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35,686,079 | None of the 26 pupils from Easingwold School were injured when the bus was driven into flood water near Newton-on-Ouse on the 5 January.
The bus company said as a result of its investigation, the driver, who has not been named, was no longer employed.
North Yorkshire Police said the driver had been interviewed and its investigation was ongoing.
The bus company, Stephenson's of Easingwold, said: "A full report has been provided to the relevant authorities, including North Yorkshire County Council, and a communication to relevant parents has also been sent via the school secure mailing system.
"The company cannot comment further on any other investigation by other authorities but can confirm that, as a result of this incident, the driver concerned is no longer employed by the company."
North Yorkshire County Council said at the time of the incident the road had been closed due to flooding and it believed signs had been in place advertising the closure. | A driver who stranded a school bus in flood water near York no longer works for the company involved. |
35,558,762 | The committee will hear from seven head teachers on Friday.
Figures in October showed 2.8% of grammar pupils are eligible for free school meals compared with 13.4% in non-selective schools.
Councillors are also examining grammar schools' admission criteria and their outreach work to support poorer pupils.
Liberal Democrat councillor Martin Vye said the statistics were "appallingly low" and the gap was still too wide.
He said he believed more could be done in primary schools to bring children from poor households to a level where they could face the Kent Test - the county's selective 11-plus - "with confidence".
Conservative councillor Jenny Whittle said figures were improving with grammar pupils eligible for free school meals now over 3%.
Adding that she would like the figure to double, she said: "Clearly we need to do more."
Both councillors are on the Kent County Council committee set up to tackle social mobility in the county's grammars. The committee is chaired by Ms Whittle. | Head teachers are giving evidence to a committee set up to tackle social mobility in Kent grammar schools as councillors admit more should be done. |
40,738,394 | The report, which was compiled by Birmingham City Council's licensing team, contains police allegations that up to £93,042 was taken from customers of Legs 11 on Broad Street.
The council has suspended the club's alcohol licence, pending a full review.
Legs 11 has not responded to a request for a comment.
In the council report Supt Andy Parsons said two men had claimed they were drugged, with one testing positive for methadone with a home testing kit.
The force is also investigating claims large amounts of money was taken from people's bank accounts without their knowledge.
Some customers had paid for dances "in a private area" but additional transactions were taking place that they had not authorised, he said.
One victim claimed he had lost as much as £19,417.
"In this year alone, four fraud offences have been reported totalling £23,965 with two of the victims reporting they had been drugged," he said.
"One of the victims went as far as getting a home drug test kit which indicated he was under the influence of methadone. This victim had £9,000 taken from his credit card."
The club was being investigated over 17 fraud-related allegations since 2013, West Midlands Police said.
Supt Parsons added "intelligence checks" suggested the club was linked to "organised crime groups from Albania".
"These premises are involved in serious criminality and serious offences are being committed at the premises," he said.
The report also contained details of an undercover trading standards investigation, during which officers were offered sexual services in a locked room for a fee of £1,000 and were "rubbed" by naked dancers, contravening the club's licence. | A lap dancing club allegedly drugged customers and charged thousands of pounds of unauthorised transactions to their credit cards, a report claims. |
15,385,562 | The 51-year-old actress will replace Len Goodman for a week while the head judge takes a break.
Grey won Dancing with the Stars - the US version of the celebrity dance show, on which Goodman also judges - last year with her partner Derek Hough.
She will join fellow judges Craig Revel Horwood, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli on the panel on 5 and 6 November.
"I so look forward to making the pilgrimage to the birthplace of the greatest dance show, the mecca of spray tans and tangos, and to sit in for the great and pernickety Len Goodman," Grey is quoted as saying.
Goodman films Strictly and its US counterpart concurrently, with Dancing with the Stars airing live on Monday and Tuesday straight after the judge finishes his duties with the UK show.
Fellow judge Tonioli also sits on the US judging panel, alongside US choreographer Carrie Ann Inaba.
"Flying back and forth between London and LA doing the two shows is very gruelling, so this year the BBC have kindly agreed to give me a week off to rest," Goodman said.
A BBC spokesman added: "It was always agreed that Len would take a week off from Strictly due to his commitments with Dancing with the Stars."
Goodman will return to the UK judging panel from 12 November.
Grey remains best known for her role as Frances 'Baby' Houseman in 1987's Dirty Dancing, in which she appeared with the late Patrick Swayze. | Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey is to guest judge on Strictly Come Dancing next month. |
37,417,855 | Isle of Man Railways said the move was necessary because only one of their trains is currently working.
Director of Transport Services Ian Longworth apologised to passengers.
He said: "We operate Victorian locomotives and we have experienced a high level of failures that require substantial repairs."
The revised schedule will start immediately and run until 6 November.
Isle of Man Railways said their No.8 locomotive Fennela is their only train in service.
The narrow gauge steam-operated railway runs 15.3 miles (24.6 km) between Douglas and Port Erin. | The Isle of Man Steam Railway will operate a revised timetable until the end of the 2016 season because of a "high level of operational issues". |
40,187,393 | Although the 6,833 houses and flats completed is slightly down on the previous year, it is the second highest figure in nine years.
It includes 1,243 social and council homes, according to Welsh Government figures, which are based on National Housing Building Council returns.
This is the second highest number of new homes for social and housing association landlords since 1998-99.
Newport and the Vale of Glamorgan are where the largest numbers of houses were built in 2016-17. Cardiff had the largest number of flats - nearly a third of the total completed in Wales.
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB), in its programme for government, has called for 14,000 new homes a year to be built in Wales over the next five years.
But it said the figures on Wednesday showed "a lot of room for improvement" and believes smaller building firms should be brought into the mix more, particularly those parts of Wales less attractive to the big house builders.
Ifan Glyn, director of FMB Cymru, said: "Around 75% of homes in Wales are now built by five big companies. House building on small parcels of land needs to be made more attractive to small and medium sized construction companies, who are at the moment working on things like house extensions."
The FMB wants small building firms brought into the local development plan process and for an end to social housing stipulations for small private developments.
Community Housing Cymru, which represents the social housing sector, welcomed the figures.
With the Welsh Government and Welsh Local Government Association, it set a target last year for 20,000 affordable homes to be built by 2021, including 12,500 by housing associations.
AMs discuss housing need
Stuart Ropke, chief executive of Community Housing Cymru, said: "Our members completed 1,224 new homes in 2016-17, 98% of new homes in the social sector. While we have an excellent delivery track record and, in fact, over-delivered on the previous target, continued investment in the sector is vital to ensure that we meet this new target."
It has also highlighted welfare issues facing tenants and support for the construction industry in its Homes for Wales campaign for the general election. | The number of new homes built in Wales in the last year has held steady. |
34,421,565 | It follows a crash involving two riders and a spectator at this year's event.
Spectator Violet McAfee, 44, had to be airlifted to hospital after the crash.
The changes include fewer riders and bikes starting in each wave on the grid, as well as more announcements to improve communication to riders.
Mervyn Whyte, event director of the North West 200, said: "We have taken on board the views of everyone involved in the race and have been engaged in intensive consultation with fans, team principals and riders over the past four months.
"Our aim is to improve the race organisation, making its operation both faster and more efficient. As a result we intend to introduce these significant changes for 2016."
The changes to be brought in are:
Ms McAfee was in the garden of a friend's house when three bikes crashed during the opening race last week.
She suffered serious head and leg injuries but has been making a good recovery. | The organisers of the North West 200 motorbike road races say there will be significant changes to next year's event, aimed at improving safety and efficiency on the course. |
39,347,138 | The fissure on the South West Coast path between Bowleaze Cove and Redcliff Point first appeared last March.
The initial drop in the cracked section was just over 1m (3ft) but the land has since fallen away further.
Dorset County Council said the landslide was likely to continue for some time.
"Looking along this 300ft-long crack which last year had a six foot drop, now the drop must be at least 25 or 30 ft," BBC reporter at the scene Laurence Herdman said.
Sam Scriven, the county council's Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site earth science manager, said: "This landslide has progressed quite a lot since it began and the slipped material is now collapsing further.
"This is exactly what we would expect and it will continue for some time to come.
"As always, we would encourage people to not stand near the cliff edge, where the rocks might still be unstable, and take care when exploring the beach below as rock falls will be more common as a result of the slip."
The original drop in the cracked section was just over 1m (3ft), the coastguard said at the time.
Source: Dorset County Council/Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site | A giant crack that first appeared on a cliff top on Dorset's Jurassic Coast a year ago has developed into a significant landslip. |
37,104,913 | O'Sullivan, 40, was the last winner of the Northern Ireland Trophy, the last world ranking tournament to be hosted by World Snooker in Belfast, in 2008.
The five-time world champion faces a busy autumn schedule.
O'Sullivan has also entered the English Open in Manchester, the Shanghai Masters, the European Championship and the International Championship.
Last season, O'Sullivan, currently ranked world number 10, did not play competitively until December.
The Irish Open will see 128 of the world's leading players compete in Belfast from 14-20 November.
The tournament is part of the new Home Nations quartet of events, with any player winning all four tournaments receiving a £1m bonus.
Total prize money for each of the Home Nations events will be £366,000, with the winner to receive £70,000.
The first of the four tournaments, the English Open, will take place in October, followed by the Irish Open, the Scottish Open in December and the Welsh Open in February 2017. | Ronnie O'Sullivan has confirmed his participation in the inaugural Irish Open at Titanic Belfast in November. |
34,916,854 | A memorandum of understanding has been agreed between the council and the consortium, led by Kelvin Thomas, which is taking over the Cobblers.
The deal would see the debt wiped out, with the council taking over land near Sixfields for development in return.
The club currently faces both an administration and winding-up petition.
The Cobblers owe the council the money over a loan given for unfinished redevelopment work at Sixfields Stadium, and also owes HM Revenue & Customs £166,000 in unpaid tax.
The loan was originally paid to the League Two club for building the new East Stand, along with a hotel and conference centre - none of which have been completed.
The council said the outline agreement signed off by its cabinet would see Thomas's consortium pay off the debt to HMRC and finish work on the stand.
Mary Markham, leader of the council, said: "It is clear that if the club is to survive and have some stability, we have to find a way of repaying the debt.
"This deal puts us in the strongest position to ensure that the public purse is protected."
Northamptonshire Police is investigating "alleged financial irregularities" surrounding the loan to the club. | Northampton Town could be relieved of its £10.25m debt owed to the borough council, after the authority agreed to back a deal to sell the club. |
35,714,975 | Tomas Lowe, 27, Kris Leonard, River Reeves, and Jack Dakin, all 20, and their manager Craig Tarry, 33, were killed when their car plunged into a canal on 13 February.
Inquests into their deaths were opened and adjourned earlier in Warrington.
Senior Coroner for Cheshire Nicholas Rheinberg released the five men's bodies so funerals could take place.
The brief hearing at Warrington Town Hall was attended by 11 family members.
Det Sgt Elaine Duddle from Cheshire Police told the inquests the band's car was travelling along the E4 motorway and passed through a restricted area when it collided with barriers.
She said the five men suffered severe injuries and the car then fell into the canal below the bridge, about 18 miles from Stockholm in Sodertalje.
Mr Rheinberg heard that cooperation between UK and Swedish Police had been good since the crash in Stockholm last month.
He praised the work of the Swedish Police and said: "In all my career I have never had such immediate and positive response from a foreign organisation"
Full inquests will be heard at a later date.
Read more about the band | The bodies of band Viola Beach - who died in a car crash in Sweden - have been released to their families. |
36,675,910 | Stuart Wishart, 45, died in the accident near Clovenfords at about 19:20 on Monday.
He was riding a dark Kawasaki motorbike when it was in collision with the tractor near Caddonlee Farm.
Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses to the accident or anyone who saw the vehicles beforehand.
Mr Wishart's family issued a short statement through Police Scotland.
"Stuart's family and friends are devastated at our loss," it said.
"The support we have had since the accident is very much appreciated and has been a comfort."
PC Paul Aitchison said it was a "very difficult time" for Mr Wishart's family and friends and offered his condolences.
"Our enquiries continue and I'd urge anyone who may have witnessed the collision, or seen either vehicle shortly beforehand, to get in touch," he said.
"I also want to thank the local community for their patience while road closures were in place and investigations conducted at the scene." | The family of a motorcyclist killed in a crash with a tractor and trailer on the A72 in the Borders have said they are "devastated" by their loss. |
40,846,959 | The sanctions, which were unanimously passed by the UN on Saturday, were a "violent violation of our sovereignty," the official KCNA news agency said.
Separately, South Korea says the North has rejected an offer to restart talks, dismissing it as insincere.
The sanctions will aim to reduce North Korea's export revenues by a third.
The UN Security Council decision followed repeated missile tests by the North which have escalated tensions on the peninsula.
In its first major response on Monday, North Korea insisted that it would continue to develop its controversial nuclear weapons programme.
The state-run KCNA news agency said Pyongyang would "not put our self-defensive nuclear deterrent on the negotiating table" while it faces threats from the US.
It threatened to make the US "pay the price for its crime... thousands of times," referring to America's role in drafting the UN sanctions resolution.
Speaking to reporters at a regional forum in the Philippine capital, Manila, North Korean spokesman Bang Kwang Hyuk said: "The worsening situation on the Korean peninsula, as well as the nuclear issues, were caused by the United States.
"We affirm that we'll never place our nuclear and ballistic missiles programme on the negotiating table, and won't budge an inch on strengthening nuclear armament."
The remarks come after reports emerged that the North and South Korean foreign ministers had met briefly on Sunday evening on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Manila.
South Korean media reported that its Foreign Minister, Kang Kyung-wha, shook hands with her North Korean counterpart, Ri Yong Ho, in a brief and unarranged meeting at an official dinner event.
A South Korean official told the BBC that Mr Ri had dismissed Ms Kang's offer of talks as "insincere".
South Korean news agency Yonhap reported Ms Kang as saying that Mr Ri's rejection of the talks proposal appeared to be connected to the new sanctions.
"I told him that [the two offers for talks] are an urgent matter that should be carried out immediately with any political agenda put aside and asked him to proactively react," she was quoted as saying.
The foreign minister of China, which is Pyongyang's closest ally, told journalists on Monday: "My feeling is that the North did not entirely reject the positive proposals raised by the South."
Wang Yi added that China also supported the South's initiatives, and was "100%" committed to enforcing the latest round of UN sanctions.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is also at the Asean forum, where he spoke about North Korea.
Noting Russia and China's participation in the unanimous vote, he told journalists it was clear there was now "no daylight among the international community" on their desire for North Korea to stop its tests.
"The best signal that North Korea can give us [is] that they are prepared to talk would be to stop these missile launches," he added.
Russia and China have previously differed with others on how to handle Pyongyang, but in recent months have joined calls for North Korea to stop its missile tests - while also urging the US and South Korea to halt military drills, and withdraw an anti-missile system from the South.
Meanwhile, the US military has said it is working with its close ally South Korea to review guidelines covering the size of missile warheads that South Korea can deploy.
The current bilateral guidelines limit the power of South Korean missiles, but Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said these restrictions might be altered.
"It is a topic under active consideration here and I would tell you that we would be favourably inclined to do anything which furthers the defensive capabilities of South Korea," he told reporters.
"We will always adapt to the threat as it changes."
On Monday, US President Donald Trump spoke to his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in over the phone about relations on the Korean peninsula.
They agreed that North Korea "poses a grave and growing direct threat" and the two leaders were committed to fully implementing the latest round of UN sanctions, the White House said in a statement. | North Korea has vowed to retaliate and make "the US pay a price" for drafting fresh UN sanctions over its banned nuclear weapons programme. |
24,434,795 | The chapel, to commemorate the Battle of Towton (1461), was begun by Richard in 1483 but his death two years later meant it was never completed.
A team from the University of York said masonry found at Towton, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, was "likely" to be the remains of the structure.
The team said a larger excavation would be needed to prove it beyond doubt.
Lead archaeologist, Tim Sutherland, has been searching for the remains of the chapel since 1997.
"We were beginning to think there was no structural remains left but we eventually came across large chunks of medieval masonry.
"We've talked to various stonemason experts and they have said 'yes it is almost certainly evidence of a late 15th century ecclesiastical structure.'"
The Battle of Towton was a key battle in the Wars of the Roses, a dynastic clash for the English throne in the 15th century between the Houses of York and Lancaster.
Historians regard it as one of the bloodiest battle on British soil with up to 28,000 men being killed.
The Yorkist victory at Towton ensured Edward of York became King as Edward IV replacing the Lancastrian Henry VI.
Edward IV died in 1483 and his brother Richard III took the throne.
Work began on the chapel but, Mr Sutherland said, it is not known how complete it was when Richard was defeated and killed at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.
He said the chapel's exact location was not being disclosed as it was on private land and excavation work was continuing. | Archaeologists claim to have found the remains of a chapel built by Richard III after a 16-year search. |
36,756,182 | The 25-year-old from Glasgow took control after the interval when the players were tied at 2-2, resuming with a break of 96.
A tight final frame was settled when McGill cleared up after potting the last red.
The win lifts him from 29th to 18th in the world rankings.
Having never been beyond the last eight in a ranking event, McGill is Scotland's first new winner at this level in a decade.
He defeated former world champions Stuart Bingham and Shaun Murphy en route to the final.
Sign up to My Sport to follow snooker news and reports on the BBC app. | Anthony McGill clinched his first ranking title with a 5-2 success over Kyren Wilson in the final of the Indian Open in Hyderabad. |
36,293,185 | The 59-year-old was crossing Glasgow Road in Blantyre at about 00:45 when he was hit by a car.
He was taken to Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride but died a short time later. The 18-year-old driver of the car and his two teenage passengers did not require medical treatment.
Police are continuing to investigate the crash and a full report will be sent to the procurator fiscal. | A man has died after being struck by a car in Lanarkshire early on Saturday. |
39,777,983 | They will include Aberfeldy-based furniture maker Angus Ross, Edinburgh designer Jennifer Gray and Fife-based creative studio Tom Pigeon.
Others taking part will be Linlithgow's Method Studio, Glasgow's Scotland Re:Designed and Scottish silversmiths.
National body, Craft Scotland, has arranged a showcase event for Ross and Gray.
Ross' products included the Unstable Stool, which is made from a single length of wood which is steamed and then bent into shape. The design was shortlisted for The Wood Awards in 2009.
Gray's jewellery has included a bracelet made to mark 20 years since the creation of Dolly the Sheep, a cloned sheep created at the Roslin Institute just outside Edinburgh. | Scottish makers are to exhibit their work at London Craft Week, which opens on Wednesday. |
36,541,594 | The 55-year-old will replace Dunga, who was sacked from his second spell in charge after Brazil were knocked out of the Copa America after losing to Peru.
Tite has won two league titles, the Copa Libertadores and the World Club Cup with Corinthians.
The club's president, Roberto de Andrade, said Tite had accepted a Brazil football federation (CBF) offer.
Earlier, CBF officials confirmed they had met Tite but said talks had been "inconclusive", adding that "the sides decided to take it up again soon".
Andrade said he was "furious" with the CBF, telling reporters: "They didn't even call us once."
"It wouldn't have changed anything if they'd called us and asked for permission to talk to the manager. Of course I'd have said yes," he added.
However, in a statement, the CBF said it had "strictly complied with the ethical and institutional procedures" during its search for a new coach.
The governing body said attempts to contact Andrade had been unsuccessful despite efforts lasting nearly 10 hours, and added it would begin "arrangements for hiring the coach" from Thursday onwards. | Corinthians coach Tite has agreed to become Brazil's new manager, the club's president says. |
34,773,441 | Craig Malcolm converted a penalty for the visitors after Luciano Nequecaur had been fouled by Jass Sukar.
Rory McAllister fired in a well taken free-kick just before half-time.
The hosts went close as the lights began to fade, with Kevin Dzierzawski and McAllister, now on 19 goals for the season, firing efforts narrowly wide.
Match ends, Peterhead 1, Stranraer 1.
Second Half ends, Peterhead 1, Stranraer 1.
Trialist (Stranraer) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Nathan Blockley (Peterhead).
Attempt missed. Kevin Dzierzawski (Peterhead) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Substitution, Stranraer. Trialist replaces Paul Cairney.
Nathan Blockley (Peterhead) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box.
Substitution, Peterhead. Shane Sutherland replaces Scott Ross because of an injury.
Corner, Stranraer. Conceded by Leighton McIntosh.
Corner, Stranraer. Conceded by Ally Gilchrist.
Attempt blocked. Jamie Longworth (Stranraer) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Foul by Scott Robertson (Stranraer).
Kevin Dzierzawski (Peterhead) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution, Stranraer. Mark McGuigan replaces Jamie McCluskey.
Corner, Stranraer. Conceded by Ally Gilchrist.
Substitution, Peterhead. Ryan Strachan replaces Jass Sukar.
Jamie Longworth (Stranraer) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Nathan Blockley (Peterhead).
Corner, Stranraer. Conceded by Ally Gilchrist.
Attempt blocked. Paul Cairney (Stranraer) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Craig Pettigrew (Stranraer) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Attempt blocked. Rory McAllister (Peterhead) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution, Peterhead. Leighton McIntosh replaces Andy Rodgers.
Attempt missed. Rory McAllister (Peterhead) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Foul by Liam Dick (Stranraer).
Cameron Kerr (Peterhead) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Kevin Dzierzawski (Peterhead) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Foul by Dale Keenan (Stranraer).
Andy Rodgers (Peterhead) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Stranraer. Jamie Longworth replaces Luciano Nequecaur.
Attempt missed. Scott Rumsby (Stranraer) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
Corner, Stranraer. Conceded by Graeme Smith.
Corner, Stranraer. Conceded by Kevin Dzierzawski.
Attempt missed. Scott Robertson (Stranraer) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Dale Keenan (Stranraer) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Jamie Redman (Peterhead).
Corner, Peterhead. Conceded by Dale Keenan.
Foul by Ryan Thomson (Stranraer).
Rory McAllister (Peterhead) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Second Half begins Peterhead 1, Stranraer 1. | Peterhead and Stranraer shared the spoils in a match beset by floodlight issues, with the closing stages played out in near darkness. |
38,841,763 | But government-controlled Cadw will become independent in recommendations to Economy Secretary Ken Skates.
An independent review of National Museum Wales (NMW) will also be held and will be published by the summer.
It follows strong opposition to proposals to merge some commercial functions of heritage bodies into a new organisation Historic Wales.
This opposition came from NMW and others in the heritage and museums industry.
Formal discussions have taken place between historical monument and buildings body Cadw, NMW, the National Library of Wales (NLW), the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments (RCAHMW) and trade unions.
Meanwhile, five meetings of a steering group have been held in recent months, with nine recommendations submitted to the Welsh Government following its final meeting on 27 January.
Despite the government stating its intention last year was to "bring together" the commercial functions of Cadw and NMW, only a more informal collaboration in some front-of-house areas has been agreed.
The recommendations include:
The group will also ask the Welsh Government to decide whether the Historic Wales brand will be used and in which areas.
A NMW spokesman said its trustees would consider the recommendations.
