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Northern Irishman Allen, 31, led 5-2 before the four-time champion fought back to win.
"It's my own fault. I don't prepare properly for these tournaments," world number 11 Allen.
"I don't practise at 10 o'clock in the morning. I didn't get started until 12 o'clock today."
The Northern Irishman led 5-3 after hitting three century breaks in a brilliant first session on Friday only for Higgins to dominate Saturday's morning session as he moved 9-7 up.
Allen won the first frame of the final session to reduce the lead to the minimum but suffered a kick while on a break of 58 in the next and after Higgins pinched that frame, the Northern Irishman was largely frozen out for the remainder of the contest.
"I think 13-9 wasn't really a fair reflection on the match. I felt like I really played well in spells but a couple of things went against me," added the Antrim man.
"John played really well himself. Take nothing away from him. He closed out the match the way you would expect John Higgins to do."
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However, Allen felt the match slipped away from him in Saturday's morning session as Higgins took six of the eight frames.
"Twelve o'clock is normally the time when I'm getting up and lazing about the house," added Allen, who has won three ranking tournaments in his 12-year professional career.
"You need to prepare in all facets. Not just working on the table but working on the table at the right times. I just wasn't prepared for a 10 o'clock match."
However, when asked whether he will address the morning session issue in the future, Allen replied:"Probably not."
Allen added that he is attempting to lose weight in order to boost his ability to perform in the major tournaments.
"I've got to keep working hard and lose a bit of weight. I've lost a stone and half since the Masters. There's maybe another seven [stone] to go. I'll just keep working hard."
The Northern Irishman revealed that his hopes of working again with his former coach Terry Griffiths had been dashed.
"Myself and Terry thought we were getting back together. He's said 'no'. That's a hard one for me because we had a very close relationship." | Mark Allen blamed his failure to prepare for morning play for his 13-9 second-round defeat by John Higgins at the World Championship. | 39685387 |
The 21-year-old had been on trial with the League One side after leaving Heerenveen, for whom he failed to play a league match in two seasons there.
Sietsma spent time on loan at Dutch second-tier side FC Emmen last term.
"This is a big club in a big stadium and I'm looking forward to the season," he told the club website.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | MK Dons have signed Dutch goalkeeper Wieger Sietsma on a free transfer on a two-year deal with the option of a further year. | 40533446 |
Coventry University's Scarborough campus will be built on land near the town's former Weaponness Park and Ride site and is due to open in 2016.
A spokesman for the university said it was hoped the development would create 100 jobs over the next three years.
The site will incorporate University Technical College Scarborough, which is also due to open in 2016.
The campus will offer a range of courses including law and policing, accounting and finance and science and engineering.
Ian Dunn, deputy vice-chancellor at Coventry University, which is investing £12m in the campus, said: "Bringing high quality higher education to Scarborough is the start of a journey towards a full university in the town.
Asked why the university was building a campus in Scarborough, he said: "Excellence in higher education should not be constrained by geography".
Councillor Tom Fox, leader of Scarborough Borough Council, said:"Backed by local businesses that are committed to raising the skills levels of the employees of the future, the campus will be a fundamental part of the growth of the area's economy from now on."
In February, the council unveiled plans for a 2,000-capacity community football stadium for Scarborough Athletic Football Club, also being built on the site.
Coventry University has previously made a bid to take over University of Hull's Scarborough campus, in Filey Road but lost out to the Hull College Group. | A new university campus is to be built in Scarborough as part of a £45m education and sports facility. | 31797308 |
Speaking in an interview with BBC Newsnight, he said strong criticism of Israel is legitimate, but to argue there should be no Israel "that's where anti-Zionism becomes anti-Semitism".
Oz's books have been published in more than 40 languages.
He is regarded as a liberal and is firmly in favour of a two-state solution for Israel.
In recent months, the Labour Party in the UK has been embroiled in a row over anti-Semitism, and whether the party has a problem on the issue.
Oz told Newsnight's Kirsty Wark: "I can tell you exactly where I draw the line. If people call Israel nasty, I to some degree agree. If people call Israel the devil incarnated, I think they are obsessed - they are mad. But this is still legitimate."
"But if they carry on saying that therefore there should be no Israel, that's where anti-Zionism becomes anti-Semitism, because none of them ever said after Hitler that Germany should cease to exist, or after Stalin that there should be no Russia."
"Saying that Israel should cease to exist, or should not have come into being, this is crossing the line."
Amos Oz has won numerous awards for his books and has also commented widely on political issues. His latest novel, Judas, is a love story set in Jerusalem in 1959-60.
In February 2015, hundreds of UK artists signed a letter announcing they would take part in a cultural boycott of Israel. They said they would not accept professional invitations to Israel, or take any funding from organisations linked to the government.
Other prominent artists - including writer JK Rowling and historian Simon Schama - later criticised the move as "divisive and discriminatory".
Oz told Newsnight he believes cultural boycotts of Israel are counter-productive.
"I think boycott is hurting the wrong people. The idea that all Israelis are villains is a childish idea. Israel is the most deeply divided, argumentative society. You'll never find two Israelis that agree with one another - it's hard to find even one who agrees with himself or herself."
"Boycott is the wrong way because it hardens the Israeli resistance, and it deepens the Israeli paranoia that the whole world is against us."
"Boycott was very effective in the case of South Africa. But you have to be very stupid to think the prescription - the medicine that worked very well against cholera -will also kill the plague.
"This is a kind of laziness - mental laziness. South Africa was bad. The Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories is bad, in a totally different way. You need a different prescription."
Amos Oz was speaking to BBC Newsnight's Kirsty Wark. Watch the full interview on Newsnight at 22:30 on BBC Two, or catch up afterwards on iPlayer | One of Israel's great living writers, Amos Oz, says people who say Israel should not exist are anti-Semitic. | 37349244 |
A report found most Syrians had lost their legal status since the measures were adopted a year ago, putting them at risk of exploitation and abuse.
Only two out of the 40 refugees HRW researchers interviewed said they had been able to renew their residencies.
Last week, the Lebanese authorities forcefully repatriated 400 Syrians.
They had arrived at Beirut's international airport with the intention of travelling on to Turkey but were unable to board connecting Turkish Airlines flights before new visa regulations for Syrians imposed by the Turkish authorities came into force.
Amnesty International called Lebanon's decision to deport the Syrians "an outrageous breach" of its international obligations to protect refugees.
Lebanon is home to more than 1.07 million Syrians who have fled their country since the start of the civil war almost five years ago.
Under the residency regulations introduced last January, refugees applying to renew their residency permits are sorted into two categories: those registered with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and those who are not and must find a Lebanese sponsor.
HRW found that prohibitive paperwork requirements and fees, combined with arbitrary application of the regulations, effectively barred Syrians in both categories from renewal.
There are no official statistics, but local and international aid workers told HRW that most Syrians they were assisting had lost their legal status.
Almost all the refugees interviewed by HRW's researchers said they could not pay the $200 (£139) annual residency renewal fee. The UNHCR says 70% of Syrian refugees in Lebanon fall below the poverty line and rely on aid to survive.
HRW said the need to find a sponsor increased Syrians' exposure to harassment and facilitated corruption.
One refugee was quoted as saying that sponsors were making a business out of the Syria crisis, selling sponsorships for up to $1,000 a person. "Potential sponsors wait on the Syrian border or at the airport to sell sponsorships to new arrivals," the refugee said.
Another told HRW that the fact that his sponsor was his employer had locked him into an endless cycle of abuse and exploitation.
"My boss makes me work more than 12 hours a day at his shop," he said. "Sometimes I complain but then he threatens to cancel my sponsorship. What can I do? I have to do whatever he says. I feel like his slave."
Five women refugees told HRW that sponsors and employers had attempted to sexually exploit them, and that they did not dare approach the authorities to complain.
"These residency regulations are making life impossible for refugees in Lebanon and are pushing them underground," said Nadim Houry, HRW's deputy Middle East director. "The last thing Lebanon needs is a large, undocumented community living at the margins of society, at heightened risk of abuse." | Regulations being imposed in Lebanon effectively bar many Syrian refugees from renewing their residency permits, Human Rights Watch says. | 35290904 |
Miami-born filmmaker Barry Jenkins wrote and directed the film, based on a play by Tarell Alvin McCraney, about a young African American boy named Chiron coming to terms with his sexuality as he grows up in a tough Florida neighbourhood.
However, while the shoot took only 25 days, Jenkins says he conceived the project "at least three-and-a-half years ago".
He explains: "That's fairly average because it takes a long time for a film to get made.
"So all these movies we have this year - Birth of a Nation, A United Kingdom, Loving, Fences - which are being framed as a reply to the campaign about the lack of diversity in the system, probably began about four years ago.
"So the cry about the lack of voices and representation on our screens actually goes much further back and now films like ours are beginning to surface."
With a budget of around $5m (£4m), Moonlight has now made twice that figure at the North American box office, and has screened to almost universal acclaim at festivals including Telluride, Toronto and London.
Mahershala Ali, best known for playing Captain Boggs in The Hunger Games, and British actress Naomie Harris both secured acting nominations from the Golden Globes.
The film is also nominated for best drama, best director, best screenplay and best original score.
Harris says she "put heart and soul into this little film - we all did".
She plays Chiron's drug addict mother and had to complete her scenes in three days.
"It had a really small budget, and everyone did it because they were passionate about it. It's a very rare film - it speaks of a very profound love," she says.
"And the response we've had has been overwhelming - I think people are hungry for these kinds of stories."
Film critics now believe the race for awards glory is between Moonlight, Damien Chazelle's musical La La Land and Manchester By The Sea by Kenneth Lonergan.
"You always hope to be part of endeavours that resonate with audiences," Mahershala Ali says. "But you don't want it to reflect how you approach the work.
"It's just humbling being part of the conversation, especially after a much-needed shake up in the industry about people of colour," he continues.
"But I want the film to be rewarded on it own merits, not because it's a film of diversity. As an African American, you just want to see projects go ahead that have 'other' faces in them with the potential to stand up against any film.
"You know, we had this same conversation a few years ago when the film Precious came out, about change. I hope it's a wake up call, because I know a lot of wonderful directors and writers who didn't get their films made because they didn't fit the type."
Barry Jenkins's last film, 2008's Medicine for Melancholy, about African Americans struggling to fit in to the hipster scene of San Francisco, also featured themes of being an outsider in a community.
While many have highlighted a lack of Hollywood films giving gay characters a platform over the years, Jenkins points out that Brad Pitt's Plan B company part-produced Moonlight, and says there was "never a sense that what we were doing was unorthodox or provocative".
The film had "multiple offers of financing", he explains.
"However, I have never seen characters like this in a movie before, and between Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain and now, there have been too few representations of gay characters in cinema.
"I would certainly welcome more of it, because there's always going to be some kid who needs to see himself or herself on screen, and the more people who see the film, the more likely that kid is to go out and write something themselves one day, and then the vacuum is further filled.
"There's also the need for someone to see it to know they are not the only one in the world going through these ordeals of adolescence, that's been a positive of talking so much about the film. When I actually saw the play those years ago, there was so much up there that reminded me of myself."
Naomie Harris adds: "I want this film to get as much attention as possible, because it absolutely deserves it, in my opinion. It's got a unique perspective.
"Perhaps it's because my mum is a scriptwriter herself, I think the key to success is always in the writing and what we need is to help young diverse talent.
"The cry for more diversity on screen was a long time in coming, we've needed it, and I hope this year we are finally beginning to see it."
Moonlight will be released in the UK on 17 February.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. | It's been hailed by critics as diverse film-making at its best, but the director of Moonlight, which has six Golden Globe nominations, says the film is not a response to the #OscarsSoWhite criticism of last year's award season. | 38342818 |
A restored print of Sleigh Bells (1928) will have its world premiere at the BFI in London in next month.
The BFI says the re-discovery of the "long-lost" six-minute film in its archive is a "joyful treat".
Other Oswald films survive but Sleigh Bells has been unseen since its original release.
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was invented by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks for Universal in 1927 before they went on to create Mickey Mouse.
The only surviving print of Sleigh Bells was preserved in the BFI National Archive and was "re-discovered" by a researcher browsing its online catalogue.
The restoration work was carried out by Walt Disney Animation Studios and the new print will be shown at BFI Southbank on 12 December as part of a programme of Disney Christmas shorts.
"What a joyful treat to discover a long-lost Walt Disney film in the BFI National Archive and to be able to show Sleigh Bells to a whole new audience 87 years after it was made," said Robin Baker, head curator at the BFI National Archive.
"The restoration of this film will introduce many audiences to Disney's work in the silent period - it clearly demonstrates the vitality and imagination of his animation at a key point in his early career."
Andrew Millstein, president of Walt Disney Animation Studios, which oversaw the restoration, said the Oswald shorts were an important part of Disney history.
"We have been working with film archives and private collectors all around the world to research the missing titles." | A cartoon featuring the first Disney character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, is to be screened for the first time in 87 years. | 34711495 |
In a joint statement, the pair acknowledged their relationship had been volatile.
"Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love," it read.
Lawyers for Heard filed a motion on Tuesday to dismiss a temporary restraining order against Depp.
News of the divorce settlement came just a day before a hearing regarding the restraining order was due to begin.
The temporary order had ordered Depp not to contact Heard, and stay 100 yards away from her, after she accused him of striking her and throwing a mobile phone during a fight earlier this year.
The Hollywood star, 53, had always denied abuse allegations made by his former wife.
Heard, 30, filed for divorce in May and obtained the temporary restraining order against Depp a few days later.
The couple, who were married for just under 18 months, also came to a financial settlement as part of their divorce.
Unconfirmed reports put the value of the settlement between $7 million (£5.4 million) and $7.7 million (£5.9 million).
"Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain. There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm," the statement continued.
It said Heard would be donating proceeds from the divorce settlement to an undisclosed charity.
Neither of the actors said they would comment further on the case.
Depp has two children from a previous relationship with French singer and model Vanessa Paradis.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram at bbcnewsents, or email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. | Johnny Depp and Amber Heard have settled their divorce, saying neither of them intended to cause the other any physical or emotional harm. | 37094613 |
David Beckett said his beloved wife has passed away peacefully in a Manchester hospital.
"David and the programme's cast and crew are heartbroken and deeply saddened," said an ITV statement.
She appeared on the soap for more than 40 years and her co-stars have been sharing their memories of her life.
Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube | Anne Kirkbride, who played Deirdre Barlow in Coronation Street, has died after "a short illness," her husband has confirmed. | 30891002 |
The mayors of Paris, Mexico City, Madrid and Athens say they are implementing the ban to improve air quality.
They say they will give incentives for alternative vehicle use and promote walking and cycling.
The commitments were made in Mexico at a biennial meeting of city leaders.
The use of diesel in transport has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years, as concerns about its impact on air quality have grown. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that around three million deaths every year are linked to exposure to outdoor air pollution.
Europe pollution 'kills 467,000 a year'
Diesel cars: What's all the fuss about?
London air quality alerts announced
Diesel engines contribute to the problem in two key ways - through the production of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Very fine soot PM can penetrate the lungs and can contribute to cardiovascular illness and death.
Nitrogen oxides can help form ground level ozone and this can exacerbate breathing difficulties, even for people without a history of respiratory problems.
As the evidence has mounted, environmental groups have used the courts to try and enforce clear air standards and regulations. In the UK, campaigners have recently had success in forcing the government to act more quickly.
Now, mayors from a number of major cities with well known air quality problems have decided to use their authority to clamp down on the use of diesel.
In the UK, campaigners are calling for London's mayor to commit to phase out diesel vehicles from London by 2025.
Sadiq Khan has proposed an expansion to the planned Ultra-Low Emission Zone in central London.
ClientEarth lawyer Alan Andrews said: "In the UK, London's mayor is considering bolder action than his predecessor, proposing an expansion to the planned Ultra-Low Emission Zone. This is welcome but we want him to go further and faster.
"And it's not just London that has this problem, we need a national network of clean air zones so that the problem is not simply pushed elsewhere."
The diesel ban is hugely significant. Carmakers will look at this decision and know it's just a matter of time before other city mayors follow suit.
The history of vehicle manufacture shows that firms that do not keep up with environmental improvements will fail in a global market. The biggest shapers of automobile design are not carmakers, but rulemakers.
There is already a rush to improve electric and hydrogen cars and hybrids. That will now become a stampede.
There is an ironic twist to this. Governments originally promoted diesel vehicles because they produce fewer of the CO2 emissions that are increasing climate change.
But manufacturers misled governments about their ability to clean up the local pollution effects, so now diesel vehicles are being banned to clean up local air.
In their place will come electric and hydrogen vehicles, which are perfect for climate policy, if the power comes from renewables. Strange world.
Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin
At the C40 meeting of urban leaders in Mexico, the four mayors declared that they would ban all diesel vehicles by 2025 and "commit to doing everything in their power to incentivise the use of electric, hydrogen and hybrid vehicles".
"It is no secret that in Mexico City, we grapple with the twin problems of air pollution and traffic," said the city's mayor, Miguel à | The leaders of four major global cities say they will stop the use of all diesel-powered cars and trucks by the middle of the next decade. | 38170794 |
David Thouless and Michael Kosterlitz will share the 8m kronor (£727,000) prize with their fellow scientist Duncan Haldane.
Their work could result in improved materials for electronics and super-fast computing.
The three men received the award at a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden.
Announcing the prize in October, the Nobel Committee said the trio's discoveries had "opened the door on an unknown world".
One half of the physics prize was awarded to Thouless, with the other half jointly given to Haldane and Kosterlitz for "theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter".
Although British-born, all three now live and work in the US.
Thouless was born in 1934 in Bearsden and is an emeritus professor at the University of Washington. Michael Kosterlitz was born in 1942 in Aberdeen and is currently affiliated to Brown University.
They and Haldane join a prestigious list of 200 other Physics laureates recognised since 1901.
All three researchers used maths to explain strange physical effects in rare states of matter, such as superconductors, superfluids and thin magnetic films.
Kosterlitz and Thouless focused on phenomena that arise in flat forms of matter - on surfaces or inside extremely thin layers that can be considered two-dimensional.
This contrasts with the three dimensions of length, width and height which are usually used to describe reality.
Haldane also studied matter that forms threads so thin they can be considered one-dimensional.
Much of the work involves a field of maths known as topology, which describes properties of matter at large and small scales. | Two Scottish-born scientists have been awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics for their discoveries about strange forms of matter. | 38275340 |
Tahir Nazir, 40, of Glasgow, also targeted students in Manchester where he tried to rape a sleeping woman.
Manchester Crown Court heard he had a sexual obsession with students and repeatedly tried to enter their rooms during a tour of university locations.
He was found guilty of sexual assault, attempted rape and trespass offences.
The court heard Nazir was caught "on top" of a very drunk student after he broke into a house in Cathays, Cardiff, on 22 September, through a bathroom window.
On 1 November, a woman in Hulme, Manchester, said she woke to find him "licking her neck".
He was arrested on 6 November after women in a shared house in Fallowfield, Manchester, became concerned someone was trying to open the doors of their rooms in the early hours of the morning.
Nazir had denied claims his trips to Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Oxford, Bristol and Cardiff had a sexual purpose.
Instead, he told the court he loved driving and was "inspired by Gothic architecture".
He admitted having a fake university ID, which he said he used for discounts, and Viagra in his car, which he said gave him energy for clubbing.
The case was adjourned for sentencing in May. | A prowler who broke into a house in Cardiff looking for students to sexually assault has been found guilty of a string of sexual offences. | 35889019 |
Kellett, 21, has only made four senior appearances for Bolton and spent three months on loan at League Two Plymouth Argyle earlier this season.
Midfielder Janko, 19, has yet to make a senior appearance for United.
Last week, defender Sadiq El Fitouri, 20, joined the Premier League side from Evo-Stik First Division Salford City.
Kellett came through Bolton's academy and only made his senior debut for Wanderers last year.
He joined Plymouth in October, scoring one goal in 15 appearances for the Devon club.
Kellett is United's third signing of the January transfer window, following moves for El Fitouri and former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes.
"A series of loans have reduced the options available to Manchester United Under-21 boss Warren Joyce. So when the decision was made to let 19-year-old Swiss youngster Saidy Janko compete for a first-team place at Bolton for the remainder of the season, Joyce needed his squad replenishing. Kellett has been offered the chance of a lifetime, one he could not have thought possible a week ago." | Manchester United have signed Bolton defender Andy Kellett on loan until the end of the season, with Saidy Janko moving the other way. | 31105809 |
By showing up for a 9/11 commemoration ceremony on Sunday, despite being diagnosed with pneumonia, the Democratic presidential hopeful was doing what millions of Americans do every day - ignoring her symptoms and attempting to "power through" a day's work.
"No one's allowed to be sick. Sickness is weakness," says LeaAnne DeRigne, associate professor of social work at Florida Atlantic University.
"The attitude is 'I'm irreplaceable - if I don't show up, my job won't get done.' Some of it is also concern about how you are going to be viewed as an employee - whether you can be counted on or not. Whether by having too many sick days, too many absences, you are not seen as reliable."
She adds: "At the very core of being American is the idea of being a hard worker."
Not that most Americans have a choice in the matter.
America is one of the few developed industrial nations that does not guarantee paid sick leave by law.
Eligible workers are allowed to take up to 12 weeks off for illnesses or a new baby without fear of losing their job - under the Family and Medical Leave Act, signed into law by Bill Clinton in 1993 - and many companies will allow their staff a few days' sick leave as part of their employee benefits package.
But for millions of low-paid workers, the rule is simple - if you don't show up for work you lose a day's pay.
Sick leave and pay are most generous in the Netherlands, where workers can be absent for up to two years, while receiving 70% of their salary, according to a report in February for employment agency Glassdoor.
The least generous sick leave in the EU is in the UK, where workers are paid a flat rate of about £88 a week for 28 weeks.
EU countries also guarantee 20 paid vacation days a year, plus public holidays. Some EU countries go further.
Sweden, France and Denmark all offer 25 days' paid leave a year as minimum. Spain is the best place for public holidays with 14.
There is no statutory minimum for paid holiday in the US, although the average is about 10 days in practice, plus public holidays. Polls suggest unused vacation is at an all-time high.
The UK government is facing calls from trade unions and the Labour opposition to protect paid leave and workers' rights when the country negotiates its exit from the EU.
America's national vacation problem
Nearly a quarter of US adults have been fired or threatened with the sack for taking time off to recover from illness or to care for a sick loved one, according to Family Values at Work, which campaigns for paid leave.
This climate is particularly tough for women, who are still the main caregivers for young children and elderly relatives, says Leanne DeRigne, whose research suggests some families could be spending more on medical bills because they are delaying treatment rather than taking time off.
It can also have serious repercussions for public health.
In February, Mexican fast-food chain Chipotle partly blamed a 2015 outbreak of the norovirus vomiting bug on employees who had come to work sick at branches in Boston and Simi Valley, California.
The company, which employs 50,000 people across the US, now requires employees to stay home from work on paid sick leave for five days after their symptoms have disappeared.
But even when they are entitled to sick leave, many Americans don't take it. More than a quarter of workers surveyed in 2014 by public health agency NSF said they always go to work when they are ill.
The hard-driving, long hours culture of the American workplace is no place to risk being seen as a slacker.
"Any real business venture, besides government employment, when you say you have a 'nine-to-five' it's more like you have an 'eight-to-seven', at least in DC, and especially in New York City," says Nicholas Scheeberger, a 30-year-old technology sales executive, from Washington DC.
"It's like an unspoken understanding. Your boss isn't going to tell you you need to stay and work extra, but if you are the guy that gets in at nine and goes home at five every day, you are probably not going to last."
Scheeberger says he had no problem with the lack of paid leave when he worked as a bartender - casual employment suits those marking time between "real jobs", who make most of their income from tips.
Now that he has an office job, he has two weeks' vacation and "seven to 10 sick days" - but there is pressure not to use the entitlement.
"Don't get me wrong - there are plenty of people who call in when they are hungover. But it's more - even if you are sick and there is something of importance, you absolutely need to be at work."
If there is a big client meeting or seminar, he adds, "unless you are on your deathbed, chances are you are going to work".
Polls suggest the American public are strongly in favour of paid sick leave - but progress towards it has been slow.
Some states, such as California and New York, have passed their own laws. As a result, an estimated 11.3 million American workers now have the right to some form of paid leave.
Hillary Clinton has vowed to introduce 12 weeks' paid family leave and sick leave if she wins the presidential election. Donald Trump has yet to comment on the issue, although he has backed paid maternity leave.
The Obama administration's attempts to introduce paid leave ran into stiff opposition on Capitol Hill.
Republicans argued it would hurt small businesses and lead to job losses - and scoffed at the idea that America could learn lessons from supposedly less hard-working European nations. | Hillary Clinton will not be the only American who has gone to work this week with an illness that should have kept her at home. | 37353742 |
There are many types of epilepsy and epileptic seizure, including both convulsive (involving shaking/body spasms of some kind) and non-convulsive (where people might show no signs of having had a seizure). We spoke to Sophie Harries, who had her first convulsive seizure at the age of 15.
So, what is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a neurological condition which leads to the person to have seizures. These occur in the brain and can be focal or generalised.
What kind of epilepsy do you have?
I have generalised idiopathic epilepsy with photosensitivity, which means that the cause is thought to be genetic and I have generalised seizures. I have tonic clonic or grand mal seizures, which is the stereotypical shaking and grunting.
