in 2015, along with the tiny kingdom of Lesotho, The Gambia is one of the countries to keep an eye on in 2016. President Yahya Jammeh has implemented tough anti-gay laws, prompting widespread international condemnation.
We can expect to see more campaigns highlighting the plight of gay refugees and those being granted asylum in the US, where last year the first LGBT envoy was appointed to the State Department to elevate the issue. Watch out also for more threats of trade bans, aid freezes and other policy carrots and sticks by Western governments, as they seek to make gay issues a non-negotiable part of human rights culture.
In July, when a major Aids conference returns to South Africa, gay rights campaigners are expected to seize upon the event to push for equal access to treatment and prevention for all communities in the fight against HIV and Aids. They will argue that remains one of the biggest challenges to tackling Aids and say that decriminalising homosexuality will help to achieve this.
Social rights campaigners cite this as the single biggest issue (or set of issues) that will be talked about in 2016.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is among a number of countries where the incumbent President, Joseph Kabila, is expected to seek to extend his term by delaying presidential elections slated for November 2016, which would send him into constitutionally choppy waters.
One only has to look at the violent demonstrations and counter-demonstrations across the border in Burundi to see the potential ramifications if the actions of the president are challenged.
President Paul Kagame in Rwanda has already secured a change in the constitution to permit him to compete for a third term. Could he inspire the Gambian leadership, with elections there due at the end of 2016? President Yahya Jammeh has erased term limits from the constitution, despite attempts by the regional bloc to reinstate them.
Demands for leaders to be more accountable have seen people take to social media with the hashtag #WhatWouldMagufuliDo - an e-version of "doffing their caps" to the new Tanzanian leader John Magufuli, who has introduced a raft of measures to curb government excesses. President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has similarly been on an anti-corruption drive, securing the blessing of IMF chief Christine Lagarde for his efforts.
President Zuma in South Africa can expect a continuation of the #Zumamustfall campaign with the ANC expecting to face one of its toughest challenges yet in local government elections in 2016. Mr Zuma himself faces a raft of court cases, among them a constitutional court challenge early in 2016 over whether he should pay back some of the costs of security upgrades to his Nkandla home. | The BBC's southern Africa correspondent Karen Allen looks at the areas in which Africa can expect big social change this year, some of which have seen campaign groups turn to the internet to state their case. |
29771154 | The alarm was raised after the 23-year-old, from Cornwall, went missing for about 15 minutes while swimming at about 02:30 BST, the RNLI said.
He was discovered in a serious condition near Great Western beach and airlifted to a hospital in Truro by search helicopter where he later died, Devon and Cornwall Police said.
The death was not being treated as suspicious, police said.
The man's next of kin have been informed. | A man has died after being found in the sea off Newquay. |
40850082 | Charlotte Liddell was one of 200 applicants for the scheme which aims to encourage a new generation of female leaders.
The 20-year-old, from Buckhaven in Fife, has been a young carer since she was 12 and does voluntary work with the Gingerbread single parent charity.
She said she had been inspired by Ms Sturgeon and hoped to inspire other young people to believe in themselves.
Ms Sturgeon announced the 12-month First Mentor scheme on International Women's Day in February, saying it was unacceptable that women were under-represented in leadership roles in society.
She said she hoped to encourage other female leaders to act as role models.
Announcing her first mentee, she said: "Charlotte immediately struck me as someone with the passion and determination to make a difference to her community and to young people - especially for those who face tough challenges in life.
"Charlotte is a really impressive young woman who has already achieved so much and I hope the mentoring experience over the next year will be of real benefit to her and help her achieve her ambitions for the future.
"I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with Charlotte - but I have no doubt that I will also learn a lot from her."
Ms Liddell left school at 14 and has two children. She has been volunteering with Fife Gingerbread for three years where part of her work involves "buddying" young parents.
She was named Young Parent of the Year in 2016 by Fife Gingerbread and won the Young Volunteer of the Year award in 2017.
She said: "I want to inspire others just as the first minister inspired me. I want people to know that no matter what happens in your life, you can still succeed.
"Too often, young people are told they will never amount to anything - especially young parents. By being chosen for this mentorship, I hope I will help other young people to believe in themselves - especially those whose voices are not heard."
The competition was run in conjunction with the national youth information and citizenship charity Young Scot.
Louise Macdonald, chief executive of Young Scot, said: "The First Mentor programme is a fantastic opportunity to shine a spotlight on the power of mentoring for young women in Scotland.
"Through the application process we were able to see just how many brilliant young women have the potential to become leaders themselves. We want to show young women that there are no limits, no matter who you are, and that everyone can benefit from having or being a mentor.
"Charlotte is an amazing young woman; she wants to change the world. We've all been so inspired by her already and I am sure the mentoring experience will be great for both Charlotte and the first minister."
Rhona Cunningham, chief executive of Fife Gingerbread, said Charlotte had been "an inspiration to us all".
"We are delighted that she has been given this much-deserved opportunity. She does so much for so many; her determination and positive attitude are remarkable," she added.
"It really is a privilege to have her volunteer for us, and we know Charlotte will go on to be whatever she wants to be in life. Massive well done from everyone at Fife Gingerbread!"
The first mentorship meeting will take place next week. | A young mother has been chosen to be mentored by Nicola Sturgeon for a year. |
12602179 | A collection of her lingerie, handbags and luggage will be auctioned next week in central London.
A scarlet chiffon nightdress from the 1940s to early 1950s is expected to fetch up to £1,000.
Proceeds from the sale, at Kerry Taylor Auctions, will go to the Dodi International Charitable Foundation.
It helps children in need of medical care and their families in Egypt, UK, France and US.
Contents of the home occupied by the couple, who were later made the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, were bought by former Harrods owner Mohamed al-Fayed.
He bought the contents of their home on the Bois de Bologne, in Paris, when the duchess died in 1986. He later sold much of it in 1998.
Some items were held back and later donated to a charity which was set up in memory of his son, Dodi, who died with the princess of Wales in a 1997 Paris car crash.
Nightwear collection
One of the star lots is expected to be a Christian Dior black crocodile handbag from 1964, worth up to £8,000, which is engraved with a special date for the couple.
Its clasps bear the initials of Wallis and Edward and the date "30 X 1934".
In October 1934 the royal took his future wife to Italy on a holiday, accompanied by her aunt Bessie as a token chaperone.
One of the duchess's vanity cases, made by Louis Vuitton in the 1960s and worth up to £10,000, will also go under the hammer.
A spokeswoman for Kerry Taylor Auctions identified the duchess's nightwear as an attraction.
"The sublime bias-cut confections that were her nightwear give an intimation of the sensuousness and secret allure of the duchess," she said.
Commenting on her sense of style, the duchess once wrote: "My husband gave up everything for me... I'm not a beautiful woman. I'm nothing to look at, so the only thing I can do is dress better than anyone else.
"If everyone looks at me when I enter a room, my husband can feel proud of me. That's my chief responsibility."
There was widespread shock when Edward abdicated in 1936 to marry Mrs Simpson, an American divorcee.
They later went to live in France.
Last year Madonna began shooting a film about Edward's wife.
The singer co-wrote the movie, titled W.E, which she also directed. | Items once owned by Wallis Simpson, the woman for whom Edward VIII renounced the throne, are set to be sold in an auction. |
34559094 | The 28-year-old Welshman saw the verdict of three judges go in Chicago-based Polish fighter Fonfara's favour.
Cleverly suffered a broken nose in the WBC International light heavyweight title bout, which both men saw as a step towards bigger things.
Promoter Eddie Hearn said: "On the way to hospital. Broken nose and needs blood drained from his ear, but is OK."
Cleverly was hit after the bell in the second round but the former WBO world champion was on top at that stage.
