Mourinho has been cleared of making discriminatory comments to Carneiro, who has since left the club. But Dyke, in a letter to FA Council members, said the 52-year-old Portuguese "made a mistake". The FA has been criticised by one of its board members - Heather Rabbatts - for its handling of the case. Rabbatts, head of the FA's inclusion advisory board, said the governing body's reaction had been "seriously disappointing". "I have major concerns over the way in which the disciplinary process has been conducted," she added. The FA investigated after a member of public made a complaint about Mourinho's language towards Carneiro during Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Swansea on 8 August. Carneiro and head physio Jon Fearn had treated Eden Hazard for an injury after being called onto the pitch by the referee, which meant the player had to leave the field. That meant Chelsea were reduced to nine men, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois having been sent off, and Mourinho criticised the pair in a post-match news conference. Carneiro, 42, had her role downgraded before deciding to leave the club. "I don't think Mr Mourinho comes well out of the whole saga - he clearly made a mistake in the heat of a game, and should have said so and apologised," said FA chairman Dyke. "Instead he has said very little and Miss Carneiro has lost her job. "Our regulatory team have investigated this and whilst Mr Mourinho has breached no rules, it was clearly a failure of his personal judgement and public behaviour." The Women in Football campaign group said its language expert is certain Mourinho used abusive language, contrary to the verdict of the FA's chosen expert. But the FA said it had appointed an independent academic expert in Portuguese linguistics to study the footage of the incident, which included the audio recording. "We have engaged an expert of high calibre to address such an important issue such as discriminatory language, which we take very seriously," said a spokesperson. Rabbatts said the FA had failed to act previously over sexist and abusive chanting towards Carneiro by fans in stadiums.

Summary: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho should have apologised to ex-club doctor Eva Carneiro for his criticism of her, says Football Association boss Greg Dyke.


Robert Fidler built the house in Salfords, in the Surrey greenbelt, in 2000 and hid it behind hay bales. He told Mr Justice Dove at London's High Court that his "beautiful home" had now been "carefully dismantled". "Hopefully, it will be rebuilt on another site with full planning permission," he said. At a previous hearing, Mr Fidler, 66, had been told to tear down his home by 6 June or face jail. On Monday, Stephen Whale, counsel for Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, told the judge that Mr Fidler had made "very good progress in terms of complying with the requirements of the enforcement notices", but that he had not "fully complied with the requirements". The house had been "very largely" demolished, he said, but there was "still more to be done", including restoring the land to its former agricultural use. He said the "technical legal position" was that Mr Fidler remained in contempt of court, but the parties had agreed for the matter to be adjourned for a month to give him "an opportunity completely to comply". Representing himself, Mr Fidler insisted: "I broke no law. I was looking after my family. I acted in good faith. I am a law-abiding citizen." He described the four bedroom castle as a "work of art built lawfully", but said he would "fully comply" with the council enforcement notices. Mr Justice Dove adjourned the case until 4 July, but said he hoped it would not be necessary for it to return to court. Mr Fidler told him: "I assure you we will not have to come back." At the end of the hearing, he said to the judge: "When I rebuild my house, I want you to come and see it."

Summary: A farmer told to demolish a mock Tudor castle that was built without planning permission has vowed to rebuild "the work of art" elsewhere.


Salman Ramadan Abedi, 22, detonated a homemade device in the foyer of Manchester Arena following an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May. The five-minute hearing was adjourned until 1 December, pending the police investigation. Twenty-two people were killed in the arena attack. No members of Abedi's family were present at court, which was sitting at Manchester Town Hall. A full inquest will be heard once the police investigation into the attack has been completed. The court heard Abedi died of "multiple injuries" when he detonated an improvised explosive device. He was later identified by genetic markers and his bank card that was found nearby, the court heard. The inquests for the victims were opened with a minute's silence on 9 June and adjourned until November. Coroner Nigel Meadows said the victims' inquests, at Manchester Civil Justice Centre, would be adjourned until 24 November and this was a "holding date" which could be moved if the police investigation was still ongoing. The hearing on 9 June was shown a photograph of each of the victims and told of their injuries. Those who died were aged between eight and 51. A map of where 19 of those killed in the foyer was also shown to the hearing. The court heard a further three - John Atkinson, Georgina Callander and Saffie Roussos - died later in hospital. Some of those who died were standing very close to the bomber, with others as far as 20m (66ft) away. A further 116 people were injured in the attack.

Summary: An inquest into the death of the Manchester suicide bomber heard how he was identified by DNA, fingerprint and dental records.


Johnson made his film debut in the 1950s and featured in numerous films, alongside stars such as Frank Sinatra, Laurence Olivier and Charlton Heston. A founder member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Johnson played several lead roles including Romeo and Mark Anthony in Julius Caesar. He also appeared in several TV dramas such as Lewis and Silent Witness. Johnson died after a short illness at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea, London. He is survived by his wife Lynne, who he married in 2004, and his four children. Johnson was born in Upminster, Essex, and he left his training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) to join Sir John Gielgud's company. He joined the Royal Navy during World War Two and then made his film debut in 1959, when he appeared in the MGM film Never So Few, starring Frank Sinatra and Gina Lollobrigida. He also appeared in The Haunting (1963) and Khartoum (1966), opposite Laurence Olivier and Charlton Heston. His family said he was offered and turned down the role of James Bond after playing British spy Bulldog Drummond in Deadlier Than the Male (1967) and its sequel Some Girls Do (1969). His most recent film credits include The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008) and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001).

Summary: British actor Richard Johnson, whose career spanned film, theatre and TV, has died aged 87, his family has said.


NHS Highland asked people to avoid the site last week, after 50 people fell ill with the sickness bug. Consultant microbiologist Dr Chin Lim said three wards remained closed to new admissions and visitors but the rest of the hospital was open. Tests have confirmed the presence of the bug in wards 7C, 2C and 2A. In a statement, Dr Lim thanked people for their "patience and understanding". He added: "While I am pleased that we have been able to reopen to visiting we know norovirus is still in the community so would ask that visitors are limited to two per patient and that if you, or anyone you live with, has had symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting you refrain from coming into the hospital until you are clear for 72 hours."

Summary: Restrictions on visitors have been lifted at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness following an outbreak of norovirus.


Lorna Waddell, 41, of Kelso, previously admitted obtaining nearly Â£4,000 by fraud while working for Provident Financial Management Services Ltd. She was given unpaid work as an alternative to custody. Jedburgh Sheriff Court was told she had breached her payback order. Sentence was deferred until 11 July for reports. Waddell got five clients to sign loan applications, saying she would receive the capital and repay the loan instalments, in Kelso between February 2012 and February 2013. However, after receiving the cash no payments were made. She also admitted that while acting as an agent for the same company she embezzled nearly Â£700 at her home between November 2012 and March 2013.

Summary: A financial agent who took thousands of pounds by fraud has breached her community payback order by failing to carry out 180 hours unpaid work.


The introduction of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, however, means that even if she wants to, Mrs May might not find it so easy. The Act was introduced after the 2010 election to bind together the two parts of the new coalition government. The discretion of prime ministers to pick the timing of elections was removed and the dates fixed five years apart - we are next due one on Thursday 7 May 2020. The Act provides two mechanisms by which an early election could be triggered, which are: Taking each in turn, the government does not have the numbers on its own to achieve a two-thirds majority so any vote would depend on what the other parties do. Jeremy Corbyn has warned the Labour Party to prepare for an election next year and Newsnight reported in September that he planned to instruct his MPs to vote in favour of an early election if the government wanted to call one (although that has not been confirmed). Latest polls suggest that supporting an early election would be a mistake for Labour. It is unlikely the Scottish National Party would come to the government's assistance in bringing about an early election. Looking at the second mechanism, if other parties do not support an early election it would be unprecedented in British politics for a government to bring about its own downfall (though such engineering is not unknown elsewhere) and the government voting no confidence in itself could be a risky strategy. More likely is that the Fixed Term Parliaments Act could be repealed or amended, to require, for example, a simple majority of MPs in favour of an early election, though the House of Lords may have something to say about this. An amendment to existing legislation seems more straightforward than trying to reintroduce the prerogative power to call elections. In short, the calling of an early election would require either a change in the law, or some unusual parliamentary gymnastics.

Summary: With the permission of the Queen, prime ministers used to be able to call a general election at a time of their choosing.


Colombia's Attorney General Eduardo Montealegre said the office was run by a criminal organisation that had intercepted emails from a Farc rebel negotiator and the government. He said President Juan Manuel Santos was also "probably" targeted. Peace talks began in Cuba in 2012 to try to end five decades of conflict. "This office intercepted emails from the press chief of the Farc in (the Cuban capital) Havana, an institutional email from the national government, and two emails from Cuban journalists who are covering the peace process in Havana," Mr Montealegre told a news conference in Bogota. "The purpose of this office, the purpose of the people who were involved in this criminal enterprise, was to sabotage, interfere and affect the peace process in Havana," he said. "It appears that, through this office of interceptions, the emails of the president of the republic were also probably intercepted." One person, Andres Sepulveda, was arrested for allegedly running the operation and selling the information he obtained to third parties. The attorney general said they were investigating who was paying to gain access to the information. The Farc, Colombia's largest guerrilla group, has been in talks with the government in Cuba since November 2012 to try to end the longest-running internal conflict in Latin America. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and some three million more have been internally displaced since the two sides began fighting in the 1960s. President Santos has said he hopes to sign a peace treaty with left-wing rebels this year.

Summary: Colombian authorities say they have raided an office that illegally spied on rebel and government communication to try to undermine peace talks.


