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Cosgrove said it was "an honour and a privilege" to receive the special prize in recognition of his 40 years of programme making. Eddie Izzard, Alesha Dixon and Jedward also presented prizes on Sunday. The awards, given by Bafta, recognise excellence in children's film, television, games and online media. Cosgrove co-founded Manchester-based Cosgrove Hall Films with animation partner Mark Hall - who died last year - in 1976 and went on to become a major producer of children's television and animated programmes. The company also made film versions of Roald Dahl book The BFG and children's classic The Wind In The Willows, as well as popular animations Jamie and the Magic Torch and Count Duckula. "Hopefully, via the programmes we made, we brought pleasure to many generations of viewers," Cosgrove said. For a third consecutive year, CBBC show Horrible Histories won the prize for comedy, while Peppa Pig won the pre-school animation award. Box office hit The Hunger Games, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Woody Harrelson, was named best feature film. CBeebies presenter Justin Fletcher was given the third Bafta of his career for presenting Something Special - a programme he developed aimed to help children with learning and communications difficulties - making him the most awarded children's presenter to date. CBBC was also named channel of the year. Two awards were given to Cartoon Network series The Amazing World of Gumball in the animation and writer categories. Khalil Madovi, a 14 year old rapper and actor, was given the best performer accolade for playing Josh Carter in 4 O'Clock Club. The young stars of Friday Download, a run-down on subjects including games, music and style, were honoured in the entertainment category. Charlie Hutton-Pattemore, 15, from Somerset, Christopher Purdy, 13, from West Sussex, both took home gaming awards. Hutton-Pattemore received the game concept award for Vacuum Panic, in which players must clean up a house room by room before "mum" gets back. While Purdy won the game-making prize for his game Smiley Dodgems, in which the main character is attacked by faceless shapes.

Brian Cosgrove, the creator of the 1980s animated TV series Danger Mouse has been honoured at the British Academy Children's Awards in London.

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The UK broadcaster will start showing ultra-high resolution content to some of its satellite customers from 13 August. BT, Netflix and Amazon already offer 4K material, but analysts say Sky has a better line-up of films and sport. But demand will be limited by the cost of the premium subscriptions required. In addition, only a minority of UK households currently own a TV capable of showing the 2160p resolution footage involved, which contains four times as many pixels as a 1080p "full HD" image. Virgin Media has said its 4K service will be announced later this year. To access Sky's 4K content, users will need to have signed up to one of the firm's Q Silver packages. The minimum cost is £56 a month. But if a Sky Sports, Sky Cinema and broadband connection - required for on-demand streams - are added, the price rises to £114.40. The initial line-up of material includes: "It compares pretty favourably with what the competition are doing," commented Ted Hall, from the consultancy IHS Markit. "On sports, they appear to have trumped BT, which only offers an average of one UHD TV live event a week. "On movies, their offering is unrivalled, with many 4K premieres of blockbuster films. "But if you wanted to point to an area where the competition is a bit stronger, Netflix and Amazon have a broader range of UHD TV series." Sky's package also lacks support for high dynamic range content - something that many of the top-end 4K TVs support. HDR allows a much larger number of colours to be shown. In addition, because it takes advantage of a greater range of brightness levels between black and white, pictures can appear to be more detailed. By contrast, Netflix and Amazon do stream some of their 4K libraries in HDR, and 4K Blu-Ray discs also support the format. Many experts say HDR offers a greater leap forward in picture quality than just moving from 1080p to 4K. But Sky says it is waiting until a broadcasting standard had been agreed to show live HDR content. "I think they can take a wait-and-see approach," said Mr Hall. "I'm not sure many consumers are aware of HDR's benefits at this point." About 1.7 million UK homes own a 4K-ready TV at present, according to research firm Strategy Analytics, representing 6% of the population. Competition from Chinese manufacturers has helped encourage the major brands to rapidly cut their prices, meaning there are now several UHD sets on sale on the high street for less than £500. "There's no question 4K is becoming the norm above 40in to 50in, which is the most popular category now," said Strategy Analytics' David Mercer. "And very soon you will have no choice, you will get 4K by default. "The sets are clever, as they do lots of processing to improve images - so you wouldn't be disappointed with the picture even if it was broadcast in normal HD. "But you will notice the difference with UHD, especially if you get a good sports production on a 60in or 70in TV. The difference is quite obvious." Sky's 4K content will not be offered via its internet-TV platform for now. Some tech blogs were surprised when the feature was missing from the new Now TV Smart Box unveiled by the firm at the end of last month. But Mr Hall said investors would welcome this two-tiered approach. "The firm has to give its customers a clear reason to stay subscribing to satellite," Mr Hall said. "Now TV was a response to the likes of Netflix coming in with lower-priced pay TV options. "But what Sky doesn't want is a lot of cannabilisation, where its core customers who are paying £50 to more than £100 a month thinking they can get the same content and level of functionality for a fraction of the price."

Sky has revealed that its first 4K offerings will include more than 70 on-demand films and more than 100 of this season's live Premier League games.

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Police say 80 people are currently presumed dead after the fire at the west London tower block on 14 June. Adele encouraged fans at the show to donate money to help the victims of the blaze. She said Wembley's prices were "extortionate" and asked the crowd to donate rather than waste the money on "overpriced wine". "It's been two weeks since the fire, and still the people who were affected by it are homeless," Adele said in a video message before the show. "I promise that the money we raise together will go directly to the people who are living in that block." Later in the show, on she said on stage: "Usually I ask everyone to get their phone out and put their lights on. But before I do that I want you to donate. "Did anyone see the video before I came on? I've been down to Grenfell tower. "I can't tell you how out of control and how chaotic it still is down there, it's been two weeks since this happened... it's atrocious that we can't get answers. She added: "It's our job as human beings to be compassionate... You'll be hearing a lot more from me about [Grenfell] in the days and weeks and probably years to come." She dedicated her song Hometown Glory to the victims of the fire and encouraged them to give money to Unite for Grenfell. The concert was attended by 98,000 fans - a stadium record for a UK music event. She has three further dates at Wembley this week - the final one on Sunday. "I wanted my final shows to be in London because I don't know if I'll ever tour again," she said in a message printed in the programmes. "I've done 119 shows and these last four will take me up to 123, it has been hard out an absolute thrill and pleasure to have done." Adele: great voice, that's a given, but the best bits of last night's gig were actually in between the songs. After starting the show with, not surprisingly, Hello, Adele told the audience she was extremely nervous about playing Wembley for the first time. But she shouldn't have been. Her banter alone had the audience in the palm of her hand. From complaining that her dress was too tight to admitting that she will be marking the end of her epic world tour on Sunday with fags and whisky, Adele showed she may be the world's biggest singing star but she's still one of us. And she struck the right note when talking about Grenfell Tower. The building's burnt out remains featured in the video which accompanied Hometown Glory, a song which already induces goosebumps. She asked the crowd, the biggest ever at a gig at Wembley, to donate to the victims of Grenfell and promised she would be back on the ground, helping those families displaced by the fire, as soon as the Wembley run finishes. To be able to talk about something so horrific, but then pick her audience back up again to enjoy the rest of the show, proved Adele's deft hand at performing. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected].

Adele paid tribute to the victims of the Grenfell Tower at her Wembley Stadium concert on Wednesday evening.

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Yet now the world's leading trio head to this week's Memorial Tournament in Ohio each having won on their last outing before this popular PGA Tour stop, which is hosted by Jack Nicklaus. Spieth put behind him his Masters meltdown in clinical style with an extraordinary final round to win the Colonial Invitational in his native Texas last Sunday. The US Open champion described it as one of the most important days of his career. "I wasn't sure how long it would take to get over the hurdle, of having to come into every interview room, having to listen to the crowds, talking only about what happened a month ago," Spieth said. "I'm 22 and we've won two majors. But it's very difficult to stay present, to stay positive, when that's happening, when those are the only questions. So in our third tournament coming back to close this one out the way we did is really, really special." The previous week McIlroy was similarly emotional and at his audacious best to record his first victory of the year at the Irish Open. And all of this was in the wake of Day's superb victory at the Players Championship. Certainly, the Australian world number one produced the most impressive of these victories because he beat arguably the strongest field in the game - Spieth and McIlroy included. But the much-needed wins achieved by Day's two closest rivals have set up perfectly a summer where the remaining three majors will be decided in a hectic seven-week spell that will soon be upon us. The US Open starts at Oakmont on June 16 and the major season will be concluded when the US PGA ends at Baltusrol on July 31. Who knows how the men's golfing landscape will look then? Fortune shifts so quickly on the professional tours. Not only have McIlroy and Spieth turned around their years in dramatic style but so too has Bristol's Chris Wood at Wentworth last Sunday. The tall Englishman was without a top-10 finish since February's Dubai Desert Classic until he turned a three-stroke deficit after 54 holes into a one-shot victory at the BMW PGA Championship. The win propelled him into the top three of the European Ryder Cup qualifying table and he may have to cancel his stag do to accommodate August's Olympics as well. Wood has climbed to a career high 22 in the world with his third win on the Tour. He has never been one to need extra motivation, but says the Masters win of English contemporary Danny Willett helped inspire this Wentworth success. It was also a triumph for the spirit that is the hallmark of so many leading professionals - that desire to acquire the extra percentage point of excellence that makes the difference. "This time last year, I finished with my long-term coach, Paul Mitchell, and that was probably the hardest decision I've ever had to make," Wood said. They had worked together for 15 years before Wood turned to Mike Walker, the Yorkshire coach who, along with Pete Cowen, has helped Willett and Matthew Fitzpatrick to so much of their success. Media playback is not supported on this device Wood says Walker has "done wonders" for his swing, but it turns out that Mitchell also played a crucial role in the most important win of his career. "About six weeks ago, I got in touch with Paul again to try and help me at home on the scoring element of the game; wedges, distance control, short game, to have two or three sessions a month with him. "He brought so much more to my game than just a swing coach," Wood added. "Obviously, this has worked very quickly, just feeling confident and comfortable with those sorts of shots and sharpening up my short game. I feel like that had been missing the first six months this season." The second half of the year could easily include a Ryder Cup debut, something that has been in Wood's mind since playing under skipper Darren Clarke in January's EurAsia Cup in Malaysia. "I've played quite a lot with Clarkey recently," Wood told BBC Sport. "We had a great experience at the EurAsia Cup at the start of the year. "He played a lot of video in the team room about the Ryder Cup and it definitely spurs you on and obviously this is a big step towards that, but there's still four or five months left to put some more points on the board." So there is every chance of Wood lining up alongside McIlroy at Hazeltine in September for Europe's trophy defence against an American team with Spieth at the vanguard. Wood is already rubbing shoulders with the world's best, but it is clear the so-called "big three" are in no mood to be knocked from their lofty perch any time soon.

In recent weeks the so-called "big three" was being reduced to the "big one" because Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy were struggling to live with the excellence of top dog Jason Day.

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Nos Fawrth fe wnaeth cyfranddalwyr Clwb Casnewydd bleidleisio o blaid y syniad - roedd yn rhaid i'r cytundeb dderbyn sêl bendith dros 75% o'r cyfranddalwyr. Fe wnaeth 81% o'r cyfranddalwyr gefnogi'r cynllun. Roedd yr Undeb eisoes yn berchen 50% o'r rhanbarth gafodd ei ffurfio yn 2003, tra bod maes Rodney Parade yn eiddo i Glwb Rygbi Casnewydd. O ganlyniad i broblemau ariannol y Dreigiau roedd Undeb Rygbi Cymru wedi cynnig cymryd rheolaeth o'r rhanbarth a phrynu cae Rodney Parade. Mae'n debyg y bydd yr Undeb yn buddsoddi £4m wrth brynu a gwella Rodney Parade. Yn ôl prif weithredwr y Dreigiau, Stuart Davies, yr unig ddewis arall pe na bai'r cynllun yn cael ei dderbyn oedd y byddai'r rhanbarth yn mynd i'r wal. Gobaith yr Undeb yw cwblhau'r broses erbyn 1 Gorffennaf. Yn ogystal â'r timau rygbi, mae Rodney Parade hefyd yn gartref i Glwb Pêl-droed Casnewydd.

Mae Clwb Rygbi Casnewydd wedi cefnogi cynllun lle bydd Undeb Rygbi Cymru yn cymryd rheolaeth o'r rhanbarth a phrynu cae Rodney Parade.

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In the Senedd, Mr Jones was asked if he stood by comments he made in 2012. At that time he said the missile system would be "more than welcome" in Milford Haven, if it was forced to leave the Clyde if Scotland become independent. Asked if that was still his message, Mr Jones replied: "No, and that's not going to be the case in the future." Answering the question, from Plaid Cymru AM Rhun ap Iorwerth, Mr Jones continued: "The weapons system as it is at the moment remains at Faslane, but I certainly hope there will come a time when there is no need for nuclear weapons to be based anywhere - not in Britain, not in the US, Russia or anywhere else in the world." The exchange came during a Plaid-led debate calling on AMs not to support plans to renew Trident, seen as an attempt to embarrass Labour, as several of the party's AMs want Trident scrapped. At Westminster, MPs are due to vote on the issue in 2016, with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn against renewing Trident while many of his MPs are in favour. On Tuesday, Mr Corbyn's ally and former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone revealed he has been put in charge of reviewing Labour's defence policy, working alongside shadow defence secretary Maria Eagle. The pair have opposing views on Trident renewal. During Wednesday's debate in Cardiff Bay, Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said there was "no moral justification for the possession or use of such weapons". "There is no practical use in possessing them either, based on the security needs of the UK today, " she added. Plaid's motion was rejected by 35 votes to 14. Prime Minister David Cameron has described a nuclear deterrent as "the best insurance policy that you can have", to ensure that you are never subject to "nuclear blackmail".

First Minister Carwyn Jones has said he no longer wants to see Britain's fleet of Trident nuclear submarines based in Pembrokeshire if it left Scotland.

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Stuart Jenkins, 41, of Ossett, West Yorkshire, had been charged with killing Arthur Brumhill, 76, in Northampton in 1993. Mr Brumhill was found dead in the basement of Denton's pet and garden shop. He had 26 injuries and his body was covered in straw. Speaking outside Northampton Crown Court, Mr Jenkins said: "I'm relieved." LIVE: Updates on this story and other Northamptonshire news Mr Jenkins worked at the pet shop for about a month in 1992, aged 17, on a youth training scheme. The former army sergeant was arrested at the time of Mr Brumhill's death but was later released. He was re-arrested and charged in May 2015. "It's been a long two years. It's been two years of not knowing where you are," he said after his acquittal. His wife Louise said they send their condolences to the family of Mr Brumhill. "We hope they do get justice," she added. Northamptonshire Police said they remain "committed" to forensic developments in the case. DCI Louise Hemingway, who led the investigation, said: "I'm really disappointed for Arthur's family. They have waited for 24 years. "There was definitely enough evidence to bring it to trial. It was the right thing to do for Arthur, for his family and in seeking justice. "This was an awful murder. If we do get any opportunities to investigate [further] we will."

A man has been cleared of murdering an elderly pet shop worker more than 20 years ago.

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Despite encouraging signs in the economy, and years of public sector austerity measures already, only 40% of planned cuts will have been made by the general election in May, according to UK spending watchdog the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). To hit current government plans to reduce the UK deficit, the remaining 60% of cuts would have to be brought in by the next parliament. By 2019-20, central government departmental spending will have dropped to £279.7bn, from £317.5bn in 2013-14 - a fall of £37.8bn, OBR said. If the projections are followed, the prospect for many UK public services looks uncertain. "The implied squeeze on local authority spending is similarly severe," said OBR. So where will the cuts be made? And should they be made at all? We asked five experts for their opinion. If the government is going to achieve its projected spending goals by 2020, then it's going to have to reform the big-ticket items: welfare, pensions, and the NHS. It's not realistic to expect that policing and other unprotected areas will be cut by 50%; if the arithmetic is going to add up, the meaty parts of the budget are going to have to be cut too. Local government cuts should fall precisely where the community and local council feel they can best handle a decrease in spending. Westminster is not in an effective position to decide the level of services needed in local communities throughout the UK. The solution is to devolve taxation and spending powers to local communities, where funding for public services and benefits can be better, and more efficiently, allocated. Kate Andrews, communications manager and research associate, Adam Smith Institute Growing demand on adult social care means that other services, such as road maintenance, libraries, youth centres, parks etc, are likely to be disproportionately cut. Between 2010 and 2015-16 local government funding will be cut by 40%. We expect a similar level of cuts in the next parliament. Local authorities have tried to protect spending on social care services. Other service areas such as housing services (-34%) and culture and leisure services (-29%) have seen larger reductions. Local government has seen the biggest cuts of any part of the public sector during this parliament. Efficiency savings are coming to an end. Further cuts without radical reform will have a detrimental impact on people's quality of life. Spokesman, Local Government Association All parties must recognise that serious structural changes are required to prevent public services suffering inevitable decline through a thousand cuts. Tinkering around the edges of public service reform will not meet the challenges we face. It will take bold decisions, like integrating health and social care, to help address the pressures that an ageing population places on our public services, especially the NHS. Managing public spending within acceptable limits will demand re-shaping of public services to better meet people's needs, including increasing the number of services available online. Katja Hall, CBI deputy director-general The Autumn Statement shows that the chancellor is determined to take a sledgehammer to public services and local government. Adult social care is in crisis and children's services are under increasing attack. With cuts on this scale it will be impossible to protect local services, including leisure and cultural facilities and school support. In addition, far less will be available to fix the roads and build new homes. The government has already slashed spending to local government. The tragedy is that the cuts have been disproportionate - those local authorities with the greatest need have been the worst hit. Frances O'Grady, TUC general secretary There are enough people in Britain who are uncomfortable with the idea of saddling the next generation with high debts that simply borrowing more with no realistic repayment plan will attract deserved criticism. Could we tax more? The level of UK taxation has been remarkable constant as a percent of GDP - around 35% - but that does not mean a radical rising could not be undertaken. That many, particularly those paying tax, are increasingly feeling highly taxed and some rises have already led to dramatic falls in revenues will not be lost on the Treasury. James Sproule, chief economist, Institute of Directors

Public services in the UK are facing a protracted squeeze, with central and local government under pressure to cut spending as budgets shrink.

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The Utah Division of Child and Family Services is searching for ways to challenge to Tuesday's decision. Without a challenge, the child will be removed from April Hoagland and Beckie Peirce's care within a week. The decision, made by Judge Scott Johansen in the town of Price, has been criticised by gay rights groups. In an interview with a local television news station, the couple said that the judge referred to research that children are better off when they are raised by heterosexual parents. "We are shattered," Ms Hoagland told the station. "It hurts me really badly because I haven't done anything wrong." The two are part of a group of same-sex married couples who the state of Utah has allowed to become foster parents in the wake of last summer's US Supreme Court ruling that made gay marriage legal across the US. While they do not keep count, officials in Utah estimate that there are at least a dozen foster parents in the state who are married same-sex couples. The decision to remove the child that the lesbian couple had been raising for three months, has drawn heavy criticism from gay rights groups. "Removing a child from a loving home simply because the parents are LGBT is outrageous, shocking, and unjust," said president of the Human Rights Campaign, Chad Griffin. "All major studies on the matter show that parents' sexual orientation is not related to a child's mental health and social development." This is not the first time that Judge Johansen's decision have come under scrutiny. In 1997, he was reprimanded for slapping a 16-year-old in the face at a courthouse in Price. And in 2012, he drew attention for ordering a 13-year-old girl's hair cut in exchange for a lighter sentence. The girl was being prosecuted for cutting the hair of another, younger girl. That same year, he was criticised for sending a teenage boy on probation to jail after he received a poor school report. Teen was on probation for shoplifting a pack of gum. The foster agency has said that it is unaware of any issues with Ms Hoagland and Ms Peirce's performance as foster parents. The agency's attorneys are now reviewing the decision to see what challenges might be mounted. "We just want sharing, loving families for these kids," Sumner said. "We don't really care what that looks like." The agency is tasked with keeping children in one foster home for as long as possible, on the condition that the parents - who are all screened before becoming foster parents - are providing adequate care. More from the BBC - Two dads called Brad

A judge in the US state of Utah has ordered that a foster child be removed from the care of a lesbian couple, and placed with a heterosexual family.

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Ross Porter, from Dunfermline, is to stand trial after being charged with assaulting Daniel Jordan. Mr Porter is alleged to have pinned the 17-year-old to the ground before biting his face "to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement" on 10 July. He made no plea or declaration and was remanded in custody. Sheriff Christopher Shead fully committed the case for trial at Perth Sheriff Court. Police made a total of 54 arrests during the weekend-long music festival, which was being staged at Strathallan Castle estate, near Auchterarder, for the first time.

A 30-year-old man has appeared in court charged with leaving a teenager scarred for life by biting him on the face at the T in the Park festival.

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The Tinsley Art Project aims to appoint an artist to develop a design worth up to £450,000. The piece will be Sheffield's largest-ever public art commission and will be funded by energy company E.ON. The company pledged the money to the council after the structures were demolished in August 2008. Andrew Skelton, public art officer at Sheffield City Council, said: "It's an area of change, hope and aspiration." "Tinsley was an absolute heart of our industrial history, but now it's a fantastic area of bio-diversity - a really rich and pleasant environment to be in." The project will be in addition to the construction of the man of steel sculpture which will overlook the M1 at Kimberworth. Mr Skelton said: "I'm hoping that we'll get something that is really innovative and exciting - the crucial thing is that it draws people down there. "In a fantastic part of the city, the regeneration is happening and people should go down and enjoy it. "

A search has begun for an artist to create a public art piece near Sheffield's famous former cooling towers site.

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The revelation came during questioning of a senior detective who led the investigation into the murders. Ten Protestant men were shot dead by the IRA in the attack in County Armagh in 1976. They were shot after gunmen stopped their bus on their way home from work. The inquest heard on Wednesday about a list of names of those involved in the attack, supplied by a self-confessed IRA man in December 1976. Among those named on the list was a man given the cypher "s104". He had "usually travelled" on the minibus with the other workmen said a barrister for the families of the victims. This could mean that he was involved in setting up his workmates for slaughter, he added. The list of names was put to the detective who led the investigation following the murders. Det Ch Insp James Mitchell said he could not confirm whether or not he had seen it before, but he identified all of those named as members of the Provisional IRA. He added that most, if not all of them, would have been living in the Republic of Ireland and so would have been beyond the reach of the RUC as on the whole the government in the Republic of Ireland were not co-operating when it came to extradition. The former senior officer was asked about his resourcing, given that it has been reported that 1,000 officers are involved in the recent Manchester suicide attack investigation. He said the manpower available to him was totally inadequate with nine additional detectives sent from Belfast for only a period of weeks. Last Friday Det Ch Insp Mitchell apologised to the victims' families for not getting the satisfaction they had hoped for. He said the "workload at the time" and "depleted resources" led to weaknesses in the investigation. In 2011, a review of the case was carried out by the Historical Enquiries Team (HET). The HET investigation established that no evidence remained. It also said that some of the original evidence had been destroyed in a fire at the laboratory eight months after the killings.

An inquest has been told that a man who regularly travelled on the minibus at the centre of the Kingsmills Massacre was subsequently named as one of those involved in the attack.

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The operation follows months of investigation into the Artemis brothel. Brothel managers are accused of evading some €17.5m (£14m; $19.7m) in social security payments since 2006. Prosecutors allege that staff at Artemis were forced to pretend to be self-employed to avoid the payments. Police say the raid was conducted in cooperation with customs officials and tax fraud investigators. Inside a German mega-brothel Germany legalised prostitution in 2002, creating an industry now thought to be worth approximately €16bn per year. So-called "mega-brothels" are common, attracting tourists from neighbouring countries with stricter laws, and sex workers from Eastern Europe. The number of prostitutes in Germany is thought to have doubled to 400,000 over the last 20 years.