Yet by the seventh round Cleverly had blood splashed across his face, his nose taking the biggest toll as Fonfara found his range.
Cleverly, who suffered a third career loss, all of which have come in his last six fights, could not change the complexion of the fight as Fonfara exercised control until the final bell.
Fonfara was given the verdict by 115-113 from one judge and by 116-112 from two. | Nathan Cleverly's bid to earn a world title fight took a blow after a points defeat by Andrzej Fonfara in Chicago. |
37562461 | The 22-year-old Tonga international joined Saints from London Broncos in 2015, having previously played for St George Illawarra Dragons, Melbourne Storm and Cronulla Sharks.
He joins Catalans hooker Eloi Pelissier in agreeing a move to Leigh this week.
"Atelea has been playing really well for St Helens on the edge and in the middle," said head coach Neil Jukes.
"After meeting with him it was evident that Atelea was excited to be part of a club that was growing and what he wanted out of it and what we wanted was the perfect fit." | Leigh Centurions have signed St Helens back-row forward Atelea Vea on a two-year contract from next season. |
36661097 | One woman has found a simple way to show solidarity against racism - wear a safety pin.
@Cheeahs has started the hashtag #SafetyPin which has been shared nearly 30,000 times.
Angered by the stories of racism, she used Twitter to find a way of showing her frustration. She decided that a safety pin was the simplest solution.
@Cheeah's real name is Allison - she doesn't want her surname used for safety reasons. She lives in London.
Speaking to the BBC she says, "This is meant to be more than just a symbolic gesture or a way for like-minded people to pat each other on the back.
If people wear the pin and support the campaign they are saying they are prepared to be part of the solution. It could be by confronting racist behaviour, or if that is not possible at least documenting it.
More generally it is about reaching out to people and letting them know they are safe and welcome," she says.
@EmilyBaah asks, "Why do u need a #safetypin to show you're not racist? Surely u should just not be racist as a default setting, maybe?".
Other Twitter users have taken sarcastic sideswipes at the campaign and the people throwing their weight behind it.
Offensive graffiti has been scrawled at a Polish centre in London, cards reading "no more Polish vermin" have been posted through letterboxes in Cambridge and a US veteran has been called "an immigrant" and told to "get back to Africa" while on a tram in Manchester.
Allison is not from the UK - she is from New England, USA - but she considers herself an "undercover immigrant" due to the fact she is white and English speaking. "I am not a British citizen, I cannot vote but I am a part of this society. I am married to an Englishman and have lived here for six years. It is important for me to stand with others who can't go undercover."
Written by Zak Brophy, UGC & Social News Team | There have been reports of racist abuse in the UK since the referendum result. |
35370525 | -6%
Overall use since 2006
-12% Bus passengers
-7% Ferry passengers
+29% ScotRail passengers
The National Transport Strategy also said that in the same period, traffic on the country's roads went up by 2%.
Transport Minister Derek Mackay said the Scottish government had "invested heavily" in transport since the first strategy was published in 2006.
He added that progress in key areas had been made, "despite the recession".
The updated strategy looked at trends and statistics over the last nine years and said;
The report also detailed the "significant" fall in road deaths.
It said the number of people killed was down from 314 in 2006 to 200 in 2014, a reduction of 36%.
Director of lobby group Transform Scotland, Colin Howden, said it was "tragic" that there had been "absolutely no progress" in moving people from cars to public transport.
He added: "As the new strategy sets out, the past decade has seen a 2% increase in traffic levels, while public transport use has declined by 6%.
"Whether one wants to tackle congestion, improve connectivity, or cut emissions, the evidence in this new strategy highlights a wasted decade in improving Scotland's transport."
However, Mr Mackay believed the review had produced "good news" on a range of issues including;
He said: "Rail has performed particularly strongly with more passengers than ever before now choosing to travel on Scotland's railways, with the newly opened Borders Railway leading the line in this success.
"The Scottish government has committed £5bn to transforming Scotland's rail network, including £475mn for the largest-ever train improvement programme seen in Scotland.
"This will see 10% more trains for the ScotRail fleet, providing 23% extra seats for passengers, and mean that 90% of all Scotland's trains will either be new or fully refurbished by 2019."
And Transport Scotland said that despite the economic squeeze investment in the infrastructure had continued since 2006.
A spokesman pointed to the growth in rail passengers which had recorded a 30% increase in the last decade.
He added: "Of course we recognise that there is more to be done, particularly in improving the patronage figures for buses, and the refresh has confirmed that a review is necessary in the next parliament to explore the issues in more depth." | The number of people using public transport in Scotland over the last nine years has fallen by 6%, a new report has revealed. |
40718707 | A blaze damaged buildings on Cathedral Green in Exeter before spreading to the Royal Clarence Hotel, which dates back to 1769.
Architects say the new facade has been designed to stay as true as possible to the original.
The rebuilding of the hotel is expected to take 18 months to complete and it is due to reopen in 2019.
Owner Andrew Brownsword said some features like iron work and stained glass windows would be fully restored.
He said: "This is such a wonderful moment, after the initial heartbreak and months of deconstruction, to start to look towards to the future and to restoring the Royal Clarence's historic frontage."
Architect David Shatwell said: "Having taken every effort to stabilise the building, save as much as possible of what remains and prepare detailed research into the history of the building... we are delighted to now be taking the first steps toward rebuilding this beautiful building."
The plans for the facade will be on display at St Martin's Church in Cathedral Close between 14:00 and 20:00 on Wednesday, 26 July.
The plans for the interior of the hotel are still being worked on and they will need to be approved before work begins. | The front of England's oldest hotel, which was destroyed by fire last October, is set to be restored. |
35945274 | The upgrading - coinciding with the 100 year anniversary - offers greater protection and marks its significance.
At least 108 men and boys were killed at the Explosives Loading Company near Faversham in Kent on 2 April 1916.
A fire broke out in a wooden shed, igniting 15 tons of TNT and 150 tons of ammonium nitrate.
The explosions that followed shattered windows 15 miles away and were heard in France, Historic England said.
However, government censorship and a press blackout - for fear of alerting the enemy - meant the disaster was barely-reported at the time.
The majority of the victims, many of whom could not be identified, were buried in a mass grave in Faversham's Love Lane cemetery, where the memorial stands.
All the victims were male as no women worked in the plant at weekends - the oldest was 61 the youngest 17 - Historic England said.
Grade I buildings - only 2.5% - are of "exceptional interest"
Grade II* buildings - 5.5% - are "particularly important buildings of more than special interest"
Grade II buildings are of special interest; 92% of all listed buildings are in this class
Historic England said: "The memorial is an eloquent and poignant reminder of the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifice it made in World War One. "
It has pledged to list a total of 2,500 war memorials by 2018, marking the centenary of the war.
Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said: "Over a million Britons lost their lives in the First World War. It's important that their sacrifice is not forgotten." | A memorial to the victims of the "worst recorded accident" in Britain's explosives industry has been upgraded to Grade 2* listed. |
40503118 | But he says he would be prepared to release the New Zealander from his contract if he wanted to leave.
Gatland is due to return to his Wales role after the British and Irish Lions tour and has been tipped as a potential future All Blacks coach.
Phillips said: "I don't think he'd do it, a huge value for him is loyalty so I don't think it would happen.
"But having said that, if he did, the people you need on your team have got to want to be there."
Gatland leads the Lions into a winner-takes-all third Test against New Zealand in Auckland on 8 July.
Following the tourists' 24-21 win over the All Blacks in Wellington, Sir Graham Henry tipped Gatland as a possible future All Blacks coach.
Steve Hansen has signed a contract to take New Zealand to the 2019 World Cup, which is when Gatland' deal with Wales is due to end.
"The job is so critical to Wales. I wouldn't want somebody doing it who doesn't want to be there," added Phillips.