Melanie Harris, 44, emptied the bank account of 65-year-old Ted Carter, who had cerebral palsy, and used it for shopping trips and family presents. Harris, from Barnstaple, had denied one count of fraud but was jailed for two-and-a-half years for the thefts which took place between 2011 and 2013. The Recorder said she had abused "a highly vulnerable housebound man". Harris was responsible for looking after Mr Carter and his wife who used a wheelchair, at their bungalow in Wikley Close, Barnstaple, as a team leader with the private care provider, Cygnet Care. Police described her house in Fremington as "looking like a show home", after Harris used the couple's debit card on a series of shopping trips, Exeter Crown Court heard last year. Harris, who hid Mr Carter's bank statements to cover up the thefts, was caught after another carer noticed Mr Carter's money had been used for a baby shower. Recorder Philip Mott said: "He trusted you with his card, PIN and passbook and trusted you as a co-signatory. As a result, you had complete control over his accounts." The recorder said Harris was motivated by "family expenses", and cited the probation report which spoke of her "greed and a desire to fund a lavish lifestyle".

Summary: A care worker has been jailed for stealing £75,000 from a patient to spend on a "lavish lifestyle".


The Women in Democracy Caucus also wants extra support for women AMs, and more women experts on TV and radio. Its leader - Presiding Officer Rosemary Butler - said women's voices were "not being heard". The Welsh government said banning companies from procurement processes would be illegal. However, a spokesman added: "While we have to recognise this legal constraint, no-one should be in any doubt regarding our dedication to maximising women's participation in all areas of public life." The report was produced to coincide with International Women's Day. Dame Rosemary said: "Women's voices are not being heard and our views are being overlooked, so I am working to address the need for more women to apply for and take up public roles and appointments."

Summary: Organisations without women on their boards should not be given Welsh government grants or contracts worth over £250,000, a group of AMs has said.


Four days after the launch of the anti-corruption move, long queues continue outside ATMs as people try to exchange the 500 ($7) and 1,000 notes. "It had to be done suddenly but I never thought I will receive blessings for this," Mr Modi said. He hinted that other measures aimed at fighting corruption and the black economy might follow. Urging people to be patient, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that it would take a few weeks for banks and ATMs to completely replace the old notes, estimated to make up some 85% of the total currency in circulation. Mr Jaitley said that nearly $30bn in the old notes had so far been deposited in banks across the country. But chaotic scenes can still be witnessed outside banks as public patience is beginning to wear out, says the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi. Some traders and small business owners have threatened to go on strike because they have been badly affected, our correspondent says. The opposition has also been critical of the move, saying the rural and urban poor have been hit hardest. But Mr Modi thanked his fellow countrymen who had "accepted the decision in national interest". And he warned that there was "no guarantee" that new measures would not follow after the note-exchange scheme ends on 30 December. He said "no-one would be spared" in the drive against corruption. But "honest people will not face any problem", he added. After Mr Modi's surprise announcement on Tuesday night, the banks were closed on Wednesday. Thousands of panicked Indians have been flocking to banks since they reopened on Thursday. There are limits on cash withdrawals from ATMs and banks. The 500 ($7; Â£6) and 1,000 ($15; Â£12) rupee notes are the highest denomination notes in the country and are extremely common in India. Airports, railway stations, hospitals and fuel stations will only accept them until the end of today. People will be able to exchange their money at banks between 10 November and 30 December. The actual figure is unclear but correspondents say the issue of "black money" - which may have been acquired corruptly, or is being withheld from the tax authorities - is a huge problem. India's government hopes to flush out tax evaders and make money that is unaccounted for visible for tax purposes. There have been reports of tax raids in many parts of India. An individual can put as much as he or she likes into the bank - but withdrawals are limited so the banking system may end up being flooded with cash. Government guidelines say it is possible to exchange up to 4,000 rupees per day up to 24 November - anything over this will be subject to tax laws. People can also withdraw up to 10,000 rupees from a bank per day and a maximum of 20,000 rupees per week. New 2,000 and 500 rupee denomination notes with new security features are being given to people to replace those removed from circulation. A new 1,000 rupee note "with a new dimension and design" will also

Summary: The plan to withdraw high-value rupee notes in India had to be kept secret, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said.


Monitor is looking into the financial sustainability of Southend University Hospital Foundation Trust "on behalf of patients", the NHS regulator said. Finances became a concern when a planned £7.8m deficit grew, for which Monitor could see no recovery plan. The hospital blamed the larger-than-anticipated deficit on growth in demand and increased staff recruitment. Hospital chairman Alan Tobias OBE, said: "The overspend is a result of vital investment in services and more staff to ensure high standards of patient care as well as the rise in attendances. "We welcome this review to clearly demonstrate to Monitor - as well as patients and stakeholders - our future financial plans are both robust and sustainable." The hospital has pledged to cut the deficit while maintaining "high quality care for local people" and said it was committed to returning to a surplus within three years. Monitor said its investigation will look into the state of the hospital trust's finances, assess the strength of its financial management and explore ways of improving its sustainability, on behalf of patients across the region. The investigation will also examine how the trust works with other local health and care organisations to respond to the financial challenges it faces. Katherine Cawley, regional director at Monitor, said: "People are relying on Southend to provide them with quality healthcare now and in the future, and we are concerned that this may be at risk because of the trust's poor financial performance. "We have launched this investigation to find out more about the financial situation at the trust and to establish what can be done to improve things."

Summary: A £9.8m deficit recorded for 2014/15 at an Essex hospital is to be investigated by a health service watchdog.


The group, a mix of students and activists, were arrested while taking part in a protest two weeks ago against a new education bill. They face possible jail terms on charges including insulting civil servants and refusing to disperse. Video of the protests showing people being cornered by police and beaten sparked international condemnation. President Thein Sein of Myanmar (formerly Burma) has defended the action of officers, telling the BBC that in many Western countries a similar situation might have ended in gunfire and death. In addition to the 65 people in court in the town of Letpadan on Wednesday, another five have been charged in absentia. Eleven people who were released on bail will be charged at a later date. All could face jail terms of up to six years. The BBC's Jonah Fisher, at the court, says relatives and supporters gathered outside the building with flowers, water and food for the detainees. Riot police were deployed to keep back the crowds. Our correspondent says that while there have been reforms in Myanmar since the end of military rule, the case shows that its laws and legal system remain dated and repressive. The students began a protest march from Mandalay to Yangon (also known as Rangoon) in January, in opposition to a bill which centralises control over higher education. They were calling for more power to be devolved to universities and higher education institutions, the right to form student unions, and teaching in ethnic minority languages. The march was technically illegal as it did not have official approval. The two sides had been in negotiations, and the authorities had agreed to let the students continue to Yangon. But the students were angered by police opposition when they reached Letpadan, 140km (90 miles) north of Yangon, and clashes broke out as they attempted to break through police lines. Scores of students and some police officers were injured, while more than 100 people were arrested. The government has announced an inquiry into the response of the security services, state media report. Young Burmese have been at the forefront of several protests in Myanmar over the years, including a notorious 1988 uprising against the former ruling junta.

Summary: Sixty-five people have appeared in court in Myanmar to be charged over a student protest that ended in violence.


Police have just released pictures of the stolen items in an attempt to trace them. The jewellery was stolen from Stanley Hunt Jewellers in Marshalls Yard, Gainsborough, on 18 November, between about 19:30 and 20:00. The Lincolnshire force is asking anyone who is offered one of the items to get in touch. One person was arrested and is currently on police bail. Police also want to hear from people who may have been in the shop at the time. More on this and other local stories from across Lincolnshire

Summary: Jewellery worth £35,000 was stolen from a shop during a Christmas lights switch-on event in Lincolnshire.


Returning officers were ordered to physically deliver paper copies of their constituency's tallies to the counting centre in the capital. Election officials have urged patience. Uhuru Kenyatta, who faces trial at the International Criminal Court, has been leading in early presidential results declared from Monday's tightly contested election. He is due to stand trial at The Hague next month for allegedly fuelling violence after the disputed 2007 election. He denies the charge. His closest rival is outgoing Prime Minister Raila Odinga. With provisional results in from more than 40% of polling stations earlier on Wednesday, Mr Odinga had 42% of the vote compared with Mr Kenyatta's 53%. However, Mr Odinga's allies remain confident that he will gain ground as results from his strongholds, including the Coast Province, are declared. More than 1,000 people were killed in the violence which broke out in 2007-08 after Mr Odinga claimed he had been cheated of victory by supporters of President Mwai Kibaki, who is stepping down after two terms in office. The BBC's Solomon Mugera in the capital, Nairobi, says Kenyans are becoming increasingly anxious about the delay in finalising the results. Some businesses and schools across the country have remained shut since Monday's election, he says. This has led to a shortage of goods, pushing up the prices of basic foodstuff in areas such as Kibera, the biggest slum in Nairobi and a stronghold of Mr Odinga, our correspondent adds. Uhuru Kenyatta Raila Odinga Profile: Uhuru Kenyatta Profile: Raila Odinga Some electoral officials have had to drive hundreds of kilometres to the counting centre in Nairobi to deliver paper copies of the tally of their returns. At about 13:00 local time, returning officers from only 53 of the 290 constituencies had arrived and the election commission said it would announce results from constituencies as they were ready. Its website had stopped giving updated results from the presidential race on Wednesday, and was still showing figures from Tuesday night. Our correspondent says the large number of spoiled ballots - about 6% of the total vote, well over double the number of votes cast for the third-placed candidate, Musailia Mudavadi - has become a major bone of contention. Mr Odinga's Coalition of Reforms and Democracy (Cord) wants them to be counted, but Mr Kenyatta's Jubilee Coalition is resisting this. Late on Tuesday, the election commission announced that the spoiled ballots would count in the overall vote total, increasing the likelihood of a run-off between the top two candidates, news agencies report. Mr Kenyatta's running mate William Ruto, who is also facing a trial at the ICC, said foreign embassies may have influenced such a decision. "We want to believe that this is not an attempt to deny the Jubilee Coalition a first-round victory as is clearly now on the wall," he is quoted by Reuters news agency as saying. But the election commission now says a decision on what to do about the spoiled ballots will be taken after all other votes are counted, our correspondent reports. If no agreement is reached, one of the presidential

Summary: Counting of Kenyan election results has slowed down because of problems with the electronic systems.