Also, my epilepsy is triggered by flashing lights which is the photosensitivity part. Only 5% of people have photosensitive epilepsy and it is typically triggered by flashing lights such as strobes, camera flashes or bicycle lights - but sunlight flickering through trees is another trigger.
Can you describe what it's like to have a seizure - do you remember it?
I can never remember my seizures, I've lost up to four days before. Afterwards I sleep for a very long time - I also ache, and have a really bad headache that lasts the whole day.
Do you get any warning signs that you're about to have a seizure?
Find out more from Epilepsy Society
Most of my seizures have occurred when I'm either asleep or going to sleep - however I have had one whilst awake and I didn't get any warning signs like some people get.
How does someone get epilepsy - were you born with it?
Epilepsy can be inherited (idiopathic) or caused through injury such as stroke or a tumour (symptomatic). Although my epilepsy is thought to be genetic I developed my epilepsy at 15; this may be due to my seizure threshold (the level of stimulation at which your brain will have a seizure) becoming less but no one can say for certain.
Do you remember your first experience of epilepsy?
My first experience of epilepsy was really scary. I was abroad, the doctor spoke broken English and I was being given a drug to help my muscles relax. I had no idea what had happened and when I found out I was even more scared.
Why now? What caused it? What's wrong with me? So many questions which didn't have answers, and not all of them will ever will be answered. Even now when I have a seizure it knocks all my confidence and all the questions get asked again.
What do you have to do to control your epilepsy?
I take medication daily to control my epilepsy and will have to for the rest of my life. I also have to avoid triggers, make sure I get enough sleep and don't get too stressed.
How does it affect your day to day life?
Day to day my epilepsy doesn't have a massive impact but I do have to be mindful of situations - especially if there is anything to do with lights. Bicycle lights that flash when I'm walking home are a particular issue in the winter, and then in the summer I have to cover one eye if the sun is flickering through trees.
Do you feel like people treat you differently because you have epilepsy?
Most people don't treat me too differently if at all, although they are mindful of my triggers and try to avoid them.
However, some people do treat me differently. I've been called "Epi" instead of my actual name (which the person didn't bother to learn!), and I've been told that I am possessed and have the devil in me, when I was on a bus. I have also been told that epilepsy isn't a disability and that I'm making a fuss out of nothing.
Is there anything you can/can't do as a result of your epilepsy?
I can't go to the cinema or nightclubs with my friends where there are strobing lights, and I have to ensure I get enough sleep and don't get too stressed.
Do you feel it's had a positive or negative effect on your life, overall?
Overall I feel that epilepsy has negatively impacted my life, but I have been able to work with Epilepsy Society to raise awareness which I see as really valuable.
What advice would you give a young person who's just been diagnosed with epilepsy?
I would say to get stuck in raising awareness - it will be incredibly valuable and help you come to terms with your diagnosis.
Also be open and talk about it with people. Initially I didn't want to tell people I had epilepsy and it made it difficult to say and explain it - it became my big secret.
Finally, focus on the positives and the milestones. This month I'm a year seizure free :) | According to research by Epilepsy Society, over half a million people in the UK have epilepsy. | 35775945 |
In a tradition as established as turkey curry on Boxing Day, swims were held across Wales, including Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, and Abersoch in Gwynedd.
However, high winds meant the dip in Morfa Nefyn, Gwynedd, was cancelled.
Abersoch RNLI chairman, Phill Brown said the swim was "well supported by dippers and spectators alike".
Organisers of the Morfa Nefyn swim said it would be rearranged for Easter.
Barry organisers said between 400 and 500 people braved the cold water, with 1,856 taking part in Saundersfoot and a further 500 in Abersoch.
Saundersfoot Festivities chairman Martyn Williams said: "The village and wider community has done us proud again. We could not have conceived 33 years ago we would be here now hosting such a major event."
A spokeswoman for the swim in Barry said: "It was brilliant." | Thousands of hardy souls got their 2017 off to a chilly start with a New Year's Day swim in the seas around Wales. | 38483568 |
The county's fire and rescue service said it was "overwhelmed" with the response and the fact that 150 of the applicants were female.
County area manager, John McVay, said the number would be shortlisted to 100, with nine women guaranteed to go through to the next phase.
But he said no women would be guaranteed a job and the roles would go to the best candidates.
It is the county's first firefighter recruitment drive in eight years.
Shortlisted candidates will face physical fitness, strength and agility tests.
Mr McVay said: "There is perception that a firefighter is predominantly a male role and we are trying to change that.
"We know and understand that the role of a firefighter is for everyone.
"It is also not all about physical strength and fitness. We want people who are disciplined and can take orders, but also people who can go into schools and talk about fire safety."
In the past decade the county has seen a 50% reduction in fire incidents, a spokesman for the fire service said. | More than 1,000 people applied for 15 jobs as a full-time fighter in Cumbria. | 37913277 |
It was reported at the weekend that the Tykes had erroneously submitted a bid for the 21-year-old to a fans' website.
Mallan scored 11 goals this season to help the Buddies retain their Scottish Championship status.
Saints chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick said: "I understand supporters will be sad to see Stevie go but we feel it is the right time."
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | Championship club Barnsley have signed St Mirren midfielder Stevie Mallan for an undisclosed fee on a two-year deal. | 39967706 |
The ruling New Azerbaijan party had won at least 70 seats in the 125-seat parliament, the commission said.
A host of small parties and candidates loyal to President Ilham Aliyev took almost all the rest.
The opposition has accused the government of jailing its opponents.
International monitors from the OSCE did not observe the vote, citing government restrictions.
More than a dozen political parties were vying for 125 seats in Azerbaijan's National Assembly.
But analysts say those that could be considered genuine in their opposition to the government refused to participate.
"The pre-election period was marred by massive violations. That's why we decided not to participate," opposition Musavat Party leader Arif Gajily told Reuters news agency.
Sunday's vote serves as a reminder of the oppressive political environment inside the oil-rich nation.
In the past two years the Azeri authorities have jailed almost all critical voices, among them journalists, civil society activists, and human rights lawyers.
The government has also become increasingly intolerant of international criticism.
It denied the existence of any political prisoners, and it frequently describes negative publicity as a Western agenda to discredit Azerbaijan.
The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the leading international monitoring group, has not considered any of Azerbaijan's elections since independence to be free and fair.
This year - for the first time in more than two decades - it chose not to send a mission, condemning the Azerbaijani government's "crackdown on independent and critical voices". | Azerbaijan's ruling party has won parliamentary elections that were boycotted by the main opposition parties, the country's electoral commission said. | 34692390 |
The directive came after reports that Kashmiri students were verbally abused and beaten in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan.
Kashmir saw fresh clashes between troops and protesters amid attempts to hold a by-election earlier in April.
Mr Singh said that Kashmiris were part of India's "family".
Muslim-majority Kashmir is at the centre of a decades-old territorial dispute between India and Pakistan.
Both countries claim Kashmir in its entirety and control different parts of it. India accuses Pakistan of supporting separatist sentiment in Kashmir, but Islamabad denies this.
In a tweet, Mr Singh said: "The Kashmiri youth also contribute in the progress of India. Action should be taken by the states against those who target them".
His comments came a day after six Kashmiri men studying at a university in Rajasthan were allegedly called terrorists and beaten up by locals.
Billboards that refer to "stone-pelting Kashmiris" and ask them to leave have also appeared in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
The latest bout of violence in Kashmir has killed nine people. Local protesters have been hurling stones at security forces who have been accused of opening fire into the crowds.
A viral video of a group of Kashmiris heckling a soldier has also contributed to anti-Kashmiri sentiment in the rest of the country.
There has been an armed revolt in the Muslim-majority region against rule by India since 1989.
High unemployment and complaints of heavy-handed tactics by security forces battling street protesters and fighting insurgents have aggravated the problem. | India's Home Affairs Minister Rajnath Singh has told state governments to ensure the safety of students from Indian-administered Kashmir. | 39664864 |
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Les Bleus beat world champions Germany 2-0 in their semi-final in front of a fiercely partisan Marseille crowd.
"We don't have the power to solve the French people's problems but we can ease their worries," Deschamps said.
"There is a lot of passion and fervour. There is a lot of happiness all over France tonight."
There had been security concerns in the build-up to the tournament following the November attacks across Paris, including at the Stade de France, which killed 130 people.
Towards the start of the tournament there were strikes in France and protests in Paris over a labour reform bill, which saw 58 arrests and 29 police officers among 40 people injured.
"We experience the passion when we talk to the people," said Deschamps, whose side face Portugal in Sunday's final at the Stade de France (kick-off 20:00 BST).
"Now the players are well aware of that power, and what they can give to the French people by wearing these colours.
"When you see the passion, inside and outside the stadium, this team has everything it takes to be loved, the players are performing well on the pitch and I'm very proud.
"We are in a final. We have our chance and Portugal have their chance too. It's not as if just because we're hosts and have knocked out Germany that gives us additional power. Portugal believe in themselves, and we believe in ourselves. It's still very open."
"We again have a hero, a striker who can make us win tournaments. Hopefully. What a player."
When those words come from France's all-time top scorer, Thierry Henry, you know something special has happened.
Antoine Griezmann scored both goals against Germany to take his tally for the tournament to six - twice as many goals as anyone else.
"We're very happy. We can start dreaming of 10 July. There's still one match to go to finish with a flourish. It's going to be tricky but I hope this won't be the end. It's our duty to win matches for the French public."
Atletico Madrid striker Griezmann opened the scoring at the end of the first half from a penalty.
It was his first spot-kick from open play since missing in the Champions League final against Real Madrid, although he did go on to score in the shootout which his team lost.
"I missed my penalty in the Champions League final and I really wanted to take a penalty in another important match," the 25-year-old said. "I'm pleased to have taken that decision, and to have scored."
His second goal, after Germany keeper Manuel Neuer failed to full clear a Paul Pogba cross, came midway through the second half.
Griezmann's six goals is the second highest tally for one player at a single European Championship. Michel Platini has the record with nine at Euro 1984 - a tournament which France won as hosts.
He is the joint fourth top scorer in all European Championship games combined - level with, among others, Henry, who took three tournaments to score six.
Platini - who never played in another Euros - and Cristiano Ronaldo, who will face France in the final, are level at the top on nine.
"I'm still very far off Michel Platini and hopefully one day I can get closer to that," said Griezmann, who was famously pictured in tears after Germany beat France in the 2014 World Cup quarter-final.
His strike partner Olivier Giroud said: "It's an emotional night. We will savour this and then tomorrow focus on the next game in three days' time.
"Antoine Griezmann has grown as this tournament has gone on. I'm delighted for him. He gives us a bit extra.
"I'd really like to write a chapter in history. Everyone wants to achieve something great on Sunday."
BBC pundit Henry said: "I am so emotional. It's nice to see that togetherness in the team, and with the fans.
"At the back they were great. The main man Griezmann, we all knew that he had to play this type of game. Germany made two mistakes on the goals but he put them in the back of the net."
About Griezmann equalling his Euros haul of six, Henry said: "What the guy is doing is astonishing. He can score a hat-trick or four goals, I don't care. What a player."
Germany manager Joachim Low was uncertain about his future when asked after the game.
Die Mannschaft have reached the semi-finals in each of the five tournaments Low has managed them in, reaching two finals - their Euro 2008 defeat and 2014 World Cup win.
"I can't predict things from tomorrow. I'm still disappointed. I won't think about that tonight," said Low, whose contract has another two years left to run.
"How I cope with that, it's difficult to answer. We haven't discussed beforehand what we would do after a loss. Maybe tomorrow [Friday] or in two or three days we will talk about that and consider if there is anything to discuss."
He thought his side were unfortunate to lose to France, but now expected Les Bleus to win the tournament.
"I think they will win against Portugal. Portugal has not convinced that much in the games so far. I think France are a very good side," he said.
"But in 2012 or 2010 when we went out, the other sides were better than us. Today that wasn't the case. We were better than the French. We didn't have the luck we needed.
"If we had scored, we could have dominated this match. If you concede in the 44th minute, everyone was shocked. I had to calm the players down in the dressing room."
Create leagues and play against your friends in BBC Sport's new Euro 2016 Predictor game | France reaching the final of their home Euro 2016 is helping to bring back a feelgood factor in the country, says manager Didier Deschamps. | 36740593 |
Motor journalist Chris Harris and TV presenter Rory Reid have also been signed to co-present the programme.
They will join Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc when the BBC Two programme returns in May.
The new presenters were signed after Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond left the programme last year.
Sabine Schmitz will become the show's first female presenter in 15 years. The last was Vicki Butler-Henderson in 2001.
Speaking about her new role, Schmitz said "the chance to combine both driving and filming was too good an opportunity to pass up".
"I've appeared on Top Gear a few times in the past, so I know we're going to have a lot of fun," she added.
Schmitz has already been filming a sequence with Chris Evans for the new series that "will leave even the most hardened speed-demons gasping for breath when it debuts on TV", the BBC said in a statement.
Her fellow co-presenter Chris Harris is well known for fronting various motoring programmes on YouTube.
Referencing the show's cheeky and irreverent style, Harris said: "I'm quite gobby and happy to get into trouble, so I'm hoping I can underpin the programme with journalistic credibility but still cause some mischief."
Newcomer Rory Reid was recruited to Top Gear from the show's 2015 public auditions, but previously presented for CNET's Car Tech channel, and also had a starring role in Sky 1's Gadget Geeks series.
He said: "When I submitted my 30-second audition tape, I knew the odds were very firmly against me, as the auditions were open to absolutely everybody.
"To be the only person to make it through the open audition process makes me immensely proud."
Former presenter Jeremy Clarkson left the show last year after an "unprovoked physical attack" on one of the show's producers.
His co-stars James May and Richard Hammond also exited the show. All three have since been signed up to present a new motoring programme for Amazon Prime.
Chris Evans said of his new Top Gear gang: "We really do have a bit of everything for everyone." | Formula 1 commentator Eddie Jordan and German racing driver Sabine Schmitz are to join the new series of Top Gear. | 35548081 |
Liberty Group bought equipment used by Mabey Bridge in Chepstow to make steel towers for wind turbines.
It is now deciding where to base its centre.
The firm would not comment on the possible location, but it is understood it is keen to stay in the area because the skills are still available.
Liberty Group, which owns steelworks and a power station in Newport, is looking to supply masts for the offshore wind sector, pylons for the National Grid and turbine casings for Tidal Lagoon Power, if the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon goes ahead.
Mabey Bridge's Chepstow site closed in September 2015 but Liberty described its equipment as "state of the art".
The steel it would use in production would come from two steelworks in Scotland Liberty recently bought from Tata and the manufacturing centre would employ about 100 skilled engineers.
Liberty's executive chairman Sanjeev Gupta said: "Our aim is to create a world class centre for the production of tubular towers and other large scale steel fabrication.
"Most of these products are currently imported, so there is great potential to substitute this with our own production of best in class and competitive British towers."
In the long term, Liberty hopes tidal energy will take off in the Severn Estuary; The sector is waiting for the outcome of the independent review of tidal lagoons, chaired by Charles Hendry, due to be completed in the autumn.
If it supports the development of the industry and the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon goes ahead, proposals for a tidal lagoon in Cardiff will progress quickly, closely followed by plans for one in Colwyn Bay, Conwy.
Liberty's sister company, SIMEC, is a major investor in Tidal Lagoon Power, the company behind Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon.
Mr Gupta said: "It is particularly appropriate that this new business will supply the renewable energy market in view of our own green steel strategy, which involves investing in green energy as the basis of a competitive UK steel and engineering industry."
There no timescale for when the final decision on the location will be made.
The best result for the Welsh economy would be if it was based in Wales, employing staff who used to work for Mabey Bridge and using steel made in Wales.
In the long term, it could both supply steel casings for tidal turbines and use renewable energy generation from tidal lagoons. | A steel firm has bought equipment left over after a Monmouthshire renewable energy factory closed down, with a view to creating a new manufacturing centre. | 36849707 |
A bottlenose dolphin has been photographed playing with an unfortunate fish.
The flounder was thrown into the air from the mammal's mouth and bounced off its nose, before being devoured.
Whale and Dolphin Conservation field officer and photographer Charlie Phillips captured the action on camera on Friday from Chanonry Point on the Moray Firth.
The firth is home to a population of bottlenose dolphins. | All images are copyrighted. | 39920680 |
Researchers have shown that a radio campaign broadcasting key health messages in Burkina Faso really does change people's behaviour.
In Radio Djiawoampo's studio, the actors are hamming up the benefits of using a proper toilet instead of relieving yourself out in the woods.
The entertaining drama is part of a radio campaign promoting child health across Burkina Faso.
Three quarters of the country's population listen to the radio every day, so it can have real impact, according to Matthew Lavoie of Development Media International (DMI), the organisation behind the campaign.
"One of the most troubling, devilling, stubborn public health problems in the developing world is child mortality [...] Our goal is to reduce mortality, and we think that the most effective tool is mass communication."
Millions are spent each year on health campaigns in developing countries, but is there any real proof they work?
And in the current Ebola outbreak, public health messages are being put out by a number of radio stations.
In the first trial of its kind, researchers have shown that radio - often written off as an old-fashioned medium - really does affect people's behaviour.
And this translates into saved lives: DMI has developed a mathematical model that predicts their campaign could save a million lives over several years, if it was rolled out across ten developing countries.
Not only that, pound-for-pound it could be as cost-effective as essential health interventions like vaccinations.
They are putting their model to the test in Burkina Faso, and early results are encouraging.
Dinyeri Pognoagou stirs baobab leaves into a pot, while her nine children are busy ploughing the field.
Six years ago one of her sons fell ill and died.
At the time, they thought his illness was "maize sickness," says Dinyeri.
"When the maize grows, the children pick it from the trees, then they get the disease and need treatment."
But it was malaria - the leading cause of child death in the country - that killed six-year-old Difiri.
One in 10 children in Burkina Faso dies before they reach the age of five; many of these deaths could be avoided by recognising the signs of malaria, or by adopting healthy habits like hand washing.
Radio Djiawoampo is Dinyeri's local station, and is one of seven community stations involved in the child health campaign.
As well as dramas, local radio personalities broadcast adverts and live phone-ins about things like the importance of breastfeeding, or how to spot medical emergencies like pneumonia.
Radio is more cost-effective, argues DMI's Innovation Manager Cathryn Wood, than other health initiatives like touring theatre and video screenings - which may only reach a few hundred people at a time, or poster campaigns - where illiteracy can be an obstacle.
And frequency is key in driving health messages home, she says: their minute-long health adverts are broadcast 10 times a day, while two 15-minute dramas air each weekday evening.
Both funny and sad dramas have the desired effect on listeners, according to scriptwriter Patricia Ouaba.
"They say they prefer the funny ones because the ones that are so sad make them miserable [...] But then we ask them - do the sad ones still help to change your behaviour? And they say yes!"
The radio team clearly believe in their ambition of improving child health.
But is it just a nice idea, or is it really having an effect on people's habits?
"The problem with mass communication is that it can be very soft - its effects aren't accurately measured," says Roy Head, CEO of Development Media International.
Child mortality rates have improved in Burkina Faso in recent years, but there was no proof that it was radio making the difference, rather than other factors like better trained health workers.
So researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Centre Muraz in Burkina Faso are running a randomised control trial to determine which changes are genuinely down to the radio campaign.
Because each of the seven radio stations only transmit to a limited area, they were able to compare people within range of the broadcasts - the experimental group - with those outside the broadcast range - the control group.
They surveyed both groups before the trial started, and again after 20 months to see what difference, if any, the broadcasts had made.
There was solid evidence that they were effective - though not in every case.
"Not all behaviours are equally easy to change," says Professor Simon Cousens, who led the research.
"One-off behaviours, like seeking care for a sick child, appear to have increased as a result of the campaign; for daily behaviours like hand washing and child feeding practices, the campaign seems to have had little or no impact so far."
Roy Head was surprised by the results.
"We thought what people could do in their own homes would be easier to change, rather than when they needed to actually travel to a health clinic. But in fact the campaign has been much more effective at getting people to go to a clinic."
The trial's final results are due out next year, and they will assess the reduction in child mortality during the campaign as well as behaviour changes reported by those surveyed.
If the results are what DMI hope, it would be the first time anyone has proved, definitively, that a media campaign can save children's lives.
But Dinyeri Pognoagou already has no doubt that the radio has changed her family's health for the better.
They have stopped drinking water from the dam and take the long walk to the safer water of the village pump instead.
Her husband even built a toilet, after constant nagging from their children - who also listen to the radio.
And now if one of them falls sick, they go to hospital straight away.
"The radio has opened my eyes," says Dinyeri.
"It's like a school for me. The radio is my teacher." | Could the humble radio save a million lives in the developing world? | 29551133 |
A coalition spokesman said the truce, which ended at midday (09:00 GMT), had been violated repeatedly by the rebels.
A pro-Houthi Yemeni army spokesman also accused the coalition of breaches.
The truce brought residents of the capital, Sanaa, a brief respite from air strikes. But fighting continued around the city of Taiz.
More than 7,000 people have been killed since the conflict in Yemen escalated in March 2015, when the coalition launched a military campaign in support of the government against the Houthis and allied security units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
More than three million people have also been displaced by the fighting, and 21 million are in need of some form of humanitarian assistance.
The coalition had said the cessation of hostilities, which came into effect on Saturday, might be extended if the rebels abided by it and allowed aid deliveries into besieged areas.
But on Monday coalition spokesman Maj-Gen Ahmed al-Asiri told AFP news agency: "There is no respect [for the truce], only violations."
"There have been more people killed in Taiz and more attacks with surface-to-surface missiles, so automatically the conditions are not there [for an extension]."
Gen Asiri accused the rebels of 563 breaches inside Yemen and 163 across the border in Saudi Arabia.
A spokesman for Yemeni forces fighting alongside the Houthis, Brig Gen Sharaf Luqman, told the Saba news agency that coalition fighter jets "and their mercenaries" had been responsible for 114 violations over two days, dropping cluster weapons and shelling areas near the Saudi border.
"The army and popular forces will reserve all rights to respond to any breaches and violations by the enemies against our citizens, vital facilities and infrastructure services," he added.
Fifteen rebels and nine loyalist troops were killed in fighting overnight in and around Taiz, military and medical sources told AFP. Four civilians living in areas besieged by the rebels over the past year were also killed by shellfire, the sources said.
Coalition warplanes also resumed air strikes around Sanaa early on Monday, reportedly bombing military positions on a mountain overlooking the capital. | The Saudi-led multinational coalition fighting the Houthi rebel movement in Yemen says a 48-hour cessation of hostilities will not be extended. | 38052529 |
The study by King's College London found they were more likely to die of infections such as pneumonia, unlike younger groups of elderly people.
Researchers said 28% of 100- to 115-year-olds died of "old age" and a fifth of pneumonia.
Cancer claimed the lives of fewer than 5% and heart disease fewer than 9%.
The study was based on an analysis of 36,000 death certificates.
By comparison, these diseases were the most common reasons for death among the 80- to 84-year-old age group, with cancer responsible for 25% of deaths and heart disease nearly a fifth.
Lead researcher Dr Catherine Evans said the findings raised important questions for health and care services.
"Centenarians have outlived death from chronic illness, but they are a group living with increasing frailty and vulnerability to pneumonia and other poor health outcomes.
"We need to plan for healthcare services that meet the 'hidden needs' of this group, who may decline rapidly if they succumb to an infection or pneumonia.
"We need to boost high-quality care-home capacity and responsive primary and community health services to enable people to remain in a comfortable, familiar environment in their last months of life."
The study, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, said this was going to become even more important as the number of centenarians increased.
According to latest Office for National Statistics data, there are more than 13,000 centenarians living in the UK, but by 2066 that number is expected to increase to more than 500,000.
The researchers pointed out that, in the UK, far fewer very old people ended up dying in care homes compared with other European countries, such as the Netherlands and Finland.
Dr Evans added: "Hospital admission in the last weeks of life accounts for a third of the total cost of end-of-life care per patient." | Centenarians have found a way to beat the common diseases of old age, such as cancer and heart disease, research suggests. | 27682376 |
The updates include faster processors and higher-resolution screens and cameras.
Both the ARM-based Windows RT version and Intel-powered Windows 8 edition are being upgraded.
The firm previously posted a $900m (£560m) writedown after building more of the first-generation RT versions than it could sell.
Analysts said demand for Microsoft's devices might continue to lag behind rival products.
However, they added that the firm's support for the product line was part of a long-term strategy that might ultimately pay off.
Windows-based tablets accounted for a 7% share of global shipments in the April-to-June quarter, according to a study by the tech advisory service Gartner.
By contrast, it said, Android-based tablets - including Samsung's Galaxy series, Android's Kindle Fires and Google's Nexus-branded range - had a 48% share, while Apple's iPads took 45% of the market.
By Rory Cellan-JonesTechnology correspondent
Despite poor sales for its Surface models - and a billion dollar writedown - Microsoft is showing it is still determined to be in the tablet game.
It was the Surface RT model which was the real problem, apparently failing to find an audience, while the Surface Pro did relatively well in its (high) price bracket.
So the big changes this time - a "fundamental revamp " in the words of Surface general manager Brian Hall - are in the RT, now known as Surface 2.
Mr Hall says almost every component has been replaced, resulting in a much faster yet thinner and lighter machine.
But the question remains - who is it for?
Not everybody, Microsoft admits, but a group of people who want to be able to mix work with play.
It is not competing on price with the growing range of Android tablets, so its sounds as though Microsoft is aiming at the same kind of people who use an iPad.