"So if he wanted to go, he could go."
Gatland is Wales' longest-serving coach, having taken over following the 2007 World Cup.
Wales have won two Six Nations and Grand Slams and another championship title during his tenure, and reached the semi-final of the 2011 World Cup.
He has twice been released from his Wales duties to coach the Lions - for the victorious tour of Australia in 2013 and the current New Zealand tour.
Phillips has praised Gatland's handling of this Lions on the current trip after intense criticism he has received.
He was portrayed as a clown on the front of the New Zealand Herald following the first Test after accusing the All Blacks of targeting Lions scrum-half Conor Murray.
He was also criticised for calling up Wales quartet Cory Hill, Gareth Davies, Tomas Francis and Kristian Dacey and Scottish pair Alan Dell and Finn Russell and only using them as injury cover.
The Welsh four players were unused replacements in two matches.
"It's his third tour so he knows what to expect, it's probably the toughest coaching job in rugby," Phillips added.
"He's had the discipline to stay above the criticism, not be drawn into it.
"He has the strong character and has retained his discipline to keep his eye on the prize of winning the Test series.
"You have to stay focused, back yourself and stay true to your instincts."
Phillips also defended the WRU's decision to allow Gatland and his Wales assistants Rob Howley and Neil Jenkins to tour with the Lions, leaving Robin McBryde to lead the national team in their two summer Test matches against Samoa and Tonga.
Wales won both their games and handed out 12 new caps while the Lions have a chance of winning a first Test series in New Zealand since 1971.
So did the WRU and Phillips get it right?
"It's not about being personally vindicated," said Phillips.
"Sometimes you get it right and sometimes get it wrong.
"I'm just pleased for everyone. I am pleased for the Welsh youngsters who got the wins against Samoa and Tonga.
"Jamie Roberts led them well on the pitch and they are good ambassadors for Welsh rugby."
Phillips does not believe the future of the Lions is in danger, despite calls to shorten future tours.
He believes the trips should have a special place in the calendar.
"It's a little bit like the Olympics for rugby, it's the crown jewels," said Phillips.
"We know the players put it almost above their country jersey sometimes and coaches want to coach the Lions.
"I definitely don't think we should subscribe to one-off games or breaking something as powerful a brand as this is.
"As a Lions board we have always said the brand is stronger if you can win a series."
English clubs have indicated they want the 10-match tour to be reduced to eight games but Phillips has indicated the Lions might need more time to win a series.
"The fixture congestion is an ongoing debate and we are having the conversation about the global season," he said.
"When it comes to Lions tours, it's the Test series that counts.
"It's a brilliant brand so you are probably looking at more preparation time, looking at what's a sensible run of games into a Test series." | Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Martyn Phillips expects Warren Gatland to see out his contract as Wales coach. |
39657910 | The two sides have been in dispute since last April.
The year-long row is over Southern giving drivers responsibility for operating the doors, and changing the role of guards to on-board supervisors.
The rail firm, which is also in dispute with drivers' union Aslef, confirmed talks would be held Monday and Tuesday.
A spokesman for Southern said: "We're pleased to be meeting the RMT in a bid to try and find a route forward to end their dispute."
The RMT has taken 31 days of strike action over the proposed changes.
General secretary Mick Cash said: "The union welcomes the opportunity to engage with Southern rail in further talks.
"We expect there to be no efforts to undermine these important talks from other parties and that they will be allowed to take place free from external interference."
Rail user groups urged all parties to reach agreement as soon as possible.
Shelley Atlas, who runs Brighton Line Commuters, said: "It's about time this was sorted. The situation has been like this since last April and that's a very long time for passengers to put up with it.
"There have been plenty of talks before but the end result hasn't happened.
"We know of one lady who lost the possibility of a job in London because of the strikes and another lost a house sale.
"But it doesn't just affect the passengers, it affects traders and businesses on the stations. People are very concerned." | Talks are due to begin later between Southern rail and the RMT union in an ongoing dispute over driver-only operated trains. |
38005311 | Officer Jeronimo Yanez opened fire on Philando Castile, 32, after stopping his car in Falcon Heights, St Paul.
The aftermath was streamed live on Facebook by Mr Castile's girlfriend who was a passenger in the car.
The death prompted widespread protests in St Paul.
The killing is one of a series of deaths of black men and boys at the hands of police - which has fuelled claims of institutionalised racism in US society.
Announcing the charge on Wednesday, district prosecutor John Choi said that evidence, including video from a police car, showed that when the officer had approached the car, Mr Castile had calmly told him he was carrying a gun.
Mr Choi said the officer had told Mr Castile not to pull the gun out and Mr Castile and his girlfriend had both said that he was not doing so. He said the officer had then screamed, drawn his gun and fired seven shots.
He said that as Mr Castile was dying, he had uttered his final words: "I wasn't reaching for it."
Mr Choi said that "unreasonable fear" on the part of a police officer could not justify the use of deadly force.
Mr Castile's mother, Valerie Castile, said the charge was the strongest the family could have hoped for under Minnesota law.
Glenda Hatchett, a lawyer representing the family, described the move as "an important signal to this nation".
Speaking after the shooting, Mr Castile's girlfriend said he had been shot while reaching for his ID after telling the police officer he had a gun and a permit for it.
Lawyers for Mr Yanez, who is Latino, have said that he reacted to the presence of a gun in the car. They say he stopped Mr Castile because he appeared to be a possible match for an armed robbery suspect.
But the district prosecutor said on Wednesday that Mr Castile had not been a suspect in that robbery.
Mr Castile's family say he was racially profiled.
Mr Yanez is due to make his first court appearance on Friday. If found guilty, he faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
Mr Castile's death led to angry protests outside the governor's mansion and another demonstration that shut down a main highway in St Paul for hours. | A US police officer who fatally shot a black man in Minnesota in July has been charged with second-degree manslaughter, prosecutors say. |
38678540 | What he found in his local Waitrose appalled him: the cards were all pink ballerinas for girls, footballers and astronauts for boys. There was nothing that challenged those gendered stereotypes.
So he sent a quick tweet.
What followed was a vitriolic debate over the question of exactly what greetings cards should show.
His initial tweet addressed publicly to the upmarket food store simply asked "Dear @waitrose, do you think your children's cards may be just a bit stereotypical?"
Sir Peter wasn't prepared for the online response, which included insults and sneers from people who thought the matter trivial or too prescriptive.
Several said they, or their daughters, liked pink and wanted to buy cards that reflected their femininity. Others agreed with him.
He hastens to clarify: "I'm happy for there to be pink cards with ballerinas on display. It's choice I'm arguing for, not banning or limiting options. Lots of girls I know would not want to be sent those cards."
"Some adults make assumptions about children that are patronising and wrong."
Waitrose responded that while many of their cards are already suitable for both boys and girls they are "constantly updating to reflect what our customers want to buy".
"We are currently working with our suppliers to explore how we can reflect a wider range of children's interests which aren't gender specific," said Waitrose press spokesperson, Gill Smith.
In the meantime Sir Peter argues that the current preponderance of images of girls dancing, shopping and dressing up, while boys are shown having adventures and doing sport can have a subtle impact on children's future ambitions.
"This crude stereotyping does do harm. It limits aspiration, it shapes careers. If girls are told they should be ballerinas and boys astronauts and scientists it's damaging."
During his parliamentary career Sir Peter worked to encourage women to enter the engineering profession and persuaded magazines aimed at teenage girls to address their portrayal of women.
"We have lowest participation of women in engineering in Europe, probably the world. Our engineering companies are missing out on talent," he said.
The number and passion of responses - several hundred - indicates he may have hit a raw nerve. Already there have been outspoken campaigns against toy manufacturers that entrench stereotypes and some companies such as Lego have adapted their marketing as a result.