Nine hundred police officers have taken part in a raid on one of Germany's biggest brothels in Berlin, making six arrests over alleged human trafficking and tax fraud.

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Máirtín Ó Muilleoir said that Brexit Secretary David Davis did not make a commitment to underwrite the funding during their meeting on Thursday. The finance minister said that up to £300m could be lost. Mr Davis also met First Minister Arlene Foster on his first Belfast visit. 'Frank exchange' Mr Ó Muilleoir told BBC Radio Ulster that he and Mr Davis had "a very frank exchange", but on the subject of Brexit "we are as far apart as Belfast is from Boston". "I believe we should respect the vote to remain, that the people here in the north voted to remain in the heart of Europe," he said. Mr Ó Muilleoir said he asked the Brexit secretary "to make a real effort" on behalf of bodies that are dependent on EU peace funds. He said the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, had said he would guarantee EU "letters of offer" issued before his autumn statement. Mr Ó Muilleoir said this was "probably the first week of December. That leaves up to £300m with a question mark over it". The finance minister said the best Mr Davis could do was "to say that he would feed that back in". 'Not good enough' He said he told the Brexit Secretary that "in my view that isn't good enough, you need to press harder than that". Speaking after his meeting with Mrs Foster, Mr Davis underlined the importance of controlling immigration and said that "we have to take control of our borders". He identified the single energy market, exports and the skills base as "things which are important to making Brexit a success in Northern Ireland". Both Mr Davis and Mrs Foster campaigned for a leave vote in the EU referendum and believe Brexit offers excellent potential trade opportunities.

Stormont's finance minister has said the UK government must do more to ensure that European peace and cross-border funding is secured as part of the Brexit negotiations.

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He is an elusive character, even to people in his home state of Sinaloa, the cradle of Mexico's drug-trafficking area. But while Sinaloans cannot hope to rival his riches, they have not wasted time cashing in on his fame either. Isaiah Rodriguez has several stalls inside the labyrinthine Garmendia market in the historic centre of Culiacan. He mostly sells souvenirs and trinkets printed with "I LOVE CULIACAN" or "SINALOA". But Isaiah has a new range out - a line of baseball caps branded with "El Chapo" - the word "billionaire" stamped on the front, along with a golden-threaded image of the kingpin and the number 701, referring to El Chapo's position the first time he entered the Forbes Rich List. Isaiah says wholesalers started offering them to him shortly after El Chapo escaped. "As a shop-seller, it's good business," he says. As an individual he has a very different view - "I wouldn't let my kids wear one of these hats." Not far away from the market is a little chapel dedicated to another of Sinaloa's famous bandits, Jesus Malverde. The chapel is dimly lit by candles and the walls are covered in plaques from families thanking Malverde for his work. Legend has it that he robbed from the rich and gave to the poor, for which many people are still very grateful. He is known as the "angel of the poor" but he has another nickname too: the "narco-saint" - because of his following among the cartels. Malverde is the original benevolent bandit, but he is has increasing competition. "El Chapo has helped lots of people so it would be good to have a monument or a chapel in his honour too," says Rodolfo, who maintains Malverde's chapel. "He is also a generous man." The idea that El Chapo, the leader of one of the most powerful and violent drug cartels in the world, can be seen as a good guy is not uncommon here. "There are parts of society that are proud," says Javier Valdez, a columnist on narco (drug dealer) culture for the weekly paper Rio Doce. "They talk of narcos as being awesome people, an idol or God or demi-God." El Chapo is also seen as somebody who can offer more security to people than the government. "He gives them work and money but more than that, he challenges the government, makes fun of the government, escapes from prison. He's a modern-day Robin Hood," says Mr Valdez. But, he adds, it often means that El Chapo's darker side goes unacknowledged. "People don't want to know anything about the kingpin they adore also being an assassin," he says. "They don't want to have anything to do with the painful side." Travel an hour into the Sierra Madre mountains and you get to the municipality of Badiraguato. Not far from here was where El Chapo grew up and where his mother still lives. This is one of the biggest areas in Mexico for opium and marijuana production. It is also where many think El Chapo is hiding. "El Chapo's the best," says Simona, who runs a restaurant in town. Her father used to cook for Rafael Caro Quintero, another of Badiraguato's famous drug-traffickers. She is happy for what El Chapo has achieved in a poor part of Mexico where there are few job opportunities apart from agriculture. "Drugs traffickers are real men," she laughs. But in the town hall, Mayor Mario Valenzuela is a little more measured. He knows El Chapo's mother and while not exactly proud of his crimes, Mr Valenzuela says the production of drugs in this part of Mexico is reality. "He's a person who, in his line of business, is very intelligent," he says. He jokes that, with his escapes, El Chapo could be in line to win a Guinness World Record. "It's complicated but at the end of the day it generates jobs in the country, it moves money - and a lot of it," he says. "We don't want to face up to the fact that our economies to a large extent depend on that. Sadly that's how it is." Mr Valenzuela says rumours that El Chapo has ploughed money back into his community are untrue. There are no bridges, roads or buildings here that can be attributed to the drugs lord, he says. Guadalupe, 15, who is sitting in the square outside the town hall, disagrees with the mayor. "I know it's true, he does help lots of people," she says, adding that she thinks he is a good man. Back in Culiacan, I head to the Jardines del Humaya private cemetery, where many cartel members are buried. The tombs are not your typical gravestones, they are actual houses. It is like a leafy neighbourhood where nobody is home. There are colonial-style buildings with two floors and gardens, more modern constructions too with marble staircases and alarm systems. Some even have air conditioning. The builders are busy working on the next mini-mansion. They do not ask questions about their clients but say that even if they are building for drug dealers, everyone deserves to rest in peace. And whether he returns to prison or remains on the run, a drug dealer of El Chapo's stature can be assured of a very luxurious resting place indeed.

It is little over a month since one of the world's richest drug lords, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman escaped through an impressively built mile-long tunnel.

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The first buses left the town, near the capital Damascus, accompanied by ambulances and Red Crescent vehicles. But the UN has expressed concern over the plan, saying it is essential that those leaving do so voluntarily. The Syrian army encircled Darayya in 2012 and just one aid delivery has reached the town since then. The first bus to emerge from the town carried mostly children, women and elderly people, AFP news agency reports. Some 700 armed men and 4,000 civilians will be evacuated as part of the agreement, according to Syrian state media. Opposition fighters are due to be given safe passage to the rebel-held city of Idlib, while civilians will go to government shelters in Damascus. The office of UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura sounded a note of caution saying it was "imperative that people of Darayya are protected in any evacuation that takes place, and that this takes place voluntarily". A statement said the UN was neither involved nor consulted about the evacuation plan, but added, "the world is watching." For years those living in Darayya have endured constant shelling, as well as suffering shortages of food, water and electricity. Some of those leaving said the town had become uninhabitable. Darayya saw some of the first protests against the Syrian government, an uprising that transformed into a full-blown civil conflict. The withdrawal of rebels just a few miles from Damascus is a boost for President Bashar al-Assad, analysts say. The evacuation comes as US Secretary of State John Kerry holds talks on Syria with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Geneva. They are meeting in a bid to broker a temporary ceasefire in the city of Aleppo, where fighting between government and rebel forces has escalated in recent weeks, leaving hundreds dead. Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan have agreed a deal to boost aid to Aleppo, Turkish media reported. Russian and American teams in Geneva, involving military officials and diplomats, have been able to reach agreement on most details of a possible deal. It is up to John Kerry and Sergei Lavrov to try to close the last difficult gaps. One of the most sensitive issues is said to be the grounding of Syria's warplanes. Western sources say senior US defence officials are deeply sceptical, if not resistant, to closer military co-operation with Moscow. But achieving progress in Syria, especially in the battle against so-called Islamic State, is one of the White House's key goals. So John Kerry continues his determined diplomacy to reach some kind of deal with Russia. But today's evacuation in Darayya which involves the surrender of rebel forces, underlines the Syrian government's long-held view that the road to peace goes through local Syrian deals, largely on its terms.

Civilians and rebel fighters have begun leaving the Syrian town of Darayya after a deal was reached ending a four-year government siege.

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Burke, 20, made 12 appearances for Wigan last season, while 21-year-old Cullen played 46 times for Bradford. Both players join the Championship side having worked under Bolton manager Phil Parkinson at his former club Bradford. "They'll add a lot of quality to the squad and have a desire to show everybody they can play at this level," Parkinson told the club website. "It was an easy decision for me as I've worked with the gaffer before and I really enjoyed it," England Under-20 international Burke said. Central-midfielder Cullen, a Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, helped Bradford reach the League One play-off semi-final and final in the last two campaigns. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

West Ham midfielders Reece Burke and Josh Cullen have joined Championship side Bolton on loan until January.

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The man in charge of the Pisa tests, Andreas Schleicher, says the evidence from around the world reveals some big myths about what makes for a successful education system. Teachers all around the world struggle with how to make up for social disadvantage in their classrooms. Some believe that deprivation is destiny. And yet, results from Pisa tests show that the 10% most disadvantaged 15-year-olds in Shanghai have better maths skills than the 10% most privileged students in the United States and several European countries. Children from similar social backgrounds can show very different performance levels, depending on the school they go to or the country they live in. Education systems where disadvantaged students succeed are able to moderate social inequalities. They tend to attract the most talented teachers to the most challenging classrooms and the most capable school leaders to the most disadvantaged schools, thus challenging all students with high standards and excellent teaching. Some American critics of international educational comparisons argue that the value of these comparisons is limited because the United States has some unique socio-economic divisions. But the United States is wealthier than most countries and spends more money on education than most of them, its parents have a higher level of education than in most countries, and the share of socio-economically disadvantaged students is just around the OECD average. What the comparisons do show is that socio-economic disadvantage has a particularly strong impact on student performance in the United States. In other words, in the United States two students from different socio-economic backgrounds vary much more in their learning outcomes than is typically the case in OECD countries. Integrating students with an immigrant background can be challenging. And yet, results from Pisa tests show no relationship between the share of students with an immigrant background in a country and the overall performance of students in that country. Even students with the same migration history and background show very different performance levels across countries, suggesting that where students go to schools makes much more of a difference than where they come from. South Korea, the highest-performing OECD country in mathematics, spends well below the average per student. The world is no longer divided between rich and well-educated countries and poor and badly-educated ones. Success in education systems is no longer about how much money is spent, but about how money is spent. Countries need to invest in improving education and skills if they are going to compete in an increasingly knowledge-based global economy. And yet, educational expenditure per student explains less than 20% of the variation in student performance across OECD countries. For example, students in the Slovak Republic, which spends around $53,000 (£35,000) per student between the age of 6 and 15, perform on average at the same level at age 15 as the United States which spends over $115,000 (£76,000) per student. Everywhere, teachers, parents and policy-makers favour small classes as the key to better and more personalised education. Reductions in class size have also been the main reason behind the significant increases in expenditure per student in most countries over the last decade. And yet, Pisa results show no relationship between class size and learning outcomes, neither within nor across countries. More interestingly, the highest performing education systems in Pisa tend to systematically prioritise the quality of teachers over the size of classes. Wherever they have to make a choice between a smaller class and a better teacher, they go for the latter. Rather than putting money into small classes, they invest in competitive teacher salaries, ongoing professional development and a balance in working time. There is a conventional wisdom that sees a non-selective, comprehensive system as designed to promote fairness and equity, while a school system with academic selection is aimed at quality and excellence. And yet, international comparisons show there is no incompatibility between the quality of learning and equity, the highest performing education systems combine both. More from the BBC's Knowledge economy series looking at education from a global perspective None of the countries with a high degree of stratification, whether in the form of tracking, streaming, or grade repetition is among the top performing education systems or among the systems with the highest share of top performers. Globalisation and technological change are having a major impact on what students need to know. When we can access so much content on Google, where routine skills are being digitised or outsourced, and where jobs are changing rapidly, the focus is on enabling people to become lifelong learners, to manage complex ways of thinking and working. In short, the modern world no longer rewards us just for what we know, but for what we can do with what we know. Many countries are reflecting this by expanding school curriculums with new school subjects. The most recent trend, reinforced in the financial crisis, was to teach students financial skills. But results from Pisa show no relationship between the extent of financial education and financial literacy. In fact, some of those education systems where students performed best in the Pisa assessment of financial literacy teach no financial literacy but invest their efforts squarely on developing deep mathematics skills. More generally, in top performing education systems the curriculum is not mile-wide and inch-deep, but tends to be rigorous, with a few things taught well and in great depth. The writings of many educational psychologists have fostered the belief that student achievement is mainly a product of inherited intelligence, not hard work. The findings from Pisa also show this mistaken belief, with a significant share of students in the western world reporting that they needed good luck rather than hard work to do well in mathematics or science. It's a characteristic that is consistently negatively related to performance. Teachers may feel guilty pushing students who are perceived as less capable to achieve at higher levels, because they think it is unfair to the student. Their goal is more likely to be enabling each student to achieve up to the average of students in their classrooms, rather than, as in Finland, Singapore or Shanghai-China, to achieve high universal standards. A comparison between school marks and performance of students in Pisa also suggests that teachers often expect less of students from lower socio-economic backgrounds. And those students and their parents may expect less too. This is a heavy burden for education systems to bear, and it is unlikely that school systems will achieve performance parity with the best-performing countries until they accept that all children can achieve at very high levels. In Finland, Japan, Singapore, Shanghai and Hong Kong, students, parents, teachers and the public at large tend to share the belief that all students are capable of achieving high standards. Students in those systems consistently reported that if they tried hard, they would trust in their teachers to help them excel. One of the most interesting patterns observed among some of the highest-performing countries was the gradual move away from a system in which students were streamed into different types of secondary schools. Those countries did not accomplish this transition by taking the average and setting the new standards to that level. Instead, they "levelled up", requiring all students to meet the standards that they formerly expected only their elite students to meet. In these education systems, universal high expectations are not a mantra but a reality.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan says she wants England to get into the top five of the international Pisa tests for English and maths by 2020.

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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.

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The male rider, who has not been named, came off his bike at the privately-run event next to Low Hardwick Farm, near Sedgefield, at about 13:00 BST. He was taken by air ambulance to hospital in Middlesbrough but was confirmed dead shortly before arrival. The woman, in her early 30s, suffered serious injuries at about 14:10 at which point the event was closed. The female rider was also taken to the James Cook University Hospital by air ambulance, police said. A spokesman for Durham Police said: "We took the decision on safety grounds to close down the privately-run event, which involved around 100 participants and 300 spectators. "We understand the formal investigation is likely to be led by the local authority, but we are carrying out initial inquiries into the circumstances. "With two very serious incidents within little more than an hour, we felt there was little choice but to bring the event to a close." The site is regularly used for motocross and quad bike events. The organisers have not been available for comment.

A man has died and a woman has been seriously injured at a quad and motocross event in County Durham.

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London, who finished second to Rovers in the Championship's regular season, opened the scoring through Andy Ackers. Danny Addy, Kieren Moss, Robbie Mulhern and Ryan Shaw then went over to put the hosts 25-8 up at the break. A second from Shaw sealed victory, before London finished strong with tries from James Cunningham, Alex Walker, Mark Ioane and Elliot Kear. The win ensures KR maintain their perfect start to the Qualifiers and puts them equal on points with leaders Warrington Wolves after three matches. Hull KR: Moss; Shaw, Hefernan, Blair, Carney; Atkin, Ellis; Jewitt, Lawler, Masoe, Clarkson, Addy, Kavanagh. Replacements: Lunt, Greenwood, Marsh, Mulhern. London Broncos: Walker; Williams, Hellewell, Kear, Dixon; Sammut, Barthau; Spencer, Ackers, Ioane, Wilde, Pitts, Evans. Replacements: Cunningham, Davis, Gee, Roqica. Referee: Chris Campbell.

Hull KR survived a London Broncos fightback to boost hopes of making an immediate Super League return.

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Anglesey-based Halen Mon, which exports salt all over the world, told the BBC's Sunday Politics Wales programme the EU gives the company access to "one of the largest economies in the world". The UK government has committed to holding an in-out referendum on the EU. Halen's Mon's produce has the EU's Protected Designation of Origin status. The company said its exports a third of its salt, of which three quarters is sold to other EU countries. Asked if she thought the UK should stay in the EU, Eluned Davies from Halen Mon, said: "Absolutely. We have access to a market of 500 million people in Europe. "Europe is one of the largest economies in the world, we can work with that economy to strike trade deals with other nations such as China and the USA." However, Ken Beswick, owner of the Cwmbran-based printing company Promocorp Ltd, told the same programme a UK exit from the EU would not be "the nightmare some people think it will be". Mr Beswick, who stood as the UKIP candidate for Torfaen at the general election, said: "Trade will continue and British manufacturers will simply adjust to the new situation as they've always done." Sunday Politics Wales can be seen on BBC One Wales at 12:00 BST on Sunday.

A Welsh business whose produce shares the same protected status as Champagne and Parma ham said the UK should stay in the European Union.

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It is just the latest chapter in a saga which has gone on for almost 50 years - ever since the Roskill Commission was set up to look at a third airport for London in 1968. While the government has decided on its preferred option - Heathrow - there will now be a statutory public consultation process before a final decision is made and put to MPs next year. If all goes to plan, the planning process should be over by 2020 - which is a big if, given the scale of opposition. Heathrow's plan is to build a new 3,500m runway about two miles north of the existing runways at an estimated cost of £17.6bn, to be operational by 2026. If in the end the objectors lose their case, it means that many residents in Longford, Harmondsworth and Sipson to the north of Heathrow will see their homes compulsorily purchased for the development. The Airports Commission, which recommended this solution after examining the issue for three years, said building at Gatwick, or extending one of Heathrow's existing runways, as proposed by the Heathrow Hub group, was less advantageous. More on what happens next Various governments have delayed this extremely controversial decision a number of times. There have been strong arguments, for and against, expanding either Heathrow or Gatwick - and also for doing nothing. Prime Minister Theresa May has given ministers the freedom to oppose the decision - Heathrow expansion has been fiercely resisted by the Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, and the Education Secretary, Justine Greening, among others. Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith has previously said he would resign his west London seat and trigger a by-election if Heathrow got the go-ahead. His constituency association has said he intends to honour his pledge. In making this announcement, the economic case put forward by many business groups for Heathrow - especially in the wake of the Brexit vote - seems to have won. However, many campaigners against a third runway reckon that increased traffic pollution from vehicles associated with a bigger airport is the issue that could stop Heathrow expansion completely. The problem of building a new runway to serve London is that the south-east of England is densely populated, and wherever a new runway is built, thousands will be affected. In December 2015 the Environmental Audit Committee said a third runway should not go ahead at Heathrow until strict environmental conditions were met. The move was then welcomed by the campaign group Hacan (Heathrow and the Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise), which said the government was "in a straitjacket over a third runway". Heathrow insists that its plans will meet limits on air quality and noise. In the face of likely legal challenges, the government has wanted to make sure its case is as watertight as possible. Research seen by the BBC earlier this month suggests Heathrow could build a new runway without breaking European pollution laws. The study, led by Cambridge University, measured poisonous nitrogen dioxide levels using 40 sensors in and around the airport and predicted how the new runway would change things. Critics, however, claim that meeting these pollution targets would also need London's vehicle fleets to switch from diesel to mainly electric vehicles. The Aviation Environment Federation (AEF) said the research was "highly speculative" and there was no guarantee pollution levels would fall. Business leaders have long said that the lack of capacity at Britain's major airports causes them problems. Both the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the manufacturers' group, the EEF, have backed expansion plans. Heathrow is one of the world's busiest airports, handling 75 million passengers in 2015 and it is a major hub - more than a third of travellers use it to transfer to other flights. However, there is little room for growth at Heathrow - it operates at 98% of its capacity. And it is facing increasing competition from rival airports such as Amsterdam's Schiphol and Paris's Charles de Gaulle, as well as Dubai in the Middle East. In its report, the Airports Commission said the UK economy would benefit significantly from airport expansion. A new runway at Heathrow could provide a boost of up to £147bn to the UK economy over the next 60 years and create an additional 76,700 jobs by 2030, it said. By contrast, expanding Gatwick would add up to £89bn to the economy and add fewer jobs. However the Commission also cautioned that putting a precise number on the economic benefits was difficult. However, as if to underline the caution with which these estimates should be viewed, the DfT has just said that a new runway at Heathrow will bring economic benefits to passengers and the wider economy worth up to £61bn over 60 years - which is less than half the Commission's figure. Environmental campaigners argue we should be travelling fewer miles by air, not more. There is also the argument, put forward by some, that pan-European high-speed rail links are a realistic alternative to many short-haul flights, certainly up to 300 miles. Governments are busy discussing ways to limit our carbon emissions. Increasing flights in and out of the UK will make that harder. Given that there the decision to build at Heathrow will face legal challenges, some argue that even if we actually want to build a new runway rather than merely endlessly argue about it, then Heathrow is the wrong place. They say that building further out of London - at Stansted or perhaps Birmingham - where local objections might be more easily overcome, and relying on faster train links to the capital might give the UK extra airport capacity more quickly than at Heathrow. Apart from the politics it also comes down to the cost of building airports. Ever since Gatwick and Heathrow airports opened for business in the 1930s and 1940s it seems as if we have been arguing about what to do next to deal with the growing demand for air travel. Cublington, Maplin Sands and latterly "Boris Island" are just some of the sites which have been proposed as the locations of new airports for London. The Airports Commission rejected the then London Mayor Boris Johnson's proposals for a major new airport to be constructed on an island in the Thames estuary. It said that its cost, economic disruption and environmental issues made the plan unviable - although other cities like Paris, Hong Kong and Bangkok have successfully moved their main airports. The UK's post-war history of civil aviation has been punctuated by inquiries, commissions and consultation, producing studies, reports and recommendations. Most of which have been filed and largely forgotten. We want to travel by air, but none of us want to live under a busy flightpath. Follow Tim Bowler on Twitter

The government has given the go-ahead to a third runway at Heathrow, but this doesn't mean the building of the runway is set to take place immediately.

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Tourists at Windsor Castle found themselves in the midst of the media and a handful of royal "super fans" decked from head to toe in union jacks. Sharon and Spencer Robinson, from Washington State in the US, did not know the Queen would make a public appearance but said it would be "great" to see her in person. Cheryl Holberton, from Canberra in Australia, said it was an "awesome" surprise. Meanwhile, mums grappled with young children intent on beating each other with union jacks and running into the road. Sweets and sippy cups were deployed by the dozen, and at one point a marshal had to warn children to keep their feet off the road for fear they might accidentally trip soldiers during the changing of the guard. This was the friendly face of a much bigger security operation, with numerous police - some of them armed - and precautions including bins and post boxes being sealed shut. Thankfully, the only conflict on the day was the fight for a good spot from which to see the Queen. "When the Queen gets here I will lift you up. Is that a deal?" one mum told a toddler - more than an hour before the scheduled arrival. As the Queen approached, one woman towards the back of the crowd told another: "You should've worn your high heels Brenda." The friend - presumably Brenda - replied: "Wish I could walk in them." Later the crowd at large was asked: "Would you mind if my small friend goes to the front?" The small friend was allowed through. "Pink hat," someone called as the Queen appeared in view, before another voice added: "She's all in pink, all in pink." "Taxi for Liz," one man called, as a van travelling with the royal party backed up to the entrance of Royal Mail office she was visiting. Among the dedicated royal fans was Maria Scott, from Newcastle, who plans to camp outside Windsor Castle on Wednesday night - as she did for two weeks outside the hospital where Princess Charlotte was born. "I just want to show my support to Queen Elizabeth for all she has done for this country," she said. Another "super fan", John Loughrey, arrived in Windsor on Monday said he wanted to pay tribute to the Queen's work, which had been "supremely done". But not everyone in Windsor was so interested in the royal engagements. "Queen must be here," one elderly man remarked as he hobbled through the crowd on his walking stick. Some shoppers continued shopping, and a sandwich seller did steady business even as the Queen visited the Royal Mail office across the road. Several cyclists and joggers looked unimpressed by the crush as they tried to get along the riverbank while the Queen opened a bandstand in nearby Alexandra Gardens. Still, those in the crowd were excited to see the Queen - and many seemed delighted with the brief glimpse they got. In the words of one teenage girl as the royal car passed almost within touching distance: "Oh my God I can't believe it. She's so close."