Mr Hall, though, sees it differently: "A lot of Androids are trying to do what iPad does at lower prices," he said, "but we want to make a unique contribution with productive tablets. When you think of Microsoft it's the combination of work and play."
The problem is that most Microsoft users seem to have felt that the original Surface was not playful enough, yet too flimsy to be a work machine.
In a world of falling PC sales, changing their minds is now the company's major challenge.
"Our outlook for the RT tablets is very low because consumers are still confused about what they are getting with the platform and we aren't seeing a big uptake in the business market," said Roberta Cozza, a research director at Gartner.
"The 'pro' [Intel-based] range may do a bit better. The release of a new docking station and other accessories will help.
"But they're still quite pricey so it's unlikely to be a huge leap forward."
Many were surprised when it was first revealed that Microsoft was going to make its own Windows hardware because of concern the move would damage sales of other manufacturers' PCs, encouraging them to focus efforts on rival platforms.
Both of the new tablets now feature displays capable of showing video in full 1080p high-definition resolution - a feature that was previously limited to the "pro" models.
The upgrade also sees the RT version gain a 3.5 megapixel front camera and a 5MP rear one - making them both capable of capturing 1080p video.
The pro mode, however, retains the 720p-resolution camera found in its predecessor.
The Intel-based version does get Intel's fourth-generation Core i5 processor, which Microsoft said should help it attain 60% better battery life than the first model.
Buyers also get the option of more memory than before with up to 512GB of storage and up to 8GB of Ram - allowing them to run more programs at once.
The RT version becomes one of the first devices to be powered by Nvidia's ARM-based Tegra 4 processor and now features a USB 3 port for faster file transfers. Microsoft said it should attain up to 10 hours of video playback.
Both models stick with a 10.6in (26.9cm) display, confounding rumours that the US firm would seek to launch a model to compete with the smaller iPad Mini and Nexus 7.
In addition, Microsoft has unveiled a thinner and lighter Touch Cover keyboard, which now has backlit keys, and promises to release a £165 docking station for the pro model next year to make it easier to attach it to an external monitor and other peripherals.
The RT Surface will cost between £359 and £439 while the cheapest pro models will be between £719 and £1,439 depending on the configuration. In both cases that is more expensive than prices for the original editions.
Microsoft's decision to persevere with an ARM-based model comes despite the earlier writedown and complaints that the platform cannot run legacy software.
That means some high-profile programs are unavailable, including iTunes, the Chrome and Firefox browsers, the full version of Photoshop, many popular video games and many existing in-house software programs used by companies.
Taiwanese firm Asus announced in July that it was putting off plans to launch more RT devices because of this issue. Samsung, Acer and Lenovo have also shied away from the platform, although Dell continues to support it.
Using ARM-based chips does reduce costs and offer longer battery life. One expert suggested Microsoft might also want to keep RT alive to give it the option of merging it with its handset operating system at a later point.
"It's a long-term plan," said Chris Green, principal technology analyst at the Davies Murphy Group consultancy.
"It's about establishing a platform that could take four or five years to succeed in a similar way to the fact that early versions of Android didn't set the world on fire, but after its third or fourth iteration it became dominant and liked.
"However, running what are effectively three separate Windows platforms is fairly illogical and expensive, so I believe Microsoft will ultimately merge Windows RT with Windows Phone."
The release of the new Surface models is Microsoft's first hardware announcement since it revealed a 5.4bn-euro ($7.2bn; £4.6bn) planned takeover of Nokia's hardware division.
There are unconfirmed reports that the Finnish firm has been developing a Windows RT tablet of its own. | Microsoft is updating its range of Surface tablets following weak sales of the original models. | 24205502 |
Trainee teachers from Canada, Australia and Northern Ireland will be encouraged to apply to work in Scotland.
Retired teachers who remain on the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) register will be asked to return part-time.
There were more than 500 teacher vacancies in Scotland in August 2016.
A previous freedom of information request by the Liberal Democrats showed there were 254 primary teacher vacancies and 287 for secondary schools at the beginning of the 2016-2017 academic year.
The area with the highest vacancy rate was Aberdeen with 86 vacancies. This was followed by the Borders at 47.
Moves have already been made to ease entry requirements for teaching staff from the rest of the UK to come and work in Scotland.
As part of the campaign, the GTCS is carrying out research into teachers on the register who are not currently in the classroom to address shortages in schools
Ken Muir, chief executive of the GTCS, said there were about 73,000 people on the teaching register, but only 55,000 of them were currently teaching.
"There's a large number of 17,000 who are not teaching for one reason or another and we are looking at how can we encourage these people to come back," he said.
"All of these measures and initiatives are designed to try and get teachers into the classroom as quickly as possible to address some of the shortages we have been experiencing.
"We are looking at spreading the net as widely as possible to find out where teachers who were trained in Scotland, but are no longer working here, are and whether we can get them back working in Scottish schools."
The Scottish government will reveal its own teacher recruitment campaign on Wednesday and Deputy First Minister John Swinney has praised the GTCS campaign.
He said: "The measures being explored by GTCS will tap into new and existing pools of talent, broaden routes into the profession and speed up the process whilst, crucially, maintaining our high standard of teaching.
"The Scottish government is working closely with GTC Scotland and universities to develop new ways to attract people into the profession, supported with £1m from our Attainment Scotland Fund.
"This is on top of the £88m we are investing this year alone to recruit and retain teachers across the country, including our new recruitment campaign which will launch next week." | Retired teachers and trainees from overseas are to be targeted in a campaign to tackle classroom shortages in Scotland. | 38867669 |
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Cavendish, who was second in the omnium on the track in Rio, has 10 stage victories to his name in the race, to go with 30 Tour de France stage wins.
Also confirmed are German sprint rival Andre Greipel, and twice Tour of Britain runner-up Steve Cummings.
The eight-stage race starts in Glasgow and finishes in London.
In between, the race will visit Cumbria, Cheshire, Wales and Dartmoor before Bristol hosts stages seven a and b - an individual time trial and circuit race.
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Cavendish, 31, who will also compete in the World Road Race Championships in Qatar in October, joins compatriot Cummings in Team Dimension Data.
Germany's Greipel, who rides for Lotto Soudal, won three stages in 2010, one in 2015 and won the final stage of this year's Tour de France.
Australia's former world hour record holder Rohan Dennis will line up for BMC Racing Team alongside American Taylor Phinney, a world champion on both the road and track who raced in the Tour of Britain last year.
Find out how to get into cycling with our special guide.
Tour of Britain route:
Stage one: Sunday, 4 September - Glasgow to Castle Douglas
Stage two: Monday, 5 September - Carlisle to Kendal
Stage three: Tuesday, 6 September - Congleton to Tatton Park, Knutsford
Stage four: Wednesday, 7 September - Denbigh to Builth Wells
Stage five: Thursday, 8 September - Aberdare to Bath
Stage six: Friday 9, September - Sidmouth to Haytor, Dartmoor
Stage seven a: Saturday, 10 September - Bristol Stage Individual Time Trial
Stage seven b: Saturday 10, September - Bristol Stage Circuit Race
Stage eight: Sunday 11, September - London Stage presented by TfL | Olympic silver medallist Mark Cavendish is returning to the road to ride in the Tour of Britain, which will take place between 4-11 September. | 37130186 |
Josh Sheehan's early strike and a smart finish from Rhys Healey after a second half counter-attack secured the win for Graham Westley's side.
Carlisle's had been on a winning run of eight successive games, while the Exiles are now unbeaten in five.
Newport remain bottom of League Two but are now a point behind Leyton Orient while Keith Curle's side remain second.
Newport manager Graham Westley told BBC Radio Wales Sport: "The players have worked so hard and they looked the real deal in League Two today.
"We are an improving team and the players deserve enormous credit."
Match ends, Newport County 2, Carlisle United 0.
Second Half ends, Newport County 2, Carlisle United 0.
Attempt missed. Jennison Myrie-Williams (Newport County) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
Danny Grainger (Carlisle United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Jennison Myrie-Williams (Newport County).
Jennison Myrie-Williams (Newport County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Charlie Wyke (Carlisle United).
Foul by Reggie Lambe (Carlisle United).
Dan Butler (Newport County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution, Newport County. Finley Wood replaces Josh Sheehan.
Attempt missed. Tom Miller (Carlisle United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Corner, Newport County. Conceded by Mark Gillespie.
Attempt saved. Tom Owen-Evans (Newport County) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Attempt saved. Charlie Wyke (Carlisle United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt blocked. Tom Miller (Carlisle United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Danny Grainger (Carlisle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sean Rigg (Newport County).
Substitution, Carlisle United. Derek Asamoah replaces Luke Joyce.
Attempt blocked. Jennison Myrie-Williams (Newport County) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Luke Joyce (Carlisle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Corner, Carlisle United. Conceded by Dan Butler.
Macaulay Gillesphey (Carlisle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Rhys Healey (Newport County).
Substitution, Newport County. Jennison Myrie-Williams replaces Josh O'Hanlon.
Goal! Newport County 2, Carlisle United 0. Rhys Healey (Newport County) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Dan Butler.
Attempt blocked. Danny Grainger (Carlisle United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Corner, Carlisle United. Conceded by Scot Bennett.
Macaulay Gillesphey (Carlisle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Josh O'Hanlon (Newport County) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Ben Tozer (Newport County).
Tom Miller (Carlisle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Josh O'Hanlon (Newport County).
Attempt blocked. Josh Sheehan (Newport County) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution, Newport County. Tom Owen-Evans replaces Kyle Cameron.
Nicky Adams (Carlisle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Darren Jones (Newport County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Darren Jones (Newport County).
Attempt saved. Luke Joyce (Carlisle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Attempt blocked. Josh Sheehan (Newport County) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Foul by Tom Miller (Carlisle United). | Carlisle were beaten for the first time this season as bottom of the table Newport shocked them at Rodney Parade. | 37881276 |
Scientists said the "unprecedented" melting took place over a larger area than has been detected in three decades of satellite observation.
Melting even occurred at Greenland's coldest and highest place, Summit station.
The thawed ice area jumped from 40% of the ice sheet to 97% in just four days from 8 July.
Although about half of Greenland's ice sheet normally sees surface melting over the summer months, the speed and scale of this year's thaw surprised scientists, who described the phenomenon as "extraordinary".
Nasa said that nearly the entire ice cover of Greenland, from its thin, low-lying coastal edges to its centre, which is 3km (two miles) thick, experienced some degree of melting at its surface.
Until now, the most extensive melting seen by satellites in the past three decades was about 55% of the area.
According to ice core records, such pronounced melting at Summit station and across the ice sheet has not occurred since 1889.
"When we see melt in places that we haven't seen before, at least in a long period of time, it makes you sit up and ask what's happening," Nasa chief scientist Waleed Abdalati said.
"It's a big signal, the meaning of which we're going to sort out for years to come."
He said that, because this Greenland-wide melting has happened before - in 1889 - scientists are not yet able to determine whether this is a natural but rare event, or if it has been sparked by man-made climate change.
"Ice cores from Summit show that melting events of this type occur about once every 150 years on average. With the last one happening in 1889, this event is right on time," said Lora Koenig, a glaciologist from Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland and a member of the research team analysing the satellite data.
"But if we continue to observe melting events like this in upcoming years, it will be worrisome."
Prof Eric Wolff, from the British Antarctic Survey (Bas) told BBC News: "There have clearly been some very warm days in Greenland this month. As a result, the surface snow has melted across the whole ice sheet.
"This is confirmed by some of my international colleagues who are on the ground at the NEEM ice core drilling site in north Greenland - they are reporting several days with temperatures above zero, and ice layers forming in the snow.
"While this is very unusual, as always we cannot attribute any individual extreme event to climate change: We will have to wait and see if more such events occur in the next few years to understand its significance for both the climate and the health of the ice sheet."
Dr Poul Christoffersen, a glaciologist and engineer at the Scott Polar Institute in Cambridge, told BBC News: "The melting seen in the satellite data is unprecedented, as it extends all the way across the ice sheet including the summit, which is located 3,200 m above sea level. Melting is usually limited to less than 2000m elevation."
The news comes just days after Nasa satellite imagery revealed that a massive iceberg, twice the size of Manhattan, had broken off the Petermann Glacier in Greenland.
"The observation [from Greenland] is in my view much more important than the recently reported break up of a large iceberg from Petermann Glacier," Dr Christofferson added.
Nasa's Tom Wagner said: "This event, combined with other natural but uncommon phenomena, such as the large calving event last week on Petermann Glacier, are part of a complex story."
Scientists said they believed that much of Greenland's ice was already freezing again. | The surface of Greenland's massive ice sheet has melted this month over an unusually large area, Nasa has said. | 18978483 |
The woman, who worked at Buckinghamshire's Stoke Mandeville Hospital, was targeted by Savile while she was based at the children's ward.
Savile abused her over an 18-month period - when she was aged 17 to 19 - assaulting her when she was preparing milk feeds for children and even after she had been admitted to the staff sick bay with tonsillitis.
Speaking to the BBC, she said she wished Savile was still alive so she could tell him how he had affected her life and "ruined my 20s".
The woman said Savile was "one of the team" on the children's ward and had his own porter's office and flat at the hospital. She said she had initially been "in awe" of him.
"He was God as far as the children were concerned.
"He had high status and they gave him a job as a porter. He was just one of the staff, he was one of the team."
However, she said Savile's interest in her soon turned more sinister.
"It was casual, friendly, patting on the bottom, to start off with. But I think he was always trying to push the boundaries with me," she said.
"So it moved from patting my bottom to trying to put his hands on my breasts and putting his hand under my skirt."
Savile began targeting her during her daily job of preparing the milk feeds for children on the ward.
She said he would follow her into the milk kitchen - where she could be for up to two hours a day - and would lock the door behind them.
"I used to try and make excuses not to do the milk feeds," she said.
"It was invading my privacy and I didn't know what he was doing. It did frighten me. I was scared and violated."
On another occasion the woman was diagnosed with tonsillitis while at work and was taken to the staff sick bay.
"Jimmy Savile used to come every day and see me and again he used to put his hand under the sheet and touch my thigh and try and put his hand inside my thighs," she said.
"My mum came to see me and he came and put his head around the door. I said, 'don't let him in, don't let him in'.
"That was the time I told her what he had been doing and she was horrified. She wanted to say something but I didn't let her. I was a bit ashamed."
She said Savile's fame stopped her from reporting the abuse.
"I was too embarrassed because he was Jimmy Savile. You don't want to get him into trouble. He was Jimmy Savile and I couldn't say a bad word against him.
"I was scared what the repercussions would be if I did scream, so I just let it go," she added.
The woman continued to keep the abuse secret for more than 10 years, until she told her husband when she was aged 30. She said it was only recently that she realised how the abuse had affected her.
"I went from being a quiet person and an innocent person at that age, and I went the opposite.
"I became quite promiscuous in my 20s. I tended to gravitate towards older men for some reason or other, I don't know why."
She said she remembered her heart beating "really fast" when, years later, she heard allegations about Savile surface in the media for the first time.
"The first time that I actually recounted my story I cried and it shocked me that I cried because it has been a long time. It was my secret. Apart from my husband it was something that I kept for a long time."
Despite her own experience with Savile, she said it was still a shock when the full nature of the allegations against him became clear.
"He was always so good with the children and the children loved him to bits.
"I was probably too naive to notice, and I certainly wasn't an experienced nurse to notice the non-verbal body language or behaviour of a child then. I was just a kid myself really," she said.
She said she was sure people at the hospital covered up Savile's abuse.
"I can't believe people didn't know about it. I would imagine that people covered it up for him, or people knew that he was doing it and just chose not to say anything.
"He was always with people, always with the kids, but because he was Jimmy Savile nobody really suspected."
The woman told the BBC she wished Savile was still alive so she could confront him about the abuse.
"I would like to meet him now and I would like to tell him how he affected my life. I can't speak for other people, but I would like to tell him how he ruined my 20s." | A nurse who was sexually assaulted by Jimmy Savile has said the abuse she suffered at the hands of the disgraced former BBC DJ "ruined" a decade of her life. | 31506266 |
ZMapp was first given earlier this month to two US aid workers, who were flown home for treatment from Liberia.
Ebola has no cure but the World Health Organization (WHO) has ruled that untested drugs can be used in light of the scale of outbreak in West Africa.
Since the beginning of the year, 1,229 people have died of the virus.
It is transmitted by direct contact with the body fluids of an infected person. Initial flu-like symptoms can lead to external haemorrhaging from areas such as eyes and gums, and internal bleeding which can cause organ failure.
The outbreak began in Guinea and has since spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
Health officials in Guinea say the country has suffered a setback in its fight against the epidemic, seeing a resurgence of cases in the town of Macenta.
The BBC's Alhassan Sillah in Guinea says the town had not had any cases for two months, and the authorities had dismantled all Ebola facilities in that area.
Fighting the myths and fear surrounding Ebola is as tough as fighting the disease itself. They range from the bizarre to the ridiculous: Some see it as the culmination of some bio warfare gone awry; others say it is a cannibalistic ritual.
In the latest flashpoint - some people in Lunsar, about 120km (74 miles) east of the capital, Freetown, say the new cases are not Ebola patients at all. In fact, they insist that witches are flying around the country in aircraft and one of these crashed causing casualties.
All this, and the notion that an Ebola patient cannot recover, have led many sick people to stay at home, hoping they have something else. This is despite the fact that about 30% of patients have recovered.
The authorities have been encouraging those who become ill to report to hospitals for testing and treatment, if needed. But as the messengers are distrusted, the message is not getting through.
The health authorities believe that Guineans returning from neighbouring Liberia are carrying the virus.
In Liberia, Information Minister Lewis Brown said the government only received a small number of ZMapp doses and gave them to one Nigerian and two Liberian doctors who had caught Ebola whilst helping save the lives of other victims of the virus.
Two US missionaries who received doses of the medicine are also reportedly recovering, but a 75-year-old Spanish priest who contracted Ebola in Liberia died in Spain last week despite being given the drug.
The US pharmaceutical company that makes the drug says it has for now run out of it, so the only way to stop the current outbreak is to isolate the victims and those who have come into contact with them.
Mr Brown also said 17 suspected Ebola patients who went missing after a health centre in the capital was attacked have been found.
In Nigeria, which has had four fatal Ebola cases, health officials say five people have now recovered from the virus and have been discharged from hospital in Lagos. Another three are still being treated.
Since the outbreak spread to Nigeria in July, when a person infected with Ebola flew from Liberia to Lagos, several airlines have stopped flights to the worst-affected countries.
Kenya's ban on people from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone entering the East African nation comes into force on Wednesday - and Cameroon has closed its land, sea and air borders with Nigeria. | Three doctors in Liberia with Ebola who started taking an experimental drug last Thursday are showing remarkable signs of improvement, a minister says. | 28860204 |
The government's controversial legislation on the issue received Royal Assent on Wednesday.
The Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat leaderships all backed the proposals, which were finally approved by MPs and peers earlier this week.
It is expected that the first gay and lesbian wedding ceremonies will take place by summer next year.
Under the terms of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, religious organisations will have to "opt in" to offering weddings, with the Church of England and Church in Wales being banned in law from doing so.
Commons Speaker John Bercow announced the bill had received Royal Assent - the formal approval of the sovereign required for all legislation. The news was greeted with cheers in the Commons chamber.
MPs decided not to oppose a number of minor changes agreed by the House of Lords and approved the legislation on Tuesday.
There will also be a review of whether groups such as the humanists will be allowed to carry out marriages, while ministers said they were prepared to look at eliminating any difference in the treatment of gay couples when it came to pension schemes.
During the Commons debate, Equalities Minister Maria Miller said the passing of the bill was "clear affirmation" that "respect for each and every person is paramount, regardless of age, religion, gender, ethnicity or sexuality", she added.
But Conservative MP Sir Gerald Howarth, one of the bill's opponents, said it was "astonishing that a bill for which there is absolutely no mandate, against which a majority of Conservatives voted, has been bulldozed through both Houses".
He added: "I think the government should think very carefully in future if they want the support of these benches. Offending large swathes of the Conservative Party is not a good way of going about it."
But Paul Parker, recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, said: "It's wonderful to see same-sex marriage achieve legal recognition. Quakers see the light of God in everyone so we respect the inherent worth of each individual and each loving relationship." | Same-sex couples will be able to get married in England and Wales after new measures became law. | 23338279 |
The government has been accused of failing to deliver on a commitment made in the Stormont House Agreement, by insisting on a veto on material to protect national security.
Judith Thompson told the Sunday Politics programme there was a level of energy and common purpose that was not there before.
"What was being developed at the very, very close of those talks was a move towards some sort of judicial model where the director of that new HIU (Historical Investigations Unit), if they felt that national security was being used as an excuse to cover up things which were uncomfortable rather than security sensitive, then they could go through judicial process," she said.
"Now that judicial process, the nature of it wasn't fully agreed, but there are ways of doing creative thinking around that."
Last month, a deal, known as Fresh Start, was agreed between the British and Irish governments and Northern Ireland's two largest parties, the DUP and Sinn Féin.
It followed 10 weeks of talks and secured agreement on outstanding issues relating to paramilitaries and welfare reform.
However, they failed to break the deadlock over legacy issues arising from Northern Ireland's Troubles. | The victims' commissioner has said new talks between the political parties to try and get agreement on dealing with outstanding legacy issues need to start now. | 35088119 |
An employment tribunal in London is due to rule on whether Uber is acting unlawfully by not giving drivers basic employment rights.
Uber says its drivers are self-employed and that they can choose where and when they drive.
The case could have big implications for Uber and similar businesses.
Uber says it has 40,000 drivers in the UK. It uses a smartphone app to connect them to people who need a cab.
But the drivers are all "independent contractors" or self-employed.
What does Uber's employment case mean?
At a tribunal case taken by the GMB union this summer, two drivers argued that Uber was unlawfully failing to provide drivers with basic employment rights.
They argued that far from being self-employed, Uber drivers should be classed as workers, which under employment law would entitle them to certain rights, including sick pay.
The two test cases will determine a further 17 claims against the firm.
The closely watched case could have consequences for other "platform" firms, which harness new technology to tap into the self-employed.
"This case represents the first proper legal review of whether jobs in this part of the so-called gig economy really represent a new paradigm of freedom and self-employment, or in fact are simply a new technology ploy to deny employed workers ordinary employment rights and a national minimum wage," says Maria Ludkin, legal director at the GMB
"In our view Uber's business model is underpinned by the shaky foundations of worker exploitation and tax avoidance, both of which end up being underwritten by the ordinary taxpayer."
The company insists it is simply a technology platform that links supply with demand - in this case the supply of self-employed drivers with demand for cabs.
It believes that most drivers want to be self-employed.
"The main reason people choose to partner with Uber is so they can become their own boss, pick their own hours and work completely flexibly. In fact two-thirds of new partner-drivers joining the Uber platform have been referred by another partner," says Jo Bertram, regional general manager for Uber UK.
This is the first time that Uber has faced legal action in the UK over the status of its drivers. The firm has attempted to settle a similar case in the US.
Some believe that if the tribunal backs the two drivers, it could undermine the firm's business model.
"The financial implications are certainly staggering, if they have to pay the minimum wage and provide other employment benefits," says Alex Mizzi, employment lawyer with the legal firm Howard Kennedy.
"So I think they're going to be looking very swiftly at whether there are alternatives, whether they can change the way they operate or their contractual terms."
A number of other platform firms are also facing legal challenges.
In November, an employment tribunal will hear a similar case that has been taken against courier firm City Sprint by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain.
"I think anyone who runs a business which is putting labour demand in touch with labour supply will need to look very carefully at the judgement today to determine whether that will also have implications for their businesses," says Ms Mizzi.
Whatever the tribunal decides in the Uber case, the outcome is likely to be appealed against.
But all these cases echo concerns about the growth of insecure work, an issue that recently led the government to announce a review of employment practices. | Drivers for the cab-hailing firm Uber will learn later whether they are entitled to holiday pay, rest breaks and the National Living Wage. | 37787067 |
It said the drop was as a result of new rules introduced by the regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
The FCA tightened the regulations in April 2014, and introduced a cap on payday loan charges in January 2015.
Between January and March 2014, before the changes, Citizens Advice received 10,155 complaints about lenders.
In the same period a year later, the number fell to 5,554 - a drop of 45%.
"The drop in the number of problems reported to us about payday loans is good news for consumers," said Citizens Advice chief executive, Gillian Guy.
"It demonstrates the impact a strong stance against irresponsible lending can have on people's lives."
When the FCA took over regulation of the payday loan market in April 2014, it introduced new rules.
These included a limit on the number of times a loan could be "rolled over", or continued from month to month; stricter lending criteria; and limits on advertising.
Since January this year there have also been caps on repayments.
No one has to pay more than 0.8% a day of the amount borrowed, and no one has to pay back any more than twice what they borrowed.
Since April 2014, the size of the payday loan market has shrunk considerably.
While there were up to 400 high-cost short-term lenders registered back then, just 247 applied to the FCA for authorisation in February.
Two months ago Wonga - the largest payday lender - reported a 36% fall in the number of loans it was making. It said the number of customers had fallen from over a million to 575,000. | The number of complaints about payday loans has nearly halved over the last year, according to the Citizens Advice charity. | 33097538 |
The Wales wing crossed for the second time in a week as Blues opened a five point lead at the top of Pool Four in the European Challenge Cup.