But it isn't an matter that has been discussed much within the greetings card business, at least not yet, according to Sharon Little, chief executive of the Greeting Card Association (GCA), the industry trade body.
Ms Little says retailers decide what cards they stock, based simply on what they think their customers will buy.
So why don't retailers offer cards showing girls driving diggers and boys dancing?
"Maybe they don't sell in enough quantities," she suggests. But if customers want something different all they need to do is ask.
"They need to give feedback to the retailer, if they don't feel their needs are being met.
"Card publishers are producing new ranges all the time and they would be able to react very quickly."
And getting it right will pay off. The UK boasts a huge greeting cards industry, worth £1.7bn a year.
According to the GCA Brits buy an average of of 31 cards per person per year, and the vast majority, it is thought, by women. | Earlier this week former Conservative MP Sir Peter Luff was sent by his wife to buy a birthday card for her niece. |
36528378 | The 72-year-old died on Tuesday morning.
Mr McCullough grew up in Portstewart, County Londonderry. He recorded with a number of very well-known musicians including Sir Paul McCartney and Wings, featuring on the hit James Bond theme, Live and Let Die.
He played with Joe Cocker at the legendary Woodstock concert in 1969, the only Irishman to perform there.
Mr McCullough also toured with rock acts such as Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd.
He had received critical acclaim in recent years for albums such as Belfast to Boston and Poor Man's Moon.
Sir Paul McCartney said he was "very sad" to hear of Mr McCullough's death.
"He was a pleasure to work with, a super talented musician with a lovely sense of humour," he told the BBC.
"The solo he played on My Love was a classic that he made up on the spot in front of a live orchestra. Our deepest sympathies from my family to his."
Singer and musician Sir Van Morrison said he was "very sorry" to hear about Mr McCullough's death.
"I know he had some difficult times recently, but he will be remembered for his long and productive career in music," he said.
"My thoughts are with his friends and family at this time."
Mr McCullough spent 18 months touring and recording with Wings in the 1970s, after being invited to join the band following a number of jamming sessions with Sir Paul McCartney.
He was hailed for his guitar work on the US number one hit, My Love.
Mr McCullough later signed to the Dark Horse record label of another Beatle, George Harrison, for his solo album, Mind Your Own Business. | The Northern Ireland rock guitarist, Henry McCullough, has died. |
33698403 | It follows the publication of letters between the boss of Cluff Natural Resources and Scottish ministers.
They show that the day after a ban on unconventional oil and gas was announced, Cluff warned that plans to invest more than £250m were at risk.
WWF Scotland said plans to burn coal under the sea should be a non-starter.
No-one at Cluff Natural Resources was available for comment on the letters.
In the communications from January this year, Algy Cluff, the comany's founder, said he wanted assurances from ministers that the ban on unconventional oil and gas - often referred to as fracking - would not apply to underground coal gasification (UCG).
The UCG process attempt to reach reserves of coal which are inaccessible to mine, in this case under the waters of the Forth estuary.
It involves chemically converting the coal from a solid state into gas by pumping oxygen and steam through a small borehole into the coal seam.
Environmental campaigners have said UCG should be included in the fracking moratorium.
Mr Cluff's letter has been released following a freedom of information request from anti-fracking campaigners.
It has been published by The Ferret, an investigative journalism website, along with the reply sent by Alex Neil MSP, the Cabinet secretary responsible for planning.
In his response, Mr Neil gave Mr Cluff an assurance the moratorium was "specifically about the onshore exploration, appraisal, and production of coal bed methane and shale oil and gas."
He added: "The moratorium does not apply to the offshore underground gasification of coal."
Powers to licence onshore unconventional oil and gas developments are being devolved to the Scottish government. But UCG licences will continue to be issued by the Coal Authority.
A Scottish government spokeswoman said: "The development of new energy technologies, such as underground coal gasification, must be consistent with our environmental objectives and we will continue to take a careful, evidence-based approach to such developments."
Meanwhile, the SNP MP for Edinburgh East, Tommy Sheppard, has described UCG as "more problematic" than fracking because of the "threat of underground explosions and geological trauma".
Mr Sheppard also suggested the Scottish government's moratorium could be applied to UCG.
He told BBC Scotland: "If you are going to drill shafts onshore, before going offshore, you are going to need planning permission for that and, in my mind, that would most definitely be unconventional gas extraction and it would be covered by the moratorium.
"There's a big debate going on within the SNP, as there is within wider Scottish society, about whether or not these new technologies have a role to play, whether the benefits outweigh the risks, and that debate is going on in great detail within my local community and within my party.
"I have pretty much made up my mind on this and I am on one side of that debate and that's purely because of the evidence I have been shown over the last 18 months."
Environmentalists insist the time has come for the Scottish government to rule out UCG.
They argue it already has the power to do so under the existing planning laws governing related developments onshore.
Lang Banks, director of WWF Scotland, said: "No company should ever be allowed to hold Scottish ministers or Scotland's environment to ransom like this.
"This latest revelation again highlights why plans to burn coal under the sea should be a non-starter, and why the Scottish government must extend its moratorium on unconventional gas extraction to include underground coal gasification.
"The science is clear, to protect our climate the vast majority of fossil fuel reserves must remain unburned. In a worst case scenario, proposals such as these could even extend our use of fossil fuels, locking us into a high-carbon world."
No-one from Cluff Natural Resources was available for comment. | Environmentalists have accused the firm behind plans to use coal seams beneath the Forth to produce gas of "attempting to hold Scotland to ransom". |
34760126 | Bath's Conservative-led council has proposed the scheme for Bathampton Meadows but more than 5,500 people have signed a petition against the plans.
The Bath Preservation Trust said the Unesco 2009 recommendation was to reinforce the protection of the site.
The plans are due to be discussed at a meeting of the council on 12 November.
"It would be difficult to see how building a park-and-ride on the site would protect the setting," said Caroline Kay, chief executive of the trust.
Mrs Kay said the trust was "not anti-park-and-ride" but did not believe a new scheme to the east of the city would "provide sufficient benefit to justify the harm it would cause".
Bath resident Amy Williams, who won gold in the skeleton at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, has joined the campaign.
She said there was "no need to spoil these beautiful meadows" and urged the council to think about better advertising for the existing park-and-ride sites.
Tim Warren, the leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council, said the plans were "a key part of the council's wider strategy to improve transport and tackle congestion in and around Bath".
"It is of course vital that it is delivered in a way which is sensitive to the local area," said Mr Warren.
A final decision on the scheme will be made by the cabinet at a later date. | Plans to build a new park-and-ride scheme on meadows near Bath may damage the city's Unesco World Heritage City status, campaigners say. |
32539346 | The case concerned whether the publication of pixelated CCTV footage meant a criminal offence had been committed.
But the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) ruled there was "nothing sufficiently distinctive" likely to identify her.
Evans and his supporters are trying to get his conviction overturned.
The disgraced Wales football international was jailed for five years in 2012 after being found guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman at a hotel near Rhyl, Denbighshire.
The 26-year-old was released last year after serving half of his sentence.
In January, the CPS was asked by the Attorney General to consider whether there was a case to answer.
CPS Wales chief crown prosecutor Ed Beltrami said it was "deemed unlikely that a member of the public could identify the victim and for that reason it was decided that there was insufficient evidence to charge". | No action will be taken against a website supporting rapist Ched Evans following an inquiry into whether his victim was identified. |
19504751 | Ipswich Hospital will stop the free service for patients attending clinical appointments from the end of the month, unless they meet assessment criteria.
A spokesperson said the hospital was following national guidelines.
Kevin McGrath, who attends three appointments a week, said: "This really is a matter of life and death."
He lives about a mile away from the hospital but is too weak to walk to his sessions, which last about four hours each.
