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The fight is the richest in history, with the fighters sharing around £150m, although the exact figure is unknown.
However, the purse split is 60-40 in Mayweather's favour and the American legend said his Filipino rival had not been looked after properly.
"If he'd have worked with us, he'd have made $100m (£65m)," said Mayweather.
Media playback is not supported on this device
"Financially, he hasn't been treated right for this fight. And [this fight] is all about the money.
"Saturday is just work, I'll just do what I do. But I'll make upwards of $200m for this fight, which is $50m apiece for my kids. So it was a smart move."
Five-weight world champion Mayweather, nicknamed 'Money', came face to face with six-weight world champion Pacquaio for the first time at a Miami Heat basketball game in January.
The 38-year-old American said he instigated the initial meeting in Pacquiao's Miami hotel suite - which Mayweather said was not up to his exacting standards.
Mayweather, who is unbeaten in 47 professional fights, explained: "I went over to Manny and said: 'I don't know what [Pacquiao's promoter] Bob Arum is saying to you, but it's not true.
"When Manny Pacquiao said he had signed paperwork to fight me, he must have been signing half of his money away. He hadn't signed to fight me.
"I told him that if we agree to drugs testing and we're on a level playing field, we can make the fight happen. The fight came about because of me.
"But why did they have him staying in that type of hotel? It wasn't right."
Mayweather also reiterated his intention to retire after one more fight in September, even though two more victories would leave him equal with heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano's 49-fight unbeaten record.
"People ask me about Rocky Marciano's record but it's time for me to walk away. And I won't miss boxing," said Mayweather.
"The money is more important than any unbeaten record - my daughters can't eat no 'zero'.
"Getting to 50 fights unbeaten might be special for you, but for me it's not." | Floyd Mayweather taunted Manny Pacquiao ahead of their eagerly-anticipated super-fight on Saturday, telling him he should be earning more money. | 32509205 |
City authorities hope to expand homeless shelters and build quality housing over the next 10 years.
It is "the most serious humanitarian crisis confronting our county today," city official Sachi Hamai said.
LA declared a state of public emergency last year as the number of homeless people soared by 12.4% in two years.
Residents and officials say a mixture of unemployment, drugs and rising rents and house prices are to blame for the growing problem.
As many as 40,000 homeless people are predicted to be living in the whole of Los Angeles county, two-thirds of which either live in the street, in tents or in cars.
Measures to be introduced as part of a 10-year-plan include investing in short and long-term housing, allowing overnight parking for people living inside their vehicles, and creating a city-wide network of mobile showers and toilets.
Officials are to release $150m over the next two years, which will be earmarked for housing the homeless. Some lawmakers are questioning the source of the funds, but the city's mayor has indicated that it could come from new revenue and by shifting existing funds.
"It may include things that have to do with revenue growth or the shifting of priorities of money. We don't have 100 million extra dollars lying around where we can go, 'OK we were going to split this up into other things, let's just put it all into homelessness.' It will require difficult decisions," Mayor Eric Garcetti said.
The plans still need to be adopted by the city, which will not be voting on its budget until April.
Los Angeles already spends some $1bn a year on medical, psychiatric and social welfare costs on its homeless residents.
The City of Angels has another nickname: the homeless capital of America.
The accuracy of the title may be disputed - there are many ways to count, none of them definitive - but no one else wants it, and it has stuck.
The heart of this capital is in the shadows, beneath the gleaming skyscrapers, on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles.
In this land of glitz and glamour, the forgotten people have made camp.
Block after block, the homeless and their scant belongings - tarpaulins, tents and trolleys - are scattered on the concrete in the baking sun. Most of the faces are African-American.
Read more here | Los Angeles, known as the homeless capital of the US, has passed a $1.87bn (£1.29bn) plan to help get an estimated 40,000 people off the streets. | 35546535 |
The dispute has been over changes to "premium payments" for working weekends.
They have been offered a buy-out equivalent to five years' worth of premium payments, and a 4% pay rise.
BBC Wales understands that ministers are providing all of the finance for the extra money being offered.
The previous best offer was a two and a half year buy-out, so Welsh Government is providing another two and a half years' worth of cash.
Staff can take this as a lump sum, or spread over five years. There is an additional option of taking the payment over four years with a pension.
Depending on how many Saturdays and Sundays they work, the payments for affected staff will range from £163 to £20,000.
The Welsh Government support is significant, as the museum has previously blamed government cuts to its budget for forcing it to cut the wages of some of its lowest paid staff.
NMW in a statement said it had received "additional financial support" from the Welsh Government and has now presented the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) with an enhanced offer.
Staff will be required to work no more than one in two weekends as the result of a review of weekend working.
About 300 of the museum's staff receive the payments and 220 are PCS members.
600 staff
300 receive weekend premium payments
£4,000 lump sum offer equivalent to two years of weekend payments
-4.7% grant funding cut from Welsh Government, 2016/17
The union has been holding strikes at NMW sites, while industrial action has been going on for more than two years.
NMW said with the pay rise it was a better offer than union members accepted at National Museums Scotland in April.
PCS said: "We welcome the fact the employer has tabled a new offer and we're currently considering the detail and consulting members.
"We remain committed to negotiating a lasting settlement to this dispute that treats our members fairly and with the respect they deserve." | A Welsh Government bail-out has enabled National Museum Wales (NMW) to double its best offer to staff involved in strike action. | 36499868 |
The firm announced by letter that the staff will no longer be paid from Friday.
The blast at Wood Treatment Limited in Cheshire caused a four-storey building collapse on 17 July.
A council leader said he was "appalled" at the treatment of staff by the mill owners, who declined to comment.
Temperatures reached 1,000C in the blast and it was described by rescuers as the "worst incident of its kind" in a decade.
Four people unaccounted for after the blast were Derek Moore, 62, from Stoke-on-Trent, William Barks, 51, from Leek, Jason Shingler, 38, from North Rode, and Dorothy Bailey, 62.
Will Barks, Derek Moore and Dorothy Bailey have been identified as victims. Other remains have been found. Jason Shingler, 38, is still missing.
Councillor Michael Jones, leader of Cheshire East Council, pledged to support employees and residents.
He said: "I'm appalled at the treatment of these people by the mill owners. Whatever business is done by them from the site should deliver local benefit.
"As the leader of the council, I'm asking the questions as to why the company feels it can just walk away from these people and offer almost no support."
He added: "How do they expect people who are traumatised to cope financially?"
The council has established a drop-in centre in the village providing advice about employment and benefits.
An investigation is underway into the cause of the explosion.
Wood was processed at the plant into a fine powder and the resulting "wood flour", with a consistency like sand, was used to make laminate flooring.
The BBC contacted Wood Treatment Limited for a comment on the redundancies, but it declined to make a statement.
The GMB union said it was "disappointed" to hear the company has issued notices of potential redundancies to its workforce.
Regional organiser Ray Carrick stated "We are further alarmed that the employer has informed its workforce that they will not be paying any more wages to them, even though the consultation has not been completed."
It has called a meeting on Monday at 14:30 BST at the local primary school in Bosley. | The owners of Bosley mill, where four people are thought to have died in a fire and explosion last month, have made 20 staff redundant. | 33826632 |
The club were taken over by a consortium led by Powerday executive chairman Mick Crossan in December.
The group have committed to Reading Football Club's home for "the foreseeable future", and Casey feels they can attract supporters back.
"Our average attendance was 11,500 four years' ago," Casey told BBC Sport.
"With the new owners and their drive then I don't see why it can't be sustainable. From a playing side it's a fantastic stadium and when we get the support it's a special place to be."
The Exiles are contracted to ground-share until 2025-26 but have a get-out clause to break that deal early if they wish and have been linked with Brentford's new stadium in Kew.
The Bees hope to move to the 7.6 acre site on Lionel Road from Griffin Park for the 2016-17 season. and it could give London Irish an opportunity to rebuild their fan-base in a more sustainable way.
However, Casey, who played for London Irish 233 times, and is now the club's rugby development director, believes that Reading could still represent the future home for the Exiles.
"The solution is to get the rugby right," he added. "To get the atmosphere we had four or five years ago, with the same intensity and passion and hopefully that will attract people back."
After years of budget cuts, the new consortium are investing heavily on and off the pitch with huge investment in the academy, medical centre, strength and conditioning facilities and coaching set-up.
The club will move into a new £13m training centre this summer while Steve Walsh, Andre Quinn and Brian O'Leary have been added to the backroom staff.
There will be 11 or more new players in next season's squad, although Casey did rule out another marquee signing in the mould of Australian full-back James O'Connor.
Instead the new signings will be integrated into the current squad with a huge emphasis on the academy, which will be led by former players Declan Danaher, Nick Kennedy and Paul Hodgson.
It is this academy and the investment in it that Casey believes will see the club return to the glory days of five years ago when they reached the Premiership final and Heineken Cup semi-finals.
"When you look back at when we were successful we had a real core of players coming through the academy and we want to return to that," said Casey.
"We believe if London Irish is to be successful then the academy has to be at the heartbeat of everything we do."
We have to produce a first team and club they want to be part of are proud of and we are convinced we will do that
Integral to this "new project" is the club's director of rugby Brian Smith who Casey confirmed will be at the club next season despite being linked with a move back to Australia to coach the Queensland Reds.
Smith has been working under tight budgetary constraints since his return in March 2012 but with the new owners Casey says London Irish will be close to salary cap next season for the first time in years.
"He's done a really good under difficult circumstances, working well below the salary cap and off the field he has had to juggle things and cut budgets," said Casey.
"His work ethic is incredible and we are looking forward to him working next year with the new infrastructure around him. He has had to do everything so we want to give him all the support necessary so he can do what he does best and that is coaching."
With new investment and increased expectation at London Irish it is now hoped the days of the club's best talent leaving are finally over after several years of seeing the likes of Marland Yarde, Jamie Gibson, Anthony Watson and Jonathan Joseph picked off at will.
"We have produced some incredible players," added Casey. "They could be playing for us but they are not. You can't blame them. We have to produce a first team and club they want to be part of are proud of and we are convinced we will do that." | London Irish director Bob Casey believes playing in Reading can still be sustainable despite falling attendances at the Madejski Stadium. | 27779915 |
The shirts will be auctioned off after the game and proceeds will go to the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund.
The charity has raised more than £12m for the victims of the explosion on 22 May, which killed 22.
City's Ferran Soriano said players would wear bees with "immense pride" at the game on 20 July in Houston, US.
The fixture will be the first Manchester derby to take place outside of the UK and the first meeting between the two clubs since the attack at the end of an Ariana Grande concert.
The bee has become the symbol of solidarity among those affected by the bomb with hundreds of people getting bee tattoos.
City chief executive Mr Soriano said: "The worker bee symbolises everything that makes Manchester such a special city and our players will wear it on their shirts with immense pride, as a demonstration of solidarity with the Manchester community."
Ed Woodward, executive chairman of United, said the city of Manchester has shown "great strength and unity" since the attack and shown the world "how special this city really is".
He added: "Having the worker bee on our shirts... shows the community spirit of our city and football club." | Manchester United and City players are to honour victims of the Manchester Arena blast by wearing bee emblems on their football shirts in a derby match. | 40602465 |
Independent councillor David Clifft said offences committed inside Featherstone Prison were skewing the perceived level of risk in Essington.
The national crime map did not distinguish between offences committed in jail and those outside it, he said.
Staffordshire Police said crime had fallen overall in the area since 2009.
Staffordshire Police investigated 30 crimes at Featherstone Prison in 2008-2009 compared to 24 and 16 in 2009-2010 and 2010-2011.
South Staffordshire councillor Mr Clifft said: "We're calling for those crime stats to be kept separate and also for the Hilton Services crimes to be kept separate too.
"They don't give a true reflection of crime in Essington.
"Essington is quite a safe place to live."
He said the misleading information was having a negative impact on pensioners' insurance premiums.
June Smallman, from nearby Westcroft, said it was "unfair".
"I'm a pensioner. There are a lot of pensioners in Essington and the surrounding districts and when you are on a fixed income you've got to consider every aspect of money," she added.
Mr Clifft said police forces were also potentially misallocating their resources based on the area's skewed crime statistics.
"Police are obviously using their facilities on where it says the crime spots are and they are putting policing in Essington where it is not wanted and really it could better serve somewhere else."
He said with plans to expand Featherstone Prison for up to 2,000 inmates. the situation could get worse.
"Featherstone is soon to become a super prison, and obviously the crime stats are going to be a lot higher," he added.
Graeme Trudgill, from the British Insurance Brokers' Association, said a customer's claims history was still the most important factor in pricing any home or car insurance premiums.
He said there were many insurance providers and anyone who was unhappy with their current broker's service should shop around. | Crimes committed inside a south Staffordshire prison are adversely affecting home and car insurance in a nearby village, a councillor says. | 15589737 |
Claim: The European Union is so corrupt that the European Court of Auditors has not signed off its accounts for 20 years.
Reality Check verdict: The Court of Auditors has signed the EU accounts every year since 2007, while pointing out that EU countries, once they receive the EU funds, misuse about 4.4% of the total budget.
The EU's accounts are scrutinised by the Court of Auditors, which checks whether they correctly reflect the spending of the EU budget.
The latest report, published in 2015 for accounts in 2014, explicitly said that the auditors were "signing off the accounts" as they have done every year since 2007.
The Court did point out that some of the funds - 4.4% of the total in 2014 - were not used in accordance with the EU rules. But it stressed that this "is not a measure of fraud, inefficiency or waste", but money that: "should not have been paid out because it was not used in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations".
The auditors said typical cases involved roads or airports that attracted insufficient traffic.
It is important to stress that around 80% of the EU budget is managed by member states themselves, and not by EU institutions. The EU transfers funds to the national treasuries and then the countries themselves decide which projects to spend the money on. The auditors have called on EU countries to take more care in their spending.
In 2014, the court found that €666m (£524m) from the EU fund that is given to countries to finance projects in underdeveloped areas, was "poor value for money". Poland, for example, built three airports, in Lodz, Rzeszow and Lublin, which have received more than €100m of EU funding, but which have not attracted enough customers to keep them in business.
In 2012, a mountain lift was constructed in the Sicilian village of Sutera, to improve access to a mountain monastery to attract tourism. The project reportedly received around €2m of EU regional development money. However, due to high operating costs, the lift has never been in use.
There are UK-based examples too. In 2008, the Canolfan Cywain rural heritage centre opened in Gwynedd, Wales, after it received £900,000 from the EU structural development fund. It ran into financial difficulties in September 2011 and closed a year later.
On 28 April 2016, the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee called on the UK government to improve how it spends EU funds.
The committee found that UK departments contribute "additional complexity" to the implementation of EU programmes, especially agricultural and rural development ones, which also drives up errors. The errors have cost the UK government "at least £650m" in penalties, to the European Commission, over the past decade.
If the auditors do suspect corruption, they pass the cases to OLAF, the EU's anti-fraud office. According to the latest figures provided by the Commission, fraud affects 0.2% of the EU's annual spending. The estimated cost of fraudulent irregularities was €248m in 2013.
For comparison, the UK National Audit Office says fraud across UK government was equivalent to only 0.02% of total expenditure: it ranged from £27.5m to £72.9m, depending on the source, from a total expenditure of £306bn.
OLAF says it completed 3,500 investigations, which led to the recovery of more than €1.1bn for the EU budget and a total of 900 years of prison sentences since 1999.
A separate NAO report estimated that the Department for Work and Pensions' fraud and error rate was 1.9% and HMRC's was 4.4% on its spending on benefits and tax credits in 2013-14. The report does not say how much was due to fraud and how much was due to error.
Read more: The facts behind claims in the EU debate | At Prime Minister's Questions, Shipley MP Philip Davies supported David Cameron's comments about Nigeria and Afghanistan being corrupt and asked: "Can he tell us where he has the European Union in his league table of corruption given they haven't had their accounts signed off for 20 years." | 36276175 |
The Labour politician was first elected to the seat in 1997 when she beat then Scottish Secretary Michael Forsyth.
Mrs McGuire said she felt she had "played her part" in working for the people of Stirling and that it was time for someone else to take on the role.
Labour leader Ed Miliband paid tribute to Mrs McGuire, and said parliament would be poorer without her.
After winning the seat in 1997, Mrs McGuire served as a Parliamentary Private Secretary to Mr Miliband and the late Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar.
Between 2005 and 2008 she became minister for disabled people in the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).
However, following Labour's defeat at the 2010 election, she joined the DWP shadow team, shadowing the disabilities portfolio, before resigning from the front bench last year.
'Active MP'
Mrs McGuire said: "I have been pleased to represent the people of Stirling and its communities since the General Election in May 1997 and to continue that representation in the three subsequent elections in 2001, 2005 and 2010.
"However, I feel that I have played my part in working for the people of Stirling and that the time is right for another to take on that role."
Mrs McGuire said that she would continue to be a full-time and active MP until the next general election, adding: "When I hope to hand over to another Labour MP representing a constituency in a country which I hope remains part of the United Kingdom."
Mr Miliband said: "Anne is a dedicated representative of the people of Stirling, a passionate campaigner and, on a personal note, a good friend. Parliament will be poorer without her.
"Anne's career in the voluntary sector prior to her election to parliament ensured that she had the necessary qualities to hold the post of Minister for Disabled People, a post which saw her dedicate herself to help improve the lives of some of society's most disadvantaged."
He added: "I know that she will continue to a champion of social justice for many years to come."
Mrs McGuire's majority at the 2010 election was 8,354. | Anne McGuire, the MP for Stirling, has said that she will stand down at the next general election in 2015. | 25743742 |
However, it did concede that the government overstepped its authority with "overly harsh" conditions imposed on an $85b loan to prevent AIG from collapse.
The government took an 80% stake in the company and 14% interest on the loan.
In total, AIG received nearly $185bn in aid during the financial crisis.
Mr Greenberg, through his company Starr International, had sought $50bn in damages on behalf of the company and its shareholders.
Starr was the largest shareholder in AIG at the time of the bailout, with a 12% stake.
But Judge Thomas Wheeler awarded no damages because the alternative to the loan would have been bankruptcy.
"In the end, the Achilles' heel of Starr's case is that, if not for the government's intervention, AIG would have filed for bankruptcy," he said in the ruling.
''In a bankruptcy proceeding, AIG's shareholders would most likely have lost 100% of their stock value."
The US central bank, which worked with the US government on the bailout, said it strongly believed its actions "were legal, proper and effective".
"The Federal Reserve's extension of credit to AIG prevented losses to millions of policyholders, small businesses, and American workers who would have been harmed by AIG's collapse," it said.
The Fed added that the terms of the deal "were appropriately tough to protect taxpayers from the risks the rescue loan presented". | A court has ruled that former AIG boss Hank Greenberg should get no damages in his case against the US government over the insurer's 2008 bailout. | 33140183 |
The University of Southern California's report showed that women had just 31.4% of spoken roles in 2015's top 100 films, compared with 32.8% in 2008.
Lesbian, gay or transgender characters accounted for less than 1% of speaking parts - or 32 out of 35,205 characters.
Researchers described Hollywood as "an epicentre of cultural inequality".
They said little progress had been made in increasing diversity.
Between 2007, when the study was first carried out, and 2015, the authors said there has been no marked change in the proportion of black, Latino or Asian characters - at 12.2%, 5.3% and 3.9% respectively.
Study author Stacy Smith, a professor at USC, said: "We're seeing entrenched inequality.
"Whether we're studying gender, race, ethnicity, LGBT or characters with disabilities, we're really seeing exclusionary forces leaving out anybody that's not a straight, white, able-bodied man.
"Despite all the chatter and all the activism and all the press attention, it's another year where the status quo has been maintained.''
The report also showed:
The new figures follow the #OscarsSoWhite controversy earlier this year, sparked by two years of all-white acting nominees at the Academy Awards, as well as concerns over the gender gap in pay and the lack of female directors.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which awards the Oscars, has expanded its membership in an attempt to improve diversity.
Smith said: "We've seen a lot of talk and little action. What we need now is for companies to take the same leadership position, be transparent in their inclusion goals and be accountable to representing the actual world we live in when it comes to the demography of the US."
The survey found that female lead or co-lead roles increased by 11% from 2014 to 2015 - but only three films cast such a role from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group. There were no Asian male or female leads across all of the films studied.
"When we really drill down in the numbers, we see a perpetuation of the same groups getting access to the most visible roles, whether that's in the director's chair or on screen, and that continues to be the problem plaguing Hollywood's hiring practices," Smith said.
Several of 2015's most profitable films had diverse casts, however, including the seventh Fast and Furious film, Mad Max: Fury Road and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
A number of remakes or reboots with women in lead roles have also been announced, including Ocean's Eight and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram, or if you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. | Inequality is "entrenched" in Hollywood, with women, minorities and LGBT people among those excluded, a new study has suggested. | 37294932 |
It started with a surf report. On Monday Devon-based website Magicseaweed.com began to warn of swells of up to 40ft (12m).