"It is important to us that any recommendations taken forward are subject to feasibility studies and business cases.
"This is to ensure that they respect the identity, integrity, independence and core purpose, as well as the commercial interest of each institution, whilst also increasing collaboration and income generation."
Mr Skates has issued a ministerial statement, in which he said he would "consider the recommendations in the report in detail" and would respond to each in due course.
He has also announced an independent review of NMW, which he said followed a letter from the museum last year setting out the challenges facing the organisation.
It will be carried out by Dr Simon Thurley, the former chief executive of English Heritage, to examine the museum's performance and potential.
Doubts about the plans to formally merge some functions were expressed by the Museums Association and the director of National Museums Liverpool, while objections were also made by the former librarian of NLW Andrew Green and ex-arts council chairman Prof Dai Smith.
NMW's director general David Anderson told the assembly's culture committee that the museum would be "tied by the legs" if it lost management of some of its commercial operations.
The Museums Association warned the plan could risk the museum's financial sustainability.
The creation of Historic Wales was a commitment in Labour's election manifesto - one which Mr Skates said would "help build a heritage sector that is global in ambition and internationally renowned" and ensure the institutions were more "financially resilient". | Welsh heritage bodies have rejected a formal merger of any of their functions. |
38,342,162 | Saturday, 17 December
(Kick-offs 15:00 GMT unless stated)
Crystal Palace v Chelsea (12:30 GMT)
Middlesbrough v Swansea City
Stoke City v Leicester City
Sunderland v Watford
West Ham United v Hull City
West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United (17:30 GMT)
Sunday, 18 December
Bournemouth v Southampton (13:30 GMT)
Manchester City v Arsenal (16:00 GMT)
Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley (16:00 GMT)
Friday, 16 December 2016
Norwich City v Huddersfield Town (19:45 GMT)
Saturday, 17 December
Blackburn Rovers v Reading
Bristol City v Preston North End
Burton Albion v Newcastle United
Cardiff City v Barnsley
Fulham v Derby County
Leeds United v Brentford
Nottingham Forest v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Sheffield Wednesday v Rotherham United
Wigan Athletic v Ipswich Town
Birmingham City v Brighton and Hove Albion
Sunday, 18 December
Queens Park Rangers v Aston Villa (12:00 GMT) | Team news, previews and the best statistics for the weekend's Premier League and Championship matches. |
37,326,026 | The Silkmen made a decent start but soon found themselves on the back foot as James Constable and Jai Reason both went close for Eastleigh in the early stages.
Danny Whitaker blazed a great opportunity over the bar for the hosts in the 38th minute, before Luke Coulson scored the winner five minutes after the interval.
Constable was inches away from doubling Eastleigh's lead in the 64th minute after Reason crossed in from the byline, but in the end it did not matter as Moore's side extended their unbeaten run to seven games.
Report supplied by the Press Association.
Match ends, Macclesfield Town 0, Eastleigh 1.
Second Half ends, Macclesfield Town 0, Eastleigh 1.
John McCombe (Macclesfield Town) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution, Eastleigh. Adam Dawson replaces Jake Howells.
Jai Reason (Eastleigh) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution, Macclesfield Town. Andy Halls replaces Neill Byrne.
Neill Byrne (Macclesfield Town) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution, Macclesfield Town. Jack Mackreth replaces Danny Whitaker.
Substitution, Macclesfield Town. David Fitzpatrick replaces Mitch Hancox.
Kingsley James (Macclesfield Town) is shown the yellow card.
Goal! Macclesfield Town 0, Eastleigh 1. Luke Coulson (Eastleigh).
Second Half begins Macclesfield Town 0, Eastleigh 0.
First Half ends, Macclesfield Town 0, Eastleigh 0.
Paul Lewis (Macclesfield Town) is shown the yellow card.
Joe Partington (Eastleigh) is shown the yellow card.
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up. | Eastleigh remain unbeaten under new manager Ronnie Moore after victory over Macclesfield at Moss Rose. |
37,115,410 | Daniel Burgess, aged 37, of Chywoone avenue Newlyn, Penzance is accused of killing 48-year-old Michael Horner, Bodmin Magistrates' Court heard.
Mr Horner's body was found by police on 29 December at his home on Gwavas Road, after concerns were raised about his welfare.
The case has been committed to Truro Crown Court where Mr Burgess is due to appear on Friday.
A second man had been arrested over the incident but Devon and Cornwall Police said no further action would be taken against him.
More on this case and other stories | A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a man in Cornwall. |
38,701,243 | Vadaine Oliver was twice denied early on by Shots goalkeeper Jake Cole, who pulled off two superb reflex saves as his team flew out of the blocks.
His opposite number Kyle Letheren got in on the act by blocking Shamir Fenelon's close-range effort after 20 minutes, but it was the hosts who asked the most questions.
When Oliver did manage to beat Cole from close range just after the hour mark, the post came to York's rescue.
The visitors had Jon Parkin sent off in stoppage time, but it was too late for Aldershot to take advantage.
Report provided by the Press Association.
Match ends, Aldershot Town 0, York City 0.
Second Half ends, Aldershot Town 0, York City 0.
Second yellow card to Jon Parkin (York City) for a bad foul.
Substitution, Aldershot Town. Jim Kellerman replaces Shamir Fenelon.
Jon Parkin (York City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Kundai Benyu (Aldershot Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Idris Kanu (Aldershot Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Second Half begins Aldershot Town 0, York City 0.
First Half ends, Aldershot Town 0, York City 0.
Cheye Alexander (Aldershot Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up. | Aldershot Town and 10-man York City played out a goalless draw in the National League at the EBB Stadium. |
38,402,728 | A selection of the best photos from across Africa this week: | Images courtesy of AFP, EPA, Reuters |
39,944,831 | They are the victims of Roman Heinze, a 61-year old Australian, who was sentenced to at least 17 years in prison on Wednesday for kidnapping, assault and indecent assault.
During his trial the women, both aged 24, told the court how they thought they would die during their ordeal at Salt Creek, south-east of Adelaide. The pair had met their attacker on an online classifieds site.
Justice Trish Kelly said Heinze had cast Australia in the worst possible light. "In committing these crimes you have undermined yet again the reputation of this country as a safe, friendly and attractive destination for young backpackers from all over the world," she said.
The crimes of the Adelaide man are a shocking reminder of the dangers potentially facing foreign backpackers in Australia.
Between 1989 and 1993, serial killer Ivan Milat murdered seven young travellers, including two British women, in the Belanglo State Forest south-west of Sydney.
The man who led the investigation, Clive Small, a former police assistant commissioner in New South Wales, believes backpackers from overseas are an "easy target" for criminals.
"Backpackers are still looked at [by criminals] because they are isolated, they are not going to be missed within the next day or night because they didn't come home, and that gives the offender a greater chance of escape," Mr Small explained to the BBC from his home in Sydney.
"Because of their constant movement and travel they don't keep regular contact with family back at home. When they [relatives] don't hear from them for a while they just assume that they have been hitchhiking or changing location, and so it may well take some time before they start to become concerned."
Last August, two young Britons, Mia Ayliffe-Chung and Thomas Jackson, were stabbed to death at a hostel in Home Hill, south of Townsville. A Frenchman has been charged with their murders.
Also in Queensland, a 22-year-old woman from Liverpool was rescued by police in March after being allegedly raped and held captive for weeks by a man she had befriended in the city of Cairns.
The tropical city is a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, and is towards the northern tip of the well-worn backpacker trail that snakes along eastern Australia.
Cairns's warm autumn climate, glittering nightlife and jobs are a magnet for those seeking adventure from afar.
"I chose Australia because I thought it was one of the safest places and so far it hasn't proved me wrong," said Madison from the United States.
"There are always going to be a few weirdos. You've just got to steer clear. I've come across them in America, I've come across them here."
So has Tom, 18, from north Wales, who is travelling on a gap year with two mates.
"Yeah, there are a few oddballs over here. Just some strange people," he said.
Becky Chalmers, a gap year student from Wotton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire, said her parents worried more than she did.
"If we think anything is dodgy, we just stay away from it. We just don't go anywhere near it," she said.
Few of the young international travellers the BBC spoke with on the waterfront at Cairns knew much about the grisly side to Australia's backpacker history, such as the Milat murders, the killing of the Huddersfield tourist Peter Falconio at Barrow Creek in the Northern Territory in 2001, and an arson attack at a hostel in the farming town of Childers the year before that killed 15 people.
"When you hear of a young girl being kidnapped, or somebody else being raped or, on rare occasions, people being murdered as well, then obviously it damages Australia's reputation," explained Roger Maynard, a veteran Sydney-based journalist, who has written books on the Milat and Falconio murders.
The overwhelming consensus on the Esplanade in Cairns is that Australia is safer for travellers than most countries. According to Australian government statistics, the number of international visitors staying in backpacker accommodation grew by 8% to more than 645,000 in 2016.
But there are other concerns, too. Exploitation of backpackers on farms has been well documented. Often those who are underpaid and overworked are, for example, picking fruit to satisfy employment criteria to extend their working holiday visas.
"There's plenty of scammers out there," said John Lynch, the manager of The Jack Hotel in Cairns.
"They play on the fact that some of these backpackers are quite desperate to stay for another year, so they are willing to perhaps work for a little bit less than they should. But it's about doing your research, doing your homework. Unfortunately being naive and believing everything you hear is the exact way you might get yourself into trouble."
The vast majority of travellers will head home with treasured memories and friendships that will never fade, but Australia should come with a precautionary health warning, according to Mr Maynard.
"The problem is a lot of young people who come here tend to think it is very much like back home and they get a false sense of security, and they tend to drop their guard," he said.
"They might party too much and they may not be quite as responsible as they might be back home. Be responsible, be aware of potential dangers but don't let it ruin your trip." | A Brazilian backpacker is found naked and screaming for help on a remote beach in South Australia, while her friend from Germany is covered head-to-toe in blood. |
35,383,436 | So getting Davos partygoers to care about centuries old artefacts, some of which are being destroyed thousands of miles away, is not the easiest of tasks.
But for Peter Salovey, the president of Yale University, the conference's obsession with the present, and with mammon, is short-sighted.
After a year in which sites such as Palmyra in Syria and Bhaktapur in Nepal have been destroyed by war and natural disaster, he decided to devote Yale's annual bash at the Belvedere Hotel to the importance of preserving the earth's cultural history.
"They are essentially what documents our humanity," he tells me, moments before opening the doors to a horde of Davos dignitaries - including celebrated cellist Yo Yo Ma.
"Will [our cultural heritage] be there to inspire us, to unify us as humans?
"Will it be there to transcend national boundaries and political conflict?" he says.
In order to drive the point home, Yale's guests are handed unusual freebies.
There are 3D replicas of a 19th Century BC ancient Babylonian mathematical tablet illustrating Pythagoras' theorem - centuries before Pythagoras - and an exquisite limestone funerary relief from Palmyra of a woman called Haliphat who died in 231 AD.
On the back, a small QR code directs curious recipients to a website with more information on these antique treasures.
The giveaways are the result of preservation work carried out at Yale's Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage, and the Smithsonian Institution, both of which study how to protect relics from the elements, and how to digitise objects using high-tech imaging techniques.
Their work, Peter Salovey says, is more important than ever before.
"[Aretfacts] are in incredible danger today," he warns, "from human activity, from war, they are in danger from natural disaster and from climate change; they are in danger from the very tourists who love to see them."
But for those who remain unmoved by pleas to safeguard the future of civilisation, the university has an economic incentive.
"If you go to Venice, and buy a cappuccino in St Marks Square, why do you pay €14 (£!0; $15)?" asks Stefan Simon, the director of Yale's institute.
"It's because you are sitting in front of St Mark's cathedral, in front of Porta della Carta, and the Doge's Palace, and all the centuries of history of that magnificent city."
Despite the rise of "virtual museums", in which people can digitally inspect ancient artefacts, Prof Simon argues there is still huge demand to experience cultural heritage first hand.
"Why does a city like Berlin have 10 million overnight tourism stays, and not a single DAX company?
"Because people want to see the Berlin Wall, the national museums, the castles."
It's an argument that may convince potential donors, but the institute's event is also aimed at those with political power.
Prof Simon would like to see a return of the "Monument's Men", a US Army unit deployed to save art stolen by the Germans in World War Two, and popularised in a recent Hollywood movie.
"I'm advocating for having a cultural preservation component in the military, with the United Nations, with the OECD."
But if world leaders won't commit to troops on the ground while sipping Yale's champagne, the events' organisers are hoping that those with deep pockets will help support cultural conservationists and academics.
"Leaders in all sectors need to think about these issues," says Peter Salovey.
"We want future leaders to appreciate the importance of cultural heritage and to pitch in in protecting it.
"This," he adds, "is the future of the past." | To be thought of as "forward thinking" is a badge of honour at the World Economic Forum, where pundits compete for the most quotable prediction of what the next 12 months will bring. |
39,035,388 | The fixture was due to start at 19:45 GMT but was called off after a pitch inspection at 17:00 GMT.
A new date for the League One game is yet to be confirmed.
Both 10th-placed Rochdale, who are without a win in seven games and 21st-placed Port Vale, who are on an eight-game winless streak, will have to wait to try to end their poor league runs. | Rochdale's League One match against Port Vale has been postponed because of a waterlogged pitch. |
37,199,667 | The Real Madrid forward, 31, has not played since being substituted in the Euro 2016 final against France in July.
Portugal face Gibraltar in a friendly on 1 September before their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign stats against Switzerland in Basel five days later.
Eder, who scored the winner in the Euro 2016 final, is in the 24-man squad.
Manager Fernando Santos has also included Southampton defenders Cedric Soares, 24, and 32-year-old Jose Fonte.
Goalkeepers: Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon), Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Eduardo (Dinamo Zagreb).
Defenders: Joao Cancelo (Valencia), Cedric Soares (Southampton), Pepe (Real Madrid), Bruno Alves (Cagliari), Jose Fonte (Southampton), Luis Neto (Zenit St Petersburg), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), Eliseu (Benfica).
Midfielders: William Carvalho (Sporting Lisbon), Danilo (Porto), Joao Moutinho (Monaco), Adrien Silva (Sporting), Andre Gomes (Barcelona), Joao Mario (Sporting Lisbon), Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich).
Forwards: Rafa Silva (Braga), Bernardo Silva (Monaco), Nani (Valencia), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas), Eder (Lille), Andre Silva (Porto).
Media playback is not supported on this device | Captain Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of Portugal's first squad since winning Euro 2016 as he continues his recovery from a knee injury. |
22,920,542 | Officials say four gunmen were killed during a siege of part of the hospital where the wounded are being treated.
Nurses, hospital security personnel and a senior city official were among the 10 others killed in the stand-off.
An extremist Sunni militant group, Laskar-e-Jhangvi, told the BBC it carried out both attacks.
A man calling describing himself as a spokesman for the group said they were a revenge for an earlier raid by security forces against the group in which a woman and children were killed.
By Shahzeb Jillani BBC News, Pakistan
Balochistan is strategically significant because it borders Iran and Afghanistan. The province is rich in minerals and natural resources - and yet it has remained the country's most impoverished province.
Ethnic Baloch nationalists have long accused the central government in Islamabad of exploitation. Thousands of Pakistani troops are deployed across the province to fight militancy. They stand widely accused of abductions and killings of Baloch activists.
In recent years, Balochistan has seen more lethal violence by extremist Sunni militants. Groups like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi have carried out major bombings against Shia religious minorities. The group is known for close ties with the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
Quetta is the capital of Balochistan province, which has seen a surge in militant violence in recent months.
The latest violence began when a bomb exploded on a bus carrying female students at a university.
"It was an improvised explosive device placed in the women university bus," police chief Zubair Mahmood said.
Later explosions rocked the medical centre where the students were being treated.
Militants armed with grenades were positioned there and exchanged fire with members of the security forces who rushed to the scene.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said a subsequent siege ended after security forces stormed the building.
Mr Ali Khan said security forces freed 35 people trapped inside the building, killed four of the attackers and arrested another.
Profile: Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
Quetta Police Chief Mir Zubair told the BBC that suicide bombers were involved in the attack, with one blowing himself up during the stand-off with security forces.
Mr Zubair said the hospital was a big medical complex and had suggested it could take a few hours to totally clear the area.
Pakistani officials say a senior Quetta official, Abdul Mansoor Khan, who had gone to the hospital to visit the wounded students, was killed in the stand-off.
The violence came hours after militants carried out a rocket attack against a historic home in the Ziarat area of Balochistan, which was used by Pakistan's founding father Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The house is said to have been severely damaged.
Quetta is the capital of Balochistan province, which has seen a surge in militant violence in recent months.
Some attacks are carried out by separatists and others by Islamists who oppose women's education.
Last month the Taliban killed at least 11 people in an attack on security forces in Quetta. | Gunmen have attacked a hospital in the western Pakistani city of Quetta, hours after an explosion on a bus killed 14 female university students. |
39,100,750 | The body of 42-year-old Steven Quail was discovered at the property in Greenend Avenue, Johnstone, at about 10:45 on Saturday.
Police Scotland said Mr Quail had suffered "significant" injuries.
Detectives believe there was a disturbance after someone came to his door in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Det Insp Mark Henderson, who is leading the murder inquiry, said: "Mr Quail was found with significant injuries and as such extensive police enquiries are ongoing to establish how he came about these injuries and trace the person or persons responsible.
"We believe that there was a disturbance at the house around 00:50 hrs on Saturday 25 February when a person or persons came to the door and I appeal to anyone who may have heard anything at this time or anyone who saw anyone hanging around Greenend Avenue to contact police immediately.
"I understand that crimes of this nature can cause concern in the local community and I would like to reassure local residents that additional officers will be on patrol in the area and anyone with any concerns or information can speak to these officers."
Mr Quail's relatives have been informed of his death and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal. | The death of a man at his home in Renfrewshire is being treated as murder following a post-mortem examination. |
36,171,337 | The man admitted charges of child cruelty by wilful ill-treatment and assault in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health.
The offences occurred on dates between 28 February and 10 August 2012.
Two additional charges of assaulting the children were withdrawn.
Dungannon Magistrates Court heard the little boy was in his primary school on 23 March 2012, and a classroom assistant noticed he had swelling and bruising to his nose.
She asked how this had happened and the boy said he had been doing his homework and was finding it very hard.
His father had hit him in the face causing the injuries.
Whilst this was noted, the school did not report it and opted to monitor the situation.
Just over four months later on 7 August 2012 the NSPCC contacted police to say an anonymous caller had reported the two children had told her their father beat them with a belt, and proceeded to show marks.
On being spoken to initially the little girl said this had not happened to her, but later claimed both her father and step-mother beat her with a belt.
The children were medically examined and a report found marks on the boy "could be consistent with belt marks".
Having been removed from the family home, the little boy gave a video-interview in which he stated both he and his sister were beaten with a belt by their father and step-mother.
He stated he was glad he did not have to go home as he was afraid of his father.
He further disclosed his step-mother had told both children they were not to tell anyone of the beatings.
It emerged on one occasion the children returned home from the park and their step-mother asked what they had talked about.
The children claimed they "had told the other boys and girls about the beatings", and this led the step-mother to beat them again with a belt.
Police arrested the father, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his children, and during interview he made no comment replies to all questions.
When his son's allegations were put to him he said it was all lies and he had never beaten his children.
He claimed to have punished them by taking things away or grounding them.
However, he accepted he had witnessed his wife strike the children once or twice, and it may have left marks.
In court, a defence barrister clarified, "My client accepts he used a belt to punish the children".
The judge ruled a pre-sentence report would be required.
The man, who was accompanied in court by his wife, was ordered to appear for sentencing next month.
He was warned by the judge: "I strongly advise you to co-operate with probation. These are very, very serious charges." | A man in his 30s from County Tyrone has pleaded guilty to beating his son and daughter, who were under 10, with a belt. |
37,581,026 | The players released a joint statement saying that they were not responsible for leaking the video of a "private act involving fully consenting adults".
The pair were dropped for Eibar's friendly against fellow La Liga side Leganes on Wednesday.
Luna joined Villa from Sevilla in 2013, playing 17 times for the English side.
The statement, signed by both players, added: "We hope this incident won't degrade the image of the club or of our team-mates."
They added they were sorry if the video "offended our fans and the city of Eibar in general'.' | Former Aston Villa defender Antonio Luna and Eibar team-mate Sergi Enrich have apologised after a video appeared online of them having sex with a woman. |
18,981,495 | Since then, rockier times. From an initial share price of $38, Facebook's stock dipped to below $29 in May.
This week, there comes another huge test for the site as it releases the financial results for its first quarter of public trading.
The BBC has asked four key experts for their views on where Facebook's challenges lie in the coming months.
What do you think Facebook should do next? Send us your comments at the bottom of this page.
Jennifer Lynch is a staff attorney at the Electronics Frontier Foundation, a privacy campaign group. Ms Lynch is concerned about Facebook's recent takeover of a facial recognition company:
Facebook's acquisition of facial recognition software face.com is concerning from a privacy perspective for two reasons.
First, it is unclear what Facebook intends to do with the facial recognition data face.com collected. Face.com has stated that its database includes over 30 billion face prints.
If this data is combined with the facial scans from the 300 million images Facebook users upload every day, it would likely create the largest (and largest privately-owned) facial recognition database in the world.
The United States government regularly asks for copies of all photographs in which a user is tagged when it issues a warrant to Facebook. And government agencies in the States and abroad that are building out facial recognition databases have an interest in acquiring as many face images as possible.
Face.com and Facebook's combined data could become a honeypot for government if Facebook doesn't take steps to protect it properly.
Second, as Facebook expands the tools face.com developed to use mobile devices to collect images and identify people, the security of the data becomes a real issue.
Facebook must show it has adequate measures in place to protect both the integrity of the face recognition data and its users' accounts from hacking and fraud.
Ahead of going public, Facebook, itself, predicted it might struggle to make money from its mobile users who have been reluctant to engage with ads while on the go. If this is to ever change, argues independent app developer Malcolm Barclay, Facebook's mobile offering needs to improve greatly.
The existing app suffers from endless loading, refresh problems and feels more like using a website from the late 90's. To put it another way, it is like listening to a transistor radio. Rewriting it in a different programming language, Objective-C, will be more akin to surround sound, an experience people expect from their £400+ devices.
A rewrite in Objective-C is exactly what the Facebook app needs. Facebook's existing app is written mostly in HTML5.
It is a very promising and useful technology, but right now more suited to desktop web browsers. Objective-C is the native programming language of the iPhone. It can exploit all of its features, it is fast and has a tool kit of interface elements that users are familiar with.
So why did Facebook make the app in HTML5 in the first place? It was cheaper, HTML5 can run on many different devices (eg Android), hence it costs less to maintain and there's no need to make separate apps. I doubt Facebook really benefited from this - users certainly did not.
Last week Facebook purchased the developers at Acrylic, a tiny operation. Google did the same and acquired Sparrow, a very popular mail app for Mac & the iPhone - all of these apps are written in Objective-C.