Crowds lining the streets of Windsor to catch a glimpse of the Queen on the eve of her 90th birthday found a typically British scene.

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The victim, who is in her 30s, was attacked in Hermon Hill, Wanstead, on her way to work at about 09:30 BST. Nursery manager Karrien Stevens said the woman told her she was slashed by three Asian women dressed in black. Counter-terrorism police have been informed but are not treating it as a terrorist incident. Ms Stevens, who runs Little Diamonds nursery in Hermon Hill, said the woman was slashed while on her way to work from Wanstead High Street. The attackers slashed her arm from the wrist upwards before running off down the street, she said. The victim's injuries are not life threatening but she was taken to an east London hospital as a precaution, the Metropolitan Police said. In a statement, the force added: "The suspects fled the scene prior to police arrival in an unknown direction. "No arrests have been made. Enquiries continue. "The Met's Counter Terrorism Command has been made aware of the incident but is not investigating at this time."

A nursery school worker has been taken to hospital with a "slash wound" after reports of a stabbing in east London, police have said.

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The social media site forecast earnings of $0.55 per share - far below analysts expectations of $0.74 per share. LinkedIn also reported a loss of $8m (£5.4m) for the year, compared with a $3m profit in 2014. LinkedIn has been investing heavily in expansion outside the US, and said it plans to continue those efforts. "We enter 2016 with increased focus on core initiatives that will help drive growth and scale across our portfolio," said chief executive Jeff Weiner. The company also said it was phasing-out one of its newer advertising services that had not worked out as planned. The decision means the company will forego $50m in sales in the short term.

LinkedIn shares dropped 26% after the company projected lower than expected profits for the first quarter of 2016.

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According to its latest report, two thirds involved illegal drugs. Cocaine-related deaths rose to 247 - up from 169 in 2013, while deaths from heroin and/or morphine increased by 579 to 952 between 2012 and 2014. The Department of Health said any drug-related death was a tragedy. But while in England there was a 17% rise in the drug misuse mortality rate in 2014, up to 39.7 per million head of population, in Wales the rate fell by 16% to 39 deaths per million, the lowest since 2006. The number of people dying from drugs misuse in Wales fell by 20% to 168 last year, down from 208 recorded deaths in 2013. Legal drugs which were misused and associated with deaths during this period include Tramadol, linked to 240 cases, codeine, which was associated with 136, and Diazepam, linked to 258. Of the 3,346 drug poisoning deaths registered in 2014, illegal drugs were involved with 2,248 cases. Males were more than 2.5 times more likely to die from drug misuse than females, the report says. People aged 40 to 49 had the highest mortality rate from drug misuse - 88.4 deaths per million population - followed by people aged 30 to 39 - 87.9 deaths per million. As in previous years, the majority were males, with 2,246 deaths compared with 1,100 female deaths. A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "Although we are seeing fewer people year on year using heroin, in particular young people, any death related to drugs is a tragedy. "Our drugs strategy is about helping people get off drugs and stay off them for good, and we will continue to help local authorities give tailored treatment to users." Rosanna O'Connor, director of Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco at Public Health England said the latest rise in deaths caused by heroin use was of "great concern". She added: "The increased global availability and purity of heroin is clearly having an impact in England. "Fewer people are using heroin but the harms are increasingly concentrated among older, more vulnerable users and those not recently in touch with their local drug treatment services. "Reassuringly, overall drug use has also declined and treatment services have helped many people to recover but these figures show the need for an enhanced effort." The BBC's home affairs correspondent, Danny Shaw, says that while there is plenty of coverage of the use of nitrous oxide, known as laughing gas, the number of deaths from the use of that drug remains in single figures and is dwarfed by heroin and cocaine deaths. The news comes after it was revealed last month that the number of drug-related deaths in Scotland has risen to its highest level since records began. The National Records of Scotland report said 613 people died as a result of drugs in 2014.

More than 3,300 people died from drug poisoning in 2014 in England and Wales, the highest figure since modern records began in 1993, the Office for National Statistics says.

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The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, said jihadists overran Ain Issa and nearby villages before noon on Monday. But a spokesman for the Kurdish Popular Protection Units (YPG) said it was still resisting the IS assault. YPG fighters and allied Syrian rebels only seized Ain Issa two weeks ago. The town, only 50km (30 miles) north of Raqqa, is situated at an intersection of the main roads from the de facto of the caliphate proclaimed by IS to other areas it controls in Aleppo province, to the west, and Hassakeh province, to the east. In recent weeks, IS has launched several deadly counter-attacks against the Kurds. The jihadist group had until then suffered a series of defeats in areas along the Turkish border since being forced to withdraw from the town of Kobane in January. Speaking at the Pentagon on Monday, President Barack Obama said the US-led air campaign against IS in Syria was "intensifying". "We're going after the Isil leadership and infrastructure in Syria, the heart of Isil that pumps funds and propaganda to people around the world," Mr Obama said, using another name for the militant group. Air strikes destroyed seven bridges in Raqqa over the weekend, according to the Syrian Observatory, reducing the ability of IS to move fighters and supplies. The Syrian Observatory said IS militants had retaken full control of Ain Issa and the surrounding area on Monday as part of a large-scale offensive in both Raqqa and Hassakeh provinces. Dozens of YPG and rebel fighters had been killed and wounded, the group added. IS-associated media outlets also described Ain Issa as "liberated" on Tuesday. Although YPG spokesman Redur Khalil told the AFP news agency that IS fighters had "managed to enter Ain Issa" after launching an attack at dawn, he insisted clashes were "continuing inside the town in the southern part to expel IS". In a separate development on Monday, IS posted a video online showing the killing of two activists who had been providing information on conditions in Raqqa. The video shows the two men - identified as Bashir Abdul Azim al-Salem, 20, and Faisal Hussein al-Habib, 21 - being interrogated, then tied to a tree and shot. A network of activists has been trying to keep the world informed on how IS runs the city where it has imposed its extreme interpretation of Islamic law, and journalists, gay men and anyone seen as hostile to the group have been killed.

Islamic State militants are reported to have regained control of a town near their northern Syrian stronghold of Raqqa from Kurdish-led forces.

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McCulloch has led Killie to top-flight safety but the club have yet to reveal whether that has earned him the job. And Jones, who has been offered a new contract, said: "Could that sway my decision? Yeah it could. "If someone else were to come in that would probably make me think twice about staying on." And the winger added: "That's just because I've got so much faith in the manager we have here right now. "It's not just me, if you see the results we've had as a team under Jig (McCulloch) and the way we've been performing as young players then there's every reason to think a lot of us will go on to bigger and better things." Former Middlesbrough man Jones, 22, has enjoyed a fine first season at Killie after signing under previous manager Lee Clark last summer. He has been in talks over a new deal but is now "waiting to see what happens with the management situation" before making a decision. McCulloch took over in February following Clark's departure to Bury and Jones says the former Scotland midfielder has had a hugely positive influence on him and the team as a whole. "I'm really progressing under Jig and Peter Leven (assistant boss) right now," he added. "They have both been really good with me and the team, and if I keep progressing it's only going to benefit me by staying here. "It's been a good year both personally and as a team. "We've all done well, especially since Jig's been in charge. We've come together and the mentality has really changed. We're all looking to get better and better. "If we could get seventh place by beating Ross County this weekend it would cap off a good season. "The main reason for me moving up was to play week in, week out and that's what's happened. The first part of the season has really helped me understand the defensive side of the game a lot better. Jig has said to me if I lose the ball it doesn't matter as long as I do the defensive side. "So that has given me total freedom on the ball which is great. I think you can see that coming through in my performances now."

Kilmarnock winger Jordan Jones admits he may quit the club if interim boss Lee McCulloch does not land the manager's job on a full-time basis.

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He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was "absurd" to keep prisoners in jail beyond their original terms. The Conservative MP described the UK's prisons as "overcrowded slums". Mr Clarke abolished IPP (Imprisonment for Public Protection) sentences in 2012 as justice secretary, saying they were a "stain" on the justice system. He told the Today programme there was a "ludicrous amount of incarceration in this country". Mr Clarke said: "It is quite absurd that there are people who might be there for the rest of their lives, in theory, who are serving a sentence which Parliament agreed to get rid of because it hadn't worked as anybody intended. "The trouble is this ridiculous burden on the Parole Board of saying they can only release people if it's proved to them that they're not really a danger to the public. "No prisoner can prove that - you never know when people are going to lose their control, what's going to happen to them when they're released." The IPP was introduced by Labour in 2003 and saw offenders serve a minimum jail term set by a judge, after which they could apply to the Parole Board for release. The board could only approve release if it regarded the offender as safe to rejoin the community. It was originally intended to be applied when the most violent offenders were sentenced, with an estimated 900 people expected to be affected. But it was applied much more widely, with 6,000 people serving the sentence at its peak. Mr Clarke suggested the burden of proof be altered "so that the Parole Board only kept in those where there is some evidence that satisfied them that this person was a danger". He added: "Let out the others; they finished their punishment they rightly got". Justice Secretary Michael Gove has now ordered a review of the position of thousands of prisoners serving an IPP. Some 4,000 people sentenced with an IPP remain in prison, with nearly 400 having served more than five times the minimum term they were given. Mr Clarke said: "You have a few thousand people still in our prisons with no idea when they're going to get out and a Parole Board that daren't let them out for fear of public attack if one of them does something serious and they've said they were satisfied that they were safe. "Well, you can't be satisfied. Some of these people will stay there forever." He called for improved rehabilitation work in prisons, saying the best chance for prisoners not to reoffend - providing they had no mental health or drug issues - was for them to "get a flat, a girlfriend and a job". Mr Clarke added there was no room for initiatives such as training within prisons because of overcrowding, however. Mr Clarke denied he and Mr Gove were "soft on crime", saying instead they want "the prison system to contribute to making Britain a safer and more civilised place" and pointing out that crime was down. "The trouble is in prison, so long as they are overcrowded slums, so long as you don't tackle mental health problems, you don't tackle drug abuse properly, you don't give people some basic education when they haven't got any, and you don't prepare them for a job, you're actually toughening up some of these people and they're likely to be more of a risk when they come out," he added. Speaking of the case of James Ward, a 31-year-old who remains in prison after being given a 10-month PPI in 2006, Mr Clarke said: "He shouldn't be there almost 10 years after he's finished the sentence".

Former justice secretary Ken Clarke says parole boards should have more power to free criminals jailed because they were a danger to the public.

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PC Paul Sharp, from North Tyneside, was dismissed after receiving a suspended jail term by magistrates last month. The 34-year-old admitted two counts of making indecent images of children and one of possessing extreme pornography. In a statement, the force said it "completely condemned" PC Sharp's actions, which had been dealt with by its Professional Standards Department. The statement added: "Both we and the public quite rightly expect the highest standards from our police officers and staff. "When the behaviour of one of our officers falls below our high standards we investigate thoroughly and take appropriate action, which in this case led to Paul Sharp being dismissed from Northumbria Police."

A Northumbria Police officer has been sacked after downloading indecent images of children, the force said.

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Robert Kay, from Bonnyrigg, stabbed Carlo Volante, in a "one sided violent attack" in broad daylight in front of the victim's girlfriend, Mhairi Hughes. Kay, 36, must serve a minimum of 17 years before he can apply for parole. Judge Lady Rae said: "This was a brutal killing with an extreme level of violence used towards the deceased." At the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday, Kay had pleaded guilty to murdering the 40-year-old in Bonnyrigg on 3 January 2017. The court heard that he rented a room to Miss Hughes who was in a relationship with Mr Volante, who had moved in with her. Following the attack, Mr Volante was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary but was pronounced dead. He was found to have 14 sharp blade injuries with nine of them being stab-type injuries. Defence QC Donald Findlay said Kay had no recollection of the incident and his last memory beforehand was an alleged threat made by Mr Volante. Det Insp David Pinkney, of Police Scotland, said: "Kay's guilty plea is testament to the overwhelming evidence gathered against him and provided by the local community. "This spares Carlo's family and friends from reliving this horrific ordeal if it were to go to a full trial. "My thoughts and sympathies are with Carlo's loved ones at this time and I would like to thank them all for their assistance and support during our investigation."

A man who admitted murdering his flatmate's boyfriend after a row at the home they all shared has been jailed for life.

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The Blues trail the Premiership leaders by seven points but are unbeaten in four games against the league champions in all competitions this season. "The league is probably over so this match is massive," said Waterworth. "We relish these games and have proven we are every bit a match for Crusaders. We will go there full of confidence." "Seaview is a very hard place to go and Crusaders are a good side but these are the sort of games you want to be involved in," added the Linfield forward. The Windsor Park side's last Irish Cup triumph came back in 2012 when they beat Crusaders in the final, while their opponents are hoping to bridge an eight-year gap since their last success in the competition. The teams drew 0-0 in their first two league meetings of the season, but the Blues emerged victors from the New Year's Eve clash between the pair at Seaview and then defeated Stephen Baxter's outfit 3-1 in the County Antrim Shield final last month. "Linfield have got the better of us in the last couple of games and deservedly so. A cup game is completely different and it's up to us to find a way through," said Baxter. The draw for the last eight of the country's premier knockout prize also threw up two tasty derby ties between Ballymena United and Coleraine and mid-Ulster rivals Portadown and Glenavon. The Braidmen have enjoyed the better of their encounters with the Bannisders so far this campaign, winning one and drawing one of their league clashes, and seeing off Oran Kearney's charges after extra-time at the semi-final stage of the League Cup. "Oran has taken his team on an unbelievable run. They are absolutely flying," said Jeffrey in light of Coleraine's recent unbeaten sequence of eight wins and a draw from nine games. Kearney observed: "We have not performed well in the Irish Cup in recent years and we want to put that right. With losing to Ballymena in the League Cup semi-final, we want to put that right too. "David has made a massive difference at Ballymena - he's a fantastic manager with all the experience in the world and knows the game inside out. "We are excited and looking forward to it. I love big games and these are the ones that keep us going. "I think teams like ourselves and Ballymena have closed the gap a bit to make it a hyper competitive league. We are not in a position yet maybe to challenge for league titles but we are capable of winning cups," added Kearney, who must plan without suspended full-back Adam Mullan. Portadown manager Niall Currie foresees few changes from the side which has secured impressive league draws with Linfield and Crusaders in recent weeks for his side's match with holders Glenavon at Shamrock Park. "We have won it twice in the last three years so we don't want to let go of the trophy lightly," said Lurgan Blues' assistant boss Paul Millar. In the day's final quarter-final, Dungannon host runaway Championship leaders Warrenpoint Town at Stangmore Park, with Swifts manager Rodney McAree wary of a potential upset. "We've had them watched a couple of times and Matthew (Tipton) has his team playing very well. It's going to be extremely difficult for us," said McAree. "It's good to have a home draw in the quarter-finals of a major cup competition and it's one we are looking forward to but we aren't taking them lightly. "I love the feeling of waking up on an Irish Cup day. You are always living the dream but it's a question of getting over the next hurdle and for us that next hurdle is Warrenpoint. We will do our utmost to try and win it." Warrenpoint are on a run of 17 matches unbeaten in the Championship, a series of results stretching back to 24 September 2016. "Dungannon go in as favourites and we'll give them the respect they deserve. We probably won't dominate the game in the way we often do in Championship football but we'll give it a good go and hopefully upset the odds," said 'Point manager Tipton.

Linfield striker Andrew Waterworth says his side's season "probably boils down to" Saturday's Irish Cup quarter-final against Crusaders at Seaview.

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But now, in comments given exclusively to BBC Uzbek, the younger sister, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva has revealed an extraordinary rift at the heart of one of Central Asia's most prominent ruling families. "My sister and I have not spoken to each other for 12 years," Ms Karimova-Tillyaeva says. "There are no family or friendly relations between us." Ms Karimova-Tillayeva's frank comments about the complete breakdown of her relationship with her sister, Gulnara, are a rare crack in the secrecy and media silence that usually surrounds Central Asia's all-powerful political dynasties. They are also highly unusual in a culture where family bonds are hugely important. Their father, Islam Karimov, has ruled Uzbekistan with an iron fist for more than 20 years. He is accused of presiding over a country where no dissent is tolerated and where torture is rife in prisons. While the ruling elite enjoys wealth and privilege, hundreds of thousands of ordinary Uzbeks work as migrant labourers abroad because they can't earn a living at home. Mr Karimov's elder daughter Gulnara regularly makes headlines, having forged a public persona as a pop star, diplomat, fashion designer and philanthropist. She is also an influential businesswoman and tipped as a possible successor to her 75-year-old father. Her younger sister, Lola, currently serves as Uzbekistan's ambassador to the UN cultural organisation, Unesco, and lives in Geneva. Lola is notorious for having unsuccessfully sued a French online journal after being labelled a "dictator's daughter", Despite the parallels in their lives and career paths, the two sisters apparently have little in common. "Any good relationship requires a similarity of outlook or likeness of character," says Ms Karimova-Tillyaeva. "There is nothing like that in our relationship, has never been and is not now. We are completely different people. And these differences, as you know, only grow over the years." Ms Karimova-Tillyaeva answered a series of 18 questions put to her by BBC Uzbek via e-mail. Distancing herself so openly from her sister may suit Ms Karimova-Tillyaeva at a time when Gulnara Karimova has been linked to a wide-ranging fraud probe in Europe. Prosecutors in Sweden and Switzerland are investigating current and former associates of Gulnara Karimova on suspicion of bribery and money-laundering. Some of Ms Karimova's properties in France and Switzerland have reportedly been searched. Ms Karimova-Tillyaeva remains tight-lipped about the investigations and says she does not know whether her father is aware of what is going on. "All the information about my sister, I get from the foreign media, including the BBC website," she says. "Regarding your question whether the Uzbek president is aware, I don't have such information. I am only two to three times a year in Uzbekistan. During the meetings with my father, we don't discuss political issues." Because of his age, there is continuous debate about President Karimov's eventual successor. In the clan and family politics of Central Asia, presidential offspring are often considered contenders. But Ms Karimova-Tillyaeva says she is not interested and that her priority is her husband Timur Tillyaev and their three children. "The question often seems relevant in respect of members of presidential families in the former Soviet Union," she says. "For now I cannot see myself developing as a politician." Gulnara, by contrast, has been highly visible in Uzbekistan. Her "Fund Forum" foundation is active in many parts of public life, from promoting Uzbek arts and culture to health and social campaigns. She has also hinted that a presidential bid may not be out of the question. Ms Karimova-Tillyaeva dismisses her sister's chances outright. "I would assess these odds as low," she says in a brief comment. Even though Ms Karimova-Tillyaeva's remarks to BBC Uzbek have been widely reported in regional media, her sister has so far not responded and routinely refrains from responding to BBC requests for comment. What she makes of her younger sister's extraordinary revelations is anyone's guess. The Karimov daughters seem to go head-to-head in almost all spheres of life. Both run their own separate charity organisations. Ms Karimova-Tillyaeva talks in detail about her "You are not alone" foundation in support of orphaned and disabled children in Uzbekistan, work which she describes as "her calling". But even on this topic she appears to criticise her publicity-savvy sister who regularly tweets about her own charity work. "I have noticed that the more you talk about what you're doing, the less pleasure you get from your business," she says. It seems that Ms Karimova-Tillyaeva is not just distancing herself from her sister, but from the image of her country which is regularly portrayed as one of the worst dictatorships by human rights organisations. In 2011 she took legal action in France against the news website Rue 89 over an article which described her as a "dictator's daughter". The article also claimed she tried to whitewash her country's image by paying big sums to celebrities like the Italian actress Monica Bellucci to appear at charity events. The case was thrown out. At the time most media interpreted her action as a defence of her father's record. But in her comments to the BBC, Ms Karimova-Tillyaeva appears lukewarm in support of her family. "I did not question the rightness or wrongness of using this word, because I understand that this is a political term," she says. "However, in that context, the definition of 'dictator's daughter' in the press uniquely affected my personality. Each person is born with the inalienable right to be judged on his personal qualities, business, attitudes and actions." She also appears to hold some critical views of her father's government's policies. Uzbekistan has been criticised for years over the use of child labour during the annual cotton harvest. "I find it difficult to assess the situation, but if there are such facts, it is sad and should not take place in any country of the world," she says. "I categorically reject any use of force, whether it is forced labour or other forms of violence against any person, especially children." Ms Karimova-Tillyaeva is also forthright when asked about accusations that her father suppresses any dissent under the pretext of fighting Islamic extremism "The problem of radicalisation is more a result of unemployment and a lack of opportunities," she says. "These two factors are the most important sources of discontent among the population and in turn inextricably linked to the problem of extremism." More remarkably still, she says she believes that using force to deal with these problems is wrong. Her words are in stark contrast to her father's beliefs. President Karimov made headlines in June when he launched an unprecedented attack on the county's migrant work force, calling Uzbeks seeking jobs abroad "lazy people" who were a disgrace to the nation. "One feels disgusted with the fact that Uzbeks have to travel there for a piece of bread. Nobody is starving to death in Uzbekistan," Mr Karimov said. But despite Ms Karimova-Tillyaeva's apparent attempt to distance herself from her family, there has been much media interest in her own significant wealth. In 2010 she and her husband Timur bought a mansion in the exclusive Vandoeuvres area of Geneva, reportedly for $46m (£29m). The couple were also named in a list of Switzerland's richest people by the business magazine Bilan. Ms Karimova-Tillyaeva is evidently aware of the sensitivity of such reports, given the economic difficulties suffered by most Uzbeks at home. "We ourselves were surprised when we saw we were ranked among the richest people in Switzerland. I still joke about it with my husband," she says, adding that the figures suggested by the press were "far from reality". Asked to explain their wealth, Ms Karimova-Tillyaeva says that her husband has a share in a trade and transport company. In a carefully worded statement, she says that Mr Tillyaev has never been involved in public tenders, been associated with national resource industries like gas or cotton, and does not enjoy tax exemptions or monopoly status. She also says that they have not benefitted from her family connections. Reports say that Timur Tillyaev runs the Abusaxiy transport and import company, a profitable market leader in Uzbekistan. As for their luxury home, Ms Karimova-Tillyaeva says that the couple took out a mortgage and only paid 18% of the price outright, a sum of around $8m if the reported purchase price of $46m is correct, "Our family home in Geneva is our primary residence," she says. "We sold all real estate in Uzbekistan, leaving only an apartment in Tashkent where we stay with the children when we go to Uzbekistan." Those trips back home are rare, only two or three times a year. And given how far the president's youngest daughter has gone in distancing herself from her family and her country's image, they may become even rarer in the future. Johannes Dell, Jenny Norton and BBC Uzbek reporters contributed to this piece.

They are the glamorous daughters of Uzbekistan's authoritarian President Islam Karimov, mixing with international celebrities and enjoying a jet-set lifestyle.

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Kristofer Smith pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving following the incident in Ardersier, near the Fort George base, on 19 January 2015. The soldiers were out for a morning run when they were hit by Smith's Volkswagen car and injured. One had to be airlifted to hospital for treatment. The 33-year-old will appear for sentencing in Inverness in September. Dean Tudor, Craig Smith, Alan Bowe and Alan Murray were all hurt in the crash, which occurred at 09:20 on Ardersier's High Street. There were initially fears that the crash may have been a terrorist incident, but this was quickly ruled out by police. Locals speculated that Smith may have been blinded by the low morning sun. Fort George, an 18th Century artillery fortification that continues to operate as a barracks, is home to the Black Watch (3 Scots) regiment.