Dubbed "Black Wednesday", as the storm approached it was identified as a explosive cyclogenesis, known as a "weather bomb".
Throughout Tuesday, Met Office alerts were issued, with amber warnings put in place for parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The swirling low pressure funnelled high winds across the North Atlantic, as wind modelling website earth.nullschool.net showed.
With the winds came gusts topping more than 80mph in some areas and huge waves crashing against the coast.
And meteorologists also recorded intense strikes of lightning across the west.
Despite ferry cancellations and a fishing boat rescue off the north coast, marinetraffic.com showed commercial traffic was still sailing.
Forecasters had plenty to keep across and warned of wintry and blustery conditions throughout "Black Wednesday" and on into Thursday.
Along with the wind and waves and rain comes the danger of flooding. So here's an interactive map of flood warnings.
Note: the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency display their flood alert data differently. While the Environment Agency highlights individual rivers only, in Scotland the entire region is coloured to indicate the level of alert.
And back to the bigger picture, the west of Scotland remains in the wake of a "weather bomb" producing the most intense waves on the planet.
Are you affected by the severe weather in the UK? You can send us your pictures or videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk and your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
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Terms and conditions | Or comment below: | 30415098 |
Dave Heeley, from West Bromwich, hopes to raise £30,000 by running 160 miles through the Sahara Desert in the Marathon des Sables.
Mr Heeley, who set off at 08:00 BST, described the trip as "the adventure of a lifetime".
He is raising funds for the Albion Foundation who said Mr Heeley was "unbelievable".
Mr Heeley, who is known as "Blind Dave", has completed several gruelling challenges in the past few years.
In 2008 he ran seven marathons in seven days on seven continents, while in 2011 he ran 10 marathons in 10 days - travelling from John O'Groats to Land's End and cycling between each stage.
He said the Marathon des Sables, which is run in Morocco through the Sahara Desert in temperatures of about 37C, was the "biggest thing" he had ever done.
"It's the adventure of a lifetime," he said.
Rob Lake, director of the Albion Foundation, the charitable arm of West Bromwich Albion football club which provides educational and sporting opportunities to young people, said: "The guy is unbelievable".
"It's a phenomenal task he is taking on," he added.
So far, Mr Heeley said he had raised £20,000. | A blind man who ran seven marathons in seven days on seven continents has embarked on a new charity challenge. | 32166726 |
White follows ex-Crewe players Andy Woodward and Steve Walters, and former Tottenham forward Paul Stewart.
The 49-year-old claims former Crewe coach Barry Bennell, a convicted paedophile, abused him.
Cheshire Police said 11 people had come forward since Woodward went public.
The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) expects that number to rise.
The four players to speak publicly have each waived their right to anonymity as sex abuse victims.
In a statement, White said he was sexually abused by Bennell in the late 1970s and early 1980s, while playing for Whitehill FC junior team in Manchester.
He said: "For a number of reasons, and for nearly two decades, I kept my ordeal secret from my family and friends.
"While I believe throughout my football career I have come to terms with what had happened, I now realise the effects of Bennell's actions were much more far-reaching than I knew then.
"Last year I made the decision to gather my thoughts, reflect on my experience, and tell my life story in my own words. I did not set out to write a story about the abuse, but knew I would have to include it.
"In doing so I have come to terms with the fact that Bennell's actions influenced almost every event and relationship in my life."
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Woodward, 43, and Walters, 44, have also spoken about being abused by Bennell, who was jailed for nine years in 1998 for sexual offences against children.
Bennell, who worked as a football scout and coach at Crewe Alexandra in the 1980s and 90s, admitted 23 specimen charges of sexual offences against six boys, aged nine to 15.
Stewart, 52, a former England international who started his career at Blackpool and also played for Manchester City and Liverpool, told the Mirror an unnamed coach abused him daily for four years up to the age of 15.
White, who is releasing a book about his abuse, said he was targeted at the age of 11 by a coach he "hero-worshipped".
After making more than 340 appearances for Manchester City, he went on to play for Leeds United and Sheffield United, and won a single cap for England.
He added: "The process of writing the book became sometimes painful, always cathartic and incredibly liberating.
"I would like to say that I do not feel brave. This is just my story and I am now happy to tell it because despite the profound effects of 1979-80 I feel like one of the lucky ones.
"Circumstances took me away from the abuse before it escalated. I salute Andy Woodward, Steve Walters, and Paul Stewart for so bravely revealing their personal tragedies.
"The physical abuse they and others suffered was certainly more extreme and prolonged than my ordeal, and I cannot be sure that I would have their courage."
PFA chief Gordon Taylor said: "Because of Andy Woodward's bravery, many other ex-players and apprentices are now contacting us - it is double figures now - and that is a timely warning for everybody in football about our duty of care to these youngsters.
"It is up to all of us now to grasp the nettle and we make sure we learn from this."
Woodward will meet senior Football Association officials on Thursday, BBC sports news correspondent Richard Conway reports.
Det Insp Sarah Hall, from Cheshire Police's public protection unit, said: "We have now been made aware of a number of people who have come forward wishing to speak to the police.
"At this stage we are in the process of making contact with them, and to date no arrests have been made and no-one else is under investigation."
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Crewe chairman John Bowler told BBC sports editor Dan Roan he was "infuriated and very disappointed" about Bennell's crimes.
Bowler, who was chairman at the time of Bennell's offences, was asked whether more could have been done. He replied: "When we've done our inquiries and looked at the detail of the various accusations, then I'll be in a position to answer that kind of question."
Woodward told BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Tuesday he believed his experience was "the tip of the iceberg".
A spokesman for the NSPCC praised the former Sheffield United and Bury defender for coming forward, adding there was "more to be done in the world of sport" to keep children safe.
Sue Ravenlaw, head of equality and safeguarding at the Football Association, has also praised Woodward for his "immense courage" in going public.
Paul Stewart: "One day, travelling in the car, he started to touch me. It frightened me to death, I did not know what to do. I tried to tell my parents not to let him in but I was only 11.
"From then, it progressed to sexually abusing me, he said he would kill my mother, my father, my two brothers if I breathed a word about it. And at 11 years old, you believe that.
"The mental scars led me into other problems with drink and drugs. I know now it was a grooming process. The level of abuse got worse and worse.
"I was always under threat, if I was not playing well, he would threaten me with violence as well as sexual abuse. He was a monster."
Steve Walters: "I just had to pretend it never happened and block it out. I knew it could never come out and I was absolutely petrified because I thought that if it did ever come out that would be it for my career - finished.
"All these years, I've had this secret inside me. It's been unbearable but, just from reading the article from Andy, it already feels like a massive burden off my shoulders.
"I have to do this, and I just hope it will help bring more people forward, too."
Andy Woodward said: "It was that control, that all I wanted to do was be a footballer.
"With regards to the sport - there was nothing, it was brushed under the carpet. It's in the mentality of football that nothing comes out." | Former Manchester City and England player David White has become the fourth footballer to speak publicly about being sexually abused as a child by a coach. | 38084213 |
Cora-Lynn Kelley-Mattock, of Aberporth, Ceredigion, was two when her mother, Josephine, 19, accidentally crashed her Volkswagen Polo in Llandygwydd in 2013.
Details of her claim have emerged in a High Court writ.
Miss Kelley's insurers say her claimed negligence is not admitted.
She died from brain injuries three days after the accident on Boxing Day in 2013, on the A484.
Her daughter, now four, suffered severe traumatic head injuries in the crash and has been left with serious disabilities, her barrister James Bell said in the writ.
Her lawyers claim Miss Kelley was negligent in crashing the car and may also have failed to strap her into her baby seat properly.
Mr Bell said the car was approaching the entrance to the Llwyndryrys residential home, near Cenarth, Carmarthenshire, when it left the road.
He said it travelled along the grass verge and "collided heavily sideways with a dry stone wall".
The toddler suffered a severe head injury, as well as internal injuries and damage to one eye.
The writ claimed her mother "failed to heed slow warnings" and "drove too fast" in damp conditions.
She also "failed to ensure that at all times her daughter was properly restrained and safely secured in her car seat," the document added.
"The deceased thereby exposed her daughter to an unnecessary and foreseeable risk of injury," it said.
Ceredigion Coroner Peter Brunton issued a verdict of death by misadventure in the case of Miss Kelley at Aberystwyth County Court, in June 2014.
The coroner said she might have been distracted by her daughter or been trying to avoid another vehicle when she crashed.
In their defence to the action, Glyn Edwards, for Miss Kelley's estate and motor insurers, said the basic facts of the crash was not disputed.
However, he said negligence on the part of Miss Kelley, either in causing the crash or in not strapping in her daughter properly, was not admitted.
He said Cora-Lynn's lawyers are "required to prove that her mother's negligence was the likely cause of the accident as alleged."
They must also prove there was not a defect in the car seat which caused it to malfunction.
The extent of Cora-Lynn's disabilities and the value of her compensation claim are also in dispute.
The contents of the writ and the defence have yet to be tested in evidence before a judge. | Lawyers for a toddler who suffered catastrophic injuries in a car crash that left her mother dead have launched a legal bid for compensation from her insurers. | 35685631 |
Resuming day two on 71-0, Notts lost regular wickets and had slumped to 175-6 when Alex Hales was out for 85.
However Read fought back with his 137-ball knock to take the visitors to 330 all out, a first innings lead of 61.
Worcestershire then lost four wickets, including stand-in skipper Alex Gidman for 21, as they closed on 115-4.
After England opener Hales was bowled by Jack Shantry, Notts still trailed by 94 with just four wickets in hand.
But Read's innings, which included 12 fours and a six, along with Ben Hutton's 40 and a rapid 38 from Jake Ball gave the away side a slender advantage.
Hutton then did the damage early in Worcestershire's second innings, taking two of the four wickets to fall, but teenager Joe Clarke (43 not out) and Ross Whiteley (22 not out) steadied things with a stand of 47. | Nottinghamshire captain Chris Read hit a crucial 90, before late wickets put his side on top against Worcestershire in their Championship game at New Road. | 33830604 |
Gweedore player MacNiallais, 24, confirmed to the Donegal Democrat that he will be "taking a year out" from Rory Gallagher's squad.
MacNiallais is mulling over spending part of this year in the US.
"There was no fall out or anything with management or players. It is just for personal reasons," added MacNiallais.
The Gweedore man helped Donegal win the 2014 Ulster Championship and his ability to score long-range points has been a feature of the team's play in recent seasons.
McLoone confirmed before Christmas that he had opted out of the panel for this year but did not give a reason for his decision.
Donegal's season opens with their Dr McKenna Cup game against Ulster University of Sunday but the county has picked an under-21 squad for the season-opening competition.
Killybegs' Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Kilcar's Stephen McBrearty and Michael Carroll are the only members of the McKenna Cup squad with senior experience.
Under-21 boss Declan Bonner will be in charge of the team in the competition as the senior members of the squad have been given an extended break ahead of the Football League which starts in early February. | Donegal's football hopes for 2017 have suffered another blow after Odhran MacNiallais followed Leo McLoone in opting out of the squad for this year. | 38538844 |
Stephanie Hirst, formerly known as Simon, hosted the commercial Top 40 show nationally between 2003 and 2006.
The Barnsley-based DJ left radio stations Capital FM Yorkshire and Gold last June after confirming her gender change.
She will join BBC Radio Manchester for a weekly show, saying she "wanted to ensure that my return is gentle".
Numerous sources told BBC News last year that Ms Hirst was suspended by bosses at Global Radio when she disclosed that she wanted to be a woman.
The company said at the time: "Hirsty made the decision to take time out to focus on the process he was going through. We were sad to see Hirsty leave but we were happy to offer him our full support."
When asked about claims that she was treated wrongly by her former employer, Ms Hirst said last October: "Everyone was supportive. There is nothing more I can add that can be of use to you."
Ms Hirst, who has won three Sony Radio Awards, said her new role "allows me time to grow into a broadcaster as Stephanie".
Kate Squire, managing editor of BBC Radio Manchester, added: "It's fantastic that Stephanie is returning to the airwaves - she's a brilliant broadcaster, and should be on air."
Ms Hirst first presented a radio show at the age of 16 on Radio Aire in Leeds. Since January, she has been a regular contributor on the ITV programme Lorraine.
Her new show, which will focus on 1990s music, will start on 4 July at 22:00 BST.
BBC Radio Manchester reaches a weekly audience of 229,000 listeners, according to figures from radio body Rajar. | A DJ who underwent gender reassignment is returning to mainstream radio after a year-long break. | 33318304 |
Future Shock, which sold 15 million copies, defined people's anxiety at the pace of social change in the 1960s.
Toffler popularised terms such as "information overload" and his works led world leaders and business moguls to seek his advice.
He predicted the rise of the internet and decline of the nuclear family.
He died in his sleep late on Monday at his home in Bel Air, Los Angeles.
Although many writers in the 1960s focused on social upheavals related to technological advancement, Toffler wrote in a page-turning style that made difficult concepts easy to understand.
Future Shock (1970) argued that economists who believed the rise in prosperity of the 1960s was just a trend were wrong - and that it would continue indefinitely.
The Third Wave, in 1980, was a hugely influential work that forecast the spread of emails, interactive media, online chat rooms and other digital advancements.
But among the pluses, he also foresaw increased social alienation, rising drug use and the decline of the nuclear family.
Not all of his futurist predictions have come to pass. He thought humanity's frontier spirit would lead to the creation of "artificial cities beneath the waves" as well as colonies in space.
One of his most famous assertions was: "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn."
Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, China Prime Minister Zhao Ziyang and Mexican business guru Carlos Slim were among those who sought his advice.
The futurologist, also termed futurist by some, was born to Jewish Polish immigrants in 1928 and honed his theories working for IBM and other technology firms in the 60s.
Toffler is survived by his wife, Heidi, with whom he collaborated on many of his books. | Alvin Toffler, the author of Future Shock and other works predicting social, economic and technological change, has died at the age of 87. | 36670572 |
His declaration comes despite earlier comments about Mexicans seen as deeply offensive by many.
Mr Trump has accused Mexico of sending "criminals" and "rapists" into the US.
He has also made building a border wall with Mexico a key tenet of his campaign and repeatedly said Mexico is "killing the US" on trade deals.
Extending an apparent olive branch, the billionaire businessman has now said he "loves Hispanics" and employs many of them.
Cinco de Mayo, translated as 5 May, commemorates the victory of Mexican troops in a battle against French forces near the town of Puebla in 1862, and is not a wider Hispanic festival. It is also celebrated more in the US than in Mexico itself.
That did not stop Mr Trump naming it a festival for all people of Hispanic origin. Plenty of people were keen to point this out:
Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton quickly responded to Mr Trump's tweet, pointing out that he has repeatedly said he would deport Hispanics.
With an eye on the commercial potential, restaurant chain Chipotle tweeted that their own taco bowl was probably as good as Mr Trump's.
Mexican-American comedian and actor George Lopez tweeted in reply that Mr Trump's taco bowl was probably made by undocumented immigrants - a group Mr Trump has vowed to deport.
Steven Dennis, a writer for Bloomberg, pointed out that an Eater.com review of the Trump taco bowl called it an "insult to Mexicans".
Gabe Bergado, a writer for The Daily Dot, offered up a simpler reaction.
And Jose Antonio Vargas, a Filipino American TV producer and writer, proposed an end to taco bowls altogether. | Republican front-runner Donald Trump has declared his love for tacos and Hispanics with a tweet on Mexico's Cinco De Mayo national holiday. | 36215048 |
Hundreds of people from Derbyshire helped to guide the lights along the river for a project called Derwent Pulse in October.
Photographs taken along the route can be seen at the free exhibition at Bakewell Old Market Hall.
The Derwent runs through the Peak District, Chatsworth Park and Derby.
The project, which was commissioned by Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, was designed to recognise the river's importance during the Industrial Revolution.
Charles Monkhouse, who previously lit up the nearby Cromford Canal in a project for the Cultural Olympiad, was behind the artwork, which saw up to 1,000 pulsating lights cascade down the river navigated by GPS.
Don Symonds, from Bakewell Visitor Centre, said the images show the Peak District "from a completely different angle".
The exhibition runs until 12 May. | An exhibition featuring photographs of hundreds of multi-coloured lights floating down a Derbyshire river has opened. | 32184144 |
Dr John Hinds of Craigavon Area Hospital in County Armagh said the service is "essential" and should be introduced in Northern Ireland.
He said it "would be a game changer in terms of trauma provision".
A woman who was critically injured after she was hit by a motorbike at a racing event last month said she also supports calls for the service.
Dr Hinds added that "every other UK trauma network has an air ambulance providing enhanced care at the scene, and safe transfer to a trauma centre".
The health minister is involved in discussions on the issue.
The absence of an emergency helicopter was highlighted during the G8 summit in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, in 2013, when organisers had to rent an air ambulance from Scotland.
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During last month's North West 200 motorbike races in County Antrim, a helicopter was dispatched from County Sligo to attend a serious accident.
Spectator Violet McAfee was transferred to hospital in Belfast when she was struck by a motorcycle that had left the road.
She said she was "shocked" to find out the helicopter was not based in Northern Ireland.
"I certainly do feel it is something that the province here does need, because nobody knows when an accident is going to happen," Ms McAfee said.
"It's really an important thing that we must have here."
When it comes to an air ambulance service, Northern Ireland has had a problematic experience with little agreement about how it could be delivered across the region.
Dr Hinds, a lecturer in trauma science, said he finds it "hugely frustrating to return home to what is essentially a third world system.
"Those of us who have worked in countries which have an air ambulance can see how game changing it is for victims of major trauma.
"It's not a luxury, it is essential and it would be cost effective.
"One of the problems is that Northern Ireland is a rural population, so the cut-off criteria for most major trauma networks is access within 45 minutes.
"Air ambulance cover in the rest of the UK is roughly one air ambulance to 1.5m of population, so we are well over that in Northern Ireland.
"If we consider cross-border work, that would go up to two million of population," he added.
"In countries that have an established service, the mortality rate from trauma has been cut from anything up to 40%.
"Some of the air ambulance services in England have reported cost savings up to £20m in the care of trauma patients."
TUV MLA Jim Allister is due to meet the health minister later to make the case for an air ambulance.
He said: "It's really about saving lives, because there are statistics which Dr Hinds has demonstrated that show that in countries where you have an efficient air ambulance service, those who suffer severe trauma have at least at 25% better chance of survival."
There have been previous calls for an air ambulance for Northern Ireland and controversy about the setting up of such a service.
A number of years ago, a charity raised about £700,000 towards an air ambulance.
But in 2009, a BBC investigation revealed that 90% of the money collected by the Ireland Air Ambulance Charity in its first year went on wages and overheads.
The charity was later wound up.
The then health minister Michael McGimpsey said Irish Air Ambulance never had an agreement in place to provide the service and he said there was no need for a dedicated air ambulance. | An emergency medical helicopter is a necessity, not a luxury, an intensive care consultant has said. | 33137007 |
The railway line was closed for a number of hours between Lisburn and Portadown on Sunday morning.
It followed a report that a suspicious object had been left at Lake Street in Lurgan.
The police say nothing untoward was found. | A security alert in Lurgan in County Armagh has ended. | 35572796 |
The 23-year-old Portugal right-back, who has won six caps for his country, will have a medical in Barcelona on Friday.
Semedo played 63 times for Benfica after joining from Sintrense in 2012.
He was part of the Portugal side that finished third at the Confederations Cup, getting sent off in the third-place play-off win over Mexico.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign Benfica defender Nelson Semedo for a reported 35m euros (£30.8m). | 40602826 |
Looking forward there has been a warning that the government's planned £8bn a year extra by 2020 will not be enough.
Looking back, it has become clear that the Department of Health only just kept within the budget agreed by Parliament last year.
First, the department's annual report for the 2014/15 year and what it tells us.
If this sounds dull and technical and not everybody's idea of a gripping read, please bear with me.
The report was issued on Tuesday in the final hours of the parliamentary session and shone new light on what it costs to keep the NHS in England afloat.
On the important day-to-day spending definition (known to the cognoscenti as RDEL), the Department of Health shelled out £110.5bn in the financial year which ended in March.
The annual report says this was an under-spend of £1.2m on the total agreed by Parliament.
That may sound like a reasonable cushion but in Whitehall terms it's nothing - equivalent to 0.001% of the budget. It is rather like ending the month with one penny in the bank account after paying the mortgage and all the bills.
Given that only two years ago the department ended the year with an under-spend of £1.5bn, the £1.2m result in 2014/15 is put into some sort of context.