Reports suggest that Facebook has already begun working on rebuilding their app from the bottom up. I hope this is the case - experience matters.
Graham Cluley is a security researcher and blogger with Sophos. He argues that Facebook needs to get a firmer grip on the third-party applications on its platform, perhaps taking a few cues from a familiar computing giant:
Want to see who has viewed your profile? There's a Facebook app for that. But you shouldn't be too quick to grant it permission to access your account.
Rogue Facebook apps, created by internet scammers and cybercriminals, want to access your personal data, and hope to make money by luring you into following links.
These apps run on the Facebook platform itself (don't confuse them with the apps you run on your computer or smartphone), and - if you allow them - have access to your profile, your personal info, your photos..
The result is that you don't know who you are sharing your information with, and who is going to access it. The apps can even present themselves as though they are entirely located on Facebook - even when hosted on third-party websites that could be under the control of any Tom, Dick and Harry.
Most chilling of all, rogue Facebook apps can actually post messages in your name - tricking your online friends into thinking that it's you spreading a link, which could be designed to infect their computers or steal further information.
Maybe Facebook should learn a lesson from Apple? Apple reviews all iPhone/iPad apps before they are allowed in the iOS App Store. That doesn't just stop yet another fart app, it also makes it harder for hackers to spread dangerous code via this route. Whatever Apple is doing, it seems to be doing it right.
Not everyone may like Apple's "walled garden" approach, but you cannot deny that it has kept the Apple iPhone a relatively safe place to be.
Maybe Facebook should consider something similar.
And maybe users need to think carefully about what data they upload to Facebook - that's the one sure way of ensuring it is never grabbed by a rogue app.
Many have speculated that Facebook is looking at creating its own device - the so-called "Buffy" phone. Carolina Milanesi, an analyst for Gartner, questions the logic behind any such predictions:
"Speculations about a possible Facebook phone have been on and off for the past couple of years.
After the first round of rumours we saw mobile phone maker HTC bring to market the HTC Salsa and the HTC ChaCha. Both had dedicated Facebook keys and both saw only modest sales.
So why would Facebook come out with its own phone? I struggle to see why it would.
Although social is a key part of today's mobile life for many consumers, only a sub-set of users would actually want a phone that totally centres on social networking.
Users would also not compromise on the specifications of the hardware, meaning that Facebook would have to bring to market a device comparable to a high-end Android phone in order to be taken seriously.
Manufacturing costs would likely be too high to be covered by advertising revenue.
The reality is that most consumers are perfectly happy with an app on their current phone. We believe that a deeper integration of Facebook on the current operating systems iOS, Android and Windows Phone will deliver a much wider addressable market to Facebook than not a dedicated phone. And what is social about if not the mass market?
If we put rumours aside for a second and we look at the facts, we know that Facebook is to be integrated more tightly with Apple's next mobile operating system, iOS 6. One has to wonder if Apple would have made such a decision if the possibility of a Facebook phone was actually on the horizon." | When Facebook first floated on the stock exchange earlier this year, it started out at an astronomical high, valued at over $100bn (£65bn). |
36,824,897 | A SpaceX cargo ship sent the sequencer into orbit on Monday, along with other items for the crew.
It was developed by the UK-based company Oxford Nanopore Technologies.
The device is designed to show whether DNA sequencing is possible in microgravity.
Nasa hopes DNA sequencers could enable the environmental monitoring of microbes to identify potential causes of illness and understand the health of astronauts.
Last year, Nasa microbiologist Dr Sarah Castro said of the project: "Currently aboard the space station there is not a real-time method for identifying microbes, diagnosing infectious disease, and collecting any form of genomic and genetic data concerning crew health.
"Meeting these needs relies on returning samples from space to Earth and subsequent ground-based analysis, which takes time."
The sequencer, which is just 9.5cm long and weighs 120g, is tiny compared to the microwave-sized devices used on Earth. | Nasa has sent a DNA sequencer to the International Space Station in an effort to help astronauts monitor their own health. |
38,403,426 | The hole is the global shortage of skilled staff that keeps security hardware running, analyses threats and kicks out intruders.
Currently, the global security industry is lacking about one million trained workers, suggests research by ISC2 - the industry body for security professionals. The deficit looks set to grow to 1.8 million within five years, it believes.
The shortfall is widely recognised and gives rise to other problems, says Ian Glover, head of Crest - the UK body that certifies the skills of ethical hackers.
"The scarcity is driving an increase in costs," he says. "Undoubtedly there's an impact because businesses are trying to buy a scarce resource.
"And it might mean companies are not getting the right people because they are desperate to find somebody to fill a role."
While many nations have taken steps to attract people in to the security industry, Mr Glover warns that those efforts will not be enough to close the gap.
Help has to come from another source: machines.
"If you look at the increase in automation of attack tools then you need to have an increase in automation in the tools we use to defend ourselves," he says.
That move towards more automation is already under way, says Peter Woollacott, founder and chief executive of Sydney-based Huntsman Security, adding that the change was long overdue.
For too long, security has been a "hand-rolled" exercise, he says.
That is a problem when the analysts expected to defend companies are "drowning" in data generated by firewalls, PCs, intrusion detection systems and all the other appliances they have bought and installed, he says.
Automation is nothing new, says Oliver Tavakoli, chief technology officer at security firm Vectra Networks - early uses helped antivirus software spot novel malicious programmes.
But now machine learning is helping it go much further.
"Machine learning is more understandable and more simplistic than AI [artificial intelligence]," says Mr Tavakoli, but that doesn't mean it can only handle simple problems.
The analytical power of machine learning derives from the development of algorithms that can take in huge amounts of data and pick out anomalies or significant trends. Increased computing power has also made this possible.
These "deep learning" algorithms come in many different flavours.
Some, such as OpenAI, are available to anyone, but most are owned by the companies that developed them. So larger security firms have been snapping up smaller, smarter start-ups in an effort to bolster their defences quickly.
Simon McCalla, chief technology officer at Nominet, the domain name registry that oversees the .uk web domain, says machine learning has proven its usefulness in a tool it has created called Turing.
This digs out evidence of web attacks from the massive amounts of queries the company handles every day - queries seeking information about the location of UK websites.
Mr McCalla says Turing helped analyse what happened during the cyber-attack on Lloyds Bank in January that left thousands of customers unable to access the bank's services.
The DDoS [distributed denial of service] attack generated a huge amount of data to handle for that one event, he says.
"Typically, we handle about 50,000 queries every second. With Lloyds it was more than 10 times as much."
Once the dust had cleared and the attack was over, Nominet had handled a day's worth of traffic in a couple of hours.
Turing absorbed all the information made to Nominet's servers and used what it learned to give early warnings of abuse and intelligence on people gearing up for a more sustained attack.
It logs the IP [internet protocol] addresses of hijacked machines sending out queries to check if an email address is "live".
"Most of what we see is not that clever, really," he says, but adds that without machine learning it would be impossible for human analysts to spot what was going on until its intended target, such as a bank's website, "went dark".
The analysis that Turing does for Nominet is now helping the UK government police its internal network. This helps to block staff accessing dodgy domains and falling victim to malware.
There are also even more ambitious efforts to harness the analytical ability of machine learning.
At the Def Con hacker gathering last year, Darpa, the US military research agency, ran a competition that let seven smart computer programs attack each other to see which was the best at defending itself.
The winner, called Mayhem, is now being adapted so that it can spot and fix flaws in code that could be exploited by malicious hackers.
Machine learning can correlate data from lots of different sources to give analysts a rounded view of whether a series of events constitutes a threat or not, says Mr Tavakoli.
It can get to know the usual ebbs and flows of data in an organisation and what staff typically get up to at different times of the day.
So when cyber thieves do things such as probing network connections or trying to get at databases, that anomalous behaviour raises a red flag.
But thieves have become very good at covering their tracks and, on a big network, those "indicators of compromise" can be very difficult for a human to pick out.
So now cybersecurity analysts can sit back and let the machine-learning systems crunch all the data and pick out evidence of serious attacks that really deserve human attention.
"It's like the surgeons who just do the cutting," says Mr Tavakoli. "They do not prep the patient, they are just there to operate and they do it very well."
Follow Technology of Business editor Matthew Wall on Twitter and Facebook
Click here for more Technology of Business features | There is a gaping hole in the digital defences that companies use to keep out cyber thieves. |
40,078,071 | The top four all recorded personal bests, with Olympic champion Nafissatou Thiam winning with 7,013 points and Johnson-Thompson scoring 6,691.
The Briton, 24, led overnight by three points but saw that disappear in Sunday's first event, the long jump.
Carolin Schafer was second with 6,836 and Laura Ikauniece third with 6,815.
Find out how to get into athletics with our inclusive guide.
United States' Jackie Joyner-Kersee holds the heptathlon world record - 7,291, set at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Such was the high quality of the event that Johnson-Thompson's points total was the highest for a fourth-placed finish in heptathlon history.
She began Sunday with 6.53m in the long jump, but it was eclipsed by Thiam's 6.56m and then a 6.57m from Schafer - the German's fifth personal best in five events.
In the javelin, Belgian Thiam moved 185 points clear following a throw of 59.32m, while Johnson-Thompson produced 39.98m - her best in a heptathlon since 2014.
The Briton needed to run two minutes 11.72 seconds in the final event, the 800m, to record a new PB. She managed to clock 2:11.12 to break her previous best total by nine points.
Johnson-Thompson split with her long-term coach Mike Holmes last November, and left her home city of Liverpool to join a new training group in Montpellier.
In the decathlon, Briton Ashley Bryant recorded a personal best of 8,163 to qualify for the World Championships. He finished in 10th place. | Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson broke her personal best but only finished fourth in an incredible heptathlon event in Gotzis, Austria. |
40,306,869 | Markets closed little changed, in spite of steep declines in supermarket chains, with Kroger down 9.2%, and Target and Walmart falling about 5%.
Shares in Amazon rose 2.4% while Whole Foods jumped 29% to $42.68, above the price of Amazon's bid.
Analysts said the deal was potentially a seismic shift in the sector.
The S&P 500 index held steady edging up 0.69 points to close at 2,433.15 in early trade.
The Dow Jones climbed 0.11% to 21,384.28, while the Nasdaq slid 13.74 points to 6,151.76.
A report from the US census also showed new housing construction slowed in May, a sign of economic weakness that pushed Treasury yields lower. | Retail stocks tumbled on Friday as investors digested the news that Amazon had agreed to buy upmarket grocer Whole Foods for $13.7bn. |
35,841,498 | Police have issued a warning to the public after the incident in Castle Douglas on Thursday.
The woman was contacted by someone claiming to be from the Visa Fraud Unit over suspicious account activity.
She was asked to transfer funds to another account to "protect" them but when she did so the money was taken and the scam completed.
Det Insp Dean Little said: "More and more we are finding that those carrying out these scams are becoming increasingly proficient and professional in the way they come across to those whom they target.
"The public need to be alert to anyone who calls them out of the blue and take time to think about what it is that the caller is asking them.
"Our advice is to note details and before taking any action on that first call, stop and think, and even discuss with friends or relatives what it is the caller is requesting."
He also stressed that personal details or details of account numbers should never be discussed over the telephone. | A 68-year-old woman in south west Scotland has been conned out of £20,000 in a telephone scam. |
21,530,291 | Villagers told the BBC that 10 gunmen opened fire as people were leaving the mosque after early morning prayers.
Five men were killed and then two women who heard shots and came to investigate were also shot dead.
The attack comes less than two weeks before elections in a region where security is a problem.
Residents of Malaley 1 village told the BBC nothing was stolen and the gunmen, armed with AK-47 rifles, then fled.
Garissa county commissioner Maalim Mohammed told the AFP news agency that two people were also wounded in the shooting.
"Heavily armed men stormed a mosque and shot at people indiscriminately," he said.
"The two women had responded to the screams from the mosque when they were shot."
The village is about 45km (28 miles) north-east of Dadaab refugee camp, which houses some 500,000 people who have fled years of conflict and drought in Somalia.
In the past year, the region has also been prone to attacks blamed on al-Qaeda-aligned Islamist militants in Somalia.
The Somali al-Shabab group vowed to take revenge when Kenya sent troops into Somalia in October 2011 to help the UN-backed government seize territory from the militants.
Banditry is also a problem in the arid and sparsely populated area.
The BBC's Bashkas Jugsodaay in Garissa, the region's main town, says tensions are also running high because of the upcoming polls - the first general election since the disputed election of December 2007.
More than 1,000 people died in the violence following that vote and 300,000 people fled their homes. | Seven people have been shot dead in an attack on a mosque in a village in north-eastern Kenya near the border with Somalia, officials have said. |
38,783,747 | After Godin was booked for clattering into Deyverson in injury time, the Alaves player spat at the Uruguayan, who then did the same in retaliation.
The result is another blow for Atleti.
Diego Simeone's fourth-placed side are seven points off leaders Real Madrid, and only one point above Real Sociedad, having played a game more.
Alaves had the best chance when Victor Laguardia hit the bar with a volley.
Atletico - who host Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg on Wednesday - lost defender Jose Maria Gimenez to injury.
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Match ends, Alavés 0, Atlético de Madrid 0.
Second Half ends, Alavés 0, Atlético de Madrid 0.
Manu García (Alavés) is shown the yellow card.
Diego Godín (Atlético de Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Deyverson Silva (Alavés) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Diego Godín (Atlético de Madrid).
Manu García (Alavés) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Antoine Griezmann (Atlético de Madrid).
Manu García (Alavés) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Fernando Torres (Atlético de Madrid).
Foul by Christian Santos (Alavés).
Miguel Ángel Moyá (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Christian Santos (Alavés) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Deyverson Silva.
Corner, Alavés. Conceded by Miguel Ángel Moyá.
Attempt saved. Theo Hernández (Alavés) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Edgar Méndez.
Foul by Christian Santos (Alavés).
Miguel Ángel Moyá (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Kiko Femenía (Alavés).
Nicolás Gaitán (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Antoine Griezmann (Atlético de Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Foul by Víctor Laguardia (Alavés).
Fernando Torres (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Alavés. Vigaray replaces Gaizka Toquero.
Deyverson Silva (Alavés) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Deyverson Silva (Alavés).
Koke (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Koke (Atlético de Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Foul by Manu García (Alavés).
Antoine Griezmann (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Edgar Méndez (Alavés).
Koke (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Alavés. Christian Santos replaces Víctor Camarasa.
Corner, Alavés. Conceded by Sime Vrsaljko.
Attempt blocked. Edgar Méndez (Alavés) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Deyverson Silva.
Attempt missed. Manu García (Alavés) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Víctor Camarasa with a cross.
Attempt saved. Víctor Camarasa (Alavés) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Deyverson Silva.
Attempt missed. Víctor Camarasa (Alavés) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Deyverson Silva with a headed pass.
Marcos Llorente (Alavés) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Saúl Ñíguez (Atlético de Madrid).
Offside, Alavés. Víctor Camarasa tries a through ball, but Kiko Femenía is caught offside. | Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin and Alaves striker Deyverson could both be in trouble after spitting at each other in a goalless draw. |
36,796,026 | It follows at least two crashes, one fatal, in which the system was active.
Consumer Reports accused Tesla of an "aggressive rollout of self-driving technology".
Tesla described it as "well-meaning advice", adding: "We make our decisions on the basis of real-world data."
In a statement, the firm said: "Tesla is constantly introducing enhancements proven over millions of miles of internal testing to ensure that drivers supported by Autopilot remain safer than those operating without assistance.
"We will continue to develop, validate, and release those enhancements as the technology grows."
It likened the Autopilot function to the systems that pilots use "when conditions are clear".
"The driver is still responsible for, and ultimately in control of the car. This is enforced with onboard monitoring and alerts."
The firm has been under intense scrutiny since a fatal crash in Florida in May, which saw a Tesla vehicle driven by 40-year-old Joshua Brown collide with a lorry.
The firm later acknowledged that the car was in autopilot mode at the time of the collision, claiming the system failed to detect the other vehicle because it could not distinguish between the white side of the tractor and the "brightly lit sky".
The National Highway Traffic Administration, which is investigating that and two other Tesla crashes, has written to the firm requesting detailed information about Autopilot.
"In the long run, advanced active safety technologies in vehicles could make our roads safer," said Laura MacCleery, vice-president of consumer policy at Consumer Reports.
"But today, we're deeply concerned that consumers are being sold a pile of promises about unproven technology. Autopilot can't actually drive the car, yet it allows consumers to have their hands off the steering wheel for minutes at a time. Tesla should disable automatic steering in its cars until it updates the program to verify that the driver's hands are on the wheel."
In a report on its website entitled, Tesla Autopilot: Too much autonomy, too soon, it accused Tesla of confusing marketing.
"These two messages - your vehicle can drive itself, but you may need to take over the controls at a moment's notice - create potential for driver confusion," it wrote.
Ms MacCleery said that consumers "should never be guinea pigs for vehicle safety 'beta' programs".
She called on regulators to step up their oversight of cars with such features. | A consumer rights group in the US has urged Tesla to disable the automatic steering function on its Autopilot system. |
13,389,407 | He said it had always been his intention to leave the role at some point before the next election in 2016.
The announcement follows a poor showing for Plaid at last week's election when it lost four seats.
Former Plaid president Lord Elis-Thomas has said he would allow his name to go forward as a leadership candidate.
Speaking at Beaumaris in his Anglesey constituency, Mr Jones said it had been a great honour to lead the party over the past 11 years.
By Vaughan RoderickWelsh affairs editor
I don't think anyone within or outside Plaid Cymru thought Ieuan Wyn Jones would be there to lead the party into the next assembly election in 2016.
What's interesting is that he felt the need to make these comments publicly. People would have said: 'Why does he need to do this?' It's maybe because there's some pressure from some parts of the party for an early contest and what he's doing basically is saying: 'Look, don't worry about it. I'm going but let's do it in an ordered way. Let's get the review of why we did so badly in the assembly elections out of the way first'.
So he's really trying to pre-empt any pressure for an early departure.
Dafydd Elis Thomas has put his hat in the ring. That maybe is an attempt to force an early contest.
There is a problem on Plaid Cymru's left wing in that many of their big beasts are out of the assembly at the moment. Helen Mary Jones lost in Llanelli, and Adam Price, the former MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, isn't in the assembly.
In terms of other names you've got two former ministers Alun Ffred Jones and Elin Jones, former MP Simon Thomas and some people are banking on a total newbie, Llyr Huws Gruffydd, the new North Wales AM. But an early contest would be a big test for him.
The timetable for his departure means Mr Jones will go some time in the next two-and-a-half years.
In a statement delivered in front of party colleagues, he said the "time was right" for him to make his plans clear.
He said it had been an honour to lead the party and to serve as deputy first minister in the coalition with Labour in the last assembly.
"I have also witnessed many historic and momentous events during that period, not least leading the party into government for the first time in its 86-year history and the referendum on law-making powers," he said.
Mr Jones was MP for Ynys Mon from 1987 to 2001 and has been the island's AM since the first assembly in 1999. He first took up the party leadership in 2000.
Last week's election saw Plaid slump to 11 seats, its worst tally since the assembly was established.
There has been criticism that the party's campaign was too negative by attacking its former coalition partners in Labour.
Mr Jones said the result was a "disappointment", adding: "As leader I take my share of the responsibility for those results.
"The party obviously needs time to reflect on the results, look long and hard at our message, our party structures and campaigning abilities."
Lord Elis-Thomas said if Plaid activists in his Dwyfor Meirionnydd constituency want his name to go forward as a candidate for the leadership he would give them a "straight answer".
"I am afraid that they have decided to ask me the question," he told BBC Radio Wales.
Lord Elis-Thomas, who was leader of Plaid between 1984 and 1991, will speak to party officials in Porthmadog on Friday night. He ended a 12-year stint as the assembly's presiding officer this week.
Mr Jones said he was confident Plaid would recover "stronger and better, provided we understand the need to change and modernise".
An immediate leadership election would not be in the party's interest because of the need to review the election result, he said.
He thanked his family for their support, including his wife Eirian - "a rock through it all" - and his three children and four grandchildren.
Former Plaid chairman John Dixon, who left the party earlier this year because he was unhappy with its direction, said Mr Jones has made the right decision to quit.
He told BBC Wales his departure was inevitable and that it will be a chance for the party to decide what it stands for.
Plaid Westminster leader Elfyn Llwyd said: "He has shown great commitment and dedication to the party over the years. Wales has come a long way and so has Plaid Cymru."
First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "I worked well with Ieuan Wyn Jones in the four years we were in government together and I wish him well in whatever he does next. I have always known Ieuan to be a decent man and his party will find him hard to replace." | Ieuan Wyn Jones has revealed he will stand down as Plaid Cymru leader in the first half of the Welsh assembly's five-year term. |
37,039,334 | An article published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found a reduction of 0.6% of body mass through water loss can affect people's abilities.
The study tested participants' mood and memory after sitting in a heated room.
It was carried out by the university's college of human and health sciences.
Previous research found a loss of 2% can affect ability to function properly - but this typically applied to athletes undergoing extended periods of activity or someone who has gone without fluids for some time.
The latest research focused on much lower levels of water loss people experience in day-to-day life.
The mood and memory of participants was tested before and after sitting in a room heated to 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) for four hours.
"Roughly 60% of our body is made up of water, and this level is continually fluctuating, largely due to water loss through urine and sweat," said Prof David Benton.
"Our research found that when losing only 0.6% of our body mass, there were noticeable effects on an individual's memory, attention and mood."
Dr Benton said it was important people keep hydrated during the warm summer months, especially children who lose water quicker and are reliant on adults giving them drinks. | Becoming slightly dehydrated can have an effect on mood, memory and attention, according to Swansea University research. |
39,101,869 | Ministers will meet with large technology companies, charities, academics and mental health professionals to identify risks and develop an internet safety strategy.
The work is being led by Culture Secretary Karen Bradley.
And a Green Paper is due in the summer.
"The internet has provided young people with amazing opportunities but has also introduced a host of new dangers which children and parents have never faced before," said Ms Bradley.
"It is increasingly clear that some behaviours which are unacceptable offline are being tolerated or even encouraged online - sometimes with devastating consequences.
"We are determined to make Britain the safest place in the world to be online."
In October 2016, the Crown Prosecution Service warned internet trolls who created derogatory hashtags or doctored images to humiliate people could face prosecution in England and Wales. | A government initiative aimed at making the internet safer for young people will target sexting and cyberbullying, as well as online harassment, abuse and rape threats made against women. |
29,656,380 | Ed Clancy, Jon Dibben, Owain Doull and Andy Tennant beat Germany's men by almost a second in the team pursuit.
In the women's team pursuit final, Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker, Joanna Rowsell and Laura Trott defeated the Russian team by nearly seven seconds.
Clancy took bronze in the men's scratch race behind Otto Vergaerde of Belgium and Spain's Eloy Teruelrovira.
The championships, taking place on the Caribbean island because Guadeloupe is a French colony, are the first chance to score Olympic qualification points for Rio 2016. | Great Britain won two gold medals on the second day of the European Track Championships in Guadeloupe. |
26,729,387 | Captain Leon Smith will decide whether British number two Evans or James Ward will fill the second singles slot.