25 May 2017 Last updated at 07:00 BST He met Newsround at the world famous Chelsea Flower Show, where top gardeners show off their best designs and compete for awards. George is an ambassador for the Royal Horticultural Society, which runs the show, and he even has his own blog. Watch his video to find out what's so great about gardening.

Summary: Meet George - he wants more children like him to get outside and get into gardening.


There is a 19km (12 mile), two-lane dual carriage motorway that links Ghana's capital Accra to the port city of Tema. This road also happens to be the one I need to take to get me out of Accra on the way to my village. When the motorway was opened in 1965 and for years afterwards, it was the pride and joy of the nation. Back in 2008, a survey showed that an average of 65,200 vehicles travelled on the road each day and I am certain this number has since doubled. Last month, a part of the road collapsed and it has been total chaos. It is fair to say that this did not come to anybody as a surprise - everybody saw it coming, there have been complaints on the radio, but there was no money to make proper repairs or undertake regular maintenance, or so we were told. Emergency works, which we are told will take 21 days to complete, are in progress. I am sure it will cost more than the money we did not have to do the regular repairs. There is a suspension bridge over the Volta River at Adomi which links the eastern part of Ghana to the rest of the country. I also need to use this bridge to get me to my village. The bridge was built in 1956 and when I was young I used to find it awe-inspiring. It has an arch that spans about 805 feet (245 metres) and rises to about 219 feet at its crown. Back in 2008, the bridge had to be closed for several hours every day over a six-month period for emergency repair works to be done. It was said at the time that no repairs had been done on the bridge since it was built. In 2011, there was an announcement that the bridge would be closed for a year for major repairs. Nothing happened. Last April, a similar announcement was made and the scheduled closure dates went by without any word. The bridge was closed last month and it will stay closed for two years for major repairs. I have no idea of the cost but I have no doubt we are paying emergency rates. And this attitude can be seen elsewhere, too. If you see a house being painted anywhere in Ghana, you can safely assume that someone has died and there is a funeral coming up in that house. If you are seen painting your house, people will stop by and ask if you have a funeral. Regular maintenance of structures is not one of our strong points. It is a subject much beloved of newspaper editors and government officials. There are regular editorials and speeches bemoaning this lack of a maintenance culture. We can never find any money to paint or do any regular maintenance but when someone dies we find the money. Indeed, part of the reason Ghanaians keep dead bodies in the morgue for so long before burying them is because we have to paint the house or

Summary: In our series of letters from African journalists, Ghanaian writer Elizabeth Ohene, a former government minister and member of the opposition, laments the lack of a maintenance culture in Ghana.


A southbound Volkswagen Crafter Van collided with a Peugeot Partner Van on the A702, just north of Candymill Road, near Biggar, at 17:35 on Thursday. A 58-year-old male passenger in the Peugeot is in a serious but stable condition in hospital. The 32-year-old driver was uninjured as was the 26-year-old male driver of the Volkswagen van. Police said both vehicles suffered extensive damage in the collision and the road was closed for several hours while officers investigated the scene.

Summary: Police have appealed for witnesses to a crash between two vans which closed a Lanarkshire road for several hours.


However, the report concluded there had been "no overarching state conspiracy". Sir Desmond de Silva's review confirmed that agents of the state were involved in the 1989 killing and that it should have been prevented. Mr Finucane's widow, Geraldine, has dismissed the report as a "sham" and a "whitewash". Mr Finucane was shot dead by loyalists in front of his wife and children at his north Belfast home. The review, published on Wednesday, found RUC officers proposed Mr Finucane, 39, be killed, said they passed information to his killers and failed to stop the attack and then obstructed the murder investigation. It also found that an Army intelligence unit, the FRU, "bears a degree" of responsibility because one of their agents, Brian Nelson, was involved in selecting targets. The chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Matt Baggott, said the police fully accepted the findings of the report. He offered a "complete, absolute and unconditional" apology to the Finucane family, saying they had been "abjectly failed". He said that in the coming days the PSNI would discuss the report with the Police Ombudsman and the Public Prosecution Service. Pat Finucane review reaction "Pat Finucane's murder should never have happened and it is a catalogue of failing which now needs to be assessed to see whether there are people who can be held accountable," he said. Mrs Finucane said the government had "engineered a suppression of the truth" behind her husband's murder. His family have led a high-profile campaign for a full public inquiry into the murder but Mr Cameron has ruled that out. Mrs Finucane said: "At every turn, it is clear that this report has done exactly what was required - to give the benefit of the doubt to the state, its cabinet and ministers, to the Army, the intelligence services, to itself. "At every turn, dead witnesses have been blamed, and defunct agencies found wanting. Serving personnel and active state departments appear to have been excused. "The dirt has been swept under the carpet without any serious attempt to lift the lid on what really happened to Pat and so many others." The Finucanes did not co-operate with the review and the solicitor's widow said the de Silva report did not tell her much more than she previously knew about the case. Her son, Michael, claimed the government had refused their demand for a full inquiry because it did not want people to be questioned in public. • There were extensive "leaks" of security force information to the UDA and other loyalist paramilitary groups. • There was a failure by the authorities to act on threat intelligence. • Employees of the State and State agents played "key roles" in the murder. • There was a failure to investigate and arrest key members of the West Belfast UDA over a long period of time. • There was a wider "relentless attempt to defeat the ends of justice" after the murder had taken place. Sir Desmond found that "senior Army officers deliberately lied to criminal investigators" and that RUC Special

Summary: The level of state collusion uncovered by a report into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane is "shocking", Prime Minister David Cameron has said.


Thomas Baker, known as Tommy, was found badly injured at Stanley Meat Market in the Old Swan area of Liverpool on 27 January. The 44-year-old, from Everton, had been shot in the head and chest. He died later in hospital. The three Liverpool men arrested - two aged 29 and the other 32 - remain in police custody for questioning. Merseyside Police said Mr Baker had left Phoenix Gym at the market shortly before he was shot while getting into his car. Detectives believe those involved in the shooting had been waiting outside the gym for about an hour. Det Ch Insp Bev Hyland said officers were still searching for a silver VW polo, which "left the scene at speed" and travelled along a number of roads including Balmoral Road, Molyneux Road and Queens Road. She added that a number of people captured on CCTV near the meat market had yet to come forward and while "they may not think what they saw would be of any significance, they could have information which is key to our inquiries".

Summary: Three men have been arrested on suspicion of murder over the shooting of a man at a meat market.


The 8ft guitar statue has been erected in East Park, where he worked as an attendant before gaining musical fame working with David Bowie in the 1970s. Ronson led Bowie's backing band, Spiders From Mars. He died in 1993, aged 46, after developing liver cancer. His sister Maggie Ronson said: "He absolutely loved his gardening job so this couldn't be more perfect. "We're very, very happy and I'm sure he'd be very proud." More on this and other stories from East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire Councillor Mary Glew, who unveiled the sculpture at a ceremony, said it was "a fitting tribute" to the musician who "left an enduring legacy to the world of contemporary music". The sculpture was designed by 18-year-old Hull College student Janis Skodins, whose artwork was chosen in a competition. It has been installed in the Michael Ronson Garden of Reflection, near the park's pavilion. The sculpture is among 100 plaques and memorials honouring notable people across Hull for its City of Culture celebrations. Fellow musician Trevor Bolder is also due to be honoured. As well as working with Bowie, Ronson recorded several solo albums, the most successful of which was Slaughter on 10th Avenue, which reached number nine in the UK album chart. He also played on, produced or arranged songs for artists including Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, and Morrissey.

Summary: A sculpture honouring Spiders From Mars guitarist Mick Ronson has been unveiled in his home town of Hull.


He accused Suliman Gani in Parliament of backing the militant group as he questioned Sadiq Khan's judgement in sharing a platform with him. Mr Gani has said claims he backs IS are defamatory and must be retracted. Earlier on Wednesday, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon apologised for making similar claims. At Prime Minister's Questions in April, Mr Cameron said Mr Khan had appeared on a platform nine times with Mr Gani, whom the prime minister alleged "supports IS". Mr Gani said at the time that he wanted to take legal action against Mr Cameron but was unable to do so because of Parliamentary privilege rules, which protect MPs' freedom of speech in the Commons. In a statement, Downing Street said Mr Cameron was referring to reports that Mr Gani supports "an" Islamic state. A Number 10 spokesman said: "The prime minister is clear this does not mean Mr Gani supports the organisation Daesh and he apologises to him for any misunderstanding." Several senior Conservatives attacked Mr Gani at the height of the London mayoral race and accused Mr Khan - who was elected London Mayor last week - of associating with extremists, an approach which Labour said was illustrative of a "divisive, dog-whistle campaign". Mr Fallon apologised for an "inadvertent error" in labelling Mr Gani an IS sympathiser. He made the claim about the Tooting preacher during a BBC interview, as he defended the Conservatives' London mayoral election campaign. In a message on social media last month, Mr Gani said he had "condemned IS wholeheartedly" since its inception and that it in no way represented his beliefs. He wrote: "Saying I support Islamic State is untrue and highly damaging to my reputation. "I am totally opposed to so-called Islamic State which I view as a terrorist and inhumane organisation. Indeed as an imam and community leader, I have campaigned against the evils of Islamic State to my fellow Muslims and to others in the community." Dr Shuja Shafi of the Muslim Council of Britain welcomed the "long overdue apology", but said "such smear-by-association has become all too common for Muslims and Muslim organisations". "For the real extremists we are all opposed to, such tactics will only provide fresh new examples of a society not willing to accept Muslims for who they are," he said. He called for the prime minister and the defence secretary to repeat their apologies in Parliament, and for an "urgent review" of Islamophobia in the Conservative party.