The job of finance chiefs in steering the department through to the end of the year within the agreed budget has been likened to landing a Harrier jet on a tennis court.
For the year just ended it must have been like landing that jump jet on a flower bed.
All this is more intriguing because the Department of Health only just scraped by despite an injection of £890m in extra funding over the course of the financial year.
This consisted of £250m of money quietly transferred from Treasury reserves, with the rest moved from investment budgets into covering day-to-day running costs.
So it was a close-run thing in 2014/15, and the current financial year does not look as if it will be any easier.
Deficits at health trusts seem set to be bigger than last year.
Simon Stevens, head of NHS England, told MPs on Tuesday that the single biggest factor was the rapid growth in spending on agency staff. It was critical, he said, that this was dialled back in the months ahead.
Further afield, ministers are hoping that the £8bn annual funding boost by 2020 which they have promised will be enough for the NHS in England to continue delivering current levels of care. But a report out on Wednesday by two leading think tanks challenges that assumption.
The Health Foundation and the King's Fund have called for more investment over and above the £8bn to create what they call a transformation fund.
This vehicle, the authors say, would invest in measures needed to create longer-term efficiency savings - for example, the retraining of some frontline staff and the development of new ways of caring for patients.
The NHS, they argue, will not become more productive without upfront investment of an extra £1.5 - £2bn per year.
But the think tanks received short shrift from the government, with a spokesperson pointing out that the NHS had asked in its five-year strategy paper for the £8bn by 2020 and now had to get on with the job of finding efficiency savings.
But the thorny question of money and what is deliverable by the health service will continue to cause furrowed brows in Whitehall and Downing Street as the autumn spending review approaches. | New light has been shed on the state of NHS finances, and from different angles. | 33612868 |
Police had said they were "very concerned" for the welfare of Hanna Sabic who had not arrived at work in the city on Monday. She had last been seen at Falkirk Grahamston Station.
Officers described her disappearance as "out of character" and appealed for the public's help to trace her.
They later said she had been traced in Edinburgh at about 13:45 on Tuesday.
A Police Scotland spokesman thanked the public and the media for their help. | A 21-year-old Falkirk mother who failed to return home to her son on Monday has been found in Edinburgh. | 36469952 |
It will take place throughout the region from 27 to 29 May.
It is the 15th edition of the festival and includes a "birthday exhibition" at the Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries prior to the main event.
A selection of works will also be taken to New Brewery Arts in Cirencester earlier in the year.
Joanna Macaulay, Upland's Events and Exhibitions Manager, said: "Our 15th birthday will be a special year for us and a chance to look at how Spring Fling has blossomed to become the premier event of its kind in Scotland.
"Something we value enormously is the strength of support we get from within the region.
"But the other side of Spring Fling is that it is a highly effective way of drawing the attention of the wider world to the wonderful work created in Dumfries and Galloway."
She said they were also looking forward to the event in Cirencester from 25 March to 14 May.
Next year's Spring Fling will see 15 new exhibitors who have never taken part before.
The majority of them live and work in Dumfries and Galloway but a small number have a "strong connection" to the area but are currently based elsewhere.
A "neighbours" scheme which sees artists and makers in nearby areas take part will this year include people from Ayrshire, the Scottish Borders, Cumbria and Northern Ireland. | Nearly 100 artists, makers and designers have signed up for the annual Spring Fling open studio event in Dumfries and Galloway next year. | 38380580 |
The High Court ruled NHS England can prescribe Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to those at high risk.
NHS England had said it was up to councils to do so as they are in charge of preventative health.
The Welsh Government said it would review the evidence available.
Anti-retroviral and post-exposure HIV drugs are already readily available, but a spokesman said the Welsh Government would look at developing a position on the use of PrEP as a preventative.
Cadan ap Tomos, the Welsh Lib Dem equalities spokesman, said: "The Welsh NHS needs to take the initiative and introduce PrEP as a matter of urgency.
"Clinical trials and use by health services abroad has shown a significant reduction in HIV contraction rates for those taking PrEP.
"The Welsh Health Secretary [Vaughan Gething] now needs to show leadership and introduce this drug for Welsh patients.
"Of course, PrEP is not a magic bullet. Wales urgently needs to improve its testing services, as well as its sex and relationships education, but any opportunity to help prevent the spread of HIV must be grasped."
The ruling in England by Mr Justice Green said health bosses had "erred" in arguing it was not their responsibility.
NHS England has already announced it will appeal the ruling - and even if that goes against health bosses it is not a given that Prep will be considered effective enough to warrant NHS funding. | A drug which helps prevent the transmission of HIV should be offered on the Welsh NHS following a court ruling clearing the way in England, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have said. | 36951972 |
The raid happened at the Murco garage in Bowhouse, Maddiston, at about 21:45 on Friday.
The man, who was wearing a balaclava, threatened staff with a weapon and demanded money.
He made off with a number of items. Officers have appealed for witnesses to come forward.
The suspect was described as 5ft 8in to 5ft 10in tall and of stocky build. He spoke with a Falkirk accent.
He was wearing a grey camouflage jacket, dark trousers, dark trainers with white soles and black gloves.
Det Sgt John Burgoyne said: "Although no-one was harmed during this robbery, it was still upsetting for those who witnessed it.
"It is essential that we trace this man as soon as possible. Anyone who has information, or recognises the description of the man, is asked to contact Police Scotland immediately." | Police are hunting a masked armed robber who held up staff at a petrol station near Falkirk. | 31471394 |
The incident happened at Icon Grocers in George Street on the morning of 31 October.
Police Scotland said at the time that a sum of money was taken. No-one was injured.
The teenager is expected to appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Monday. | A 15-year-old boy has been charged after a police appeal over an armed robbery in Aberdeen. | 37973177 |
Titanic and City Tours managing director Sean Donnelly, 50, had denied a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm by punching an employee of Belfast City Sightseeing.
He claimed he was taunted and spat at by staff from a competitor company.
One of Donnelly's workers, James Moore, was also convicted of common assault.
The victim, Kevin Boyle, claimed his nose was broken in the incident on 11 May last year.
Donnelly, of St James' Park in the city, claimed he had been on the streets to try to stop aggravation between the rivals.
He told Belfast Magistrates' Court that his firm had signed up to a code of conduct following meetings with City Centre Management and the Department of the Environment.
According to Donnelly's account, Mr Boyle and a colleague approached him and started to taunt hum.
"They said 'Stick your code of conduct up your hole'," the tour boss claimed.
Donnelly alleged that he went to their manager in a bid to get him to intervene, only to suffer further abuse.
The court heard claims that Mr Boyle spat in his direction, started to film him on a phone and tried to coax him into striking out.
"I just got frustrated and tried to grab the mobile phone, and I pushed him. That's all I did," he said.
Accepting Mr Boyle "stumbled" to the ground, he denied punching him at any stage.
Donnelly also revealed that he had suffered a minor stroke just days before the incident.
It was claimed that Moore, 30, of Rathvarna Park in Lisburn, County Antrim, punched and kicked Mr Boyle after arriving at the scene on Callender Street.
He disputed the allegations, insisting instead that he only told the victim to lie on the ground until the situation calmed.
"I was making sure there was nothing more going to happen because of Squirt (Donnelly) having taken a stroke," Moore told the court.
"I didn't want anything more happening to him."
Despite both defendants denials, the judge convicted both of the charge against them.
They were released to return for sentencing next month. | A bus tour company boss has been convicted of attacking a rival employee during an alleged row over a code of conduct for operators in Belfast. | 32223646 |
Woodfox was part of the group known as the "Angola Three", after the prison where they spent years in confinement.
He had been there since April 1972 for the murder of a prison guard.
Maintaining his innocence in the death of Brent Miller, Woodfox, 69, was finally freed after accepting the lesser charge of manslaughter.
The plea bargain was negotiated with state prosecutors.
Twice in decades of legal battles, his murder conviction was thrown out of court, yet Louisiana state prosecutors were preparing to try him a third time.
He finally agreed to plead no contest to lesser charges in exchange for freedom but insisted this was not an admission of guilt.
"Although I was looking forward to proving my innocence at a new trial, concerns about my health and my age have caused me to resolve this case now and obtain my release with this no contest plea to lesser charges," he said in a statement on Friday.
"I hope the events of today will bring closure to many."
How do you survive solitary confinement?
Before driving off from Feliciana Parish Detention Center, in St Francisville, with his brother, Woodfox told media he wanted to visit his mother's gravesite.
She died while he was in prison and Woodfox said he had not been allowed to go to the funeral.
At the time of Mr Miller's death, Woodfox was in Louisiana's notorious Angola prison for armed robbery and assault.
He was accused of grabbing the guard from behind while others stabbed him with a lawnmower blade and a hand-sharpened prison knife.
Woodfox was placed in solitary and ordered to be kept on "extended lockdown" every 90 days for decades.
His lawyers say he was confined to his cell for 23 hours a day.
The other members of the "Angola Three", Robert King and Herman Wallace, were released in 2001 and 2013 respectively.
Wallace, also convicted over Mr Miller's murder, died soon after his release pending a new trial. King's conviction was overturned.
Woodfox and Wallace were involved with the Black Panthers, a militant black rights movement formed in 1966 for self-defence against police brutality and racism. | The longest-serving prisoner to be held in solitary confinement in US history, Albert Woodfox, has walked free in Louisiana after 43 years. | 35617935 |
Prof Nigel Hunt, from the Faculty of Dental Surgery, at the Royal College of Surgeons, says "cake culture" is fuelling obesity and dental problems.
At the organisation's annual dinner for dentists, he will say workplace temptation stops people losing weight.
And staff should be rewarded with fruit, nuts or cheese instead.
In the speech, he will say: "Managers want to reward staff for their efforts, colleagues want to celebrate special occasions, and workers want to bring back a gift from their holidays.
"But for many people the workplace is now the primary site of their sugar intake and is contributing to the current obesity epidemic and poor oral health."
He will say nearly 65,000 adults every year need hospital treatment for tooth decay.
Prof Hunt will say: "Cake culture also poses difficulties for those who are trying their hardest to lose weight or become healthier - how many of us have begun such diets only to cave in to the temptation of the doughnuts, cookies or the triple chocolate biscuits?"
While he does not believe office cake should be banned, he will say it should be purchased in smaller quantities and consumed only with lunch.
Dentists recommend cutting down on sugary or starchy foods between meals as they give bacteria fuel to produce acids that decay teeth.
At the dinner, which is being rounded off with mint panna cotta, British strawberries and chocolate soil, Prof Hunt will say: "Ideally office workers should consider other alternatives altogether like fruit platters, nuts, or cheese.
"Responsible employers should take a lead and avoid such snacks in meetings."
Follow James on Twitter. | Having cake at work to celebrate colleagues' birthdays, engagements or just surviving the week is a danger to health, a senior dentist argues. | 36608269 |
A survey of more than 1,000 schools by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) shows the number in deficit has doubled since 2015.
And 71% of the heads polled were only able to balance their budgets by making cuts or dipping into reserves, said NAHT general secretary Russell Hobby.
The government said it had protected the core schools budget in real terms.
The NAHT's Breaking Point survey for 2016-17 shows:
The greatest cost pressures on schools, according to heads, are:
According to the union, almost 80% of schools are providing support for children with mental health issues from general school budgets, "stepping in where cuts in health and social care funding have failed to meet the growing demand for support".
Mr Hobby said 98% of schools were losing funding "at a time when costs are rising and pupil numbers are growing".
"The government must take urgent action and commit to funding schools sufficiently in the next Budget. It is time to stop viewing education spending as a cost and to start seeing it as an investment in England's future, and in our children's."
Liam Collins head of Uplands Community College in Wadhurst, East Sussex, said budget pressures amounted to "a cut of 10 teachers, fewer clubs, no pastoral support, a narrowed curriculum, no counselling for students struggling with mental health issues, crumbling buildings, no IT upgrades, no new textbooks and no school planners.
"Eventually this will impact on student outcomes."
Labour said the NAHT's survey showed ministers "continue to hide their heads in the sand" on school funding.
Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said: "Headteachers should not be faced with a decision of whether to cut school staff or invest in new equipment.
"The Tories have no plan to deal with falling budgets, chronic teacher shortages and not enough good school places - this is no way to run a schools system."
A Department for Education spokesman said that school funding "will be over £40bn in 2016-17 - its highest level on record".
The spokesman said the government's fairer funding proposals to end what ministers have termed "a postcode lottery" in school budgets would help.
"These proposals will not only see more than half of England's schools receive a cash boost in 2018-19 but will also give head teachers certainty over their future budgets, helping them make long-term plans and secure further efficiencies," said the spokesman.
"We recognise that schools are facing cost pressures, which is why we will continue to provide advice and support to help them use their funding in cost-effective ways, including improving the way they buy goods and services, so they get the best possible value for their pupils." | School budgets are close to breaking point in England suggests research by a head teachers' union. | 38698477 |
The team bought the former Marussia base in Banbury to use as a European headquarters for its team in February.
It said it was expecting some of the technical personnel, engineers and mechanics to come from the former Caterham and Marussia F1 teams.
About 15 have already been recruited with a further 65 due to be taken on, the team said.
Ex-Marussia staff Dave O'Neill and Rob Taylor have already been appointed team manager and chief designer for the team.
"We're taking our time to set up properly and choose our people carefully," its team principal Guenther Steiner said.
"We need to show people we are serious, especially with what happened with other teams. We want to be here for a long time."
The team is currently extensively re-modelling the site ahead of joining next year's F1 events which start in Melbourne. | New Formula 1 team Haas is to create up to 80 jobs at its headquarters in Oxfordshire. | 33376291 |
It follows a study by academics from Glasgow and Cumbria universities, who examined the social and culture impact of the development.
They found it had a mildly negative impact on fishing and funding benefits from the scheme had been negligible.
The wind farm was constructed in 2009 and is the largest in Scotland.
It features 60 turbines and sits in the Solway Estuary about 11 km from the Dumfries and Galloway coast and 13.5km from the Cumbrian coastline.
The area is traditionally associated with fishing and also benefits from tourism.
The report said that following the construction of the wind farm, there had been a reduction in fishing activity in the area when compared to the days before the project was constructed.
Dr Darrell Smith from the University of Cumbria said there was also a general "disappointment" among the local community about the perceived long-term benefits of the project for the region.
He said: "One or two people mentioned the community funds that have come to the Scottish coast in terms of some sort of payment and they didn't feel that whilst these funds were provided for community amenities or community benefit, they felt that the funds themselves were fairly small and they didn't actually help with any sort of lasting employment that came out of the wind turbines being there."
The report said that there was a case for more consideration to be given to the connection local people felt with a particular region when similar projects were planned in future. | The Robin Rigg wind farm, off the Solway Coast, has had little benefit for those living on the Scottish side of the estuary, a new report suggests. | 36976126 |
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The 26-year-old, who last played for his country in November 2014, switched codes in 2011 when he joined Bath from Rugby League side St Helens.
Bath have not disclosed the length of Eastmond's new deal.
"I don't think there are many clubs with such a positive training and playing environment," he told the club website.
"I feel like we've started a really exciting time at Bath."
Head coach Mike Ford added: "Kyle's part of a young backline here that's already achieved some great things, but there is a lot more to come from them." | Bath and England centre Kyle Eastmond has extended his contract with the Premiership club. | 35292089 |
Olimpija Ljubljana boss Marko Nikolic has been widely reported as calling Blessing Eleke a "black idiot" after he felt the Nigerian, 20, spent too long celebrating an equaliser.
The club initially refused to suspend the Serb, but the Slovenian FA intervened "because of clear racism".
Olimpija are two points clear.
The game against Zavrc ended 1-1 thanks to Eleke's first home goal for Olimpija following his January move from league rivals Gorica.
Nikolic said he made "an emotional reaction" as Eleke's celebration meant there was less time for a winner against and "never intended to offend the player racially".
He added: "I spoke to Eleke and he said he understood my reaction because emotional outbursts of this kind can happen.
"I apologise for my reaction generated solely by the rush to score the winning goal after getting a 92nd-minute equaliser and I thank the team for not judging my act as racist."
Olimpija president Milan Mandaric, the former Leicester and Portsmouth owner, had defended Nikolic, saying: "We have come to the conclusion that the coach did not target the player's race." | The coach of Slovenia's league leaders has been banned for the final seven games of the season for racially abusing one of his own players. | 36049679 |
Known as the 457 visa programme, it allows employers to bring in staff from abroad if they can't find a suitably qualified Australian.
Designed to plug skills shortages, it includes more than 650 eligible occupations.
Among them are childcare centre administrators, tax accountants, architects, anaesthetists, motorcycle mechanics and gas fitters, while the most commonly recruited employees are cooks, cafe managers and marketing specialists.
Having previously said the government would "condense" the list, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has now announced an end to the scheme for workers in the fast food industry, where more than 500 visas have been granted to foreigners in the last five years.
The 457 visa enables an IT worker from, say, Bangalore, along with her or his family, to stay in Australia for up to four years, provided they are sponsored by a business that can't fill the vacancy locally.
Other options, such as permanent migration, are open to tradespeople and professionals.
But it is the popular 457 visa system that is increasingly attracting political heat, and the Labor opposition leader Bill Shorten has warned Australia will "pay the price" if the flow of workers from other countries isn't stemmed.
"It is too easy to import our skills [rather] than train our people. And too many work visas are being used as a low-cost substitute for employing an Australian, not to address a genuine shortage," Mr Shorten cautioned.
Most 457 visas are granted to migrants from India, the UK and China.
Twenty-eight-year-old Renee Zheng from the southern Chinese port city of Guangzhou works for Black Diamondz, a real estate agency in Sydney that sells property to wealthy Chinese buyers.
She told the BBC that she does at times feel guilty that she might be taking a job from an Australian, although it's not only a degree in marketing, but her language and Chinese social media skills that have made her an important part of the team.
"My company needs a specialist to know the Chinese market and the target audience," she says. "It is a little bit hard [for Australian firms] to find people who can speak Mandarin and can also speak Cantonese and English, to use the different digital media, like the WeChat platform in China, and Weibo."
Last year, Australia issued more than 45,000 of these types of permits - a drop of 11% from the year before.
Rossana Gonzalez, from Immigration Experts Australia, a Sydney-based migration agency, told the BBC that what should be a valuable economic tool has become too bureaucratic.
"A lot of our employers… are desperate because they cannot recruit from the Australian labour pool. It is imperative to our economy that the programme remains strong," she says.
"However, in the last 18 months we have seen a drastic decline in requests for 457 visa holders. I believe that a lot of employers are now scared off the process. The processing times are far too long. It leaves a lot of businesses and employees in limbo."
Dan Richardson feels that frustration. He swapped Brighton on England's south coast for Australia's Pacific seaboard when he was recruited on a 457 visa by a company in Sydney in 2011.
He now runs a digital marketing firm here and says that engaging essential staff overseas was increasingly being bogged down by red tape.
"The challenge is finding the right people," he says. "At the moment, in my line of work, it is becoming increasingly difficult to bring people in on 457s for the type of work that we do, so it feels like that is getting a little bit tougher."
Then there are fears that the system has been corrupted by unscrupulous bosses, who ignore their legal obligation to pay market wages, exploit migrants and deny Australians properly paid work.
Tony Sheldon, the head of Australia's Transport Workers Union, believes foreigners need more protection.
"The way to deal with this economic question about the exploitation and replacement of workers is by making sure overseas workers aren't exploited. If you are paid the same rates of pay, the likelihood of bringing in overseas workers is substantially diminished," he says.
Recalibrating such a large system to be more elastic and responsive to economic needs presents challenges. Many industries, including IT, and regional areas rely on 457 visa holders, while ministers will be well aware of voter anxiety about jobs being lost to foreigners.
The programme might not be perfect, but Raja Junankar from the University of New South Wales says that in many cases everybody wins - migrants get to enjoy the perks of a life down under, and Australia fills gaps in its labour force.
"People come from other countries on 457 visas because they get a decent job," he says. "Their conditions of work in Australia typically are better than many other countries from which they come. If you came from India or China, the working conditions in Australia are fantastic compared to that, so people would be in a very good position."
You can hear more on this story on Business Daily on Thursday, 2 March at 08:30 GMT | The alleged exploitation of migrants, and fears that Australians are losing out to foreigners in the jobs market, have prompted the government in Canberra to signal reforms to its temporary overseas workers' scheme. | 39128738 |
Officers believe Drew Morris, 26, may have information about the raid at the victims' home in London Road, Halstead, on 26 April.
The man and woman, aged in their 60s, suffered severe scalding during the burglary.
Two men have been charged in connection with the incident.
Kacey Adams, 33, of Covert Road, Hainault, Ilford and Daniel Wallace, 32 and of no fixed address, are both charged with two counts of grievous bodily harm, two counts of false imprisonment and aggravated burglary.