A soldier has admitted knocking down four of his colleagues with a car outside an army base near Inverness.

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The Institute for Fiscal Studies said weak growth would lead to lower-than-expected tax receipts, increasing borrowing by £25bn by 2019-20. The weaker prospects for the economy would result in a "significant increase in the deficit", it said. Its forecasts come ahead of the Autumn Statement on 23 November. The event will mark Philip Hammond's first significant test since he became chancellor. "The new chancellor's first fiscal event will not be easy," said IFS research economist Thomas Pope. "Growth forecasts are almost sure to be cut, leading to a significant increase in the deficit even if all the very challenging spending cuts currently planned are in fact delivered." Mr Hammond has already said he will prioritise spending on new homes and transport rather than following his predecessor George Osborne's aim to balance the books by 2020. The IFS said he now had "two big decisions" to make; one on whether he should increase spending or cut taxes to boost the economy and the second on what new fiscal targets he should announce. Mr Pope said given uncertainty over the economic outlook, Mr Hammond "might be wise to respond cautiously for now". "Any new fiscal targets should be reasonably flexible," he said. Several groups have reduced their UK growth forecasts and raised their inflation forecasts since the EU referendum. Last month, the International Monetary Fund cut its forecast for 2017 UK economic growth to 1.1% as it warned that the global recovery remains "weak and precarious". International body the OECD also cut its forecast for next year from 2% to 1%, saying: "Uncertainty about the future path of policy and the reaction of the economy remains very high and risks remain to the downside." Last week, the Bank of England upgraded its growth forecasts for this year and next, but cut expectations for 2018 to 1.5% from 1.8%.

The prospects for the UK's public finances have deteriorated by £25bn since the March Budget, an influential think tank has warned.

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The latest sequel to the influential game will go on general release after months of testing by those who backed it on Kickstarter. After launch, the game will face stiff competition from other space-based games currently in development. Many of those offer players very similar experiences to the fighting, trading and exploring in deep space seen in Elite. Plans to make the fourth instalment in the Elite series of games emerged in November 2012 when the project appeared on Kickstarter seeking to raise £1.25m to develop the game. Elite: Dangerous is being made by Cambridgeshire-based Frontier Developments, the game studio headed by David Braben who co-developed the original Elite game. He said he used Kickstarter because it would have been hard to get a publisher to back the idea. The December release date is later than originally planned and the game will initially only be playable on PCs. A Mac version is due to follow three months after the original release. Frontier is planning an event on 22 November at which some players will get a look at what the finished game will look like. On porting the game to consoles, Mr Braben told the BBC's Waseem Mirza: "It is important we make a great game first, but then we will look at other platforms." After the end of its Kickstarter campaign, Frontier continued to raise funds via its website and from gamers who have paid to take part in the testing phases of the game. This week Frontier announced that this fund-raising activity had helped it raise £7.5m and more than 140,000 people had taken part in its alpha and beta testing programme. "Elite has a fabulous heritage," said James Binns, managing director at gaming news site PCGamesN. "The loyalty that people have to it comes from playing it in the 80s." However, he said, it faced strong competition from another title, Star Citizen, that was also calling on a strong community to back it. Currently, Star Citizen has raised more than $60m (£38m) from its backers and had a "super engaged" community who were fans of its creator Chris Roberts' earlier Wing Commander games. Star Citizen was trying to be a bit different, said Mr Binns, as it was planning to let spaceship pilots get out of their craft and fight gun battles in space stations, on planets and inside ships themselves. Star Citizen is scheduled to be released in 2016 though some parts of it are available to backers already. Also a rival, said Mr Binns, a game called No Man's Sky made by Guildford-based Hello Games. "If you are looking for a game that was inspired by the original Elite then No Man's Sky is that game," said Mr Binns. It too will let players use a spaceship to explore a Universe that has been created using a technique called "procedural generation". Trailers for the game generated huge interest at the E3 convention and it is expected to be released in 2015. At first it will only be available on Sony's PlayStation 4 but a version for PCs is expected to follow. Each of the games was appealing to a slightly different audience, said Mr Binns, but there was no doubt that these pools of players did overlap. However, he said, Elite, Star Citizen and No Man's Sky could all face competition from a very well-established title. "Right now," he said, "the most exciting space game that has shipped is Eve Online." Mr Braben welcomed the presence of rivals, saying: "Competition is always a good thing for the players, as it gives choice, but also it keeps the competitors on their proverbial toes."

Space trading game Elite: Dangerous is to be launched on 16 December.

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It has already affected five units on Broughshane Street and the fire service are currently trying to stop the fire from spreading further. One firefighter has been slightly injured while tackling the blaze which began at 17:00 BST at the Woodgreen furniture store. Police have said that Brougshane Street will stay closed overnight on Tuesday. Traffic is being diverted at Chapel Roundabout. Motorists are being asked to avoid the Broughshane Street, William Street and Broadway Avenue areas of the town. Eyewitness Emma Hamilton had been shopping in Broughshane Street just minutes before the fire was spotted. She filmed the flames from a car park on the roof of a nearby shopping centre. "We could see a large plume of black smoke and straight away ran over to see what it was", she told BBC Radio Ulster. "We could see, over into Broughshane Street, two buildings heavily ablaze, with the roofs of the adjoining properties on either side starting to disintegrate, and flames coming through those as well." Houston Bell, who works in Ballymena, was driving home when he spotted the blaze and stopped his car to film the incident on his mobile phone. He told BBC News NI that several shoppers walked past the shop just as the fire was taking hold, unaware of the flames above them. Mr Bell said warnings were shouted at people on the street to get back from the shop front, and he described hearing the sound of breaking glass as he drove away from the scene. An estate agents, whose premises was damaged in the blaze, has said that all its diaries and contact details for clients have been destroyed. Writing on Facebook, Rainey & Gregg thanked "everyone for their kind words and offers of help". Group Commander Brian Stanfield said there were five fire engines and two aerial appliances at the scene.

A "significant" fire has broken out at a furniture shop in Ballymena, County Antrim and spread to adjoining shops.

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A Cambridge computer scientist cloned iPhone memory chips, allowing him an unlimited number of attempts to guess a passcode. The work contradicts a claim made by the FBI earlier this year that this approach would not work. The FBI made the claim as it sought access to San Bernardino gunman Syed Rizwan Farook's iPhone. Farook and his wife killed 14 people in the California city last December before police fatally shot them. The FBI believed his iPhone 5C contained information about collaborators, but its security system prevented easy access. The agency pressured Apple to give it a software backdoor into the phone, and, when it refused, reportedly paid $1m to a security company to retrieve data from the phone. Now, Dr Sergei Skorobogatov, from the University of Cambridge computer laboratory, has spent four months building a testing rig to bypass iPhone 5C pin codes. In a YouTube video, Dr Skorobogatov showed how he had removed a Nand chip from an iPhone 5C - the main memory storage system used on many Apple devices. He then worked out how the memory system communicated with the phone so he could clone the chip. And the target phone was modified so its Nand chip sat on an external board and copied versions could be easily plugged in or removed. In the video, Dr Skorobogatov demonstrated locking an iPhone 5C by trying too many incorrect combinations. He then removed the Nand chip and substituted a fresh clone, which had its pin attempt counter set at zero, to allow him to keep trying different codes. "Because I can create as many clones as I want, I can repeat the process many many times until the passcode is found," he said. Known as Nand mirroring, the technique is one FBI director James Comey said would not work on Farook's phone. Finding a four-digit code took about 40 hours of work, Dr Skorobogatov said. And finding a six-digit code could potentially take hundreds of hours Using a slightly more sophisticated set-up should make it possible to clone memory chips from other iPhones, including more recent models such as the iPhone 6. However, Dr Skorobogatov said, more information was needed about the way Apple stored data in memory on more recent phones. The different techniques could make it "more challenging to analyse and copy", he added. Apple has not responded to a request for comment on Dr Skorobogatov's research. Susan Landau, on the Lawfare news blog, said the work showed law enforcement agencies should not look for software backdoors to help their investigations but should develop or cultivate hardware and computer security skills. "Skorobogatov was able to do what the FBI said was impossible," she said.

IPhone passcodes can be bypassed using just £75 ($100) of electronic components, research suggests.

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But while the likes of Newcastle United have been forking out millions of pounds since coming down from the Premier League, who could you have signed without having to pay another club a transfer fee this summer? BBC Sport has created an XI made up entirely of players who have joined English Football League clubs on free transfers during the close season - and we don't think it's too bad. Media playback is not supported on this device Euro 2016 might be a tournament many will want to wipe from their memory, but Northern Ireland goalkeeper Michael McGovern's performance against Germany was unforgettable. The 32-year-old, who had spent his entire professional career in Scotland, thrust himself on to the world stage with a man-of-the-match display in a 1-0 defeat that ensured his country reached the last 16 at their first ever Euros. McGovern put himself right at the front of the proverbial shop window with his contract expiring at Hamilton Academical. It even prompted former Germany keeper Jens Lehmann to joke that a move to the Bundesliga could be on the cards, asking: "Does he speak German?" But McGovern decided against bratwurst and lederhosen in favour of Championship side Norwich City in a move that reunited him with former Accies boss Alex Neil. From the Champions League runners-up to the Championship on a free transfer. That's the journey made by Spanish right-back Jesus Gamez this summer. Gamez left Atletico Madrid after failing to appear in the Champions League final defeat by Real Madrid, only to pop up at Championship-bound Newcastle United, managed by former Real boss Rafa Benitez. But can he do it on a cold Tuesday night in Barnsley? If a centre-back was what your EFL club was looking for this summer, you could have done much worse than signing former Premier League and England Under-21 international Matt Kilgallon. The 32-year-old's career has been hampered by injuries in recent years, but League One side Bradford City have given him a one-year deal in their bid to win promotion. An FA Cup runner-up with West Ham and Europa League runner-up with Fulham in 2010, Paul Konchesky will bring a wealth of experience to League One Gillingham this season. The former Liverpool and Leicester left-back spent the whole of last season on loan at QPR, making 34 appearances, before being released by the Premier League champions in the summer. When an 18-year-old Nick Powell made a £3m move to Manchester United from Crewe Alexandra in 2012, then United manager Sir Alex Ferguson hoped he would "fill Paul Scholes' boots". But four years down the line and just nine United first-team appearances later, Powell was released by the Old Trafford club this summer. Powell has spent a fair chunk of the past few years out on loan, and Wigan, one of the clubs he had a temporary stint with, have given him a three-year contract following their promotion to the Championship last term. Solid. Reliable. Dependable. Three words that many fans of his former clubs would use to describe Gary O'Neil. The 33-year-old, promoted to the Premier League an impressive four times, will be hoping to make it five with Bristol City after signing a two-year contract at Ashton Gate. After a player with plenty of Premier League experience in the middle of the park? Look no further than Steve Sidwell. The former Reading, Fulham and Stoke player has made 461 appearances in English football, and even played a solitary Champions League game for Chelsea against Valencia in 2007. But after being released by the Potters this summer he has returned to Brighton, where he finished last season on loan and who he helped to the play-off semi-final before defeat by Sheffield Wednesday. Unless you have been living under a rock in Timbuktu, you will know about Leicester's rise from League One to Premier League champions. But across the East Midlands, in the same timeframe, Burton Albion have risen from non-league to the Championship - and one player involved in the Foxes' climb has joined the Brewers for their first season in the second tier. Winger Lloyd Dyer won League One and the Championship titles during his six-year 267-game spell with Leicester and has moved to the near-7,000 capacity Pirelli Stadium after leaving Burnley, for whom he made three appearances on a short-term deal to help them win promotion to the top flight. One of English football's most recognisable faces - and physiques - outside of the Premier League is another player your team could have snapped up on a free transfer this summer. Adebayo Akinfenwa was released by AFC Wimbledon shortly after scoring a penalty in their fourth-tier play-off final victory over Plymouth in May, prompting him to ask managers to "hit me up on WhatsApp" in his post-match interview. The football world was then rocked by news that Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth had the aforementioned mobile application, and 34-year-old Akinfenwa now has the chance to show Adams Park his infamous "Beast Mode" this season. With 28 caps for Scotland and more than 100 career goals to his name, striker Steven Fletcher would be an astute signing for any EFL club - and probably some in the bottom half of the Premier League too. Last season's losing Championship play-off finalists Sheffield Wednesday are the ones to have courted the former Wolves and Sunderland forward on a free transfer, following his release by the Black Cats. He finished 2015-16 on loan in France's Ligue 1 with Marseille, so could he add the joie de vivre the Owls need to end their 16-year exile from the Premier League? In 2012, Marvin Sordell was the man some thought had the potential to lead the England team front line after playing in the Olympics and hitting double figures two seasons in a row in the Championship as a youngster for Watford. But his career stalled after a move to Bolton and he later spoke about the amount of pressure placed on young players in this country. And after leaving relegated Colchester United last season, he has since joined League One side Coventry City this summer. Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.

During every transfer window, fans of clubs up and down the country urge their team to 'splash the cash' on new players.

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Mr Gove's statement on British values in schools follows concerns about an Islamist takeover in schools in Birmingham - the so-called Trojan Horse claims. In response to the issue, Mr Gove said pupils must be made aware of the "the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs". His stance has the backing of Prime Minister, David Cameron. But what do head teachers make of this latest requirement? which, the Department for Education (DfE) says, will come into force from September after a consultation on its exact wording. "I think they'll be quite sceptical when a politician makes a statement in response to a crisis," says Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT). "They're never thought through, never debated, the crisis goes and a different one comes, but the requirements on schools don't end. "They can only do so much and the time spent on this takes away from the core. There are only so many hours in the school day." Mr Hobby adds that defining British values is no easy task - and feeling uncomfortable about talking about them is a very British trait in itself. "Values are an important issue within the education system, but what are they? Liberty, freedom, democracy? - but I think these are universal values as much as they are British. "And when we start listing them, it's interesting. But who gets to sign off the list?" Malcolm Trobe, deputy general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) says schools are already working to promote core British values. "For the vast majority of schools, this will make no difference to what they're doing, because they're already engaged in this agenda," says Mr Trobe. "Classroom teachers will continue to do what they always have done, which is developing young people to work together as a community, whether that's as a teaching group or a school." The DfE says the understanding and knowledge that pupils will be expected to have include: Currently academies and free schools (some 4,000 institutions) have a duty to "respect" fundamental British values, but this does not apply to England's 16,000 local authority-run schools. Talks have begun to establish how these new standards will be judged by inspectors from the schools watchdog, Ofsted, the DfE says. Mr Trobe says the best way for schools to instil such values in pupils is to reflect them in the way the institution is run. "Schools have to embody it [democracy] in the way they work and within the ethos and culture of the school - within a framework of rules, regulations which are there for the benefit of everyone. "It's not just a question of sitting and teaching children about it." The NAHT's Russell Hobby agrees that the way a school operates is more valuable than separate lessons on individual values. "It's got to be more about how adults treat the children, how adults treat other adults, how we all behave towards one another." Whatever the teaching profession makes of the new requirement to promote British values, Mr Gove has the blessing of Prime Minister David Cameron. Speaking from Sweden, Mr Cameron said: "I think what Michael Gove has said is important and I think it will have the overwhelming support of everyone, including people who have come to settle in Britain and make their home in Britain."

As Education Secretary Michael Gove calls for British values to be actively promoted in all schools across England, the BBC News website gauges head teachers' responses to this requirement.

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Heading into the final round at the PGA Catalunya Resort, Hoey is two shots outside the 25th and ties spot which will earn a tour card. Five-time tour winner Hoey, 37, has missed 21 cuts in 28 events in 2016. But after squeezing into the final two rounds on Tuesday, Hoey moved up 23 places with his six-birdie card. Hoey's three-under-par round at the Stadium Course moved him to three under overall. There are currently nine players sharing 22nd place on five under including another former European Tour winner Ross McGowan. Hoey carded opening rounds of 70, 67 and 76, before his fourth-round 71 saw him move up the leaderboard of 156 competitors in Spain. 2010 European Ryder Cup player Edoardo Molinari moved into the lead into the six-round marathon after a 67 on Wednesday moved him to 14 under. Overnight leader England's Nathan Kimsey dropped back to second spot on 11 under after a 73 while his compatriots Matthew Nixon, Eddie Pepperell, Tom Lewis and Richard McEvoy are sharing third place two further back. The only other Irish qualifier for the final two days in Girona, Gary Hurley remained on level par after a 72 on Wednesday. West Waterford man Hurley bravely battled into the final two days of action in Spain after carding a brilliant 65 on Tuesday but he is now sharing 59th place heading into the high-pressure final round. The players will be back in action at the venue's Tour Course on Thursday.

Michael Hoey stayed in contention for a European Tour card at the qualifying school after a fifth-round 69 moved him into a share of 39th spot in Spain.

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It is thought Everton want £50m for the 22-year-old, who came close to joining Chelsea last summer. "Everyone knows we are going to try," said Guardiola after Thursday's friendly win over Borussia Dortmund in China. "We will see what happens." Stones was part of the England squad at Euro 2016 but did not feature as they were knocked out in the last 16. Guardiola added: "I am very happy with the squad we have." Stones has joined Everton on their pre-season tour of Germany, and although a deal is yet to be agreed it is thought the two Premier League clubs are not far apart in their valuations. Stones made his debut for Barnsley in March 2012, 10 months before joining Everton for £3m. City boss Guardiola has identified the Yorkshireman as the kind of central defender who fits his approach to the game. "Normally central defenders are strong in the air and aggressive," said Guardiola on Wednesday. "But we need to have a good build-up to create easy passes in the midfield so they can create good passes for the strikers. I believe when the ball goes from the central defender to the striker as quickly as possible, it comes as quickly as possible back. "That is why the players in that area need quality. By 31 August we will have the right squad to play how we want." Guardiola used midfielders Javier Mascherano and Javi Martinez as central defenders while managing Barcelona and Bayern Munich respectively. And the Spaniard has identified a City midfielder who could step into the back four if required. "Fernandinho can play in 10 positions," he said. "He is quick, fast, intelligent, aggressive. He is strong in the air and has the quality to play good build-up, can go right or left and can pass long."

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed he is interested in signing Everton defender John Stones.

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Two bags, one containing tablets and the other a white substance, were found at back of Central Primary School on the town's Scroggy Road on Monday. Police seized the bags and the contents are being forensically examined. They have appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

Suspected drugs have been found in the playground of a school in Limavady, County Londonderry.

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Keith Passmore's body was discovered at a property in Clifton Road, Burnley shortly after 18:30 GMT on Saturday. In a statement, the family of Mr Passmore, 60, said he "will be sadly missed" by relatives and close friends in Burnley and further afield. Burney men Paul Howarth, 47, of Clifton Road, and Gary Burley, of Herbert Road, have been charged with his murder. Mr Burley, 44, has also been charged with making threats to kill.

A man found stabbed to death in Lancashire made friends "wherever he went", his family said.

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Slade has begun to recapture the form he showed before he broke his leg against Wasps in December 2015. The 23-year-old has been linked as replacement for George Ford, who has been tipped to leave the Rec. "I've had a couple of chats with Henry and we've had a bit of a joke about the rumours flying around," said Baxter. He told BBC Sport: "There is no truth in the rumour about him having any interest in going to Bath." In July, Slade agreed a deal with the Chiefs until 2019. England head coach Eddie Jones was critical of Slade's form late last season, saying it was difficult to judge if he had the quality to be a Test player because of the position he was starting for Exeter. "Also, if he does end up playing at 10 it won't be because we're being told by Eddie Jones that he needs to play at 10," added Baxter of versatile Slade, who has predominantly played at centre for the Chiefs because of the form of fly-half and captain Gareth Steenson. "And he won't be playing 10 because I'm worried that if we don't play him at 10 he'll go and play for Bath because they're losing George Ford. "It's not unsettling to us as a club, to me or to Henry. I don't believe for one instance it's unsettling for Bath or the other clubs that get linked into their rumours. "I don't know anything about the George Ford scenario, but Bath will know what's going on. "It won't be unsettling for them about what's happening with George Ford because they'll know exactly what the scenario is, just like us it's not unsettling for me to read anything about Henry because I know he's under contract here, I know he's fully committed to us, he's desperate to do things for us, play well for us and to win things."

Exeter head coach Rob Baxter says he and Henry Slade have laughed about rumours linking the England back with a summer move to Premiership rivals Bath.

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Mr Duncan Smith, who is campaigning for an EU exit, also questioned the effectiveness of curbs to migrants' benefits on immigration to the UK. The senior minister's comments directly contradict David Cameron, who says the UK is "safer and stronger" in the EU. The PM told the BBC that leaving the EU would be "a leap in the dark". Appearing on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, he also warned that leaving would give the UK an "illusion of sovereignty" but not full control. And Mr Cameron appealed to senior Conservative MP and London mayor Boris Johnson, who is expected to announce later that he will vote to leave the EU, to back the campaign to stay. His pitch came as Tory London mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith said he would campaign for exit in the 23 June referendum. Meanwhile, UKIP leader Nigel Farage said a vote to leave would mean the UK was "in charge of our own country". This is the new, if temporary reality: cabinet ministers disagreeing totally with each other on the record, and in public. Traditionally unthinkable, certainly risky, and difficult to control. Plenty of disagreements are spilling out into the public domain now. But while Boris Johnson keeps his counsel, not for very much longer, there is of course huge speculation not just about what he is going to do, but about what his motivations are. Read more from Laura Speaking to BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Duncan Smith said that being a member of the EU "leaves the door open" to attacks such as those in Paris last year. He suggested migrants arriving in the EU could eventually end up in the UK without proper consideration of their motivations. "This open border does not allow us to check and control people that may come and spend time," he said. "We've seen what happened in Paris where they spent ages planning and plotting so who's to say it's not beyond the wit of man that those might already be thinking about that." Asked directly whether he believed EU membership made the UK more vulnerable to Paris-style attacks, he replied: "I think the present status of the open border we have right now many of us feel does actually leave that door open and we need to see that resolved." Mr Duncan Smith also questioned whether proposals for an "emergency brake" on migrants' benefits - part of the deal negotiated by Mr Cameron - would do much to curb the number of people coming to the UK. Benefit payments were a "small" pull factor but control of the UK's borders was more significant and a "glaring area" that needed addressing. He noted that the initial plan was for an emergency brake on migration but the EU "point blank refused to even discuss it". Earlier, on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Cameron defended his renegotiation of Britain's terms of EU membership, reached after two days of intense wrangling with EU leaders in Brussels this week. He said he had secured reforms "people said weren't achievable", including curbs to migrants' benefits and exempting Britain from "ever closer union". The offer on the table was a "better" deal for the UK and would be "legally binding", he said. Making his case for why Britain should stay in a "reformed" EU, Mr Cameron said it would safeguard the UK position in the single market and help in the fight against terrorism and crime. "Safety in numbers in a dangerous world," he said. Proponents of Britain leaving the EU have argued it would give Britain back control of itself. But Mr Cameron warned: "If we leave the EU that might give you a feeling of sovereignty - but is it real? "Would you have power to help businesses not be discriminated against in Europe? No, you wouldn't. Would you have the power to insist European countries share with us their border information so we know what terrorists and criminals are doing in Europe? No, you wouldn't. "So you have an illusion of sovereignty but you don't have power, don't have control, you can't get things done." He said he would be bringing forward proposals "in the coming days" to underpin the power of the UK Parliament. Mr Cameron also appealed to Mr Johnson not to join six ministers who attend cabinet in campaigning to leave the EU. "I'd say to Boris as I say to everyone else - we will be safer, stronger, better off inside the EU. "I think the prospect of linking arms with Nigel Farage and George Galloway and taking a leap into the dark is the wrong step for our country. "And if Boris and others really care about getting things done in our world, the EU is one of the ways in which we get things done," he said. Also on the Marr Show, Mr Farage criticised the scope of the PM's reform deal, and said it could be vetoed by the European Parliament and the European Court of Justice. "There is one absolute certainty if we vote to leave... and that is that we will be in charge of our own country, we will make our own laws, we will run our own ministerial departments," he said. Employment minister Priti Patel, who is campaigning for an EU exit, told the BBC's Pienaar's Politics that the referendum was a chance for the UK to "take back control". By remaining a member of the EU, key decisions made in the UK risked "being ridden over roughshod" by EU institutions, she said. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned that if the UK voted to leave the EU but Scotland did not, it would "almost certainly" trigger demands for another referendum on Scottish independence. Meanwhile, Hilary Benn, Labour's shadow foreign secretary, told the BBC's Sunday Politics that EU membership was "good for jobs, investment and growth". He said "the whole Labour movement" would be campaigning to stay in, but he ruled out sharing a platform with Mr Cameron. "We make our own arguments in our way to try and win the case and the prime minister can do the same in his way with his party and the people that he is seeking to persuade," he said. Splits in the cabinet over the referendum have been laid bare by interviews and articles in Sunday's newspapers. Writing in the Observer, Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond said "leaving the EU would be a threat to our economic security and our national security". In an article for the Mail on Sunday, Business Secretary Sajid Javid said he would be voting for the UK to remain in the EU with a "heavy heart" and no "enthusiasm". He said leaving the EU could add to "economic turbulence". However, Justice Secretary Michael Gove - a close friend and ally of Mr Cameron - wrote in the Sunday Telegraph that the EU was "mired in the past". He said choosing to join the leave campaign had been "the most difficult decision of my political life". Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers told the BBC leaving the EU was a safer option than staying in it. She said there had been a sense of history at the cabinet meeting to discuss the vote - the first to be called on a Saturday since the Falklands War. Former Home Secretary Alan Johnson, who is leading Labour's campaign to stay in the EU, said people should not be distracted by Conservative divisions over Europe, saying the referendum was about "much more important issues". Referring to the cabinet members who are campaigning for an EU exit, he said "they're not the six most astute politicians that I've ever met in the cabinet". Labour, the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Lib Dems have said they are in favour of staying in the EU. The DUP said it will recommend voting to leave the bloc. Read more

Staying in the EU will make the UK more vulnerable to Paris-style terrorist attacks, Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has told the BBC.