Summary: David Cameron has apologised for "any misunderstanding" after describing a former imam as a supporter of the Islamic State group.


Flowers planted in gardens and allotments provide a valuable food source for bees across the year, according to research. Scientists counted honey bees, bumble bees and other pollinating insects, in and around some of the UK's largest towns and cities. Urban habitats can provide a valuable role in bee conservation, they say. Honey bees, bumble bees and other insects that pollinate plants are under threat from habitat loss, pesticides and diseases. But new research suggests that bees and other pollinating insects thrive as well in towns and cities as they do in farms and nature reserves. A team led by Dr Katherine Baldock of the University of Bristol said urban landscapes - making up 7% of the UK - deserve more attention in the drive to protect bees from decline. "Urban areas could be managed in a way to be good to pollinators," she told BBC News. "What we need to know next is which habitats within urban areas are good for pollinators." While farms are often planted with swathes of one crop, gardens and allotments provide a mixed source of flowers across the year, which is a valuable habitat for insects, she added. Commenting on the study, published in the journal, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, Dr Dave Goulson of the University of Sussex said the research showed that there were more species of wild bee living in suburbia than in farmland. "This is an indictment of modern farming methods, but is also greatly encouraging for those gardeners who put in wildlife-friendly flowers and leave a little space for nature," he said. "There is huge potential to turn our suburban sprawls into giant nature reserves if we can get more and more gardeners on board." The study looked at the abundance and richness of pollinating insect species in and around Bristol, Cardiff, Swindon, Reading, Greater London, Southampton, Leeds, Sheffield, Kingston-upon-Hull, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee. A total of 7,412 insects were recorded visiting flowers. Bee abundance did not differ between landscapes, but the richness of species was higher in urban areas than on farmland. The researchers - from the universities of Bristol, Leeds, Newcastle, Reading, Edinburgh and Cardiff - say urban areas are expanding, and could act as important habitats for insects as farming becomes more intensive. Insect pollination has been valued at around Â£690M per year for UK crop production. "The findings offer incentives for policy makers to improve the quality of existing green spaces in urban areas," said Prof Jane Memmott of the University of Bristol. The study was funded by The Insect Pollinators Initiative, which is joint-funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Defra, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Scottish Government and the Wellcome Trust.

Summary: Britain's urban areas are home to more types of wild bee than farmland, a study has found.


The 37-year-old spent two seasons at Gresty Road between 2006 and 2008. The former Shrewsbury, Sheffield Wednesday and Tranmere Rovers forward, scored 11 goals for Bury last season as they won promotion from League Two. Lowe, who has not featured for the Shakers since 29 August, goes straight into the Alex squad for Tuesday's trip to Colchester. Crewe remain bottom of the table following their 5-1 thrashing at home by Peterborough

Summary: League One strugglers Crewe Alexandra have re-signed striker Ryan Lowe from Bury on loan until 5 January.


The group trotted through the streets after escaping from a local ranch, but were soon captured following an unlikely police chase. Meanwhile a raccoon climbed a crane in Toronto and a lorry full of honeybees overturned in Washington state. And all this as the internet recovers from the great llama escape of 2015. Bernard Luyckx, a friend of the zebras' owner, said the animals were apparently upset by the sale of some of their stable-mates. "Some of the horses got sold and the other zebras got mad and trampled the gates and fled into the streets. Luckily there were no injuries, nobody got hurt, the zebras too." He said locals got "a free safari" on Friday. And the dazzle of zebras, to everyone's delight, did at one point appear to cross a zebra crossing. The raccoon, who was on his own so does not get a collective noun, was photographed by a crane operator more than 200 metres up a skyscraper. Rob MacFarlane told the Toronto Star the raccoon safely made it back to the ground again. "It's not unusual," he said. "Raccoons seem to like cranes."

Summary: Three zebras have gone on the loose in the Belgian capital Brussels, capping a generous helping of "animals at large" stories.


Camelia Lupu was last seen leaving her home address in Stalybridge at around 16:05 BST on Wednesday 7 September. Her brother, Noevelle Lupu, has also been reported missing. He was last seen at 10.30 on Wednesday 14 September in Kimberley Street, Oldham. It is believed the pair are with 19-year-old Marius Savin who is wanted on suspicion of their abduction. Camelia is approximately 5ft tall, of slim build with long black hair. She is described as having olive skin and may speak with a Romanian accent. She was last seen wearing a black leather jacket, black jeans, navy blue trainers with pink trim and red lipstick. Noevelle is described as Romanian, also around 5ft tall with short dark hair. The siblings may now be in the south of England and port systems have been made aware, Greater Manchester police said. Sgt Lindsey Curry said: "Concerns are rising from Camelia and Noevelle, as we believe they could be being taken out of the country. "Marius Savin does not have their welfare at heart and we are extremely concerned for their safety."

Summary: A missing 16-year-old girl and her brother, 13, are thought to be with a man suspected of their abduction.


Isabelle and Stanley Larson from Oxted, Surrey, were burgled in October 2005. The Marine Policing Unit's dive team were working on an unrelated case at Slade Ponds when they recovered the items in a supermarket carrier bag. The Larsons were traced after a public appeal by the police. One of the items found was a watch belonging to Mrs Larson's uncle, that he was given in 1972 in recognition of 40 years' service with the South Eastern Gas Board. Mrs Larson said: "I was amazed when my daughter-in-law said she'd seen a police appeal with pictures of my father's cycling medal and uncle's watch. "I saw the pictures myself and recognised the items straight away - it's wonderful news. "After all this time I had lost hope of ever seeing these items again." PC Steve Morgan, from the Met's dive team, met the couple at their home to return the medal and jewellery. "A decade after these items were stolen it was a privilege to be able to meet the Larsons and give back these items which have such meaning to the family," he said.

Summary: A couple who had jewellery stolen more than a decade ago have been reunited with their possessions after they were found at the bottom of a London pond.


A television documentary and two radio productions took the top prizes in their categories for the BBC. Peter Johnston, BBC Northern Ireland's director, said the awards were "a great acknowledgement of the creativity and dedication of our production teams". The three-day festival took place in Dungarvan in County Waterford this week. BBC One NI's True North: Keepin' Er Country took the main accolade in the factual entertainment category. Made for the BBC by the Alley Cats production company, it told the story of country music fans with a passion for dancing. BBC Radio Ulster's Saturday morning programme The John Toal Show won the best radio magazine show award. And BBC Radio Ulster also took the main award in the radio documentary section for Lacrimosa, produced by Conor Garrett. The programme, broadcast last summer, was a personal look at why presenter Proinsias O'Coinn found it difficult to cry. It has also been selected for the 2016 International Features Conference.

Summary: BBC Northern Ireland programmes have won three awards at the Celtic Media Festival in the Republic of Ireland.


Kerry Reeves died two days after being shot in Abingdon on 3 November. Billy Johnson, 20, from Ripon Court, Corby, Northamptonshire, and Charles Noble, 20, from Kempton Avenue, Northolt, Ealing, have both been charged with her murder. They appeared at Oxford Magistrates' Court and will next appear at Oxford Crown Court on Monday. Ms Reeves, 26, was found in Thornhill Walk. She was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in a critical condition where she later died. A post-mortem examination was carried out on Monday, where the preliminary cause of death was given as a gunshot wound to the head.

Summary: Two men have appeared in court charged with the murder of a woman who was shot in the head in Oxfordshire.


The Rev Margaret McPhee made the comment at a carol service at St Mary's Church, Stalham in Norfolk for Stalham Academy pupils on Monday night. A parent on Facebook said she had "spoiled the magic" of Christmas. The school said Mrs McPhee had promised "she will not be making any such comments in the future". During the carol service, the curate asked children what they thought was the meaning of Christmas. When a child answered "Father Christmas", she told them he was not real. One parent said on Facebook that Mrs McPhee had "put me off taking my children to church just in case something else gets said". But another showed support and posted: "I bet this Rev is feeling terrible. No-one spoils the magic of Christmas on purpose for children." In a statement, Stalham Academy said it had received an "official apology" from Mrs McPhee.. The Ven Jan McFarlane, archdeacon of Norwich, said: "Margaret is a sensitive and sensible priest who let slip a comment which she immediately regretted. "She apologised swiftly and wholeheartedly and regrets any distress her comments may have caused."

Summary: A trainee vicar who told primary school children Father Christmas does not exist has apologised for her "insensitive, off-the-cuff remark".