Both men are currently remanded into custody, pending future court dates, Kent Police said.
A 29-year-old man remains on bail until 15 September.
Anyone with any information about Mr Morris is asked not to approach him but to contact Kent Police by calling 999 or 101. | Police investigating a burglary in which a couple were beaten and doused in boiling water have released details of a man they want to speak to. | 37196651 |
Ouseph, 29, beat Japan's Sho Sasaki 21-15 21-9, dominating throughout in a promising display.
Compatriot Kirsty Gilmour failed to progress in the women's draw however, losing 21-12 17-21 16-21 to Linda Zetchiri of Bulgaria.
"I hope I'm only at the start of my career and I've got many more lessons to learn on the way," she said. | Britain's Rajiv Ouseph won his second pool game to progress to the last 16 of the Rio men's badminton. | 37081269 |
The pile-up occurred between junctions nine and 10 northbound in Oxfordshire on 14 February 2015.
Highways England claimed the move would improve driver safety in the area, though the sensor is not expected to be installed until after April 2017.
Edmund King from the AA said he was "disappointed" it was taking "so long".
He said the stretch of the M40 was described by many as "Fog Alley", and was an area "prone to pretty heavy fog".
Robert Pilott, 65, of Woking, Surrey, died in the accident in which six other people were seriously injured and 55 had minor injuries.
At an inquest after the crash Oxfordshire coroner Darren Salter said he would write to Highways England and ask it to investigate installing fog sensors.
Former paramedic Graham White, from Kingham, said problems with fog there were known many years ago when he started training.
He added: "It was known before the motorway opened, that certainly on the section running down to the River Cherwell and the canal, fog would be a problem.
"We're coming up to that same time of year again… when we're going to get early morning mist and fog over the rivers.
"I would've said get [the sensor] up… the costs of doing it is going to be way less than the costs of someone dying."
A Highways England spokesperson said: "We are committed to installing a new fog sensor on the M40 near junction 9, which we believe will improve driver safety."
The work is expected to take place during the 2017/2018 financial year. | Two years on from a fatal crash involving more than 30 cars on the M40, Highways England has said it will install a fog sensor in the area. | 38966859 |
The top seeds in the short stature category beat Maria Bartusz of Poland and Ireland's Emma Farnham 21-7 21-9.
The pair will face each other on Sunday for the women's SS6 singles title.
They will also contest the SS6 mixed doubles final, Choong playing with Andrew Martin while Bedford will be partnered by Jack Shepherd. | England's Rachel Choong and Rebecca Bedford have won the SS6 women's doubles at the Para-Badminton World Championships at Stoke Mandeville. | 34235475 |
The incident happened at about 17:20 on the eastbound carriageway of the city's West Approach Road.
A female passenger who also fell from the motorbike was uninjured.
The carriageway remains closed while police officers carry out crash investigation work. Police Scotland urged anyone who saw the incident to come forward.
In particular, officers want to trace a male cyclist who was seen in the area, having joined the West Approach Road at its junction with Roseburn Street.
Insp Brenda Sinclair, of Police Scotland, said: "Tragically, a man has passed away as a result of this incident and my thoughts are with his family at this sad time.
"Our inquiries into this matter are ongoing and I ask anyone with relevant information to contact police on 101.
"I also appeal directly to the male cyclist to contact police immediately." | A 52-year-old man has died after crashing his motorbike on an Edinburgh road. | 38112698 |
The woman was walking away from Datchet railway station in Berkshire at about 22:10 BST on Wednesday when she was approached by her attacker.
After trying to ignore his advances, the victim was dragged to a wooded area at the junction of Majors Farm Road, Ditton Road and London Road.
Thames Valley Police said the woman was being supported by specialist officers.
The attacker was described as an Asian man of average build aged about 35 to 45 with receding black hair and a prominent nose.
He was holding an umbrella and wearing a smart jacket or blazer, a dark patterned scarf and blue jeans. | An 18-year-old woman was raped on the side of the road shortly after leaving a village railway station. | 39594049 |
The Reds progressed as a 4-2 win over Hoffenheim in front of a partisan home crowd sealed 6-3 aggregate victory.
Klopp's side will discover who they face in the group stage when the draw is made on Thursday from 17:00 BST.
"We should be there in the Champions League and we are really excited about who we get," said the German.
Liverpool produced a stunning attacking display against their play-off opponents to reach the group stage for only the second time in the past eight seasons.
It also ensured five English sides will compete in the group stage for the first time.
The Reds, who will be placed in pot three, join Premier League rivals Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City and Manchester United in the draw.
None of the English teams can be drawn against each other as sides from the same country are kept separate, although one could face Scottish champions Celtic.
Liverpool could be drawn against holders Real Madrid or Italian champions Juventus from pot one, while pot two contains five-time European champions Barcelona, big-spending French side Paris St-Germain and Klopp's former team Borussia Dortmund.
"There will be a few nice and difficult opponents but no-one, with this atmosphere, wants to get us in the group stage," said Klopp.
"I'm really looking forward to the draw."
Klopp, 50, will return to Europe's leading club competition for the first time since leaving Dortmund in May 2015.
He replaced Brendan Rodgers at Anfield in October 2015, leading Liverpool to the Europa League final in his first season but failing to qualify for Europe for 2016-17.
However, the Reds finished fourth in the Premier League in his first full campaign last season, setting up the two-legged play-off with Hoffenheim.
Asked what reaching the group stage meant, he said: "It is 14 months of the hardest work and it feels amazing.
"The Champions League is a big influence on the transfer market, especially if you do it more often."
Klopp said he had "nothing else to say" about Philippe Coutinho's future amid reports Barcelona were preparing a fourth bid of £136m for the Brazil attacking midfielder.
Liverpool have repeatedly stressed 25-year-old Coutinho, who missed the game through illness, is not for sale. | Liverpool are a team nobody wants to play in the Champions League group stage because of the atmosphere created at Anfield, says manager Jurgen Klopp. | 41031550 |
Bosses said the airport had enjoyed 13 months of growth with a bumper June, which saw a 17% year-on-year increase.
More than 6,000 people travelled from the airport, near Rhoose, to France for the Euro 2016 football championship.
Debra Barber, managing director and chief operating officer, said it had been an "exciting time".
The 28% rise was based on the rolling annual total of travellers from June 2015 to June 2016.
Figures released in April 2015 had shown a fall of 38,000 (3.6%) in 2014.
After announcing the new figures on Tuesday, Roger Lewis, chairman of the airport, said: "Today we are sending a signal to the world that Wales is well and truly open for business."
He said Cardiff Airport was the "fastest growing airport in the UK that regularly handles over one million passengers" and added the operators "intend to expand our activities".
The Vale of Glamorgan airport provided the stage for the Welsh football team's departure for Euro 2016 on 4 June, with Chris Coleman's side receiving a hero's welcome on their return on Friday, after reaching the semi-finals.
Cardiff Airport was bought by the Welsh Government for £52m in March 2013 and operated at arms' length since then.
The move was later criticised by opponents after a KPMG report suggested the government had paid double an initial valuation.
Mr Lewis told BBC Radio Wales he had started "initial discussions" with potential private sector investors, but any sale would still be some years away.
He also said a target of two million passengers a year was within reach. | The number of passengers flying from Cardiff Airport has grown by 28% to 1.3 million in the last year, according to new figures. | 36771315 |
Piutau suffered delayed onset concussion after last week's win over Ospreys while van der Merwe sustained an ankle ligament injury in the game.
Tommy Bowe provides a boost with the Ireland wing making his first start in six months following a knee injury.
Connacht have made six changes from the side that beat Edinburgh last Saturday.
Cian Kelleher will start on the left wing in place of the injured Matt Healy.
Peter Robb and Kieran Marmion are both sidelined with injuries so inside centre Craig Ronaldson will make his first appearance of the season following his return from long-term injury while Caolin Blade starts at scrum-half.
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Up front, hooker Dave Heffernan has been handed his first start of the campaign in the absence of the injured Tom McCartney.
With Denis Buckley ruled out, returning Ireland international Finlay Bealham comes in at loosehead.
Andrew Browne, who returns from injury, is handed his first appearance of the season and partners Ultan Dillane in the second row.
Ulster scrum-half Ruan Pienaar is rested by director of rugby Les Kiss while Callum Black comes into the front row.
Robbie Diack and Peter Browne form a new second-row partnership and Clive Ross replaces Sean Reidy at openside flanker.
Defending champions Connacht, who have only earned one win over Ulster in 20 attempts, are ninth in the standings.
Connacht: T O'Halloran; N Adeolokun, B Aki, C Ronaldson, C Kelleher; J Carty, C Blade; F Bealham, D Heffernan, C Carey, U Dillane, A Browne, E McKeon, J Heenan, J Muldoon (capt).
Replacements: S Delahunt, R Loughney, JP Cooney, L Stevenson, J Connolly, S Kerins, S O'Leary, S Ili.
Ulster: J Payne (capt); T Bowe, L Ludik, D Cave, C Gilroy; P Jackson, P Marshall; C Black, R Best, R Ah You, R Diack, P Browne, I Henderson, C Ross, R Wilson.
Replacements: R Herring, A Warwick, R Kane, K Treadwell, S Reidy, D Shanahan, B Herron, R Lyttle. | Pro12 leaders Ulster will be without injured pair Charles Piutau and Franco van der Merwe for the derby against Connacht in Galway on Friday night. | 37574003 |
The raid happened at Scotmid in North Deeside Road, in the Aberdeen suburb of Bieldside, in the early hours.
Police are already looking into four similar incidents in the north east of Scotland.
Bank cash machines in New Deer, Oldmeldrum, Inverurie and Dyce have been targeted.
Police have not commented on reports explosives may have been involved in some of the incidents.
A police spokeswoman said: "Police were called to an incident at Scotmid on North Deeside Road at around 4am today.
"The premises has been broken into and inquiries are ongoing."
A Scotmid spokesman told BBC Scotland an alarm had been set off at the front of the shop, and the safe at the back of the ATM had been targeted.
He said: "Thankfully no staff members were involved."
The spokesman said it was being investigated whether any money was stolen, but no other stock appeared to have been taken.
It was hoped the shop would reopen when police inquiries were complete. | A shop break-in involving a cash machine - following a spate of similar incidents at banks in recent days - is being investigated by police. | 24157608 |
The Scottish Premiership club announced their intention to redevelop the ground in December.
And now they have submitted a pre-application notice to Edinburgh City Council before an eight-week public consultation process.
The plans include space for a club shop and ticket office.
The current main stand has 4720 seats and has changed little since it was built in 1914, with some views obstructed by pillars.
The three other stands at Tynecastle were constructed between 1994 and 1997. | Hearts aim to build a new 7,000-seat main stand at Tynecastle, which will increase the stadium capacity to over 20,000. | 35874609 |
Several previous ceasefires have collapsed, and new clashes have already broken out in several parts of the country amidst sharp differences in interpretation of the latest agreement by the Syrian opposition and the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
But not all past ceasefire attempts have failed. And this time dramatic shifts in Turkish policy towards the Syrian conflict may alter everything.
Political investment by major external powers is clearly critical for any ceasefire deal to succeed.
The "cessation of hostilities" that was brokered by the US and Russia in February 2016 produced a major drop in levels of violence in all regime- and opposition-held areas for some two months.
Its eventual collapse was likely, but not inevitable.
Other, more localized ceasefires were mediated by Iran in the city of Homs in May 2014 and January 2015 and by Iran and Turkey in the large towns of Zabadani, Foah and Kefraya in September 2015.
These were flawed and highly coercive arrangements that had to be renegotiated repeatedly, but they allowed the evacuation of fighters and wounded and some supply of humanitarian assistance.
Russia and Turkey appear sufficiently invested politically to make the latest ceasefire work.
But in seeking to encompass all parts of Syria not under Islamic State control, they are hostage to the two parties that have the least stake in a general truce: the Assad regime and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra until ending its formal affiliation to Al-Qaeda last July.
Their gradual military escalation and counter-escalation was the principal reason for the ultimate collapse of the February cessation of hostilities agreement.
Already, the Assad regime has claimed that the latest ceasefire does not include Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. But opposition spokesmen say the opposite: that only areas under IS control are excluded.
The regime has lost no time since the ceasefire went into effect to mount fresh air strikes on areas north of the city of Hama known to be strongholds of Jabhat Fateh al-Sham.
The latter organisation has been striving for much of 2016 to become the dominant opposition force in the northwest of the country, and so there is a real risk that it will use the resumption of fighting as a means of splitting or radicalizing other rebel groups and bringing them under its fold.
Russia has sought to contain this issue by isolating Jabhat Fateh al-Sham from the rest of the armed opposition. Its announcement that the Islamist Ahrar al-Sham rebel movement, which it had previously designated as a terrorist jihadi group, had signed up to the ceasefire is a measure of how determined it is to make the agreement hold.
But the critical factor is the shift in Turkey's policy on Syria.
Previously, other armed opposition groups would have abandoned the ceasefire if Jabhat Fateh al-Sham came under attack.
Their dependence on its combat expertise and planning and command skills and the extensive intermingling of opposition fighters and areas of control in northwest Syria meant that they could not afford to stand by while it was targeted.
But with Turkey now coordinating closely with Russia and pushing for a ceasefire, the opposition can no longer afford not to stand by.
Turkish policy has been evolving at a quickening pace. The decision to lean on the opposition to allow thousands of its fighters to abandon the effort to lift the regime siege of eastern Aleppo in order to spearhead a Turkish-backed push against Kurdish-held areas to the north last August ensured the fall of one of the most important opposition strongholds in Syria four months later.
Remaining opposition forces in the northwest have significant stockpiles of weapons and ammunition, but are wholly dependent on Turkey for further military resupply and for the flow of trade and international humanitarian assistance.
Turkey has not abandoned the opposition completely, but it is clearly working to a new set of policy assumptions and objectives in Syria. That these include a strategic decision to abandon the effort to force Assad from power is already plain.
Talk of setting up a safe zone in northern Syria has never been credible, despite considerable bluster. Moscow insiders claim Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also abandoning his categorical rejection of significant Kurdish autonomy in northern Syria, so long as he can block the same thing in Turkey.
With President-Elect Donald Trump about to take office in the US, there is little reason for Turkey to expect to counter-balance Russian policy proposals on Syria.
These calculations prompted Turkey to accept the fate of Aleppo - which it had long presented as a "red line" that the Assad regime should not cross - and then to broker a ceasefire with Russia immediately after its fall.
The alacrity with which the main political and military opposition groupings have announced their support for the latest ceasefire is the surest measure of the extent of the shift in Turkey's policy and of its determination to enforce compliance, whatever the provocations from the government side.
The real question, then, is not whether the latest ceasefire will hold, but how far Turkey will go in making the Syrian opposition accept what comes next, should the peace talks jointly sponsored by Russia and Turkey take place within the next month as officially scheduled.
Indeed, even if the ceasefire fails or if the talks are unsuccessful - or not held at all - Turkish policy towards Syria is set on a new path.
For the Syrian opposition, in particular, what comes next is more of a threat than a challenge. | If the ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey holds, it will be welcomed by most people in Syria - but the odds seem stacked against it. | 38473702 |
Director Susanne Bier told Broadcast the script was "slowly being developed" for the follow-up.
Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie and Olivia Colman starred in the BBC One thriller, which was a hit last year. Its three stars won Golden Globes, while Danish director Bier won an Emmy Award.
The series was based on John le Carre's 1993 novel - but the book does not have a sequel.
Bier told Broadcast: "We all very much want to do a season two, but the thing we absolutely do not want is to do something that does not live up to the level of season one.
"That would be a really bad idea."
She was discussing the drama at Keshet's INTV conference in Jerusalem on Tuesday.
More than nine million people watched the finale of The Night Manager on the BBC last March.
Hiddleston played enigmatic Jonathan Pine, who goes undercover to expose billionaire arms dealer Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie). Hiddleston has said he would consider making a second series.
Meanwhile, Le Carre announced on Tuesday that fictional spy George Smiley will return in a new novel - the character's first appearance in print for 25 years. A Legacy of Spies will be published in September.
The BBC is also adapting le Carre's The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, in which Smiley also appears, which will air next year.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. | A second series of award-winning drama The Night Manager is in development. | 39197012 |
The frenzy started two years ago, when she was still at the state department.
Her new book Hard Choices, out on Tuesday, focuses on her years as secretary of state, but only adds to the speculation and fever about a potential run.
In a downtown Chicago bar, the Ready for Hillary movement is in full swing.
With music and drinks, the political group known as a Super Pac (for political action committee) is urging Mrs Clinton to run for president in 2016.
And across the country, they're laying the groundwork for her candidacy. (Mrs Clinton is not formally affiliated with the group).
They're fundraising too. For $20.16 (hint, hint) supporters can mingle with politicians and senators. They have no doubt she will run and some are convinced she will win too, becoming America's first woman president.
But this is a presidential campaign without a presidential candidate at the moment.
And while everybody waits for Ms Clinton to make up her mind, no other Democratic contenders are really making a serious pitch for the party nomination yet, leading to criticism that she's frozen the field.
In her first interview on ABC News to publicise the book, Ms Clinton said other candidates should do what feels right for them, adding that she would make a decision "when it feels right for me to decide".
But in the Democratic Party, few seem to be able to fathom she won't run.
"I don't know that there is an alternative scenario that I've even thought about," said Illinois' Democratic Senator Dick Durbin at the Chicago event.
"We want her to know she is our first choice, we hope she says yes and we are ready to go. Hillary is our best standard bearer for the race."
Mrs Clinton's book tour is seen as a not-so-subtle pre-campaign effort to test the waters and reconnect with voters after her years at the state department, out of domestic politics.
Even Republicans admit Mrs Clinton will be a formidable candidate and opponent. The party is already focused almost full-time on tearing her record as secretary of state apart, but also getting ready to go years back in search of anything that hasn't been uncovered yet or that could be seen in a different light.
Sean Spicer, the communications director at the Republican National Committee, said there were still a lot of unknowns about Mrs Clinton.
"We need to do everything we can to make people understand that there is another side, that this book isn't just about Hard Choices, it was about bad choices," said Mr Spicer.
"And we want to make sure that as she's out there test-driving her campaign, that we tell people there is another side... a host of policy failures."
The former first lady has never been this popular. Her time out of politics worked to her benefit as she remained out of the fray, though the poll ratings have dipped since she left the state department.
But her critics and detractors are still out there, perhaps even more virulent than in 2008 because her chances of winning if she does run are higher than last time.
Some of the attacks, about her health and whether she suffered brain damage following a concussion in 2012, for example, are a precursor to the vitriol ahead.
Few if any other candidate in American history seemed to inspire such anger and the cottage industry to go along.
"The reality is that Hillary Clinton is part of the liberal Clinton machine. There are three words there - liberal, Clinton, machine - and that scares a lot of people in America," said Garret Marquis, the national spokesperson for the Stop Hillary campaign.
"And it's something that's been a divisive force for politics for 20 years in America," he added. "Hillary Clinton is a continuation of Barack Obama, she's a continuation of these liberal policies that are, frankly, destructing America. They are destructing America at home and abroad."
The reasons for Mrs Clinton to run are plentiful in the eyes of her supporters, from becoming the first woman president to pursuing domestic agenda issues that are dear to her or putting forward her vision for American global leadership.
But the ugliness of the political attacks and the gruelling schedule of the campaign will weigh on her decision-making process.
"When people ask me if I want her to run, I say yes as an American, I want her to run. But as someone who knows her and cares about her, I'm not so sure," said Lissa Muscatine, a long-time friend and former speechwriter who now runs an independent bookstore in Washington.
"She hasn't even announced that she's running and we've already seen the attacks start on the other side," she added. "And they're clearly going to be nasty and they're clearly going to get worse and she has an extremely thick skin. But how much of this do you want to subject yourself to?"
For now Mrs Clinton is continuing with her soft campaign, speaking at events across the country, giving interviews about her book, and dodging questions about a presidential run.
She is clearly revelling in the attention and as her book tour goes on and the next mid-term elections kick off, she will become more and more visible on the national stage.
Her challenge will be to pace herself and maintain the momentum until she's ready to make an announcement. | More than two years remain until the next presidential election, but Hillary Clinton cannot escape the question about whether she will run. | 27773392 |
The Scots begin their 2018 campaign in Malta on Sunday before hosting Lithuania at Hampden Park on 8 October.
With trips to Slovakia and England to come, a strong start is imperative, Thompson said.
"Scotland are historically not great starters, but we need to win both these first two games," he told BBC Scotland.
"We need six points going into a double header against Slovakia - who showed at the Euros they are a very good side - and then England.
"There is a possibility we might get nothing from those two games, so we have to take maximum points from these first two games."