Mr McGrath will be one of about 30 of the 100 or so renal dialysis patients which the hospital says will no longer receive free transport.
About 30 patients will continue to qualify through benefits and another 40 for medical reasons, such as being wheelchair bound, the hospital said.
Mr McGrath said he was concerned about other patients who have further to travel.
"We've got patients from Washbrook to Aldeburgh," he said. "If they're expected to fund their own taxis, people can't do it. They just can't afford it."
He has signed a petition calling for the hospital to reconsider the withdrawal of funding.
Catherine Morgan, associate director of nursing at Ipswich Hospital, said the hospital was following national Department of Health guidelines.
She said the hospital had to treat all patients equally.
"For renal patients, it's understandably a distressing and difficult situation," she said.
"However, there are a number of other groups, for example patients in the oncology department, who haven't had this service before and have to adhere to the national guidance.
"We're working really closely with patients, so if they feel they are unable to fund their own transport and they don't meet the clinical criteria for transport, we are helping them make appropriate claims.
"Patient safety is our biggest concern and we wouldn't knowingly put anyone's life at risk."
Michael Watson, director of information and advice at the Patients Association, said he was "deeply concerned" by the changes and called on the hospital to reconsider.
"I think they reflect a widespread problem within the NHS," he said.
"They're being asked to do more with less funding and less resources, and are struggling to even keep the services they offer at present." | Lives are being put at risk by the decision to end free transport to a Suffolk hospital for kidney dialysis patients, it has been claimed. |
35833843 | The 26-year-old has scored 30 goals for the German side this season and earlier this year he became the first Gabonese to be named the Confederation of African Football player of the year.
"Becoming Africa's player of the year was extraordinary, a huge prize," Tuchel told BBC Sport.
"It made him stronger, even more self-confident."
Tuchel added: "Players like 'Auba' improve themselves with their spirit, their mentality and their will to give everything, every day.
"He plays to become a league top scorer, to get a hand on a cup or championship trophy."
Aubameyang's journey to the top has not been without difficulty. After coming through the youth system at Italian giants AC Milan, he was offloaded without playing a game.
Similar rejection then followed in France, the country of his birth, during a sequence of unproductive Ligue 1 loan deals.
Like so many Africans before him, it was at St Etienne where the then slightly-framed West African finally found his feet.
The early setbacks were formative, though, equally so the highs and lows of an Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in 2012.
Dortmund captain Mats Hummels, a World Cup winner with Germany, says his club-mate has "plenty of qualities", but singles out the forward's deadly acceleration.
"He is the fastest player I have played with or against," he said. "He also works hard for the team, which is the most important thing."
'World class'
However, Aubameyang's selection as football of the year was criticised by his four-time predecessor Yaya Toure.
"What Toure did was quite outrageous," says England-based German journalist Michael Streck of the Manchester City midfielder.
A Dortmund native, Streck tracks the Bundesliga and Premier League.
"Aubameyang has been playing at a world-class level for several years now," Streck said.
"This year Dortmund have been playing a more possession-based style than they had under Jurgen Klopp and I think Aubameyang has benefited from that, too."
Tuchel refuses credit for the most prolific season of the forward's career, however.
"I'm happy that we have a good connection, that I can help him, try to guide him on his way," he said.
"But it is his way, it is his talent and it is his achievement."
With the Bundesliga to fight for and another Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon next year, Germany and all of Africa are watching to see how far Aubameyang can go. | Gabon and Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is always improving, says coach Thomas Tuchel. |
35309422 | The international metals firm, Liberty House, has confirmed to the BBC that it is interested in acquiring the Dalzell and Clydebridge works.
In October, Tata announced 1,200 job losses across the UK.
A possible deal with Greybull Capital emerged in December, but unions said this would not necessarily guarantee the future of the Scottish plants.
The company was said to be in talks to buy the Scunthorpe plant and the Scottish plants but steelworkers' union Community, told BBC Scotland that Greybull's business plan did not include Dalzell, where 225 jobs are being lost, and the Clydebridge plant where 45 jobs are going.
The union suggested that the Scottish plants should be sold off separately from Scunthorpe.
Liberty has now told the BBC it has expressed interest in the Scottish businesses to both Tata and Scottish Enterprise.
It said discussions were ongoing but nothing had been finalised.
A global glut of steel, cheap Chinese imports and the strength of Sterling have all conspired against the UK steel industry.
It's in crisis with heavy job losses including the 900 at Scunthorpe and 270 at Clydebridge and Dalzell announced by Tata in October.
Since December, Tata's been in talks with Greybull Capital about selling all three sites as part of its long products division.
Reports today suggest that a deal is close.
At the same time, Liberty House has confirmed its interest in buying Clydebridge and Dalzell as the Scottish government's steel taskforce prepares to meet.
A Liberty director told the BBC the company wants to retain skills, jobs and continue production at the two Scottish mills.
But has their interest come too late?
Not necessarily. I understand that Tata is prepared to consider selling the Scottish plants separately and that Greybull may be "willing for that to happen".
The steelworkers' union Community has previously said that a Greybull takeover would not necessarily secure the future of Clydebridge and Dalzell.
If they are sold to Liberty - and nothing has been finalised - the Lanarkshire mills would be supplied with steel bought on the international market rather than from Scunthorpe.
According to some industry sources, breaking that link may be the only way to keep Scottish steel competitive.
Public confirmation of its position comes ahead of a meeting of the Scottish government's steel taskforce later.
Business Minister Fergus Ewing said: "Liberty House has a proven track record in the UK steel industry and this is a welcome development in the quest to secure a sustainable future for Scottish steel.
"I met Liberty management last week to outline the full range of potential support that would be available from the Scottish government and Scottish Enterprise should it succeed in a buyout.
"I also emphasised that the Scottish Steel Task Force continues to work constructively to ensure a viable future for the plants, with action being taken forward on energy costs, business rates, procurement and on environmental issues."
He added: "To help a new operator restart operations, the Scottish government has also invested £195,000 in a plan to keep key workers on standby to minimise the time the plants are mothballed and to safeguard full manufacturing capability.
"The Steel Task Force will meet this morning and reflect on this positive development."
A spokesman for Community said "any interest from credible investors" was welcome.
"This reinforces our strongly-held view that the skills of the workforce and the assets at the plants can be competitive and these businesses can have a successful future with the right long-term investment," the spokesman said.
"Clearly, there is a long way to go from an expression of interest to rebuilding the workforce and restarting production.
"This is why all stakeholders - particularly Tata Steel and the Scottish government - need to work together and remain focused on doing all they can to preserve the assets and retain skills, so that another investor can secure jobs and bring back production as soon as practically possible."
Labour MSP James Kelly, who is on the steel taskforce, and is MSP for Clydebridge, said: "My main priority is preserving jobs at Dalzell and Clydebridge and if selling them as a separate entity would achieve that, then that's something I would support".
Tata blamed the cuts on a flood of cheap imports from China, a strong pound and high electricity costs.
The decision to close the two Tata plants in Scotland effectively ends production at the country's last two major steelworks.
The Dalzell Steel and Iron Works opened in 1872, and Clydebridge in 1887. | A new potential buyer has emerged for Tata Steel's two mothballed plants in Lanarkshire, where 270 jobs are going. |
33298078 | The Foreign Office has confirmed 15 Britons have died following the attack on a beach resort in Sousse on Friday.
Tony Callaghan, a police support worker from Norfolk, and his wife Chris, are being treated for gunshot wounds.
He said the bullet went through her bag and hit her glasses case, before striking her in the leg.
The couple, aged in their 60s and from North Walsham, were staying at the Imperial Hotel for the third time and were by the pool when loud bangs echoed around the beach.
Mr Callaghan told BBC correspondent Mark Lowen his wife's handbag took the impact of the bullet, which shattered the lens of her glasses before striking her leg.