Evans is in good form, having reached his first ATP Tour semi-final last month at the Zagreb Indoors.
"James Ward and Dan Evans may not know who will be asked to fill the second singles spot until next Thursday. They have just begun a four-day training camp on the National Tennis Centre's covered outdoor clay courts and will fly to Naples on Saturday to continue their preparations.
"Ward's brilliant win over Sam Querrey in the first round in San Diego has not been forgotten. He is more comfortable on clay, but Evans gave us a timely reminder of his talents with a run to the semi-finals of the ATP event in Zagreb.
"Ross Hutchins could yet be drafted into the team. It's tough on GB's number one doubles player Dom Inglot, but wonderful to see Hutchins involved just nine months after completing a gruelling course of chemotherapy."
Colin Fleming has been named as Murray's doubles partner, while Ross Hutchins will travel to Naples as a reserve for the tie.
"The number two singles spot is open," said Smith. "Both Dan and James have had good moments this year. That's why I want to see how they perform over the next 10 days of training."
Evans, ranked 127 in the world, played in the victories over Russia and Croatia last year, winning one of his three live singles rubbers.
The 23-year-old also made a breakthrough by reaching the third round of the US Open in September.
He was left out of the Davis Cup team that beat the United States last month but in February became the first British man, aside from Murray, to reach an ATP semi-final since Ward in 2011.
Smith's team reached the last eight for the first time in 28 years when they beat the United States in February. It was their first win over the Americans since 1935.
The tie takes place on clay from 4-6 April and will feature Italy's top two players, Fabio Fognini and Andreas Seppi. They are ranked 14th and 33rd respectively and both men favour clay.
"It will be a good challenge," said Murray. "They have some very good clay-court players with a passionate crowd behind them.
"It will be a tough weekend and the games will be tight, but it's great playing in big matches like this in the World Group."
Murray announced last week that he has after two years together, and Smith has been among the names linked to the vacant position.
"It's obviously very flattering, but the most important thing for Andy is just to take time, think about what he wants to do and what he needs with his team," said Smith.
"What I would say is that he already has a very, very good team in place. People often forget the work that Dani Vallverdu does - maybe because it's a little bit under the radar - but he's a very good coach in his own right and he'll be able to work with Andy as a head coach.
"Whether it's in the short term or the long term, he could do that, but if Andy feels he needs to bring another person in, so be it." | Dan Evans is in Britain's Davis Cup squad, alongside Andy Murray, for next week's quarter-final against Italy. |
35,196,789 | Mr Trump said he would bring out "substantial" adverts in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina ahead of primary elections in February.
Meanwhile, former New York Governor George Pataki has pulled out of the race for the Republican nomination.
Correspondents say he has failed to make any impact in the polls.
Mr Trump, a property tycoon, has previously said that he is funding his campaign himself and wouldn't be in the pocket of lobbyists or powerful corporate entities. He has also insisted that he has spent very little on his campaign so far, and yet is the frontrunner.
"I'll be spending a minimum of $2m a week and perhaps substantially more," Mr Trump said in a video broadcast on CNN.
"I'm going to be doing big ads in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and they're going to be very substantial."
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Mr Trump's campaign so far has been marked by a series of controversial statements.
Earlier this month, he said Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton had been "schlonged" by Barack Obama in 2008, using a vulgar Yiddish term that means a penis.
He said he was referring to Mrs Clinton's defeat to then Senator Obama in the primary contests that year.
He has also called for Muslims to be banned from entering the US following a deadly attack in California carried out by a radicalised Muslim couple.
The billionaire, who has no political experience, leads the polls nationally among Republican voters, and is also ahead in some key states.
In a tweet on Tuesday, Mr Pataki said he was suspending his campaign but was "confident we can elect the right person".
He launched his campaign in May, positioning himself as a moderate in a heavily conservative field.
However, he has barely registered in state or national polls and was not eligible to take part in televised debates involving the high-profile candidates.
Bruce Breton, a member of Mr Pataki's New Hampshire steering committee, said the former governor had told him on Tuesday that he would be leaving the race.
He said Mr Pataki's campaign had struggled to win media attention or to raise funds.
"He said he couldn't get any traction. He worked hard, it's just a different type of year,'' Mr Breton said.
The primary contests begin at the start of February and the presidential election is in November. | US Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump says he is planning to spend $2m (£1.3m) a week on campaign advertising. |
19,389,430 | "Our Greatest Team Parade" will take place in London on Monday 10 September, the day after the Paralympics finishes.
The procession will leave London's Mansion House at 13:30 BST and will travel past Trafalgar Square, through Admiralty Arch and into The Mall.
A similar parade took place four years ago after the Beijing Games.
Spectators can turn up on the day to watch the first part of the parade up to Trafalgar Square, although they have been warned to arrive as early as possible because viewing areas will be closed when they are full.
The area from Admiralty Arch to the Queen Victoria Memorial will be ticketed and reserved.
Places there will go to groups who have made a crucial contribution to the running of the Games and the success of the British athletes.
This will include 14,000 volunteers, police, fire and ambulance staff, military personnel, coaches, support staff, friends and family of the athletes and schoolchildren from every London borough.
Once the parade leaves Mansion House, it will travel along Queen Victoria Street and Cannon Street and pass St Paul's Cathedral.
It then moves down Fleet Street, past Aldwych and into The Strand before reaching Trafalgar Square, where there will be a big screen at the bottom of Nelson's Column showing proceedings with live commentary.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "This is a chance to celebrate the heroes and heroines who have thrilled us with their skills, sportsmanship, and grace during London's spectacular Olympic and Paralympic Games, and whose names and triumphs will live on for centuries to come."
Andy Hunt, chief executive of the British Olympic Association, said: "The parade provides a fantastic opportunity for the nation to recognise and celebrate the special achievements of the outstanding group of athletes.
"Importantly, it also gives the members of Team GB a chance to show their appreciation and gratitude for the truly inspirational support they received from the Great British public throughout the London 2012 Games."
The British Paralympic Association chief executive Tim Hollingsworth said: "We know we have to focus on what is still to come at the 2012 Paralympic Games.
"But it's also right we look ahead to what we hope will be a fantastic outcome for our team and in particular the performances and medals won that will excite and inspire the nation once again."
The parade will be broadcast live on BBC One and the BBC News Channel.
Gary Lineker and Gabby Logan will present the programme with guests including Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Colin Jackson.
Jake Humphrey and Sonali Shah will be on the floats interviewing athletes with Huw Edwards and Hazel Irvine providing commentary throughout. | Around 800 athletes will travel on 21 floats in a celebration for the achievements of competitors from Team GB and ParalympicsGB at London 2012. |
35,862,867 | The band, whose hits include Sit Down and Laid, will be the first act on the Other Stage at 11:00 on Friday 24 June.
"We're going to cut the ribbon and smash the champagne on the ship," said Booth.
It has become Glastonbury tradition for a big-name band to kick proceedings off. Kaiser Chiefs and The Charlatans have taken the slot in recent years.
Adele, Coldplay and Muse will headline this year's festival in Somerset.
Asked whether Adele was a suitable headliner, James' bassist Jim Glennie said: "I don't know how you judge the suitability... They always want to take a risk, which is admirable, like stick Metallica on and see what happens.
"[But] the most interesting things happen maybe not on the main stage. I look more for things that are hidden away."
Other confirmed acts include PJ Harvey, Jeff Lynne's ELO and Jess Glynne.
The festival traditionally waits until the final tranche of tickets have been sold, following the spring resale, before revealing its full line-up.
Formed in 1982, James took almost a decade to achieve fame. At one point, the band submitted themselves for medical experiments just to stay afloat.
Their breakthrough came with the student disco anthem Sit Down in 1991, and the band were swept along with the Madchester scene that also produced The Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses.
But they always had loftier pretensions, working with Brian Eno on the experimental album Wah Wah, which AllMusic later called "one of the more un-commercial albums any band of its stature has had a hand in releasing."
Their more successful records leaned towards mainstream rock, and the band consistently scored top 20 hits throughout the 1990s with tracks like She's A Star, Born Of Frustration and Tomorrow.
Yet they always had a sense of unfulfilled potential - perhaps because the music had showered the band with hyperbole in their early days. At one point the NME opined: "This is what The Smiths think they sound like."
It proved to be a blessing and a burden for the group.
"Most of the time I feel really blessed," Booth told music website Popmatters. "[But] on a bad day, we haven't done enough. We haven't achieved enough. We've been lazy."
He left James in 2001 to pursue a solo career - but the band reunited for a tour in 2007, which led to new recording sessions and several well-received albums.
Their latest, Girl At The End Of The World, was released last week and sees the band experiment with synthesizers and dance beats. | James will open the 2016 Glastonbury festival, frontman Tim Booth has told BBC 5 live. |
33,106,310 | Such would be the case in Madrid, Addis Ababa or Nairobi - all of which have close to 3.2m residents.
But on Thursday, when a large hotel caught fire in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, no photographic evidence emerged.
More than a day later, that is still the case.
The fire reportedly hit the Koryo Hotel, which, at 143 metres (469 feet) is one of the tallest in Pyongyang.
It is where the basketball player Dennis Rodman stayed while visiting North Korea, and has hosted talks between North and South Korean officials.
Word of a fire started to emerge on social media through journalists elsewhere in Asia with ties to North Korea.
One thing seems certain: there certainly was a fire at the 30-year-old Koryo Hotel on Thursday.
Reuters saw images of smoke emerging from a walkway connecting the two 43-storey towers - but did not publish them.
It quoted one source as saying there were "swarms" of police, paramilitary and state security officials.
No-one from Associated Press, which has a bureau in Pyongyang, appears to have witnessed the fire, but the agency quoted one source as saying the fire consumed "several top floors" of the hotel.
NK News, a well-sourced North Korea observer website, reported that the fire was extinguished after a few hours.
A lot.
The extent of the damage is not known, nor whether there were any injuries or fatalities.
North Korean state news has not covered the fire at all. It generally does not report on negative news, although last May, it ran an apology after a building collapsed, killing scores of people.
That report came after five days in which it did not mention the collapse.
AP's bureau chief in Pyongyang did not respond to the BBC when asked why the bureau did not file images of the fire.
Simple obstruction may be one of the main reasons no pictures have emerged.
"Several foreigners were apprehended for trying to take pictures of the scene," one source told Reuters.
"There are certain places you just can't take pictures and there are people there to stop you," said Simon Cockerell, the general manager of Beijing-based North Korea tour operator Koryo Tours.
The time of the fire may also have played its part, Mr Cockerell said.
"It happened at around 6pm, so there may not have been anybody around the hotel at that time to take any pictures."
Roughly one in every 12 North Koreans has a smartphone, and the country does have a 3G network. They are mainly linked to an intranet, with limited content, run by the North Korean state.
Mr Cockerell said the wider internet was, however, freely available for foreign tourists on smartphones, and that he regularly uses Instagram while in North Korea.
It may well be that images of the fire have not yet reached the outside world.
"There are probably memory cards full of pictures that will come out of North Korea sometime soon," Mr Cockerell said. "Maybe then we we will see some pictures." | If a major landmark were to catch fire in a city of 3.2m people, you would expect plenty of evidence to emerge on social media. |
35,527,443 | The 21-year-old landed awkwardly after contesting a high ball and was taken off on a stretcher in the 1-1 Premier League draw with Manchester United.
"Scan today has shown I injured my anterior cruciate ligament. I will have surgery this week and will come back stronger," Zouma tweeted.
The France centre-back has made 32 appearances for Chelsea this term.
The most recent of his two France caps was in an international friendly with Denmark in October.
France host this year's European Championship, which begins in June.
Zouma and John Terry have become preferred starters in central defence as Chelsea have gone nine matches without defeat under interim manager Guus Hiddink.
BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty
Kurt Zouma's serious knee injury is a bitter blow to an outstanding young player, ruling him out of the rest of this season and France's Euro 2016 bid.
It may, however, open the door to fresh possibilities for his two experienced central defensive team-mates at Chelsea, John Terry and Gary Cahill.
Terry reiterated on Sunday that he has had no dialogue with Chelsea since he left the club's hierarchy bemused by announcing he was not getting a new contract and would leave at the end of the season.
Will Chelsea now be tempted to revisit negotiations to buy time and see how Zouma recovers - or is owner Roman Abramovich's mind made up and it is the end of the road for the 35-year-old iconic club captain?
Cahill, meanwhile, was reported as being unsettled in January after falling behind Zouma and seeing his own Euro 2016 prospects being hit by a lack of first-team football.
He will now be right back in the frame, ready to secure his Chelsea future and cement his place in England's plans for France this summer. | Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma faces six months out because he needs surgery on the knee injury he suffered on Sunday. |
37,368,105 | Errington Cheese Ltd has previously been linked to an E. coli outbreak in which a three-year-old girl died.
The company has disputed the evidence and insists its cheese is safe.
In another development, a "small number" of children in Angus have fallen ill with E. coli. A playgroup had temporarily and voluntarily closed.
NHS Tayside said the Angus cases were linked and the children affected were receiving medical treatment, with advice also being issued to parents.
Food Standards Scotland has not linked the latest outbreak in Tayside to the ban on Errington Cheese.
The ban involves Dunsyre Blue, Dunsyre Baby, Lanark Blue, Lanark White, Maisie's Kebbuck and Cora Linn.
People have been advised not to eat the cheese, and to return it to the seller.
The watchdog has previously linked an outbreak of E. coli in July, in which 20 people were infected, including the child who died, with cheese produced by the firm.
Four product recalls have already been issued - three of them voluntary - for specific cheeses produced by Errington.
In a statement, the watchdog said: "FSS is advising all consumers who have purchased these products not to consume them, and to return the products to where they purchased them.
"Both O157 and non-O157 strains of E. coli have been detected in a number of different types of cheese produced by Errington Cheese Ltd.
"Symptoms caused by both O157 and non-O157 E. coli can include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhoea, and haemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure.
"Given the potential severity of illness and the very low doses of this bacterium required to cause illness, FSS believes this action is in the best interests of consumers."
Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, Sir Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at the University of Aberdeen, questioned the decision by the FSS.
He told the programme: "Food Standards Scotland is behaving in a very precautionary manner because as I understand it, the scientific evidence that there's E. coli 157 in the cheese has not yet been produced.
"There is evidence that some people who ate the Dunsyre Blue cheese in July fell ill - a significant number of people who didn't eat it also fell ill as I understand it."
He added: "Food Standards Scotland has moved in a very, very heavy way and I think it raises the issue of proportionality. How dangerous are these cheeses and have they gone too far in saying none of these cheeses can be sold?"
Errington Cheese said on its website that it was restricted in what it could sell or say because of the "exercise of statutory powers by the authorities".
The company added: "We are pleased to see that FSS acknowledge that there is no microbiological link been found between Dunsyre Blue and the recent outbreak of illness.
"Our own detailed testing keeps us confident that all our cheese is safe to eat."
Speaking about the latest outbreak, Dr Jackie Hyland, consultant in public health medicine at NHS Tayside, said: "NHS Tayside and Angus Council are together investigating a small number of linked cases of E. coli O157 infection.
"The risk to the general public remains low and those affected have received appropriate medical treatment and advice." | Food Standards Scotland has issued a ban on all cheese made by a South Lanarkshire-based producer. |
36,308,970 | A national shortage of armed officers could leave police in isolated areas "unarmed and vulnerable", John Apter, head of the Hampshire branch warned.
Figures revealed the number of firearms officers in England and Wales last year fell to its lowest level since 1987.
Home Secretary Theresa May spoke at the Police Federation conference earlier.
The federation, which represents constables, sergeants and inspectors in England and Wales, is holding its annual conference in Bournemouth.
They paused during speeches on Tuesday morning to hold a minute's silence to remember the 96 victims of the Hillsborough tragedy.
Do police have firepower to tackle gun menace?
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's File on 4, Mr Apter said armed officers could be more than 70 miles away if an attack was launched in a rural location.
Some rural and coastal areas include potential terrorist targets - including energy and power plants.
Nuclear power plants in Britain are guarded by the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC), whose officers are routinely armed, while firearms officers of the Ministry of Defence Police are responsible for facilities such as the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston in Berkshire.
"Being realistic, if a firearms unit was coming from the middle of the county you are still talking about 30 miles away - you are not talking about a few minutes," he said.
"There would be an understandable delay.
"If a firearms unit is the other side of the county they could be 70 miles away so you are talking a significant distance.
"So the only officers that you have available are unarmed and vulnerable officers and they are the officers that are saying to me that in a terrorist situation they would be sitting ducks."
Last month, Prime Minister David Cameron announced money would be ring-fenced to boost the number of firearms officers in the UK, following terror attacks in Brussels and Paris.
However, federation chairman Steve White said the government's plan to train another 1,500 firearms officers to deal with the terror threat looked doubtful.
Officers are not volunteering to carry guns because they fear being "hung out to dry" and treated like a suspect if they discharge their weapon, he said.
The result was "worrying" inconsistencies in the service nationally, leaving some forces without firearms officers and reliant on neighbouring forces for coverage, Mr White added.
A national shortage of armed police was leaving the UK vulnerable to terror attacks, he warned.
The head of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which investigates fatal shootings by officers, said while firearms officers should not have impunity, they should also not be concerned by the watchdog's scrutiny.
In a statement, IPCC chair Dame Anne Owers warned "those within the police service" to be careful "about stoking such fears".
The IPCC had investigated 29 fatal shootings by police in the past 12 years, the statement added, and had only used its powers of arrest once.
Che Donald, from the Police Federation, warned the recruitment drive could create a "gap" in the front line, as armed officers transferred from neighbourhood policing.
"There isn't a magic pot we can just dip into and pull out a fully trained firearms officer," he said.
CNC Deputy Chief Constable Simon Chesterman, the national lead on armed policing, said those concerns surrounding recruitment were starting to be tackled.
He told the BBC: "At the fairly early stages of this recruitment process we are seeing officers coming forward to put themselves in harm's way,
"At the moment this is not a crisis, but quite clearly, with some of the things going on in the background that are putting pressure on them, it could become one.
"At the moment, sufficient officers are stepping forward but we're watching and monitoring it very carefully."
Police minister Mike Penning said the government had committed an additional £143m over the next five years to provide "a national uplift in armed policing capability".
Downing Street said police forces were recruiting more than 1,000 armed officers, setting up round-the-clock specialist teams outside London.
More than 40 police armed response vehicles will also be deployed.
"We will always ensure firearms officers are supported to take the difficult decisions necessary to protect the public," he said.
File on Four is broadcast on BBC Radio Four on Tuesday 17 May at 20:00 BST. | Police officers in rural areas fear they would be "sitting ducks" in the event of a terrorist gun attack in the UK, a Police Federation chairman says. |
36,090,891 | Eight gunmen on motorcycles fired at a group of three police guards and later at a van containing four officers, officials told the Pakistan Tribune.
Islamist militants oppose vaccination, saying it is a Western conspiracy to sterilise Pakistani children.
In January, 15 people were killed in a bomb attack on a vaccination centre in the south-western city of Quetta.
Polio workers called off the vaccination drive in Karachi following the attack, despite the home minister's order to continue, the Tribune reported.
According to Pakistan's Dawn newspaper, police have offered a reward of 5 million rupees (£33,000) for information on the killers, and 2 million rupees (£13,000) compensation to the victims' families.
Talking to reporters at the scene, Sindh police Inspector General AD Khawaja said polio drops would be "administered to our children at all costs" and said security for polio teams would be increased.
Pakistan is one of only two countries, along with Afghanistan, where polio remains endemic. Militants have repeatedly targeted vaccination programmes, killing nearly 80 people since December 2012.
The country recorded more than 300 polio cases in 2014 - its highest number since 1999.
Most of the new infections were in north-west Pakistan, where militants regularly target roving health teams, and health officials blamed the rise in cases on several deadly attacks on police workers that year.
The number of cases fell to just 52 in 2015, largely because vaccination teams could reach areas that were previously off limits because of militancy.
Polio (poliomyelitis) is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus which invades the nervous system. It mainly affects children aged under five.
Symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck and limb pain.
One in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis, and between 5-10% of those who suffer paralysis die because their breathing muscles are immobilised.
Cases have fallen dramatically since polio eradication programmes were introduced; from 350,000 globally in 1988 to around 70 in 2015.
Polio remains endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but Nigeria was removed from the list in October after a year with no new cases. | Seven Pakistani policemen, three of whom were guarding polio workers, have been killed in Karachi, officials say. |
40,396,795 | The retail boss, who voted in favour of Brexit, said he still believed it would boost trade and the British economy.
But he also warned that it could cause high unemployment if managed badly.
To avoid that, he called for an "orderly transition" when the UK leaves the EU single market and customs union.
"We can't go careering along hell for leather. There is a huge amount of complex work to be done," he wrote in the Mail on Sunday.
Brexit Secretary David Davis said on Sunday that a transition of "one to two years" would probably be needed.
"We've discussed with them [the EU] and we think that there will be a transition period," he told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show.
Mr Davis added that he understood the concerns of businesses that leaving the EU without interim arrangements could affect financial stability and customs arrangements.
Lord Wolfson expressed some of those concerns, saying: "The UK government and EU need to rethink the timetable for negotiation and set out options for a realistic transition period."
The Next chief executive, whose clothing and home goods retail chain employs 49,000 staff, said he was in favour of a Brexit that "focused on prosperity and jobs".
He said that would involve "pro-economic" immigration, an open approach to trade, and allowing more than two years to leave the EU.
Meanwhile, the prime minister is set to create a new Brexit council for business leaders, according to reports.
The group will involve business groups and be co-chaired by Mr Davis and Business Secretary Greg Clark, the Sunday Times reported.
Mr Davis told the BBC he was "pretty sure", but not "certain", that he will be able to get a free trade deal with the EU. | Lord Wolfson, chief executive of Next, has warned that failing to secure a "smooth" departure from the EU could result in "years of economic decline" for the UK. |
16,590,585 | View a gallery of protest action taken by some of the web's highest profile websites
Users attempting to access the site see a black screen and a political statement: "Imagine a world without free knowledge."
The user-generated news site Reddit and the blog Boing Boing are also taking part in the "blackout".
However, Twitter has declined to join the shutdown.
Wikipedia, which attracts millions of hits every day, is opposed to the US Stop Online Piracy Act (Sopa) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (Pipa) being debated by Congress.
The legislation would allow the Justice Department and content owners to seek court orders requiring search engines to block results associated with piracy.
The site's founder, Jimmy Wales, told the BBC: "Proponents of Sopa have characterised the opposition as being people who want to enable piracy or defend piracy".
"But that's not really the point. The point is the bill is so over broad and so badly written that it's going to impact all kinds of things that, you know, don't have anything to do with stopping piracy."
The message replacing the normal Wikipedia front page on the internet says: "For over a decade, we have spent millions of hours building the largest encyclopaedia in human history. Right now, the US Congress is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open internet. For 24 hours, to raise awareness, we are blacking out Wikipedia."