England, 11th in Fifa's world rankings, and Slovakia (24th) are the highest-ranked teams, while Scotland (51), Slovenia (59), Lithuania (125) and Malta (176) make up Group F.
"This game in Malta is one we should definitely win, and have to win, whether Malta are hard to beat or not," says Thompson, who won 16 Scotland caps from 2002 to 2004.
"It is going to be tough, I don't think we will see many goals, but I'm hoping Scotland can find a way to break them down."
The former Dundee United, Rangers and St Mirren striker believes manager Gordon Strachan must give youth its head in this campaign.
Three 21-year-olds - Hibernian midfielder John McGinn, Rangers forward Barrie McKay, 21 and Hearts right-back Callum Paterson - plus 19-year-old winger Oliver Burke - now the most expensive Scottish player ever - could feature against Malta on Sunday.
"Hopefully some of the younger players will get an opportunity and bring a freshness," Thompson said. "I would like to see John McGinn in midfield, now Scott Brown has stepped down. I think that is a void McGinn can step into.
"Oliver Burke can bring an excitement and speed and directness to the team. You have also got Callum Paterson at right-back.
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"It is the start of a new campaign and there has to be a freshness and something different. The last campaign was ultimately a failure so can you run with the same squad and same players if it wasn't successful?
"I would be bringing in fresh blood and looking to give the supporters something to be positive about. Oliver Burke is certainly a player who can do that, as is John McGinn."
One problem for Strachan, Thompson believes, is the recent inactivity of some players who would normally be considered frontline options.
Regular centre-back pairing Russell Martin (one game for Norwich) and Grant Hanley (two for Newcastle) and full-back Alan Hutton (two for Aston Villa) have featured sparingly for their clubs this season, as have midfielders James Morrison (two for West Brom) and Ikechi Anya (two for Watford before moving to Derby this week).
"Quite a number of Gordon's starting 11 have hardly played any football this season and I think that is going to be a big problem," Thompson added.
"I don't go into this campaign with any great expectations. I approach it with hope, but it is going to be a very difficult group to get out of." | Scotland must win their first two World Cup qualifiers if they are to end their long wait for a major tournament, ex-striker Steven Thompson says. | 37270365 |
The blogger, who uses the pseudonym Jean Hatchet, said: "He was convicted of rape and he still doesn't acknowledge it was rape. And that's the incredibly dangerous message."
Her petition to push the club to refuse to sign Evans has gained more than 45,000 supporters since Sunday.
Oldham are still mulling over a deal.
Former Wales international striker Evans, who was found guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman at a Rhyl, Denbighshire hotel in 2011, was freed from prison in October.
The now 26-year-old served half of his five-year sentence and is currently on licence under the supervision of the probation service.
Speaking to BBC News, the blogger said: "Crucially he hasn't served his time, he's served half of his time, he's still on licence.
"He's also not, as far as I can see, reformed or rehabilitated - he doesn't acknowledge his crime. And that's the key thing here - he doesn't know what rape is."
She added: "It's time that the Football Association [and] the Professional Footballers' Association realised that accepting players back into a high-profile role that have committed such an atrocious crime is wrong. They've got to take a stand on this."
After his release from prison, Jean Hatchet also started a petition - which gained about 169,000 supporters - designed to dissuade Evans's former club Sheffield United from reinstating him.
He was offered the use of their training facilities before the League One side backtracked amid heavy criticism from supporters and club patrons including Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill.
Evans maintains his innocence, and an investigation into his conviction by the Criminal Cases Review Commission is under way. | A woman who started a petition against convicted rapist Ched Evans's proposed move to Oldham Athletic says the player "doesn't know what rape is". | 30696663 |
The defender, 33, rejoined the Easter Road club at the weekend, 10 years after leaving for Rangers.
And Whittaker says the side promoted from the Championship in April are determined to pip the likes of Aberdeen and Rangers to a second-place finish.
"I think (second place) is something we need to aim for, something we need to believe we can achieve," he said.
Celtic ran away with the Premiership title last term with Aberdeen second and Rangers third.
And Whittaker reckons the recent positivity at Hibs can help them finish best of the rest this season, with Celtic expected to lift the title again.
"It's a squad that is on the up," he added. "They have had two successful seasons and there is a good feeling about the club.
"The manager (Neil Lennon) has come in and demanded high standards so we will look to carry that on this season.
"We'll be expecting the best from ourselves and hopefully we'll get the best possible outcome that we can.
"There's no chance the manager will let us slack and we'll keep trying to produce."
Whittaker, who signed a three year deal with Hibs after leaving Norwich, the club he joined from Rangers in 2012, knows he cannot take his place in the side for granted.
As well as securing the Championship title under Lennon last season, Hibs also ended their 114-year wait for Scottish Cup glory in season 2015-16 under Alan Stubbs.
And David Gray, who scored the winning goal in the cup final against Rangers, just happens to play in Whittaker's favoured right-back slot.
"Depending on the opposition, the manager knows I can fill in along the back four or in midfield if needs be," the versatile former Scotland player said.
"So we will just wait and see what that brings. I'm just happy to be back playing and wherever that is I'll get on with it."
Whittaker quit Rangers following the Ibrox outfit's financial collapse in 2012.
Like team-mate Steven Naismith, he refused to transfer his contract over to the new company set up by Charles Green - sparking anger among Rangers fans.
Hibs visit Ibrox on 12 August and while Whittaker is unsure how he will be received, he is sure about what he hopes to take from the game.
"It was a difficult time for everyone," Whittaker said of his decision to leave Rangers. "A lot of pressure got put on the players when they were not to blame.
"We were trying to take care of business on the park with everything else going on outside, so it was difficult.
"But it was what it was and we all had to continue on as we chose.
"I don't know what kind of reception I'll get when I go back.
"I enjoyed my time there, I've got a lot of fantastic memories. It's a great place to go play your football and it's a game we at Hibs will look forward to and hopefully get the three points." | New signing Steven Whittaker says Hibernian are targeting second spot on their return to Scotland's top-flight. | 40636812 |
There has been concern over women in the Northern Isles having to travel to Aberdeen for examinations.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson announced NHS Education Scotland (NES) would receive £76,000.
This will be used to review training and fund up to 50 places for doctors to complete the accredited course.
Speaking in Shetland, Mr Matheson said: "It is vitally important that we do all we can to ensure that the process of gathering evidence of rape or sexual assault doesn't cause more trauma to victims.
"I am pleased to hear first-hand the actions that NHS Shetland, Rape Crisis Scotland and others are taking to address a lack of provision in island communities.
"Making this training more accessible and this new funding for doctors to become qualified to carry out these examinations will mean that victims should no longer have to travel to the mainland for evidence to be taken."
Earlier this year, an independent watchdog strongly criticised the way victims of sexual assaults in Scotland were treated by police and the NHS.
The inspector of constabulary (HMICS) said services offered to some victims were "unacceptable" and lagged behind the rest of the UK, with many victims being examined in police stations. | Funding to allow doctors in Shetland to pilot training for forensic medical examination services for victims of sexual crime has been announced. | 40959781 |
"Russia," he said, "has been presented as well-nigh the biggest threat to Nato, or to Europe, America and other countries.
"I am sometimes confused," he went on. "Is this 2016 or 1962?"
Just a few days earlier in Washington, the director of the US National Intelligence Agency, James Clapper, was giving evidence on "worldwide threats" to the influential Senate Armed Services Committee.
"I think the Russians fundamentally are paranoid about Nato," he said. "We could be into another Cold War-like spiral here."
So from both the Russians and the Americans come claims of a renewed cold war. Tensions between Russia and the West are certainly bad. The Russian annexation of Crimea initiated the chill which turned frosty over Ukraine and is now getting steadily worse due to very different perceptions as to what should be done about the human catastrophe in Syria.
But in truth things were not terribly good even before the Crimea crisis. Russia opposed Nato expansion and US plans for missile defence. It argued for an entirely new European security order that went beyond institutions like Nato that were simply products of the Cold War.
Of course for a time in the wake of the collapse of communism there was effectively no Russian foreign policy and not much of a military to back it up.
I remember vividly visiting the Black Sea fleet's base in Sevastopol in 1991. In a showy display of sea power, Soviet warships bristling with weapons were tied up alongside the dock.
But venture into the base - amazingly nobody could be bothered to stop me wandering around - and you found drums leaking chemicals, rubbish and chaos everywhere, and, as if to symbolise the Soviet collapse, a ship the size of a minesweeper simply sunk at its moorings.
Now Russia is back. It is determined to defend its interests in both the near-abroad - Ukraine - and farther afield in Syria.
Russia is rearming. Its Syrian intervention has become a showcase and proving ground for some of its most modern weapons systems. And its rhetoric has stepped up several notches too with, particularly alarming to the West, rather loose talk about the potential use of nuclear weapons.
So it all looks a little like a new cold war, but is it really one? Nobody should underestimate the depth of the differences between Russia and the West nor the potential danger to which they may lead.
But hindsight is a funny thing. Commentators and politicians alike prefer the familiar. If something can be referenced to a similar situation in the past it appears easier to understand and the policy implications seemingly suggest themselves.
In hindsight, we have a rather benign and unrealistic view of what the real Cold War was about. Its edge has simply gone.
Think back to Winston Churchill's famous speech at Fulton, Missouri in March 1946. In it he coined a phrase that characterised the deep division of Europe. "From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain," he said, "has descended across the continent."
That "iron curtain" and the Soviet Union have both gone. This new "cold war" is not a struggle of two great ideological blocs vying with each other for global dominance. It is largely a weakened Russia seeking to stand its ground and defend its interests, as it sees them, in a hostile world.
Where is the threat of world war leading to nuclear annihilation?
Russia, it is said, potentially threatens the Baltic Republics. Nato has got itself in a spin over a supposedly new kind of warfare seemingly practised by the Russians - so-called hybrid war - blurring the boundaries between peace and conflict.
But there are no huge Russian tank armies waiting to roll westwards towards France. There are no Warsaw Pact armies to act as Moscow's allies. And there is probably nothing in the threat that does exist that some prudent reinforcement by Nato (currently under way) cannot forestall.
We forget too that the Soviet Union was ultimately beaten economically. It was a hollow force. It could not sustain the panoply of a global superpower.
Well today's Russia does not even start in the superpower stakes. It is a regional player at best with an economy that is too dependent upon tumbling oil prices. Russia is in many ways a crisis waiting to happen. Indices of public health, mortality and so on are depressingly poor.
It is true that Russia - through its satellite channels, its funding of curious political forces in the West and so on - seeks to create a counter-culture to the prevailing Western view. In this it has had modest success.
But this is a pale shadow of the propaganda activities of Soviet days, nor are there the legions of the wrong but well-meaning supporters who saw in Soviet communism the salvation of mankind.
That is not to discount current tensions. Certainly Mr Putin could over-reach. It is not impossible to imagine Nato and Russia in some peripheral sense confronting each other, say if Turkey went toe-to-toe with Moscow in Syria.
But for now at least this falls short of the potential Armageddon that was, for a significant part of the Cold War, seen as an all-pervading threat.
If anything this is just a throwback, a reprise of the Cold War in a minor vein. The cast is different. Many have changed sides. The context is different. The geographical scope of the rivalry is much reduced and the relative power of the players has also changed.
It is simply not the Cold War of old, though, one must admit, in some ways it still seems strangely familiar. | Speaking at the annual Munich Security Conference at the weekend, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev claimed that Europe was "rapidly rolling into a period of a new cold war". | 35578716 |
Gilmore is a former top NI youth sailor from Strangford Lough Yacht Club.
McGovern partnered fellow Northern Ireland sailor Ryan Seaton in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.
Seaton and his new partner Séafra Guilfoyle will compete against McGovern and Gilmore to represent Ireland in the 49er class in Tokyo.
Bangor man McGovern and Seaton ended their 49er partnership after finishing 10th at the Rio Olympics last summer.
"The new partnership has added a new freshness to the sport I love," said McGovern.
"Our 2017 goal is to get a good grip on the boat and put in a strong performance at the World Championships at the end of August to give us a platform to move on to and qualify the nation at the subsequent Worlds in 2018." | Two-time Olympian Matt McGovern will bid to make the 2020 Games in Tokyo alongside new sailing partner Robbie Gilmore. | 38801308 |
The Swedish striker headed home Wayne Rooney's cross from the right.
He scored from the penalty spot after Jordy Clasie tripped Luke Shaw, his third goal in two league games since joining on a free transfer this summer.
Paul Pogba, United's £89m world-record signing from Juventus, made an energetic full league debut.
The victory was United's second in succession in the league this season after their opening-day win at Bournemouth.
Ibrahimovic's force of personality could be every bit as much of an asset as his ability to United this season.
The 34-year-old, signed on a free transfer after leaving Paris St-Germain at the end of last season, marked his home debut with a confident display that brought warm appreciation from the home supporters.
Having scored in the Community Shield win over Leicester City and United's Premier League weekend victory at Bournemouth, Ibrahimovic went into the match in fine form.
The Swede's movement was significant in a United attack that looks far livelier than it did under the management of Louis van Gaal last season.
Intriguingly, Ibrahimovic appears to have bumped captain Wayne Rooney from penalty duties. He was quick to take on the responsibility when United were awarded a spot-kick; his finish was his 25th successful conversion from his last 28 attempts.
Pogba's return to Old Trafford, four years after he left for Juventus without having made a Premier League start, has been eagerly awaited by United fans this summer.
His second debut for the club was delayed because of a suspension held over from his time in Italy but, with that served, manager Jose Mourinho tried to warn supporters against expecting too much too soon.
The midfielder is still getting back to full speed, having been given a break after helping France reach the Euro 2016 final - and that showed in his performance.
However, there was plenty of evidence to suggest that Mourinho was right to spend so much money to bring Pogba back to Old Trafford. His display was a positive one, with more touches and more passes in the opposing half than any team-mate.
One surging run towards the end of the first half left four Southampton players in his wake, and demonstrated his power, while a second-half header from a Juan Mata corner flew just over the bar.
He did fade as the match reached its later stages - undoubtedly a result of the fact that he has not had a proper pre-season - but the Frenchman summoned up enough energy to blast a shot wide at the end of a late counter-attack.
A goal would have rounded off Pogba's night perfectly, but he was happy enough. For him, victory was the perfect way to celebrate the 26th birthday of his brother, Partick Thistle striker Mathias Pogba.
Another summer has brought yet another squad overhaul at Southampton, with Sadio Mane, Graziano Pelle and Victor Wanyama all leaving the club, along with manager Ronald Koeman.
Claude Puel, Koeman's replacement, is still finding his feet in the Premier League, and the same could be said of the reshaped squad he leads.
The visitors had their moments at Old Trafford, with Shane Long going close and Dusan Tadic seeing a goal ruled out for a push moments before Ibrahimovic's decisive second.
Losing midfielder Oriol Romeu to an early injury did not help them, but having won 1-0 on each of their last two visits to Old Trafford, they rarely looked likely to extend that run.
Ibrahimovic was the star of Ligue 1 last season, scoring 50 goals in all competitions last season as Paris St-Germain completed a domestic clean sweep.
His self-confidence has never been in question, but there were doubts as to whether he could be prolific in the Premier League at the age of 34.
However, his fine start at Old Trafford has given United fans plenty of reason for cheer.
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, speaking to BBC Sport: "It's a great feeling. I'm very happy. It's my brother's birthday so I am happier.
"I was relaxed, no nerves, I played my game. The first ball of the match, I lost it, but got used to it. After that, I felt better.
"I came here to win, that is what I always wanted. It's a top club. We need to get used to winning and carry on like this. We dream big. United are a big club, I know we will do big things this season."
Southampton striker Shane Long: "They are a good side, but I thought we played well. We passed the ball around well, but it took us a bit of time to get going again.
"We need to change that. We need to be right at teams from the start. We'll learn from this. We caused them some problems and we can look at some positives."
Manchester United have a Saturday trip to Hull City on 27 August, with Southampton at home to Sunderland on the same day.
Match ends, Manchester United 2, Southampton 0.
Second Half ends, Manchester United 2, Southampton 0.
Attempt missed. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Henrikh Mkhitaryan following a fast break.
Charlie Austin (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Paul Pogba (Manchester United).
Substitution, Manchester United. Chris Smalling replaces Wayne Rooney.
Attempt missed. Dusan Tadic (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.
Attempt missed. Dusan Tadic (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Matt Targett.
Substitution, Southampton. Jay Rodriguez replaces Shane Long.
Matt Targett (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United).
Substitution, Manchester United. Ander Herrera replaces Anthony Martial.
Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg with a cross following a set piece situation.
Shane Long (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Eric Bailly (Manchester United).
Foul by Dusan Tadic (Southampton).
Antonio Valencia (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Luke Shaw.
Substitution, Manchester United. Henrikh Mkhitaryan replaces Juan Mata.
Attempt missed. Shane Long (Southampton) header from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Cédric Soares with a cross.
Foul by Virgil van Dijk (Southampton).
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Manchester United. Zlatan Ibrahimovic tries a through ball, but Wayne Rooney is caught offside.
Charlie Austin (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United).
Substitution, Southampton. Charlie Austin replaces Steven Davis.
Attempt missed. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Attempt blocked. Anthony Martial (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Wayne Rooney.
Attempt missed. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Juan Mata with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Matt Targett.
Attempt missed. Jordy Clasie (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Nathan Redmond.
Foul by Dusan Tadic (Southampton).
Antonio Valencia (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt missed. Nathan Redmond (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Steven Davis with a headed pass.
José Fonte (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United).
Attempt blocked. Shane Long (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt Targett.
Goal! Manchester United 2, Southampton 0. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Penalty conceded by Jordy Clasie (Southampton) after a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty Manchester United. Luke Shaw draws a foul in the penalty area. | Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice on his home debut as Manchester United claimed a comfortable Premier League win over Southampton at Old Trafford. | 37055384 |
Forster, 23, had a year remaining on his contract with Hibernian, who won the Scottish Championship in 2016-17.
However, the former Plymouth loanee has left Easter Road in search of regular first-team football.
"It's great to have a player with as much experience as him at the age of only 23," manager Gary Johnson told the club website.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | Defender Jordon Forster has joined English League Two side Cheltenham from Scottish Premiership club Hibernian. | 40481977 |
Unite Against Fascism Scotland said about 400 protestors turned out for a rally to counter a "White Pride" event in Hunters Square and on the Royal Mile, attended by about 40 people.
Police Scotland said three of the arrests related to religiously-aggravated offences, with the others for minor public order offences.
A spokesman said the protests "on the whole passed off peacefully". | Ten people have been arrested after a fascist demonstration in Edinburgh. | 39393695 |
The development includes three wind farms and up to 332 turbines and will be 64 miles off Hornsea.
Energy Secretary Ed Davey said the Hornsea Project One scheme would create 2,500 local jobs and bring millions of pounds into the UK economy.
It is expected to be start operating by the year 2020.
The project is a joint venture between Mainstream Renewable Power, Siemens Project Ventures GmBH and Dong Energy.
Consent for the scheme has been given on the condition that it has an employment and skills plan approved by North Lincolnshire Council, including local advertising of jobs and supply chain opportunities.
Friends of the Earth campaigner Simon Bowens said it was "fantastic news for the blossoming offshore wind industry on the North Sea coast".
"The UK could be an offshore wind powerhouse, but the Government must show much greater ambition if we are to reap the full benefits and continue to drive down costs in the years ahead." | Plans for a huge offshore wind farm project off the East Yorkshire coast has been given the green light by the government. | 30420138 |
Guidelines approved by President Barack Obama will also provide air support for Afghan missions, US media report.
The US force in the country is be cut to 9,800 by the end of 2014.
Previous plans had limited their role to training Afghan troops and tackling the remnants of al-Qaeda.
The military will now be allowed to fight the Taliban if the militants "directly threaten the United States and coalition forces" or provide "direct support to al-Qaeda", an unnamed official told US media.
The Associated Press and the New York Times say the change has been quietly decided by President Obama in recent weeks.
In September the new Afghan government, led by President Ashraf Ghani, signed a security deal allowing US troops to remain in the country beyond 2014.
Under a separate agreement, a number of Nato members - including Germany, Turkey, Italy - will contribute to a 12,000-strong force that will train and assist Afghanistan's security forces.
The US deployment is due to be reduced by half again by the end of 2015.
Nato - which had about 50,000 troops in Afghanistan in early 2014, mostly from the US - has been steadily withdrawing them, handing over control to local security forces.
Mr Ghani was sworn in as Afghanistan's new president in September, replacing Hamid Karzai in the country's first democratic transfer of power.
Mr Karzai had refused to sign the security deal, in part because the US sought immunity from prosecution for its forces. | US troops in Afghanistan will be allowed to target Taliban fighters in Afghanistan from 2015, US officials say, expanding their role after the end of major combat operations. | 30157710 |
£800m has been spent annually on free places for three-year-olds since 1998.