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It has emerged that some boards are continuing to perform the procedure. This is despite a call for a moratorium by former health secretary Alex Neil in June last year. Ms Robison also confirmed that women who have had complications as a result of mesh implants would be able to access specialist support. Mesh implants are aimed at treating prolapse and bladder problems, but some women have experienced painful complications. Ms Robison met members of the Scottish Mesh Survivors campaign group earlier this week. She said the Scottish government would work with patient groups and NHS inform to develop the practical support service for women experiencing complications or who have concerns regarding their condition. She said: "I had a very constructive meeting with members of the Scottish Mesh Survivors campaign group. "I recognise the impact the procedure has had on these women and was keen to discuss with them ways in which the Scottish government can offer support. "As part of our discussions I was pleased to confirm that the Scottish government will be able to arrange additional support for those affected by the procedure through the NHS inform hotline. "We will be working closely with patient groups and NHS inform to develop this role." She added: "I am extremely concerned that women have suffered complications following their surgery. This is why we have set up an independent review, which is currently considering these issues and will make recommendations in the spring. "Until then we have requested that all health boards continue to suspend the use of mesh implants, except where clinically advisable and provided the woman, aware of the risks, has fully consented. "I will be writing again to all medical directors asking them to consider suspension while the independent review is carried out. This is the right thing to do and will allow a thorough assessment of the evidence before next steps are agreed." The Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which regulates mesh products, published a report in October stating that "whilst some women have experienced distressing and severe effects, the current evidence shows that when these products are used correctly they can help alleviate the very distressing symptoms of SUI (stress urinary incontinence) and POP (pelvic organ prolapse), and as such the benefits still outweigh the risks". It added: "In line with other medical device regulators worldwide we are not aware of a robust body of evidence to suggest that these devices are unsafe if used properly as intended and therefore should be removed from the market."

Health Secretary Shona Robison is urging health boards to suspend mesh implant operations until an independent review into their use is published.

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David Davis said a "sustainable" system would take into account the needs of the NHS and different industries. He also said the government had a "huge contingency plan" for the UK leaving the EU without a deal. Mr Davis was speaking on a special edition of BBC Question Time ahead of Wednesday's formal Brexit notification. The government has yet to specify how the UK's immigration system will work once it is no longer bound by EU free movement rules, but has promised to restore "control" to borders with new curbs in place. Mr Davis said the new system would be "properly managed". It would be for the home secretary to decide the system to be used, he said, but added: "I cannot imagine that the policy will be anything other than that which is in the national interest. "Which means that from time to time we will need more, from time to time we will need less. "That is how it will no doubt work and that will be in everybody's interests - the migrants and the citizens of the UK." The Brexit secretary was urged by a German NHS worker in the audience to "do the decent thing" and guarantee EU nationals the right to stay in the UK. He promised the issue would be a priority when talks begin. On Wednesday Prime Minister Theresa May will invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which begins the negotiation process. During the Britain after Brexit debate the panellists, who included former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond and Labour Brexit spokesman Sir Keir Starmer, were asked what would happen if no deal was reached. Mr Davis said the government had spent the nine months since June's Brexit vote preparing a plan. He said it was not a scenario the government wanted to see, but added: "We have got a huge contingency plan, exercised across all of these issues, every department of government." Mr Salmond said the government's view that no deal is better than a bad deal was "nonsensical". But UKIP's Suzanne Evans criticised "hyperbole" about "crashing out" of the EU. Mr Davis also said the UK would abide by its obligations when it comes to settling outstanding liabilities with the EU, but played down claims these could amount to £50bn. Former Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said the EU was "simply going to ask us to settle the tab before we leave", and Mr Starmer said the UK had to honour its debts "otherwise no country is going to want to deal with us" in future trade negotiations. But a man in the audience compared the EU's demands with "the bully in the playground taking our lunch money". On Wednesday, the prime minister will send a letter to the president of the European Council telling him officially that the UK wants to leave. Triggering Article 50, the letter will set in motion a two-year process in which the terms of the UK's departure from the EU will be hammered out, as will the outline of the UK's future relationship with the remaining 27 EU members. As things stand, the UK is set to leave the EU on 29 March 2019 although this deadline could be extended if both sides agree. More than 33.5 million people voted in a referendum last June on the UK's future in the EU. They voted to leave by a margin of 51.9% to 48.1%.

Immigration should rise and fall depending on the UK's needs after it has left the EU, the Brexit secretary says.

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Dywedodd Cymdeithas yr Iaith eu bod wedi eu gwahodd i roi tystiolaeth ar Safonau'r Gymraeg i bwyllgor Diwylliant, y Gymraeg a Chyfathrebu'r Cynulliad ddydd Mawrth. Ond ar ôl rhoi gwybod na fydden nhw'n ymateb i gwestiynau gan aelod UKIP y pwyllgor, Neil Hamilton, cafodd y gwahoddiad ei dynnu yn ôl. Dywedodd Bethan Jenkins, cadeirydd y pwyllgor, bod y penderfyniad wedi'i wneud am mai'r "pwyllgor ac nid tystion ddylai benderfynu pwy ddylai ofyn cwestiynau". Bydd y pwyllgor yn ystyried tystiolaeth ysgrifenedig y mudiad yn lle hynny. Yn ôl Cymdeithas yr Iaith maen nhw eisoes wedi gwneud penderfyniad fel mudiad i beidio â chydweithio ag UKIP oherwydd eu "hagweddau rhagfarnllyd yn erbyn nifer o grwpiau yn ein cymdeithas". Ychwanegodd eu cadeirydd Heledd Gwyndaf na fyddai'r mudiad yn "eu trin fel unrhyw blaid arall", gan annog sefydliadau eraill i wneud yr un peth. "Mae'r penderfyniad annemocrataidd hwn ar ran y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol yn hynod siomedig ac yn adlewyrchiad trychinebus o gyflwr ein hoes," meddai. "Mae'r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol yn bodoli i hwyluso trafodaeth agored a theg. Ond nid yn unig bod aelodau'r Pwyllgor am gofleidio rhagfarn UKIP â dwylo agored ond maent am atal llwyfan i ni, sydd o blaid hawliau i'r Gymraeg ac i leiafrifoedd eraill." Dywedodd llefarydd ar ran y Cynulliad nad "lle tystion yw dweud wrth un o bwyllgorau'r Cynulliad pwy sy'n cael gofyn cwestiynau", ac mai'r pwyllgorau eu hunain oedd yn penderfynu pwy oedd yn cael eu gwahodd i roi tystiolaeth. Ychwanegodd Bethan Jenkins AC ei bod wedi trafod y mater ag aelodau eraill y pwyllgor a'u bod wedi dod i farn "unfrydol". "Fe wnaethon ni ysgrifennu nôl at Cymdeithas yn dweud y bydden ni'n ystyried eu tystiolaeth ysgrifenedig yn lle hynny," meddai. "Mae galw cyflwyno tystiolaeth ysgrifenedig - dull sydd wedi ennill ei blwyf o gyflwyno barn i unrhyw ymchwiliad - yn 'annemocrataidd' yn beth od a dweud y lleiaf." Dywedodd ei bod hi, fel aelod o Blaid Cymru, yn parhau i frwydro yn erbyn gwleidyddiaeth UKIP ond bod "pobl Cymru yn y cyfamser wedi rhoi mandad democrataidd i UKIP fod yma ac mae'n rhaid i ni barchu dymuniadau'r etholwyr". Wrth ymateb i sylwadau Cymdeithas yr Iaith, dywedodd Neil Hamilton: "Dydyn nhw ddim yn gwneud unrhyw ffafrau â'r iaith Gymraeg wrth ymddwyn mewn modd mor anwybodus a chul. "Mae holl Aelodau Cynulliad yn cael eu hethol fel cynrychiolwyr etholedig pobl Cymru, a dyw'r Cynulliad ddim yn gallu cael ei llywio gan eithafwyr. "Yn bersonol dwi'n cefnogi bwriad Llywodraeth Cymru i wneud Cymru'n wlad ddwyieithog a dwi'n gobeithio y bydd Cymdeithas yr Iaith yn tyfu lan yn fuan."

Mae mudiad iaith wedi dweud iddyn nhw gael eu hatal rhag ymddangos gerbron pwyllgor Cynulliad i roi tystiolaeth am eu bod wedi penderfynu peidio ag ateb cwestiwn gan AC o blaid UKIP.

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England vice-captain Heather Knight reflects on the one-day international phase of the multi-format Women's Ashes. The series continues with a one-off Test at Canterbury which begins on Tuesday, 11 August. You can listen to commentary on every ball of the series on the BBC. It was a massive honour to pick up my 50th cap, made all the more special being in the West Country at a ground where I'd spent hours training as a kid with the Somerset academy. We love cap presentations as a squad, not only because we massively enjoy each other's success, but also because we use it as a competition to see who can look the most elated or dorky in the background of the shot. I think Nat Sciver and Lydia Greenway have nailed it perfectly in the background of this photo… There's always a few nerves kicking around at the start of such a massive series, but we started brilliantly with the ball with Anya Shrubsole and Katherine Brunt setting the tone. They've both bowled excellently in all three ODIs and have been unlucky not to get more reward in the wickets column. Nat and Lydia then combined excellently with the bat to see us over the line, a brilliant start. The convoy then made its way to Bristol for the next match. Lydia and Laura Marsh and I decided to break away from the convoy system on the morning of the match. This proved to be an error, with chief navigator Marshy taking us in the completely wrong direction. Luckily we didn't lose too much time! The Australians came back hard at us in Bristol, as we expected, and made us pay for not taking a few tough chances in the field and not staying in the game long enough with the bat. Being a cricketer in England, one skill that's non-negotiable in your cricketing armoury is an ability to amuse yourself during a long rain delay. We found this out on a damp squib in Worcester three days later. It's always tricky when you've got the game in the back of your mind, but it's quite important to be able to relax so you're ready to switch on quickly if the rain subsides. It's fair to say there are a variety of characters in our dressing room and everyone has their own ways of coping with the rain. Captain Charlotte Edwards can be seen sighing after reaching in her pocket for her phone several times an hour, only to realise it's not actually there because of the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption measures which mean that all phones have to be removed from the dressing room. Katherine Brunt is usually making a large amount of noise somewhere, whether it is in celebration of a game she's found - such as trying to putt a golf ball into an empty coffee cup - or if she's arguing that she's losing at cards because everyone else is cheating. (Brunty's a terrible loser!). The Hoof (Anya Shrubsole) will often be frowning at Katherine making so much noise as it distracts her from her Sudoku. I'm usually found filtering between reading the paper, trying and failing to make people laugh, playing cards or doing some running bat repairs. Despite the weather, it was good to see so many supporters stick around at Worcester and we were grateful to spend a bit of time signing a few autographs and chatting to the crowd. The support we've had at all three of the grounds has been absolutely amazing, so thanks to everyone who has come along to support us, it really has made a difference. It's also great to see so many young girls coming along to watch. As a kid I knew very little about women's cricket so to see the next generation being able to access it so easily, thanks to some great coverage we've had, is awesome! Luckily we had a reserve day at Worcester, but unfortunately we were well below par and Australia outplayed us in all three disciplines. Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry have really stepped up for them in the ODIs so it's key that we find a way to counter them in the rest of the series. We were massively disappointed in losing the last two games and it's important that we're honest as a squad with what went wrong, but it's even more important that we move on quickly and come back stronger for the Test. Sometimes you have bad days in sport, it happens, but it's what you do next that counts and we will be better come 11 August in Canterbury.

With all the waiting and build-up finally over, it was time to don the dark blues and kick off our Ashes campaign at Taunton with the first one-day international.

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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.

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One of the biggest groups to feel the heat were the thousands arriving at Glastonbury Festival. Elsewhere, people took to pools, parks, fountains and rivers to cool off.

As the UK basks in the hottest June day in 41 years, people up and down the country have found ways to keep cool.

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The tax investigation it is facing in Luxembourg and the general worldwide crackdown on the movement of profits between different tax jurisdictions to minimise payments are likely to have been two. A third is the fact that McDonald's already has a significant business in the UK. But, taking a step back from the specific decision that is dissected by my colleague Simon Jack, there is also a broader trend starting to take shape. The McDonald's announcement - which may not actually mean much in job terms - is part of a wider bet on the shape of the UK economy after the departure from the EU. Yes, many businesses are concerned about the effect on the economy if any trade deal with the EU is replete with damaging tariffs. And the City is braced for thousands of jobs to move to the continent as London loses at least some of its attractions as an entry point into the EU. However, Google, Facebook, Apple, Boeing and Nissan have all now committed to the UK since the vote to leave the EU. That suggests a belief the tax and investment approach of the UK government will be at least as "business friendly" as that available in the EU - and, quite possibly, more so. Of course, the impact of businesses that have not invested here or have delayed decisions because of the vote is harder to define. And economists from the Bank of England to the Office for Budget Responsibility predict a slowdown in growth next year because of uncertainties about the UK's relationship with the EU. The Prime Minister has said she wants an economy that works for all, and that she wants to lead a relentlessly pro-business government. That is not necessarily a contradiction. But, low business taxes, flexible labour markets and borders open to immigration (all high on the list of many businesses' needs) are likely to be controversial for many voters. Theresa May is treading a difficult path. Many people would like to see more intervention by the state to "control" business and redistribute wealth. The commitment of many global businesses to the UK is likely to be for very different reasons.

McDonald's decision to move its tax base to the UK will have multiple factors.

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Countrywide was found guilty of selling bad loans, as part of a programme called "hustle", to US mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2007. In October, a judge found the bank liable on a fraud charge but did not decide a penalty. Former Countrywide executive Rebecca Mairone must also pay $1m. "We believe that this figure simply bears no relation to a limited Countrywide programme that lasted several months and ended before Bank of America's acquisition of the company," Bank of America spokesperson Lawrence Grayson told the BBC. Bank of America bought Countrywide at the urging of the US regulators during the financial crisis in 2008. "We're reviewing the ruling and will assess our appellate options," said Mr Grayson. Bank of America has spent nearly $40bn on legal matters relating to the housing market collapse, and the bank is expected to announce a multi-billion dollar settlement with US regulators over similar charges in the coming weeks. The "hustle" suit came about after Edward O'Donnell, a former Countrywide executive, issued a whistleblower complaint alleging fraud. Mr O'Donnell said a programme Countrywide instituted in 2007 known internally as the "high-speed swim lane" (also known as "HSSL" or "hustle") did not properly screen mortgage applications, and that employees - who were paid based on loan volume and speed of processing - were give incentives to approve loans. The programme was overseen by Ms Mairone. After investigating, the US government found that 43% of the loans sold via the hustle programme to the US government were defective in some way. Investors - perhaps used to a near steady stream of settlements - did not react strongly to news of the penalty. Shares in Bank of America were trading slightly higher at midday.

Bank of America's Countrywide business must pay the US government $1.3bn (£769m) for selling defective home loans, a New York judge has ruled.

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The play, written by Doctor Foster writer Mike Bartlett, is being adapted into a one-off drama for BBC Two. The Olivier Award-winning play imagines Prince Charles's accession to the throne following the Queen's death. Tim Pigott-Smith, who played King Charles on stage, is reprising the role for TV. Charlotte Riley, who has also appeared in the mini-series Close to the Enemy and the film London Has Fallen, said she was "really excited" to take on the "challenge" of playing Kate Middleton. She said: "It's such a unique project. To be both modern and rich in verse and to play someone who is real but yet totally re-imagined for this story is an exciting prospect for an actor. "Kate Middleton is a really interesting woman, particularly within the context of this play, and it is a challenge I am really looking forward to." In the play, King Charles refuses to sign a controversial bill into law, leading to political chaos, a constitutional crisis and rioting in the streets. Pigott-Smith said it was important that the play, which also transferred to Broadway, was filmed. "It is a drama about us, now, who we are, and the relevance of our monarchy," he said. "Television gives it an important democratic voice." Other cast members from the stage version also starring in the adaptation are Oliver Chris as William, Richard Goulding as Harry and Margot Leicester as Camilla. Bartlett said the production was now fully cast and is about to begin shooting. "We have an exceptional team, both in front of and behind the camera, and I'm looking forward to bringing this very contemporary royal tragedy to a national television audience," he said. Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram at bbcnewsents, or if you have a story suggestion email [email protected].

Peaky Blinders actress Charlotte Riley has been cast as the Duchess of Cambridge in the TV adaptation of the award-winning play King Charles III.

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William Hill said it took the decision after canvassing views from a number of major shareholders. Last week, its biggest investor, Parvus Asset Management, heavily criticised the tie-up. Canada's Amaya, which owns PokerStars, said that remaining independent was the best move for shareholders. Amaya said: "Discussions have concluded, and Amaya and William Hill have determined that they will no longer pursue the merger." News of the talks emerged earlier this month, with William Hill saying a merger would create "a clear international leader across online sports betting, poker and casino". However, Parvus said the deal had "limited strategic logic" and would "destroy shareholder value". The FTSE 250 bookmaker is looking to keep up as many of its close rivals merge. Paddy Power and Betfair have merged to create a FTSE 100 betting firm, while Ladbrokes and Coral are combining to become the UK's biggest High Street bookmaker. Ladbrokes reported a 12% rise in third-quarter revenue on Tuesday, boosted by online growth and poor results for fan-favourites Manchester United and Barcelona. William Hill, which ousted its chief executive in July after a string of profit warnings, saw off a takeover approach from casino firm Rank and online operator 888 two months ago. Meanwhile, Amaya's shares have fallen 30% in the past 12 months amid an insider trading investigation into its former chief executive, the threat of a $870m (£710m) fine in Kentucky, and slowing prospects for online poker.

British bookmaker William Hill and Amaya, owner of the world's biggest online poker business, have ended talks of a possible £4.5bn merger.

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US analysis of more than 500,000 births in North America and Europe found death rates for babies in planned home births were double that of those in planned hospital births. But the risk was still low, at 0.2%. UK doctors said the evidence needed to be taken into account, but a midwives' body questioned its relevance. The research, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, examined studies on the relative safety of planned home and hospital births from around the world. Researchers looked at data from nearly 350,000 planned home births and more than 200,000 planned hospital deliveries. Crucially, it looked at where the woman had planned to give birth, rather than the actual birthplace. The researchers argued that the safety of home births may have previously been overplayed by the fact that when there are complications and a woman is rushed to hospital, any adverse outcome is recorded as a hospital birth. Rates of home birth vary across the developed world. In the Netherlands a third of women deliver at home, while in the US around one in 200 women do so. The researchers described their findings of a doubling of the risk of neonatal mortality among those planning home birth as "striking", because it is often those with the lowest risk of complications who do not need to deliver in hospital. When researchers took out babies with congenital abnormalities, the risk was threefold. When deaths occured among the home birth group, they were overwhelmingly attributed to respiratory problems during birth and failed attempts at rescusitation. Overall these problems have been decreasing in recent decades, which is thought to be down to greater medical intervention, including more liberal use of ultrasound, electronic fetal heart monitoring, the induction of labour and Caesarean delivery. But the lack of medical intervention may explain why the mothers who planned a home birth tended to end up with fewer tears or lacerations, fewer cases of postpartum haemorrhage and fewer infections. But the researchers suggested these benefits did come at a cost. "Women choosing home birth, particularly low-risk individuals who had given birth previously, are in large part successful in achieving their goal of delivering with less morbidity and medical intervention than experienced during hospital-based childbirth," said lead author Dr Joseph Wax from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Maine Medical Center. "Of significant concern, these apparent benefits are associated with a doubling of the neonatal mortality rate overall and a near tripling among infants born without congenital defects." In the UK, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said the fact that planned home births resulted in fewer interventions for the mother was something which specialists were already aware of. "The finding that the consequences for the baby are more severe needs to be carefully considered by women, policy makers and care providers," said its president, Professor Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran. "Certainly, the move towards offering women a choice in their place of birth in the UK needs to be weighed against such evidence." But, he added, with a robust selection system which ensured high-risk pregnancies were excluded from homebirths and by making sure all midwives providing the services had good rescuscitation skills, risks to the baby could be reduced. "With the above systems in place and provided women receive one-to-one midwifery care, planned home births for low-risk women are a viable option," said Prof Arulkumaran. "However, birth can be unpredictable and these women should also have quick access to obstetric care if and when an emergency occurs." Mervi Jokinen of the Royal College of Midwives, said the study was interesing, but questioned the validity of its findings for the UK. "Comparison of the results is difficult because the study's authors are working with data collected differently in many countries. "Here we have services delivered by midwives who are skilled and experienced at home births and resuscitating newborns. "This is perhaps in contrast to many of the other countries this research covers." A study is currently being carried out to establish the relative risks of home and hospital births in the UK. The rates are low, with just under 3% of deliveries taking place at home, according to the most recent figures from the Office of National Statistics for England and Wales. Mary Newburn of the National Childbirth Trust said the American study was an important one "that needs reviewing". "NCT's own detailed review of home birth concluded that, although the quality of comparative evidence on safety of home birth is poor, there is no evidence that for women with a low risk of complications the likelihood of a baby dying during or shortly after labour is any higher if they plan for a home birth compared with planning a hospital birth." A Department of Health spokesperson said: "It is important for all women to be able to give birth in a safe, high quality environment that is best suited for them. "In England, midwives discuss the various birth options available for mothers and any associated risks to help them make an informed choice. "We have commissioned research that is comparing births planned at home, in birthing centres and in hospital. This report is expected to be published next year and we will look at the findings carefully."