The art of Kremlinology has moved on since then. And I'm proud to say I've come up with my own 21st Century method for keeping up to date with the current thinking in the corridors of Russian power: it involves walking to the train station opposite the BBC Moscow office, going up to the souvenir stand and looking at the fridge magnets on sale. You can tell a lot from Russian fridge magnets. This week's selection includes several different "Vladimir Putin in military camouflage" magnets, complete with patriotic slogans, like: "Together we are a force to be reckoned with!" and "We will always look out for our guys!" Kremlin policy in a nutshell. One fridge magnet in particular caught my eye. It looks just like a $100 bill but, in place of the American founding father Benjamin Franklin, there is a portrait of Vladimir Putin. I know. It's only a fridge magnet. But it encapsulates the whole Putin-Trump/Russia-America saga. After six months of Donald Trump in the White House, Russians are beginning to feel that their country enjoys considerable influence over America. And who could blame them for thinking that? Particularly in light of allegations of the Kremlin hacking a US election and putting a Russian puppet in the White House, and with all the rumours of Russian lawyers, Russian lobbyists and Russian oligarchs conspiring with the Trump team and the Trump family. It will be up to official investigations to establish whether there was, indeed, collusion. But even the suggestion that there may have been has got the whole world talking about the power of Putin's Russia and the weakness of Trump's America. There are times when Vladimir Putin seems to be basking in the infamy of running a cyber superpower. There is just one problem for President Putin. It's the problem of all fridge magnets, really. They look so pretty when you buy them in the shop. But they don't stick to every fridge. When it began, Donald Trump's presidency looked very pretty to Moscow. The Russians expected that America's new leader would herald a new era in US-Russian cooperation. At the time, a news anchor on Russian State TV described Trump as "an Alpha male... a real man." The day after America's presidential election, one Russian state official told me that she had celebrated Trump's victory with a cigar and a bottle of champagne. But, after six months of President Trump, US sanctions against Russia remain in place. The two Russian diplomatic compounds, closed by President Obama last December, remain shut. And the idea of a "Grand Deal" with America, much hoped for here at the start of the Trump presidency, has disappeared from the pages of the Russian dailies. Moscow is not blaming Donald Trump directly for this. One Russian newspaper, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, explained recently that, in the current atmosphere, "Trump doesn't have the slightest possibility to improve Russian-US relations, since any step, any glance even in the direction of Russia is met with suspicion back home and even viewed as treason." A few days ago I was

Summary: There was a time when to work out what was happening in Moscow you needed to read between the lines in Pravda, or look at the line-up of Soviet officials at a Red Square parade and study who was standing next to whom.


Former Chester and Kidderminster boss Burr, 57, joined the Sandgrounders in September to replace Andy Bishop when they were second bottom. But they have lost their last three games and are only a point above the National League drop zone. Watson, 46, has spent eight years as manager at Southport in two spells. "Following a disappointing series of results the board have taken the above decision in the best interests of Southport to move forward in a different direction," said a club statement. "With 19 players recruited during Steve Burr's tenure and significant financial backing to strengthen the squad, the performances and results recently have not shown signs that confirm the club can get to a position in the league that provides the security as required."

Summary: Southport have sacked manager Steve Burr after just over four months in charge, with director of football Liam Watson taking interim charge.


The 32-year-old joined Sale in 2011 and became the first Moldova international to play in the Premiership. Cobilas is out of contract in the summer and has decided to move to France's Top 14. "Vadim's got a great opportunity at his age, so it's a no-brainer for him," said Sale boss Steve Diamond. President Laurent Marti announced the signing of the forward on their website and he joins Ireland fly-half Ian Madigan in moving to Bordeaux for next season. Other players who are out of contract this summer have been free to speak to other clubs from 1 January, but Diamond has confirmed he is in advanced talks with David Seymour, Will Addison and Mark Jennings over new deals. Scrum-half Chris Cusiter is understood to be considering his future, while hooker Tommy Taylor is reportedly a target for Wasps. "There's no decision made on Tommy at the moment, he's not made his mind up," added Diamond. Asked about recruitment for next season, he said: "We're actively out there now. "I'm not in too much of a rush for it as we need to continue what we're doing here and if we lose three or four then we've got to replace them."

Summary: Prop Vadim Cobilas will leave Sale Sharks at the end of the season after he agreed a three-year deal with Bordeaux-Begles.


"Qandeel Baloch is an inspiration to those ladies who are treated badly and dominated by society. I will keep on achieving and I know you will keep on hating. Damn, but who cares." It was for such provocative views that Ms Baloch was loved, derided and mocked. She instigated a debate in Pakistan on whether choosing to defy family and societal norms symbolised women's empowerment or was cheap narcissism. In death, too, what police suspect is an honour killing carried out by her brother reflects a deeply divided country. On social media, some believe her brother was justified in killing her. "A girl who decides to publish her naked pics for sake of publicity.... what her brother is sppose (sic) to do?" asked one Islamabad-based Twitter user. It was down to an MP, Nafisa Shah, to sum up the argument for the other side, writing: "A social media star who exposed social hypocrisy is murdered by a family vigilante created by a skewed law. Condemnable." But others are blaming the media too, for publicising her private and personal information such as her passport and national identity card. When a former husband revealed she also had a child after a supposed love marriage, she claimed that it was forced on her at the age of 17, and that he used to beat her. Ms Baloch genuinely feared for her life, even before she wrote an unheeded letter to the interior ministry calling for protection. In an earlier interview with BBC Urdu she said "I am facing threats. But I believe that death is preordained - when you are meant to die, you will die." In life as well as death, Qandeel Baloch's story from her childhood in a small conservative town, to a video of her "twerking" and ultimately to her murder is perhaps all too Pakistani in its contradictions and in its violence.

Summary: In one of her last posts on Facebook before her murder, Qandeel Baloch wrote: "No matter how many times I will be pushed down, I am a fighter, I will bounce back…


Visitors to the Hebridean Celtic Festival will be able to use an app to trigger online information from items such as signs and posters on the site. Videos and band interviews will be among the online material available to view on phones and tablets. HebCelt is is taking place in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis from 19 to 22 July. The Waterboys, Imelda May, Lucy Spraggan, Skerryvore, Peatbog Faeries and Dougie MacLean are among this year's acts. HebCelt director Caroline Maclennan said: "We are offering the new augmented reality experience as an extra feature to add to the enjoyment of visiting the festival this year. "But it will also mean people around the world can interact with the festival and capture a flavour of its atmosphere at any time. "The message will be updated in the run up to HebCelt and during the event, allowing people to instantly access information and interviews, buy tickets and also get a taste of our unique festival wherever they are."

Summary: A Scottish music event is to offer festival-goers an augmented reality experience.


The video for You're In Love With A Psycho sees band members dancing around a mental institution with presenter Noel Fielding and Taboo actor Stephen Graham. Mental health campaigners Time to Change said the video played into a "sad and tired" stereotype. The BBC has contacted Kasabian for a response. The video sees the celebrity stars and Kasabian band members wearing flesh-coloured hospital gowns and taking medication before gathering their fellow residents for an aerobics-inspired dance routine. Time to Change, a movement trying to change public attitude towards people with mental health problems, said the video - combined with the use of the word psycho - was "unhelpful". Singer Tom Meighan has previously talked about his own mental health. In an interview with Q magazine, he discussed the impact of a friend's death and how he made himself ill. Director of Time to Change, Sue Baker, said: "As so many musicians have recently talked openly about their experiences of mental health problems it is disappointing to see this video. "The use of the word 'psycho' in a song and accompanying music video featuring people pretending to be psychiatric inpatients is unhelpful, damaging and disappointing when society is moving on from this sad and tired stereotype." She said while the harm may have been "unintentional, or misjudged irony", the video will "only serve to fuel stigma". Ms Baker added: "If fans think it is OK to call people with mental health problems who have been psychiatric inpatients 'psychos', then we are turning back the tide of progress on public attitudes that are more respectful and less judgemental of people living with mental health problems. "We are keen to work with the band and the music industry to help shift outdated stereotypes and stigma." You're In Love With A Psycho is the first single from Kasabian's forthcoming sixth album, For Crying Out Loud.

Summary: Kasabian's latest music video has been called "damaging" by a mental health organisation.


The move will see the supermarket open Giraffe branches near to Tesco stores as it seeks to create "retail destinations" for customers. Tesco will hope that the acquisition will help revitalise its UK business. Over the past year, the group has been revamping its UK stores. In January, it reported its strongest growth in UK Christmas sales for three years, but said there was "a lot more to do". Tesco pointed to Giraffe's popularity with a wide range of ages, particularly families, as part of its appeal. "We think our customers will love it," said group commercial director Kevin Grace. The supermarket recently bought a 49% stake in Harris and Hoole coffee shops, a move which drew criticism from some shoppers who felt they had been duped into believing it was an independent business. It has also invested in the Euphorium Bakery chain. "I think it's a very significant move," Neil Saunders, managing director of Conlumino told BBC News. "Traditional retailing is seeing much more sluggish growth and one of the things that all retailers have got to do is look to wider areas of spending including leisure and dining out. "[This] exposes Tesco to much more lucrative growth." Analysts also suggested that the move could help Tesco solve a crucial problem: what to do with the retail space that was once devoted to things like CDs and movies. Tesco can "implant Giraffe restaurants into its larger stores where it has an excess of retail space," said UBS food retail analyst Mike Tattersall. Giraffe founders Russel and Juliette Joffe and Andrew Jacobs will remain in place on the management team, with Russel Joffe continuing as managing director. "This move will allow us to introduce Giraffe to a wider audience, presents great opportunities for growth and for the team to be involved in an exciting stage in our brand's development," said Mr Joffe. Private equity firms 3i and Risk Capital Partners have sold their stakes in the business.

Summary: Supermarket group Tesco has bought the restaurant chain Giraffe for £48.6m.


Michael Pepper, 67, from Glasgow, raped the woman on various occasions between 1986 and 2001. He also hit her with a baseball bat and bottle, cut off her clothes, struck her with a knife, kicked her on the body and caused her to fall downstairs. Pepper was also placed on the sex offenders register. Jailing him at the High Court in Glasgow, judge Johanna Johnston QC told Pepper: "Your actions blighted this woman's life. You now accept your guilty, albeit at a late stage. "However, this woman had to come to court and give evidence of a very private nature. "This was a horrendous catalogue of offending."

Summary: A man has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years after being convicted of "a horrendous catalogue" of abuse against a woman for more than a decade.