Cuthbert was the subject of social media criticism for his Wales performances, but Wilson backed him.
"I thought he had a really good game and great to hear the crowd cheer him when he left the pitch," he said.
"I've always said he's a quality player, but as you know people will jump on him if he has half a bad game."
Wilson said the 28-3 win over the English Premiership side was important for his squad after they had lost four of their last five matches which had seen the Blues slip to seventh place in the Pro12 table.
"Teams go through rough patches and to beat Bath at home in Europe is a great thing to get under our belt," Wilson added.
"It's a start, but we need to keep working hard and we've got a tough turnaround now to go to Bath and I'm sure they'll load up now with some big guns who didn't play today and we'll be up for that challenge."
The Blues travel to the Recreation Ground on Thursday, December 15, when players like Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau and England fly-half George Ford will come into the equation for selection for Bath. | Cardiff Blues coach Danny Wilson said it was "great" to see Alex Cuthbert score in his side's win over Bath. | 38276729 |
Citing police sources, WJLA reported that a medical examiner determined Gray's neck was broken when his head struck the back of the van.
Other injuries to his head matched the shape of a bolt in the van.
His death is one of several involving black Americans and police which has sparked unrest and national debate.
Baltimore police have admitted that Gray was not secured in the van by a seatbelt, against department policy, and that he requested medical attention while being transported in the van but was denied.
Video footage filmed by a passerby showed a visibly distressed Gray being handcuffed on the ground pushed into the back of the van. Police said he ran after seeing two officers, who chased him and arrested him when they found a switchblade-style knife in his trousers.
Gray lapsed into a coma following the journey on 12 April and died a week later.
Maryland medical examiner's office has refused to comment on cause of death while the investigation is ongoing.
The van transporting Gray made a previously undisclosed fourth stop while en route to the police station, police revealed on Thursday.
Previously, police had said the van made three stops, including one to put him in leg irons and another to pick up different prisoner.
The fourth stop was captured on a CCTV camera outside a Korean food shop.
The shop's owner, Jung Hyun Hwang told the Associated Press news agency that police officers visited last week to make a copy of the recording - which was later lost when the shop was looted during the riots.
Mr Hwang said he had not viewed the recording and did not know what it showed.
Police said the footage was discovered during a view of public and private CCTV cameras in the area.
According to the police timeline of the arrest, the van took 30 minutes to take Gray to the police station, where paramedics were called.
Investigators have now handed over their inquiry into Gray's death to the state's attorney's office.
The city's top prosecutor, Marilyn Mosby, will now decide whether to take the case to a grand jury to seek an indictment of any of the six officers involved.
Five of the six officers involved in the arrest gave statements to investigators the day Gray was injured. All six have been suspended.
A separate investigation by the US department of justice is also under way.
After two nights of violent protests, Baltimore's streets were relatively calm on Thursday. The city is still under a curfew requiring people to be off the streets by 22:00 (02:00 GMT).
What we know about Gray's death | Freddie Gray's fatal injuries were the result of slamming into the back of a Baltimore police van, a Washington TV station reported. | 32546201 |
Party officials told the electoral office they have been contacted by 18 people whose votes had been "stolen".
The Chief Electoral Officer said she is investigating 12 allegations of electoral fraud in the Foyle constituency.
Former SDLP leader Mark Durkan lost the seat by 169 votes to former city lord mayor Elisha McCallion of Sinn Féin.
The police have said they are investigating a small number of reports of electoral fraud, following an Electoral Office referral.
Chief Electoral Officer Virginia McVeigh said: "The investigation is at a very early stage. We have made a number of calls for other people to come forward."
The SDLP said about a dozen incidents of voter fraud had also been reported in South Down and has called for tighter controls on voter identification.
SDLP veteran Margaret Ritchie was defeated in South Down by Sinn Fein's Chris Hazzard by 2,446 votes.
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan said he had been contacted by people who were told they had already voted when they arrived at polling stations.
"It's difficult to gauge how widespread it may be," said Mr Durkan, the nephew of the defeated Foyle MP.
"It is horrifying to think that in this day and age that voting fraud is going on.
"It is vitally important to all parties that we have an electoral system that people can have faith and confidence in."
BBC News NI political correspondent Enda McClafferty said: "While allegations of voter fraud are not new, the SDLP claims it is more of a problem now - especially in constituencies like Foyle where only 169 votes separated the winner and loser."
No accusations have been made against any one party but in response to the SDLP claims, Sinn Féin said there was always an effort by political opponents to explain away their rejection by the electorate.
Police have asked anyone with concerns about electoral fraud to contact the Electoral Office.
Ch Supt Karen Baxter said: "We work closely with the Electoral Office and where information becomes available in relation to criminal activity, we take action." | Police are investigating allegations of electoral fraud amid concerns raised by the SDLP in the Foyle constituency. | 40257949 |
Mr Gove was a surprise addition to the race, having been expected to back Boris Johnson, who shocked the political world by ruling himself out.
Minister Andrea Leadsom, MP Liam Fox and Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb are also in the running.
The winner of the contest is set to be announced on 9 September.
The leadership battle has been sparked by David Cameron's decision to step down as prime minister after losing the EU referendum, which saw the country vote by 52% to 48% to leave the EU.
Mr Gove's announcement early on Thursday that he would challenge the leadership was unexpected, as the justice secretary had been expected to throw his weight behind fellow leading Leave campaigner Mr Johnson for Conservative leader.
Explaining his decision, he said: "I have repeatedly said that I do not want to be prime minister. That has always been my view. But events since last Thursday have weighed heavily with me.
"I respect and admire all the candidates running for the leadership. In particular, I wanted to help build a team behind Boris Johnson so that a politician who argued for leaving the European Union could lead us to a better future.
"But I have come, reluctantly, to the conclusion that Boris cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead."
By Ben Wright, BBC political correspondent
"Shakespearian" is the word being mumbled by dazed politicians and pundits at Westminster.
The ambitions, rivalries and duplicitous double-dealing unleashed before the Tory leadership contest even got underway has left onlookers groping for fictional comparisons.
It's Richard III meets Scarface, with a bit of Godfather thrown in.
Remember this: David Cameron, Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and George Osborne grew up together - personally and politically. Their families were close. But the EU referendum ripped through old loyalties.
First Michael Gove backed the Leave campaign, knowing the damage it could do to Cameron and Osborne. The chancellor and Gove kept their friendship intact despite the strain of the campaign.
But it was Boris Johnson's decision to lead the Leave campaign and put his own ambitions to be prime minister ahead of loyalty to David Cameron that severed his relationship with the now departing PM, destroyed by Leave's victory.
Boris Johnson believed the crown would be his and naively believed Michael Gove's promises of support. But now Mr Gove, despite polite protestations he never coveted the top job, has ruthlessly dispatched his friend.
What has been going on behind the scenes? The truth will only emerge in memoirs.
But my sense is Mr Gove and his team of advisors clearly did not believe Boris Johnson had the spine to fully divorce Britain from the EU. Nor did a number of Tory Mps trust Mr Johnson to deliver the promises he was making in terms of personnel and jobs.
When Mr Gove made his move, hardened Brexit believers instantly went with him, sinking Boris Johnson.
The irony of course is that Boris Johnson, who did so much to take Britain out of the EU, has seen his own ambitious crushed in the aftermath.
It could be that the big winner from this vicious Tory drama is the woman in charge of law and order - Theresa May.
Setting out his pitch for the leadership, the cabinet minister - best known as a controversial education secretary before becoming one of the faces of the Leave campaign - said: "I want there to be an open and positive debate about the path the country will now take.
"Whatever the verdict of that debate I will respect it. In the next few days I will lay out my plan for the United Kingdom which I hope can provide unity and change."
Conservative MP David Davis told BBC Radio 5 Live Mr Gove's decision must have been taken "very late", as Mr Gove's assistant had asked him on Wednesday night to attend Mr Johnson's campaign launch on Thursday.
Justice minister and Leave campaigner Dominic Raab, who switched his support from Mr Johnson to Mr Gove, told the BBC's Daily Politics that "Boris was cavalier with assurances he made" and had failed to put together a "strong unifying team".
Home Secretary Theresa May: The 59-year-old has overtaken Boris Johnson as the bookies' favourite to win the contest. She's held the Home Office brief - often something of a poisoned chalice - since 2010, and is a former Tory party chairman. She says she can offer the "strong leadership" and unity the UK needs, and promised a "positive vision" for the country's future. She backed staying in the EU.
Justice Secretary Michael Gove: The 48-year-old former newspaper columnist was a key figure in the party's modernisation that led to its return to power in 2010. He was a reforming, if controversial, education secretary between 2010 and 2014, and now holds the Ministry of Justice brief. He was a leading player in the Brexit campaign - which put a strain on his close friendship with David Cameron. He has pitched himself as the candidate that can provide "unity and change."
Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb: The 43-year-old was promoted to the cabinet in 2014 as Welsh secretary, and boosted his profile earlier this year when he took over as work and pensions secretary. A rising star of the Tory party he has promised to unite the party and country following the referendum result and provide stability. Raised on a council estate by a single mother, he has a back story to which many Tory MPs are attracted. Backed Remain.
Energy minister Andrea Leadsom: The 53-year-old former banker and fund manager was one of the stars of the Leave campaign. A former district councillor, she became MP for South Northamptonshire in 2010 and - after serving as a junior Treasury minister and as a member of the Treasury select committee - she was made a junior minister in the energy and climate change department in May last year.
Former cabinet minister Liam Fox: It's second time around for the 54-year-old ex-defence secretary and GP, who came a close third in the 2005 leadership contest. His cabinet career was cut short in 2011 when he resigned following a lobbying row. A Brexit campaigner, and on the right of the party, he has said whoever becomes PM must accept "the instruction" of the British people and not "try to backslide" over EU membership.
Launching her leadership bid in central London, Mrs May - one of the longest-serving home secretaries in history - said the UK needed "strong proven leadership to steer us through this period of economic and political uncertainty and to negotiate the best possible terms as we leave the European Union".
She also pitched herself as the candidate that could "unite our party and our country" and offer "a bold, new positive vision" for the country's future that "works not for a privileged few, but for every one of us".
Although Mrs May - the daughter of a vicar - backed Remain she maintained a low profile during the campaign and, in her speech, insisted she would not back away from last week's vote. "Brexit is Brexit."
But she said Article 50 - the formal mechanism for leaving the EU - should not be triggered until the UK had agreed its negotiating strategy - probably before the end of year.
She set out plans for a new government department to oversee the UK's withdrawal from the EU - and said it would be headed by a pro-Brexit cabinet-level minister.
And she said she would, as prime minister, abandon plans to pull Britain out of the European Convention on Human Rights, saying she did not expect there to be a parliamentary majority for it.
Mrs May acknowledged she was "not a showy politician", adding: "I just get on with the job in front of me" - suggesting that was what the country wanted.
Former Defence Secretary Liam Fox, meanwhile, said any Brexit deal which included free movement of people would be "a betrayal" of the referendum result, as he kicked off his campaign.
He said free movement was a political preference which needed to challenged. And he said the UK should approach the post-EU era with "confidence".
Energy minister Andrea Leadsom, who also announced her candidacy on Thursday, told the BBC that delivering Brexit was an "absolutely top priority" for the next prime minister.
"It's not just about leaving something, it's about re-engaging with the rest of the world," she said.
She also said she had a "real desire to see the social justice in our country turned around" and said her focus, if elected, would be on mental health, improving skills and getting young people into work.
Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb, who was the first to launch his leadership bid and who campaigned to stay in the EU, vowed to make curbing immigration a "red line" in Brexit negotiations - and he ruled out a snap general election and a second EU referendum.
The former Welsh secretary said stability was his aim. He also pledged to confront economic and social divisions across the UK, build a strong economy and improve trade links, if he won the contest.
Speaking before Mr Johnson's decision to pull out Mrs May joked: "Boris negotiated in Europe. I seem to remember last time he did a deal with the Germans, he came back with three nearly-new water cannon."
The then London mayor purchased the riot control water cannon following the riots in the capital city in 2011 - but Mrs May eventually withheld permission for their use.
In a speech that had been billed as his campaign launch on Thursday, Mr Johnson, who has long harboured ambitions to be leader and prime minister, announced he would not be standing.
Mr Johnson said the next Conservative leader would have to unify his party and ensure that Britain stood tall in the world.
"Having consulted colleagues and in view of the circumstances in Parliament, I have concluded that person cannot be me," he said, just moments before the noon deadline passed. | Justice Secretary Michael Gove and Home Secretary Theresa May lead a five-way race to be the next Conservative Party leader and UK prime minister. | 36671336 |
The attempt to free Izzet Eren as he was being driven in a custody van to a north London court was thwarted by police who had bugged their car.
When armed officers swooped, Jermaine Baker, 28, of Tottenham, was shot dead.
Judge Christopher Kinch described the actions of the gang as an "attack" on the criminal justice system.
He told Woolwich Crown Court they had threatened the public and put security staff at risk.
The court was told Izzet Eren had arranged the plot via a smuggled mobile phone which was found smashed in the van.
After the police operation to thwart the plot, a replica Uzi machine gun was recovered from the bugged stolen car.
Eren, 33, who arranged for the gang to spring him from the van, is currently serving 14 years after he was caught last October carrying a loaded pistol and a machine gun in north London while allegedly on his way to carry out a shooting.
He has now been jailed for a further five-and-half years for conspiracy to escape and two years for conspiracy to carry imitation firearms with criminal intent.
These will be served consecutively following the current 14-year jail sentence which was imposed in December.
The judge said Eren he was "the motive behind the whole sequence of events", that he had "orchestrated" the escape plan and that he was "plainly a man of considerable influence" who exercised control and influence over the gang.
Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay told the court that Eren "should not have been in the UK at all" as a condition of an eight-year prison sentence that he had previously been given for conspiracy to supply drugs was that he had to be deported.
His cousin Ozcan Eren, 32, of Wood Green, had denied the same charges relating to the escape plot but changed his plea part-way through the trial.
The judge said he was a "trusted and intimate lieutenant" of Izzet Eren whose key role was to act as a look-out and check the possible routes the prison van might take. He was jailed for eight years.
Driver Nathan Mason, 31, from Tottenham, was jailed for six years and two months for the escape plot and for possessing an imitation firearm.
Gokay Sogucakli, 19, from Tottenham, pleaded guilty to the same offences. He was ordered to serve five-and-a-half years.
Eren Hasyer, 25, of Enfield, was found guilty of conspiring in the escape plot but cleared of possessing an imitation firearm with criminal intent. He will be sentenced on Thursday.
Det Ch Supt Tom Manson, from the Serious and Organised Crime Command, said the sentencing reflected "the gravity of this bold and audacious plot".
"It is clear from this investigation that the Eren cousins are dangerous and motivated criminals and were no strangers to armed crime.
"The evidence from our investigation is so overwhelming that they, and all but one of their co-conspirators, chose to plead guilty."
The IPCC is continuing an independent investigation into the circumstances of the shooting of Mr Baker during the police operation. | A gang who tried to free a dangerous criminal from a prison van which ended in one of them being shot dead on a London street, has been jailed. | 36578335 |
Owen Smith, 50, was convicted of five counts of rape, two of sexual assault and one count of trafficking after a trial at Sheffield Crown Court.
South Yorkshire Police said he abused his position to gain the trust of his victims.
Smith, of Hawley Street, Sheffield, was remanded in custody ahead of a sentencing hearing on 10 May.
The court heard he was arrested in September 2014 after being found with a teenage girl who had been reported missing the previous day.
Two further victims were identified as a result of a police investigation.
Det Con Stephen Evans said: "Smith preyed on vulnerable girls and women at risk of sexual exploitation, abusing his position as a mental health worker to gain access to their lives.
"He should have been someone the victims could trust, that the victims could turn to for help. Instead, he used them for his own sexual gratification, which is simply despicable." | A mental health worker has been found guilty of raping and assaulting three vulnerable females. | 36027846 |
The quay at Rothera Research Station is used by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) to moor its research ships.
Marine engineering, diving and fabrication company Ocean Kinetics and civil engineers Arch Henderson have been called in.
The Rothera station was established in 1975.
It is thought to be the first underwater welding job of its kind to take place below the Antarctic Circle.
Michael Fox, the marine projects director for Ocean Kinetics, said: "We worked quickly to mobilise and meet the sailing deadline.
"In that time we fabricated and supplied all the materials needed for the contract and provided all the necessary diving equipment and plant to carry out the works.
"Taking into consideration how remote the location of the project is, we had to send plenty of spare parts along with back up welding sets and generators.
"If something was to breakdown there it would take weeks, if not months, to ship in a replacement.
"This is an exciting project for both companies and we think we might be the first UK company to carry out underwater welding within the Antarctic Circle for BAS."
Arch Henderson, which was established in 1919, worked with Ocean Kinetics to design the solution to repair the quay.
Arch Henderson partner Andy Martin said: "It is a very interesting project and our first opportunity to work in the Antarctic." | Companies from Shetland and Aberdeen have been awarded an Antarctic contract to repair a quayside which was damaged by an iceberg. | 34710391 |
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Absent from major tournaments for 58 years, Wales have had to watch on enviously as international football's elite do battle at World Cups and European Championships.
Yet their rise has not merely ended that wait for qualification; their march to the quarter-finals in France has now captured the imagination of an entire nation.
While a sea of red shirts roared Wales on to victory over Northern Ireland in Saturday's second-round tie at Paris' Parc des Princes, a similar mass of bodies gathered at Cardiff's fan zone and countless bars and living rooms across Wales.
The country is captivated, and its people are daring to dream.
"It goes beyond football to the whole nation, people who don't even like football," said former Wales striker Dean Saunders.
"The players have made the whole nation proud even if we get knocked out in the next round."
Wales' players refer to their fans as the Red Wall, in homage to the Yellow Wall that German club Borussia Dortmund's fans form at their imposing Westfalenstadion home.
Their vocal support and good behaviour outside grounds has brought praise from French media and tourism companies, and they were at their vociferous best in Paris.
Wales' players and coaching team insist they cannot look any further than their quarter-final but, as far as the Red Wall is concerned, manager Chris Coleman sees no reason to curb fans' optimism.
"We won't look ahead but the fans can get carried away. Keep dreaming, there's nothing wrong with that," he said.
"They had to be patient with us [against Northern Ireland] - they sensed we were under pressure but they stayed with us. That's when you need togetherness. They were fantastic."
If the demolition of Russia was an exhibition of thrusting, enterprising football, the triumph over Northern Ireland was one built on patience and perseverance.
Coleman praised Northern Ireland for their defensive display - well organised and immaculately disciplined as they contained the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.
Yet Wales gamely stuck to their task and their persistence eventually paid, Bale freeing himself from Northern Ireland's shackles to produce the match-winning moment of class.
"We needed our team spirit, when you're not playing well but you dig in," said Coleman.
"That's when you're showing your courage - and that's strength. Not giving up when you have nothing left to give, finding something, and we had to do that."
Whether it is Coleman, Bale or any other member of the squad, Wales have insisted throughout their time in France there is no limit to their ambition.
Bale says he believes Wales can win Euro 2016, while Coleman has said qualifying for a first major tournament for 58 years should usher in a new era of regularly competing at such events.
This is a team already immensely popular, and the further they progress in France, the greater an inspiration they will be for future generations.
"It is not just about this tournament and what is going on now but we want to qualify for other tournaments and grow football in Wales, get other kids playing and be role models to make football even bigger in Wales," said Bale.
"Hopefully that will give us a better national team in the future as well."
Wales and Iceland (who are undefeated in Euro 2016, their only major tournament appearance) have excellent records in major championships - but it should be noted that Wales have played nine games compared to Italy's 119 and Germany's 152.
Even if Wales go out of the tournament in Friday's quarter-final against Belgium in Lille, one could argue Wales' campaign is a success.
However, such carefree contentment does not register with this Welsh side as they prepare to face the world's second-ranked team.
Yet Marc Wilmots' men were in the same position when they were memorably beaten by Wales in Cardiff in a qualifier for this competition last year.
The parties that followed Wales' qualification, Group B success and beating Northern Ireland have become part of the nation's football folklore.
But reaching the semi-finals in France could take celebrations to a similarly uncharted level. | With fans whose pre-match song of choice is by Zombie Nation, Wales' Euro 2016 campaign feels like a footballing nation rising from the dead. | 36630115 |
The 26-year-old Red Bull Salzburg player has been ruled out of the trip to Cardiff with a broken foot.
Damari has five goals in this campaign, making him joint top scorer in the section with Wales' Gareth Bale and Bosnia-Hercegovina striker Edin Dzeko.
Israel are third in Group B on nine points, five adrift of leaders Wales and two behind second placed Belgium.
Wales face Israel at home three days after playing away to Cyprus.
Wins in both those games could be enough to seal Wales' place at a major finals for the first time since 1958, with the top two sides in the pool qualifying for the finals in France.
Chris Coleman's side are likely to be without Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen for the two September fixtures because of a hamstring strain. | Wales' Euro 2016 rivals Israel will be without star striker Omer Damari for their Group B qualifier on 6 September. | 33997393 |
Empoli, who have scored two goals in 11 league games this season, frustrated the visitors, who had Mohamed Salah booked for diving in injury time when his shirt had been pulled.
AC Milan moved up to third behind Roma with a 1-0 win over Pescara, Giacomo Bonaventura scoring the only goal.
Crotone picked up their first ever Serie A win as they beat Chievo 2-0.
Lazio beat Sassuolo 2-1, and Atalanta earned a 3-0 win over Genoa in Sunday afternoon's other Italian top-flight games.
In the evening match, Inter Milan suffered a fourth defeat in five Serie A games as they were beaten 1-0 at Sampdoria.
Match ends, Empoli 0, Roma 0.
Second Half ends, Empoli 0, Roma 0.
Corner, Roma. Conceded by Frederic Veseli.
Attempt saved. Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Mohamed Salah.
Mohamed Salah (Roma) is shown the yellow card.
Mohamed Salah (Roma) has gone down, but that's a dive.
Corner, Roma. Conceded by Lukasz Skorupski.
Attempt saved. Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Leandro Paredes.
Attempt missed. Leandro Paredes (Roma) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Kostas Manolas.
Juan Jesus (Roma) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Andrés Tello (Empoli).
Diego Perotti (Roma) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Giuseppe Bellusci (Empoli).
Corner, Empoli. Conceded by Wojciech Szczesny.
Attempt saved. Manuel Pasqual (Empoli) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
Attempt blocked. Kostas Manolas (Roma) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bruno Peres.
Attempt blocked. Edin Dzeko (Roma) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Leandro Paredes with a cross.
Corner, Roma. Conceded by Manuel Pucciarelli.
Foul by Edin Dzeko (Roma).
Andrea Costa (Empoli) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Edin Dzeko (Roma) header from very close range misses to the right. Assisted by Diego Perotti with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Federico Fazio (Roma) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Leandro Paredes with a cross.
Corner, Roma. Conceded by Andrea Costa.
Attempt blocked. Bruno Peres (Roma) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Radja Nainggolan.
Radja Nainggolan (Roma) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Manuel Pucciarelli (Empoli).
Substitution, Roma. Diego Perotti replaces Daniele De Rossi.
Offside, Roma. Bruno Peres tries a through ball, but Mohamed Salah is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Massimo Maccarone (Empoli) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Riccardo Saponara.
Attempt saved. Riccardo Saponara (Empoli) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Foul by Edin Dzeko (Roma).
Manuel Pucciarelli (Empoli) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Roma. Conceded by Giuseppe Bellusci.
Attempt blocked. Leandro Paredes (Roma) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Andrés Tello (Empoli) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Leandro Paredes (Roma) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Andrés Tello (Empoli).
Substitution, Empoli. Marcel Büchel replaces Assane Diousse.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Assane Diousse (Empoli) because of an injury. | Roma are now four points behind Serie A leaders Juventus after a goalless draw at lowly Empoli. | 37801083 |
The UK Airprox Board said the two aircraft came within 100ft of each other and one of the pilots had been forced to "duck under" the other jet.
A report said the controller was "relatively inexperienced".
The incident happened on 26 November last year. | A near miss involving two RAF Tornado jets near Lossiemouth has been put down to a misjudgement by an inexperienced member of staff in the control tower. | 32930489 |
Mourners lined the main street in Cpl Joshua Hoole's hometown of Ecclefechan, near Lockerbie, as the cortege left the village.
The 26-year-old, who was a member of the Rifles regiment, died after collapsing at Dering Lines infantry training centre on 19 July.
An investigation into his death continues.
Dyfed-Powys Police said a post mortem examination has been completed, but the results are not expected until late September.
Cpl Hoole's coffin was carried by military bearers and his funeral service was held at the Crichton Memorial Church in Dumfries.
A ceremony restricted to close family and friends will be held at nearby Roucan Loch Crematorium later on Thursday afternoon
Cpl Hoole had served on two tours in Afghanistan.
He was set to marry next year, and be best man at his brother's wedding on Saturday. | The funeral of a soldier who died during a training exercise in Brecon has taken place. | 36911674 |
Sometimes it is the case when you play a top player early in a tournament that you're a bit more focused, a bit more alert.
When you're going through the tactics for the match it's maybe a little bit more precise, because you're aware that if you get it wrong, the best players will make you pay for that.
If you play a guy you don't really know, it's difficult to get the right gameplan, so it also helps that I know Juan Martin's game very well.
We've played each other many, many times from juniors right through to the biggest matches as pros.