Women who plan home births recover more rapidly from childbirth, but there is a higher risk of their child dying, an international study suggests.

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The 25-year-old made 37 league appearances for the Sandgrounders last season, having joined in July 2015 following his release by Tranmere. "Josh will be a real leader on the pitch and he is another key piece in my squad building," manager Andy Bishop told the club website. "I am delighted he has shared our ambitions for next season."

Josh Thompson has signed a new contract for an undisclosed period of time at National League side Southport.

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Media playback is not supported on this device After Martinez spoke to the media first following his side's 3-1 victory, Mourinho interrupted the Spaniard as he addressed another group of journalists. The Portuguese felt his interviews should have taken place first. "Roberto, next time tell me to go before you because we have to travel," said Mourinho, who swore as he left. Martinez replied: "I don't control that, Jose. I don't control that." After Mourinho left abruptly, Martinez said to the journalists, including a Liverpool Echo reporter: "When he beat us 6-3 last season he was such a nice man. I prefer him like that." He also walked out of a pre-match interview with BT Sport's Ray Stubbs when asked about the club's failed summer-long pursuit of Toffees defender John Stones, 21. "Before the game this is too long," said Mourinho. Defending champions Chelsea are 17th in the table, 11 points behind leaders Manchester City, having lost three of their past four games. Mourinho said after Saturday's game: "I am the man for the job. I don't think there is a better man who could come and do my job." Earlier this season, he was criticised for his treatment of the Blues' medical staff, having downgraded team doctor Eva Carneiro's role. Mourinho said Carneiro and head physio Jon Fearn were "impulsive and naive" and did not "understand the game" after they went on the pitch to treat Eden Hazard during the 2-2 home draw with Swansea on 8 August.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho argued with Everton boss Roberto Martinez over managerial etiquette after his side lost at Goodison Park on Saturday.

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Temporary traffic lights have been in place on the A30 in Sherborne since 3 May due to culvert drainage works. However, Dorset County Council said an investigation found "large amounts of material have been lost from the roof of the culvert, leaving it vulnerable to collapse". A section of the road will close at the end of the month, it added. A spokeswoman said it was not yet clear how long the closure would be in place. "Now that we are aware of the condition of the culvert we cannot walk away from it," she added. The drainage works on the A30 Newell, at the junction with the B3148 Marston Road - which is a major route through the county between Shaftesbury and Yeovil in Somerset - were originally expected to be completed by 17 June.

A major route through Dorset is to close for repairs amid fears it could become unstable and collapse.

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Katie Rough was found in the Woodthorpe area of York on Monday afternoon. She was taken to hospital but died a short time later. Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding her death continue, North Yorkshire Police said. A 15-year-old girl was arrested and remains in police custody. More on this story and others in North Yorkshire The grass path was sealed off by police, with a white tent beyond the cordon. Flowers and cards were left at the scene, with one reading: "Night night my darling princess Katie. Love nana and grandad." Officers appealed for anyone in the area of Morrell Court, Belhouse Way, Osprey Close and Alness Drive who saw two girls on Monday afternoon to get in touch. North Yorkshire Police said: "Katie's family are devastated by this tragic event and have asked for their privacy to be respected at this extremely distressing time." Katie was a pupil at Westfield Primary School in the Acomb area of York. The school said her death was a "terrible loss which has deeply saddened our school community". Tracey Ralph, head teacher at the school, said: "Katie was a kind and thoughtful child who was well-liked by both pupils and staff. "She was hardworking and showed a particular talent for creative writing. "All members of our school are being offered emotional support at this distressing time." Rob McCartney, who lives nearby, said he came out of his home after hearing sirens and saw a woman shouting for an ambulance to be called. "I put my shoes on and went to go up the alleyway. I got halfway up and I could see a body lying on the field, the police were already there attending," he said. Police vehicles were seen at a semi-detached house about half a mile from the scene, with officers carrying out house-to-house inquiries in the area. Jon Stonehouse, director of children, education and communities at City of York Council, said: "This tragic incident has shocked the city and the council, on whose behalf I offer our profound condolences to Katie's family at this extremely difficult and sad time. "Our neighbour enforcement officers are also giving additional support to the police and are offering reassurance." A neighbour of Katie's family, who did not wish to be named, said: "She was usually playing at the front, in the garden, or round the back of the house playing with some friends. "She was lovely, really sweet."

A seven-year-old who died after she was found seriously injured on a path leading to a playing field has been named by police.

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Media playback is not supported on this device The British pair beat Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina and his Japanese partner Shingo Kunieda 6-4 4-6 6-2. They now face Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer of France on Saturday, in a repeat of last year's final. Fellow Briton Jordanne Whiley will also defend her women's wheelchair doubles title on Sunday. Whiley and her Japanese partner Yui Kamiji won 6-4 6-4 in their semi against Dutch top seeds Jiske Griffioen and Aniek van Koot. They will now face second seeds Marjolein Buis and Diede de Groot - also from the Netherlands - who beat Britain's Lucy Shuker and Germany's Sabine Ellerbrock 6-4 6-1 in the other semi-final. Earlier in the day, 19-year-old Hewett lost to Fernandez in the last four of the men's wheelchair singles. The Argentine second seed, 23, avenged his French Open final defeat by Hewett last month, coming through 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-3. Media playback is not supported on this device

Defending champions Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett have reached the men's wheelchair doubles final at Wimbledon for the third successive year.

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Jack Ewins, 26, originally from Suffolk, and Timothy Glover, 30, from Australia, grabbed Universal Studios' attention for a fan site about rumoured Jurassic World character "Patel". They were amazed to be flown to Los Angeles and asked to make a site for Simon Masrani, the character's actual name. "It felt unbelievable," said Mr Ewins. "I was working at the Empire Cinema at Leicester Square [in London] and felt my phone vibrate, and I had an email from Universal. "I was thinking, 'Am I going to get sued?', but there was an introduction and I was asked to call them. "I had only been talking to my manager about when Jurassic World was going to screened - and then my prayers were answered." Originally from Beccles, Mr Ewins headed to London in his early 20s to pursue a writing career. Also a keen illustrator, his drawings were spotted online by website builder Mr Glover, from Perth, who suggested they worked together on a site for "Patel", details of whom were leaked on the web before Jurassic World's release. Universal loved their site so much, it asked the pair to make a page for Simon Masrani, the actual name of the character who runs the dinosaur attraction. They also attended the film's world premiere this month in the US and met its cast and crew at the after-party. "Big studios don't tend to call people straight off the street. It was a dream come true," said Mr Ewins. Doug Neil, Universal's digital marketing head, said: "Having fans like Jack and Timothy get involved helped to make sure that what we created maintained an authentic voice and respect for the fans."

A lifelong Jurassic Park fan said being asked to make a website for the new movie was a "dream come true".

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Visitors to the park were told to stay indoors when the female animal, named Ember, was discovered outside the perimeter fence at 11:00 BST on Friday. The park's managing director said staff tried to tranquilise the three-year-old Eurasian wolf, but it was out of range. Earlier this year Ember gave birth to five cubs, the first wolves to be born at the park in its 47-year history. Visitor Penelope Bennett said on Twitter: "Wolf on the loose at the Cotswold Wildlife Park and we are all shut in the walled garden." Managing director Reggie Heyworth said when keepers realised the animal was not in its enclosure the park's "emergency plan" was activated immediately. He added: "As a precaution, all visitors and other staff were notified immediately. Those that were indoors were asked to remain where they were. "At no time were members of the public in any danger as the wolf was away from the visitor area throughout." The wolf was found just outside the park's perimeter fence, towards the A361, and was shot by a member of staff. Mr Heyworth said staff were "devastated" and a full investigation into the incident was being carried out. Ember and two-year-old male wolf Ash arrived at Cotswold Wildlife Park from Sweden in October 2016 as part of a breeding programme.

A wolf has been shot dead after it escaped from Cotswold Wildlife Park in Oxfordshire.

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The public services ombudsman said the 4% rise in the last year was a "real concern" and against a fall in complaints about other public bodies. Complaints about health now make up 36% of Nick Bennett's caseload. The Welsh Government acknowledged the report but said it should be put in the context of a million A&E attendances and 750,000 hospital admissions. Mr Bennett said: "The upward trend in NHS complaints is a real concern and leadership is needed to empower frontline staff so they can respond to the needs of patients across Wales. "With an ageing population and continued austerity, the demands on the NHS have never been so great but it's crucial we use all the levers at our disposal to improve services." He has appointed new improvement officers to work in particular health boards but said he wanted fresh legislation "to help end cycles of poor service delivery". He wants powers to deal with complaints more effectively and which would lead to issues being spotted faster and enable public bodies to act earlier as they emerge. The rise in complaints for 2015-16 has been blamed on a "notable increase" in complaints involving Abertawe Bro Morgannwg UHB (ABMU) and Betsi Cadwaladr UHB health boards. Complaints about local health boards and trusts account for more than 80% of the 798 complaints about NHS bodies. CASE STUDY: A 57-year-old man with a congenital heart defect could not be put on the waiting list for surgery until all tests and investigations had been completed and this took 11 months. The ombudsman said he should have had treatment within six months and had he received surgery more promptly, "on the balance of probabilities, his death would have been avoided". ABMU agreed to implement his recommendations and to apologise to the patient's sister, who had complained. A spokeswoman for ABMU said it had seen more than two million patients last year and staff consistently provided high quality care "in the vast majority of cases". "The number of ombudsman's complaints about ABMU services increased by five in 2015-16, to 115," she said. "However, fewer were ultimately upheld, or resulted in actions like a voluntary settlement - one in four cases last year compared to a third the year before." ABMU said it took complaints very seriously and had recently completely overhauled its complaints system "with a greater emphasis on nipping concerns in the bud, and learning from mistakes". A spokesman for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said they encouraged people to contact the ombudsman if they were unhappy with the way complaints were handled. "We have been working hard to learn from patients' experiences and there has been a decrease in the number of cases upheld by the Ombudsman over the last twelve months," he added. Altogether, the ombudsman dealt with 2,268 new complaints about public services, down 1%. Of the complaints handled, 397 were resolved or upheld - and more than half of these were involving health issues. A three month independent review of the NHS complaints handling process in 2014 called for a "no-blame culture" to learn lessons. Earlier this year, Mr Bennett also called for a systemic review of out-of-hours hospital care in Wales, after he took a snapshot of cases he had dealt with over the last five years. Conservative health spokesperson Angela Burns AM, said there was an "element of deja vu to the report" in that many of same complaints were being made that were being made five years ago. "A continuing lack of funding and resource in our health service is denying NHS management the time needed to bed best practice in," she said. A Welsh Government spokesperson said the NHS had been working hard to improve arrangements where patients can raise concerns. "Whilst we acknowledge there has been a small increase in complaints to the ombudsman over the past year, to put this in context, every year the Welsh NHS deals with around 18 million contacts in primary care, three million outpatient attendances each year and one million A&E attendances and 750,000 admissions to hospital."

Complaints about the NHS in Wales to a watchdog body have increased by more than 50% over the past five years.

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The 49-year-old ex-England striker succeeded Graham Westley in the summer, his first managerial role, with Boro having reached the play-offs last year. But they are only eight points above the relegation zone, with three points taken from the last 24 available. "Teddy has had the worst luck I've seen in the 16 years I've owned the football club," said chairman Phil Wallace. "Normally we'd have one or two major ops on key players in a season but we've had more this season than the last three combined." Sheringham's side had made two signings on Monday before his departure - converting forward Aaron O'Connor's loan into a permanent move and adding Oxford striker Pat Hoban on a one-month loan. But Boro, who have suffered long-term injuries to several players including Steven Schumacher, Ben Kennedy and Dave McAllister, are without a win since 12 December. "You also occasionally lose points in the last few minutes of games but we've been in this situation in four of the last eight matches," said Wallace. "However, we are where we are and the club have to make a change. "Teddy came in having to work on a lower budget than we've had before and the lack of available funds has made it difficult to get the players he'd like. He's given it his all but it hasn't worked and now we have to thank him for his efforts and move on." First-team coach Darren Sarll will take caretaker charge of the club.

Teddy Sheringham has been sacked as manager of Stevenage with the club 19th in League Two.

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Sophie Taylor, 22, died when her car hit a block of flats in Adamsdown, Cardiff, in August 2016. The court heard Melissa Pesticcio and former boyfriend Michael Wheeler drove separate cars as they chased Miss Taylor on a three mile (4.8km) pursuit. Miss Pesticcio, of Llanrumney, denies causing death by dangerous driving. The 23-year-old also denies causing serious injury by dangerous driving and two charges of dangerous driving. Wheeler has already admitted causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury. On Wednesday, prosecutor Matthew Cobbe told the jury there was a "period of hostility" between the two women, who had both previously dated Wheeler. The court heard Miss Pesticcio had dated Wheeler but the pair split when he began seeing Miss Taylor in July, last year. Miss Taylor took out a loan for £6,500 to buy an off-road motorbike for him just weeks later. But the pair split soon afterwards and she wanted the money back, with the issue causing "angry exchanges" between them. Mr Cobbe said: "He appears to have done all he can to avoid any contact with Miss Taylor. "Melissa Pesticcio had in the meantime become involved and any conversation that did take place involved hostility towards Miss Taylor." The court heard Miss Taylor and a male friend went to Wheeler's house in August last year to demand the money back but he refused. The feud spilled over into the car chase, where it is alleged Miss Pesticcio and Wheeler pursued her. Mr Cobbe said it was Wheeler's Vauxhall Corsa which collided with Miss Taylor's car, directly causing the fatal crash, but he claimed Miss Pesticcio was also responsible after taking "a main role in the protracted pursuit". He said she deliberately drove dangerously in her white BMW at Miss Taylor, who was driving a black BMW 1 Series. The court heard Miss Taylor's friend, who was a passenger in the car, suffered "life-changing injuries" as a result of the crash. The trial continues.

A woman allegedly killed one of her ex-boyfriend's former partners in a car chase after forcing her BMW into a wall, Cardiff Crown Court has heard.

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Dyfed-Powys Police said an unmarked Ford Focus collided with a teenage male cyclist on the A4138 in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, at about 22:00 GMT on Friday. The cyclist was struck as he crossed the road and he has been taken to hospital with a leg injury. The crash is being investigated. The unmarked car had its blue lights and siren on when the crash happened at Halfway traffic lights, police said.

A cyclist has been taken to hospital after being hit by an unmarked police car which was responding to an emergency call.

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The biggest riser was the world's biggest cruise ship operator, Carnival, whose shares rose 3% to £41.45. Higher ticket prices and greater onboard spending by customers had boosted its quarterly revenues and profits. Lloyds bank shares rose 2% to 64p after it bought the MBNA credit card firm. Lloyds paid £1.9bn in its first acquisition since the financial crisis in 2008. Other significant risers were Barclays bank, up 2.5% to £2.28 per share, and the Prudential insurance company, up 2% to £15.93 per share. On the currency markets, the pound fell 0.3% against the dollar to $1.235, and was 0.2% lower against the euro at €1.189.

Shares in London rose on Tuesday with the FTSE 100 share index closing 27 points higher at 7,044, the highest level for two months.

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Hossein Dehghan said the test was "in line with our plans" and insisted that the country would "not allow foreigners to interfere in our defence affairs". The US warned on Tuesday that the test, reportedly of a medium-range ballistic missile, was "absolutely unacceptable". Iran has carried out several since a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. A 2010 Security Council resolution, which barred Iran from undertaking any work on "ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads", was terminated after the nuclear deal was implemented a year ago. It was replaced by a new resolution, 2231, which "calls upon" Iran not to "undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology". Iran says its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful and that it will continue missile development. CIA's Brennan warns Trump over Iran deal Iran nuclear deal: Key details Mr Dehghan did not say what type of missile was tested, but he stressed it was not a breach of the nuclear deal nor resolution 2231. Iran only produced weapons to defend its "goals and national interests", he added. His comments came after the UN Security Council held a special session to discuss the issue. US permanent representative Nikki Haley said Iran was believed to have tested a ballistic missile capable of carrying a 500kg (1,100lb) payload and with a range of more than 300km (187 miles). "That is more than enough to be able to deliver a nuclear weapon," she added. Ms Haley said that was something the world "should be alarmed about". "The United States is not naive," she added. "We are not going to stand by. You will see us call them out as we said we would and you are also going to see us act accordingly." The Security Council's member states requested a report on the test from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and a UN committee. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier said that "Iranian aggression must not go unanswered" and that he would discuss renewing sanctions on Iran when he met US President Donald Trump in Washington later this month. Both men were fierce critics of the nuclear accord.

Iran's defence minister has confirmed that it tested a missile over the weekend, but denied it had violated a UN Security Council resolution.

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The incident happened at about 21:00 on 23 January in the upstairs toilets of the Caledonian Bar in the city's High Street. In the new appeal, police said some people may know the pub by its former name, Smith & Jones. A man was in custody following the incident but has been released. Officers have asked people who were in the pub between 20:00 and 23:00 to contact them.

Police have made a new appeal for information after a woman was attacked in the male toilets of a pub in Inverness last month.

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The militia took over the refuge in Oregon on 2 January, protesting against government "interference" in the lives of ranchers in the western US. The development comes hours after the FBI surrounded the group at the site. In late January, one protester was shot dead when the FBI and police arrested the leaders of the occupation. Just before 1000 local time (1800GMT) on Thursday, three of the remaining four militia, Sandy Anderson, 47 of Riggins, Idaho; her husband Sean Anderson, 48 and Jeff Banta, 46 from Yerington, Nevada surrendered and walked into the custody of the FBI. But David Fry, 27, who remained holed-up, said he was feeling "suicidal". Mr Fry, who is from Blanchester, Ohio, said he "will die a free man". "Liberty or death," he said, adding "I declare war against the federal government because they have been trampling on my first amendment rights." On a live broadcast streamed on the internet, Mr Fry described how the others had walked out with hands in the air, holding an American flag. An hour later, to cries of "hallelujah", the 27-year-old could be heard saying "I'm walking towards them right now," as he too surrendered to the FBI. The four had spent their last night at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, camping in the grounds around 30 miles south of the city of Burns on the snowy desert plains of Harney County in north-eastern Oregon. The attempt to resolve the stand-off was brokered by a Republican member of Nevada's state assembly, Michele Fiore, who travelled to the bird reserve to witness the surrender along with a preacher, Franklin Graham. In the final moments of the siege, activists KrisAnne Hall and Gavin Seim pleaded with Mr Fry to give himself up. "It has never been the FBI's desire to engage these armed occupiers in any way other than through dialogue," Greg Bretzing, special agent in charge of the FBI in Oregon, said on Wednesday, before the final arrests were made. Mr Fry's arrest brings the 41-day occupation of the federal complex to an end. The FBI said in a statement that "no one was injured, and no shots were fired" during the arrests on Thursday. The peaceful end comes after a series of arrests last month that saw 12 people taken into custody, and the group's spokesman, LaVoy Finicum, shot dead during a confrontation with police. Police said that Finicum was reaching for a pistol when he was shot and killed by the authorities. A total of 16 people have been indicted on charges of conspiring to impede federal officers from carrying out their duties through force, intimidation or threats in connection with the stand-off, which was originally sparked by the imprisonment of two local ranchers convicted of arson. The group's apparent leader, Ammon Bundy, was involved in a previous stand-off with the federal government over grazing rights on his father Cliven Bundy's ranch in neighbouring Nevada. It emerged on Wednesday that Mr Bundy Sr had been charged in connection with that 2014 dispute, having been detained in Portland, Oregon. The 69-year-old is reportedly accused of conspiracy, assault on a federal officer, obstruction, weapons charges and other crimes. In October, a federal judge ruled the sentences on two Oregon ranchers, Dwight and Steven Hammond, for burning federal land were too short and jailed them for about four years each. Angered by the ruling, Nevada native Ammon Bundy began a social media campaign backing them and travelled to Burns, Oregon, organising meetings. His group attracted supporters from across a number of states and Mr Bundy called it Citizens for Constitutional Freedom. On 2 January the armed militiamen took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge - and widened the range of demands. It is an extension of the Sagebrush Revolution of the 1970s and 1980s that demanded the transfer of federal land in many western states to local control. Mr Bundy's own father - a Nevada rancher - had been involved in a protest over cattle-grazing rights in 2014. One policy is to try to persuade ranchers to tear up their federal grazing contracts. Although many local residents are sympathetic with its cause, many also oppose the occupation of the refuge. Even the local ranchers who are serving the longer sentences distanced themselves from the militia. The term has a complex history and generally refers to those outside the official military who can be called on in times of need. The US Constitution refers to the president having command of "militia of several states" and that Congress "can call forth militia" to tackle insurrection and invasion. Those who form such militias cite the constitution and various references in federal and state law as granting them legality.

The remaining armed occupiers of a US wildlife sanctuary in the state of Oregon have surrendered, the FBI confirms.

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The Nanteos Cup was taken from a home in Weston under Penyard, near Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire in July 2014. West Mercia Police described the dark wood cup as a "medieval mazer bowl" and "a wooden cup/chalice", and that it was kept in a blue velvet bag. The owners are offering £1,000 and West Mercia Police are offering an additional £1,000 for its safe return. Police are also hoping for information leading to the arrest and subsequent conviction of those who stole it. The Nanteos Cup, a wooden chalice named after the mansion in Aberystwyth where it was once kept, is claimed to be the cup from which Jesus drank at the Last Supper and then brought to Britain by Joseph of Arimathea. It is then believed to have been taken to Nanteos Mansion by seven monks from Strata Florida, Ceredigion, during the reign of Henry Vlll. Owner Margaret Powell kept the chalice locked in a cupboard in a library. After many years it left Nanteos Mansion and came into the ownership of the Steadman family in Ross-on-Wye.

The owners of a stolen Holy Grail relic are offering a reward for its return after the cup was stolen last year.

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Ken Wolfe was hurt while taking part in a display at the Gorleston Clifftop Festival at 14:15 BST on Saturday. He was taken to the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston with a suspected fractured skull. It emerged after tests that he has a broken collar bone and bruising but he vowed to be back in the saddle soon. Mr Wolfe is expected to be released from hospital in the next day or so. The wall of death is a motorcycle show in which people ride at speed around a vertical track performing tricks and stunts on 1920 Indian Scout bikes. Mr Wolfe performs with the Cornwall-based Ken Fox Troupe whose manager revealed details of the accident and how the two bikes had touched. A message on the troupe's Facebook page said: "As you may have seen on the news Ken Wolfe fell riding today. Just to let everyone know he is safe and well and on the mend." Last year the troupe's leader Ken Fox was injured in a performance at the Royal Cornwall Show in Wadebridge. Mr Fox fell from the top of the cylindrical track but escaped serious injury.

A motorcycle stunt rider clipped a colleague's wheel and plunged to the ground on a wall of death carnival show in Norfolk, it has emerged.

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Don't Take Me Home follows how Wales ended a 58-year wait to reach a major tournament and surpassed expectations in France. Chris Coleman's team topped their group and beat Belgium on their way to the last four before losing to Portugal. The film is out in UK cinemas on 3 March but there will be previews around Wales on St David's Day.

The story of Wales' remarkable journey to the semi-final of Euro 2016 is to be released in cinemas.