Describing the attack, Mr Callaghan said: "A lot of people thought there were fireworks going off. I'm ex-military, so I knew that wasn't fireworks and that was gunshots.
"So I told people and my wife to start running up towards the hotel."
He said he then got shot in the leg, but managed to find cover in a hotel office.
"Six of us took cover in there and I thought my wife was behind me, but she was still in the corridor," he said.
"As soon as we were in the room they started barricading the door, but I looked around and my wife wasn't with me. I could hear her shouting, 'help me I've been shot'. And I was inside and I couldn't get out to help."
Mr Callaghan said police then came and the barricade was pulled down and he left the office to see "carnage" in the corridor.
He described seeing a woman next to his wife who had been shot four times in the back, and at least another two female bodies. Another woman had been shot dead in another office, he added.
The pair are still being treated at the Sahloul University Hospital, along with about 18 others who received bullet wounds.
In a statement, Norfolk Police said it was liaising with the Foreign Office regarding the Callaghan's situation and was providing assistance to their family back home.
It said another of its officers was also on holiday in the resort at the time violence broke out, but he was "safe and well".
The attack marks "the most significant terrorist attack on the British people" since the London 7/7 bombings in 2005, according to Foreign Minister Tobias Ellwood.
Fifteen people have so far been confirmed dead, but the toll is likely to rise, he added. | A Briton who survived the Tunisian attack said his wife's life could have been saved when bullets struck her handbag. |
38086034 | The 36-year-old midfielder, who is leaving MLS side LA Galaxy, told BT Sport he held talks with the League One club after Karl Robinson's departure.
"It's a very exciting job for someone else," said Gerrard, who made 710 appearances for Liverpool.
He has been linked with moves to Celtic and Newcastle United, as well as a return to Anfield as a coach.
England's fourth most-capped player left Liverpool in 2015 after 17 years in the first team, during which he won eight major trophies.
Gerrard is working towards his Uefa A coaching licence - the second-highest qualification available.
Take part in our new Premier League Predictor game, which allows you to create leagues with friends.
Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox. | Former Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard says MK Dons' managerial vacancy came "a bit too soon" for him. |
27941962 | The Edinburgh band picked up the award and £20,000 at a ceremony in Glasgow's Barrowlands on Thursday.
They beat Biffy Clyro's number one UK album Opposites and Edywn Collins' Understated to the prize.
The Scottish album of the year, similar to the Mercury Music Prize, acknowledges "the most outstanding albums" released by Scottish artists in the past 12 months.
Young Fathers said: "What started in the basement has become worldwide. Something that is personal to us, is for everyone."
Other bands on the shortlist included Chvrches, Mogwai and Boards Of Canada.
Stewart Henderson, chairman of the Scottish music industry association, said: "I'd just like to say how delighted we are for Young Fathers.
"Tape Two is an extraordinary album and a deserving winner out of a phenomenally strong shortlist." | Young Fathers have won the Scottish album of the year award for Tape Two. |
35570502 | Broos, 63, takes over from Volker Finke who was sacked in October.
Alexandre Belinga, the team's interim coach for the past three months, will remain as an assistant to the Belgian along with another former Belgian player, Sven Vandenbroeck.
Broos, who has coached extensively across Europe, was a surprise choice.
He was not on Fecafoot's shortlist of five, which included three Frenchmen, a Serbian and a Cameroonian.
Broos has vast experience as a manager, having won the Belgian Championship twice with Club Brugge and then again with Anderlecht. He has also enjoyed spells in Greece, Turkey and Algeria in recent years.
His first task with Cameroon will be to keep them top of their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group M, when they face qualifiers - home and away - against South Africa next month.
He will also take charge of the Indomitable Lions when they take on France in a friendly in May. | Cameroon's Football Federation (Fecafoot) have appointed former Belgium international, Hugo Broos, as the Indomitable Lions' new head coach. |
32164852 | Perth and Kinross Council is to consider an application to host the annual music event on the grounds of Strathallan Castle from this summer.
Part-owners of the estate have said they will not allow wildlife or the natural environment to be harmed.
But some residents say the site's road network and abundant wildlife make it unsuitable to host such a major event.
The festival is looking for a new home after quitting Balado after 17 years due to concerns about an oil pipeline running under the site.
Perth and Kinross Council is to consider a detailed planning application from organisers DF Concerts for the Strathallan site following a second round of public consultation.
The initial 28-day consultation drew 523 public comments, with 274 opposing the plans, 240 supporting them and nine neutral.
One objector, local resident Zazie Mackintosh, said she was worried by the ongoing dispute over the proposal, which has seen nature groups including RSPB Scotland and the Woodland Trust clash with DF Concerts and estate owners.
"I am concerned that this is dividing the community," she said.
"There are a lot of people who are opposing the proposal to have T in the Park here and there are people supporting it, and it has created real tension. I think it's a real shame that this has happened.
"I think there are many reasons why Strathallan is not the right place for this - the road network is not suitable for traffic of that volume, and there is an abundance of wildlife at the site. There's a private water supply, health and safety issues, and I think the negative impact it could have on the established tourist industry."
Jamie and Debs Roberts are part-owners of the Strathallan Estate, and insist protecting the local environment has always been their priority.
"We're conservationists at heart," said Mrs Roberts.
"We've been organic farmers for the last 20 years. Looking after wildlife is not something that's different to us or a conflict for us - it's core to what we do.
"Where I have comfort is that all of the experts who have come in and looked and assessed the wildlife issues here at Strathallan, all of their recommended actions are being adhered to. Where we have specific species where there are actions to look after them, that's all being implemented so they are being protected.
"I'd also look at the work DF Concerts did at Balado - they were working alongside a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the conditions for that environmental management is much higher than anything that we would have here."
Attracting more than 80,000 music fans every year, the festival generates a significant economic boost for Scotland - and Perthshire.
A study carried out by Glasgow-based consultancy Ekos estimated that the 2014 event generated £15m for the Scottish economy, and £2.7m locally in Perthshire, with one in five attendees travelling from outside Scotland.
However, Mrs Mackintosh claimed the event might actually harm the local tourist trade.
She said: "While I agree that T in the Park is fantastic for the Scottish economy, that would be the case wherever it was in Scotland, and I would question how beneficial it would be to the local economy. I would question that there's a significant net economic benefit.
"I think this part of Perthshire is already on the map - Gleaneagles has done a great job of that with the Ryder Cup and the G8.
"Certainly some businesses and people will benefit - and no-one more than the castle owners. But tourists come here for the landscape and the wildlife and the scenery, our local shops and art galleries, and that part of the economy would suffer."
While the Roberts' are unapologetic that they would "generate revenue" from having the festival as a tenant, they insisted the move would represent "an opportunity" for Strathallan as a whole.
Mrs Roberts said: "What it came down to for us was that there was going to be a massive change, but with it come a whole raft of benefits, not just for the estate but for the wider area.
"I'm actually more convinced now than I was.
"In the last months and years we've had so many chances to challenge DF Concerts and to get answers to questions, and at every stage they've been forthright and transparent. I'm happier now today than I've ever been with it."
Mr Roberts added: "We are guardians and custodians of this area, and we make the decisions - we won't let it be spoiled.
"It's the beauty that brought DF Concerts here. They're not interested in desecrating that or decimating it - it's in their best interest and ours to maintain the environment that's here."
Meanwhile, traffic plans for the event have been defended by the firm which helped design them, Yorkshire-based traffic management firm SEP Ltd.
A spokesman said there were forecast to be just under 69,000 vehicle movements across a four-week period including the festival build-up, break down and show days, including 13,000 vehicles which would be left on-site during the festival.
He said: "There is a scientific calculation of network capacity and flow rates that can be applied to the road network being used by the event.