The site was still available on mobile phones, however.
Google.com also joined the protest, blacking out its logo and linking to an online petition urging Congress to not censor the web.
It is an unprecedented protest, says the BBC's Steve Kingstone in Washington. Analysts say it is the first major test for the young and disorganised internet industry against powerful media interests with many lobbyists in Washington.
Sopa's supporters in the House of Representatives say the legislation is designed to stop revenue flowing to "rogue websites". A similar bill, Pipa, is making its way through the US Senate.
On Saturday the White House issued astatement that appeared to side with critics of the legislation.
It said: "While we believe that online piracy by foreign websites is a serious problem that requires a serious legislative response, we will not support legislation that reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risk, or undermines the dynamic, innovative global internet."
The US bills are designed to block access to sites containing unauthorised copyright material.
Content owners and the US government would be given the power to request court orders to shut down sites associated with piracy.
Advertisers, payment processors and internet service providers would be forbidden from doing business with infringers based overseas.
Sopa also requires search engines to remove foreign infringing sites from their results, a provision absent in Pipa.
Full explanation on Sopa and Pipa
Despite the hint of a presidential veto, Wikipedia said that the English site's administrators had decided tostage its first ever public protestbecause the bills "would be devastating to the free and open web".
It added: "We don't think Sopa is going away, and Pipa is still quite active. Moreover, Sopa and Pipa are just indicators of a much broader problem. All around the world, we're seeing the development of legislation intended to fight online piracy, and regulate the internet in other ways, that hurt online freedoms."
However, when asked whether Twitter would join the blackout, its chief executive,Dick Costolo, tweeted: "Closing a global business in reaction to single-issue national politics is foolish."
In a Twitter conversation with Wikipedia's founder Jimmy Wales, Mr Costolo later clarified that his comment was not meant to be read as a "value judgement" about other organisations involvement in the action.
The anti-piracy legislation still has high-profile supporters including News Corporation's chairman, Rupert Murdoch.
Over the weekend he tweeted: "So Obama has thrown in his lot with Silicon Valley paymasters who threaten all software creators with piracy, plain thievery."
He later added: "Seems like universal anger with Potus [President of the United States] from all sorts of normal supporters... Whole entertainment industry employs 2.2 million [on] average salary $65,000. Good jobs and expanding foreign earnings. Made in America, too!"
Sites taking part in the shutdown went offline for 24 hours from midnight Eastern Standard Time (05:00 GMT) on Wednesday. | Wikipedia has taken its English-language site offline as part of protests against proposed anti-piracy laws in the US. |
28,646,924 | 4 August 2014 Last updated at 15:26 BST
Millions of people died in the fighting and it was called the war to end all wars because it was so destructive.
Ricky's been with some children taking a journey to the cemeteries of Belgium to discover more about how their relatives were involved.
Holly discovers something about her relative who fought in the Battle of the Somme. | The First World War was the biggest conflict ever at that time. |
31,835,858 | Many of the 119 privately-owned beach huts at Milford on Sea were destroyed by waves and high winds on St Valentine's Day 2014, with about 40 remaining intact.
New Forest District Council said owners would make a "substantial contribution" towards replacement huts.
The remains of the site will be demolished in June.
Planning consent was agreed at a council meeting earlier, and includes repairs and improvements to the lower promenade where the huts sit.
Edward Heron, portfolio holder for the environment, said: "I am very pleased that by securing outline planning permission to replace the huts and restore the promenade we can now move this project forward.
"We will be clearing the lower promenade in time for the public to use the beach this summer, and in the long term I believe this project will help enhance the beach at Milford for everyone who uses it."
Milford was one of the areas worst-hit by the storm in February. About 30 people had to be rescued from the seafront Marine Restaurant after the windows smashed and water poured in.
Of the beach huts that remained, many were deemed dangerous and were demolished. The area, including the surviving huts, remains cordoned off.
The council said it would recoup the expenditure of the project over time through licence fees.
It is currently inviting tenders for design and project management. | Beach huts damaged in a major storm in Hampshire are to be replaced as part of a £1.1m repair project. |
29,531,099 | It will take over from Aberdeen-based FirstGroup, which has run most Scottish rail services for the past 10 years.
Abellio has also pledged to deliver a better deal for ScotRail workers.
Unions and Scottish Labour reacted angrily to the announcement, saying there was support for services to be put into public ownership.
They had called for the suspension of the franchising process, in the hope such a move would have been permitted under new devolved powers due to come to the Scottish Parliament.
FirstGroup had been competing against Abellio, Arriva, MTR, and National Express for the right to operate the ScotRail contract.
Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown said the franchise, worth up to £6bn, would run for 10 years, with a provision for the government to cancel the contract at the halfway point, if Abellio - a subsidiary of the Dutch national rail company Nederlandse Spoorwegen - failed to meet its obligations.
Abellio and the government said the deal would deliver improved services for passengers, including:
And for ScotRail staff, the government also said the new contract would result in:
Mr Brown said: "The Scottish government believes good public transport improves the lives of the people and the economy of Scotland.
"Following extensive consultation by the Scottish government, Scotland's railway has attracted a world leading contract to deliver for rail staff and passengers."
The minister added: "We've already ensured that regulated rail fares will stay in line with inflation or less, and Abellio has come up with some truly innovative ways to make rail even more affordable, such as the £5 intercity fare anywhere in Scotland and reduced ticket prices for jobseekers and those newly in work, as well as a price promise for guaranteed best value fares."
David Miller, BBC Scotland transport correspondent
New trains, more seats, bargain fares.
Going Dutch will mean all change for ScotRail passengers. Eventually.
Abellio will run the franchise from April 2015.
But many of the changes promised today won't be arriving at a platform near you anytime soon.
It will be the end of December 2017 before new trains appear on the Edinburgh to Glasgow line.
The refurbished high speed trains which will serve Aberdeen and Inverness are due by the end of 2018.
This is a ten year deal which we now know is worth up to £6 billion.
It's the biggest single contract ever awarded by the Scottish Government.
So the pressure is on to ensure passengers, and taxpayers, are happy with the outcome.
The unions though are unimpressed by the promise of free wifi on all services and bike hire schemes at stations.
They want to see rail services in Scotland back in the public sector.
A clause which allows the franchise agreement to be ended after five years offers them a slight glimmer of hope.
Abellio chief executive Jeff Hoogesteger said: "This is a huge day for Abellio and indeed the Netherlands, which has such a rich history of commercial and cultural trade with Scotland.
"For two years our team has been on a journey across Scotland and met people from the Borders, across the seven cities and to the very peak of the far north line, so that we could prepare a plan that would meet and exceed the expectations of the Scottish government.
"We look forward to delivering significant new benefits for passengers under the next franchise."
The company has indicated that its preferred bidder to build new rolling stock will be Hitachi, and the trains will be made in the UK.
Mick Whelan, the general secretary of the train drivers' union Aslef hit out at the franchise decision. He said: "It's a particularly perverse decision by the SNP government in Scotland, which was arguing for independence, and is getting many more devolved powers, to embrace privatisation and all that means rather than wait a few months, take a fresh look at the opportunities for rail services in Scotland, and then, instead of acting in such a precipitate fashion, make a considered decision next year. "
Manuel Cortes, leader of the TSSA rail union, added: "Only a few weeks ago, the Scottish people were promised the power to run a publicly owned railway which would put them first, ahead of private rail firms.
"Now the Scottish government wants to hand that railway to a firm run by Dutch state railways."
'Leadership failure'
And RMT general secretary Mick Cash told BBC Scotland: "We believe public ownership is better, is more efficient and it's safer and it gives you great accountability.
"All you're seeing in private ownership is that money's being sucked out of the industry and given to the private sector shareholders, or in this case is going to go to subsidise the Dutch railways."
Scottish Labour infrastructure spokesman James Kelly said the decision highlighted a "total failure in leadership" from the transport minster.
"In awarding the ScotRail franchise to Abellio, Keith Brown has decided that the profits from Scotland's railways should be used to invest in lower fares and better services in Holland rather than here at home," he said.
But Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Alex Johnstone said the competitive franchising system had revived rail transport, adding: "The transport minister has done well to resist calls from the sirens of the extreme left who would see us return to the investment vacuum and the catastrophic management failures of the state-owned monopoly."
Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie, added: "There is a certain irony in the Dutch public sector running Scotland's trains, but Abellio has certainly made a strong set of promises for improving services.
"There's huge public appetite for bringing rail back into public hands, and I think it's realistic to start preparing for a public sector bid in 2020 if those powers are in our hands by that point."
Meanwhile, FirstGroup chief executive Tim O'Toole said the firm was "very proud" of its success in operating First ScotRail.
He added: "We have kept our promises and more for 10 years, delivering record levels of service including during this extraordinary summer in Scotland with the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup.
"Our bid would have delivered even greater levels of service and growth, and we are disappointed we will not have the opportunity to implement the credible plans we submitted, building on our record of improvement across every measurable score, for the benefit of ScotRail's passengers and employees."
The firm said it was still in discussions with the Department for Transport (DfT) over the First TransPennine Express and First Great Western franchises. | Dutch rail operator Abellio will run ScotRail services from April 2015, after promising to invest millions in improving services. |
39,587,373 | The Spaniard was sacked on Monday as the coach of Granada, who are currently bottom of the Spanish La Liga.
The 50-year-old replaces Belgian Georges Leekens who quit after Algeria were eliminated from the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations at the group stage.
Christian Gourcuff resigned as coach in April 2016 to be replaced by Milovan Rajevac who quit after just two games.
The move came as a surprise to many in Algeria as another Spaniard Joaquin Caparros had been expected to be given the job.
Former Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka had also been linked to the position.
Alcaraz's first competitive match in charge will be against visiting Togo as Algeria begin their qualifying campaign for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Benin and The Gambia are the other two teams in Group D with only the pool winners guaranteed a place at the finals in Cameroon.
Algeria are aiming to reach a third straight World Cup but are bottom of their qualifying group with a single point from two matches so far.
They are five points behind leaders Nigeria and their next games are home and away against Zambia, who are also on one point.
Only the winners of Group B will play the 2018 World Cup in Russia. | Algeria have appointed Lucas Alcaraz as their fourth full-time coach in the last 13 months. |
35,653,173 | They have been an agricultural heartland for centuries and, local farmers hope, will continue to be so for years to come.
You might imagine that - however the vote goes on 23 June - it would have little impact here.
But the moment you speak to anyone involved in farming, you recognise the reality is a little different.
The industry has long-established links to Europe and any change to that situation could have profound effects.
At the same time, it would only be fair to say that the relationship has not always been a smooth one.
Rob Livesey, who farms in the central Borders and is a vice-president of NFU Scotland, sums up the situation succinctly.
£3,388m
Income before expenses of £2,721m
£1,282m Livestock
£488m Crops
£469m Livestock products
£452m Grants and subsidies
"The Common Agricultural Policy and the EU have been key to a lot of how farming has evolved since 1973 when we joined," he explained.
"So, it has always been in our minds and we have kind of behaved in a way determined by how the EU operates.
"Looking forward, the unknown is always a worry and knowing what the options are and what the full implications for us as farmers are is difficult to get a handle on."
He said there were a couple of key questions which any European exit would raise.
Mr Livesey explained: "I suppose, firstly, we would suggest just now that we haven't got much confidence in our support mechanism being maintained.
"Europe has supported us economically quite substantially during those years and whether Westminster or the Scottish government would be able to continue to do that would be in question."
How the UK is affected by the Common Agricultural Policy and EU fishing policies.
The other issue is one of access to markets.
He said: "The EU, with its 500 million people, is a really key place for our products to go both within the UK and outside and we don't see any of those opportunities missed.
"The support that I talked about earlier is being reduced on a daily basis, that pot of income coming into farms is getting less and less and we really need access to those markets to maintain our incomes.
"So anything that threatens that is really concerning to us as farmers."
Mr Livesey believed that was a particularly worry for his sector - sheep farming - with Europe taking the majority of their product.
He said: "We only need to look back to the foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001 when our market really collapsed and we were in a very difficult financial position.
"That was really because we couldn't export lamb to the continent.
"If you remember back when the French were burning lamb and all that kind of nonsense before we got trade arrangements put in place properly.
"We don't want to see that coming back again - that's a nightmare scenario for us as sheep farmers."
Whether or not Brexit becomes a reality, it is clear that our relationship with Europe will be quite different for the next generation as it has been for our forefathers
Not that he believes everything in the way the EU operates has been perfect.
Many farmers have felt frustrated at the constraints placed on them over the years of membership.
"The other side to it really is that the EU has also imposed on us many regulations which seem irrelevant and anti-competitive," he said.
Gary Mitchell, who runs a dairy farm in Stoneykirk in the far west of Dumfries and Galloway, is one who would be happy to leave that world behind.
He said: "My personal view would be that I think we should come out.
"From an agricultural point of view, it is always talk about subsidies - we need agriculture subsidies to survive.
"I know certain sectors need that subsidy but I would like to see the market actually returning.
"In 1991 we were 75% self-sufficient in food, now we are only 62% - so to me Europe isn't working for our productivity in agriculture and I think that is where we need to see things change."
And what about those at the very outset of their agricultural careers?
Sarah Allison of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs said they wanted to hear both sides before coming to any decision on how to vote.
"The EU institution has long been a key partner of Scottish agriculture," she said.
"Whether or not Brexit becomes a reality, it is clear that our relationship with Europe will be quite different for the next generation as it has been for our forefathers.
"What our next generation of farmers need to hear is a clear and reasoned debate of the positives and negatives of EU membership, as ultimately it will be them who are living and working with the consequences."
That is why debate and discussion of the European referendum is likely to be just as vibrant at livestock marts and agricultural shows in the days to come as it is among politicians and big city firms.
Are you involved in the agricultural industry? What outcome would you like to see in the European referendum and why? Email us your views to [email protected]. | In rural parts of southern Scotland it is easy to think the issue of potential European Union exit is a distant one. |
36,835,586 | The government wants to allow fees to rise with inflation if universities have a high standard of teaching.
Mr Marsden said it gave universities "cash-in coupons" to raise their fees.
Education Secretary Justine Greening defended the need to protect the value of fees for "high quality providers".
Ms Greening, heading a department now responsible for higher education as well as schools, presented plans which will encourage more competition within higher education.
The education secretary told the House of Commons the changes would not reduce parliamentary scrutiny of the maximum level of fees in England, which is currently £9,000 per year.
"But what we are saying to high quality providers is you can access fees up to an inflation-linked maximum fee cap if, and only if, you can demonstrate that you are providing high quality teaching and you have an agreed access and participation plan in place."
But Mr Marsden said that in unpredictable economic times after the EU referendum, with no certainty on future levels of inflation, this could mean "significant rises in fee costs".
Raising fees in line with inflation will depend on universities providing high quality teaching, which would be measured by a "teaching excellence framework".
Mr Marsden said this would become a "Trojan horse" for raising fees.
"This is particularly problematic for students post-Brexit with the fragility of our current economy and there are no guarantees on the level of inflation for the next few years."
Mr Marsden said "all bets were off" on how much fees might rise in the years ahead.
Ms Greening was also pressed by MPs on a lack of information for universities about what will happen to their EU staff and students and EU research funding.
The government's plans, in the Higher Education and Research Bill, will encourage more universities to be created and to make it simpler for institutions to gain their own degree awarding powers.
Ms Greening said research showed that increasing the number of universities would improve the economy.
"But the current system for creating universities can feel highly restricted, with new providers requiring the backing of an incumbent institution to become eligible to award its own degrees.
"This Bill levels that playing field by laying the foundations for a new system where it will be clearer, simpler and quicker to establish high quality new providers."
Ms Greening also set out plans for an Office for Students, which would help to protect value for money for students.
This followed concerns from students on issues such as a lack of teaching hours.
Neil Carmichael, chairman of the education select committee, said the result of the EU referendum made higher education even more important for the economy.
"Brexit is a call to arms for our education system because we have got to provide more skills, the skills that we need, because we won't necessarily be able to allow anyone from the European Union to do that for us," said Mr Carmichael
Labour's Stella Creasy said that pushing up fees would limit social mobility.
"The biggest division in our society today is who is able to turn to the bank of mum and dad and who is not," she said.
The Scottish National Party's education spokeswoman, Carol Monaghan, warned against changes putting "profit before students".
"The drive towards the marketisation of student experience is one which we should all view with caution," she told MPs.
The Liberal Democrats said the bill was no longer "fit for purpose" in the "instability" following the EU referendum decision.
"The bill totally fails to address the challenges universities will now face around securing funding for research or ensuring student numbers remain level.
"It cannot be allowed to go ahead in its current form," said Lib Dem education spokesman John Pugh. | University tuition fees in England would face "significant rises" under plans being put forward by the government, says Labour's shadow education minister Gordon Marsden. |
18,332,510 | In the last four days there has been a series of events including the Thames River Pageant, a concert in front of Buckingham Palace, and a flypast.
But some people have done their best to ignore the celebrations.
BBC News website readers have been speaking about how and why they have avoided the series of Diamond Jubilee events.
Over the weekend I went on a nice bike ride, taking a packed lunch so I don't even have to go into a pub.
In the evenings I've been painting and reading.
I have ignored the celebrations - it has nothing to do with me.
In my village street parties were planned for the bank holiday weekend, but as far as I'm concerned there is nothing to celebrate.
All this fuss has been absolute appalling.
There has been wall to wall coverage, even on the
Today
programme which I like.
Even
Gardeners' Question Time
managed to get something on the Diamond Jubilee into the programme.
Also, when there is nothing to say about the celebrations, programmes go back in history to talk about Queen Victoria and other monarchs.
I think the BBC is acting as publicity agent for the royals.
I have nothing against the Royal Family personally, it's the institution that I disagree with.
Their power is played down - they have enormous power that they lend to the prime minister of the day.
The anniversary just means that it has been 60 years of not having the right to choose our head of state - I won't even start with their costs.
There has been far too much hype about the Diamond Jubilee. I expect more from the BBC as they're supposed to give a balanced view.
There have been republican viewpoints but they have been minimal.
I have done my best to avoid any Jubilee activity.
Apart from visiting my mother-in-law who is a staunch royalist I hoped to be far from the maddening crown and the media overkill - It's been way too much.
I don't see why we're celebrating.
The whole thing has turned us all into children with all the flag waving and face painting.
It has been a miserable four days of endless details about the Diamond Jubilee - I'm sick of hearing about it all.
I need to emigrate to France or somewhere!
The Queen is just a woman who has been very lucky.
In my mother-in-law's village, people take it in turns to hold garden parties.
This year it was my mother-in-law's turn and this year it took on a greater significance with lots of bunting.
There has been no escape - I've had to sneak off to read a book.
I've been at work, finishing on Sunday, and I have avoided looking at anything Jubilee related.
I'm trying to hold back my anger at the millions of pounds that have been spent this year for the Diamond Jubilee.
How many jobs could have been saved with that money in these times of austerity?
How many lives could have been saved around the world?
We are always seeing on TV how just £5 could give a family fresh water for a week or £5 could give a child life saving medication.
There are cutbacks in our police, yet wherever the Queen decides to go on her day trips, the police overtime bill for security must run into millions.
Those millions could have kept our police in jobs and kept them on our streets protecting the public all year around and not for a fleeting visit by the Royal Family.
I am not an anarchist - when Princess Diana died I signed a book of condolence, and last year I was happy about the wedding of William and Kate.
I'm proud to be British and I have nothing against people celebrating, but I get infuriated when I visualise how that money could be better spent.
Interviews by Andrée Massiah | The Diamond Jubilee celebrations have ended with a recorded thank-you message from the Queen. |
37,419,010 | He was found with serious head injuries at a property in Granville Road, Accrington, at about 08:45 BST.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police officers remain at the house.
Det Supt Paul Withers said the death is being treated as an isolated incident and an investigation into the circumstances is under way.
He appealed for anybody with information to come forward. | A man has been found dead at a house in Lancashire, prompting police to launch a murder investigation. |
30,007,548 | 18 February 2015 Last updated at 16:21 GMT
The war in Syria has been going on for almost four years now, and around ten million people have had to flee their homes.
The children we spoke to from Syria are just some of the refugees who had to leave their homes to avoid the fighting, and now go to a school in the Jabal al-Taj area of the capital city Amman in Jordan.
They spoke about their lives before the war, and what they do in their spare time. | British kids from a school in Bury, in the north-west of England, sent in their questions for a group of Syrian children who have escaped the conflict in their home country. |
26,386,946 | Speaking in Russia, he said he was "not overthrown" but was compelled to leave Ukraine after threats to his life.
In the latest flare-up, Ukraine accused Russian troops of seizing two airports in Crimea - charges denied by Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for a rapid return to normality in Ukraine.
Mr Putin spoke to Western leaders to emphasise "the extreme importance of not allowing a further escalation of violence", the Kremlin said.
However, Ukraine's foreign ministry has sent a protest note to Moscow citing a violation of airspace and provisions of the treaty regulating the Russian presence in Crimea.
The note does not give details, but follows unconfirmed reports of Russian planes landing at Simferopol - allegedly with hundreds of Russian troops on board.
By Bridget KendallBBC's diplomatic correspondent, Moscow
The picture being presented from Moscow is that events in Crimea are spontaneous - the natural response of local Russian speakers who felt threatened by the new Kiev government.
How far the Kremlin is pulling the strings behind the scenes is hard to know. Certainly it is not being admitted openly. But there are signs the Russian government is hardening its stance.
The question for President Putin is how far he can push it without risking a full scale confrontation with the West.
Maybe he thinks he can have it both ways - encourage more Crimean autonomy but stop short of secession; criticise the new Kiev government but avoid a full break in relations; and try to unnerve Ukraine's young government by heavy-handed manoeuvres on the border without actually invading.
But it is a dangerous game. If tensions escalate further, a full scale crisis between East and West may be impossible to avoid.
Analysis: Russian shadow boxing
In other developments:
"I intend to continue to struggle for the future of Ukraine, against terror and fear," Mr Yanukovych told the news conference in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.
"What's going on now is lawlessness, lack of authority, and terror. Decisions in parliament were taken under duress."
He apologised to the Ukrainian people for not having "enough strength to keep stability" and described his usurpers as "young, neo-fascists".
He insisted he did not "flee anywhere", explaining that his car was shot at as he left Kiev and he was forced to move around Ukraine amid fears for the safety of himself and his family.
He said he arrived in Russia "thanks to a patriotically-minded young officer" and was given refuge in Rostov by an old friend.
Speaking in Russian, Mr Yanukovych said he would return to Ukraine "as soon as there are guarantees for my security and that of my family".
But he ruled out taking part in elections planned for 25 May, describing them as "illegal".
Later Ukrainian authorities said they had started moves to have him extradited to Kiev where he is wanted on charges of mass murder.
And he said the only way out of the crisis is to implement an EU-backed compromise agreement he signed with opposition leaders last week before he was deposed.
The current turmoil in Crimea was "an absolutely natural reaction to the bandit coup that occurred in Kiev", he said, adding that he was surprised by the restraint shown by Russian President Vladimir Putin so far.