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Tory AMs will travel to Westminster on Thursday for what is described as their regular annual meeting at No 10. David Cameron is expected to be present despite German Chancellor Angela Merkel visiting parliament the same day. The gathering follows the sacking of four shadow cabinet ministers by Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies. There are also tensions between him and the Secretary of State for Wales David Jones. Mr Davies's chief of staff, Antony Pickles, was called to a meeting in Downing Street on Tuesday evening as No 10 tries to resolve the rows. There is said to be puzzlement in Downing Street over the sackings and a desire to find out what happened and why. Tuesday's meeting was said to be about finding a way through the tensions and to prepare for Thursday's gathering. One MP said they were traditionally not invited to the annual meeting between AMs and the prime minister, although Wales Office Minister Stephen Crabb has cancelled an official visit to promote tourism so he can be in Westminster on Thursday. Secretary of State David Jones is also expected to attend the meeting at Downing Street. Last week, Mr Cameron said plans to hand restricted tax powers to Wales are the "starting point" for a debate. UK ministers want to hold a referendum on allowing the Welsh government to vary income tax rates. Each income tax band could only be moved at the same time and by the same amount - the so-called "lockstep". A row over whether to back the lockstep or not led to Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies sacking four members of his shadow cabinet. Mr Davies has criticised the lockstep while the four colleagues he sacked said they were supporting the policy of the UK coalition government. Mr Cameron made his comments on the issue while visiting flood-hit areas of Pembrokeshire last Wednesday. He did not comment directly on divisions within his party's assembly group, but said: "What we believe is that we need further devolution here in Wales. "We want the Welsh assembly to have the power over taxes and we want the Conservative Party to be the low-tax party in Wales campaigning here to make sure we help people with the cost of living by keeping the cost of government down and making sure they keep more of their hard-earned money to spend as the choose. "That's what we stand for, that's what the Welsh Conservatives stand for and I welcome that. "First of all we need to get the referendum, we need to have the debate about the referendum and the Conservative Party will be supporting a 'Yes' vote, and the starting point for all that is the settlement as set out in the [UK] government's response to the Silk inquiry." The Silk Commission was set up by UK ministers to look into devolved powers and said Wales should be responsible for raising some of the money it spends.

The prime minister will meet Welsh Tory AMs later this week as the fallout continues over the party's divisions over income tax devolution.

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The Save Fenton Town Hall action group moved in on 9 November after the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) put it on the market for £500,000. They argued a sale of the building could put at risk a World War One memorial inside. The group had been due in court earlier after being served an MoJ eviction notice. Fenton resident Jane Jones, whose great grandfather is one of 498 names listed on the memorial as one of those who died in World War One, said: "We've achieved what we wanted to by bringing the Ministry of Justice to the table, now we're saving the taxpayer money by not going to court." The MoJ said a covenant would make sure the memorial would be preserved. The protesters wanted the building, which was also once a magistrates' court, to be used for exhibitions, meetings and businesses.

Campaigners who occupied a former town hall to try to stop it being sold have called off their month-long action.

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The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Walsall, scoring five times in 52 appearances in all competitions. Tykes boss Paul Heckingbottom told his club's website: "I am really, really pleased to get Jason to join us. "We have been monitoring him for a while and as soon as we became aware that there was a chance, we jumped at it." Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Barnsley have signed Southampton defender Jason McCarthy for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal.

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Despite the midfielder being just 26, it was the 12th professional club of his career. This was a player, lest we forget, who Chelsea were so keen to sign in 2007 that the Premier League side ultimately earned a transfer ban from Fifa for supposedly inducing Kakuta to break his contract with Lens. Chelsea received a 16-month transfer ban in September 2009 from Fifa as a result - which was lifted soon after when Chelsea, Lens and Kakuta all accepted that the player's contract with the French side had not been valid. Amidst the confusion, what was perfectly clear was that Kakuta was a player in demand. So what has happened to the talent since? And why is a player previously so valued by France that he represented the country at every youth level now playing for DR Congo? Many have cited his injury problems and the controversy that blighted his start at Chelsea. There is no point looking back for answers but to focus on a promising future ahead The answers also lie in an interview Kakuta gave to Foot Mercato earlier this year when he explained that he struggled to get his career on track when being loaned out six times by Chelsea. "It's hard at 17-18 years of age," he said. "Then, during my loans, I had my share of responsibility. I did not really work. I did not have the mentality I have today." After a promising start to his Chelsea career - finishing as the youth team's top scorer and voted academy player of 2007-08 - Kakuta's fortunes soon dipped. First, an ankle injury suffered in February 2009 kept him out for six months. Later that year, he was banned from playing for four months and given a fine of 780,000 Euros as a result of the Lens contract dispute. Once the sanctions were lifted in February 2010, the future looked brighter for Kakuta - as he went on to make 16 appearances for the Blues before signing a new four-and-a-half-year deal in December. But within weeks, he was loaned to Fulham and then, after failing to fire, to Bolton Wanderers before another deal took him to French outfit Dijon in 2012. If the plan was to win over legions of doubting Thomases, via the French Ligue 1, it failed. After struggling to settle down in the French top flight, he also failed to establish himself on loan spells in the Netherlands (Vitesse Arnhem), Italy (Lazio) and Spain (Rayo Vallecano) before he was released by Chelsea mid-2015. His career was at a crossroads but salvation appeared to come calling when signing a lengthy deal with high-profile Sevilla, but his time in Spain was blighted by injuries and loss of form. Just five appearances later, he was on the move again - to Chinese Super League side Hebei China Fortune in February 2016. After ten months, he was back in Spain - on loan again - with Deportivo La Coruna until the end of last season. Kakuta is now so desperate to salvage what is left of his career at French club Amiens that he broke his contract at Hebei Fortune early - mutually this time - to join the club. "There is no point looking back for answers but to focus on a promising future ahead," he said upon signing for the newly-promoted side. "I thank Amiens for the chance to come here and I just want to get in the right frame and give my best to the club." The big question is can Kakuta, who opted to play for his parents' nation as his club career fell away, use this as a launch-pad to ensure that a once promising career does not fizz out completely.

Earlier this week, DR Congo international Gael Kakuta joined French side Amiens.

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Objectors want the cabling - which would run between County Meath and County Tyrone - to run underground. The £250m project is planned to link the electricity grids of Northern Ireland and the Republic. And EirGrid says overhead lines are the best option. One campaigner, John Woods, said that he and fellow objectors would remain defiant in their opposition to the plans. "EirGrid and Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) have to recognise that this is not the most appropriate option for the thousands of people living along the line of the interconnector," he said. "Modern European countries are now using underground cables but we continue to use this age-old technology." But in a new draft strategy published today, EirGrid said a 400,000-volt overhead line remains the most suitable option for the project. The company's chief executive Fintan Slye said: "EirGrid must ensure the necessary grid is in place to ensure that Ireland remains competitive." "It must do this without placing too great a burden on communities, or too high a cost on industry." At present, cross-border electricity suppliers are not able to share electricity at peak times in the volumes they would like. It means cheaper surplus electricity generated on one side of the border cannot be easily shared by customers on the other side. EirGrid intends to submit a planning application for the development in the coming weeks. The interconnector - a joint proposal between EirGrid and NIE - links a substation in Woodland, County Meath, with a planned substation in Turleenan, near the village of Moy, in County Tyrone.

Campaigners have reacted angrily after the Republic of Ireland's power-grid operator said overhead lines are the most appropriate solution for a cross-border interconnector.

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The arrangement will mean Rex Tillerson meets the conflict of interest requirements for the role, Exxon said. The firm said it would cancel the two million shares Mr Tillerson was due to receive as part of its executive pay programme and put the equivalent cash into an independently managed trust. Mr Tillerson left Exxon on 31 December. The payout, which will only take place if Mr Tillerson is confirmed in the new role, is aimed at addressing concerns the former Exxon executive could favour the oil giant, or his own interests while in office. The 64-year-old Texan worked for Exxon Mobil for 40 years, including in the US, Yemen and Russia. His nomination has come under intense scrutiny over his perceived close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and for the potential benefits for Exxon and the oil industry more broadly if he presides over the State Department. Mr Tillerson was due to retire in March this year, but the date was brought forward to 31 December after he was nominated by President-elect Trump. Exxon said the independently managed trust would be banned from investing in Exxon shares but could still buy other assets. Mr Tillerson will receive payouts from the trust over the next 10 years, with the timing in line with when he was due to receive them originally. The exact amount of money transferred into the trust will be $3m less than the market value to meet federal ethics guidelines. In total, Mr Tillerson will give up about $7m, compared with what he would have been paid had he retired in March as he had planned to do before the nomination, Exxon said. Mr Tillerson had spent his entire career working for Exxon. He joined the company as a production engineer, fresh from University of Texas, Austin, and worked his way up to take the top job in 2006. TRead more on Rex Tillerson - the wild card diplomat Confirmation of the compensation arrangement came as Mr Trump said he would nominate Walter "Jay" Clayton, a lawyer at Sullivan & Cromwell, who advises clients on major Wall Street deals, to head the US financial watchdog, the US Securities and Exchange Commission. "Jay Clayton is a highly talented expert on many aspects of financial and regulatory law, and he will ensure our financial institutions can thrive and create jobs while playing by the rules at the same time," Mr Trump said in a statement. Mr Clayton is the latest Trump choice with close Wall Street connections. Mr Trump has already nominated Goldman president Gary Cohn to lead the White House National Economic Council. Mr Cohn's former Goldman colleague Steven Mnuchin has been chosen as the new incoming Treasury Secretary and another Goldman alumni Steve Bannon will be a new senior White House adviser.

The former Exxon chairman and chief executive chosen by Donald Trump for US secretary of state will receive $180m to cut financial ties with the firm.

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The sudden collapse of the University of Sydney's famed jacaranda tree has triggered a wave of grief in Australia, with staff and alumni mourning a key piece of campus folklore. The 18m-wide tree had been at the centre of university life and graduation photos since arriving in the main quadrangle 88 years ago. It was also steeped in superstition. A popular myth asserted that undergraduates would fail their exams if they neglected to study before the tree's first bloom, typically in October or November. The university deemed the collapse seismic enough to send out a press release on Saturday, declaring it was "saddened to advise" the tree had toppled over during the night. The news quickly trended on social media, with tributes saluting the "most famous tree in Australian education" as "majestic" and the university's "only redeeming feature". Its death was a "tragedy". "I have walked past it and appreciated its branches hundreds, if not thousands, of times during my life," medical student Sarah Brennan wrote, sharing this photo she had taken the day before: Journalist Annabel Crabb said: "This is very sad news from overnight. But Lordy, I hope when I keel over I look this beautiful." Lecturer David Smith wrote: "RIP jacaranda, which had a truly great life." The jacaranda was planted in 1928 by Professor Gowie (EG) Waterhouse after a series of mischievous false starts, according Dr Craig Barker, who manages heritage tours of the university. Prof Waterhouse envisaged a campus covered in jacarandas, but each time one was planted it would be mysteriously uprooted. "Often it was students who were accused of pranks but many years later a number of university staff admitted on their retirement dinner that they had taken saplings/seedlings home with them," Dr Barker told the BBC. The tree we know today even had two failed plantings before taking hold, he said. The exam myth soon followed, passed down eagerly through the generations of students. It was not often taken seriously but there "was always a slight tinge of panic and urgency" when the first purple flowers appeared, Dr Barker said. The study tactic seemed to work for Australian author Peter FitzSimons. "In 1980, I saw it was blooming, and realised I hadn't yet started studying. Went to my room, and emerged six weeks later. PASSED!" he tweeted. Fortunately for future generations, the university took cuttings from the ailing tree in 2014 so it could one day be replaced. "Students are reminded that the current tree had begun to bloom and we wish them all well for their final weeks of study for 2016," the university statement concluded. Reporting by the BBC's Jay Savage.

Is it the end of an era, or a new chapter in a beloved mythology?

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The Guyanese left-hander, 41, made his Test debut in 1994 but was dropped after West Indies' home series against England in May 2015. With 11,867 runs from 164 Tests, he retires as the Windies' second highest run-scorer, only 45 short of Brian Lara's record of 11,912. He is also the seventh-highest Test run-scorer of all time. Chanderpaul also played in 268 one-day internationals - where he scored another 8,778 runs - including five World Cups, as well as 22 Twenty20 internationals. He was the International Cricket Council's top-ranked Test batsman for several spells, and also appeared in English county cricket for Durham, Lancashire, Warwickshire and Derbyshire. While his unorthodox batting stance and obdurate, limpet-like adhesion to the crease saw him occasionally nicknamed "The Crab", Chanderpaul's record of 30 Test centuries at a career average in excess of 50 marks him down as one of the most prolific batsmen of his generation.

West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul has announced his retirement from international cricket.

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Alex Lomax, 23, went to view the flatshare in Clapham, south-west London, which was described as "furnished" in an online listing. Ms Lomax, who posted images on Twitter of the "bed under the stairs", said: "I was obviously shocked but was all-too-polite, I think." The BBC has contacted the landlord for comment. Ms Lomax, who travelled from Nottingham to view the property, said: "There was a landlord and I was shown the kitchen and the under-stairs cupboard - he seemed deadly serious, which is the worrying part. "He said, 'You would be sharing with three others people', and I just wanted to get out of there, so I made my excuses and left. "I wish I'd been more angry because it's clearly ridiculous and I'm annoyed at myself for basically just making my excuses." The listing on the london2let.com website advertises for a "friendly, open-minded and outgoing person" to join the house share. It adds: "We're a good bunch and like to chill out a lot together - not really looking for somebody that just wants to stay in their room. Room comes with a bed." Ms Lomax said the man who showed her the room "didn't apologise" for its condition, and told her "it was the last room to rent in the place". Matt Hutchinson, director of flat and houseshare website SpareRoom.co.uk, said the advert was a sign of the pressure on London's housing market. "Average room rents in Clapham Junction are now £784 per month, so you can see why someone would be tempted by a £500 bargain, but this ad certainly isn't offering a room," he said. "We've seen mattresses in kitchens, mattresses in sheds, in living rooms, and now we're seeing mattresses under the stairs. I dread to think what's next."

An under-stairs cupboard has been put up for rent in London for £500 a month plus bills.

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The Royal College of GPs said the pressure of more consultations, complex cases and increased bureaucracy was causing fatigue and burnout. The RCGP said such difficulties would not be allowed to happen with pilots or train drivers. It also called for a new system of distress signals so practices under extreme pressure could raise the alarm. That would be similar to the red and black alerts hospitals use when they have surges of patients. The alerts act as a warning to the rest of the system to relieve pressure where possible by taking on their patients or not referring new cases to them. In extreme cases hospitals can even close their doors to new patients - although the RCGP is not suggesting this happens in general practice. The college also said mandatory breaks should be introduced to minimise the risk of mistakes. To make the case, the RCGP has produced a consultation paper highlighting the pressures GPs are under. Consultations have risen by nearly a fifth in the past five years, to more than 360 million a year, far outstripping the rise in GP numbers that has been seen. It means there are now fewer GPs per person than there were in 2009, with the RCGP saying another 3,300 GPs are needed. While many of the figures in the report relate to England, the RCGP said it was a UK-wide problem. Dr Maureen Baker, who chairs the RCGP, said the problem needed addressing urgently, with waiting times getting worse and GPs having to work 11- and 12-hour days, which increased the risk of mistakes, such as medication errors. "Few of us would voluntarily board a plane flown by a visibly tired pilot or get on a train where we knew the driver had spent too much time at the controls - yet there are no methods or systems for addressing doctor and staff fatigue in general practice," she said. "Our intention is not to panic patients but to send out a pre-emptive strike to ensure that we take steps now to protect patients from the risks arising from doctor and staff fatigue." Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt set out plans last month to invest in general practice. He promised extra investment, including the recruitment of 5,000 new GP and another 5,000 support staff, including practice nurses, during the Parliament. The idea of creating financial incentives for those willing to work in the most deprived areas was also put forward. But, crucially, he linked it to the profession embracing seven-day working, to the anger of the British Medical Association. A spokesman from the Department of Health said: "GPs do a fantastic job and we know they are under pressure as our population ages and more people live with long-term conditions. That's why we have committed to make 10,000 more staff available for general practice."

Patient safety is at risk because of increasing GP workloads in the UK, doctors' leaders are warning.

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The Edinburgh-based free-from bakery was 28th in its list of the most valuable Scottish brands to Scotland's food and drink retailers. That was 17 places higher than it achieved last year. The top brand once again was Irn-Bru, produced by Cumbernauld-based soft drinks producer AG Barr. Stirlingshire-based Graham's The Family Dairy took second place, making it the most valuable Scottish dairy and food brand. Larbert-based Malcolm Allan, which sells a range of meat products including steak pies and lorne sausage, was third. The list of the top 50 non-alcohol Scottish food and drink brands was compiled by consultancy Kantar Worldpanel. The rankings were based on the value of take-home sales within Scotland. Top 10 Scottish non-alcohol food and drink brands: 1. Irn-Bru 2. Graham's The Family Dairy 3. Malcolm Allan 4. Baxters 5. Bells Pies and Pastry 6. Tunnock's 7. McIntosh 8. Wiseman 9. Mackie's 10. Seriously Strong Source: Kantar Worldpanel/Scottish Grocer This year saw Edinburgh-based Indian foods producer Mrs Unis enter the top 50 for the first time. The company makes handmade Indian snacks, nan breads and chapatis for the retail, catering and wholesale market. Among the biggest risers on the list were meat product firms We Hae Meat, which moved up from 43rd to 30th, and Hall's, which rose seven places to 22nd. In a separate list, Glens Vodka was the top take-home alcohol brand in Scotland, followed by Tennent's, Famous Grouse, Whyte & Mackay and Bells Whisky. Johnnie Walker was 25th in the list, just behind BrewDog.

Bakery firm Genius Foods has shot up the rankings of Scotland's top brands, according to research published in Scottish Grocer.

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Vern Cotter's men will face the Wallabies for the first time since the 35-34 loss at Twickenham in the first of the traditional three-Test series. Both that opener on Saturday 12 November and the Test against World Cup semi-finalists Argentina the following Saturday will be at Murrayfield. Scotland play Georgia one week later. The venue and kick-off time for that third Test has yet to be confirmed, but what is certain is that it will be the first time Georgia have played a touring Test match in Scotland. The nations have met only once previously when fly-half Dan Parks scored four penalties and a drop-goal in a 15-6 win for Scotland in the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The hosts enjoyed a 9-8 win over Australia in Edinburgh in 2009 and ran in four tries last November to beat the Pumas 41-31. Scottish Rugby chief operating officer Dominic McKay said: "We have had many fantastic matches against Australia and Argentina at BT Murrayfield in the past and we're looking forward to more of the same when they come to Edinburgh next year. "The Georgians won over thousands of new fans with their performances in the Rugby World Cup, defeating Namibia and Tonga to take them from tournament debutants in 2003 to securing automatic qualification as one of the top 12 teams in RWC 2019. "I'm sure they'll get a great reception when they come to Scotland for the first time for this historic Test." 2016 Autumn Tests Saturday 12 November: Scotland v Australia, BT Murrayfield (kick-off tbc) Saturday 19 November: Scotland v Argentina, BT Murrayfield (kick-off tbc) Saturday 26 November: Scotland v Georgia, (location and kick-off tbc)

Scotland have the chance to avenge their last-minute Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat when Australia visit in the autumn Tests in November.

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Nearly a third of the 1,350 people polled believed that lead singer Annie Lennox sings: "Sweet dreams are made of cheese/Who am I to disagree?" The song, which reached number two in the UK chart in 1983, was closely followed by Rihanna's We Found Love. The Top 10 list of misheard tracks was compiled by streaming service Spotify. Listeners thought that Grammy-winner Rihanna sings "We found Dove in a soapless place" in her 2011 chart-topper. The lyrics of country singer KD Lang's song Constant Craving, which came in third with 20% of votes, were misunderstood as "Can't Stand Gravy". US rock group Aerosmith's Dude Looks Like a Lady, meanwhile, was thought to be "Do it like a lady" by 10% of voters. More than 10 people believed rockers Bon Jovi sing "It doesn't make a difference if we're naked or not" in their 1986 hit, Livin' On A Prayer. According to the survey, 54% of respondents admitted that hearing incorrect lyrics was a source of frustration to them. Seven percent of people polled, however, suggested they never got lyrics wrong.

The Eurythmics' pop classic Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) is the most frequently misquoted song in the UK, according to a survey.

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Westminster Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle said they must pay a total of £93,500 by 6 November. Mr Assange's supporters offered the sureties before he took refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden. He faces arrest if he leaves the embassy after breaking bail conditions. Mr Assange has been granted political asylum by Ecuador and has been in the embassy since June. He says he fears that if he is extradited to Sweden he will be sent to the US to be questioned about the whistle-blowing Wikileaks website - but this has been denied by Swedish prosecutors. Mr Assange was arrested on an extradition warrant and is wanted for questioning in Sweden over rape and sexual assault allegations, which he denies. Nine individuals have been told to pay amounts of between £3,500 and £15,000. The judge said he accepted they had all acted in good faith. "I accept that they trusted Mr Assange to surrender himself as required. I accept that they followed the proceedings and made necessary arrangements to remain in contact with him," he said. "However, they failed in their basic duty, to ensure his surrender. They must have understood the risk and the concerns of the courts. "Both this court and the High Court assessed that there were substantial grounds to believe the defendant would abscond, and that the risk could only be met by stringent conditions including the sureties." Vaughan Smith, a friend of Mr Assange, addressed Westminster Magistrates Court last week on behalf of the nine people, who put up £140,000 between them. He said all those who had offered sureties were "convinced that they have done and are doing the right thing". The chief magistrate decided each of the backers had to pay part of the sum originally pledged, under the 1980 Magistrates Court Act. They were as follows: retired professor Tricia David £10,000, Lady Caroline Evans £15,000, Joseph Farrell £3,500, Sarah Harrison £3,500, journalist Phillip Knightley £15,000, friend Sarah Saunders £12,000, friend Vaughan Smith £12,000, scientist Sir John Sulston £15,000 and Tracy Worcester £7,500. He said: "I say immediately that I have real respect for the way that the sureties have conducted themselves in difficult circumstances. "I am satisfied that what they have said and written accurately reflects their genuine views." The UK has said it has a legal obligation to see that Mr Assange is handed over to Sweden.

Nine people who put up bail sureties for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange have been ordered by a judge to pay thousands of pounds each.