"A desktop modelling exercise has been performed and it was successful. We are confident of our plans and are extremely experienced in managing traffic plans in rural areas."
Perth and Kinross Council aims to reach a decision on the planning application in May. | The community of Strathallan has been "divided" over the proposal to host T in the Park there, residents say. |
38852515 | The Markit/CIPS purchasing managers' index (PMI) recorded its first slowdown in the services sector for four months.
The index fell to 54.5 in January from the previous month's reading of 56.2.
However, a reading above 50 still indicates the sector is expanding, and Markit said the economy was on track for a "buoyant" start to 2017.
Similar surveys from Markit/CIPS released earlier in the week suggested a slight slowdown in activity in both the manufacturing and construction sectors.
But Markit said the surveys together suggested the UK economy would grow by a "robust" 0.5% in the first quarter of the year, if current trends continued.
On Thursday, the Bank of England revised up its forecast for the UK economy this year, and now expects it to grow by 2%.
The health of the UK's service sector is monitored closely as it accounts for more than three-quarters of the economy.
Markit said the main positive finding from its latest survey of the sector was an increase in optimism about future prospects, which was at its highest since May last year.
However, once again firms reported inflationary pressures. Price inflation for goods bought by the companies hit the highest since March 2011, while inflation in prices charged rose at the same rate as December's 68-month high.
Firms are facing much higher prices for imported goods since the fall in the value of the pound since the Brexit referendum vote in June last year.
"Service sector growth eased after a strong end to 2016, but the January surveys still point to a buoyant start to 2017 for the UK economy," said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit.
"Encouragingly, optimism about the coming year has risen to its highest in one-and-a-half years, improving across the board in all sectors to suggest that January's slowdown may only be temporary.
"The main area of concern is the extent to which companies' costs are rising across the economy, with the rate of inflation accelerating to a pace not seen since before the global financial crisis," he added.
"Higher costs are feeding through to increased selling prices, which will inevitably put upward pressure on consumer prices."
Latest official figures showed the annual rate inflation rose to 1.6% last month, up from 1.2% in November.
The Bank expects the weakness in the pound to push inflation to 2.7% next year, above its target rate of 2%.
Bank of England governor Mark Carney has said the Bank is prepared to tolerate inflation running above its target, but in the minutes from their latest meeting, members of the Monetary Policy Committee said they had moved "a little closer" to the limit of that toleration. | Growth in the UK's dominant service sector slowed last month, according to a closely watched survey, while price pressures "remained intense". |
33698807 | The benchmark Shanghai Composite closed 3.4% higher at 3,789.17 - ending a three-day slide that included an 8% plunge on Monday.
Authorities tried to calm markets with a probe into illegal share "dumping".
They also pledged to buy stocks, while the central bank hinted at possible further easing.
Investors' confidence was also boosted by a higher close overnight for Wall Street, with the Dow Jones breaking a five-day losing trend.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng was also higher, ending up 0.5% to 24,619.45 points.
In Japan, retail sales came in 0.9 % higher for June compared with the previous year, almost double forecasts.
But the Nikkei 225 failed to pick up on the positive cues and closed flat at 20,302.91 points.
Investor sentiment was pulled down by poor earnings reports, with both Fanuc and Tokyo Electron cutting their full-year forecasts. Shares in both companies fell 10% in early trade.
In Australia, the ASX/200 was boosted by both Wall Street and the encouraging signs from China. The index finished up by 0.7% to 5,624.20 points.
In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi index closed flat at 2,037.86.
Investors across the region were also looking ahead to the US Federal Reserve, which finishes its regular two-day meeting later on Wednesday.
There are hopes that the Fed might give some signals about the timing of an interest rate raise later in the year. | Shares in mainland China bounced back significantly on Wednesday as the government's moves to calm investors restored some stability to the market. |
36163370 | Katy Pancott, 19, was struck between the Eynsham and Wolvercote roundabouts after midnight on 9 October.
The court heard that Ms Pancott, from Kidlington, had been due to go on holiday on the day of her death.
Darren Salter at Oxford Coroner's Court recorded a verdict that she died as a result of a road traffic collision.
Updates on this story and more from Oxfordshire
Thames Valley Police officers said Ms Pancott was a passenger in a black C63 Mercedes, which was stationary at the time, and got out of her own accord.
She was then struck by a silver Ford Focus travelling along the A40, and suffered multiple injuries.
In a statement read out in court, the driver of the Focus said he was travelling home with his wife at the 50mph speed limit when he struck Ms Pancott, who appeared in front of his car.
Andi Rama, Ms Pancott's boyfriend, told police he had picked her up from Oxford where she had been drinking with friends.
But they argued on the way to Witney and she opened the car door, saying she was going to get out.
He said he pulled into a side road where she got out and ended up in the carriageway.
Mr Rama was breathalysed and provided a negative test, the court heard.
Speaking after the verdict, David Griffin, Ms Pancott's father, called her a "lovely daughter" who "doted on her brothers and sister".
He added: "It's been very difficult, I don't think it's going to get much easier... all I can ask is that people don't forget my daughter." | A woman who was run over and killed on a main road in Oxfordshire had just got out of a car following a row with her boyfriend, an inquest has heard. |
24285864 | Media playback is not supported on this device
The Americans had been trailing 8-1. Their challengers were on match point. The turnaround was dramatic. It was unexpected. And it happened once Britain's greatest sailor, Sir Ben Ainslie, came onboard.
But what role did the four-time Olympic gold medallist play in Oracle's gripping 9-8 triumph in San Francisco and how influential was the Briton?
John Derbyshire, racing manager and performance director of the Royal Yachting Association, and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to perform a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the globe, explain how the 36-year-old helped Oracle to a remarkable victory.
The America's Cup is said to be like a game of chess and Ainslie was the Garry Kasparov of the Oracle team, the grandmaster charged with planning the crowning moves.
"The tactician is one of the three key roles on these bigger boats," Derbyshire tells BBC Sport.
"Ainslie determines how to respond to another team's move. For example, if one boat turns away from the wind, he will have to decide when to do the same.
"The tactician is responsible for the boat-on-boat manoeuvres and it's quite a leadership role.
"He has to think about what the opposition might do and will need the strategist to inform him where the wind is coming from and ensure the helmsman is able to steer as fast as possible, and the rest of the crew need to know what is going on, too."
Oracle had lost eight of their first 11 races. Larry Ellison's men were under attack on home waters and, in Ainslie's words, had a "mountain to climb". But, then, the team gambled.
In a last throw of the dice, Oracle drafted in Ainslie to replace John Kostecki, a San Francisco native, and although the Briton's impact was not immediate - Oracle lost their first two races with the greatest Olympic sailor calling the shots - he soon helped reduce the deficit and, 10 victories later, it was checkmate to Ainslie.
"The Americans were beaten until Ben joined the boat," says Sir Knox-Johnston.
"Ben may be risking his life if he visits New Zealand, but there's no question it was Ben's arrival which changed the chemistry completely."
It certainly seems Ainslie has an alchemist's touch, combining superbly with skipper James Spithill and strategist Tom Slingsby.
"He clearly has something that makes a difference and it's that intangible chemistry which seemed to improve the performance of the boat," says Derbyshire.
"Ben seemed to make every call correctly and it all added up to a fantastic team performance."
If the competition's tactics can resemble a game of chess, then the sheer volume of personnel required to ensure the team's sailors are well-equipped on the water draws comparisons with Formula 1.
Oracle had a 203-strong team, each member with a specific task, each with a part to play in the hi-tech multi-million pound programme.
Media playback is not supported on this device
"There will be the specialists like the meteorologists, the sail makers," reveals Derbyshire. "There are designers and engineers who are from the sailing world but with perhaps aeronautical background, because they're using solid wing masts rather than soft sails which we've previously seen.