But he's still one of the best players in the world, and after struggling with my game and what I was trying to do for a while, rather than actually concentrating on actually trying to beat my opponent, it was great to get things right.
Working things out tactically and making adjustments during matches gives me confidence, so that's been a real positive for me over the last couple of matches.
Certain players look up to their box more than others and generally all you would like to see coming back is encouragement.
Everyone's different in how they watch - Ivan Lendl obviously doesn't say a lot, Jamie Delgado's a little bit more vocal, my physical trainer Matt Little and my physio Mark Bender are probably the most vocal in the box in terms of encouragement.
But there's nothing organised, we don't sit down and discuss what they do or hand out different roles within the box.
I guess if they were on their phones or looking completely disinterested, or cracking up and having a laugh up there, I would probably find it a bit difficult to concentrate.
In that respect, what the people in your box do could have an impact on your concentration, but from a player's perspective that time between points is all about preparing for the next one.
What happens during the three or four seconds after a point ends is generally your reaction to winning or losing that point.
You can be very pumped - "great, I've won the point" or "damn, I've lost the point and just got broken, I'm really upset".
But you then have another 15 to 20 seconds to either calm yourself down and think about the next one, or spend that time thinking about what just happened - "why did I just get broken serving for the set?"
I don't feel against Del Potro that was the case at all, and I also feel for large parts of the previous match against Martin Klizan that was a real positive for me as well.
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Last year was the first time at the French Open that we stayed in a house near to the courts, and we're doing the same again this time.
It's very relaxed, we can eat at home and watch TV, spend family time together.
We've been following all the political debates from home as well the football, like the Europa League and Champions League finals - does that count as watching French TV?
It's very different in New York, for example, because we stay in the city and it's really busy.
You'd sign up for 40 minutes getting to the courts, so there's quite a lot of time spent going to and from the tennis, which makes the days feel a bit longer.
Here, we're five minutes away and it's great. I can arrive a bit later and get back quickly to see the family.
It's not quite Wimbledon, when I get to stay in my own bed every night, but it feels a little bit more like normal home life than the other Slams.
Hopefully I can extend my stay a little longer, I'm not ready to go home quite yet.
Andy Murray was talking to BBC Sport's Piers Newbery | It was really good to work things out on court and come through against someone as good as Juan Martin del Potro, after a couple of tournaments worrying about my game and where it was at. | 40145344 |
The Robins, who were relegated to League Two in their penultimate game of the season, parted company with head coach Luke Williams on 5 May.
In the past, Power has often been heavily involved in transfers himself.
Power also tried a director of football model, appointing his friend Tim Sherwood to that position in November.
But the former Tottenham boss has taken a step back from the role in recent times, after Swindon won only seven of their 31 games since his arrival.
Following Williams' departure, Power has revealed there will be a change in the club's structure, with a new manager given a budget to control.
They hope to make an appointment within the next eight days.
Partick Thistle boss Alan Archibald has been linked with the vacancy at the County Ground, along with Mansfield's Steve Evans and former Queens Park Rangers boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. | Swindon Town's new manager will have 100 per cent responsibility for player recruitment, chairman Lee Power has told BBC Wiltshire. | 39882884 |
Downpatrick Crown Court heard Brandon John Rainey, 18, had "groomed" his victim with flattery, cannabis and prescription drugs.
Rainey pleaded guilty to charges of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault, all on 1 April last year.
The judge said it was clear Rainey knew his victim was 12.
The court heard the girl's mother caught the pair in bed together after they had exchanged social media messages.
It was claimed the mother physically assaulted Rainey before calling police.
Rainey, whose address was given as c/o the Young Offenders Centre, denied any wrongdoing when interviewed by police, but when DNA evidence was put to him, he claimed the girl told him she was 16.
Jailing him, the judge said it was clear that Rainey knew at all times his victim was a child of 12 and that even after he had been caught and assaulted by his victim's mother, he continued to send the girl messages "to try to avoid detection".
Rainey also told her to clear and delete any previous messages he had been sent.
The judge said that as well as being under a suspended sentence at the time of the rape, Rainey had been in court that day and had been made the subject of a year-long conditional discharge for public order offences.
It was because of his record, his attitude to the offence and because of his behavioural and mental health problems coupled with a history of "substance misuse and abuse" that the judge said he was deeming Rainey to be a "significant risk to the public".
The judge said he believed the public would be best protected by an extended sentence, meaning that when eventually released by the Parole Commissioners, Rainey would have to serve an extra two years on supervised licence.
Rainey was also barred from working with children, ordered to sign the police sex offenders register and made the subject of a 10 year Sexual Offences Prevention Order. | A teenage rapist who was caught in bed with a 12-year-old girl by her mother has been given a four-year custodial sentence. | 31842114 |
West Midlands Police said they faced charges including preparing to travel to Syria to engage in terrorism and helping others to travel.
The five, all from Walsall in the West Midlands, are expected to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court.
Three of the group were arrested last week while the others were originally held in February.
Those charged are Alex Nash, 21, and his wife Yousma Jan, 20, of Bentley Road, and Ayman Shaukat, 27, of Pargetter Street, who were arrested on 9 June.
Lorna Moore, 34, of Glebe Street, and Kerry Thomason, 23, of an undisclosed address, were detained in February before being released on bail. | Two men and three women accused of Syria-related terrorism offences are due to appear at a London court later. | 33144204 |
Many parts of India suffer flooding every year during the annual monsoon rains from June to September. The northeast monsoon has been particularly vigorous over southern India and more so in Tamil Nadu state, of which Chennai is the capital.
Last month was the wettest November in a century in the city of 4.3 million people. And, at 490 mm, rainfall on 1 December was the highest in 100 years.
The floods are a wake up call for India's teeming cities that were built with the expectation that the environment would adjust itself to accommodate the need for the city to grow.
The disconnect with nature is also manifest in the failure of planners, builders, administrators and even common people to fathom the sheer power of natural events.
The Corporation of Chennai and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority are responsible for approving building plans and town planning, and for enforcing urban planning. A masterplan was prepared in 2008.
But much of the city has grown without a plan and with no regard to water flows, and without anticipating extreme weather events.
Then there's illegal construction.
As The Indian Express newspaper reports, "What may have been a tank, lake, canal or river 20 years ago is today the site of multi-storey residential and industrial structures."
There are more than 150,000 illegal structures in the city, according to the city's municipality. More than 300 tanks, canals and lakes have disappeared.
An information technology park in Chennai is flooded because it is located at a place where waters from two separate lakes converge and flow to a neighbouring creek. Many of the city's info-tech facilities are built on marshlands, water-bodies and water courses. The city's famous automobile manufacturing hubs are located in the catchment area of lakes.
The premier engineering school IIT Madras has been accused of clearing more than 52 acres of forests, including 8,000 trees between 2001 and 2013 as part of a major construction spree that saw 39 renovation projects and new constructions in its campus adjoining a national park. Reports say none of the projects have local body approval or environmental clearance.
Plastics are another culprit. After the first intense downpour in mid-November, plastic trash washed into rivers by rainwater was pushed to sea by the swollen rivers.
At high-tide, the trash was thrown right back onto the city's beaches by the sea. The large quantity of plastics visible in the city's beach trash exposed another chink in the city's defences.
Plastics are virtually indestructible. What doesn't get washed out to sea tends to accumulate in water channels and storm water and sewage networks, impeding and even blocking flows.
Clearly, indiscriminate development and shoddy urban planning have led to the floods in India's fourth most populous city.
Nityanand Jayaraman is a Chennai-based writer and social activist | The severe flooding in Chennai again proves that India's cities are unprepared for extreme weather events like rains, droughts and cyclonic storms which are becoming more frequent and intense. | 34992004 |
It brings the total number of newborns infected to 18, many of them were premature babies. One of them has died.
The babies were being cared for in neonatal intensive care units in nine different hospitals and are said to be responding to antibiotic treatment.
Of the three new cases, two are said to be likely with one confirmed, Public Health England said.
All started displaying symptoms between Thursday and Saturday last week, but have only now been reported to Public Health England.
Hospitals were alerted to the problem on Wednesday. The contaminated batches have since been withdrawn, although as they expired on Monday none should have been used since then.
A total of 162 units of the feed were sent out from the contaminated batches to more than 20 hospitals. It is possible other cases will emerge as tests are carried out.
The liquid feed is given direct into the bloodstream of babies as they cannot be mouth fed. It means symptoms start developing quickly.
Public Health England and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are investigating the outbreaks.
The manufacturer of the feed, ITH Pharma, has said it was "saddened" by what has happened and was cooperating fully with the investigation.
The cases have been reported at:
The baby who died was being treated at Guy's and St Thomas'. The baby died on Sunday after being diagnosed the previous day.
The investigation is focussing on the production of the batches on Tuesday 27 May.
Speaking outside the company's north west London base, ITH Pharma managing director Karen Hamling said: "From investigations carried out so far, it would appear the potential contamination is linked to a single sourced raw material ingredient.
"As a mother, as a pharmacist , as someone who has worked for 30 years in healthcare, inside and outside the NHS, I am deeply saddened that one baby has died and others have fallen ill from septicaemia." | Three new cases of babies developing blood poisoning from a suspected contaminated drip have come to light. | 27719965 |
Chinese Catholic bishop Peter Shao Zhumin was seized by authorities in May, Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said.
The cleric's family has been given no information on the reasons for his removal or his current whereabouts.
Relations between the Vatican and China have been strained by disputes over who can appoint bishops in the country.
Mr Burke said he was "profoundly saddened" by the situation involving the detention of a bishop from his diocese in Wenzhou, in China's southeastern Zhejiang province.
He said the incident was detrimental to efforts to reach an understanding with the Chinese authorities on the status of the Church in the communist state.
"The Holy See hopes that Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin may return as soon as possible to his diocese and that he be allowed to carry out his ministry in peace," Mr Burke said.
Catholics who have been seeking news of the bishop fear that he may be being pressured by the authorities to pledge his allegiance to the Communist Party instead of the Vatican.
The news comes amid recent reports that the Vatican and Beijing are drawing closer to reaching an historic agreement governing the selection of bishops for 10 million Chinese Roman Catholics.
There are currently about 100 Catholic bishops in China, with some approved by Beijing, some approved by the Vatican and, informally, many now approved by both.
An agreement between the Chinese government and Pope Francis on who has the authority to appoint bishops in the country would be a positive step towards re-establishing diplomatic relations between China and the Vatican. | The Vatican has expressed "grave concerns" for one of its bishops who was detained after being "forcibly removed" from his diocese in China. | 40409292 |
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In the performance of the tournament, Spain became the first team to score more than twice in a Euro 2016 match.
Alvaro Morata headed Spain ahead while Nolito doubled the lead within minutes, side-footing home from close range.
The third goal was a sublime 22-pass move involving nine outfield players, ending with Morata finding the net.
In the past Spain have often found it difficult to break down opponents intent on defending deeply to contain their technical brilliance, but they had no such trouble against a Turkish team who found it impossible to suppress their opponents.
On a day where crowd trouble and flares had marred Croatia's draw with the Czech Republic, there was a series of loud bangs after the final whistle at the Stade de Nice, with fans lighting up flares.
Uefa have imposed a strict ban on all flares being taken into stadiums and Turkey are expected to be the latest country to face disciplinary action.
Three Spain fans were also arrested before the match trying to bring flares into the stadium.
Spain came into the match after winning their opening game of a European Championship or World Cup for the first time since Euro 2008, while Turkey had been heavily criticised for their poor display in their loss to Croatia, and the match unfolded as many had predicted.
The Spaniards, unbeaten in 62 years against their opponents and undefeated in their last 13 games at the European Championship finals, were dominant and, at times, unplayable.
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They went close on a number of occasions, through Gerard Pique and Nolito, before going ahead when Juventus' Morata expertly headed Nolito's cross into the far corner.
Within three minutes the Spaniards had doubled their advantage. Nolito turned from provider to poacher as Turkey's Mehmet Topal headed Cesc Fabregas' chipped pass into the forward's path.
Spain's one-touch, fluid football was a joy to watch and the third goal, arriving quickly after the break, was as inevitable as it was pleasing on the eye.
In a dreamy sequence involving every outfield player except Pique, Iniesta - superb once again - produced the defence-splitting pass to Jordi Alba, who unselfishly passed to Morata for the striker to slot home from four yards. The only note to sour the delightful move was that replays showed Alba fractionally offside.
Vicente del Bosque's men eased off after the third, retaining possession with ease, while Turkey's impotence in attack ensured the Spaniards' defensive record - they have now conceded a goal in only one of their last 11 games in the tournament - remained unblemished.
Fatih Terim's men received some "nasty" criticism, according to their star man Arda Turan, after their 1-0 opening defeat and their critics will not have been silenced after this trouncing.
Midway through the second half, Turkey's fans booed the Barcelona playmaker as he slowed down a counter-attack and the captain responded by gesturing towards his supporters, giving them the thumbs up.
Indeed, it has been a forgettable tournament for Turan - a 40m-euro purchase for Barca from Atletico Madrid - who was also booed by his own fans against Croatia.
Terim named an attacking line-up, choosing Burak Yilmaz, the top scorer in their squad with 20 international goals, but there was little Turkey could do without the ball and they wasted the opportunities they did have - Burak Yilmaz and Olcay Sahan shooting wide when they should have done better - leaving Turkey to end the match without a single shot on target.
Turkey manager Fatih Terim: "We conceded two goals by making individual mistakes - one of them was unbelievable.
"But I congratulate Spain. They're a very important team, a special team."
Spain boss Vincent Del Bosque: "From 2008 to now, we have lost some of the most important players in the history of Spanish football. We are on the right path but we haven't won anything yet. This is the group stage. If a team stays back in their own half and defends, that is better for us. We prefer to play in the opponent's half.
"We have a team that understands very well what they have to do. We are not worried about not scoring too early.
"We were effective in front of goal. I am not thinking about the next round - we will try to get the three points against Croatia and we will choose the team that can do that."
Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta: "We showed our winning mentality and great team spirit. It depends on ourselves how far we go here, the feelings we have are very positive at the moment.
"It is 10/10 for the players and 10/10 for the fans, who supported us incredibly."
Group D leaders Spain will next play Croatia and even a draw on Tuesday would ensure the holders end the group stages topping the table. Turkey, on the brink after two defeats, must beat the Czech Republic to retain any hope of progressing as one of the best third-placed teams.
Match ends, Spain 3, Turkey 0.
Second Half ends, Spain 3, Turkey 0.
Attempt missed. Bruno (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Nolito.
Attempt missed. Olcay Sahan (Turkey) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left.
Attempt missed. Olcay Sahan (Turkey) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Yunus Malli.
Offside, Turkey. Mehmet Topal tries a through ball, but Gökhan Gönül is caught offside.
Foul by Sergio Busquets (Spain).
Yunus Malli (Turkey) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by César Azpilicueta (Spain).
Olcay Sahan (Turkey) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sergio Busquets (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Nuri Sahin (Turkey).
Offside, Turkey. Gökhan Gönül tries a through ball, but Caner Erkin is caught offside.
Corner, Turkey. Conceded by César Azpilicueta.
Substitution, Spain. César Azpilicueta replaces Jordi Alba.
Foul by Álvaro Morata (Spain).
Mehmet Topal (Turkey) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Dangerous play by Nolito (Spain).
Gökhan Gönül (Turkey) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Yunus Malli (Turkey) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Olcay Sahan.
Foul by Koke (Spain).
Yunus Malli (Turkey) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Nolito (Spain).
Gökhan Gönül (Turkey) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Koke (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Nuri Sahin (Turkey).
Andrés Iniesta (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Olcay Sahan (Turkey).
Substitution, Spain. Koke replaces Cesc Fàbregas.
Substitution, Turkey. Yunus Malli replaces Selcuk Inan.
Álvaro Morata (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Selcuk Inan (Turkey).
Attempt saved. Gerard Piqué (Spain) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Andrés Iniesta with a cross.
Corner, Spain. Conceded by Volkan Babacan.
Attempt saved. Bruno (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sergio Busquets.
Offside, Turkey. Selcuk Inan tries a through ball, but Gökhan Gönül is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Sergio Ramos (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution, Spain. Bruno replaces David Silva.
Nolito (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Selcuk Inan (Turkey). | Two-time defending champions Spain progressed to the last 16 of the European Championship with a masterful display against a poor Turkey in Nice. | 36496076 |
Irish's relegation from English rugby's top flight for the first time since 1994 was confirmed on Sunday after a 32-25 home defeat by Harlequins.
"We've got to learn from those mistakes," Narraway told BBC Radio Berkshire. "Moving forward, we've got to make sure we eradicate them."
The Exiles will play Championship rugby next season as they bid to bounce back.
Narraway also lamented how a 17th defeat of the season came despite an encouraging performance against Quins.
"We've probably played good enough to win the game," he added. "I don't think anyone can argue with that.
"We were probably the better side at Newcastle and, apart from five minutes, the better side against Quins.
"It's difficult to take. I've never been relegated before in my career.
"I'm fully committed to the club. It's got great staff, great players and great people behind it. We've just let ourselves down at certain moments of this season.
"We'll stick together and hopefully in 12 months' times, we'll be building towards another Premiership season." | London Irish captain Luke Narraway says the club's players all believed they could avoid Premiership relegation. | 36194385 |
IS today is more brutal, more sophisticated, and more powerful than many predicted. And military action so far has had only limited success in pushing it back. So some have suggested a different approach: negotiation. Some find the idea of talks abhorrent - others say it's time to at least consider it.
Four experts spoke to BBC World Service's The Inquiry about their views on the question: should anyone ever talk to IS?
Jonathan Powell: Time to talk?
Jonathan Powell was chief negotiator on Northern Ireland for the British government under Tony Blair.
"If you want to destroy the Islamic State, you're not going to be able to do it from the air. And no one in the West seems prepared to put boots on the ground. So there is no military strategy for destroying Isis. There needs to be a political strategy. In my view, that would involve talking to them.
"All terrorists are barbaric. That's why they're terrorists, because the only thing they have in common is that they use the tool of terror.
"[Isis] use their violence for a very obvious purpose. They use it to frighten their opponents so they run away. They know that if they kill one Western aid worker, one Western journalist, in a horrific way, they will get a huge amount of publicity. Yes, of course the violence they use is abhorrent, but that doesn't mean to say the lessons we've learnt from dealing with previous terrorist groups all fall away.
"We talked to the IRA, not because they had guns but because they had a third of the Catholic vote. If you were dealing with a group that has almost no political support, such as Baader-Meinhof... you're not going to need to negotiate because there isn't a political question at the heart of the matter. And it seems to me likely that there is a political question at the heart here in Syria and Iraq.
"If the conflicts I've looked at over the last... 30 years are anything to go by, and if Isis have political support, then we will end up speaking to them. Maybe they'll fade like snow in the spring, but there is very little historical precedent for that happening in this sort of circumstance.
"It's my hypothesis that there is such political support. And the idea of extreme Islamists, whether Al Qaeda or Isil, seems to have enough robustness in it that there is a problem we're going to have to address politically at some stage, not simply by force of arms."
But, Powell says, there are two caveats: you don't stop fighting, and you don't begin those talks now. You prepare the ground, by establishing a basic conversation.
Qais Qasim: A view from Baghdad
Qais Qasim is a journalist living in Baghdad. Over the past year, he's been following the story of IS, talking to those who've fled from the towns and villages they control.
"They are not a political group, they are a criminal group. They use suicide attacks and explosives instead of words. They have no political demands.
"Isis is not a Sunni movement any more. They get in fights against Sunni tribes. The fight against Isis is not a part of the conflict between Sunnis and Shias. Isis is not based on sectarian philosophy but it's based on a certain way [of looking at] human life and they think they have the ultimate right to decide who live[s] and who die[s].
"I cannot find anybody here in Baghdad who is willing to talk to Isis. Nobody [is] willing to give Isis the legitimacy. And if it happens, they will consider it a sign of weakness from the Iraqi security forces.
"People here in Baghdad are very optimistic about the Iraqi forces and the rebuilding of the Iraqi forces."
"It's not the time, and it won't be any time, to talk to Isis today and tomorrow and even after five years because they are criminals. You cannot negotiate with savages like Isis fighters. You cannot let a criminal get away with his crime."
Mina al-Oraibi: Divide and talk
Mina al-Oraibi is assistant editor-in-chief at Asharq Alawsat, a London-based Arabic newspaper.
"I come from Iraq, my father's home town is Mosul. So of course I care about it from a personal point of view. I also care about it because I think what will happen in the fight against Isis inside of Iraq will determine much of what will happen in the Middle East and the Arab world.
"I don't believe that it's time to speak to those that are within the top echelons of Isis because there's not much to talk about there, they've made that very clear.
"There are different groups that have come under the fold of Isis in different countries, whether it's in Iraq or in Syria or otherwise that are there for either political gain or because they felt that they were pushed into a corner where they had no other military option. Those are the people that are worth speaking to.
"We've fallen into the trap of treating it almost like it is one strong group. And that's actually been a propaganda win for Isis that many of us who would say that we are against them have enabled. And I think it's very, very important to look at those divisions and inferences and be able to pull people back.
"There are still army generals from Saddam's army who are sitting either in Amman or in the Kurdish region of Iraq or in Turkey, not even [in] parts of Isis but they're just sitting around given no role. You know some of these army members have connections and would be able to say 'These are the people I can count on, bring them in.'
"Some Iraqis refer to those that are from the provinces controlled by Isis as terrorists. So it's very important to build that trust and so to tell Sunnis that 'we realise that you are victims of this'.
Michael Semple: The long game
Michael Semple worked in Afghanistan for 18 years, as an aid worker, for the EU and the UN. He was one of only a few who were involved in talks with senior Taliban members.
"I think somebody who proposed political talks now would be considered foolish from both sides. I don't think IS would buy it, I don't think that the countries of the region or the United States would buy it.
"And yet there are very important humanitarian needs and I think it is time... to see who in Islamic State... is prepared to engage on humanitarian issues and make things a little bit better for now.
"[IS is] big enough, robust enough that it looks as if it's going to be around for quite some time to come, therefore it has structures which I think would be capable of engaging in dialogue... making undertakings which they could subsequently adhere to. But also, because it looks like it's going to be around for quite some time, the price of ignoring them goes up all the time.
"It comes down to the question of whether a humanitarian dialogue... does legitimise the parties involved in that dialogue and, through legitimising them, essentially strengthen[s] them. Now many people... have concluded that it is possible to conduct a humanitarian dialogue without legitimising the parties involved.
"There are regionally-based intermediaries, people who've got some reason to have dealings in areas where IS has a presence. Now quite often it has been religious leaders, sometimes it's business people, traders. I think these are the kind of figures we'd expect to see, long before diplomats.
"I think that the dialogue would have to be worthwhile in its own terms... not with respect to the hope for some eventual political progress. Relationships and confidences which have been built up during that humanitarian dialogue. Later on they might be put to work when the time is right for some kind of political engagement."
The Inquiry is broadcast on the BBC World Service on Tuesdays at 12:05 GMT/13:05 BST. Listen online or download the podcast. | The so-called Islamic State (IS, also known as Isis and Isil) now controls vast swathes of Iraq and Syria and has affiliates which have claimed to have carried out attacks in countries including Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Nigeria. | 33863524 |
Many of those convicted were imprisoned for at least seven years. Another 26, including 13 women, were acquitted.
The 94 defendants were accused of trying to seize power in the Emirates.
The verdict ended a trial criticised by human rights groups, which said the judge failed to investigate "credible" allegations of torture of defendants.
The defendants included human rights lawyers, university lecturers and students.
A majority of those convicted were given jail sentences between seven and 10 years, reports said.
Eight defendants no longer in the country were sentenced to 15 years.
The convictions were condemned by Human Rights Watch. Nick McGeehan, the organisation's Gulf researcher, said they represented "another low point for the UAE's worsening human rights record".
By Bill LawGulf analyst
This decision will have come as no surprise.
The UAE government, along with other Gulf Co-operation Council states, is fighting an ongoing battle with dissidents and human rights activists. But the battle is not in the streets - it is happening online.
The Gulf ruling families face a rising tide of criticism from young Arabs who are using social networks to challenge their governments.
In the short term, arbitrary arrests and harsh sentences may have a limited effect but in the longer term the effort to stem the tide will likely end in failure. As a young Saudi blogger told me: "They can't put all of us in jail."
"These verdicts cement the UAE's reputation as a serious abuser of basic human rights," Mr McGeehan added.
The Federal Supreme Court jailed two prominent human rights lawyers to 10 years in prison each, the Emirates Centre for Human Rights said.
The verdict was reported on local state-run TV.
Roads outside the court were blocked and reporters kept away from the site ahead of the verdict, Reuters news agency said.
Foreign observers and international media have not been allowed access to the hearings.
The defendants are said to be members of al-Islah, an Emirati-based Islamist group linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.
They were accused of setting up an organisation "seeking to oppose the basic principles of the UAE system of governance and to seize power".
Political parties and demonstrations are banned in the UAE, which comprises seven sheikdoms run by ruling families.
The trial which began in March has been strongly criticised by global human rights advocates, who have said the proceedings were in "flagrant disregard of fair trial guarantees".
Most of the defendants were arrested in July and August 2012. Their families were denied visitation rights during pre-trial detention.
Human rights groups also alleged that some of the inmates were tortured during their detention.
But the UAE attorney general has rejected the claims, saying the prisoners were being "dealt with according to the law".
The 68 who were convicted have no right of appeal.