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Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said elections in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions "will be important to legitimise the authorities there". But Ukraine and Western governments say the elections should not go ahead. They accuse Russia of arming the rebels. Poland plans to reinforce its eastern military bases, closer to Ukraine. Ukrainian troops have been battling the pro-Russian rebels in the east. A shaky truce took effect on 5 September, but there have been many violations and the situation remains very volatile. In Kiev pro-Western parties are leading after Ukraine's national parliamentary elections on Sunday. Voting did not take place in rebel-held eastern districts, or in Crimea, which Russia annexed in March. Ukraine has urged Russia to put pressure on the separatists not to hold rival elections in the east. But Mr Lavrov said "we expect the elections will go ahead as agreed, and we will of course recognise the results". A Ukrainian diplomat told the AFP news agency that Moscow's support for the rebel vote would "undermine the peace process". The 2 November vote is much earlier than was agreed by Ukrainian legislation granting the breakaway regions limited self-rule. "We are reckoning that the vote will be free and that nobody from outside will try to wreck it, " Mr Lavrov said. The armed separatists who took over government buildings in Donetsk and Luhansk in April have declared "people's republics" in both regions, loyal to Moscow instead of Kiev. The two regions are commonly called "Donbass". At least 3,700 people have been killed in the fighting and many more have fled to other parts of Ukraine or to Russia. Meanwhile, Poland's Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said "we want to strengthen our units in the east of Poland" in response to the Ukraine crisis. "The first effects will be seen in 2017. There will be a whole series of initiatives connected to units in the east. There will also be investments in infrastructure," Reuters news agency quoted him as saying. Poland joined Nato in 1999, whereas Ukraine remains outside the alliance. Adam Easton in Warsaw writes: There has been a significant shift in the Polish military's strategic thinking in recent months, illustrated in the new National Security Strategy approved last week by the government. For the first time in more than 20 years it admits that Poland is threatened by war and names Russia as an aggressor in Ukraine. Poles are genuinely concerned about the threat of war breaking out. However, the reinforcement of several garrisons in eastern Poland is less significant. Minister Siemoniak is not talking here about moving troops and hardware to the east. Poland's best-trained and readily deployable divisions and hardware will remain in the west of the country. Instead he is talking about hiring soldiers over a number of years to reinforce several garrisons that are now staffed at only 30% of their capacity. He said he wanted to return them to 70%-90% of their old capacity, which may work out at between 1,000-2,500 soldiers. That's just 1%-2.5% of Poland's armed forces. In 2008 Russia also backed pro-Russian separatists in Georgia and later recognised the breakaway regions as independent. Under the truce deal the Ukrainian authorities pledged not to prosecute the leaders of the eastern rebellion - yet many Ukrainian politicians want prosecutions, denouncing the rebels as "terrorists". The deal also called for a withdrawal of "illegal militant groups" from Ukraine, but the rebels remain heavily armed and it is not clear how many Russian "volunteer" soldiers are still there helping them. Moscow says any Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine are freelance "volunteers", although Ukraine and Western governments said Russia had earlier sent in regular army units. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia would support the separatists' election, saying "Russia does not have unlimited levers of influence, and it is not worth exaggerating them. "In this case, the main factor is not Russia's influence but the decision taken by the leadership of these republics and these peoples," he said. A senior Ukrainian foreign ministry official, Dmytro Kuleba, told AFP that Moscow was jeopardising the ceasefire deal signed in Minsk. "Russia's intentions directly contradict the Minsk accord, undermine the agreed process on de-escalation and peaceful resolution, and continue to weaken trust in it [Russia] as a reliable international partner," he said. Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko drew a parallel between the Donbass conflict and World War Two on Tuesday, saying "this time it [war] appeared not from the west but from the east". "For the first time in 70 years, we again must defend Ukraine, its territorial integrity and freedom."

Russia says it will recognise the results of controversial separatist elections in eastern Ukraine, which the rebels plan to hold on 2 November.

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The Saffrons' second straight defeat in Division Two A means that even victory over London away next weekend will not be enough to keep their hopes alive. Carlow are two points ahead of Antrim but the head to head between them means they cannot catch the Leinster county. Barry McFall was sent off early on as Carlow led 1-12 to 0-6 at half-time. Martin Kavanagh hit Carlow's goal early on as Carlow took immediate control of the game. A James Connolly goal in the 51st minute helped Antrim cut the deficit to four points but Carlow hit the next three points to end any prospect of a Saffrons comeback, as the home side also had Neal McAuley red carded in the closing stages. Westmeath lead the table on a maximum eight points, with the top two teams set to meet in the Division Two A final and the winner then going on to a promotion-relegation play-off against the bottom team in Division One A. Going into next weekend's final round of games, Carlow have six points, with London on five and Antrim a further point back. However, on the evidence of Sunday's contest, Antrim will struggle in London with new manager PJ O'Mullan, thus far, unable to halt the alarming slide which the Saffrons suffered in 2015. Allianz Hurling League results Saturday Division One A Cork 2-22 2-23 Kilkenny Division One B Limerick 6-29 1-12 Laois Division Two A Kildare 0-10 0-21 Westmeath Division Three A Warwickshire 3-12 1-21 Roscommon Sunday Division One A Waterford 0-14 0-19 Dublin Galway 2-19 1-22 Tipperary Division One B Wexford 3-11 2-22 Offaly Clare 2-28 1-09 Kerry Division Two A Derry 0-13 0-16 London Antrim 1-11 1-17 Carlow Division Two B Armagh 0-26 1-10 Meath Mayo 0-13 2-13 Wicklow Donegal 0-14 3-22 Down Division Three A Fingal 1-18 3-14 Monaghan Louth 2-19 2-16 Tyrone Division Three B Leitrim 3-15 2-13 Sligo Fermanagh 3-17 3-13 Longford

Antrim hurlers' hopes of a return to Division One are over after they suffered a 1-17 to 1-11 defeat by Carlow in Ballycastle.

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The emergency services were called to the scene on Cowbridge Road East, Canton, at about 15:50 BST. South Wales Police said the girl was taken to the city's University Hospital of Wales with suspected head injuries. The road was closed in both directions, but had reopened by 19:30 and There have been no arrests. The Welsh Ambulance Service sent a rapid response vehicle and an emergency ambulance to the scene.

A six-year-old girl has been taken to hospital after being hit by a vehicle near Cardiff city centre.

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The midfielder drove a low shot against a post from the edge of the box on 57 minutes after a poor clearance by goalkeeper Joe Lumley had put Rovers in trouble. Both keepers distinguished themselves in the second half, Lumley stretching to keep out a Caolan Lavery shot and United's Simon Moore diving to divert a Cristian Montano effort around a post. Rovers thought they had won it when Rory Gaffney headed home on 84 minutes but the striker was ruled offside. The best chance of an even first half fell to United's Jay O'Shea on nine minutes. Unmarked moving onto a Lavery cross, his first time shot was just wide of the left hand post. Billy Bodin offered the biggest first-half threat for Rovers and twice went close with efforts from outside the box. Ollie Clarke fired just over for the hosts but the only save of note came from Lumley, when he dived to parry a 44th-minute header from Lavery. Report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Bristol Rovers 0, Sheffield United 0. Second Half ends, Bristol Rovers 0, Sheffield United 0. Foul by Ryan Sweeney (Bristol Rovers). Daniel Lafferty (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing. Ollie Clarke (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Paul Coutts (Sheffield United). Attempt missed. Billy Bodin (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high following a corner. Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Simon Moore. Attempt saved. Cristian Montaño (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Delay in match Simon Moore (Sheffield United) because of an injury. Attempt missed. Caolan Lavery (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Attempt blocked. John Fleck (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Tom Lockyer. Caolan Lavery (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Ryan Sweeney (Bristol Rovers). Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Tom Lockyer. Foul by Joe Riley (Sheffield United). Cristian Montaño (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick on the right wing. Substitution, Sheffield United. Ethan Ebanks-Landell replaces Jay O'Shea. Attempt saved. Ollie Clarke (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Attempt saved. Paul Coutts (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Jake M Wright (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Jake M Wright (Sheffield United). Byron Moore (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Substitution, Sheffield United. Billy Sharp replaces Matt Done. John Fleck (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Ollie Clarke (Bristol Rovers). Foul by Caolan Lavery (Sheffield United). Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing. Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Byron Moore replaces Ellis Harrison. Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Cristian Montaño replaces Stuart Sinclair. John Fleck (Sheffield United) hits the right post with a left footed shot from very close range. Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Tom Lockyer. Chris Basham (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Rory Gaffney (Bristol Rovers). Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Joe Lumley. Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Joe Lumley. Attempt saved. Caolan Lavery (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Jay O'Shea (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

John Fleck was denied by the woodwork as League One leaders Sheffield United had to settle for a goalless draw at Bristol Rovers.

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Testing of the firm's first underwater data centre - dubbed Leona Philpot after a character in an Xbox game - has just been completed in an initiative called Project Natick. Data centres are believed to consume up to 3% of the world's electricity, according to researchers. Large technology firms are keen to find energy efficient ways to store their increasing amounts of data. Microsoft said its reasons for experimenting with underwater data centres were twofold. Firstly, half the world's population is located within 125 miles (200km) of the coast so data centres in the sea would reduce latency - the time its takes data to travel from its source to customers. But there were also environmental reasons for the trial. Putting the data centre in the ocean eliminated the need for cooling and, in future, if such centres could be colocated with offshore renewable energy sources, they could also produce zero emissions, according to Microsoft. Its first underwater data centre operated 0.6 miles (1km) from the Californian coast from August to December 2015 and is now back at Microsoft's Redmond headquarters for analysis. It was encased in steel and equipped with sensors to monitor the environmental conditions. Greenpeace, which produces an annual report on how clean the the big technology firms are, believes Microsoft could do more. "Experimental underwater data centres could be more sustainable if connected to offshore wind power, but Microsoft must focus more on investing in new renewable energy now. Microsoft is far behind Apple, Google and Facebook in sourcing renewable energy for existing data centres," said Tom Dowdall, a climate campaigner at Greenpeace. Many tech firms are now considering new options for housing data - including moving them to countries with colder climates. In 2013, Facebook opened a data centre in the far north of Sweden, in the mining town of Lulea, 70 miles from the Arctic Circle. The 84-acre site houses tens of thousands of computer servers and runs entirely on renewable energy generated by nearby hydroelectric schemes.

Microsoft has come up with a radical new way to store data - under the sea.

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Devon and Cornwall Police said the men were hurt when they responded to reports of a man making threats to another resident in Kingsbridge, Devon, at about 17:00 BST. A 53-year-old man, named locally as Stephen Yabsley, was arrested on suspicion of assault. Both officers sustained arm injuries and had operations in hospital. The injuries were said to be non-life-threatening. Armed officers from the force were involved in negotiations with a man at a house in Retreat Close, which ended at about 20:30 BST. A spokesman said they "safely brought the incident to a close". Police said a total of 35 officers were involved in the operation. The road was cordoned off and people in the "immediate vicinity" were evacuated from their homes. One of the police officers was taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and the other to Torquay Hospital.

Two police officers have been injured - one seriously - in an attack involving "electrical power tools".

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Jonathan Elystan Rees said a lack of resources and lawyers in court as a result of less funding was making it difficult for staff to do their jobs. His criticism comes after the CPS was blamed for the collapse of a number of high-profile criminal cases in Wales. The government rejected claims budget cuts have affected the CPS' performance. The CPS said it had tried to protect prosecution lawyers from the reductions; its budget has been cut by 25% since 2010 and staff numbers have fallen by 2,400. Figures analysed by BBC Wales show the proportion of cases in Wales that did not make it to a full trial because of reasons relating to the CPS has gradually increased. In 2009, CPS faults accounted for about 16.5% of case failures in Wales, compared to 19.6% in 2014. Mr Rees, a representative of the Criminal Bar Association in Wales, said CPS staff were "operating with one hand tied behind their back at the moment" and often found themselves covering several courts at the same time. "If you have properly funded prosecution and properly funded defence scrutinising each other's positions and challenging the case of either side, you're going to get the right result - that's British justice, that's how it works," he said. "When one side or, even worse, both sides, aren't firing on all cylinders because they're not properly funded, that's when you get room for errors to take place and corners to be cut, not deliberately but inadvertently, and that's when there's a risk of miscarriages of justice." Siobhan Blake, deputy chief crown prosecutor for Wales, denied cases were not being properly scrutinised, adding it had a conviction rate of about 80% - an increase on previous years. "I'm very confident that we have highly-skilled, professional people who are extremely dedicated to the work that they do," she said. The Treasury said the CPS budget settlement "protected core services", ensuring it had the resources needed to continue to tackle crime "effectively and efficiently". It added the UK legal aid system remained "one of the most generous in the world" with £1.6bn spent last year. Charges against two nurses due to stand trial for the neglect of patients at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend were dismissed last year after the court heard a computer log of patient records was unreliable. The judge described the prosecution's reliance on the log as "unrealistic" and "faintly desperate". In October 2015, misconduct charges against three council bosses were dropped just weeks before they were due to stand trial. The case collapse followed judges' criticism of prosecution lawyers for being unprepared at earlier hearings. A recent report from the CPS Inspectorate warned victims were being "let down" by poor communication from prosecution officials. Inspectors said the CPS was slow to contact victims in almost half of cases it examined and did not always take their views into account on key decisions. South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael has called for a new independent body to investigate complaints against the CPS. But a spokesman for the Attorney General's office said complaints about CPS performance could be referred to the Independent Assessor of Complaints.

Funding cuts to the Crown Prosecution Service could lead to miscarriages of justice, a barrister has warned.

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Mairead McCallion was taken into police custody and her partner was arrested in 2014 after he allegedly attacked her. She was rushed to hospital hours later after being sick in the back of a police car, and died the next day. A Police Ombudsman's report says the officers failed in their duty of care. It says they did not alert a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) doctor who examined her that Ms McCallion, from Omagh in County Tyrone, had claimed to have suffered a head injury. This was in spite of the fact police officers are taught to immediately seek medical attention when dealing with a possible head injury. The family of 36-year-old Ms McCallion said they believe she might still be alive if the doctor had been alerted and she had been taken to hospital immediately. "She told the police officers her partner had pulled her hair, banged her head against the wall and threw her into the garden," her sister Patricia O'Brien said. "She had clumps of hair visibly hanging off her shoulders - that should have been taken very seriously. "Had that have been taken seriously, Mairead should have been given urgent medical attention. "That did not happen." Ms McCallion had previously suffered domestic abuse, and had been drinking on the day she told officers she had been assaulted in February 2014. The Police Ombudsman's report says that made it even more important that a PSNI doctor who examined her at Omagh police station was told about her head injury claims. As part of their training, police officers are told that alcohol consumption can mask symptoms of a head injury such as slurred speech. The officers who spoke to Ms McCallion when she claimed to have been assaulted told the ombudsman's investigators that they assumed she would make the doctor aware of her head injury. The ombudsman says that was wrong, and they had a duty to inform the doctor and other colleagues. "It was inappropriate that the officers put the onus on Mairead to pass on the details of her injuries in an unfamiliar setting to an unfamiliar doctor, especially in light of the fact she was apparently intoxicated," the report says. "Head injuries can cause symptoms similar to alcohol intoxication, and as the woman had been drinking, it was particularly important that the doctor was informed about the head injury." After being examined by the police doctor and having her injuries photographed, Ms McCallion was driven to a friend's house by the police officer she had initially told about the head injury. The ambulance service was called when she was sick in the back of the car. She was then rushed to hospital, but died the next afternoon. Ms McCallion's family said they were shocked that clear procedures for dealing with reports of head injuries were not followed. "Mairead was showing all the signs [associated with a head injury] and they put it down to alcohol," Ms O'Brien said. "They made an assumption on Mairead. "She was a very vulnerable young woman and at her most vulnerable point in her life she was not taken seriously, she was failed. "They failed in their duty of care. They did not follow their own procedures. "They could have got Mairead medical attention, that might have made a difference. "As a family we are left wondering, and will always wonder now, would that have made a difference, would that have saved Mairead's life?" Ms McCallion's partner was arrested and charged with murder, but the charges were later dropped. The PSNI has accepted a recommendation from the ombudsman and changed its policy on how officers should treat anyone who reports a head injury. In future, they will be taken directly to a hospital for assessment, and not to a police doctor.

Two police officers have been disciplined for not seeking medical attention for a woman who died after telling them her head had been hit against a wall during an assault.

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So sounded the half-groan, half-chuckle from a spectator perched high in Murrayfield's south stand. Scotland's playmaker, with a gracious snap of his wrists collected a pass and flicked the ball onwards to where a gap in the opposition defence could be plundered. A moment of poise and grace - if only the team-mate on his outside had read his intentions. The ball flew over the touchline and bounced meekly onto the track. That Gregor Townsend could be so criticised on that evening 15 years ago, where he scored 33 points as the USA - then little more than part-time cannon fodder - were marmalised was telling. In the eyes of so many, he could seldom unshackle himself from the "mercurial maverick" label. That the Galashiels lad who left the Borders to mix it with the big boys of England, France and South Africa, winning 82 caps before returning to sign off at his cherished Netherdale, has emerged as such a prolific coaching kingpin at Glasgow Warriors might surprise those onlookers. "It doesn't happen that way," explains Jim Telfer, the iconic sage who coached Townsend, at fly-half and centre, for Scotland during the 1990s and on the fabled British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 1997. "Some of the most flamboyant players have become very conservative coaches. "Gregor isn't conservative. He wasn't a difficult player to coach. He was very articulate - if he did something wrong, he could always talk you through why he did it. "He will have to do that with his own players, particularly people like Finn Russell or Stuart Hogg. "He could see things at stand-off that other players couldn't see. If he made what you might think were rash decisions, they were done for a reason. It wasn't just to be a devil or a rascal. "He wasn't as mercurial as people think. When he went on the 1997 Lions tour, he was very controlled. Because he had very good players outside him, he used them very well. "Probably with some of the other teams he played for, he thought he had to do a lot himself." The way Townsend has his Warriors playing, of course, has Telfer purring, more pussycat than grizzly bear. The all-action, offloading game appeals to the New Zealand-inspired Telfer mould of controlled but deadly high-tempo rugby, underpinned by ruthless rucking. But after the crowning glory of the Pro12 title barely six months ago, the wily old warhorse cautions Glasgow may face their stiffest test yet this season. "The players Gregor has at Glasgow - not just the backs, but the forwards as well - are all very positive in what they are trying to do," he says. "But as a coach and a set of players, they will find this season more difficult than last, because the opposition know where they are coming from. "They will have to take that next step to be able to take their game forward. But I like the way they play. "With the half-backs they have, they can still control the game even when the weather is not very good." Dignified, amusing and erudite before the flashbulbs and cameras, anyone who has spent even a fleeting moment in vague proximity to Townsend's matchday gantry at Scotstoun can vouch for the ferocity of his competitive drive. His right-hand man, Matt Taylor, may pound the desk in front of him and bawl at the Warriors defensive line to, in polite terms, shape up, but Townsend too oft-cuts an animated figure. It is he who fuels the club and the squad's constant, insatiable thirst to improve and fine-tune. "Gregor's great ability is that he is a modern coach," reckons Telfer. "He has got a good philosophy; he is a very positive coach. "He knows what he wants to do, and he can articulate that to the players. He seems to be very good at bringing young players through. "He won't necessarily realise it but he will be taking ideas from every place he has been, using his experiences and that will be coming out in his coaching. "It also helps when you are bringing in players from other countries. He can at least relate to where they come from." With his deal due to expire in the summer, Townsend penned a contract extension on Thursday that ties him to Scotstoun for a further year. The sighs of relief reverberating across Glasgow sit in stark contrast to the disquiet that surrounded his appointment three years ago, when many felt predecessor Sean Lineen had been unjustly moved on. "I think it ends the speculation of the last couple of weeks that he might be going elsewhere," says Telfer. "Coaches don't seem to last very long. If they are successful, they tend to be poached by other clubs or countries. "It is very good news for Glasgow and Scottish rugby. I think he has done a remarkable job at Glasgow. Obviously he has something to live up to now after last year. "The test of his coaching will be this season, when you are expected to do well, and the opposition are just as tough." The inevitable follow-up, and perhaps the fervent hope amid Scottish supporters, is that Townsend ultimately takes charge of the national team. "He is quite an inexperienced coach when you think about it," muses Telfer. "He has only been a club coach for three years, having been in the Scotland set-up [as attack coach], where he was kind of sheltered, he wasn't the front man there. "From the point of view of his development, I think it is a good thing he is staying on. "He has to think about his family, he has two boys of early secondary school age. As a player he moved around quite a lot - his family have quite a lot on their passports. "If he wanted to do it at a higher level, he has to test himself before he thinks about international set-ups. "Because coaching a national side is completely different to coaching a club side. You get fewer turns at being successful, fewer games, and you have to get it right. There is a huge difference."

"There goes another Townsend rocket-pass!"

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A year later, Rajabhakti Park has become a millstone around the neck of the military government, and a symbol of how their efforts to promote the monarchy - at an awkward moment as Thailand faces its first royal succession in nearly 70 years - can go wrong. The project has been tarnished by allegations of corruption - a scourge General Prayuth promised to tackle when he seized power last year. Other government-backed ventures intended to showcase support for the monarchy have been similarly tainted. Not just by allegations of mismanaged funds, but also by the mysterious deaths in custody, or disappearances, of people who had been close to Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn. The monarchy is an acutely sensitive topic in Thailand, made all the more delicate by the severity of the lese majeste law which inhibits any public debate about the institution. The officially-sanctioned view of the monarchy is that it is loved and respected by all Thais, who support the law. In fact, there are Thais who take a different view, but who do not dare to express it publicly. From the moment it seized power last year, the military made protecting the monarchy from any kind of critical scrutiny a top priority. It ordered the police to be more rigorous in prosecuting anyone caught saying anything negative about the royal family. It insisted defendants be tried in military courts, and sometimes in secret. Around 100 people have been charged with lese majeste since the coup, and sentences have become harsher, with one young mother-of-two being given a 28-year sentence in August. At the same time, the military set about trying to burnish the public image of Prince Vajiralongkorn, in preparation for him to succeed the ailing King Bhumibol. The lese majeste law makes it impossible for anyone in Thailand to speak frankly about members of the royal family. The commonly-used way to describe the comparison between the heir and the King is that "he does not enjoy the same popularity as his father." In August, the government organised a mass bicycle ride in Bangkok, led by the Crown Prince and his eldest daughter, in honour of Queen Sirikit, who is also in poor health. It was the first time Thais had seen the 63-year-old prince in a relatively informal setting, smiling and looking trim in his cycling clothes. The event was deemed a success, and the government held another one on Friday to commemorate the King's birthday. Then in October three men were suddenly arrested and charged with lese majeste. One, a famous fortune-teller and television personality known as Mor Yong, had played a prominent role in organising the first Bike for Mom event. He and his two co-defendants, one of them an influential police officer responsible for countering anti-monarchy sentiment on the internet, were accused of abusing the Crown Prince's name to raise funds illicitly with products like t-shirts and badges linked to the bike rides. Mor Yong had posted photos of himself with prominent public figures on his Facebook page, as part of his promotional activities. Four days later, the government announced that the police major had hanged himself with his shirt in his cell. Two weeks after that, they announced that Mor Yong too had died in custody, from blood poisoning. There was no proper autopsy and both men's bodies were hurriedly cremated. At the same time the personal bodyguard of the Crown Prince disappeared. He has since been stripped of all his titles and accused of "gravely evil acts" against the monarchy. It is widely believed that he is dead. Two other senior military officers have also disappeared, and have since been charged with lese majeste. They have also been linked to alleged abuses in the funding of Rajabhakti Park, which was formally opened by the Crown Prince and his daughter in September. The government and the army have tried, and failed, to stem the tide of allegations surrounding the park. General Udomdej Sitabutr, who was army commander until October this year and oversaw the project, admitted that irregular commissions were demanded by middlemen for the foundries building the huge statues, which cost around $1 million each. But he said he had insisted the commissions were refunded, although he explained the foundries then donated those commissions to an army charity. There have been allegations of inflated prices paid for trees planted in the park too. And an initial denial that any government funds were used to build the park turned out to be untrue - around $2 million came from state coffers. The army announced its own investigation, and quickly concluded there was no corruption. There was a public outcry, so the Ministry of Defence has ordered another investigation. The police say they cannot investigate unless the military authorises them to do so. A government spokesman told the BBC that independent agencies would soon be allowed to scrutinise the accounts of the project, but could not say when. The government's opponents have jumped on the opportunity to illustrate what they say is hypocrisy on the part of the military in prosecuting former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for alleged corruption under her administration, yet failing to clean up its own house. Student activists and leaders of the pro-Yingluck "red shirt" movement have tried to organise visits to the park, but have been stopped and detained by the army. The government has also charged some of those spreading negative information about the park with sedition, a serious offence which carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison. Few people outside the top ranks of the military can know what lies behind these disturbing developments. But they show that the men who seized power last year, despite their considerable power, have nevertheless been unable to prevent damaging allegations of wrongdoing being made about their own royal promotion projects. Nor have they been able yet to provide a convincing response to those allegations. Many people in Thailand believe the revelations indicate divisions at the top over how to handle the royal succession, and crucially, who has control over this historic transition.

When the Thai army decided last November to use a plot of land it owns near the royal resort town of Hua Hin, to construct a park containing 14 metre-high bronze statues of seven past kings, it must have seemed an ideal way for the military to demonstrate its abiding loyalty to the monarchy.

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