Researchers say the main benefit has been to make childcare cheaper for families with young children.
They conclude that while the policy may have encouraged more mothers to return to work, there was no long term effect on children's academic development.
The studies were carried out by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) and Essex and Sussex universities.
Since 1998 all three and four-year-olds in England have been entitled to 12.5 free hours of early education a week.
This has now been expanded to cover disadvantaged two-year-olds, and raised to 15 hours a week.
The hope was to achieve a "double-dividend" - improving children's school readiness and their mothers' employment prospects, the researchers said.
The studies show that between 1999 and 2007, there was a 50% increase in the proportion of three-year-olds in England benefiting from a free nursery place, rising from 37% to 88%.
The policy lead to a 2% increase in the proportion of mothers in paid work, the researchers found.
Among those who did not also have another child under the age of three, there was a 3% increase in the numbers in jobs.
The studies go on to say that overall, the increase in free places improved the results of English children at the age of five by two percentage points on average.
Although there is modest evidence that free places had more impact on poorer children and those learning English as a second language, there is no evidence that it helped disadvantaged youngsters to catch up, the researchers conclude,
They also found no evidence of educational benefit at the age of seven and at 11.
Jo Blanden, of Surrey University, said that "on the face of it", the results seemed to question whether the policy had proved to be value for money.
"More than 80% of the children taking up free places would probably have gone to nursery anyway," she said. "And children's test scores do not seem to be any higher in the longer term as a result of the policy."
"In fact the main benefit of the policy seems to have been to make childcare cheaper for families with three-year-olds.
"It is tempting to say that the money would have been better spent on the poorest children.
"However, the policy's universalism may have benefits if it encourages greater take-up of provision among children from more disadvantaged backgrounds or if it mixes children from different backgrounds in the same early education settings." | Sending three year old children to nursery may not make any difference to their academic results later on, suggest researchers. | 32118074 |
The eligibility rules will be broadly the same as for a general election, rather than local or European votes.
Irish citizens in the UK are eligible. Residents from two other EU nations, Malta and Cyprus, also qualify, along with others from the Commonwealth.
The SNP's Humza Yousaf said excluding other EU citizens risked entering "into the rhetoric of division".
He urged the government to rethink eligibility rules.
David Cameron is to hold talks with the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at Chequers later.
Legislation for the voting eligibility of the referendum - which the Conservatives have promised to hold before the end of 2017 - will be introduced to Parliament via the EU Referendum Bill on Thursday.
The Bill will make clear that the franchise will follow broadly the same rules as the general election:
A Number 10 source said: "No Brit under the age of 58 has had their say on the UK's membership of the European Union.
"It is time to put this right and to give people the choice - in or out.
"This is a big decision for our country, one that is about the future of the United Kingdom. That's why we think it's important that it is British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens that are the ones who get to decide."
Eurosceptics have previously claimed that as many as 1.5 million people from other EU countries could have been allowed to vote in the referendum, if it had taken place under the rules for local government elections.
I'm sure you've got better ideas of how to spend a bank holiday Monday than me.
But I wouldn't mind being that bluebottle on the wall at Chequers tonight, assuming the government's fly-swatters aren't up to much.
Less than a year ago, the prime minister was doing his best to make sure Jean Claude Juncker didn't get the gig as President of the European Commission.
Well, you win some, you lose some. And David Cameron lost that one. Because they call him President Juncker now.
So, Mr Cameron has invited the president around for tea at his country retreat, Chequers. I'm told the prime minister will be "open, practical and friendly" in his approach.
Later in the week, David Cameron will visit Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Poland and Germany. And the talking is only just beginning.
Former Tory defence secretary Liam Fox, a Eurosceptic, said allowing EU citizens to vote in the referendum "would have been an unacceptable dilution of the voice of the British people".
UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the plans were "sensible and reasonable".
However, the SNP's Mr Yousaf, the party's Europe minister in the Scottish parliament, urged the government to reconsider.
He told BBC News: "Excluding EU citizens, many of whom live here for a number of years, pay their taxes, their children attend local schools, to disenfranchise them over their own future in this vote is illogical, is utterly perverse and creates a democratic deficit."
He added: "We don't want to enter into the rhetoric of division and I think that's exactly what this franchise aims to do."
The party's Westminster leader Angus Robertson also called for the voting age to be lowered for the referendum.
He said: "Young people are our future. It is their UK - and their Europe - so they must have their say."
Labour's shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn agreed.
"It's a matter of principle," he said. "If a person aged 16 to 17 is old enough to work and pay taxes - and they are - to marry, to join the armed forces, why should they not be allowed to participate in our democracy?"
In 2014, the Conservatives promised to remove the 15-year cap on expats voting in general elections if they were returned to power.
Party chairman Grant Shapps said at the time: "Being a British citizen is for life... we believe it should also give you the lifelong right to vote."
But Conservative backbencher John Redwood told the Today programme it would be "wrong to hijack" the referendum to extend the vote to groups not previously included in the franchise.
And he said it was "a myth put around by the pro-Europeans" that 16 and 17-year-olds were interested in the issue of Europe.
The Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, welcomed his citizens' opportunity to make their voices heard in a "seminal exercise in democracy".
This week, Mr Cameron will take a whistle-stop European tour, meeting the leaders of Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Poland and Germany to talk about the UK's agenda for reform.
No 10 said he hoped to talk to the other leaders of EU member states individually before the European Council at the end of next month.
But UKIP MP Douglas Carswell said the prime minister's promised renegotiation would be "more or less worthless".
He added: "We now know he's not seeking treaty change and none of the new deal that he is looking for will apply specifically to Britain... none of it is going to fundamentally change our relationship with Europe." | Citizens from most EU countries living in the UK will not get a vote in the referendum on Europe, No 10 has said. | 32872211 |
The 20-year-old Scotsman overhauled Colombian rider Brayan Stiven Sanchez Vergara on the line to snatch gold.
Jason Kenny was fifth in the keirin, having been fourth in the team sprint with Philip Hindes and Callum Skinner.
Katy Marchant fought back through the repechages to make the sprint semi-finals before finishing sixth. | Britain's Mark Stewart captured his first senior gold medal with victory in the scratch race on day two of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in New Zealand. | 35015934 |
Jimmy Thoronka, 20, was his country's top 100m runner but did not return to his home country last year amid fears over the Ebola virus.
Homeless Thoronka says Ebola has killed his immediate family in Sierra Leone.
"Some days I get no food at all. I wash in public toilets and sleep in the park," he told the Guardian.
Thoronka arrived in Glasgow with his team-mates in July 2014 as the Ebola outbreak in his home country was declared a public health emergency. The death toll from the virus in Sierra Leone is now more than 3,500.
Up to 30 of the country's athletes wanted to extend their visas past September last year to stay in the UK - two were tested and given the all-clear for the disease on their arrival in Scotland.
Thoronka, described by Sierra Leone Athletics Association Abdul Karim Sesay as "a brilliant sprinter, a natural athlete and extremely fast", competed in one 4x100m relay at the games, but failed to win any medals.
He recorded a best time of 10.58 seconds for the 100m sprint before the competition.
In the Guardian interview, Thoronka claimed:
Thoronka won medals in African competitions and received the Sports Writers of Sierra Leone's best male athlete award in 2013.
He was the first athlete in Sierra Leone to carry the Queen's baton in the run-up to the Games.
Sesay said: "Many of the athletes have lost their families to the virus and I am looking after 10 of them at my house. It is a very difficult time."
"The picture here is very bleak.
"Jimmy's chances to become one of the world's greatest sprinters would be much better if he could stay in the UK and find someone to sponsor his training."
During the Games, Sierra Leone's chef de mission, Unisa Deen Kargbo, said that he planned to get the athletes back home as scheduled on 5 August 2014.
At the conclusion of the Games, Thoronka claimed, there were problems with getting flights back to Sierra Leone because of Ebola. | A sprinter from Sierra Leone who disappeared after the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow claims he has been living rough in London. | 31768838 |
Police Scotland said they were called to the scene, near the Murcar roundabout, at about 09:15 on Saturday morning.
A spokesman said the drivers of both vehicles had been taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The road was closed northbound for several hours to allow officers to deal with the aftermath of the crash.
Police have appealed for witnesses.
Sgt Steve Manson said: "A southbound grey Vauxhall Astra motor car and a northbound silver BMW 320 motor car collided head-on resulting in the drivers, and only occupants, of both vehicles having to be cut free by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
"Both were taken to hospital with serious injuries." | Two people have been injured after a head-on crash on the A90 at Bridge of Don. | 34626211 |
It follows a judge's ruling that Det Supt Steve Fulcher, from Wiltshire Police, ignored arrest guidelines which means no-one has been able to be prosecuted over her murder.
Christopher Halliwell led him to Miss Godden's buried body after admitting Sian O'Callaghan's murder in 2011.
An IPCC investigation found a case to answer for gross misconduct.
If the charges are proven, he could be sacked.
Before Miss O'Callaghan's murder trial, a judge ruled police ignored arrest guidelines by taking Halliwell, 49, to a local beauty spot, Barbury Castle, rather than to a police station to be read his rights.
Mrs Justice Cox said Det Supt Fulcher's decision to ignore guidelines in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) were "significant and substantial".
She added the move was intended to create "circumstances deliberately designed to persuade the defendant to speak".
Former taxi driver Halliwell has never stood trial for the murder of Becky Godden, who was last seen alive by a police officer in Swindon in December 2002.
Miss Godden's parents have conflicting views about Det Supt Fulcher's decision not to follow the guidelines.
Her mother Karen Edwards said she sympathised with the detective.
She said: "I think he should be given a medal for what he's done - not go through all the traumas he's had.
"In my eyes, it seems to be if you're a criminal you're all right. For the general public - you get trodden on.
"And I'm not prepared to be trodden on and I won't let Steve Fulcher be trodden on."
However, Miss Godden's father John Godden said that if Mr Fulcher had done "an honest job, it would never have come to this".
Mr Godden added: "It's just shocking to go through 50 pages of mistakes - it's just shocking."
In October last year, Halliwell pleaded guilty to murdering 22-year-old Sian O'Callaghan. He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years.
Det Supt Fulcher said at the time he had made the decision to not take Halliwell to a police station in a bid to "appeal to the killer's conscience".
He said last year: "He and I had another conversation together where he indicated that there was another body.
"He took me to a field at a crossroads.
"We were able to cross the wall of the field and he was able to pace out an exact spot where he said he had buried a young girl."
Three separate matters were investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
The first followed a complaint from Miss Godden's father that Mr Fulcher's actions led to the charge against Halliwell for the unlawful killing of his daughter being dropped.
The second and third complaints concerned Mr Fulcher's release of information to the media and his contact with journalists in connection with the investigation, codenamed Operation Mayan.
IPCC deputy chairman Rachel Cerfontyne said: "This is a difficult time for all concerned with this case and especially the families and friends of Sian and Becky, especially after all they have already had to endure.
"This investigation has been a highly unusual one, as the majority of facts, in particular in relation to Mr Godden's complaint, are undisputed and already in the public domain.
"We will never know what may have happened if the PACE Codes had been followed."
She added that Mr Fulcher, despite no longer having responsibility for Operation Mayan and "against express orders" went ahead with meetings about the case with BBC and ITV journalists.
Ms Cerfontyne said: "This behaviour is even more extraordinary when set in the context that the trial judge had already considered whether force press conferences given by Det Supt Fulcher were prejudicial to the case against Halliwell."
A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: "We are taking this matter very seriously and we are currently in the process of carefully considering the recommendations made within the report and our subsequent response to the IPCC.
"We will be taking into account the needs of the families whilst deliberating the recommendations.
"Wiltshire Police are continuing to offer welfare support to Det Supt Fulcher throughout this ongoing process.
"It would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this stage." | A detective should face disciplinary charges over the Becky Godden murder case, the police watchdog said. | 24017313 |
The winning team shared a prize pool of $1m (£650,000) between them.
The team beat another from South Korea, called Koo Tigers, to take the title in the final, which took place in Berlin in front of 15,000 fans.
SKT1 won the final 3-1 but Koo was the only team they faced throughout the competition that managed to take a game off them.
"We've faced Koo many times in the past and obviously have a good track record with them," said SKT1 player Gyeong-hwan Jang in a post-match interview.
"We noticed that Koo didn't really change that much over the past year and we thought that it would be the same this time around - and it was," he said.
Mr Jang aka Marin was named as SKT1's most-valued player for his vital role in helping his team win their second title, although only two players from the 2013 triumph are still with the team.
Writing on the Rock, Paper Shotgun games news website, Philippa Warr said that SKT1 had a "phenomenal" run during the tournament but Koo Tigers provided stiff competition in the final.
However, she said, Koo's undoing was SKT1's relentless pressure across the game map that forced the Tigers to make mistakes in key stages.
League of Legends involves teams attempting to destroy each others' bases on a small game map while defending their own. Players control any one of 100 champions, including demon toads, golems, robots, gunmen and wizards, that are equipped with a wide variety of attacks and defences.
Since it was released in late 2009, LoL has become hugely popular. Statistics from Riot Games, which makes LoL, said more than 67 million people play the game every month. | South Korean team SKT1 have been crowned the 2015 world champions for the League of Legends (LoL) video game. | 34698639 |
Many British Nook owners received the news on World Book Day.
The UK versions of the online book shop, Android app and store accessed via Nook devices will all close.
Barnes & Noble said it is teaming up with supermarket giant Sainsbury's to ensure that customers can still access content they have already paid for.
"We thank you for your patronage and are working closely with Sainsbury's to make this transition as smooth as possible," it said in a statement to customers.
Customers must take action by the end of May in order to retain purchased content, it added, with instructions to follow by email.
30%
share of UK book purchases
47% share of adult fiction
£393m spent on e-books
£1.7bn amount spent on print books
Nook was launched in the UK in 2012 but the market continues to be dominated by Amazon's Kindle, said analyst Ben Wood from CCS Insight.
"It's pretty tragic - it shows that Amazon is the powerhouse in the e-book market despite the best efforts of everybody else," he told the BBC.
"But it's a sensible move - if it's clear that the growth opportunity doesn't exist, it's better to pull out of the market than keep flogging a dead horse."
In its last quarterly results, released this week, the US company said overall sales were down by 1.8% but its net profit had increased by around £5.7m ($8m) year on year.
British Nook owner Tim Glenton, from Suffolk, said he had taken advantage of a special offer to purchase a Nook device but regularly used a Kindle.
"It's a shame there's a lack of competition in the market but it's not going to massively change my life," he said of the news.
"Nook never really quite took off in UK." | Barnes & Noble, the US bookseller behind the e-book brand Nook, has announced it will cease selling digital books in the UK on 15 March. | 35724722 |
Ex-Newcastle and West Ham midfielder Nolan joined the O's in January, but lost his managerial role when Andy Hessenthaler took over in April.
The 34-year-old won seven of his 15 games during his time in charge.
He became the youngest boss in the Football League when he signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the London club and played 14 games for them. | Former player-manager Kevin Nolan has left Leyton Orient, the League Two club have announced. | 36727690 |
Researchers found the word, one of 500 new dictionary entries, was first used in 1820, spelt twirk, to refer to a twisting or jerking movement or twitch.
The verb is believed to have emerged later in 1848 and the twerk spelling was used by 1901, the dictionary says.
Cyrus performed the raunchy dance move at an MTV awards show in 2013.
The dictionary describes twerking as dancing "in a sexually provocative manner, using thrusting movements of the bottom and hips while in a low, squatting stance".
It says the word in its current form has its roots in the early 1990s New Orleans "bounce" music scene, but the exact origin of twerk is uncertain.
Twerk may have been a blend of the words twist or twitch and jerk, the dictionary says.
Fiona McPherson, senior editor of Oxford English Dictionary, said: "We are confident that it is the same origins as the dance.
"There has been constant use up into the present day to mean that same thing. I think it's quite spectacular, the early origins for it. We were quite surprised."
Cisgender - designating a person whose sense of personal identity matches their gender at birth
Guerrilla - describing activities carried out in an irregular and spontaneous way
Gimmick - to mean "a night out with friends".
Twitterati - describing users of the social media service Twitter
Fo' shizzle - meaning "for sure".
The Oxford English Dictionary records the meaning and development of the English language.
For a word to qualify, it must have been in popular use for at least 10 years in both novels and newspapers.
Twerking first entered the Oxford Dictionary of English, which recognises popular usage of words, in 2013.
"Meh", an interjection expressing lack of enthusiasm, has also been included in the Oxford English Dictionary.
The word is believed to have been first used in 1992, before being popularised by cult TV cartoon The Simpsons.
Ms McPherson said the new entries had "earned their place" in the history of the English language. | The word "twerk" - a dance move popularised by singer Miley Cyrus - actually dates back to 1820, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. | 33265370 |
Court documents say Hastert agreed to pay $3.5m (£2.5m) to a person he sexually abused when the victim was aged 14 and Hastert was working as a teacher and wrestling coach.
Prosecutors allege he abused five boys.
The 74-year-old has admitted lying and breaking financial laws.
The plea represents a dramatic fall for the former senior Republican politician, who has had his portrait removed from the House of Representatives in the US Congress.
The alleged abuse happened while Hastert was working in Yorkville, a suburb of Chicago, between 1965 and 1981. Three of the victims were wrestlers on a team he coached.
He cannot be charged with sexual abuse as the statute of limitations has expired in the cases.
One of the victims - referred to in court documents as Individual A - said Hastert had stayed with him in a motel room on the way back from a trip to a wrestling camp and touched him inappropriately.
Two of the others, aged 14 and 17, said Hastert had performed sex acts on them in the locker room at the high school in Yorkville.
All the victims "struggled and are still struggling" with what Hastert did to them, prosecutors argue. Hastert made them feel "alone, ashamed, guilty and devoid of dignity", they say.
Hastert, who retired in 2007 after serving as House Speaker for eight years, will be sentenced later this month for concealing the large sums of money he paid to Individual A to buy his silence.
Between 2010 and 2012 he withdrew $750,000 in lump sums of $50,000 before learning of rules requiring banks to report large transactions.
After that he withdrew a further $952,000 in lump sums of less than $10,000 between 2012 and 2014.
He was able to pay Individual A $1.7m in payments of $100,000 before being questioned by the FBI in 2014 about his withdrawals.
One of the reasons he gave for the large withdrawals was that he was being blackmailed by someone making a false claim of sex abuse.
He agreed to let investigators record phone conversations he had with Individual A, but prosecutors said the "tone and comments" of Individual A in the conversations were "inconsistent with someone committing extortion".
In a deal with prosecutors, he admitted the charge of "structuring and assisting in structuring currency transactions" by removing small sums of money to avoid the transactions being reported.
However, the charge of lying to FBI investigators is set to be dropped.
Defence lawyers want Hastert to be spared jail because they say he is suffering from ill health.
He is due to be sentenced on 27 April. | Prosecutors are seeking a six-month jail sentence for disgraced former US House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who is alleged to have paid hush money to cover up sex abuse. | 36004663 |
The residents were moved from their Pacific atoll as result of atomic bomb tests in the 1940s.
But their new home, on another of the Marshall Islands, is struggling against huge tides and increasing storms.
The islanders have now asked Washington to change the terms of a trust fund to allow them settle in the US.
In 1946 several hundred islanders were moved from Bikini Atoll by the US government, which wanted to test atomic weapons on the remote atoll.
Some 23 nuclear tests were conducted including the huge Bravo hydrogen bomb, the largest weapon detonated at that time by the US.
The islanders moved to a nearby island in the Marshall chain called Kili in 1948.
Under an agreement with the US, a resettlement trust fund was eventually established to help the Bikini residents. This would pay for construction of homes within the Marshall Islands.
But now the islanders say that their homes are being swamped by the increased ingress of sea water during king tides.
There was widespread flooding in 2011 and again this year. Salt is also creeping up from beneath Kili, threatening agriculture and water supplies. In the early part of this year the island's runway was entirely flooded, cutting off the residents.
"The people of Bikini came back to us and asked us to take this proposal to the US, to request the resettlement trust fund be used to settle people in the US not just the Marshall Islands," said Tony de Brum, Foreign Minister of the Marshall Islands.
"We have not seen the final text of the legislation but the request that went in was on the basis of Kili being uninhabitable because of climate change."
The US Department of the Interior is supporting the islanders and is now proposing legislation in Congress that would change the terms of the resettlement trust.
Under an agreement between the Marshalls and the US, islanders have the right to live, work and study in the US without restrictions on the duration of their stay.