The UAE like other Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries has cracked down hard on dissidents and social media activists.
Two more were arrested on Monday night for tweeting in support of the 94, including the brother of a prominent detainee, a local activist told the BBC. He said they were being held in an unknown location.
The activist described the detainees as "singing Islamic songs and chanting God is great" when the verdicts were announced in court. | Sixty-eight Islamists in the United Arab Emirates have been jailed over allegations of a plot to overthrow the government. | 23142248 |
Though only just announced, the exchange happened ahead of a historic meeting between the two sides' presidents on 7 November.
Beijing freed Chu Kung-hsun and Hsu Chang-kuo, who were held in China for nine years, while Taiwan released Li Zhihao, who was jailed 16 years ago.
Taiwanese media say it is the first time the two sides have swapped spies.
Taiwanese presidential spokesman Charles Chen said in a statement that the release was "based on a mutual goodwill gesture delivered by the Ma-Xi meeting".
"President Ma (Ying-jeou) hopes cross-strait mutual exchanges can continue and make more concrete achievements in the future," he added.
China's Taiwan Affairs Office confirmed the release of Col Chu Kung-hsun and Col Hsu Chang-kuo, saying they were freed "in accordance with the law".
Meanwhile, Taiwan said it gave advance parole to Li Zhihao, who had served part of his term.
Defence officials say the two colonels were the last Taiwanese military officials held in China for spying, but that some Taiwanese civilians convicted of spying remained imprisoned in China, the BBC's Cindy Sui reports from Taipei.
President Ma has been broadly friendly towards mainland China during his time in office, boosting tourism and trade ties.
Earlier this month, he and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Singapore - the first time the leaders of China and Taiwan had held talks in more than 60 years.
China views Taiwan as a breakaway province which will one day be reunited with the mainland.
But many Taiwanese see it as independent and are concerned at China's growing influence. | Taiwan and China swapped jailed spies earlier this month, in a mutual gesture of goodwill. | 34960958 |
The 55-year-old Glasgow-born star will be the 12th actor to play the Doctor, replacing out-going lead Matt Smith.
Capaldi is best known for his role as foul-mouthed spin-doctor Malcolm Tucker in the BBC series The Thick of It.
"It's so wonderful not to keep this secret any longer, but it's been so fantastic," he said after the news was revealed on a live BBC One show.
The actor had been the bookmakers' favourite to take on the role, with betting on him becoming the next Doctor suspended on Friday.
It is not the first time Capaldi has appeared on the show - he played Roman merchant Caecilius in 2008 Doctor Who adventure The Fires of Pompeii.
By Tim MastersEntertainment correspondent, BBC News
After Matt Smith, the youngest actor to play the Doctor, comes Peter Capaldi, one of the oldest.
At 55, the same age as first Doctor William Hartnell in 1963, Capaldi's casting seems a significant nod to the past as the show celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Capaldi is likely to bring gravitas - as well as humour - to a role widely regarded as one of the most prized in British television.
Capaldi has a strong track record on TV, stage and in film - and is the first Doctor Who star with an Oscar on his CV (for best live action short film).
His previous appearances in Doctor Who episode The Fires of Pompeii and spin-off show Torchwood will make Capaldi a popular choice among fans.
But how will his regenerated Doctor play to a generation born in the 21st Century? Only time will tell.
At 55, he is the same age as William Hartnell when he was cast in the role as the first Doctor in 1963.
"Being asked to play the Doctor is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and delight. I can't wait to get started," he said.
Secret audition
Steven Moffat, the show's lead writer and executive producer, said casting Capaldi as the Doctor was an "incendiary combination".
"One of the most talented actors of his generation is about to play the best part on television."
Moffat said Capaldi had been cast after a secret audition at his house.
"We made a home video of [Capaldi] being the doctor and I showed it around and everyone said 'yes, that's the Doctor'.
Moffat added the actor had "briefly flicked through my mind" the last time he was casting the role, but he did not think he was right for the part, however "now that moment has arrived".
Capaldi said he downloaded old Doctor Who scripts from the internet and practised the lines in front of a mirror to prepare for the audition.
The 12 Doctors
1. William Hartnell (1963-1966)
2. Patrick Troughton (1966-1969)
3. Jon Pertwee (1970-1974)
4. Tom Baker (1974-1981)
5. Peter Davison - (1982-1984)
6. Colin Baker (1984-1986)
7. Sylvester McCoy (1987-1996)
8. Paul McGann (1996)
9. Christopher Eccleston (2005)
10. David Tennant (2005-2010)
11. Matt Smith (2010 - 2013)
12. Peter Capaldi (2013 - )
He revealed he was filming a BBC adaptation of The Three Musketeers in Prague when he found out he got the part.
"I had my phone on silent so I missed the call," he said. "It was my agent and I rang her up and she said 'hello Doctor' - I haven't stopped laughing since."
'Incredible incarnation'
Out-going Doctor Matt Smith welcomed Capaldi's casting, and pre-recorded a message for the new Time Lord.
"I wish my successor all the best and say good luck and good on you for getting it, because I know he's both a huge fan of the show and a really nice guy," he said.
"The casting made me ready excited and as a fan I think it's a canny choice. If I had to pick someone, I'd pick him because I think he's great. I'm excited because I know what's coming and he's going to have a blast."
Jenna Coleman, who stars as current Doctor Who companion Clara, said: "I'm so excited Peter Capaldi is the man taking on the challenge of becoming the 12th Doctor.
"With Steven's writing and his talent I know we'll be making an amazing show with an incredible incarnation of number 12. I can't wait to start this new adventure."
Ben Stephenson, controller of BBC Drama Commissioning said Capaldi was "an extraordinarily talented actor who can seemingly turn his hand to anything".
"We can't wait to premiere his unique take on the Doctor on Christmas Day and we are sure he's going to become one of the all-time classic Doctors."
Following the announcement, The Thick of It writer Armando Ianucci tweeted: "There can't be a funnier, wiser, more exciting Time Lord than Peter Capaldi. The universe is in great hands."
Capaldi will film his first scenes on the series this autumn. | Actor Peter Capaldi has been announced as the new star of BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who. | 23570354 |
The flights between London Heathrow and Manchester will stop in March, while those between Heathrow and Edinburgh and Aberdeen will end in September.
The service was designed to challenge British Airways.
The aim was to help long-haul Virgin customers connect with other parts of the UK, but Virgin said most passengers were using it as a stand alone service.
At its launch, the company pledged the airline would deliver "Virgin Atlantic's rock-and-roll spirit as well as real value for money".
Virgin said that bookings "grew steadily" in the early part of this year, but few of these were passengers connecting with long-haul Virgin flights.
"Little Red has unfortunately not been able to make a positive contribution to Virgin Atlantic's network," the company said.
It added that a scarcity of available slots and the speed with which the new service was launched had hampered its success.
Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Atlantic's president, said: "When the competition authorities allowed British Airways to take over British Midland and all of its slots, we feared there was little we could do to challenge BA's huge domestic and European network built through decades of dominance.
"To remedy this, we were offered a meagre package of slots with a number of constraints on how to use them and we decided to lease a few planes on a short-term basis to give it our best shot.
"The odds were stacked against us and sadly we just couldn't attract enough corporate business on these routes." | Virgin Atlantic has said it will stop running Little Red, its UK flight network launched in 2013, next year. | 29504715 |
Mr Anderson, 22, from the Short Strand area, suffered head injuries at Arthur Lane in the city centre in the early hours of Monday 6 February.
He was admitted to hospital later that day, but died nearly two weeks later.
Police want anyone who was in the Upper Arthur Street, Montgomery Street and Arthur Lane area on Monday 6 February at about 05:30 GMT to contact them.
The 26-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday morning. | Police investigating the murder of Belfast man Conan Anderson have arrested a 26-year-old man. | 39039379 |
It emerged last week that Carter was one of three Racing players who tested positive for corticosteroids prior to last season's Top 14 final.
The fly-half has failed to recover from a calf injury sustained last month.
Wing Joe Rokocoko and fellow back Juan Imhoff, the other players to test positive, are both in the Racing team for Sunday's game.
The trio were interviewed on Wednesday by French Rugby anti-doping chiefs, who will decide whether the players and Racing have broken any rules.
Racing said the players did not have therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) for "anomalous" drugs tests but insist the players have not done wrong.
Carter and Rokocoko scored 20 of Racing's points in the 29-21 Top 14 final win over Toulon last June.
With Carter missing a third straight game, South African Johannes Goosen will start at number 10, fresh from turning out for the Springboks in the Rugby Championship.
Centre Henry Chavancy returns for last season's beaten European finalists with Camille Chat replacing injured skipper Dimitri Szarzewski at hooker.
Other big names in the Racing team include France internationals Eddy Ben Arous and Maxime Machenaud, who captains the team, plus ex-Glasgow star Leone Nakarawa.
Munster make only one change from last weekend's Pro12 defeat by Leinster with Jaco Taute replacing injured Keith Earls at centre.
Ireland international Earls is following return to play protocols after picking up a knock last weekend.
Fly-half Tyler Bleyendaal and wing Darren Sweetnam will both make their European debuts for the Irish province.
TEAMS
Racing 92: B Dulin; J Rokocoko, H Chavancy, A Tuitavke, J Imhoff; J Goosen, M Machenaud; E Ben Arous, C Chat, B Tameifuna; L Nakarawa, M Carizza; W Lauret, Y Nyanga, C Masoe.
Replacements: V Lacombe, V Afatia, C Gomes Sa, F van der Merwe, T Dubarry, J Hart, R Tales, A Vulivuli.
Munster: S Zebo; D Sweetnam, J Taute, R Scannell, R O'Mahony; T Bleyendaal, C Murray; D Kilcoyne, N Scannell, J Ryan; D Ryan, B Holland; P O'Mahony (capt), T O'Donnell, CJ Stander.
Replacements: D Casey, B Scott, S Archer, R Copeland, J O'Donoghue, D Williams, I Keatley, D Goggin. | All Blacks great Dan Carter will miss Racing 92's European Champions Cup opener against Munster on Sunday. | 37660141 |
Commodity prices have been falling all week, with the price of copper hitting a six-year low, and oil near six-and-a-half-year lows.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng closed down 2.2% at 22,396.14 - leading Asia's losses.
Shares in mining giant Glencore fell 6.7%, after having seen its London-listed shares drop 7.6% on Thursday.
Like all mining companies, Glencore has been affected by the fall in commodity prices, but it is also seeking to reduce huge debt levels.
In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite fell 1.4% to 3,580.84.
Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index closed down 1.45% at 5,051.30.
Shares in BHP Billiton, Australia's biggest miner, were down as much as 3% in early trade, but recovered slightly to close down 1.84%.
"The slide in commodities has seen BHP at its lowest price in a decade and has seen the Australian energy sector cross over the 30% decline level for the first time this year," IG Market's Evan Lucas told the BBC.
He said the materials sector - which includes mining and refining of metals as well as chemical producers - was now making up 13.5% of the Australian stock exchange, down from 27% in 2011.
"The only commodities to see green in overnight trade were coffee, sugar and beef," Mr Lucas added.
Adding to BHP's problems, the Brazilian government fined BHP Billiton and its partner Vale for a dam burst at their jointly-owned mine.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index closed down 0.5% at 19,596.91, while South Korea's Kospi index ended lower by 1% at 1,973.29. | Asian stock markets saw sharp falls as a drop in the price of commodities hit mining companies and energy-related stocks. | 34805766 |
Crews were called to Kingston Industrial Estate in Ardgowan Street, Port Glasgow, at 14:30 on Saturday.
About 25 firefighters battled flames and thick smoke in the workshops which housed buses and other vehicles.
A 39-year-old man was treated at the scene for minor burns to his hands. An investigation was due to be carried out to establish the cause of the blaze.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said two appliances were still at the scene on Sunday dampening down remaining parts of the buildings.
A demolition team was later brought in to bring down the remains of the units. | Two units have been destroyed in a fire which raged through warehouses at an industrial estate in Inverclyde. | 35903997 |
The PM said on the No 10 website that he would use arguments of the "head and heart" to keep the UK together.
The UK government is preparing to release an analysis paper about Scotland's role in the Union, ahead of next year's referendum on independence.
The SNP accused the PM of focusing on "an entirely negative attack".
The Westminster government is publishing its first analysis paper on Monday - the same day the fiscal commission working group, which was set up by SNP leader Alex Salmond last March, publishes its economic proposals for an independent Scotland.
The working group said its document did not determine what path Scotland should take, but instead offered options for reform should Scots vote for independence.
Writing before the launch of the Westminster government's document, Mr Cameron pledged that his government would put the "facts" about Scottish independence to the public.
He said: "As one of Scotland's two governments, the UK government has a duty to help inform people with hard facts.
"So we'll be providing expert-based analysis to explain Scotland's place within the UK and how it might change with separation - and our first paper is published tomorrow.
"We don't shy away from putting facts and evidence before the Scottish people. This must not be a leap in the dark, but a decision made in the light of day."
The prime minister said the case for retaining the union focused on matters of the "head and heart".
"It's about heart because our nations share a proud and emotional history," he said.
"Over three centuries we have built world-renowned institutions like the NHS and BBC, fought for freedom and democracy in two World Wars, and pioneered and traded around the world.
"Our ancestors explored the world together and our grandfathers went into battle together as do our kith and kin today - and this leaves deep, unbreakable bonds between the peoples of these islands."
But Mr Cameron said the case for the UK was about "our future as well as our past".
"I have no time for those who say there is no way Scotland could go it alone," he said.
"The real question is whether it should - whether Scotland is stronger, safer, richer and fairer within our United Kingdom or outside it. And here, I believe, the answer is clear."
He pointed out that Scotland had its own government and parliament in Edinburgh, with power over areas such as health and education.
"Scots can take all of these decisions and more to meet the specific needs of Scotland," Mr Cameron said.
"And they can do so without losing the benefits of being part of the UK and having a full say in its future - economic strength and opportunity, international influence and national security."
The Scottish government, earlier in the week, published a "road map" from the referendum next year to full statehood in early 2016.
The 16-page "transition plan" said that, in the event of a "Yes" vote in the referendum, independence day for Scotland would be in March 2016, with the first elections to an independent parliament in May.
The prime minister criticised the SNP for discussing the final transition to independence, saying: "I know those arguing for independence are already preparing their separation transition plan, as though they've got this in the bag, but to me that is wrong.
"It's like fast-forwarding to the closing credits before you've been allowed to see the movie."
However, Scotland's deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, defended the move.
She said: "The Electoral Commission has called on both sides of the independence debate to provide more information to the people of Scotland and to work together to discuss what will happen in the wake of the referendum.
"We have agreed with the Electoral Commission and published information about the transition to independence following a Yes vote.
"The prime minister's remarks suggest he is ignoring the Electoral Commission's advice - despite the previous calls of the Westminster government for the Scottish government to follow their advice.
She added: "Instead of spelling out a positive case, David Cameron is simply continuing with an entirely negative attack. The pro-independence campaign is making the positive case and preparing for the future.
"By placing himself at the head of the No campaign, David Cameron is simply reminding people that he heads a government that Scotland didn't vote for and that independence is the only way to ensure that Scotland always gets the government it votes for." | Scotland should remain part of the UK because having two governments looking after its affairs offers "the best of both worlds", David Cameron has said. | 21394184 |
The temporary break follows the discovery of the body of a third man on Wednesday.
Ken Cresswell, 57, and John Shaw, 61, from Rotherham, and Chris Huxtable, 34, from Swansea, have been missing since the collapse in February.
Police said the search would resume when recovery work in the area where the body was found was completed.
The body was taken from the site yesterday but formal identification has not yet taken place.
Emergency services and workers who carried out the search formed a guard of honour as the body was driven from the site in the early hours of the morning.
Steve Hall, Mr Cresswell's son-in-law, said the family had been hoping for a breakthrough for six months.
He added: "There's nothing you can do.
"Obviously we are hoping this is him, and not in a selfish way to the other two families, because I'm sure they're hoping it's them as well."
The body of a fourth man, Michael Collings, 53, from Brotton, Teesside, was previously recovered from the site.
The building was due for demolition when it partially collapsed in February.
The remaining section was brought down using explosives in July. | The search for the two bodies remaining in the ruins of a collapsed building at Didcot Power Station has been halted. | 37254487 |
The final communique said members were determined to develop measures to stop firms shifting profits from a home country to pay less tax elsewhere.
The UK, France and Germany were the main movers behind the drive.
The communique also said members would refrain from devaluing their currencies to gain economic advantage, amid fears of a new "currency war".
The fears had been sparked by Japan's recent policies, which have driven down the value of the yen, aiding its exporters.
A recent survey carried out by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that multinational firms could exploit gaps between tax rules in the different countries in which they operate.
The finance ministers of the UK, France and Germany - George Osborne, Pierre Moscovici and Wolfgang Schaeuble - said international action was needed to crack down on companies which transfer profits from their home country to another in order to pay lower taxes.
CompuGlobalHyperMegaNet UK Ltd is a subsidiary of the imaginary US company CompuGlobalHyperMegaNet Corp. It assembles widgets from parts manufactured at CGHMN Corp factories in China, and then sells them in the UK.
"Transfer pricing" rules apply to the cost of parts, the fee payment and the interest on the loan. If CGHMN Corp overcharged for any of these, it would reduce CGHMN UK Ltd's corporation tax bill in the UK, while increasing CGHMN Corp's taxable profits in another country.
*For usage of intellectual property rights and brands owned by the US company
How do companies avoid their tax?
Mr Osborne decried a global taxation system he said had been guided by principles set out by the League of Nations in the 1920s, with few changes since.
He said: "We want businesses to pay the taxes that we set in our countries. And that cannot be achieved by one country alone."
Mr Moscovici said France was "strongly determined to fight against tax fraud, tax avoidance, and tax evasion".
He added: "We must avoid situations in which some companies use international and domestic law to be taxed nowhere."
OECD secretary general Angel Gurria said laws had to be changed: "Avoiding double taxation has become a way of having double non-taxation."
The G20 communique read: "We are determined to develop measures to address base erosion and profit shifting, take the necessary collective action and look forward to the comprehensive action plan the OECD will present to us in July."
A number of companies, including Amazon, Google and Starbucks, have come under the spotlight for their taxation strategies in recent months.
Another giant international company, Facebook, has now been accused of ducking its tax obligations.
Facebook allegedly paid no corporate income tax in the US last year, and instead reclaimed $451m in taxes from the Internal Revenue Service, despite recording profits of over $1bn, US lobby group Citizens for Tax Justice has claimed.
Thanks to tax deductions the social network can claim on shares granted to its executives as part of its recent listing on the Nasdaq stock exchange, the company stands to benefit from a further $2bn of tax deductions in the future, the lobby group alleged.
However, in Facebook's defence, the same employee share scheme that has allowed it to cut its corporate income tax bill has also resulted in it handing over $2.86bn in employee income taxes instead.
The report by the OECD was released earlier this year, and found that:
By Hugh PymChief economics correspondent, BBC News
The tax policies of Amazon, Google and Starbucks have intensified the debate about corporate behaviour and pushed it high up the agenda for policymakers.
Everyone agrees there is a limit to what national governments can do to close loopholes in a world of globalised capital flows, where big companies can easily move profits to low-tax regimes. The G20 developments mark a move towards an international crackdown. George Osborne and his French and German counterparts will be powerful advocates for change at future meetings.
But it is only a start. And, as Mr Osborne has acknowledged, in a low-growth climate governments need to take care not to deter multinationals who might invest in their economies.
The OECD action plan, to be laid before the G20 in July, will be formulated with the help of three committees.
The UK will chair a committee looking at transfer pricing - how international corporate empires calculate the payments passed between their subsidiaries in different countries, which can be used to shift profits from high-tax jurisdictions to lower-tax ones.
Germany will head a panel looking at the ways in which companies have reduced their tax base - their taxable income and assets - while France and the US will jointly consider the problem of identifying the correct tax jurisdiction for business activities, particularly e-commerce.
Meanwhile, the G20 finance ministers avoided singling Japan out for criticism over the recent weakness of its currency.
What is a currency war?
But the communique pledged that G20 members would "refrain from competitive devaluation".
It read: "We reiterate that excess volatility of financial flows and disorderly movements in exchange rates have adverse implications for economic and financial stability.
"We will not target our exchange rates for competitive purposes. We will resist all forms of protectionism and keep our markets open."
Mr Osborne said: "Currencies should not be used as a tool of competitive devaluation. The world should not make the mistake that it has made in the past of using currencies as the tools of economic warfare."
International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde said that global growth was still weak and unemployment "outrageously high" in many countries, and that policies should be directed towards creating jobs and growth. | G20 finance ministers meeting in Moscow have pledged to crack down on tax avoidance by multinational companies. | 21481932 |
She automatically took a colouring book and crayons as she showed them to their table.
Mr Lusted, 26, stands 3ft 7in tall. His now fiancee Miss Roberts, 20, is 5ft 7in.
"I said, 'thank you very much' to the waitress, and as soon as she heard my voice she knew I wasn't a child," Mr Lusted said.
"She hid the colouring book behind her back and didn't disturb us again."
Thankfully the couple from Colwyn Bay, Conwy, both saw the funny side.
Mr Lusted was born with Diastrophic Dyslasia - a rare genetic condition that causes dwarfism - despite his parents both being of average height.
He has led an eventful life. He left school at 16 and is now a TV presenter and motivational speaker.
He has twice represented Great Britain in the World Dwarf Games and has been the UK champion at Class One badminton for nine years. He carried the Olympic torch when it travelled through Wales in 2012.
But his life has been far from easy. His condition has meant that he spent a lot of his early life in and out of hospital.
He said: "I have had constant treatment on my neck and to straighten my limbs.
"Dad had to use a spanner every day to twist the nuts on my frame to straighten my legs and sometimes you could hear the bones creaking.
"The toughest time of my life was when I was 14 to 15.
"I had a tough year because I was being bullied that year. I don't know why or if it is because of how I was.
"I remember I had a knife thrown at me. I was pinned up against the wall with my little legs dangling there and it really affected me."
He added: "I have often thought from an early age who would want to marry me, a dwarf from Wales."
Source: BBC
But he has found happiness with Miss Roberts and recently asked her to marry him.
Miss Roberts said: "All little girls dream about having their tall, dark and handsome prince charming.
"Never in my life did I think I'd date someone like James.
"Some people took a little longer to get used to the idea because he is a dwarf and I'm not."
The couple now face pressure from family members to have genetic tests if they have children to see if they would also be affected by James's condition.
Miss Roberts said: "A few of my family members would prefer me to be tested to see if I would have a dwarf child, but even if there was a chance of having a dwarf kid, it wouldn't change my mind."
Mr Lusted said: "When we're married, we'd love to have children and having a dwarf wouldn't bother us at all."
He added: "Even if we didn't have a dwarf, I don't think we'd think twice about adopting one. Their life is just as precious as our and we want to give them an opportunity too." | As they were shown to a table for dinner Chloe Roberts and James Lusted had seen the waitress pick up something as well as the menus. | 29504679 |
Brendan Howlin called for the head of the force to be replaced after officers admitted to a data "discrepancy".
Senior Gardaí (police) conceded it was likely some of the 937,000 non-existent tests were simply made up by officers.
In addition, they have admitted a separate error that caused almost 15,000 wrongful traffic convictions.
Gardaí have apologised to those affected, but fixing that mistake alone could cost Irish taxpayers millions of euros.
Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald, said the scale of the error was "appalling and staggering".
The details of both problems were released by senior officers on Thursday, when a lot of media attention was being devoted to the Westminster attack and the funeral of Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness.
The force revealed that about 14,700 people had been prosecuted without a fixed-charge notice first being issued - which was required to bring them before the courts.
Officers now have to appeal all those convictions; have the court-imposed penalties removed; and the state has to cover all costs.
The head of An Garda Síochána (Irish police force), Noirín O'Sullivan, is coming under pressure to explain the mistakes and false breath tests data.
She was already facing questions over her leadership because of allegations of a smear campaign against a whistleblower, Sgt Maurice McCabe.
Sgt McCabe was one of two officers who raised concerns years ago about the alleged deletion of penalty points from the driving licences of well-connected offenders.
The leader of the Labour Party said the latest controversies were "beyond belief" and had seriously undermined trust in An Garda Síochána.
Speaking to broadcaster RTÉ, Mr Howlin set out his two main concerns: "One, that almost one million breath tests were taken and logged but never happened; and secondly, 15,000 convictions, people prosecuted in court, that should not have happened.
"For every actual breath test that took place, a second in statistical terms was actually recorded as having taken place and that didn't happen at all."
Mr Howlin added: "It beggars belief that could happen and there is no answer to it."
"This is not an error," he claimed. "You can't manufacture things that didn't happen and say it's an error."
Jim O'Callaghan, justice spokesman for the main opposition party, Fianna Fáil, described the situation as "scandalous" and said it was "damaging the credibility of An Garda Síochána".
He said his confidence in Ms O'Sullivan will not be assured unless an adequate explanation is given.
In their statement on Thursday, An Garda Síochána said a review of its breath tests data was carried out after concerns were raised in 2015.
Data recorded on the Garda computer system - known as Pulse - was compared against data recorded by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety and a "significant deficit" was identified.
Officers said the Pulse system recorded 1,995,369 breath tests while the Medical Bureau of Road Safety Data recorded only 1,058,157 tests over the same period.
"There is no one single reason that may account for the discrepancy," the Garda statement said.