But he stressed that "military action in this situation is unacceptable" and said he wanted Crimea to remain part of Ukraine.
Armed men took over Sevastopol and Simferopol airports in the early hours of Friday.
Acting national security chief Andriy Parubiy said the airports were back in the control of the Ukrainian authorities, but the men were now manning checkpoints on the surrounding roads.
Witnesses also reported seeing Russian army trucks and helicopters in and around the regional capital Simferopol and Sevastopol, where Russia's Black Sea Fleet is based.
The move on the airports prompted Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov to accuse Russia of carrying out an "armed invasion" of Crimea.
In pictures: Crimea tension
Russia denied any involvement with the takeover at the airport, but confirmed its armoured vehicles had been on the move around Crimea for "security" reasons.
On Thursday, a group of unidentified armed men entered Crimea's parliament building by force, and hoisted a Russian flag on the roof.
They were still in the building when the Crimean parliament later announced it would hold a referendum on expanding the region's autonomy from Ukraine on 25 May.
Crimea is becoming the lynchpin of a struggle between Ukraine's new leaders and those loyal to Russia, the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall says.
The majority of people in Crimea are ethnic Russians, but ethnic Ukrainians loyal to Kiev and Muslim Tatars - whose animosity towards Russia stretches back to Stalin's deportations during World War Two - have formed an alliance to oppose any move back towards Moscow. | Viktor Yanukovych has vowed to fight for Ukraine, in his first public appearance since being ousted as president last week. |
38,852,807 | George, a male swan, was seriously injured when he was shot in the head in Pittville Park, Cheltenham, in January.
A 15-year-old boy, from Cheltenham, was arrested under under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
A 48-year-old man, also from Cheltenham, was arrested last week. Both have been released on bail pending further investigations.
The swan, along with his breeding partner Zelda, has lived on Pittville lakes for a number of years.
The critically ill bird was found by a member of the public with a bolt lodged in his left eye.
He was treated at Vale Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre and has now been released back to the lake.
A fundraising campaign has raised more than £6,000 to pay for George's treatment and a reward to catch the person responsible. | A teenage boy is the second person to be arrested on suspicion of shooting a swan with a crossbow. |
35,842,249 | The schoolgirl's body has never been found after she went missing in 1994.
Eric Anderson said there was no provision for the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) to store the notes.
He added that police rules were that detectives were to keep documents for 10 years after their retirement.
Mr Anderson was giving evidence to the inquest for the first time, and appeared by video from his home.
He told the inquest he destroyed all of the notes "by burning and shredding" and did not keep copies, adding he had been under serious threat and found it difficult to keep the documents in a safe place.
He decided that destroying them "was the desirable thing to do".
Arlene, from Castlederg, disappeared after a night out in County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland.
Convicted child killer Robert Howard, who died in prison last year, was the main suspect in her disappearance.
Mr Anderson told the inquest it had been his decision to arrest Howard six weeks after Arlene disappeared because his inquiry pointed quite strongly to Howard having killed the girl.
Asked why Howard had not been arrested earlier, Mr Anderson said detectives wanted to get more information on Howard in order to successfully question him.
Howard was later released, and Mr Anderson was asked in court if he had concerns about that decision.
"It was the only decision open to us," he said.
"Did I want to charge him? Yes. Could I charge him? No."
It also emerged that after Howard's release, a 24-hour surveillance operation was put in place to track his activities and movements.
But Mr Anderson said Howard did nothing to incriminate himself.
Two years after Arlene disappeared, police searched and dug up parts of her sister's house and garden looking for the body.
Nothing was found.
Mr Anderson said the decision to carry out the search was taken by the then RUC chief constable Sir Hugh Annesley.
Sir Hugh ordered the search based on information from a "pillar of society", Mr Anderson added. | A former senior detective who led the investigation into the disappearance of County Tyrone teenager Arlene Arkinson has told the inquest into her death he destroyed all of his notes on the case. |
30,319,517 | Chancellor George Osborne said the power could be devolved provided the Northern Ireland Executive can show that it is "able to manage the financial implications".
Ivan Lewis MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
"We acknowledge that devolution of corporation tax could play an important role in achieving these objectives.
"However, it will also require Northern Ireland's politicians to trade off any potential corporation tax reductions with severe cuts to existing public expenditure, and potentially give Northern Ireland a very different business tax environment to the rest of the United Kingdom.
"We support the government's position that as part of the current all-party talks, Northern Ireland's political leaders must agree a viable and sustainable budget.
"However, it is also important that there is proper consideration of long term as well as short term implications. Labour will consult widely before reaching a decision on whether or not to support devolution of corporation tax."
Finance Minister Simon Hamilton
"I welcome the commitment by the chancellor to devolve corporation tax, subject to appropriate progress and financial commitment in the talks process.
"Our persistence, along with the local business community, to reduce corporation tax for Northern Ireland has paid dividends but other parties must now step up and show leadership on budget and welfare reform if the prize of corporation tax is to be secured.
"Reducing the rate of corporation tax will help to rebalance our economy by providing locally based businesses with the additional incentive to re-invest while also making Northern Ireland an attractive location for new foreign direct investment."
Danske Bank's chief economist Angela McGowan
"The Autumn Statement was a huge disappointment for Northern Ireland.
"Other than a brief reference to the possibility of devolving corporation tax "if the conditions are right" there was very little by way of support or initiatives to really boost our long-term economic growth prospects.
"The coalition government has committed massive amounts of money to cement the north of England as a world leader in science and technology.
"We heard about numerous new initiatives such as the new £28m high value added manufacturing catapult centre for Sedgefield and the £20m Innovation Hub for Ageing Science in Newcastle.
"But nothing of that nature was made available for the Northern Ireland economy."
Daithí McKay, Sinn Féin
"Sinn Féin will not be taking any lectures from George Osborne, the architect of the most vicious attack on public services since the inception of the welfare state.
"Many people in Britain, including churches, trade unionists and charities are hugely critical of the Tory government's management of the British economy.
"Many of them have urged us not to follow the destructive policies of Cameron's cabinet of Tory millionaires.
"Sinn Féin has argued for the transfer of all fiscal powers to the north including the power to set corporation tax.
"And we need to carefully consider what we would do with that power, whether we would reduce it or not and if so by how much.
"And of course, this issue cannot be seen in isolation from the very real financial pressures we as an Executive are currently facing - pressures largely created by the year-on-year cuts to the Executive's budget implemented by George Osborne. "
Kevin Kingston, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry
"NI Chamber welcomes today's announcement on the devolution of corporation tax powers to the Northern Ireland Executive.
"The prime minister has listened to calls from the business community and all of Northern Ireland's political parties for the devolution of powers, with the outcome now placed firmly on the Northern Ireland Executive's willingness to cooperate on a number of issues which have challenged them.
"With the powers now sitting firmly in our hands, our politicians must grasp this opportunity whilst using the two years prior to the implementation of the new tax rate to ensure that we maximise the opportunity."
Danny Kinahan, Ulster Unionist Party
"I welcome the chancellor's announcement to devolve corporation tax in principle to the Northern Ireland Executive.
"I also welcome his commitment elsewhere in the Autumn Statement to do more to ensure all businesses pay all tax due.
"The devolution of corporation tax has been tied to a successful outcome of the current talks process being chaired by the secretary of state.
"The Ulster Unionist Party remains fully engaged in that process, and focused on the need for the Northern Ireland Executive to balance its books.
"We cannot go on saddling future generations with massive debt because we are living so far beyond our means."
Jim Allister, TUV leader
"If the chancellor means what he says, corporation tax devolution should be off the table for the foreseeable future as Stormont has patently failed to manage its financial affairs.
"Scrambling together a deal for the optics hardly meets that test.
"However, I suspect that, in truth, corporation tax will come to Stormont if unionists roll over in the current talks. But corporation tax is a poisoned carrot about which we should be wary.
"Firstly, under EU law any cut in corporation tax will mean a corresponding cut to the block grant.
"Estimates of the cost vary, but it will be hundreds of millions of pounds annually.
"In return the best that can be expressed is an opaque hope of extra investment, rather than the corporations pocketing the windfall tax savings."
Patsy McGlone, SDLP
"This is a power which the executive parties all agree should be devolved, the British Treasury has agreed that it could be devolved and yet the chancellor is basing it on the outcome of the talks which he will now judge.
"The devolution of this power must be handled carefully.
"It has the potential to be an economically enhancing measure but only if the right infrastructure and support is in place.
"It is also important that the British government recognises the fragile state of the Northern Ireland economy and the devastating impact further cuts to the block grant would have.
"They must look at placing a comfort package in place to make the transition to handling corporation tax powers viable for both the Treasury and the executive.
"While the British government may try to use this as a bargaining chip in the talks, it is important that all parties refuse to be strong armed by the Tories into making concessions that are not in the best interests of people here.
"The talks outcome should be comprehensive, decisive but most of all should meet the needs of the people we represent, not the desires of an austere chancellor in London." | The political parties and business groups have been giving their reaction to news that any decision on devolving corporation tax to Northern Ireland will be dependent on the outcome of the all-party talks. |
38,543,295 | Media playback is not supported on this device
The 42-year-old made the comment after watching his side lose for the ninth time in 11 games in all competitions.
"I immediately realised that this comment was totally unacceptable," said Page after a "difficult afternoon".
"No offence was meant by it and I apologise wholeheartedly if any was caused."
Page made five changes to his starting line-up because of illness, injury and international duty, but saw Ellis Harrison score four times for Rovers in Saturday's League One match.
Afterwards, Page told BBC Radio Northampton: "People are knocking on my door, saying they deserve a chance and when you do, do your talking out there.
"Actions speak louder than words. There was a couple giving that. It was men against girls, not boys.
"That was embarrassing. My staff and players feel like we've let the football club and the supporters down."
Page took charge of the Cobblers in the summer after Chris Wilder, having led Northampton to the League Two title, moved to Sheffield United.
A 31-match unbeaten run stretched between seasons and they were in the play-off places in late October, but their poor run of form has seen them drop to 16th in the table.
The Welshman insisted he was not a "quitter" in the face of job pressure and said there was "no excuses" for his side's performance at the Memorial Stadium.
"I've got to apologise to the supporters. They didn't deserve that today. It's not acceptable, I'm a proud man and that's a hard one to take," said Page. | Northampton Town manager Rob Page has apologised for labelling his side's 5-0 thrashing by Bristol Rovers as "men against girls". |
30,839,240 | Keith Passmore's body was discovered at a property in Clifton Road, Burnley shortly after 18:30 GMT on Saturday.
In a statement, the family of Mr Passmore, 60, said he "will be sadly missed" by relatives and close friends in Burnley and further afield.
Burney men Paul Howarth, 47, of Clifton Road, and Gary Burley, of Herbert Road, have been charged with his murder.
Mr Burley, 44, has also been charged with making threats to kill. | A man found stabbed to death in Lancashire made friends "wherever he went", his family said. |
32,442,642 | It was organised after attacks on homes in Walmer Street and Raby Street, off the Ormeau Road, earlier this week.
Residents, traders, politicians, clergy and community leaders attended the demonstration at Ulidia playing fields on Thursday evening.
Organisers said they wanted to show solidarity with the victims and make it clear that such incidents are not acceptable in their area. | About 50 people have staged a protest against hate crime in south Belfast. |
36,408,918 | The world number two saved three set points in a 16-minute first-set tie-break and was leading 7-6 (11-9) 2-1 when play was stopped because of rain.
Murray, 29, outclassed 15th seed Isner after the break to seal a 7-6 (11-9) 6-4 6-3 win in two hours and 40 minutes.
The Scot faces either Japanese fifth seed Kei Nishikori or France's ninth seed Richard Gasquet in the last eight.
Murray, who needed five sets to win his first two matches in France, followed up his emphatic third-round win over Ivo Karlovic with another solid display against a big-serving opponent.
The Briton also held his own serve throughout - saving five break points, including three with aces - and finished the match with another ace to maintain his 100% record against Isner.
A key moment came in the first set tie-break when Murray saved a set point on Isner's serve by firing a backhand down the line past the advancing American.
Murray saved two more before taking the first set and never looked back as he secured his place in the last eight.
With more rain expected he will be pleased to have finished the match on Sunday to ensure he has a day off on Monday.
"It was a very important tie-break to win. I got lucky on his first set point when I guessed right on a short forehand," said Murray, who has reached the quarter-finals at 19 of the last 20 Grand Slam events he has contested.
Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox. | Britain's Andy Murray beat American John Isner in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals of the French Open. |
37,614,902 | Gallagher put them ahead early on when he coolly slotted home past Forest keeper Vladimir Stojkovic.
Gallagher doubled his tally before the break from close range after Corry Evans laid the ball to him.
Damien Perquis managed a late reply before Hildeberto Pereira was sent off for a second yellow card.
Stojkovic came up for a free-kick in the hopes of an equaliser, but Craig Conway pounced on the counter-attack and was brought down by Pereira who picked up a second booking.
The result means Blackburn lift themselves out of the Championship relegation places as they moved from 23rd to 21st.
Forest slip a place to 16th and have won just once in their past eight league matches.
Blackburn manager Owen Coyle: "I've been an admirer of Gallagher for years. We had to work hard to get him here.
"He's not the finished article. He's willing to listen, learn, you see the pace he's got and he can score goals. He's not ready yet but I think in time he's going to be a very good player.
"We took one point from five games with all the turmoil at the start, (but) I think that's 10 points from the last six games.
"We're a decent team in the Championship so what we've got to do is show that level of consistency, which we have been doing."
Nottingham Forest boss Philippe Montanier: "We started very badly in the first half. For me we lost the game in the first half. I don't know why that's happened.
"We prepared very well and after Birmingham (3-1 win on Friday night) we had confidence. But it's a handicap for us if you play only 45 minutes of the 90.
"The second half was better and we are closer to a goal at the end, but it's not sufficient to play only one half."
Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 2, Nottingham Forest 1.
Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 2, Nottingham Forest 1.
Matt Mills (Nottingham Forest) is shown the yellow card.
Sam Gallagher (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card.
Matt Mills (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sam Gallagher (Blackburn Rovers).
Second yellow card to Hildeberto Pereira (Nottingham Forest) for a bad foul.
Foul by Hildeberto Pereira (Nottingham Forest).
Craig Conway (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Liam Feeney (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Chris Cohen (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Liam Feeney (Blackburn Rovers).
Goal! Blackburn Rovers 2, Nottingham Forest 1. Damien Perquis (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Liam Feeney replaces Marvin Emnes.
Foul by Britt Assombalonga (Nottingham Forest).
Tommie Hoban (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Matt Mills (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sam Gallagher (Blackburn Rovers).
Foul by Nicolao Dumitru (Nottingham Forest).
Danny Guthrie (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Nottingham Forest. Pajtim Kasami tries a through ball, but Britt Assombalonga is caught offside.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Corry Evans (Blackburn Rovers) because of an injury.
Damien Perquis (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Marvin Emnes (Blackburn Rovers).
Offside, Nottingham Forest. Eric Lichaj tries a through ball, but Nicolao Dumitru is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Nicolao Dumitru (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Apostolos Vellios with a through ball.
Attempt missed. Nicolao Dumitru (Nottingham Forest) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Eric Lichaj with a cross.
Hildeberto Pereira (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Craig Conway (Blackburn Rovers).
Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Britt Assombalonga (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers).
Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Britt Assombalonga replaces Ben Osborn.
Attempt missed. Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ben Osborn.
Chris Cohen (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sam Gallagher (Blackburn Rovers).
Foul by Apostolos Vellios (Nottingham Forest).
Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Matt Mills (Nottingham Forest) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Henri Lansbury with a cross following a set piece situation. | Struggling Blackburn Rovers sealed a valuable victory thanks to a first-half Sam Gallagher double against Nottingham Forest, who finished with 10 men. |
40,286,790 | The surprise announcement was made at an annual meeting of the National Music Publishers Association in New York on Wednesday.
They explained the move by playing a clip of Lennon saying Imagine "should be credited as a Lennon-Ono song".
"A lot of it - the lyric and the concept - came from Yoko," he said.
"But those days I was a bit more selfish, a bit more macho, and I sort of omitted to mention her contribution.
"But it was right out of Grapefruit, her book. There's a whole pile of pieces about 'Imagine this' and 'Imagine that.'"
Ono and her son, Sean Ono Lennon, were at the ceremony to pick up a song of the century award in honour of Imagine, and were not expecting the announcement.
"When they officially acknowledged - through my father's account - that my mother co-wrote Imagine, the song of the century, it may have been the happiest day of mine and [my] mother's life," Lennon told Billboard magazine.
An emotional Patti Smith, accompanied on piano by her daughter Jessie, then performed the song.
The process of adding Ono to Imagine's writing credits is under way but has not yet been completed, said David Israelite, who runs the National Music Publishers Association.
He added that there may be some opposition to the move as, in US law, a song enters the public domain 70 years after the death of its last creator.
Attaching Ono's name to the song will significantly extend the period of time for which it continues to generate income for the rights-holders.
However, as Ono is already a beneficiary of Lennon's estate, the move would not significantly alter the distribution of royalties.
However, it is interesting to note that Ono previously threatened legal action to stop Sir Paul McCartney changing the songwriting credits for 19 Beatles songs featured on his live album Back In The US (2002).
Classics including Eleanor Rigby, Yesterday and Let It Be were attributed to "Paul McCartney and John Lennon" instead of the traditional Lennon-McCartney.
Ono's lawyer called the move "ridiculous, absurd and petty"; while Ono described it as "totally inappropriate".
"It is very petty," she said. "John and Paul often disagreed on which songs were written by whom.
"If John was here now they could fight it out or maybe they could never agree. The point is he is not."
Similarly, when the Beatles Anthology series was released in 1995, Sir Paul asked the other Beatles and Ono if they would mind the name McCartney appearing before Lennon on Yesterday, a song he wrote alone.
George Harrison and Ringo Starr had no objection but Ono vetoed the idea.
She did not allude to these events at Wednesday night's ceremony, but said a recent illness - she appeared in a wheelchair - had given her a new perspective on Imagine and life in general.
"This is the best time of my life" she added.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]. | More than 40 years after the song's release, Yoko Ono is receiving a songwriting credit on John Lennon's classic Imagine. |
33,476,752 | Last month, the Supreme Court ordered more than 600,000 students to retake the exam after they found that the question paper had been leaked.
Candidates have been told to wear light clothes with half-sleeves, and shirts that do not have big buttons.
They cannot wear earrings and carry calculators, pens, handbags and wallets.
Shoes have also been discarded in favour of open slippers.
In India students cheating in exams have been often found concealing Bluetooth devices and mobile SIM cards that have been stitched to their shirts.
Over the past few years, a number of candidates have also been caught using small earphones, stitched button-hole cameras and micro earplugs.
Also, pens that can scan question papers and transmit the images outside using small Bluetooth devices are also being used.
Some of the devices are used to transmit questions outside the examination hall to professionals who then relay back the answers.
The dress code is aimed at eliminating some of the more obvious hiding places for such gadgets.
The latest guidelines following national outrage over a massive medical school admissions examination scandal involving thousands of arrests and many mysterious deaths. | Authorities in India have issued a dress code for candidates who are retaking a medical school exam. |
35,422,519 | Inverness, along with Aberdeen, is the subject of an application for a City Deal. It could potentially be worth millions of pounds.
Mr Cameron told MPs: "We are committed to examining the city deal with Inverness."
He said "very good progress" was being made with the deal for Aberdeen.
The prime minister added that the deals were a chance for the UK and Scottish governments to work together.
Mr Cameron was responding to a question from Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey MP Drew Hendry, who asked what progress was being made with Inverness' bid.
Last year, Scottish Secretary David Mundell confirmed £3m funding for Inverness.
The money was to enable the local authority to go ahead with plans to upgrade the grounds and access to Inverness Castle.
A second project to create a free public access wi-fi scheme for the city was also expected to be funded.
Highland Council said: "We are continuing to work positively and constructively with colleagues in the Scottish and UK governments to secure a City/Region Deal for Inverness and the Highlands." | The UK government remains committed to considering a major funding package for projects in Inverness, Prime Minister David Cameron has said. |
32,438,748 | The 43-year-old has been in charge of the Daggers since February 2013 and he led the side to safety that season.
The east London club finished ninth in the table in 2013-14 and are set for another mid-table finish this term.
"I'm delighted that we have secured the services of the only man we considered for the job," Daggers chairman Dave Bennett told the club website.
Former Huddersfield and Grimsby midfielder Burnett initially took charge of the Daggers on an interim basis after John Still joined Luton.
Burnett, who joined Dagenham's coaching set-up in 2009, was handed a permanent deal in the summer of 2013.
His new contract will run until the summer of 2017, which would mark the 10-year anniversary of Dagenham's promotion to the Football League.
"Hopefully next year he will take us forward and onto our tenth season in the Football League," Bennett added. | Dagenham & Redbridge manager Wayne Burnett has signed a new two-year deal with the League Two club. |
28,250,713 | Two states in the USA, which have taken very different approaches to the same problem, could offer lessons for Scotland.
Texas suffered badly during the 1980s oil shocks.
Their whole economy was so dependent on the industry that falls in oil prices gave them the wake-up call they needed to do something radical.
They scrapped income tax.
People living here pay no state income tax at all, which is proving an attractive idea.
The plan was to attract companies and workers to grow the economy, and it seems to be working.
Five of the top ten fastest growing cities in the US are in Texas. Around 110 people move to Austin every single day.
In 1981 a quarter of the state's taxes came from the oil and gas industry but by 2012 that figure had dropped to 7%.
However, the oil and gas industry has not been getting smaller. With the fracking revolution it is undergoing a boom.
But other sectors of the economy have been getting comparatively bigger.
More than half the jobs created in the United States in the last seven years have been created in Texas, by companies like HID Global, who make secure ID cards for countries across the world.
The company has just moved its headquarters from California and opened a massive new factory on the outskirts of Austin.
Manager Jason Bohrer said the thought of their workforce not having to pay income tax struck a chord.
"Undoubtedly it's a component as it allows our employees to live at a rate that's difficult in other states that assess a state income tax," he said.
Doing something similar in an independent Scotland could solve the issues around the relatively low numbers in the working age population, and broaden out the economy so that government takes in more taxes from industries other than oil and gas.
However, lowering taxes is not without a cost.
VAT and property taxes, which are seen to disproportionately affect the poor, are higher and the state spends a lot less on public services.
Regina Rogoff runs the People's Community Clinic in Austin, which gets no direct state funding and relies on charitable giving.
"Nobody loves taxes, but people want the roads paved, and they want good schools," she said.
"There's something wrong when fully 25% of our population in Texas is not even in the queue to get healthcare and so that's the challenge we have: how do we make sure that we are not leaving such a high percentage of our population just out in the cold?"
Although it is certainly tough for those with less money to spend on healthcare and education, low taxes are part of the Texan DNA, and so many people are now being drawn in from elsewhere in the United States that neighbouring states are having to follow suit.