The team discovered a set of 12,000-year-old Ice Age stone tools while excavating Rubha Port an t-Seilich, on Islay in the Inner Hebrides. The tools included scrapers used for cleaning skins and sharp points for hunting big game such as reindeer. The excavation had been started after pigs foraging along the Islay coastline uprooted Mesolithic objects in 2009. Archaeologists from the University of Reading found animal bones, plant remains and a fireplace at the Mesolithic site. However, on the last day of the excavation in 2013, the team also uncovered tools which would have been used 3,000 years earlier. It is now thought they were made by people of the Ahrensburgian culture, which flourished in mainland Europe towards the end of the last Ice Age. Similar sites have recently been discovered in Denmark and Sweden, suggesting the Ahrensburgian people may also have been coastal foragers hunting sea mammals from skin boats. Prof Steve Mithen, who led the excavation with Dr Karen Wicks, said: "The Mesolithic finds were a wonderful discovery - but what was underneath took our breath away. "The Ice Age tools provide the first unequivocal presence of people in Scotland about 3,000 years earlier than previously indicated. This moves the story of Islay into a new historical era, from the Mesolithic into the Palaeolithic." Dr Wicks admitted the initial discovery was "more swine team than Time Team". She added: "Archaeology relies on expert planning and careful analysis, but a bit of luck is also very welcome."

Summary: Archaeologists found the earliest dated evidence of human activity in Scotland - with the help of a herd of pigs.


After two rain-hit days, Derbyshire added 75 runs to be bowled out for 275, visiting skipper Joe Leach taking 4-50. Former captain Mitchell then made 120, followed by 150 from D'Oliveira to help Worcestershire close on 323-3. That is a lead of 48 - and quick runs on day four could set up a victory. Mitchell, who had starred on this ground on Tuesday night to help Worcestershire book a One-Day cup semi-final, passed the landmark of 10,000 first-class runs for the county when he had reached 87. Earlier, Derbyshire had held up Worcestershire for 20 overs in the morning session to earn a second batting point. That was largely due to a ninth-wicket stand of 45 between Tony Palladino (32) and Tom Taylor, who was caught behind to give Ed Barnard the first of two late victims and Ben Cox his 200th first-class catch. When Worcestershire batted, Mitchell was first to reach his ton, just before tea, while D'Oliveira's was his first since his career-best double century against Glamorgan last May when he began the season with three tons in four games. Derbyshire skipper Billy Godleman told BBC Radio Derby: "The wicket definitely played slightly differently when they batted. There was less in it for our bowlers. "We were disappointed with how we bowled with the new ball, although both openers played well. "I imagine they will come out and play a few shots and then we will have an opportunity and challenge against their bowlers in the second innings but we will fight as hard as we can." Worcestershire opener Brett D'Oliveira told BBC Hereford & Worcester: "I'm really pleased for Mitch. It's been quite tough for us early season against the new ball on tasty pitches and for him to pass 10,000 runs is a hell of an achievement. He played a fantastic knock and helped me a lot. "We are in a great position. We will try and kick on early and put them under pressure with the bat. "We bat all the way down, which is a real strength for us so, if we can push on in the morning, the quicker we can get them in again."

Summary: Worcestershire's Brett D'Oliveira made his first hundred in over a year as he shared a 243-run opening stand with fellow centurion Daryl Mitchell against Derbyshire on day three at Derby.


Police said they received a report of the fire at a property in Castle Mews at about 03:30 BST on Saturday. A tyre had been put against the front door of the house and set alight. The blaze caused smoke damage. A man, a woman and two boys inside the property were not injured. Det Insp Tara Nicholls said: "I would appeal to anyone that was in the area and noticed any suspicious activity between the times of 01:30 and 03:30 BST to contact CID at Cookstown Police Station on the non emergency number 101."

Summary: Four people have escaped injury after an arson attack in Cookstown, County Tyrone.


The woman, who has asked to remain anonymous, said it happened just before 20:00 BST on Sunday. She said the man was dressed in dark clothes and asked her to call an ambulance. "It was a terrible shock. You just don't know who you're answering the door to," she said. The shooting happened at Glenwood Drive, Poleglass. The victim, a 56-year-old man, is in a stable condition in hospital. The woman told BBC News she was waiting for her grandson to come over when the man came to her door and said there were lots of children in the area. "I didn't get much sleep, I've been up all night with my stomach churning," she said. "It doesn't bear thinking about if the kids had seen the shooting." The woman said she and a neighbour tended to the man while waiting for the ambulance, which she said arrived quickly and took him away. She said she does not think the man was local to her area. Stephen Magennis, a Sinn FÃ©in councillor, said the man had been shot "five or six times in the leg". "I've said for a long time now regarding punishment attacks that no guns at all should be brought onto the streets," he said. "The message needs to come loud and clear in the community and hopefully these groups will listen."

Summary: A grandmother has described how the victim of a paramilitary-style shooting in west Belfast knocked on her door asking for help after the attack.


Relations with Iran have been shaky since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. The British embassy in Tehran is expected to be reopened within days, during a visit to Iran by Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and a delegation of business leaders. The move follows a deal agreed by Iran with six world powers on curbing its nuclear programme. The reopening of the embassy was first publicly proposed by the UK government last year, but had been held up by problems including Iran's reluctance to relax import laws which slowed the replacement of equipment taken out when the post was abandoned. British Foreign Secretary William Hague says the circumstances are right to reopen Britain's embassy in the Iranian capital Tehran. It follows an improvement in relations in recent months following the election of a more moderate president, Hassan Rouhani, in June 2013 and an agreement on how to deal with Iran's nuclear programme. It also comes as Iraqi forces are engaged in heavy clashes with Sunni Islamist militants across the country, amid reports that Iran is providing military assistance to its historic rival. Britain demands the immediate closure of the Iranian embassy in London, saying also that all Iranian diplomats must leave the country within 48 hours. Foreign Secretary William Hague also reveals that all UK diplomatic employees have already left Iran. Iranian protesters storm the UK embassy in Tehran, throwing stones, petrol bombs, and burning documents. They attempt to occupy it before being dispersed by riot police. The UK Foreign Office says it is "outraged" by the incident. The Iranian parliament votes to expel the British ambassador in Tehran, Dominick Chilcott. Economic and trade links with the UK are weakened. British Chancellor George Osborne announces financial sanctions against Iran as a result of a report by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), into its nuclear programme. Britain ceases all ties with Iranian banks. Four people said by Iran to be terrorists with links to Britain are arrested according to the country's English language television station Press TV. The Foreign Office denied the men had ties to Britain and said this was "another in a long line of slurs against the United Kingdom from the government of Iran". Iran admits it is building a uranium enrichment plant near Qom, but insists it is for peaceful purposes. British intelligence services played a key role in the unveiling of the site. Mass protests are held after the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The opposition says the election was fraud. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says "arrogant powers" in the US and European countries tried to encourage protests. He adds that the "most evil of those powers was Britain". The British media was also criticised. The British Council, which has been operating intermittently in Iran since 1961, says it has suspended operations in Tehran, claiming Iranian officials "pressurised" their staff. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivers Channel 4's alternative Christmas message to Britain. In a speech to the Israeli parliament, Gordon Brown says: "Iran has a clear choice to make: suspend its nuclear programme

Summary: The UK is set to reopen its embassy in Tehran in the coming days, almost four years after it was closed following the storming of the compound by protesters.


The scenery ranges from white sandy beaches with an abundance of marine life to dense jungle. Palau favours sustainable tourism, which along with foreign aid is the mainstay of its economy. Palau became independent in 1994, after being part of a United Nations trust territory administered by the US for 47 years. It relies on financial aid from the US, provided under a Compact of Free Association which gives the US responsibility for Palau's defence and the right to maintain military bases there. Direct aid was set to wind up in 2009, but the US agreed to an additional package of $250 million in January 2010. Tourism is low key, although growing in economic importance. Many visitors come from Taiwan, with which Palau has diplomatic ties. Taiwanese aid boosts the economy. The government is Palau's largest employer. Monoliths and other relics are reminders of an ancient culture that thrived on the islands, and despite Western trappings many Palauans identify strongly with their traditions and rites. Palau's recent history has been dominated by outside influences from Spain, Britain, Germany, Japan and the US. Palau saw some of the region's fiercest fighting in World War II. There is concern that the low-lying islands could be badly affected by rising sea levels possibly due to climate change. Population 20,600 Area 508 sq km (196 sq miles) Major languages Palauan, English Major religions Christianity, Modekngei (indigenous belief) Life expectancy 66 years (men), 72 years (women) Currency US dollar President: Tommy Remengesau Tommy Remengesau was sworn in for a fourth non-consecutive term as president in January 2017, after beating his brother-in-law Surangel Whipps Jr in a closely fought election. He described the 2016 election race as one of the toughest ever on both a political and personal level. He has said that his vision for Palau is to achieve a sustainable future for the country by balancing growth, development and the protection of the Palau's environmental and cultural assets. The law provides for a free press, and there are no reports of official curbs on internet access. The senate has twice tried to ban foreign ownership of media. In 2012, a clause to this effect was included in a new telecommunications bill. It was put on hold amid international criticism. Some key events in Palau's history: circa 2500 BC - Palau's first inhabitants - thought to have come from present-day eastern Indonesia - settle in the islands. The early Palauans develop complex social systems, practice fishing and farming. 1783 - English captain Henry Wilson is shipwrecked on a reef and becomes the first Westerner to visit. 1885 - Spain asserts its claim to the islands. 1899 - Spain sells Palau to Germany, which begins to exploit the islands' resources using native labour. Phosphate is mined and coconut plantations are developed. 1914 - After Germany's defeat in World War I, Japan seizes Palau. 1947 - Palau becomes a United Nations Trust Territory under US administration. 1981 - Republic of Palau comes into being, following the territory's adoption of a constitution in July 1980. President Haruo Remeliik takes office.

Summary: More than 200 volcanic and coral islands, many of them surrounded by a single barrier reef, make up the northern Pacific nation of Palau.