"There's also a large shore team that rigs the boat because getting these masts in and out of the boat requires a crane. Everything is duplicated, pretty much like Formula 1.
"On the boat each team is slightly different, but a boat is usually split into two halves. There's the afterguard which includes the helmsman who steers, a strategist and the tactician.
"On the other side, people will have a variety of roles, from hoisting and lowering the sails to generating hydraulic power to power the movement of the sails on the wings."
Ainslie is the first Briton in 110 years to be on board a winning America's Cup boat and the decorated sailor has now set his sights on winning a competition which was first staged off the Isle of Wight in 1851 with a British team.
Wealthy businessman Sir Keith Mills was the last Briton to attempt to bring the Auld Mug back to these islands, establishing Team Origin in 2010 but he pulled the plug a year later once he learnt of Oracle's plans to use catamarans for the 34th Cup.
Ainslie says Britain has the talent, while both Derbyshire and Knox-Johnston believe the Olympian has the charisma to help fulfil his ambition.
"We could probably produce three or four teams because we're so strong in sailing," says Knox-Johnston.
"It's just a question of getting behind Ben because if anyone can, he can."
Anyone hoping to form an America's Cup team needs cash, oodles of it - about $100m (£62.5m) if Oracle are to be the guide.
A large crew, the world's best sailors and high-performance catamarans do not come cheaply, just ask the man bankrolling Oracle, the software billionaire Ellison.
So desperate were New Zealand to take the prestigious trophy to the Antipodes, the country's government splashed out about $30m (£19m) in subsidies in the hope the next contest would be held on their shores.
But is it realistic to think a British team could raise such funds?
"If you can show people that it's good for them and the country, it would be possible," says Knox-Johnston.
"It won't be easy but with someone like Ben leading it, we've got a chance."
Derbyshire is equally as optimistic. "It's more realistic now given that the economic climate is slowly improving," he says.
"One of the appeals of the America's Cup is that it's big boys with boy toys. It's rich men putting a lot of their finances behind it.
"Their finances, combined with the potential economic benefits to a local area or country, will generate funding. Perhaps we're getting closer to that than we've been for some time." | It has been described as the greatest comeback, a moment in sailing history when Oracle Team USA fought back from the brink to beat Team New Zealand by 44 seconds in a winner-takes-all finale. |
35735263 | Deputy presidential spokesman Manolo Quezon said the Philippines "has to do its part to enforce the sanctions".
The Jin Teng is one of 31 ships operated by North Korean firm Ocean Maritime Management, which is subject to an asset freeze and sanctions.
It is currently docked in Subic Bay and is unloading palm kernels.
New UN sanctions were imposed after North Korea's recent nuclear and ballistic missile tests.
They include mandatory inspections of all cargo going to or from the DPRK.
What impact will sanctions have?
Will carrots or sticks change North Korea?
The Philippines government says it will impound the Jin Teng and eventually deport the crew.
Safety issues were reportedly found during an inspection of the vessel by the Philippine coast guard on Friday.
A second inspection took place on Saturday, coastguard spokesman Commander Armand Balilo told AFP news agency.
He said the crew of 21 had been "very cooperative".
Ocean Maritime Management was blacklisted by the UN Security Council in 2014 after one of its ships was seized in July 2013 near the Panama Canal with Cuban weapons hidden under sugar sacks.
It was accused last year of renaming and reflagging its vessels to evade asset freezes.
The Jin Teng was sailing under a Sierra Leone flag.
Pyongyang reacted to Wednesday's sanctions by firing six short-range missiles into the sea.
Leader Kim Jong-Un later ordered that the country's nuclear weapons should be "ready for use" at any time. | The Philippines says it has seized a North Korean ship in line with tightened UN sanctions targeting the country's nuclear programme. |
38328991 | The North East MSP, who had served at the Scottish Parliament since 1999, passed away last week aged 55 shortly after being diagnosed with cancer.
Ms Davidson said he had instructed his funeral be held on a Friday.
This was because parliament was not sitting, "so the SNP wouldn't win any votes while Tories were here".
Ms Davidson told the service at Glenbervie Parish Church in Aberdeenshire: "He was a proper true blue Tory who would go into bat for the team but never fell out with anyone while doing so.
"A Labour blogger said you could disagree with him without ever finding him disagreeable.
"The first minister said he was never afraid to stand up robustly for the causes he believed in - but always did so with good humour and respect for his political opponents."
She went on to recall Kincardineshire-born former dairy farmer and grandfather-of-six Mr Johnstone's "humanity, his decency and his sense of fun".
Ms Davidson said: "Alex wasn't just reliable - he was good. He wasn't just solid, he was able.
She also paid tribute to Mr Johnstone's wife of 36 years, Linda, saying: "He couldn't have been the politician he was, he couldn't have been the man he was, without Linda being there.
"I know many, many happy, supportive couples. But I don't know any that are the indivisible unit they were."
The Scottish Conservatives announced earlier this week that Bill Bowman would take over as regional list MSP for the North East.
Mr Bowman stood for the Conservatives in Dundee City East earlier this year. | Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson described late colleague Alex Johnstone as a "proper true blue Tory" at his funeral. |
36817060 | The Welshman is five over par after a third round 76 saw him slip down the leaderboard.
Donaldson's best performance at The Open came in 2013 at Muirfield when he finished joint 32nd.
"If I beat that then it's an improvement," the 40-year-old told BBC Wales Sport.
"You never know, if I have a nice draw with no wind in the morning I could shoot five under and post a score for my own personal satisfaction and nothing else."
Four bogies on the back nine on Saturday left the world number 79 ruing missed putts.
"Overall the course today was playable and I played okay, but didn't putt great," he said.
"I kept three-putting and the holes are tough enough as it is,
"You don't need to knock it on the green in two and keep three-putting.
"I just couldn't get the speed of the greens."
Despite slipping out of contention, Donaldson, who had missed the cut in his previous four competitions, is overall happy with his performance so far at Troon.
"I've not played great of late, struggling with coming back and forth from America. Not playing my best golf," he added.
"To start showing signs of good golf again is a good thing so hopefully I can shoot a good score tomorrow and take it into the PGA." | Jamie Donaldson says he is targeting his highest placed finish at The Open Championship ahead of his final round at Royal Troon on Sunday. |
36812267 | The SNP MP for Edinburgh East said the party had to prepare for a second referendum on Scottish independence and still had "arguments to win".
The current deputy leader, Stewart Hosie, has said he will step down in the autumn.
Mr Sheppard wrote in a blog: "We need to prepare for the challenges ahead, including IndyRef2 when it comes.
"That will be a far tougher test, and we need to be ready."
Others to announce they are running are the party's Westminster leader Angus Robertson and MEP Alyn Smith. | Tommy Sheppard has announced he will stand for the role of deputy leader of the party. |
34138004 | His move to City, who play at Aggborough, home of Kidderminster Harriers, brings him back to the ground where his career began 20 years ago.
Smethwick-born Hughes began his career with the Harriers in 1995 before making his name at West Bromwich Albion.
It led to his biggest career move, when he joined Coventry for £5m in 2001, but he was only with City for a year.
He returned to The Hawthorns to help Albion win promotion to the Premier League in 2002, but was then sent to prison in August 2004 for causing death by dangerous driving.
After three years out of action, he returned to play in the lower reaches of the Football League, still proving a prolific scorer with Oldham, Notts County and Port Vale before dropping down to the Conference with Forest Green in January 2014.
Hughes then returned to Kidderminster in February, more than 17 years after he left the club, but managed just three goals in 13 games.
He began this season with Northern Premier League side Ilkeston Town, but has now answered the call from a struggling Worcster side who are second bottom of National League North, having picked up just four points from their first seven games. | Former £5m striker Lee Hughes has joined National League North club Worcester City, at the age of 39. |