If an independent Scotland were to do something similar, it would have a big impact on the rest of the UK too.
On the West coast of America they have taken a very different approach to life beyond oil.
It is surprising to many to think of California's economy being linked to oil at all, but it one of the top four oil producing states in America.
At the peak of the industry in 1985 it was producing one billion barrels a day, but as production dipped the state refocused its efforts on alternative sources of power.
Californians have a lot of pretty obvious reasons be grateful for the sun: beautiful surf, golden beaches and ripening vines.
There is another reason too: they are the world leaders in renewable solar power.
More than 50,000 people are now employed in high skilled jobs in the solar industry, which has become one of the driving forces of the economic recovery.
The state gives a tax rebate to people who install solar panels on their roof, and hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses have had panels installed.
The federal government in Washington funds some of the installation costs, but in two years' time that funding will come to an end.
In California, just like in Scotland, they are finding it difficult to have a renewable industry without some kind of government funding.
Brad Heavner, from the California Solar Energy Industries Association said: "We're still dependant on that federal tax credit and if that were to go away tomorrow it would be big trouble for the industry.
"So we have two and half years before that expires to further drive down costs so that we'll be able to survive with that subsidy."
But he added that, thanks to huge amounts of cheap imported solar panels and technical advances, they will be ready to compete.
"We've reached the economy of scale that will allow us to continue to produce cheap solar panels," he told me.
In fact the costs of solar panels have more than halved over the past five years, with tons of cheap solar panels being shipped into San Francisco bay.
The state has also decided that 33% of all the energy has to come from renewables by 2020, which has meant the world's largest solar ranches springing up in California's deserts.
But even though it has been getting cheaper to buy solar technology, it has not been getting cheaper to use electricity.
Prof Severin Borenstein, from the Energy Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, said the state has one of the highest electricity prices in the US.
"Right now there's no question that renewable power costs more than conventional power, if you don't count the environmental costs.
"So as you put more renewable power onto the grid it does drive up the cost. The cheapest places in the country are the places that are burning a lot of coal."
California's mature solar industry shows that renewables can provide a big economic boost and can reach the tipping point of surviving without government funding, which is the long-term goal of Scotland's rapidly growing wind and wave industries.
But if Scotland wants to follow California's lead, a lot of technical developments would be needed.
Scotland's renewable industry is currently subsidised by utility users across the UK.
If that extra funding was to be removed in an independent Scotland, the extra costs of renewable power may well be added onto Scottish bills. | Whether or not Scotland votes for independence in the referendum in September, there is an attempt taking place to broaden out the economy and ensure it is not over reliant on the oil industry. |
39,783,661 | British art's most high-profile award has abolished its ban on over-50s this year - meaning Himid is eligible.
At 52, Hurvin Anderson, another key black British artist, is among the other nominees for the £25,000 prize.
The multicultural shortlist is completed by German-born Andrea Buttner and Londoner Rosalind Nashashibi.
The prize was the domain of Young British Artists in the 1990s - but the youngest person on the Turner shortlist this year is Nashashibi at 43.
The winner will be announced at the Ferens gallery in Hull on 5 December.
The Turner Prize was founded in 1984 and was open to all ages until 1991, when organisers limited it to artists under 50.
Lubaina Himid is likely to get the headlines, although probably not for her powerful, indignant images. It'll be her age that causes a stir. This is the first year the age restriction of 50 years old or under has been removed from the qualifying conditions for the prize.
She is not the only seasoned artist on the list. In fact, all of those shortlisted are comfortably middle-aged.
It is also the most international feeling list for this national prize. Each of the four artists has strong links with cultures and counties beyond the UK, which reflects the globalised nature of the art world and the real world.
Frankly, age and origin matter not a bit. What's important is whether or not they are any good, and do they - as the Turner Prize demands - represent developments in contemporary art? My answer would be firm "yes" to the former, and a more equivocal "not really" to the latter.
From a medium point of view, the list has a rather old-school feel about it, with two painters, a film-maker and a woodcutter - all of whom are making good work which I'm looking forward to seeing in what could be a memorable group show.
One of Britain's leading contemporary painters, Anderson takes inspiration from his youth in Birmingham's African-Caribbean community and visits to Trinidad. Barber shops feature regularly - they are places where he says both cultures meet.
He's nominated for exhibitions in Nottingham and Ontario, Canada. The centrepiece of the Nottingham exhibition was a painting titled Is It Okay To Be Black? - a half-remembered view of a barber shop's wall featuring Martin Luther King and Malcolm X.
The Tate judges described him as "an outstanding British painter whose art speaks to our current political moment with questions about identity and belonging".
Buttner's works have included a video of nuns who work in a funfair in Italy and woodcuts of faceless beggars.
She is interested in poverty, religion and shame. The judges said she highlights the "overlooked and undervalued", and were impressed with the wide range of media used - including "unfashionable" formats like woodcuts and glass painting.
Her materials range from plywood - for woodcuts featuring simple, lonely figures - to fabric from workers' uniforms and high-visibility jackets.
The jury also "noted Buttner's unique approach to collaboration and her exploration of religion, morality and ethics". The 45-year-old is based in London and Berlin, and is shortlisted for exhibitions in Switzerland and Los Angeles.
Described by The Daily Telegraph as "the under-appreciated hero of black British art", Himid made her name in the 1980s as one of the leaders of the British black arts movement - both painting and curating exhibitions of similarly overlooked black female artists.
The Zanzibar-born, Preston-based artist is now professor of contemporary art at the University of Central Lancashire and was made an MBE in 2010.
She's nominated for solo shows in Bristol and Oxford. The Bristol show centred on larger-than-life cut-outs of 100 colourful figures - 17th Century African slave servants brought to Europe. Another work, Cotton.com, imagined conversations between the cotton workers of Lancashire and the slaves of South Carolina.
The Turner Prize judges praised her for "addressing pertinent questions of personal and political identity".
Fourteen years after she won the £24,000 Beck's Futures Prize, film artist and painter Nashashibi is nominated for the Turner.
Nashashibi was born in Croydon, south London, to Irish-Palestinian parents and studied at the Glasgow School of Art. She is nominated for an exhibition in California that included the film Electrical Gaza, which used live footage and animation to investigate everyday life in Gaza.
She's also nominated for her contribution to the Documenta 14 exhibition in Athens, including a film about mother-and-daughter artists in self-imposed exile in Guatemala.
The jury said they were impressed by the "depth and maturity" of her work, which "often examines sites of human occupation and the coded relationships that occur within those spaces".
The exhibition of work by this year's shortlisted artists runs at the Ferens gallery in Hull - the UK's City of Culture for 2017 - from 26 September to 7 January.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]. | A 62-year-old veteran of Britain's black art scene, Lubaina Himid, is in the running for the Turner Prize after organisers scrapped its age limit. |
38,688,605 | Tigers sacked director of rugby Richard Cockerill at the start of the month and have continued to struggle, with their losing run now standing at four games.
They are fifth in the Premiership and out of Europe following a crushing 34-3 defeat by Racing 92.
"Players need to be more accountable," Slater told BBC Radio Leicester.
"Looking at that Racing game you would say that we were not really as a group.
"We have to take on a lot more responsibility - particularly after some of the things that have happened over the last three weeks."
Leicester's Champions Cup exit, coupled with being 18 points adrift of Premiership leaders Wasps, means their season is in danger of ending trophy-less again.
Slater revealed that hooker Tom Youngs, in particular, was furious with last week's display against Racing and told his team-mates so.
"Tom's message at half-time was pretty clear," the 28-year-old added.
"I haven't seen him lose it like he did. It was pretty much straight from the heart and deserved. I don't think there was much more to be said after he gave everyone a blast.
"It didn't quite get the reaction because the game was far gone by then but it said a lot about what was happening on the pitch and the way we were playing.
"It is really frustrating at the moment but there have been a few changes and it is probably going to take a bit of time to see that come out in performances."
Tigers face Glasgow at Welford Road on Saturday in their final Champions Cup match of the season. | Leicester Tigers players have let themselves down and must take responsibility for their poor form, according to lock Ed Slater. |
38,365,805 | Rabbi Blue, from London, was known for his liberal teachings and supporting other gay members of his faith.
Representatives from the liberal synagogue Beit Klal Yisrael described him as "an inspirational man".
The President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Jonathan Arkush, said he was "a pioneer in many senses".
Rabbi Blue will have a final sign off from Radio 4 on Tuesday at 21:30 GMT when he presents his own obituary programme.
Rabbi Blue had struggled with his sexuality through his teens, leading to a nervous breakdown that saw him leave the Army. But after attending university, he rediscovered his faith and was ordained in 1960.
Soon after, he came out publicly and throughout his life lent his support to organisations including Liberal Judaism UK and the World Congress of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Jews.
Announcing his death on the synagogue's Facebook page, Beit Klal Yisrael representatives wrote: "Lionel was a wonderful and inspirational man, who spoke with such wisdom and humour and whose words reached out far beyond the Jewish community."
Mr Arkush, said: "Rabbi Lionel Blue was a significant and well-loved personality in our community, a pioneer in many senses.
"Lionel brought his Jewish view of the world to a mass audience with signature warmth and wry self-deprecating humour."
It might seem like a morbid task, but Rabbi Lionel Blue was determined to go out in his own words.
After he became ill with prostate cancer in the early 2000s, his close friend and producer at the Today programme, Phil Pegum, called him with the idea of making his own tribute in case the worst happened.
"It is not every day you call someone with cancer and ask them if they want to do their own obituary," said Phil. "But he was such a unique broadcaster, if anyone should do it, it should be him."
Rabbi Blue's response was first laughter followed by enthusiasm, and the pair set off to travel around his old haunts and talk to people from his past.
Phil said: "We spoke to his first psychotherapist, who also had recordings of their sessions and made him sing songs from his childhood. Then we spoke to his first long term partner, his first friend from Oxford and people from Holland, which was so important to him in discovering his sexuality.
"We just gathered memories. It was such great fun to do and it was so wonderful."
The friends kept in touch over the years and when it was coming to the end, Phil went to see him in his care home.
"I saw him at the end of November and he was very frail, but he said he absolutely wanted it to go out. I think it is really good he made it and people can hear all about his life."
Lionel Blue: My Obituary will air at 21:00 GMT on Tuesday on BBC Radio 4.
Many have paid tribute with fond memories of his contributions to Thought for the Day - something Rabbi Blue took part in for more than 25 years.
Today programme presenter John Humphrys said he was "technically a terrible broadcaster," but "a great man".
He added: "He was such a human man, there was real humanity in everything he said, and people loved him."
Gwyneth Williams, controller of BBC Radio 4 said: "We have lost the huge warmth and humanity of Lionel's instantly recognisable voice with its charm and irreverence.
"He seemed to understand and welcome all human foibles and during his 'Thoughts' he smiled on us, making the days that followed just a little easier, just a little richer."
BBC religious affairs correspondent Martin Bashir said: "He once said that he had no time for the solemnity and stiffness of religion. He said he preferred the people who stumbled honestly into their faith.
"He was almost like an agony uncle on behalf of the Almighty on the serious issues, but then, of course, he was hilariously funny too."
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "He was not only a respected rabbi, teacher and mentor for the Jewish community, Rabbi Lionel Blue was also a wise and good-natured voice of reason for us all.
"His legacy will be that his common sense and great humour will remain in our thoughts each and every day".
Rabbi Jonathan Romain of Maidenhead synagogue said Rabbi Blue was "God's best PR man in Britain".
"He never pretended that life was easy, or that religion solved everything; instead, he shared his own failings and foibles, and showed how to get through the rest of the day."
A former pupil of of Rabbi Blue's, Rabbi Charley Baginsky, said: "Lionel was the archetypal rabbi's rabbi - always there for us as individuals, helping us understand our own personal and spiritual journeys.
"And he leaves a legacy like few others. As the first British rabbi publicly to come out as gay, in the 1970s, Lionel paved the way for many others, including clergy of all faiths."
Sociologist and writer Dr Keith Kahn-Harris paid tribute on Twitter: "Rabbi Lionel Blue died. One of those rare people who are both brave pioneers (being an out gay rabbi) and universally loved."
Rabbi Blue was made an OBE for his services to broadcasting in 1994.
His funeral will take place on Tuesday. | Rabbi Lionel Blue, the first openly gay British rabbi and a regular on BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day, has died aged 86. |
39,212,393 | The former Radio One DJ from Hollingbourne used the roundabout and often mentioned it on Radio Kent.
Anne Bond, from London, who started the campaign, said his "loyal listeners" would like to remember him by naming Junction 8 on the M20 Dave Cash Corner.
Her petition will be presented to Maidstone MP Helen Grant.
Live updates: More Kent news
Ms Bond said: "Dave used this roundabout on a daily basis, whether it be on his journey to BBC Kent or heading in and out of Maidstone.
"Dave would always ask his travel reporter towards the end of his programme, whether the route to J8 was clear as his home was approximately a mile from the junction. He would often be spotted at the roundabout driving his branded 4x4."
She described Mr Cash as a "national treasure" who would be sorely missed.
She said: "We feel that to rename this roundabout would be one of the many ways we can remember Dave Cash for years to come."
Mr Cash celebrated 50 years of broadcasting in 2014.
He worked at Radio London and Radio Luxembourg before becoming one of the first DJs on BBC Radio 1.
For the past 17 years he presented vintage chart and country music programmes on BBC Radio Kent and other BBC radio stations in the South.
1964 - Cash is a pirate radio DJ when off-shore Radio London sets sail
1967 - BBC Radio 1 is launched with Cash as a founding DJ, alongside the likes of Tony Blackburn, Alan 'Fluff' Freeman and Pete Murray
1973 - He is hired as production director and presenter at fledgling Capital Radio where he was reunited with his former pirate radio partner Kenny Everett, reviving their popular and anarchic Kenny and Cash Show. He spent 21 years at the station.
1999 - Cash joins BBC Radio Kent
2011 - He marries "Emily Email" - colleague Sara Davies - who answers the steady stream of listeners' e-mails and requests | Fans of veteran BBC radio presenter Dave Cash, who died last year at the age of 74, have begun a petition to have a Kent roundabout named after him. |
40,595,157 | Two of its best coaches have been poached by Australia off the back of the best Olympics Britain has had on the diving boards.
Ady Hinchliffe, instrumental in the gold medal won by Jack Laugher and Chris Mears in the 3m synchro - and the silver medal earned by Laugher, is now down under along with Andy Banks, who coached Tom Daley during his formative years and was made an MBE in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours list.
Many within the sport feel British Swimming, which overseas all aquatic sports in Great Britain, did not do enough to keep two men with over 40 years of experience between them.
It is to be hoped the new chief executive, Jack Buckner, who takes up his post in September, will try to coax both Hinchliffe and Banks back to coaching programmes in the UK after Tokyo 2020. Both still have a great deal to offer the sport in Great Britain.
That's not to say Britain is bereft of talent in that department. Far from it. Edwin Jongejans, a Dutch former international diver, and Marc Holdsworth are continuing the legacy in Leeds, and there are also great programmes and excellent coaches in places such as Sheffield, Southampton and Edinburgh.
One thing Rio did do is take a large part of the focus off Tom Daley.
With Laugher's exploits, and Daley's capitulation in the semi-finals of the 10m competition following record-breaking preliminaries, the mantle of top dog in terms of expectation falls firmly on the shoulders of the 22-year-old from Yorkshire.
Laugher has rebuilt his career brilliantly since his own Olympic nightmare in London. A knee buckle in the 3m competition made the BBC's Top 50 bloopers from London 2012, but he hasn't looked back - much of that down to Hinchliffe.
Laugher and Chris Mears are a very special synchro partnership. I nicknamed them 'The Likely Lads' at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, as they are like the modern embodiment of the sitcom characters from the '60s and '70s. Men Behaving Badly might have been a better analogy, but their chemistry within diving is unique, and the scenes that followed their success in Brazil last summer summed up what the pair are really like.
Mears savours every competition, as well he might. In 2009 he ruptured his spleen during training for the Youth Olympic Festival in Australia and was given just a 5% chance of survival. He was told he would never dive again. Fast forward seven years and there he is at the top of the Olympic medal rostrum. Truly one of the more remarkable stories in sport.
Will he and Laugher be able to back up Olympic gold with first at the World Championships?
China's Cao Yuan and Xie Siyi won three of the four World Series events this year, with the British pair runners-up in all of those competitions. Laugher and Mears do have a higher-tariff programme than the Chinese pair, and if they get it right, as they did so spectacularly in Rio, it could be a close-run thing.
Don't rule out Russians Evgeny Kuznetsov and Ilia Zakharov either. They won the World Series event in Canada back in April.
Britain's highest-profile diver ever is looking to put his individual woes in Rio behind him. His excellent bronze medal with Dan Goodfellow in the 10m synchro was rather overshadowed by what occurred on the final day of competition at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre.
Had it turned out differently it's unlikely we would be seeing the 23-year-old at the Worlds, or even at another Olympics.
Speculation was rife, though never confirmed by the man himself, that success in Rio on the 10m board would have led to his retirement from the sport. Newly married to Dustin Lance Black, and with many things he wants to do away from the rigours of plunging at 35mph into a pool, Daley has, nonetheless, set his sights on Tokyo - if the body will stand it.
Daley, in common with many platform divers, has suffered back problems over the years (you'll notice in Budapest how many of the competitors are held together with the equivalent of medical sticky tape).
On his day, as he's proved at world and European level, Daley can be the number one diver. But it's an incredibly competitive event - as well as China, the USA, Australia, Mexico and now France have athletes who can get medal positions. One dropped dive out of six can mean curtains for a top-three place.
Tonia Couch has been the trailblazer for Britain's women in recent years, but that looks set to change with the emergence of her synchro partner Lois Toulson.
The 17-year-old from Leeds is the new European champion in the 10m individual, accumulating a world-class 330.75 points in Kiev last month to make the rest of the world sit up and take notice.
As she prepared to compete in Hungary, she said: "I am not totally satisfied with my dives yet. I gained a lot of experience for the World Championships."
Not content with that gold, Toulson partnered Matty Lee to triumph in the mixed synchro, which is not, as yet, an Olympic event. That goes to underline the fact she is a very special individual, and Holdsworth's expert guidance will allow her to blossom still further.
Another pairing from West Yorkshire, Ruby Bower and Phoebe Banks, also won European gold - in the platform synchro, ahead of the very experienced Russian Yulia Timoshinina and partner Valeriia Belova.
Like Toulson in her main event, Bower and Banks finished strongly, showing that all-important mental strength which will be key to their ambitions of success at Tokyo 2020.
Girl power, it seems, has arrived for Great Britain in a big way on the 10m board, and Laugher and Daley may have to share the limelight before too long.
But knowing and observing the infrastructure of British Diving over the past 20 years, everyone feeds off each other's success, so any egos are kept firmly in check.
And finally, just a word for Yona Knight-Wisdom.
Not a member of the GB team in Budapest, but Jamaica's only Olympic diver, who exceeded expectations by qualifying for Rio last August.
Leeds-born, of Jamaican and Bajan parents, Knight-Wisdom is an unconventional diver in so many senses, not least the fact that he's 6ft 3in and over 14st.
He'll be hoping to make the semi-finals of the 3m springboard event and, having reached the last 18 at the Olympics and finished second at one of the World Cup events last year, that is certainly within his compass. | A lot of water, and not the pea-green stuff we saw in the pool at last year's Olympics, has flowed in the past 11 months where British diving is concerned. |
39,856,936 | Hamza Omar Adam, 18, formerly of Berridge Road, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 21-year-old Aqib Mazhar on 1 June 2016.
Nottingham Crown Court heard Mr Mazhar's car was surrounded by three vehicles and then attacked by a group of men with weapons in Nottingham.
He was fatally stabbed inside the car and died at the side of the road.
Forensic evidence linked Adam to a co-ordinated and planned attack on Mr Mazhar, Nottinghamshire Police said.
In December last year, another four men were also convicted after admitting Mr Mazhar's manslaughter.
Mr Mazhar died from a single stab wound in hospital.
The four men who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in December were:
It is believed another person, who is still on the run, carried out the fatal stabbing.
Speaking after the sentencing on Monday, Det Ch Insp Rob Severn said: "The investigation is continuing to identify any outstanding offenders involved in this incident." | A teenager has been jailed for seven years for his part in the killing of a man who was ambushed in a car. |
34,631,687 | Blott is due to close its store at the intu Chapelfield shopping centre in Norwich on 1 November.
"Please show respect for the staff still working here," one sign read.
Owner Tinc Limited said it hoped the sign would encourage those who wanted to air their feelings on the closure to contact head office.
Customers said they were disappointed to see the store closing.
Kayley Green, 14, from Norwich, who was shopping with her mother, said the signs should not be necessary.
"You're supposed to respect people anyway," she said.
Wendy Ruffles, from Beccles, Suffolk, said: "You don't know how hard it will be for them to find another job so you should be nice."
The company would not comment on what prompted it to put the sign up.
In a statement, Tinc Limited said the company was "mindful that the passion of our staff for the Blott brand and products is matched only by the passion shown by many of our customers".
"We can only hope that this sign on the front window of our Norwich store will empower people to have the discussion with those of us who had to take this difficult decision, rather than the store colleagues who are also affected by it," it said.
The company, which has seven stores and started trading in 2011, said the Norwich branch was being closed as part of a "repositioning" of its business. | Customers of a stationery shop which is due to close in a matter of days have been asked not to "mess up the shelves" or "have a go" at staff. |
36,674,089 | Southern Railway trains from the south coast into London have been disrupted for weeks because of industrial action and high levels of staff sickness.
"The shambles we have seen is turning into a crisis," said Peter Kyle, Labour MP for Hove and Portslade.
But rail minister Claire Perry insisted services were improving.
Mr Kyle told the House of Commons during transport questions: "I'm getting people writing to me who are being late for work every day and their bosses are giving them written warnings now.
Mims Davies, Tory MP for Eastleigh, described Southern Railway's performance as "shameful" and said it could not be tolerated.
The watchdog Transport Focus has published figures showing passenger satisfaction was lower on Southern and Southeastern services than for any other train operator in the country.
Caroline Lucas, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, urged Ms Perry and the Department for Transport to transfer the Southern franchise into public ownership.
A man who commutes to London from Hove told BBC South East his employer could no longer book early client meetings as he had no idea whether he would turn up.
"I am therefore simply not fit for purpose and there is nothing concrete to suggest that the situation will change," he said.
"His [the boss's] response is entirely rational.
"My options are therefore to live in London during the week, waving my young family goodbye and switching my pension contributions into accommodation costs, or get fired."
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union is in dispute with Southern about the role of conductors.
Ms Perry said investment on the routes meant things were "getting better".
But she added: "If your constituents would like to write to bosses, may I suggest they write to the union bosses involved, who I think are doing their members a grave disservice by bringing them out on completely unjustified grounds.
"This is a dispute about who presses the buttons that operate the doors and the change in the role of the second staff member."
Southeastern and Network Rail said that at the time of the Transport Focus survey, between 11 January and 20 March, factors including the partial collapse of the sea wall at Dover and landslides at Barnehurst affected trains.