Mayor John Hamilton said the move would "better reflect cultural sensitivity in the workplace", local media said. Bloomington is a traditionally liberal city. Its county gave Hillary Clinton 58.6% in the presidential election. But the move sparked a backlash on social media, with opponents condemning it as an act of political correctness. How Columbus became a hate figure for many A political correctness war that never really ended The change was announced on Friday by Mr Hamilton in a memo to city employees. "We are terrifically proud of our diverse workforce at the city," he wrote, according to the Herald-Times. "That diversity makes us stronger and more representative of the public we proudly serve. These updated names for two days of well-merited time off is another way we can demonstrate our commitment to inclusivity." Bloomington city employees receive paid time off for Columbus Day and Good Friday. Columbus Day became a federal holiday in the United States in 1937 and celebrates the arrival of explorer Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. The holiday falls on the second Monday of October. However, it has drawn significant opposition from those who regard Columbus's arrival as a prelude to centuries of oppression. A movement began in 1977 to replace it with a holiday that celebrates the indigenous peoples of North America. A few states now do not mark Columbus Day, or give it another title. Good Friday is one of the most important dates of the Christian faith, marking the day Jesus Christ was crucified by the Romans. It is not a federal holiday in the US but is a state holiday in some states. Bloomington, with a population estimated at 84,067 in July 2016 by the Census Bureau, has long been regarded as a liberal city. It is the home to Indiana University Bloomington and a number of other schools and institutes. It enrolled in Tree City USA, a tree planting and tree care programme in 2015. The renaming of the holidays drew strong social media responses, most of them condemning the move. They included posts such as "How is the day Jesus died insensitive?" and "I'm guessing they will next rename Christmas to winter holiday".

Summary: The US city of Bloomington in Indiana has renamed Good Friday and Columbus Day as "Spring Holiday" and "Fall Holiday" to be more "inclusive".


Michelle O'Neill hosted a departmental breakfast at the Balmoral Show on Thursday morning. In attendance was the Chinese consul general Madam Wang Shuying. Chinese inspectors visited Northern Ireland pork plants in April as part of a process to approve local pork for export. Ms O'Neill said she was also hoping to agree access to Chinese markets for beef and chicken. US consul general Greg Burton was also at the event. Northern Ireland is hoping to sell beef into the United States. Ms O'Neill said she was also working with Irish agriculture minister Simon Coveney to resolve labelling issues that have hit Northern Ireland lamb sales to meat plants in the Republic of Ireland. She told guests that the quality of Northern Ireland food was "something that carries our reputation around the world." She said it was "safe, traceable and sustainably produced" and she would seek to use that reputation to open doors. It is the second day of the Balmoral Show, the biggest showcase for Northern Ireland's farming and food industries.

Summary: The agriculture minister is to return to China next month as attempts to access markets there continue.


She will play Denker, a lady's maid to Dame Maggie Smith's character, the Dowager Countess of Grantham. Johnston, who has also appeared in Waking the Dead and Coronation Street, joins new stars Richard E Grant and Anna Chancellor, both of whom will play guests of the Granthams at Downton. The hit period drama will return to screens this autumn. Series four of the show, which followed the wealthy Grantham family and their servants, achieved an average of 11.9 million viewers in the UK. The very British drama has also been a huge hit in the US, winning both Emmy Awards and Golden Globes. More than 26 million viewers watched series four on Masterpiece on PBS, making it one of the highest rating shows on American television. Previous high profile guest stars include Shirley Maclaine who played Martha Levinson, Lady Grantham's mother, and Oscar-nominated actor Paul Giamatti who appeared in last year's Christmas special as her "maverick, playboy" son. Series five will also feature 24 star Rade Sherbedgia as a Russian refugee who has fled the revolution after World War 1. Earlier this year, executive producer Gareth Neame promised it would have "all the usual highs and lows, romance, drama and comedy".

Summary: The Royle Family actress Sue Johnston is the latest star to join series five of ITV's Downton Abbey in a guest role.


It says Berlin should consider raising the retirement age to that level by 2060, from around 65 at the moment. The central bank says that otherwise the country may struggle to honour its pension commitments. It points out that the state pension system is in good financial health at present, but will come under pressure in coming decades. The Bundesbank says that as baby-boomers - those born in the post-World War Two period - retire, there will be fewer younger workers to replace them. The retirement age for Germans is set to rise gradually to 67 by 2030. However, the bank believes that from 2050 this increase will not be enough for the German government to keep state pensions at their target level of at least 43% of the average income. It is therefore proposing pushing the retirement age up to 69. "Further changes are unavoidable to secure the financial sustainability (of the state pension system)," the Bundesbank said in its monthly report. But German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said they stood by retirement at 67. "Retirement at 67 is a sensible and necessary measure given the demographic development in Germany. That's why we will implement it as we agreed - step by step," he added.

Summary: Elderly Germans may have to keep working until the age of 69 if a Bundesbank proposal is adopted.


Ireland team manager Mick Kearney said that the Irish are adopting a "wait and see" attitude over centre Payne's recovery from a hamstring injury. If Payne is ruled out, his Ulster colleague Stuart McCloskey will be in contention for a first cap. Props Mike Ross and Cian Healy are available to bolster the scrum after missing Ireland's first two games. The Irish scrum struggled badly in the second half of the defeat by France and the return of the Leinster duo after injury will be a boost to coach Joe Schmidt. Loose-head Healy has returned to Leinster duty in recent weeks after knee surgery while tight-head Ross has recovered from hamstring trouble. "They both participated in Leinster's last two games and both got a significant amount of game-time at the weekend against Cardiff," said Kearney of Healy and Ross on Monday afternoon. "So they're in, fully fit and available for selection." Kearney appeared less certain of Payne's fitness. "Jared Payne is continuing his rehab and the hope is that he will train fully tomorrow," added the Ireland team manager. "He did some running last week and will continue with that rehab today." Payne was initially thought to have suffered a dead leg in the Paris game but it was later diagnosed as a hamstring problem. Fears over Johnny Sexton's fitness appear to have eased after he picked up a neck injury in Paris and then strained an ankle in training on Friday. Ross and Healy join Ulster wing Craig Gilroy plus Munster lock Dave Foley and Leinster flanker Jordi Murphy in being added to the Ireland squad for the Twickenham contest. Munster pair Keith Earls and Simon Zebo, who started in the draw against Wales, are included after missing the defeat by France because of injury. Sean O'Brien, Dave Kearney and Mike McCarthy have all been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament after picking up injuries in the France game. Ulster flanker Chris Henry remains a notable absentee, despite starting for his province in the defeat by the Scarlets. After the daunting match against England, Joe Schmidt's side then finish their campaign with home games against Italy and Scotland on 12 and 19 March. The holders' chances of retaining the title they won in 2014 and 2015 look remote, with just one point from their opening two fixtures. Ireland squad: Forwards: Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Rory Best (Ulster), Sean Cronin (Leinster), Ultan Dillane (Connacht), Dave Foley (Munster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Jordi Murphy (Leinster), Tommy O'Donnell (Munster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Rhys Ruddock (Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), CJ Stander (Munster), Richardt Strauss (Leinster), Devin Toner (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Nathan White (Connacht). Backs: Keith Earls (Munster), Craig Gilroy (Ulster), Robbie Henshaw (Connacht), Paddy Jackson (Ulster), Rob Kearney (Leinster), Ian Madigan (Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Connacht), Luke Marshall (Ulster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Jared Payne (Ulster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Simon Zebo (Munster).

Summary: Jared Payne remains a fitness doubt for Ireland's Six Nations game against England on Saturday.


The 61-year-old joined the Canaries from Atlanta United in December 2016. Money managed Walsall, Luton Town and Cambridge United between 2006 and 2015 before working for MLS side Atlanta. "Watching [head coach] Daniel Farke over the past six weeks has rekindled my appetite for management and it's something I'd like to be considered for once more," Money said.

Summary: Richard Money has left his role as Norwich academy boss by mutual consent to try to return to club management.


It is alleged Mark H Durkan adopted the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan (BMAP) without telling executive colleagues. The decision is being challenged in judicial review proceedings by the Finance Minister Arlene Foster. BMAP identifies planning zones for 40% of the Northern Ireland population. Counsel for Mr Durkan claimed he was pressurised by DUP executive colleagues over the policy, that ended any prospect of a John Lewis store at Sprucefield. Rejecting claims that he breached a ministerial code by unilaterally approving the planning framework last year, Mr Durkan's barrister said he had tried to get it on the agenda at Stormont executive meetings at least six times. The barrister said there had been an "egregious failure" by others to ensure BMAP was discussed. "That is where the system has broken down, because it never happens," he said. "Does the minister lose his executive power in circumstances where he has been thwarted by those who will not allow it to go on the executive agenda? "No, he does not lose his executive power - he has discharged his obligations, there's been no contravention of the ministerial code." BMAP covers retail, residential or commercial development not only in Belfast, but outlying areas such as Carrickfergus, Lisburn, Newtownabbey and north Down. In January 2012, then environment minister Alex Attwood announced the retailing element of the plan. This included a policy of restricting future development at Sprucefield to bulky goods such as furniture and electrical items, effectively blocking the John Lewis plan. During the two-day hearing the court was told the legal challenge involved a disagreement split down party-political lines. The DUP is opposed to the restrictions adopted by the SDLP minister in BMAP. Counsel for Mrs Foster said the plan is so controversial that it required full Stormont executive consent. However, Mr Durkan's barrister said the minister had done everything he could. The court heard how a regional development strategy in place up to 2035 aims to strengthen Belfast's role as a primary retail location. Insisting executive departments are obliged to adhere to it, the barrister asked: "How would the Department of the Environment minister properly be having regard to that policy if he had acted behind closed doors to abandon the bulky goods restriction because he had been put under pressure by a political grouping or part thereof? "That would be an abdication of his statutory responsibilities." The barrister also told the court that the ministerial code was being used to make improper demands. He said: "It cannot be right that the ministerial code is used to coerce the minister to disregard statutory obligations imposed on him." "The only way in which a minister can lose power is if there's a contravention of the code. "In this case there has been none, and he retains his executive power." The case continues.