It is not the first time in recent months that Garda figures have been dismissed as lacking credibility and trust.
Last September, the Central Statistics Office said that up to one in six crimes were not being recorded by Gardaí on their Pulse computer system, which meant - either intentionally or unintentionally - inflating their crime detection rate.
The Policing Authority, an independent body that oversees the performance of An Garda Síochána said this latest controversy over figures "is not just an academic statistical matter, it is an ethical one".
It also said the controversy "raises serious questions of integrity" for the force.
In 2012, Sgt Maurice McCabe was banned from using the Pulse computer system after he accessed records of penalty point cases.
Last month, it emerged under parliamentary privilege that senior Garda officers are accused of spreading a false smear that Sgt McCabe had been liked to a case of child sex abuse.
Commissioner O'Sullivan strongly denies allegations that she was involved in any smear against him.
The accusation against her force is now the subject of a public inquiry, headed by the Supreme Court judge, Peter Charleton. | Almost one million drink-driving tests recorded by police in the Republic of Ireland did not actually take place, the Irish Labour Party leader has said. | 39377788 |
The drugs were discovered during a PSNI investigation into international drug trafficking.
The two Chinese men with addresses in south Belfast appeared at a special court in Newtownards on Saturday.
Zhenchao Chen, 34, from Annadale flats and Baosen Zhao, 53, of Coolfin Street were charged with importing cannabis and conspiracy to supply it.
Mr Chen was further charged with possessing drugs and cultivating cannabis at a property at Newry Road, Mullaghbawn, south Armagh, between January and April 2015.
The men made no comment during a brief court hearing and were remanded in custody.
Meanwhile, two men aged 23 and 30 who were arrested last week by detectives from Organised Crime Branch investigating the international drugs trafficking operation have been released on bail pending further police enquiries. | Two men have been charged with drugs offences linked to the seizure of £1m of cannabis in Northern Ireland. | 32181366 |
Repsol Honda rider Marquez, 24, has now won all five races at the circuit in Austin, Texas.
Vinales - who had won the first two races of the season on his Yamaha - crashed on the second lap.
His veteran team-mate Valentino Rossi now leads the standings after finishing second, with Dani Pedrosa third.
British rider Cal Crutchlow was fourth.
Rossi, 38, has won nine world championships but none since 2009. He has a six-point lead over Vinales, with Marquez in third.
Rossi was given a 0.3 second time penalty for clashing with Johann Zarco but still comfortably bought his Yamaha home in second place.
1. Marc Marquez (Spain) Honda 43:58.770
2. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha +3.069
3. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda +5.112
4. Cal Crutchlow (Britain) Honda +7.638
5. Johann Zarco (France) Yamaha +7.957
6. Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Ducati +14.058
7. Andrea Iannone (Italy) Suzuki +15.491
8. Danilo Petrucci (Italy) Ducati +16.772
9. Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Ducati +17.979
10. Jack Miller (Australia) Honda +18.494
1. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 56 points
2. Maverick Vinales (Yamaha) 50
3. Marc Marquez (Honda) 38
4. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) 30
5. Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 29 | Defending MotoGP champion Marc Marquez continued his 100% record at the Grand Prix of the Americas as Maverick Vinales crashed out. | 39688533 |
After the error, Ariadna Gutierrez was instead declared runner-up and surrendered her crown to Miss Philippines, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.
#MissUniverse2015 became Twitter's biggest trend of the night as social media users expressed their disbelief.
Ms Wurtzbach has since told reporters that she wishes Ms Gutierrez well.
"I'm very sorry, I did not take the crown away from her and I wish her well in whatever she wants to pursue after this pageant," she said.
Ms Gutierrez also addressed fans in a backstage video that has been shared on the pageant's official page.
She said: "Everything happens for a reason so I'm happy for all that I did."
At the end of the night in Las Vegas, Ms Gutierrez was named first runner-up followed by Olivia Jordan from the United States.
The host Steve Harvey responded, saying it was "his mistake" and he would take responsibility for not reading the winning card correctly.
He made another mistake when he misspelled both Colombia and the Philippines in an initial tweet. The tweet was later deleted.
"I'd like to apologize wholeheartedly to Miss Colombia & Miss Philippines for my huge mistake. I feel terrible," he tweeted in a second attempt. The message was re-tweeted more than 70,000 times.
"I don't want to take away from this amazing night and pageant. As well as the wonderful contestants - they were all amazing."
Shock and disbelief erupted online following the incident.
"Talk about awkward," described one Twitter user who "couldn't help" but find the gaffe "hilarious".
Another user, Mark Critch from Canada, said: "And the winner is - Miss Information."
Facebook users also expressed their opinions on a post shared on the pageant's official page.
It was shared more than 62,000 times and received more than 17,000 comments from viewers across the world.
"That was poorly handled. Both of these gorgeous ladies deserve an apology because that was embarrassing for both of them. I literally felt both of their pain," read a top comment by Lemmy Cliff.
"That was the most annoying Miss Universe contest ever," said another commenter Andres Felipe Arbelaez. "The host was horrible and Miss Colombia should have won."
Pageant fans from the Philippines also began to express anger at the incident.
"Our Miss Philippines didn't get her shining moment," said a fan on Facebook. "It feels like she and our country were robbed of the winning moment, shame!"
While some Twitter users remained upset over the mistake, others began to tweet out messages of support.
"Don't feel terrible. Everyone makes mistakes," said Pedro Da Cunha.
"To err is human... to forgive is divine," said another user in reply to Mr Harvey's apology.
In an incident apparently unconnected to the competition, at least one person was killed and dozens injured after a car ploughed into a crowd next to the Miss Universe venue. | The host of the Miss Universe has apologised after mistakenly naming the wrong woman as winner, leaving Miss Colombia empty-handed. | 35149195 |
A 3-2 victory over closest challengers Aberdeen opened up a 12-point gap with two games to play.
And it sealed a second title in two years for Deila, who will leave the club this summer.
"We have shown that we are the best team," the Norwegian told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound.
"It means that we are the best team in Scotland. It's a very, very good achievement."
Deila announced he would be departing shortly after Celtic's Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Rangers, having also lost a League Cup semi-final to Ross County this season.
The Premiership winners also had a disappointing European campaign - dropping into the Europa League from the Champions League qualifiers for a second year in a row and finishing bottom of their group.
"We have lost important games, that makes the season a little bit more grey than white but in the league we have been very, very consistent and we haven't lost since we played Aberdeen up there in the beginning of February," Deila explained.
"We have done a lot of good things but the last two months, we haven't had that real energy in the team like we had before in the season.
"I've had fantastic staff around me. The players have been supporting me all the time, working really, really hard and I'm very, very happy for them.
"It's been two long seasons - I'm not used to having so long seasons - it's been tough but it's good when you cross the line.
"It's a special place to be here in Celtic, in paradise, so of course I'm going to miss it."
Against the Dons, Celtic opened up a 3-0 lead with Patrick Roberts firing home twice in the first half and Mikael Lustig finishing well shortly after the break.
However, Aberdeen replied with Niall McGinn slotting past Craig Gordon and Andy Considine heading the visitors' second.
"The players here have great talent and they're young but when things are going against us, it's important to be brave and to be strong; to have that belief and confidence to play in difficult situations," Deila said of Celtic's performance.
Roberts, who impressed with his two left-foot strikes, said: "It's always good scoring goals and to do it to win the title is great and I've enjoyed it very much. It was unreal out there on Celtic Park."
And, asked what his targets were for next season, the on-loan Manchester City winger replied: "Obviously it's the treble and Champions League."
The teenager will remain with the club next term and now has five Celtic goals to his name.
Top scorer Leigh Griffiths is nearing 40 goals for the season and said: "It's been one of the best [seasons] of my life.
"Thirty-nine goals - I've still got one game to go as I'm suspended for the last game.
"We're champions again, deservedly so." | Celtic manager Ronny Deila paid tribute to his side's consistency in the Premiership after they sealed a fifth straight Scottish top-flight title. | 36242884 |
The campaign group, Conradh na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League), met a DUP delegation in April, including party leader Arlene Foster and Edwin Poots.
Conradh na Gaeilge said Mr Poots told them the £19m cost was "reasonable".
The DUP did not confirm or deny the claim, but told the BBC: "Our views are well known and documented."
In a statement issued to the BBC's Talkback programme, the party said: "We want to see mutual respect for all languages and cultures in Northern Ireland but not one elevated above all others."
The issue has been a major sticking point in talks to restore devolution at Stormont.
When asked about the issue in February this year, Mrs Foster said the DUP would never agree to an Irish Language Act.
Alluding to Sinn Féin's demand for the legislation at that time, she said: "If you feed a crocodile it will keep coming back for more."
However, in April, Mrs Foster said she wanted to meet Irish speakers, to better understand those who love the language.
Later that month, the DUP leader visited Irish speakers at a Newry school and used the Irish phrase "go raibh maith agat" [thank you].
The following day, 27 April, Conradh na Gaeilge met a DUP delegation which included Mrs Foster, Mr Poots, South Belfast MLA Christopher Stalford and party advisor David Graham.
The group's advocacy manager, Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, told Talkback the delegation seemed "genuinely interested" in Conradh na Gaeilge's proposals.
Mr Mac Giolla Bhéin said the £19m estimate would be spent over five years, to give the Irish language legal status and protection.
Those measures would include the appointment of a language commissioner and the establishment of a "central translations unit".
Their research also included estimated costs of providing translators in the legal system, so the Irish language would be an option in the courts.
Mr Mac Giolla Bhéin, said £9m of the £19m bill would be spent on "one-off costs," needed to establish initial infrastructure to support the language.
However, several callers to the programme expressed concern about the proposals, at a time when public money is needed to support health, education and roads.
Mr Mac Giolla Bhéin said: "We were mindful throughout the completion of this document that there is obviously pressure on public expenditure at the moment.
"There is obviously a political question to solve here - that we aren't in a situation whereby there is broad political support for this.
"We know that there is difficulty around this, so what we attempted to do was to balance that with the legitimate expectations of the Irish language community."
To produce its costings. Conradh na Gaeilge considered estimates produced by Sinn Féin's Carál Ní Chuilín to introduce an Irish Language Act when she was Stormont's minister for culture, arts and leisure.
Mr Mac Giolla Bhéin told Talkback they also looked at the costs of official language status in the Republic of Ireland and Wales.
The group believes that ongoing costs of maintaining the Irish Language Act would decrease over time, to about £2m per year.
In a statement, Conradh na Gaeilge's president, Niall Comer, said the view expressed by Mr Poots during their meeting was "significant".
"We see this as a considerable development, considering the public statements previously made by the DUP in which cost was used as the main obstacle to progressing legislation."
Conradh na Gaeilge was set up in 1893 by Douglas Hyde, a Protestant from County Roscommon.
He was a leading Gaelic scholar and writer who campaigned for the preservation and promotion of the Irish language.
Hyde later served as the first president of Ireland, from 1938 to 1945. | The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) described a £19m estimate to implement an Irish Language Act as "reasonable," an Irish language group has claimed. | 40382468 |
The Welsh government target is for 95% of patients to see a specialist in 62 days, but the latest figure is 84%.
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board had 69.9% of patients start treatment in time while Aneurin Bevan achieved 98%.
The Welsh government said most patients are seen within the target.
Launching its cancer patient experience survey on Wednesday, the Welsh government said poor weather had contributed to the "disappointing" figures.
The target has not been met since Carwyn Jones became first minister in December 2009.
He was challenged by Conservative AM Angela Burns in January to give "an update on when you might be able to meet the cancer waiting times targets that you agreed to adhere to?"
He replied: "We expect to keep that promise by the end of March."
However, during the first quarter to March, official figures released show that only 83.6% (1,165 out of 1,393 patients) diagnosed with urgent suspected cancer had started treatment within 62 days.
It marks the lowest quarterly figure of Mr Jones's leadership after peaking at almost 94% in the quarter to September 2010.
A Welsh government spokesperson said: "The large majority of patients are seen within the target time.
"The number of patients involved in these statistics are relatively small and the interventions are often complex, meaning small changes can affect the overall picture generally.
"It is disappointing that neither target has been achieved during the last quarter for the cancer waiting times.
"Performance has been affected by the severe winter pressures experienced in January 2013 and the poor weather experienced in March 2013.
"Whilst performance against the 62 day target has not improved in line with expectations for the quarter as a whole, it is encouraging to note that performance in the month of March 2013 was four percentage points higher than in February 2013 and the highest monthly performance since October 2012.
"The Welsh government expects this improved trend to continue into this financial year."
The figures also showed that 97.4% of non-urgent cancer cases began treatment within 31 days - narrowly missing the 98% target.
However, the 98% target has been met in 11 of the last 13 quarters, most recently in the last of 2012.
The Welsh Conservatives, who promised to ring-fence NHS spending in their 2011 assembly manifesto, blame the missed targets on the"£800m cuts to the health budget".
A party spokesperson said: "When a patient receives the devastating news that they have suspected cancer, rapid progression to treatment is vital, but unfortunately Labour's NHS cuts are constraining capacity and putting additional pressure on already stretched staff."
Cancer charity Macmillan called the figures "very disappointing".
Susan Morris, general manager for Macmillan Cancer Support in Wales, said: "There does need to be a real focus of action about how we get continuous improvement, not just on a one-off basis.
"Clearly some things need to change quite radically to make sure that there is consistent action and consistency of delivery around Wales."
In June 2012, the Welsh government launched a five year plan, called Together for Health: Cancer Delivery Plan, that aimed to cut cancer rates, improve care and survival rates.
The plan also included a commitment to carry out a national cancer patient experience survey.
This is the first national survey in Wales and will give cancer patients the opportunity to review the services they received. | Waiting time targets for urgent cancer cases in Wales are still being missed, despite a pledge they would be met by March. | 22695822 |
Ian Allinson said he was launching a "grass-roots socialist challenge" to incumbent Len McCluskey and Gerard Coyne, who is also standing.
Mr Allinson, who has worked at Fujitsu for 25 years, said Mr McCluskey was an establishment figure offering "more of the same" rather than radical change.
Unite needs "continuity" at a volatile political time, Mr McCluskey has said.
Mr McCluskey, a key ally of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and one of the most powerful figures in the union movement, said last month he would stand down in April before the end of his term, triggering a contest for control of the union.
It had been thought that it would be a straight fight between him and Mr Coyne, Unite's secretary in the West Midlands, who has suggested the union has become too focused on national party politics rather than the interests of its members.
But Mr Allinson's entry into the race - assuming he secures enough nominations from union branches to stand - means Mr McCluskey could face a challenge from the left as well as the right.
The official said he was putting himself forward for election on a platform of increasing workers' powers and participation in the workplace.
"Whatever the result, this campaign will force key issues on to the agenda and bring together those within Unite who want something better than more of the same," he wrote in a blog post on his website.
"Members don't want the clock turning back with Coyne, but neither can we keep waiting for effective resistance from McCluskey.
"I don't have the resources of the establishment candidates. If you want to see a grass-roots socialist challenge then don't just sit back and wait."
Mr Allinson accused Mr McCluskey of "backsliding" on immigration after the Unite leader told the Guardian he supported some curbs on freedom of movement after the UK's exit from the EU to address the "concerns of working people".
The newspaper reported him as saying "workers have always done best when the labour supply is controlled and communities are stable".
"That's why I have called for new safeguards to stop companies cutting costs by slashing workers' wages and transforming a race-to-the-bottom culture in a rate-for-the-job society," he said.
Mr McCluskey, who launched his official campaign on Friday, said protecting jobs and workers' rights in the run-up to Brexit and its aftermath would be his priority as well as campaigning against the worst excesses of the so-called "gig economy".
"Unite will be in the forefront of legal and political campaigns to end the abuses of the flexible labour market," he said.
Meanwhile, Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson has urged Unite members to vote in the forthcoming election. He told the BBC: "It is a golden rule for Labour politicians never to interfere in union elections but [Unite members] have a big choice to make.
"British workers have had a terrible decade when it comes to pay and conditions and they will want to know the person leading the biggest union is totally focused on their interests. I say to Unite members: Make sure you use your vote - it's a vital election and very often people can win elections like these on a very low turnout."
He added: "The general secretary has a great influence on politics - Len McCluskey is close personal friend of Jeremy Corbyn - members can help change the course of history if they decide to vote." | A third candidate has entered the race to be the next leader of Unite, the UK's largest union. | 38340128 |
The woman had asked for an abortion but her request was refused, despite a panel of medical experts assessing her as being at risk of suicide.
She went on hunger strike, but later agreed to a caesarean and gave birth to a child, who will be taken into care.
Under the law, abortion is permitted if the mother is at risk of suicide.
Very few details about the woman's case have been released, due to a court order protecting her identity and that of the child.
However, the woman is understood to be very vulnerable.
The baby was delivered prematurely, at about 25 weeks.
On Sunday, Irish Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said: "I can't comment, as you can appreciate, on individual cases but obviously I would be concerned, and people reading the accounts will be concerned, for the woman and the baby involved.
"Clearly we passed legislation earlier in the year and we obviously will continue to monitor that legislation and see how it is being implemented," she told the Irish broadcaster RTÉ.
The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act came into force on 1 January this year.
For the first time in Irish law, it set out when abortion is permitted.
Terminations are allowed when there is a threat to the life of the mother, including when she is at risk of suicide.
Women who tell health staff they are suicidal during an unwanted pregnancy are assessed by a panel of three medical experts.
If the experts agree the woman is at risk, doctors can intervene to terminate a pregnancy.
However, both pro-choice and anti-abortion groups have said the vulnerable woman's case has exposed serious problems with the new legislation.
The Pro Life Campaign spokesperson, Dr Ruth Cullen, said: "Reports that an unborn baby was recently delivered at 25 weeks, citing provisions in the new abortion Act, underlines the horror and deep-seated flaws of the government's legislation.
"To induce a pregnancy at such an early stage inevitably puts the baby at risk of serious harm, such as brain damage, blindness or even death."
Dr Cullen added: "The fact that the panel could just as easily have sanctioned an abortion in this case also brings home everything that is wrong about the new law."
Doctors for Choice, an alliance that describes itself as advocating "comprehensive reproductive health services in Ireland, including the provision of safe and legal abortion for women who choose it", also expressed concerns over the case.
They said it highlighted problems with the expert panel system, that assesses the mental health of suicidal pregnant women.
The organisation said the inclusion of an obstetrician to adjudicate on mental health matters, with no training, was a deep flaw in the system.
The new legislation was introduced following controversy over the death of Savita Halappanavar in 2012.
Mrs Halappanavar had asked for a termination after being told she was having a miscarriage, but staff at a Galway hospital refused.
Days later, the 31-year-old died from infection. | The Irish justice minister has said she is "concerned" about a woman and baby at the centre of a controversy over the state's new abortion legislation. | 28825766 |
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Fifth-placed Reading travel to Sheffield Wednesday, who are sixth, on Friday, looking to halt a run of three successive away defeats.
Wednesday have also suffered a dip recently, with three defeats in their past five matches.
"We don't look too closely at what other people are saying or doing as it's not important for us," Stam said.
Reading have taken just nine points from a possible 24 since the start of February.
But despite his side's form slump, Dutchman Stam believes the race for the play-offs will have plenty of hurdles for the main contenders in the coming weeks.
"Every game's different," the 44-year-old told BBC Radio Berkshire. "All teams struggle for a while in the Championship and we've had it of late.
"This point of the season isn't the best time to have that, you want to win your games obviously.
"But, we need to look at it in terms of the teams we need to play between now and the end of the season.
"Other teams (in the play-off picture) will face each other too, so you don't know how it's going to go in terms of who drops points and who picks them up." | Reading manager Jaap Stam is not concerned about the form of other teams in the Championship play-offs run-in. | 39279549 |
Sam Kay was returning from a festival in Bristol when the car he was travelling in hit a Mercedes on the Shrivenham bypass in Oxfordshire.
Mr Kay and his three fellow passengers were declared dead at the scene.
A statement from his parents, Stuart and Debra, and sister, Nicola, said the "countless tributes" to Mr Kay had shown he had "touched so many lives".
It added: "His infectious smile and urge to give a hug is what made him so memorable."
Thames Valley Police has formally identified one of the other victims as Brogan Warren. It is understood the other passengers were Nicoletta Tocco and Krop Jones.
The group were travelling home from vegan festival VegFest when the crash happened.
The three occupants of the Mercedes, including a three-year-old boy, were treated in hospital for injuries not believed to be life-threatening. | The family of a man who died in a head-on crash have paid tribute to a "happy, loving" son and brother. | 36389194 |
Police said staff at Uddingston's Thorniewood Road branch were left "extremely shaken" after being threatened during the raid at 14:40 on Friday.
They said the man fled with a four-figure sum.
He escaped in a waiting silver Vauxhall Vectra, which was later found burnt-out 5.6km (3.5 miles) away.
Officers discovered the car in Commonhead Road, near Easterhouse.
Det Cons Iain Hughes from Wishaw CID said: "No-one was injured during this incident, but the bank staff are extremely shaken by the robbery.
"The man responsible is described as white, around 5ft 10ins in height and of slim build with short fair hair."
Mr Hughes said officers were following a positive line of inquiry but have appealed for anyone with information about the robbery to come forward. | A man armed with a knife has robbed a branch of Royal Bank of Scotland in South Lanarkshire. | 36997324 |
"I have concerns about the takedown," Commissioner William Bratton said of the mistaken arrest.
Mr Blake has alleged that the officers used improper force when they slammed him to the ground on Wednesday.
The police say an eye witness had identified him as a suspect in a fraudulent mobile phone racket.
Commissioner Bratton said on Thursday police were investigating whether the officers used excessive force and that he would like to speak to Mr Blake.
The officer who tackled him had been put on desk duty amid the inquiry, Commissioner Bratton said.
Mr Blake told the New York Daily News that he was detained and held for 15 minutes as he waited for a car to take him to the US Open.
Once it was determined that police had the wrong man, Mr Blake was released.
Commissioner Bratton had said that the arrest was not racially motivated. Mr Blake is mixed race; the officers are white.
"If you take a look at the photograph of the suspect, it looks like the twin brother of Mr Blake," the police commissioner told CNN. And a witness identified Mr Blake as the suspect.
Mr Blake, 35, said he suffered a cut on his arm and bruises on his legs, and wants an apology. He said the officers did not speak to him before they pushed him to the ground.
"You'd think they could say: 'Hey, we want to talk to you. We are looking into something'," Mr Blake told the NY Daily News.
Once the fourth-ranked player in the world, Mr Blake was set to make an appearance at the US Open for the Time-Warner Cable company.
He retired following his US Open exit in 2013 after winning 10 singles titles in a career in which he also became the number one US player.
Police said a "co-operating witness" mistakenly identified Mr Blake as being involved in "a ring dealing in fraudulently purchased cell phones".
The department has recently been involved in a number of high-profile cases involving accusations of police brutality.
In the most prominent case, a man selling illegal cigarettes died in July 2014 after being subdued by several police officers. Eric Garner's violent arrest was filmed by a bystander.
A decision not to criminally charge the officers led to widespread protests across the city. | The New York Police Commissioner has apologised to James Blake after a group of plain-clothed officers tackled and detained the former top tennis player. | 34211832 |
Joel Campbell slid to hook the Gunners into an early lead and they looked set to make up ground on leaders Leicester.
Swansea - missing boss Francesco Guidolin through illness - levelled when Wayne Routledge side-footed home.
Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez struck the bar before Ashley Williams pounced to earn a crucial Swansea win.
Look back on how Swansea shocked Arsenal
The Welsh club now have a six-point cushion to the relegation zone but Arsenal's six-point deficit to Leicester City at the top of the table looks sure to yield ugly headlines.
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Arsene Wenger's side have lost three successive games for the first time since 2010, severely damaging their title hopes in a season many regard as their best opportunity in recent times to be crowned champions.
After defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday, pundits lined up to criticise Arsenal's failings. Their shortcomings were again laid bare against the Swans as they missed chances and their soft centre again cost them dear.
Swansea arrived in north London sporting six changes, with a teenage debutant in Stephen Kingsley at left-back and minus their manager, who is in hospital with a chest infection.
The early stages, in which the impressive Campbell - in for Theo Walcott - turned home Sanchez's pass, saw the visitors struggle but then cracks emerged again in Wenger's side.
Weak play by Mesut Ozil led to Jack Cork being allowed to create the equaliser and Petr Cech must be questioned for the missed punch that allowed Williams to turn in from a yard.
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has said Arsenal keep failing to sign leaders and such analysis continues to look more and more astute as at no point did Arsenal pin their visitors back for a long spell.
There were inevitable boos and the same old questions will be trotted out. Where is the character? Where is the steel? Arsenal are in danger of failing and suddenly, even a top-four place does not look guaranteed.
Sitting third - behind Tottenham - and six points adrift of Leicester, Arsenal may not look out of the title race by any stretch.
But a focus on their run-in reveals difficult away trips to Spurs, Everton, West Ham, Sunderland and Manchester City. Such challenges currently look beyond them and with just three wins in 11 matches, the excellent December form that solidified their challenge has disappeared.
Wenger admitted he was "worried" about results after this latest loss. Arsenal fans will likely echo his thoughts. News that Cech picked up an injury that rules him out of Saturday's trip to White Hart Lane will only add to their concerns.
There were moments where Swansea rode their luck, particularly when Giroud volleyed on to the bar before the break and when Sanchez curled a free-kick on to the woodwork.
But with coach Alan Curtis in charge on the night, they grew into the game and could have led late on when substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson rounded Cech but fired wide.