"This is an appropriate course of action for the United States to take regarding the welfare and livelihood of the Bikinian people, given the deteriorating conditions on Kili and Ejit Islands in the Marshall Islands - with crowding, diminishing resources, and increased frequency of flooding due to King Tides on their islands," said Assistant Secretary of the Interior Esther Kia'aina.
The Marshall Islands government says the experience of the Bikini islanders shows the need for a new global agreement on climate change.
They believe that a new deal can be agreed at a global conference in Paris that begins at the end of November.
One key element for the island state is that the agreement stipulate that global temperature rises be kept under 1.5 degrees C from pre industrial levels.
Minister de Brum said that from the point of view of small islands and atoll states, two degrees "cannot remain as the absolute cap for everything we are trying do in limiting global warming".
Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattmcgrathbbc | About 1,000 Bikini islanders have applied to relocate to the United States as rising seas threaten their adopted home. | 34642692 |
Seven national polls conducted after the close of the Democratic convention last week showed the former secretary of state receiving an average increase of nearly 7% compared with her pre-convention support.
Mrs Clinton's favourability ratings have also improved, rising to an average of four points to 41% in recent polls.
Though a larger share finds her unfavourable at an average of 53%, it is still four point less than it was before the convention.
But do the recent batch of surveys paint an accurate picture of what will happen when voters head to the polls in November?
Not quite, according to experts and pollsters.
While Mrs Clinton has gained a comfortable lead over Mr Trump, it will take more than polling to determine who will end up in the Oval Office.
With hundreds of surveys tracking the election, US polls tend to be good at gauging American opinion, according Clifford Young, the president of US Public Affairs for Ipsos polling.
"We have the luxury of large numbers," Mr Young said. "That makes it better and easier for prediction."
However, all of these polls use different methodologies to survey Americans and one of the biggest challenges is determining who actually will cast a ballot in November.
"Polling is very difficult these days," said Brendan Nyhan, an assistant professor of government at Dartmouth College.
"It's hard to get a representative sample of Americans to take a survey online or by phone, and even if you do get a good sample, it's difficult to tell who is actually going to turn out to vote."
Research has also shown polls tend to be the least accurate the further they are from Election Day.
During the early stages of the primary election, parties have yet to select their nominee while voters may not necessarily be paying attention to candidates or the issues, Mr Nyhan said.
For example, polls conducted in January 2003 showed former President George W Bush ahead of Democratic Senator John Kerry by 8% and 17%.
However, Mr Bush finished just 2.5% ahead of Mr Kerry in the popular vote, the slimmest margin of a re-elected president since Woodrow Wilson in 1916, Mr Nyhan.
Accuracy improves in the weeks leading up to the election, when people are more likely to have made up their mind, research has shown.
However, surveys released a couple of weeks after the Republican and Democratic conventions, which took place back-to-back last month, is when numbers start to become reliable, according to experts.
Party conventions are often the starting point for wider public interest in campaigns, when party officials have an opportunity to rally behind their nominee and raise awareness on campaign issues.
"The conventions help remind people what the state of the country is and which side they're on," Mr Nyhan said.
However, Sam Wang, a neuroscientist and election analyst at Princeton University, warns that only polls that specifically survey people at the beginning and end of either convention can provide an accurate picture.
Though conventions are an important election marker, Mr Wang points out the public image of a candidate can change over the course of a campaign.
Candidates often receives a "bump" or "bounce" in polls in the week following their party's convention.
For instance, candidates who are underperforming before the convention tend to receive larger bumps while candidates who are running ahead of where they are expected to be often receive smaller bumps.
The bumps, Mr Nyhan explained, helps bring the public closer to the expected outcome.
"The bounce itself doesn't necessarily determine the winner but it helps move it in the right direction," Mr Nyhan said.
But convention bounces tend to be short-lived and mainly come from party supporters.
Mr Trump enjoyed a brief post-convention bump before Mrs Clinton regained a solid lead at the end of the Democratic convention.
In fact, sometimes bounces just show how likely people are willing to respond to a survey or say they will support a candidate, but that does not mean they will show up at the polls.
While national polls can measure movement and general opinion, state polls provide a more nuanced glimpse of where voters stand.
"In a nation as ethnically diverse as the US, it's somewhat challenging to survey the whole country," Mr Wang says.
Consider the Electoral College, which assigns each state a number of electors according to its size.
The winning candidate needs to get a majority of 270 of the 538 electors to win the Electoral College vote.
In majority of US states, the winner takes all of that state's electors, which is why state polls play an integral role in election projections.
Particularly in the key battleground states such as Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, polls serve as an important bellwether to November's outcome.
President Barack Obama won all three of those states in 2008 and 2012.
While Mrs Clinton's bounce has given her a comfortable lead over Mr Trump, experts say whether it will stick will not be clear until the next couple of weeks.
However, her rise may be meaningful because there are not many events between now and November that are likely to change people's minds, Mr Nyhan added.
Still, the recent series of polls are more indicative in the short term of relative performance.
Mrs Clinton's bump may suggest she had a better convention performance, Mr Young said.
According to a recent Gallup poll, Americans said they were 45% more likely to vote for Mrs Clinton while 41% said they were less likely to cast their ballot for her after the Democratic convention.
In contrast, Gallup found the 2016 Republican convention marked the first time in history in which more voters said they were less likely to vote for a party's nominee after its convention.
In fact, 51% of those surveyed said they were less likely to vote for Mr Trump compared to 36% who said they were more likely to cast their ballot for him after the Republican convention.
Though Mr Wang noted this year voter attention is unusually high, the last three elections have shown less movement in polls than in previous campaign years.
"Voter polarization has gotten a lot stronger, which means voters are less and less likely to consider the other candidate," he said.
In fact, one indication is the size of the convention bounces, which have become notably smaller in recent election history.
According to Gallup, candidates saw an average convention bump of 6.2% from 1964 to 1992 while today they see an average of 3.8%.
However, Mr Young emphasises this year is a disruptive election, with campaigns marked by a stronger protest vote.
This year's forecasts must also take in account just how deeply unpopular Mrs Clinton and Mr Trump are compared with previous elections, which means it ultimately will rely on voter turnout.
"The desire to vote for neither candidate complicates things," Mr Young said. "The protest vote can have potential to really impact the outcome when it comes to the election."
As the 2016 presidential election has demonstrated, anything could happen in the race to the finish line. | A new round of US election polls have shifted momentum behind Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the three-month dash to November. | 36947558 |
In January, the Supreme Court upheld the High Court ruling that Parliament had to be consulted before Article 50 could be triggered.
Labour MP Gloria de Piero tabled a written question asking when the cost of the appeal would be published.
Brexit Minister Robin Walker replied: "The department has not been billed for all costs related to the case."
He continued: "Details of the total costs associated with the case, including the costs of the Supreme Court appeal, will be published in due course after they have been settled."
The government has rejected Freedom of Information requests for the cost to be revealed, saying it will be made public at a future date.
Investment manager Gina Miller and other campaigners won a case in the High Court last year against the government's assertion Article 50, the mechanism which kickstarts the process of leaving the EU, could be activated by royal prerogative.
Ministers appealed the decision in the Supreme Court and lost again.
They swiftly introduced the European Union (Notice of Withdrawal) Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament.
If the bill is passed as expected next week, it will have taken longer to pay the legal bills for the appeal than to get MPs' and peers' approval to start the Brexit process. | The government has not yet finished paying the legal costs of its Supreme Court challenge over Brexit. | 39224670 |
A meeting on Wednesday turned down a devolution partnership with Portsmouth and Southampton, which supporters said could secure £900m from the government.
Portsmouth leader Donna Jones said the vote put the deal in jeopardy, although she was confident it would be reversed.
Isle of Wight council leader Jonathan Bacon said his executive would make a final decision on Monday.
If all three authorities agreed, an application would be submitted to the government.
Mr Bacon, an independent, said a devolution deal was the only way to address the council's "perilous financial state", following budget cuts of more than £50m over the last five years.
He said Wednesday's vote had "probably shot our credibility with the government".
Opposition Conservative leader Dave Stewart, whose group voted against the bid, said: "There has been little support for it amongst residents, and there were some very significant question marks over it."
Isle of Wight Conservative MP Andrew Turner had warned the island's needs "could easily be over-ridden" by Southampton and Portsmouth, and the potential £900m grant over 30 years was an "estimate" not a "government promise".
Mr Bacon said the government had confirmed the money was "definitely on the table".
He said the independent-controlled executive was in a "difficult position" ahead of its vote on Monday.
On Wednesday, Southampton joined Portsmouth in agreeing to be part of the bid.
Under the deal, the councils would leave the current system of government funding in exchange for keeping business rates of about £210m a year.
The three councils would continue as separate entities and retain their existing powers, but they would also be equal members on a board led by an elected mayor. | The Isle of Wight council has voted against plans to form a combined authority for the Solent area. | 37713481 |
A new analysis of data shows the plane is probably in the southern end of the Indian Ocean search zone, where the operation will now be focused.
MH370 was en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it disappeared in March 2014 with 239 people on board.
Deputy PM Warren Truss said officials were "optimistic" it would be found.
But he said the search operation was likely to end by June 2016.
Meanwhile, Assistant Minister for Defence Darren Chester told reporters: "We have a high level of confidence that we are searching in the right area."
The Australian-led search has been combing a 120,000 sq km area of seabed about 2,000km off the coast of Perth, using underwater drones and sonar equipment deployed from specialist ships.
Read more:
The relatives still searching for answers
Reunion's remarkable find
The tenacious deep-sea hunt
Could it have been suicide?
The Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC), which is in charge of the search, says more than 75,000 sq km have been searched so far with no trace seen of the plane.
Part of an aircraft wing, known as a flaperon, was found on Reunion Island in July, roughly 4,000km from the search zone.
Although tests in France confirmed it had come from MH370, officials said it had been carried there by the ocean currents so did not affect their search plans.
In its technical report issued on Thursday, the Australian Defence Science and Technology Group said a "comprehensive analysis of the available data" showed that as previously thought, MH370 had almost certainly gone down in the southern stretch of the existing search area.
The JACC said the report "affirms the focus of search efforts to date", and that it was now focusing on a shortened but slightly widened section of ocean.
At a press conference in Canberra, Mr Truss said he remained "hopeful, indeed optimistic, that we will still locate the aircraft" and that the report gave "real encouragement".
The entire operation is expected to cost approximately A$180m ($131m; £88m). | Australian officials say they are confident they are searching the right area for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. | 34991047 |
The Sun's critic went on to predict the "lavish" adaptation of the 1992 cartoon "will be a huge hit with families".
The Guardian's reviewer also admitted being "won over" by the London show's "blend of spectacle [and] illusion".
Yet according to the Telegraph, "little registers emotionally" in a musical that "barely rises above the generic".
First staged in Seattle in 2011, Aladdin opened on Broadway in 2014 and has since been seen by more than 1.5 million people.
Its West End production follows other screen-to-stage transfers including Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins and The Lion King, which is now in its 17th year in London.
Like the film, the musical tells of a wily street thief who finds a magical lamp containing a genie who promises to grant him three wishes.
Voiced in the film by Robin Williams, the Genie is played in London by Trevor Dion Nicholas, originally an understudy in the Broadway production.
According to the Mail's Quentin Letts, the US actor "certainly gives it full welly" and "is the best thing in the evening".
The Times's Ann Treneman agreed, describing him as "a genius genie" and his "big number", Friend Like Me, "a show-stopper".
Listen to Aladdin composer Alan Menken perform a medley of songs from the musical on BBC Radio 3's In Tune.
Aladdin himself is played by former Britain's Got Talent performer Dean John-Wilson, while ex-Sugababes member Jade Ewen plays female lead Princess Jasmine.
John-Wilson was supported on Wednesday's opening night by his girlfriend Cynthia Erivo, who won a Tony award on Sunday for her performance in The Color Purple.
"My other half was on stage playing Aladdin and I can't be any prouder," the 29-year-old Londoner told reporters after the show.
"I'm astounded by how wonderful he is - he was awesome."
Other attendees at the Prince Edward Theatre included Star Wars actor Mark Hamill, comedian and actor Rufus Hound, Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson and The Hobbit star Luke Evans.
Sherlock actor Andrew Scott, McFly's Tom Fletcher and panto regular Christopher Biggins were also among the celebrity-filled audience.
Analysis - Tim Masters, entertainment and arts correspondent
Aladdin has reinvented many of its jokes to make it more relevant to a British audience.
While its cast use mainly American accents, the script contains references to Sir Bruce Forsyth, Tommy Cooper and Strictly Come Dancing.
"There were a lot of American references that people wouldn't get here," director Casey Nicholaw told the BBC after Wednesday's gala premiere.
"We got people here to read the script and say what they didn't think would work and suggest what we should try instead. We just kept playing with it."
"This version of Aladdin is something you can't see anywhere else on the planet," said Trevor Dion Nicholas, whose Genie produces a Union Jack umbrella during his opening monologue.
The American star, who also played Genie on Broadway, said Aladdin was his favourite Disney film growing up.
"I had the cassette tape and the VHS and I used to read the lyrics and learn all the songs when I was a kid."
Aladdin's producers have revealed the lavish show features 108 costume changes that each take place in under a minute.
According to Nicholaw, though, that does not rule out the occasional wardrobe malfunction.
"There might have been a girl with her costume round her ankles when she exited the stage after the Prince Ali song," he revealed.
Nicholaw is excited about being back in the UK later in the year to direct Dreamgirls, a musical inspired by the rise of 1960s R&B acts such as The Supremes.
"London feels like a second home to me," said the director, whose other credits include West End hit The Book of Mormon. | The West End launch of Disney musical Aladdin has been broadly welcomed by critics, with a number suggesting it shows "panto has come early this year". | 36532830 |
Jim Telfer, who led the Scots to victory in the Five Nations 18 years ago, believes Vern Cotter's squad is the best since his title-winning group.
"It's a flattering comment but it doesn't give us points when we start against Ireland," O'Halloran said.
"It's of no tangible benefit unless they perform really well."
The Scots take on Ireland in the Six Nations opener at Murrayfield on Saturday. Hopes are high among many Scottish supporters that the national team can provide a stronger challenge than in recent seasons, but O'Halloran warns that the current team is still some way off fulfilling their potential.
"I think this team will ultimately be at its best in a couple more years' time," the New Zealander explained.
"We'll have more guys round about that 50-caps mark and will continue to grow that leadership."
Centre Alex Dunbar sees more strength in depth in the squad than in recent years, particularly in the midfield area where he operates.
The Glasgow Warrior has agreed a new deal to extend his stay at Scotstoun until 2019, and although he admits there was interest from other clubs, he says Glasgow's recent European displays - including the 43-0 Champions Cup hammering of Leicester at Welford Road - convinced him to stay put.
"There was interest there but at the time I just focused on my rugby and playing well," Dunbar said.
"The boys that signed early - Tommy Seymour, Stuart Hogg, Tim Swanson, Henry Pyrgos - it's good that they are signing up early and committing to the club.
"The way the squad is playing just now was a massive factor in it. We've started to find ourselves a lot more now, we're a lot more competitive, certainly in the last couple of weeks in Europe.
"I think it's a great place to be in a very settled squad. Hopefully we can push on and keep developing."
Glasgow advanced to the last eight of the Champions Cup despite a narrow loss at home to Munster in their penultimate pool match. O'Halloran believes there are lessons to be learned from that match that Scotland must heed against Ireland.
He said: "Composure in the crucial moments and having a collective understanding on what we're trying to achieve when it really comes to the crunch are probably the key learnings out of the Munster games.
"Munster's ability to nail games in the last 10 minutes is really impressive, as is the quality of their defence throughout. You look after the ball and when you get opportunities to take points you take them as often as possible."
O'Halloran, who was linked with a role in Warren Gatland's British and Irish Lions coaching staff before ruling himself out of the running, will join Dave Rennie's back room team at Glasgow at the end of the season. | Scotland backs coach Jason O'Halloran says only a successful Six Nations will lend weight to comparisons between the national side now and the 1999 vintage. | 38798686 |
A clash of heads between Aldershot's Will Evans and Lincoln's Matt Rhead early on led to a lengthy stoppage before the game stuttered into life.
Aldershot, looking to extend a 10-game unbeaten run, survived early scares when Terry Hawkridge and Luke Waterfall both went close in quick succession.
Bernard Mensah forced a fine save out of Paul Farman at the other end just before the break, but Lincoln - who are three points clear and have a game in hand over their rivals at the top - came closest to breaking the deadlock when Waterfall headed onto a post on the hour mark.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Match ends, Aldershot Town 0, Lincoln City 0.
Second Half ends, Aldershot Town 0, Lincoln City 0.
Substitution, Aldershot Town. Matt McClure replaces Scott Rendell.
Substitution, Aldershot Town. Jonny Giles replaces Shamir Fenelon.
Substitution, Lincoln City. Jack Muldoon replaces Jonathon Margetts.
Substitution, Lincoln City. Josh Ginnelly replaces Terry Hawkridge.
Substitution, Aldershot Town. Anthony Straker replaces Cheye Alexander.
Nick Arnold (Aldershot Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Substitution, Lincoln City. Billy Knott replaces Alan Power.
Second Half begins Aldershot Town 0, Lincoln City 0.
First Half ends, Aldershot Town 0, Lincoln City 0.
Luke Waterfall (Lincoln City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up. | Lincoln City missed a chance to extend their lead at the top of the National League after they were held to a goalless draw at Aldershot. | 39086857 |
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The eight-time major champion, playing in his 43rd Masters, had hoped to make the cut but seven bogeys prevented a dream weekend goodbye.
The American, 66, received a standing ovation as he finished his second round with a par at a packed 18th green.
"To finish playing at Augusta with my friends and family watching - that's the way to go out," he said.
"The fans were really very generous with their applause, it was a pleasure."
READ MORE: Woosnam calls time on Masters because of back injury
He completed his 134th and last round in the Masters with a long snaking putt at the 18th that stopped just inches away from what would have been a fitting final birdie.
He was then embraced by a waiting gallery of family, Augusta Green-Jacketed officials and former golf rivals with hundreds of fans surrounding the green.
"I hope that over the period of my career, I've been able to show the crowd some great golf," he added.
Watson, whose two Masters wins came in 1977 and 1981, said that the only regrets he had over his long career was not winning a few more majors.
"I know I won probably more than my share, but on the other hand, there are a few that got away. I guess it all balances out in the end, just like they say," he said.
Last July, he marked his final appearance at the Open with an emotional walk up the 18th fairway at St Andrews at the end of his second round.
But he said Friday's walk up the 18th at Augusta National was even more special.
"There's more finality in this walk here, because I really have made the decision that the kids hit the ball too far. I can't compete against the kids," he said.
"This course really shows the difference. You've got to hit the ball a long way to play this golf course." | Two-time Masters winner Tom Watson waved an emotional farewell to Augusta after carding 78 to finish eight over. | 36003006 |
The union's executive committee voted to lend its support to Mr Corbyn, with Andy Burnham as its second preference.
The union, which is Labour's biggest financial backer, supported Ed Miliband in the 2010 Labour leadership contest.
The unions will have less influence on this year's contest because the party has moved to a "one member one vote" system for choosing its leader.
But the decision is a big boost for Mr Corbyn, who has been well received at hustings involving trade unions in recent weeks.
Mr Corbyn has been taking part in a leadership hustings in Wales with his three rivals for the job - Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall, all prominent shadow ministers.
Who are the Labour leadership candidates?
The Islington North MP said: "It is a great honour to receive Unite's nomination, and it underlines that this a serious campaign that has growing momentum.
"The leadership election is about one issue above others: whether we accept another five years of a race to the bottom based on cuts that destroy services and damage living standards, or whether we invest our way to a growth and fairness."
He also thanked other trade unions who have nominated him - Aslef and the BFAWU - and for the endorsement of two unions not affiliated to Labour, the FBU and the RMT.
He added: "Trade unions are a force for good, a force for prosperity and we should listen to them more. For Labour to win again it must show it is on the side of the majority."
Unite said its backing for Mr Corbyn was in recognition that his policies were most closely aligned with those of the union.
Backbench MP Mr Corbyn only made it on to the ballot for the leadership contest thanks to a last minute rush of support from Labour MPs who said they wanted to widen the debate about the party's future, but would not be voting for him as leader.
He told BBC Radio 5's Pienaar's Politics he was "very grateful" to those MPs who had backed him.
And he hit back at the "Tories for Corbyn" campaign, which has reportedly seen supporters of the government signing up as registered Labour supporters for £3, to vote for him because they believe his election would boost the Conservative cause.
"If people do not support the Labour Party and do not wish to vote Labour, either in future elections or have done so in the past, they should not be registering as Labour supporters, it's not an honest thing to do," said the MP.
Unite said it would not be nominating anyone for deputy Labour leader but would be making a recommendation to members to support Tom Watson and Angela Eagle.