Storm Imogen also hit services and there were infrastructure failings around London Bridge. | Commuters have received written warnings for consistent lateness at work because of "shameful" service from Southern Railway, an MP has claimed. |
30,862,654 | Averies Recycling (Swindon) Ltd had operated the waste centre at Marshgate since July 2008.
The fire was finally put out after 3,000 tonnes of waste was removed to give firefighters access.
The Environment Agency (EA) estimated the cost of tackling the blaze, which burned from 21 July until 15 September, at £500,000.
In November the EA revoked Averies' licence as a waste carrier.
The revocation notice came into force on 11 December. Averies has until 15 April to remove all waste from its Marshgate site.
Averies Recycling (Swindon) Ltd also runs a skip hire site in Brindley Close, Cheney Manor. It has until 4 March to clear that area.
The BBC has been unable to contact Averies for a comment but in a previous statement posted on the company website managing director Lee Averies said: "I'm very sorry that this fire has had such a significant effect on so many people, and I regret any discomfort or inconvenience that residences or businesses may have suffered." | The operator of a recycling plant in Swindon, where a fire burned for two months, has gone into administration. |
35,930,220 | Konta, the first British woman to reach the last eight of the tournament, was beaten 6-4 6-2 by her Belarusian opponent in just over 90 minutes.
World number eight Azarenka, 26, is on course for back-to-back titles after beating Serena Williams in Indian Wells earlier this month.
World number 23 Konta, 24, failed to convert any of her five break points.
The Briton, making her debut in Miami, would have broken into the world top 20 had she reached the final.
Azarenka, who won the tournament in 2009 and 2011, made just 14 unforced errors in 119 points.
She will next face either second-seeded German Angelique Kerber or American world number 22 Madison Keys.
Konta had made more winners and fewer unforced errors after an hour's play in blustery conditions, against an agitated Azarenka.
However, the Belarusian saved her best tennis to fend off five break points, while Konta double-faulted twice to drop serve.
"I do believe the few chances that I was able to create, she did an incredible job," Konta told BBC Sport.
"I think maybe bar one, when I felt I could have maybe made a return - I think she really did win every single point.
"She definitely kept her claws in there and she took it way from me."
The British number one, who was ranked 151st in the world this time last year, was playing in the quarter-finals of a WTA Premier event for the first time.
"I'm happy with the level I was able to bring to the court," she added.
"Obviously I'm disappointed that I couldn't have done a little bit better but I'm taking the positives from it."
Wednesday's defeat brought an end to another impressive week for Konta.
She is in line to move up to 21st in the world rankings, and will next head to Stuttgart for the clay-court season.
"I maintain that I don't have a favourite but I really enjoy the changes that come when we go from surface to surface," said Konta.
Having really begun her charge up the rankings last June, Konta has plenty of opportunity to gather ranking points before the return to grass courts in the UK.
"Honestly I'm not looking at that," she said.
"I'm very happy with the level I was able to produce almost day in, day out here. I'll just try to just reapply that to the next practice I have, and also the next matches I have." | British number one Johanna Konta was beaten in the Miami Open quarter-finals by an in-form Victoria Azarenka. |
38,895,307 | A recent Ofcom report suggested 20% of homes in urban areas struggle with poor 4G phone signal.
In rural areas, it's as high as 80%. Little wonder then Britain languishes at 54th place in the global league table of 4G connectivity, behind Albania, Estonia and Peru.
The hunt is now on for test beds to develop new 5G technology - Bristol, Kings College London and the University of Surrey are all said to be interested.
The government has announced a fresh drive to bring us up to speed for the digital age. It has put superfast connections at the heart of its Industrial Strategy, backed up with investment of £1bn.
Inside the Smart Internet Lab at the University of Bristol - I discover just how much progress they've already made.
They've designed a small box that emits 5G. The promise is super-fast, super-reliable connectivity wherever you go.
It's an essential component in the driverless car technology they're also working on here. When you're travelling at 60mph in a car reliant on mobile signals for direction, you can't afford to slip into a digital desert.
Lab director, Professor Dimitra Simeonidou, said: "5G is a revolution. It's not just about having a faster connection in our mobile phones - it's also about creating a seamless connectivity with the network and it's about having complete reliability."
"Often in your home you have great connectivity. Your teenagers might be on YouTube while you're watching programmes streamed on iPlayer. Then you get into your car and you don't even get a 3G service. 5G will stop all of this."
As our data demands climb exponentially we need a network that can support them. Now the race is on to design the framework for that digital dream. | British inventors may have pioneered the telephone and the internet but the reliability of those networks in this country is lagging behind. |
36,376,220 | Former Olympic gold medallist Nova Peris announced on Tuesday that she would not re-contest her Senate seat at the election on 2 July.
At Thursday's emotional new conference, she said the move was for her family.
"Until you are an Indigenous person, do not criticise me for the decisions I've made," she said.
Former prime minister Julia Gillard had parachuted Ms Peris to the top of Labor's Senate ticket in the Northern Territory before the 2013 federal election, replacing 15-year veteran Trish Crossin.
Ms Crossin this week criticised her replacement for quitting so close to the election. The coalition government also accused her of abandoning her constituents.
But Ms Peris defended her decision at an event in Darwin, saying that she "didn't call the election".
"This decision I have made has been on family and I have to look after my children," she said.
She also rejected suggestions that she owed her constituents a better explanation of her reasons for quitting.
"I'm a 45-year-old woman and I'm sure you don't go around every single day time of your life justifying the things you have to do," she said.
"No-one should judge me... It's not easy to wake up every morning and bounce out of bed and pretend that life is fantastic because it isn't."
Opposition leader Bill Shorten accompanied Ms Peris at the event and praised her as a "remarkable Australian" and "great mum".
Reports earlier in the week suggested Ms Peris was in line for a leading role with the Australian Football League.
The senator's family came under intense media scrutiny early this year after her daughter made accusations of domestic violence against her football player boyfriend. The charges were dismissed.
Labor will announce a new candidate soon, with journalist and former Northern Territory minister Malarndirri McCarthy emerging as a frontrunner. | The first Indigenous woman elected to Australia's parliament has defended her decision to quit before the upcoming federal election. |
37,274,983 | The Prime Four Beast Race challenged entrants to complete a 10km course which involved climbing over and under obstacles, including muddy streams.
The course was laid out in fields and woodland near Loch Ness with the race being held on Saturday.
Another Beast Race is to be held near Banchory in Aberdeenshire on 24 September. | Hundreds of people have taken part in an obstacle race held annually near Inverness. |
26,292,265 | The first team will be based at Heathrow from 1 April before the scheme is rolled out to other airports.
They will be tasked with identifying victims and disrupting criminal gangs involved in international trafficking.
The government says the scheme will ensure there is "no easy route into the UK for traffickers".
The new teams, which will be led by specially trained Border Agency officers, will also begin work at Gatwick and Manchester airports later this year.
The government has said "further ports" will be identified over the coming months.
Home Office minister Karen Bradley said Border Force officers could be the "first authority figure in the UK to have contact with a potential victim of modern slavery".
"Their role is vital in identifying and protecting victims and ensuring there is no easy route into the UK for traffickers", she said.
"The new specialist teams will build on existing skills and joint working and extend that expertise around the country."
The teams will be supported by the National Crime Agency, which will bring its child protection expertise in cases involving children.
The new system will also provide child victims with an independent specialist advocate with expertise in trafficking to act as a single point of contact.
Officers from the Border Force will receive specialist training to help identify potential victims.
The new scheme aims to ensure intelligence is shared and other bodies, such as social services, are kept informed of cases.
The announcement comes as the government aims to pass new legislation to fight slavery.
The draft Modern Slavery Bill could increase the maximum custodial sentence for human trafficking offenders from 14 years to life. | Specialist anti-slavery teams are to be based inside UK airports in a bid to clamp down on human trafficking, ministers have announced. |
35,469,697 | Borough of Poole Council plans to start charging at Upton County Park and other parks, beaches and playing fields.
Whitecliff Residents Association said surrounding streets would be "flooded" by motorists looking for alternative free parking.
The council said the move could raise £0.5m a year.
The council is proposing on-street charges round Sandbanks, at Upton County Park and at open spaces including Whitecliff Park, Hamworthy Park, Lake Pier, Newfoundland Drive Skateboard park and Rockley Park.
Opponents claim charges will discourage people from visiting parks and taking part in sport and fitness activities.
A petition opposing the plans has attracted almost 2,000 signatures and members of Whitecliff Residents Association have written to the government to complain.
Association chairman Bob Lister said: "If they put in car parking charges, they will flood our road which is already congested."
The council's transport portfolio holder John Rampton insisted introducing charges was a "financial imperative".
"It's a very small ask - we don't believe people's behaviour will change that much."
"Councils are in such a difficult position - they have to make savings and make money and commercialise, where they can, if they are to survive and provide services to the most vulnerable people in our society."
If the plans are approved following public consultation, charges could be in place by Easter. | Plans to introduce car park charges at parks in a Dorset town could increase congestion in nearby streets, campaigners have claimed. |
37,772,968 | Neither the former One Direction singer nor the mayor of London are black, and have no African or Caribbean heritage.
Other public figures chosen by Kent Union, which represents students from the University of Kent, include Dame Kelly Holmes and Sir Trevor McDonald.
Union president Rory Murray has apologised for "not getting it right".
More news from Kent
Social media posts released for the union's Black History Month campaign featuring Mr Malik and Mr Khan were withdrawn on Tuesday night.
The event's official UK organisers tweeted that they were "deeply disappointed at @KentUnion's ill thought and misdirected Black History Month celebrations".
"With Asian Heritage Month being observed by a growing number of countries in May, will Black icons be celebrated by Kent University then?" they asked.
Mr Murray said: "I want to apologise on behalf of Kent Union to any individuals who were upset, uncomfortable or offended by the image shared.
"There was no intent for this to happen and I am very sorry to anybody who felt this way," he said.
"Whilst we made every effort to include black and minority ethnic students on the planning for the month, clearly, we haven't got it right on this occasion."
In a joint statement, Kent Union and the University of Kent said the campaign was in line with the National Union of Students' position on Black History Month which chose to "recognise and celebrate the immense contributions that people of African, Arab, Asian and Caribbean heritage make to humanity".
"In the planning stages Kent Union worked with students to develop a campaign that celebrated a range of ethnic cultures.
"However, we can see that many of our students disagree with the direction the campaign took and that a mistake was made," they said. | A students' union has apologised for using the faces of Zayn Malik and Sadiq Khan - who both have Pakistani roots - to mark Black History Month. |
31,146,976 | Pathologist Dr Ian Wilkinson was giving evidence at the trial of Robert Buczek, 24, who denies murdering Eleanor Whitelaw.
Mr Buczek is accused of attacking the 85-year-old at her house in Morningside in Edinburgh on 11 July 2014.
She died from her injuries at the city's Royal Infirmary on 28 July.
Dr Wilkinson told the jury at the High Court in Glasgow that Mrs Whitelaw suffered cuts to the two main arteries in her neck - the jugular vein and the carotid artery.
He said that in total there were seven injuries to her neck.
The court was also told that Mrs Whitelaw sustained a fracture to the base of her skull and had bruising to her face and eyes.
The pathologist said these injuries to her head and face could have been caused by a fall.
The damage to her neck was repaired by surgeons but the massive blood loss she suffered resulted in damage to her brain and heart.
Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC showed Dr Wilkinson a pair of bloodstained scissors found in the hallway of Mrs Whitelaw's home and asked if they could have caused the injuries to her neck. The pathologist said: "In general terms, yes."
Mr Prentice said: "Having regard to the injuries to the carotid artery and the jugular vein, would that cause significant bleeding?" Dr Wilkinson replied: "It would be expected to."
The prosecutor asked: "Would you have been surprised if you had been told she had died at the scene?" Dr Wilkinson said: "Based on my experience of other similar injuries, no I would not."
The pathologist was asked what the cause of death was and told the court: "She suffered damage to the brain and the heart and deterioration of lung function and death as a result of complications of the injuries she received on July 11, with the neck injuries being the most significant.
"She suffered irreversible damage to all the major organs, the most significant were the brain and the heart.
Under cross-examination by defence QC Brian McConnachie, the jury heard that a police casualty surgeon had examined Mrs Whitelaw in hospital on 12 July and had indicated she had a cut and bruising on her private parts.
This injury was not evident when the post-mortem examination was carried out two weeks later.
An examination of Mrs Whitelaw on 12 July also revealed DNA from an unknown man on her thigh.
The court heard that Mr Buczek, who was arrested before Mrs Whitelaw died, was originally charged with attempted murder and a possible sexual offence. Later the charge was changed to murder with no sexual element to it.
Prosecutor Mr Prentice asked Dr Wilkinson: "There could be a number of reasons for these injuries to her private parts. It could have been a fall. It does not necessarily point to a sexual assault," and he replied: "Not necessarily, no."
The trial before judge Lord Matthews continues. | A pensioner suffered irreversible damage to her brain and heart as a result of stabbing injuries to her neck, a murder trial has been told. |
38,944,387 | Tess Newall, of Morham, East Lothian, spoke of being "distraught" after discovering the dress, which belonged to her great-great grandmother, was missing.
It followed the closure of Kleen Cleaners in St Mary Street, Edinburgh.
She posted an update on social media saying the dress was found "in a crumpled heap" at the closed shop.
The 29-year-old who married Alfred Newall, 30, in East Lothian, in June, told the BBC she was "absolutely over the moon" at the discovery, and said the last 24 hours had been "surreal".
The dress was sent to be dry cleaned in September and the shop shut in October.
The business is now being dealt with under Scottish bankruptcy law in a process known as sequestration.
A post by Mrs Newall, about the loss of her dress, was shared more than 200,000 times on social media.
She told the BBC News Channel: "My parents received a phone call this afternoon from the landlord of the property where the dry cleaners is, whose nephew had read about the dress.
"He really searched and he found a pile of old lace which he realised was what he thought was the dress.
"My parents went straight there and were just overjoyed and couldn't believe it was the dress, not cleaned, and still with its ticket."
Mrs Newall said a representative from sequestrators Wylie & Bisset was also at the dry cleaners shop on Saturday and insisted that for "procedural reasons" the dress had to go back to his office in Glasgow.
She added: "This is unbelievable and my mum was beside herself, but they have assured us that it will be delivered safely back to us on Monday.
"It's going to be apparently driven from Edinburgh to my mum and dad's house."
The 29-year-old said she still planned to have the dress cleaned, but probably at a lace specialist in London.
She added: "Somewhere where we can't let it out of our sight." | A 150-year-old antique wedding dress lost after a dry cleaners went bust has been located. |
35,549,791 | The proposals were part of 86 amendments to the Justice (No.2) Bill, but media coverage of Wednesday's debate was dominated by failed attempts to reform abortion laws.
The debate on the mammoth bill lasted more than 12 hours.
MLAs also voted to make it a crime to attack staff in the emergency services.
The DUP chair of the justice committee, Alastair Ross, had proposed bringing in laws to deal with so-called 'revenge pornography'.
England and Wales already have legislation making it a criminal offence for someone to publish explicit sexual images or videos of former partners.
Mr Ross said Northern Ireland needed to catch up, adding: "Nobody envisaged the type of world we'd be living in today where we all have smartphones capable of taking videos or photographs.
"They're all capable of being shared online almost instantly."
The Justice Minister David Ford had brought forward the amendment seeking to reform the Welfare of Animals Act. He said it had been sparked after the case of Cody the dog, who had to be put down after being set on fire in 2012.
Andrew Richard Stewart was jailed for 10 months after admitting the offence.
The amendment means the maximum sentence handed down in the Crown Court for animal cruelty crimes will increase from two years to five.
Someone found guilty of unnecessary suffering to animals or causing and attending an animal fight will face up to 12 months' imprisonment instead of six, and the maximum fine for conviction will rise from £5,000 to £20,000.
The minister said it was a "significant advancement of sentencing" intended to "send out a clear message" to those convicted of harming animals.
When the Justice Bill is given royal assent, Northern Ireland will have some of the strictest penalties for animal cruelty offences across the UK.
DUP MLA Paul Frew brought a further amendment to the bill, hoping to make it a statutory offence to assault paramedics.
Last year, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) called for better protection for its staff and said paramedics would be given PSNI riot gear when called to disturbances, due to the rising number of "risky situations" staff were facing.
Paul Frew said "if it is good enough" to have specific legislation protecting police officers and members of the fire and rescue service, then there should be similar provision for ambulance workers.
The proposals were passed in the assembly and it is hoped they will take effect soon after the Justice (No.2) Bill becomes law. | Northern Ireland Assembly members have voted to make so-called 'revenge porn' a criminal offence and to tighten animal cruelty laws. |
34,786,956 | Veteran coach Vicente del Bosque faces selection problems in several areas, and there is also a more general concern over La Roja's playing style as they continue to address the lingering hangover from last summer's World Cup finals campaign, where they made a shock group-stage exit.
Going into Friday's friendly with England, these are the main issues.
The biggest decision facing Del Bosque is the identity of his team's centre forward, because Chelsea striker Diego Costa has made a wretched start to his international career since being persuaded to switch allegiances from his native Brazil.
Costa has scored only one goal in nine appearances for La Roja - against Luxembourg more than a year ago - and he has also struggled to make much general impact with his rampaging, physical style of play looking utterly unsuited to the team's patient passing approach.
The other options in the current squad are Valencia's Paco Alcacer and Alvaro Morata of Juventus, and their recent international outings have been far more convincing. Alcacer top-scored during qualifying with five goals in eight appearances, while Morata's ability to link play made the team look much more effective.
But there are also plenty more alternatives and, within Spain, Del Bosque came under heavy pressure before the latest squad announcement to include popular Athletic Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz, who has scored 15 goals in all competitions this season - a stark contrast to out-of-form Costa's paltry tally of three.
But Del Bosque resisted those calls, saying the team is in a transitional mode and that he is also thinking about the future. In other words, he believes 34-year-old Aduriz is too old.
Costa, however, is running out of time to justify his ongoing inclusion. As an indication of the national mood, a poll of readers conducted by Spanish newspaper Marca after the last set of international fixtures saw him omitted from the squad, never mind the starting XI.
So, although it is only a friendly, Costa is in desperate need of a goal or two on Friday night.
The long-standing partnership between Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos and Barcelona's Gerard Pique is one of the most stable aspects of the team, although the former has withdrawn from the current squad with a shoulder injury.
However, Pique has become an enormously controversial character in Spain over the last few months and has been subjected to fearful abuse from his own supporters during recent internationals.
It all stems from two things. Firstly, Pique is regarded as the biggest pro-Barca cheerleader in his team's rivalry with Real, and enraged fans from the capital city by light-heartedly mocking the collapse of their title challenge during Barca's trophy celebration party at the end of last season.
Secondly, Pique has been a vocal supporter of the Catalan independence campaign, leading to inevitable suggestions that he should not play for Spain if he is so keen for his region to break away and form a new nation.
Those two factors have conspired to make Pique public enemy number one for proud and patriotic Spaniards who also support Real Madrid - which is millions of people in a country where the big two enjoy enormous support even in provincial towns.
Pique's every touch of the ball has been mercilessly jeered in Spain's recent home games, and initial plans to stage Friday's game at Real's Bernabeu were scrapped to avoid the controversy of 80,000 rabid Madridistas venting their fury at the defender throughout a fixture which comes just one weekend before a Clasico at the same venue.
Long-serving captain and Del Bosque favourite Iker Casillas is facing stiff competition from Manchester United keeper David de Gea.
Calls for De Gea to be installed as first choice grew after Spain's most recent international, where he made several outstanding saves to preserve a 1-0 victory over Ukraine.
But he was only playing in that game because Casillas was being rested with qualification already guaranteed, and the extremely loyal Del Bosque has shown no inclination of calling time upon his captain's international career.
Indeed, he kept faith with Casillas even when he was left out of the Real Madrid starting XI in the build-up to the 2014 World Cup, and still did not waver when the keeper endured a horror show in the embarrassing 5-1 defeat by the Netherlands in Brazil.
With Casillas making a decent start to his new life at Porto following his summer transfer, Del Bosque has no reason to be forced into a move that he clearly does not want to make, and De Gea will probably have to wait until at least next season to become Spain's first choice.
But the microscope is firmly on Casillas, and another error-strewn performance like the one he produced against the Netherlands would rapidly intensify the pressure to promote De Gea.
The lynchpin of Spain's midfield is the magnificent Sergio Busquets, who provides protection to Pique and Ramos as well as initiating many attacking moves from his 'pivot' defensive midfield position. The Barcelona man played more minutes than anyone else during qualifying.
In front of him, however, Del Bosque is ridiculously spoilt for choice with a wealth of hugely talented players at his disposal, and the identity of the starters is by no means clear.
Consider this list: Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Juan Mata, Santi Cazorla, Isco, Koke and Thiago Alcantara (and that's just the current squad, never mind other contenders such as the injured David Silva, Villarreal captain Bruno Soriano and Manchester United's Ander Herrera).
They would all walk into practically any other international line-up, but only four of them can start for Spain - and only three if the coach continues to opt for Pedro, one of his most favoured players, as a winger.
If fit, Iniesta and Silva are certain starters, but the other two places remain up for grabs over the next few months, with all the contenders starting at some stage during the qualifying campaign.
And Del Bosque's task in choosing between his dazzling array of midfield talent is further complicated by the fact that most of them can play in several positions. A nice problem to have, indeed.
Never mind their qualifying record - Spain's confidence is still fragile after the battering they took in last summer's World Cup finals, a traumatic experience which has certainly not been forgotten.
The upcoming games against England and Belgium will be seen as an interesting test of the team's capabilities against stronger nations, because in the last 14 months they have played friendlies against France, Germany and the Netherlands and lost all three without scoring.
At heart, it is a question of identity. The Spain team is much changed from the side which dominated the world with three consecutive major trophies in 2008, 2010 and 2012, with the international retirement of Carles Puyol, Xabi Alonso, David Villa and, above all, the chief on-field conductor, Xavi.
With Xavi pulling the strings, Del Bosque's old team was largely based upon mimicking the playing approach of Barcelona, who were almost equally dominant in club football during the same era.
But Barca have tactically moved on since then, with Lionel Messi ditching his 'false nine' position and the midfield-reliant methods of so-called tiki-taka being somewhat abandoned in favour of a more direct approach, based around the forward line of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
Spain have not made such an evolution, and there are major concerns that Del Bosque remains too wedded to an old playing style which worked brilliantly at its peak but has now become outdated and can be countered by high-quality opposition.
His inclusion of Costa, indeed, is an attempt to add a greater degree of physicality, but so far it has not worked because the rest of the team is continuing to pursue a different style of play.
A convincing victory over England would help persuade fans that Del Bosque and his players can still pull off their old tricks - but a draw, or worse, would sow fresh seeds of doubt into a team which is facing many question marks. | Despite a solid record in qualifying of nine wins from 10 games, European champions Spain are facing several dilemmas as they prepare for the defence of their title in France next summer. |
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