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The fact they managed 11 shots in a difficult away fixture perhaps underlined the footing they had in the game, with Williams leading the resistance at the other end.
The club captain made a game-high nine clearances and, as the only survivor in Swansea's defence from the defeat at Tottenham, marshalled the back four expertly.
His late tap-in was perhaps deserved reward and another win against struggling Norwich on Saturday could see this become the week in which Swansea's top-flight status is all but secured.
Arsenal face a north London derby at Tottenham on Saturday in a fixture that looks pivotal at the top of the table, while a few hours later Swansea host Norwich in a game that seems key at the bottom.
Match ends, Arsenal 1, Swansea City 2.
Second Half ends, Arsenal 1, Swansea City 2.
Attempt missed. Bafétimbi Gomis (Swansea City) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the left. Assisted by Wayne Routledge.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Stephen Kingsley.
Theo Walcott (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Wayne Routledge (Swansea City).
Attempt missed. Danny Welbeck (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Theo Walcott.
Foul by Olivier Giroud (Arsenal).
Jack Cork (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Swansea City. Angel Rangel replaces André Ayew.
Offside, Swansea City. André Ayew tries a through ball, but Bafétimbi Gomis is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Mesut Özil with a cross.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Jay Fulton.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Kyle Naughton.
Foul by Danny Welbeck (Arsenal).
André Ayew (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Olivier Giroud (Arsenal).
Jordi Amat (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt missed. Nacho Monreal (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Olivier Giroud.
Offside, Arsenal. Mesut Özil tries a through ball, but Nacho Monreal is caught offside.
Wayne Routledge (Swansea City) is shown the yellow card.
Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Wayne Routledge (Swansea City).
Attempt saved. Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mesut Özil with a cross.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Jack Cork.
Substitution, Arsenal. Theo Walcott replaces Alexis Sánchez.
Goal! Arsenal 1, Swansea City 2. Ashley Williams (Swansea City) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner following a set piece situation.
Foul by Gabriel Paulista (Arsenal).
André Ayew (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution, Swansea City. Jay Fulton replaces Leroy Fer.
Offside, Swansea City. André Ayew tries a through ball, but Bafétimbi Gomis is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Mesut Özil (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Ashley Williams (Swansea City).
Offside, Arsenal. Aaron Ramsey tries a through ball, but Olivier Giroud is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right misses to the left. Assisted by André Ayew.
Substitution, Arsenal. Danny Welbeck replaces Joel Campbell.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Leroy Fer (Swansea City) because of an injury.
Attempt blocked. Bafétimbi Gomis (Swansea City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Wayne Routledge. | Arsenal's hopes of landing a first league title in 12 years suffered a heavy blow as Swansea came from behind to win at Emirates Stadium. | 35647629 |
Irish travel to Kingston Park four points adrift of the Falcons at the bottom with three games to play.
Laidlaw said there were positive signs in their 38-30 European Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat at Harlequins.
"We need to play with that freedom at Newcastle and beyond and try to match that performance," he told BBC Sport.
"We're trying to create that environment all the time. It's difficult when you're in the situation we are."
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The Exiles, who have won just four Premiership matches all season, will try to break a run of almost 14 months without an away league win at fellow strugglers Newcastle.
A win could lift them off the bottom and above the Falcons.
"We've tried to stay really even as an environment and as a team, not be too up or down around wins or losses," added Laidlaw.
"The players are in a good place. They're tight, they're working hard in training. Nothing's changed throughout the year." | London Irish assistant coach Clark Laidlaw says the side can "play with freedom" in their must-win Premiership match at Newcastle Falcons on Sunday. | 36026994 |
Sandy Duncan, who represents Turriff and District, contacted Aberdeenshire colleagues who were due to consider a planning application for a wind turbine from a firm he was partner in.
He was found to have breached the code of conduct for councillors.
The Standards Commission for Scotland found he had acted inappropriately by using council facilities having been expressly warned not to do so.
The hearing panel found that members of the public would reasonably conclude that, in signing off his emails as a councillor, he was using his position to seek preferential treatment.
Mr Duncan was suspended for six months from a number of committees.
Panel chairwoman Julie Ward added: "Whilst accepting that Councillor Duncan had a previously unblemished record, had referred himself for investigation and accepted he should have dealt with matters differently, he nevertheless should have ensured he kept his role as an applicant and that of a councillor separate."
"A failure to keep personal interests separate and distinct can result in council decisions being legally challenged and can erode public confidence and trust in local government and the democratic process itself." | A councillor has been suspended from certain duties for six months. | 40366506 |
Mr Nuttall, speaking to UKIP councillors and supporters in Boston, said the party was the only one which never told its councillors how to vote.
This meant they always put "their community before party", he said.
UKIP is defending more than 140 council seats won in 2013 in England, in 4 May's local elections.
The party does not have any councillors in Scotland and is defending just two council seats in Wales.
At the event in Boston, Mr Nuttall said UKIP's councillors had protected the green belt, worked to bring down excess pay for council officials and worked "to get more bobbies on the beat".
He said that the party believed in "direct democracy" and would "always trust the people over the politicians" so would act if enough people supported local petitions.
On housing, the party says that controlling migration will help curb the increasing demand for housing, while new homes would be built on brownfield sites rather than greenfield sites.
This year's local elections will be UKIP's first since the UK voted to leave the European Union - which has always been the party's key aim - and the first since Mr Nuttall became Nigel Farage's permanent successor.
Mr Nuttall has said these will be the "most difficult local elections" the party will face before the next general election in 2020.
The council made a breakthrough in local government last time these council seats were contested, going from just 10 local councillors to more than 140. | UK Independence Party leader Paul Nuttall has said that if people want their "country back... their community back" they should go out and vote UKIP. | 39563636 |
Following in the famous footsteps of his father - Netherlands and Barcelona legend Patrick - and brother - exciting 18-year-old Ajax prospect Justin - Shane Kluivert is now the third member of the Kluivert dynasty to make a name for himself.
Shane announced he has signed a contract with sportswear giant Nike on his Instagram account - which already has 120,000 followers. The social media savvy nine-year-old also has his own YouTube channel.
Companies such as Nike and Adidas have 'talent identification departments' which sign up promising young players.
However, young Shane still has a lot to live up to.
Kluivert snr, 41, won two Dutch Eredivisie titles and the Champions League during three years at Ajax between 1994 and 1997, after making his debut aged 18.
He went on to play for AC Milan, Barcelona, Newcastle United, Valencia, PSV Eindhoven and Lille and scored 40 goals in 79 appearances for his country.
Then there is his other son Justin Kluivert.
The 18-year-old made his Ajax debut in January and scored his first senior goal in March and also featured as the Dutch side reached the Europa League final, before losing to Manchester United.
This content will not work on your device, please check Javascript and cookies are enabled or update your browser | If your surname's Kluivert, you're probably already marked out for footballing greatness, even at the age of nine. | 40732508 |
About 70 more people are being treated in hospital and there are fears that the death toll could rise further.
Residents of villages close to the city of Cuttack fell ill after consuming alcohol spiked with chemicals used in the manufacture of some medicines.
Deaths from contaminated alcohol are a regular occurrence in India.
The Orissa government has ordered a judicial investigation into the incident and nine people, including eight liquor sellers, have been arrested.
The illegal alcohol - commonly called desi daroo or country-made liquor in India - usually costs as little as 10 rupees (20 US cents) and the majority of the consumers are poor, daily-wage workers.
The tainted liquor can lead to fits, vomiting and death.
Orissa has witnessed many incidents of toxic alcohol deaths. Nearly 200 people died in Cuttack in 1992 after consuming a deadly combination of methyl and ethyl alcohol. In 2009, 33 people died in two separate incidents in Khurda district after consuming country liquor.
It is a wider problem across India too:
Correspondents say that Gujarat has taken the strongest action on toxic liquor with a new law making the illegal manufacture and sale of toxic alcohol there punishable by death. It says the law was intended to deter those involved in the illegal trade.
Gujarat, Mizoram and Nagaland are the only states in India where alcohol is totally prohibited by law. | The number of people who have died in the Indian state of Orissa after drinking toxic illegal alcohol has risen to 31, officials say. | 16958993 |
Younus, 38, has not yet fully recovered after being infected by the mosquito-borne virus last month.
He will miss the first Test of the three-match series - a day-night game which begins on 13 October in Dubai.
On his last Test appearance, Younus scored 218 as his side beat England by 10 wickets at The Oval in August.
Younus is Pakistan's highest Test scorer with 9,456 runs from 108 matches, and last missed a Test in May 2011 - also against West Indies, in St Kitts.
Although he has retired from limited-overs internationals, Pakistan are on a roll after whitewashing the Windies 3-0 in both the Twenty20 and one-day international series. | Pakistan batsman Younus Khan will miss his first Test match since 2011 after contracting dengue fever before their series against West Indies. | 37581223 |
The offer values the firm at $715m Australian dollars ($524m; £347m).
Last December, Transfield Services rejected an offer from Ferrovial that valued the firm at about A$1bn.
Monday's takeover bid is for $1.35 per Broadspectrum share.
The takeover offer was made by a local subsidiary of Ferrovial and saw Broadspectrum's shares rise more than 50% on the news.
Broadspectrum later asked its shareholders not to take any action and said it would advise them of its views "shortly".
Transfield Services changed its name to Broadspectrum after its privately-owned former parent firm, Transfield Holdings, withdrew its permission for the detention centre operator to use its brand.
The company operates in several sectors including infrastructure, property, defence and financial services.
It employs more than 25,000 people and has contracts to run Australia's offshore detention centres on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island and on Nauru in the Pacific. Both centres have come under criticism for the way they have been managed.
Ferrovia's chief executive Inigo Meiras said if their takeover offer was successful, it would represent "a solid step in Ferrovial's strategy to expand its global footprint and the group's presence in Australia".
"Ferrovial has a proven track record of disciplined acquisitions and successful integrations," he added.
The offer is subject to approval by Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board. | Spanish infrastructure firm Ferrovial SA has made an all-cash takeover bid for the Australia detention centre operator Broadspectrum - formerly Transfield Services. | 35023743 |
In his annual report, a UN special rapporteur, region also said many children were left traumatised by the 50-day conflict.
Israel and its ally the US were both absent from the debate at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva.
Israel has previously accused the body of being biased against it.
It has insisted it did everything possible to avoid causing civilian casualties, and has accused Palestinian militants of putting non-combatants in harm's way.
At the meeting, special rapporteur Makarim Wibisono criticised Israel's conduct during the July-August conflict.
"The ferocity of destruction and high proportion of civilian lives lost in Gaza cast serious doubts over Israel's adherence to international humanitarian law principles of proportionality, distinction and precautions in attack," he told the council.
He lamented "acute" needs in Gaza, warning that Israel's continued "blockade keeps Gaza in a stranglehold which does not even allow people to help themselves".
Israel says its tight restrictions over Gaza's northern and eastern borders and coastline are vital to protect it from attacks by militants.
Also under discussion at the session is a report from the UN's secretary general, which highlights the continued building of settlements in the West Bank, and alleged human rights abuses against Palestinians in the area.
About 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.
The report cites alleged incidents of settler violence and access of Palestinians to agricultural land as particular areas of concern.
In Israel, the foreign ministry told Reuters that the UN's annual debate about human rights in Gaza and the West Bank "negatively singles out Israel and Israel every year asks its friends on the council not to express themselves".
The Palestinians and Israel each accuse the other of committing war crimes during the 2014 conflict.
The war left more than 2,100 Palestinians dead, the majority civilians, according to the UN. Tens of thousands of homes in Gaza were also destroyed or badly damaged.
On the Israeli side, 67 soldiers and six civilians were killed by militant attacks, which also caused damage to homes and other buildings. Israel says the offensive was aimed at ending rocket fire and preventing militants attacking it via tunnels.
A UN inquiry into possible war crimes committed during the war was removed from the agenda of the current session of the UNHRC after the head of the team quit amid questions over his suitability to lead the investigation.
Canadian legal expert William Schabas had a "clear and documented bias", Israel said, since he had previously done paid work for the Palestine Liberation Organisation.
The inquiry, now headed by former New York judge Mary McGowan Davis, will report back in June, although Israel says it should be disbanded altogether. | The scale of civilian deaths in Gaza during the 2014 war with Israel puts Israel's adherence to international law in doubt, a UN official has said. | 32017348 |
Police closed the M4 eastbound carriageway at Llandarcy for five hours following the incident at about 05:00 BST on Saturday.
The man, driving a white Vauxhall Corsa which hit the nearside barrier, was declared dead at the scene.
Two passengers were taken to Swansea's Morriston Hospital and treated for minor injuries. | An 18-year-old driver has died after his car hit a motorway slip road barrier near Neath. | 27556086 |
But it is not just the booming housing market that is feeling the effect. China's appetite for assets is also being felt in rural Australia, where Chinese investors are buying everything from cattle properties and feed lots to dairy farms and wineries.
It is that last category that appears to have taken a more personal turn, says the owner of Jurds Real Estate agency in New South Wales' Hunter Valley, Alan Jurd.
Wealthy Chinese buyers consider wineries trophy purchases, says Mr Jurd, who has watched the trend gather pace in recent years.
"China-based wine importers are looking for a beautiful and prestigious winery in Australia as a showcase for their business and to impress their Chinese customers."
The Yaldara winery in South Australia's Barossa Valley was bought recently for A$15.5m by Chinese businessmen Zhitai Wang, a resident of NSW, and Kuifen Wang from Qingdao in Shandong province.
The two men already own the 1847 Winery in the same region.
Many buyers are looking for vertical integration, says Mr Jurd. "They want the vineyards, the winery, the branding and distribution, and while they continue to supply the domestic Australian market, they are primarily interested in a market that locals here don't have - China."
Two years ago, winemaker Xin Jin, who goes by the name of Jim Jin in Australia, bought his own Barossa vineyard in South Australia to make wines under the Reis Creek Wines label.
With 70 hectares under planting, half of his grapes are sold to Australian producer Orlando Wines, which makes Australia's largest wine brand, Jacob's Creek Reserve. He uses the rest of the grapes to produce his own labels for export to China.
"It's easy to get cheap wines in China but the market has become more mature and people want premium brands now," says Mr Jin.
"To produce those, I decided I must have my own vineyard. Secondly, I have the confidence now [to know what I'm doing] and I work with experts."
Mr Jin says Chinese visitors believe Australian vineyards are well managed and good value. "[The land is] cheaper than in China and they can own it for life."
As many as half of recent Australian winery purchases have been made by Chinese residents and non-domicile Chinese, estimates Stephen Strachan, director at Adelaide wine consultants Gaetjen Langley.
"The Barossa Valley is number one but purchases are also happening in the Hunter [Valley], Margaret River [in Western Australia], Yarra Valley [in Victoria] and McLaren Vale [South Australia]," he says.
Mr Jin is unusual among Chinese investors. He studied winemaking in Beijing before completing a masters at the University of Adelaide and then working at Australian wineries.
But most Chinese investors retain local viticulturalists.
Hong Kong-based Yingda Investment Company bought a majority stake in South Australian Coonawarra winery Hollick wines in April this year. Founders Ian and Wendy Hollick remain at the helm and are pleased with the outcome.
"It's a cross-fertilisation between the two companies," says Mr Hollick. "We don't feel a loss of control because we are guiding them in many respects with advice on technical and operational matters," he says.
The winery has been trying for 10 years to make it big in China. The new investor provides the Hollicks with access to an established wine distribution business and a chain of hotels and tourism resorts.
"It's a fantastic opportunity for us to get access to a very broad part of the Chinese market," says Mr Hollick.
Ferngrove Frankland River Wines in Western Australia has also benefitted from Chinese investment. Since 2010, one of China's wealthiest men, Xingfa Ma, has spent nearly A$30m on the Margaret River estate, opened 12 wine retail stores in China, and plans more.
Any sale of Australian assets to offshore ownership arouses some local unease, says Mr Strachan.
"But, by and large, the industry view is that these buyers are a positive thing, particularly when the linkage to Chinese distribution is understood."
Since the global financial crisis, banks have been reluctant to lend to agricultural businesses. In the 12 months that the Hollick vineyard was on the market, the only serious interest came from Asia.
The bottom line, says Mr Strachan, is that the Chinese value Australian land and wineries more than Australians do. | Chinese nationals are expected to invest a staggering amount of money in Australian real estate, with Credit Suisse predicting they will spend A$44bn ($39bn; £24bn) over the next seven years. | 29609466 |
It reverses the billionaire's previous decision not to appear before the Business, Innovation and Skills select committee on Tuesday to answer questions on working conditions.
In a letter, Mr Ashley said he had only refused "to avoid a media circus".
Committee chairman Iain Wright said he looked forward to Mr Ashley responding to the "serious allegations".
Sports Direct has been criticised for working conditions at the warehouse, including employing staff on zero-hour contracts.
Mr Ashley had been refusing to appear before the committee since last March, although he changed his mind last month and said he would answer questions if MPs first visited the firm's Shirebrook warehouse in Derbyshire.
However, last week he changed his position again, stating he would not attend because his lawyer Richard Gordon QC, was unavailable.
Would Mike Ashley have been jailed in Big Ben?
In a letter to Mr Wright, Mr Ashley took issue with the MP's suggestion last week that he had "something to hide". He wrote: "I can assure you that nothing is further from the truth."
His media advisor, Keith Bishop, denied that Mr Ashley had reversed his position.
So Mike Ashley has blinked first. Parliamentarians had called his bluff.
They pretended that they were prepared for a uniformed Serjeant at Arms to knock on Mr Ashley's door and haul him (on live TV) before the Speaker of the House of Commons.
Suddenly billionaire Mr Ashley was set to look like the man of the people while the elected officials would look like 17th century thespians. Neither side would wish that. So he will now "do a Rupert Murdoch" by submitting himself for a grilling about how Sports Direct treats its staff.
Mr Ashley will be keen to dispel some of the rumours and reports surrounding his Shirebrook distribution facility. He will also be keen to show contrition and that things have changed.
Failure to appear in front of MPs meant Mr Ashley risked being found in contempt of Parliament.
In his letter, Mr Ashley writes: "After much reflection over the last 48 hours, I have concluded that a lengthy legal battle would be of no benefit to either of us.
"It would no doubt lead to further unwarranted accusations that I am being secretive, whereas in fact I have been open and honest at every stage of this process."
Mr Ashley added that he would now appear "in order to defend the good name of Sports Direct on behalf of all the great people who work here".
Mr Wright said he was pleased that Mr Ashley had finally agreed to give evidence at the committee hearing.
He looked forward to Mr Ashley "answering our questions, including in response to these allegations", and telling MPs about the progress of a review the Sports Direct boss announced following the allegations.
"As a committee, we want to get a sense of the genuine and balanced picture at Sports Direct and establish whether there are issues for the wider economy which need further examination, such as the status and rights of agency workers," Mr Wright said. | Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley says he will now go before MPs to defend the firm's "good name". | 36456245 |
Next year's event is being held on the Swedish island of Gotland, but reigning champion O'Sullivan says she cannot spare the resources to take part.
"I am gutted, but I will have to pull out of the 2017 Island Games," the Great Britain international compound archer said in a statement.
"Unfortunately it is a lot of money for a non-world record status event."
O'Sullivan has won gold at the last two Island Games and is planning on competing at the 2017 World Championships in Mexico.
Other top island sportspeople have also said they are considering pulling out of the 2017 Island Games.
Zane Duquemin, who holds the Games discus and shot put records, is unsure of his schedule while tennis player Scott Clayton says he is "unlikely" to go. | Jersey archer Lucy O'Sullivan has pulled out of the 2017 Island Games due to the cost of competing. | 37825212 |
Matty Taylor netted on his full debut and Tammy Abraham scored twice from close range as the Robins dominated an abject home side in the first half.
Headers from Bent and Tom Ince, though, set up a thrilling finale.
And Bent's penalty, after Scott Golbourne fouled Ince, denied City a third away league win of the season.
Bent's composure from the spot - for his sixth goal in seven games - took the Rams to within five points of the play-off places, and came after a second-half performance which was in stark contrast to a miserable opening period when the Rams lacked both urgency and quality.
Taylor's tap-in, in his second match after a controversial move from Bristol Rovers, put the visitors ahead.
They wasted several chances to double the lead before Abraham's double - the first set up after a flowing team move and both involving the excellent Taylor - seemingly settled the match by the break.
A second successive City win, which would have taken them five points clear of the relegation zone, started to look in doubt as the Rams hit back through Bent's diving header and Ince's downward header.
And Bent's coolly taken penalty made it 3-3 with 10 minutes left, but the Robins survived some strong home pressure to go home with one point.
Derby boss Steve McClaren: "For the neutral it was one hell of a game, but we talk about game ready or game head on and we didn't have it on first half, it's as simple as that.
"You can't do that against any opponent. We had to change attitude and it was up to the players to respond, which they did, but I think it's a lesson for us.
"We said that at the end, it's a lesson and if you're not right and your game head isn't on, you can lose to anyone.
"It was Jekyll and Hyde, we know the direction we want to take and it's up to the players."
Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson: "You know when your kid runs out in the road and you quickly grab them back in and you don't know whether to give them a smack on the bum or a cuddle, that's how I feel.
"So much of our work was excellent today, the way the players passed and moved the ball in the first half, and even in the second we created numerous really good chances and could have scored six.
"But obviously I'm massively disappointed, I'd be lying if I told you I was happy with the group and taking a point from a winning position and three goals up.
"We are very, very close to being a decent side but we've got to learn and grow together."
Match ends, Derby County 3, Bristol City 3.
Second Half ends, Derby County 3, Bristol City 3.
Attempt blocked. Josh Brownhill (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Hand ball by Tom Ince (Derby County).
Jens Hegeler (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card.
Will Hughes (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jens Hegeler (Bristol City).
Richard Keogh (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City).
Attempt missed. Jacob Butterfield (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Attempt missed. Bailey Wright (Bristol City) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Aden Flint with a cross following a set piece situation.
Foul by David Nugent (Derby County).
Jens Hegeler (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. Markus Olsson (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Mark Little.
Milan Djuric (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card.
Attempt missed. Josh Brownhill (Bristol City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Substitution, Bristol City. Callum O'Dowda replaces Tammy Abraham.
Goal! Derby County 3, Bristol City 3. Darren Bent (Derby County) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner.
Penalty Derby County. Tom Ince draws a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty conceded by Scott Golbourne (Bristol City) after a foul in the penalty area.
Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Joe Bryan.
Attempt missed. David Cotterill (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Mark Little.
Tom Ince (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Jens Hegeler (Bristol City).
Goal! Derby County 2, Bristol City 3. Tom Ince (Derby County) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ikechi Anya with a cross.
Offside, Bristol City. Aden Flint tries a through ball, but Tammy Abraham is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Milan Djuric (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Fabian Giefer.
Attempt saved. Will Hughes (Derby County) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Richard Keogh.
Hand ball by Scott Golbourne (Bristol City).
Substitution, Bristol City. Milan Djuric replaces Matty Taylor.
Attempt missed. Joe Bryan (Bristol City) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Matty Taylor following a fast break.
Tom Ince (Derby County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Scott Golbourne (Bristol City).
Substitution, Derby County. David Nugent replaces Chris Baird.
Attempt missed. Will Hughes (Derby County) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Richard Keogh.
Scott Golbourne (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jacob Butterfield (Derby County).
Aden Flint (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Aden Flint (Bristol City). | Darren Bent's second-half double earned Derby County an unlikely point as they came back from 3-0 down in an astonishing game against Bristol City. | 38864163 |
French President Francois Hollande thanked Nigeria's authorities for helping secure the release of Francis Collomp, 63, in the city of Zaria.
Unofficial reports say he managed to escape from his cell during an army operation against the militants.
The French foreign minister is being sent to Nigeria to meet him.
The news comes after four other French hostages were released in neighbouring Niger having been held for three years by gunmen with links to al-Qaeda.
There were reports that at least 20m euros (£16.7m; $27m) were paid in ransom for the four. The French government denied any public money was used.
Since then a French Roman Catholic priest has been abducted in Cameroon, another country in the region.
Mr Collomp was kidnapped on 19 December last year by armed men who attacked the residence of his employer, the French wind turbine manufacturer Vergnet, in the north Nigerian state of Katsina.
Ansaru, a militant group linked to the Islamist Boko Haram movement, said it had carried out the abduction.
Mr Hollande said in a statement on Sunday: "The president greets with joy the release of our compatriot Francis Collomp.
"France had never ceased to make every effort to achieve this happy outcome. The president expresses all of his gratitude to Nigerian authorities, with whom France worked in close cooperation, for their decisive action."
He said he was sending Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius to Nigeria to greet the former captive.
A source "close to the case" told AFP news agency that Mr Collomp had fled during an exchange of fire between the army and militants after his cell door was left open.
Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed French government source who also said the captive had escaped. However, it added that a source in the French foreign ministry had denied the report.
A diplomatic source told Reuters that Mr Collomp was weak and had lost a lot of weight but was uninjured.
Seven French citizens, Mr Hollande said, remained in captivity in Syria, Mali and Nigeria.
It is believed that Fr Georges Vandenbeusch, who was abducted in northern Cameroon on Thursday, has been taken into Nigeria.
According to AFP, the priest was abducted by Boko Haram, with the help of Ansaru. | A French hostage held by Islamist militants in northern Nigeria for nearly a year is free after reportedly escaping during a shoot-out. | 24979492 |
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