The decisions on who to support were taken on Sunday following debate by the union's executive committee, an elected body of 63 men and women from workplaces across the UK. | Britain's biggest trade union Unite is backing veteran left-winger Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader. | 33402438 |
Steve Barker, from Chorley, Lancashire, went to the doctors over Christmas for a different matter and mentioned a "tiny" lump on his chest.
After doctors referred him for a scan, he found out the lump was the tip of a 2.8lbs (1.3kg) bone tumour.
Surgeons at Blackpool Victoria Hospital who removed the tumour said it was the biggest they had even seen.
Mr Barker, 57, said: "It was a shock really, I quite rapidly tried to get my head around it.
"I was amazed that behind the lump, inside my chest, was this large tumour pressing against my lungs, my heart, my back."
Mr Manoj Purohit, who led the operation, said the tumour was as "big as a football" and the largest tumour he had ever come across.
"The tumour was so large that it had pushed the heart from the front centre of his chest to the back left and also had started compressing the lungs making it difficult for Mr Barker to breathe.
"If it had been left unnoticed much longer it would have kept on growing and would have proved fatal."
The operation required removing the breast bone and five of Mr Barker's ribs. They were then replaced using prosthetics.
Mr Barker recovered quickly leaving hospital just seven days after the three-hour operation.
Mr Barker added: "I was just glad to get the thing out of my body to be honest. The recovery has taken a while, but I feel far better now than I did when I was in hospital.
"The message is you mustn't feel embarrassed about going to speak to your doctor - ninety-nine times out of a hundred, it will be absolutely nothing.
"But the sooner they find the thing, the better it will be for you and the doctors." | A man who had a giant tumour "as big as a football" removed has said he is lucky to be alive. | 33521993 |
Burglars broke in through a shutter door at Penketh Fire Station in Warrington before making off with the equipment between Friday and Sunday.
Cheshire Police have launched an investigation following the burglary
Station manager Tony O'Dwyer said the thieves were "putting the lives of the community at risk".
"The equipment stolen is used in rescuing casualties trapped in vehicles involved in road traffic collisions and is vital life-saving equipment," he added.
He said alongside the cutting equipment and two 10m hydraulic hoses, the thieves also took a generator. | Thieves have "put lives at risk" by stealing two hoses and cutting equipment during a break-in at a fire station, a fire officer has said. | 38571419 |
Security arrangements have been reviewed for the two-day event and organisers said revellers would show the world Birmingham's "true spirit of love, unity and support".
The festival's Carnival Parade in Victoria Square will began after the silence at midday.
Police have reassured people an on-going operation is in place.
Salman Abedi, a British-born Muslim from a Libyan family, blew himself up, killing 22 men, women and children, as people were leaving an Ariana Grande concert on Monday night.
A total of 66 people remain in hospital, with 23 in critical care.
Assistant Chief Constable Alex Murray, of West Midlands Police, said he understood people may feel "nervous" but there was a full operation in place for the city.
"I appreciate that people planning to attend may feel a sense of nervousness - I would like to take this opportunity to give you some reassurance that a full policing operation is in place and is subject to ongoing reviews," he said.
"We will have a large number of police officers, specials and police staff on hand to keep the public safe - this isn't only for the Pride event, but also for anyone visiting the city to enjoy all it has to offer."
Lawrence Barton, festival director, said: "Following the tragic events in Manchester, we have been overwhelmed by all your messages of support - and are truly humbled that you are coming out in large numbers to show your love and pride this weekend.
"Birmingham is a great city, and like Manchester, we shall be showing the world our true spirit of love, unity, and support for one another whilst honouring the victims of Monday night's attack." | A minute's silence for the victims of the Manchester Arena attack has been held at Birmingham's Pride festival. | 40069789 |
It followed problems on previous trips with reports of people on the tracks.
The force said it had dealt with only eight people on its tour of the Borders Railway and the Fife Circle.
Four were found on the line between South Gyle and Dalmeny stations at about 20:15 on Sunday and a further four near Glenrothes a little later.
Ch Supt John McBride said: "The return of the Flying Scotsman was a true spectacle and I want to thank all those people who lined the route and stations to see it as it passed.
"In the main our earlier advice and warnings about not straying on the line to view it were heeded.
"Our officers worked tirelessly with our rail industry partners to ensure the day's events passed without any real incident of note.
"It was a truly memorable day for many and I look forward to its return in the future." | British Transport Police have praised the public for heeding safety warnings about trespassing on the line during the Flying Scotsman's visit. | 36301167 |
On the day when Jeremy Corbyn won the leadership for the first time, Len McCluskey was the first person to wrestle the new leader into an awkward bear hug on the small stage in the Westminster pub where his team celebrated his victory.
When Mr Corbyn has hit trouble, Mr McCluskey - the bruisers' bruiser - has been on hand to buttress Mr Corbyn's support, or even to warn off his critics.
But now, enters the contender who will take the Liverpudlian on. Gerard Coyne, the West Midlands secretary of Unite, will announce later on Tuesday that he will fight his boss for the chance of capturing the crown.
Mr Coyne has worked for the union for more than 20 years, having joined as a shop worker at Sainsbury's.
One of his supporters said he felt the union must return to putting its members' interests ahead of party politics. Mr Coyne is understood to be concerned about Mr Corbyn's anti-Trident stance, given that thousands of Unite members work in the defence industry, as well as worried about workers in the auto industry after reports suggested that the Labour leader was considering advocating a ban on petrol cars.
But it won't just be a fight between the two men. Many of Mr Corbyn's supporters will see the challenge as another attempt to undermine the Labour leader.
On the other side, many Labour MPs will see the chance of shifting Mr McCluskey as a way of changing the party's troubled dynamics.
It will ultimately be up to more than a million Unite members to have their say in the spring. But far from being an obscure exercise in ticking boxes on a ballot, it will be the next skirmish, a proxy for the battle over Labour's future. | Few individuals have been as vital to preserving Jeremy Corbyn's position as Len McCluskey, the leader of the country's biggest union. | 38297596 |
Europe's governing body said the fine related to a pitch invasion, objects being thrown and a late kick-off.
City won the match 5-3 at Etihad Stadium but lost the return 3-1 and went out on the away goals rule.
Meanwhile, City have accepted a Football Association charge relating to Sunday's league game with Liverpool.
They were charged with failing to "ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion".
It followed an incident "in or around the 50th minute" of the 1-1 draw, when referee Michael Oliver gave the Reds a penalty, penalising Gael Clichy for a raised boot on Roberto Firmino.
The case will be heard by an independent regulatory commission.
James Milner scored from the spot, giving Liverpool the lead, but Sergio Aguero ensured City took a point from a thrilling draw at Etihad Stadium.
Both Clichy and David Silva were booked after Oliver pointed to the spot. | Manchester City have been fined £15,573 by Uefa for incidents in the home leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Monaco on 21 February. | 39333531 |
Coins were thrown at officers and a number of taxi drivers were reported to have been intimidated during the trouble, Surrey Police said.
Police and dog units were sent to the scene in Chertsey Road after being called at about 03:00 GMT.
Those arrested were held on suspicion of public order offences.
Supt Clinton Blackburn said: "A number of officers and dog units were deployed to the scene in order to disperse the group from Woking town centre with the support of the NPAS helicopter.
"Officers quickly took a grip of the situation and worked hard to bring it under control effectively and safely, under challenging circumstances, which included having coins thrown at them, and by 4am the area had returned to normal."
People with any information about the fight, including footage of it on mobile phones, have been asked to contact officers. | Four people have been arrested after a fight involving as many as 100 people broke out during the early hours of Christmas Day in Woking. | 38430669 |
The 531ft (161m) British Airways i360 viewing tower stands on the site once occupied by the entrance to Brighton's ruined West Pier.
Visitors ascend 450ft (137m) in a 360-degree curved-glass pod.
But it has divided local opinion, with some declaring it "a total monster" others praising it as "world-class, stunning architecture".
Test your knowledge of the world's tallest buildings
Valerie Paynter, of the saveHove campaign, said it was "like something springing horribly out of the earth in a horror movie".
But Glynn Jones, chairman of the West Pier Trust, thought the "vertical pier in the sky" showed "the city is, once again, embracing and celebrating world-class, stunning architecture".
The tower affords visitors views from Bexhill in East Sussex to Chichester in West Sussex with the South Downs to the north.
Chief Executive of i360, Eleanor Harris, claimed the tower would transform Brighton's tourism prospects.
She said: "We have built the world's first vertical cable car, the world's tallest moving observation tower, the world's most slender tower.
"We are putting Brighton on the map and promoting the city around the globe."
Architect David Marks said: "This is the culmination of a 12-year journey that started on a kitchen table and ends 138 metres above Brighton and Hove beach.
"We feel incredibly happy and proud on behalf of the hundreds, if not thousands, of people that worked to bring the project to reality." | The world's thinnest tall building opens on Thursday offering views of up to 26 miles of Sussex coastline. | 36954675 |
He told Le Monde newspaper a strike within days could not be ruled out.
The US says it will continue to seek a coalition, and President Barack Obama is meeting his national security team.
The UN is investigating claims that the Syrian forces of President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons. Mr Assad denies the claims, blaming rebels.
UN chemical weapons inspectors visited a hospital in a government-controlled area of Damascus on Friday.
By Jeremy BowenBBC Middle East editor, Damascus
The weapons inspectors this morning seemed to be in two or three minds about what was going on.
Twice they left the garage of the hotel where they and foreign correspondents are staying, looking as if they were ready to head out, and twice they went back in. Perhaps they had a plan to visit some of the suburbs held by rebels that they had been going into to take samples, but there's been a lot of shelling going on in that direction today.
Now they are here at the regime's military hospital. There have been claims from the regime itself that they had soldiers wounded by chemical weapons, and perhaps those are the people they've come to see.
UN inspectors visit hospital
The UN says the whole team will leave Syria on Saturday. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says the inspectors will then brief him on their preliminary findings.
Syrian officials say they will reject any "incomplete report" from the UN before the results of laboratory tests are known.
A UN spokesman later said the experts would try to "expedite" the report, but said no conclusions would be drawn until the full tests had been completed.
Mr Ban met the five permanent members of the Security Council in New York earlier.
They have held talks twice already this week, but after the last meeting on Thursday, diplomats said they were "far apart".
Mr Ban was expected to give the US, UK, France, Russia and China more information about the timetable for the findings of the weapons inspectors.
Mr Hollande said the UK vote, in which parliament rejected a government motion supporting the principle of military action, made no difference to France's position.
"Each country is sovereign to participate or not in an operation. That is valid for Britain as it is for France," he said.
He said that if the UN Security Council was unable to act, a coalition would form including the Arab League and European countries.
"But there are few countries which can have the capacity of enforcing any sanction through the appropriate measures," he said.
"France will be part of it. France is ready."
He ruled out strikes while the UN inspectors were in Syria. However he did not rule out the possibility that military action could be taken before next Wednesday, when the French parliament is due to debate the issue.
Neither France nor the US need parliamentary approval for action, and Secretary of State John Kerry said the US could not be held to the foreign policy of others.
By Gavin HewittEurope editor
The UK vote was welcomed in Russia, Syria's main international ally.
Moscow said it reflected a growing public understanding of the dangers of an attack.
And the BBC's Jeremy Bowen in Damascus says Syrian MPs are delighted with the UK vote.
He says they believe a letter they sent to the UK parliament inviting their British counterparts to inspect the evidence of chemical attacks had helped sway the vote against military action.
China, which has vetoed previous UN Security Council resolutions against Syria, reiterated on Friday that no action should be taken until the UN inspectors have reported on their findings.
And Germany said of military action that "such participation has not been sought nor is it being considered".
Officials in the US and UK had been insistent throughout the week that the Assad regime had carried out a poison-gas attack in eastern Damascus on 21 August in which hundreds were killed.
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However British Prime Minister David Cameron told parliament on Thursday he could not be 100% sure.
In the US, government officials briefed a Congressional committee on the case for launching action against Mr Assad's forces.
Eliot Engel, the top Democratic member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told reporters after the briefing that officials had said it was "beyond a doubt that chemical weapons were used, and used intentionally by the Assad regime".
Mr Engel said officials had cited evidence including "intercepted communications from high-level Syrian officials".
Reports in the US media this week described Syrian officials suggesting in phone conversations that the chemical weapons attack had been more devastating than was intended.
A Syrian general who defected and fled to Turkey last year told the BBC in Istanbul that the current head of the regime's chemical weapons programme had been killed.
Gen Adnan Sillu, who said he had once been head of the programme, claimed that his successor, Gen Mohamed Aslan, was responsible for last week's attack in Damascus.
Gen Sillu said Gen Aslan had been killed as part of the regime's attempt to destroy evidence of the attack.
His claim could not be independently verified.
More than 100,000 people are estimated to have died since the conflict erupted in Syria in March 2011, and the conflict has produced at least 1.7 million refugees.
Forces which could be used against Syria:
•Four US destroyers - USS Gravely, USS Ramage, USS Barry and USS Mahan - are in the eastern Mediterranean, equipped with cruise missiles. The missiles can also be fired from submarines, but the US Navy does not reveal their locations
•Airbases at Incirlik and Izmir in Turkey, and in Jordan, could be used to carry out strikes
•Two aircraft carriers - USS Nimitz and USS Harry S Truman are in the wider region
•French aircraft carrierCharles de Gaulle is currently in Toulon in the western Mediterranean
•French Rafale and Mirage aircraft can also operate from Al-Dhahra airbase in the UAE | France is still ready to take action in Syria alongside the US, despite UK MPs blocking British involvement, President Francois Hollande has said. | 23897775 |
It also had to agree to have the effectiveness of the stricter controls assessed by an independent auditor every two years for the next 20 years.
The charges relate to God View, a software program that enabled the ride-sharing company to monitor real-time locations of customers and drivers.
Uber faces fines if it fails to comply.
The US Federal Trade Commission began investigating Uber following allegations about the God View program in the media in 2014.
After the investigation started, Uber developed an automated system for monitoring employee access to customer and driver personal data.
However, the FTC said the company had stopped using it eight months after it had been put in place.
Concerns were also raised over a 2015 breach that exposed personal data about more than 100,000 Uber drivers.
"Uber failed consumers in two key ways: first by misrepresenting the extent to which it monitored its employees' access to personal information about users and drivers, and second by misrepresenting that it took reasonable steps to secure that data," said FTC acting chairman Maureen Ohlhausen, who presided over the settlement.
"Our order requires a culture of privacy sensitivity for Uber.
"It is going to make them take privacy into account every day."
Uber said it was pleased that the FTC investigation had ended.
"We have significantly strengthened our privacy and data security practices since then and will continue to invest heavily in these programmes," an Uber representative said.
Comparitech security researcher Lee Munson said: "While such an agreement with the FTC may sound incredibly arduous, Uber will probably benefit from a necessary change in approach which will stand it in good stead for the incoming EU General Data Protection Regulation, which threatens stiff penalties for companies that are lax with employee and customer data."
Apart from the FTC investigation, Uber was also sued by the New York attorney general over the God View allegations.
And, in January 2016, Uber agreed to encrypt all rider geo-location data, as well as to pay a penalty of $20m (£16m) to settle concerns over how it had handled the data breach.
One year later, the FTC ordered Uber to pay a further $20m over claims the company had misled drivers about the potential income they could earn.
Separately, Uber's former forensic investigator Ward Spangenberg has been suing the company over alleged age discrimination and whistleblower retaliation.
In a court declaration from December 2016, Mr Spangenberg alleged that Uber had let its employees spy on celebrities and ex-partners. | Uber has been ordered to introduce tougher measures to protect the privacy of its drivers and their customers, to settle charges brought by a regulator. | 40946680 |
It claims that over 80% of people using their pension pot to buy a retirement income get no proper advice about it.
The TUC is basing its figures on what happened in the year following the pension "freedoms", first introduced in April 2015.
However the government said free help was available from the Pensions Advisory Service, and Pension Wise.
In its analysis, the TUC said no one who withdrew a cash lump sum from their pension in 2015/16 got professional financial advice.
Just 15% of those setting up a drawdown policy received official help.
By contrast, 73% of those buying an annuity - an income for life - did consult a financial adviser.
The TUC said it was concerned that financial advice was too expensive for most people, and that many low and middle-income savers could buy the wrong products, or fall victim to pension scams.
"Pension freedom may sound great on paper," said Frances O'Grady, the TUC general secretary.
"But it is not liberating to leave hundreds of thousands of people to fend for themselves in what is now a very complicated and expensive part of the pensions market."
A similar warning was sounded last week by the pension provider LV=, which said pensioners could become part of a "mis-buying crisis".
It said use of Pension Wise - the government's guidance service - should be made compulsory for savers accessing their pension pots.
Pension Wise offers free general guidance to those over 55, but not tailored advice.
The changes introduced in April 2015 mean that anyone over the age of 55 can withdraw as much money as they like from their pension pot, subject to income tax.
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"We want everyone to have a financially secure retirement, which is why we have introduced wide-ranging reforms to make pension saving easier and clearer," said a spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The TUC also wants the government-backed National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) to offer retirement incomes as well as a savings scheme.
The government is considering the idea at the moment, with submissions closing on 5 October. | More than 300,000 pension savers a year are being left to fend for themselves when they retire, says the TUC. | 37553342 |
Last month Vital Energi started a £14.8m project to upgrade the heating and hot water systems at the John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals.
But Oxford City Council said the company needs planning permission and none has been granted.
The firm has suspended work while it investigates the situation.
In a letter to Vital Energi the council's head of planning Patsy Dell said it has "no record of specific planning permission being sought or given".
She added: "At the current time our position is that planning permission appears necessary for the proposed works.
"I would urge you and the trust to address this situation by the submission of a full planning application at the earliest opportunity."
A council spokesman added that the contractor was informed it need planning permission before the work started. He said the authority supports the project in principle.
In a statement Vital Energi said: "Works associated with the energy link underground utility services and the formation of the service trench have been suspended whilst discussions with the local planning authority continue."
The Hospital Energy Project is an 18-month scheme and the pipeline will be 1.6 miles (2.2 km) long when it is finished.
Works are planned in Woodlands Road, Sandfield Road, London Road, Latimer Road, All Saints Road, Stapleton Road, Old Road and Churchill Drive.
Residents have previously complained about a lack of information regarding the project.
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust believes the pipeline will mean the buildings are less reliant on the national power grid during the winter months.
The trust said it was unable to comment. | A contractor installing an underground pipeline between two Oxford hospitals has been told it needs planning permission for the work. | 35245468 |
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18 July 2014 Last updated at 17:37 BST
Today the five top entries were announced after being selected by Tim and award winning chef Heston Blumenthal.
The winners will now work on developing their ideas to get them ready for Tim to eat during his 6 month mission to the International Space Station | Earlier this year, school children across the UK were set the challenge of designing a dinner, for British astronaut, Tim Peake, to eat when he goes in to space in 2015. | 28372727 |
Koen Allwood, 15, was struck in Barton near the Humber Bridge in November.
A teenage girl was also hit and suffered serious injuries in the incident.
Damian Benson, of High Street, Barton, was bailed at North Lincolnshire Magistrates' Court to appear at Grimsby Crown Court on 12 May.
He is also charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving and using a motor vehicle with defective tyres and defective brakes.
More than 150 fellow pupils of Baysgarth School attended Koen's funeral. | A 23-year-old motorist has appeared in court charged with causing the death of a teenage boy by dangerous driving in North Lincolnshire. | 27211521 |
The loo on Handa, off Sutherland's north west coast, was so expensive because it has to withstand gale-force winds and be environmentally-friendly.
This year, more than 7,000 people visited the isle which is home to more than 100,000 seabirds.
The toilet has been fixed so that it can compost faster.
Handa lies three miles (4.8km) off Sutherland's coast and is about 763 acres (309 hectares) in size.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), which helps to manage the island, had the toilet constructed in 2012.
Its foundations are 2m (7ft) deep to stop it from blowing into the Atlantic.
Highland Council and the Scottish government contributed towards the cost.
SWT's reserves manager visited the operators of another remote composting toilet, at Stoer Head Lighthouse on mainland Sutherland, to get advice on improving the operation of Handa's facilities.
The trust said the island's loo had been "tweaked" and was now composting better.
Figures released this week by SWT show that 7,145 people visited Handa during its tourist season, which runs from April to September.
The number of visits came close to the island's record visiting figures of 7,324 set 12 years ago.
Handa is popular with wildlife enthusiasts.
The isle's thousands of seabirds include puffins and razorbills.
Great skua are another popular species with ornithologists who flock to the island, but the large birds are known to divebomb people and attack other seabirds. | A public toilet that cost £50,000 to build on a remote tiny island has been "tweaked" so it can better handle usage by thousands of tourists. | 38025050 |
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