Summary: Attempts were allegedly made to "coerce" the environment minister into ignoring his legal duties over a planning policy for greater Belfast, the High Court has heard.


They inspected how well forces treat the public, ensure staff work ethically and lawfully, and how they look after their workforce. North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones branded the force's report "inaccurate". Dyfed-Powys Police said it would "continue to improve". Gwent and South Wales Police have been judged as good in annual "legitimacy" assessments by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC). In its study of forces in England and Wales, the HMIC said the abuse of authority for sexual gain was now the "most serious" form of corruption facing police. North Wales Police's zero-tolerance approach to sexually-motivated misconduct was highlighted in the report, saying it took "action where it suspects the abuse of authority for sexual gain is taking place". HMIC found North Wales Police: Defending the force, Mr Jones said: "I don't believe the 'requires improvement' judgement reflects the tremendous work carried out across north Wales on a daily basis to keep our communities safe." He was also critical of the number of HMIC inspections, adding: "The force is having to make a significant amount of investment of both time and resources just to respond to the inspection regime." Regarding Dyfed-Powys Police, HM Inspector of Constabulary Wendy Williams said she was "disappointed by the lack of progress" on the previous year. She also said that it needed to "gain a better understanding of the extent to which officers may be abusing their authority for sexual gain". Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Liane James said Dyfed-Powys Police had been working "tirelessly" to ensure its code of ethics was implemented across the board. "As we get ready to welcome a new chief constable to the force, I am pleased to see all the hard work of our staff over the past year is paying off and we will continue to improve and ensure we safeguard the communities of Dyfed and Powys together," she said. HMIC found that Dyfed-Powys Police:

Summary: Dyfed-Powys Police and North Wales Police require improvement in some of the ways they work, according to reports by watchdogs.


The men, along with a fifth man, were caught after firearms, ammunition and cocaine were found in a car arriving at Folkestone from Calais in January 2012. They were convicted of firearms and drugs charges on Monday after a six-week trial. At Woolwich Crown Court they were given prison sentences ranging from six-and-a-half years to 14 years. Describing it as "a carefully planned enterprise" Judge Philip Shorrock said: "The guns were intended for use by serious criminals. They would be used to kill or maim." The court heard the gang was caught after armed police stopped two of the men in two BMW cars arriving at Folkestone on Eurotunnel last year. Officers discovered five handguns and three silencers, while 500g of cocaine was found in an Army issue boot covered in duct tape and curry powder to disguise the smell. Detectives believe the guns were destined for criminal gangs in London. Ringleader Lemar Loveless, 26, of Brydon Walk, Islington, north London, who had resigned from the army in November 2011 and was on terminal leave, was jailed for 14 years after admitting conspiring to import firearms. Lance Laurent, 26, of Gloucester Street, Battersea, south-west London, was sentenced to 12 years in jail after admitting conspiring to import firearms. Both Loveless and Laurent were also found guilty of conspiring to import class A drugs. Trave Dyce, 22, of Sydney Road, Smethwick, West Midlands, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years after he admitted conspiring to import drugs and firearms. Romone Mashalleck, 25, a civilian, of Huron Street, Balham, south London, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail after being found guilty of conspiring to import firearms. Duran Wright, a former regimental police officer in the Army, was jailed for 10 years. The 28-year-old, of Jerningham Road, New Cross, south-east London, was found guilty of conspiring to import class A drugs and firearms. Laurent had been a trooper with the Queen's Royal Hussars and Wright had been a lance corporal with the Royal Logistics Corps. Dyce and Loveless had been troopers in the Queen's Royal Hussars. They were all based in Germany. Marshalleck was their civilian contact in London. Jurors heard Dyce, Laurent and Wright were serving soldiers while Loveless was on terminal leave ahead of his discharge from the Army. Alison Saunders, of the CPS, said: "This was a planned conspiracy to bring weapons, ammunition and drugs into the UK organised by four soldiers, based in Germany, and their civilian contact in London." She said the full extent of those involved was only discovered when phone data was "meticulously analysed and a picture of those involved was created". She continued: "These deadly weapons could have gone on to be used in violent crimes. "The high-purity cocaine that was imported had a street value of over Â£70,000 and would almost certainly have made big profits for criminal gangs while damaging lives."

Summary: Four British soldiers who tried to smuggle guns and drugs into the UK have been jailed.


South African firm Famous Brands signed a £120m deal to buy the chain from Nando's owner, Capricorn Ventures. Gourmet Burger Kitchen, founded in 2001, was a "pioneer of the premium burger revolution", Famous Brands said. The company says that it wants to open 10 to 15 more burger restaurants a year in the UK. The mass-market burger giants, McDonalds and Burger King, first opened in the UK in the 1970s. While those brands have continued to expand, by the end of the 1990s a new fashion for more expensive burgers had arrived, again from the US. Upmarket burger brands in the UK now include Byron, Shake Shack and Five Guys, as well as an increasing number of independents. According to analysts Mintel, the premium burger market now accounts for sales worth more than £3bn a year. Famous Brands plans to double Gourmet Burger Kitchen's 75 UK stores in the next five years and said Brexit uncertainty would not affect its plans. Consumers still want food that is quick and convenient, but are willing to pay for better ingredients, said Famous Brands' Kevin Hedderwick. "The fast-casual premium environment is pretty recession-proof," he said. The price difference between upmarket and fast-food burger shops is quite striking. Whereas a typical McDonald's quarter-pounder with cheese will set you back less than £3, a Gourmet Burger Kitchen 4oz classic cheeseburger is more than £6. But Gourmet Burger Kitchen also sells more unusual fare, including buffalo burgers and Persian lamb. Food fashions in the UK range from the super-health-conscious to the indulgent. And at the indulgent end of the scale, consumers are focusing on the quality of the ingredients and being able to personalise the menu, by selecting different options. "Consumers see freshly made burgers as the biggest marker of a gourmet burger venue, something that sets them apart, as this is not traditionally offered by fast food venues," said Kiti Soininen, head of UK food and drink research at Mintel. "Customisation is also a top expectation for gourmet offerings, in line with a more general demand for knowing what goes into one's food and the trend for personalisation."

Summary: Wimpy owner Famous Brands has swallowed UK chain Gourmet Burger Kitchen, as the fashion for upmarket burgers in the UK shows no signs of slowing down.


"We do not have plans to develop a successor Reader model at this time," the Japanese firm told the BBC. The PRS-T3 was the last version made and will exist as long as supplies remain in Europe. Earlier this year, Sony pulled out of selling e-books and directed its users in the US and Europe to the e-bookstore of rival Kobo. North American customers using Sony Readers have been directed to buy books from Kobo since February this year, and European and Australian customers since May, a Sony spokeswoman said. But users in Japan, Sony's home country, can continue to still get its line of Readers and access Sony's Reader Store. The news was first reported by German site Lesen. The dominance of Amazon's range of Kindles and the growing smartphone, tablet and so-called phablet market have made it hard for Sony's suite of e-readers and rivals like Nook to carve out a niche for themselves. According to The Bookseller, Amazon has around 90% of the dedicated e-reader market in the UK. Canadian firm Kobo was bought by Japanese e-commerce company Rakuten, which is looking to grow its business globally in a bid to challenge Amazon. The global market in dedicated e-readers peaked in 2011 with 23 million devices sold, but is expected to fall to 10 million by 2017 as phones and tablets eat into the overall market, according to the research consultancy Gartner. Still, the sale of printed books will be outstripped by e-books by 2018, a report by Pricewaterhouse Coopers suggested.

Summary: Sony has given up selling its line of Reader devices for e-books after failing to find a big enough market.


The Lord Chief Justice said a failure to do so could frustrate the rule of law. Sir Declan Morgan added that the government and Stormont Executive must address the issue urgently. There are 56 so-called legacy inquests involving 98 deaths. Earlier this year, the LCJ announced a plan he said would result in all of those inquests being heard within five years. First Minister Arlene Foster blocked a request for funding for the initiative. "I hoped that it would receive a sympathetic hearing, I was disappointed that there was no immediate response," said Sir Declan. "I hoped that in due course that the parties would be able to find a way forward, both those here within Northern Ireland and the secretary of state's office, but unfortunately so far that hasn't occurred." Secretary of State James Brokenshire could unilaterally provide funding for the initiative, but to date has chosen not to do so. Earlier this week he was asked several times by the BBC if he accepted that the British government was in breach of its legal obligations to ensure the inquests take place. He did not acknowledge that was the case. After meeting Mr Brokenshire on Wednesday, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinnness accused the British government of not being "serious about dealing with the legacy of the past". "The Lord Chief Justice has asked for funds for legacy inquests to be released immediately and the British government has a responsibility to do that," he said. The Lord Chief Justice was clear that "the state is under a legal obligation" to act as quickly as possible. "If the various agencies who are involved in examining this from a political point of view cannot reach an agreement then the danger is that the political process will end up frustrating the rule of law," he said. "The parties, it seems to me, who are involved in these discussions need to take into account that there is a need for reasonable expedition, so it is up to them, it seems to me, to address this matter urgently so as to ensure that they comply with the legal obligations that all of us face in this area. "This is not just a matter of policy, there is actually a legal obligation in relation to the legacy inquests." He said the legal obligation to act also includes the Northern Ireland Executive. On Monday, Sinn FÃ©in MLA Gerry Kelly told the BBC it was "appalling" that the families of those involved in the legacy inquests had not had their cases heard. In response, Sir Declan said: "I'm not surprised that the families feel incredibly frustrated by the process. "I may be disappointed that the work that we have done has not yet come to fruition, but for the families their degree of frustration having lived with these issues for so long must be all the greater and I recognise that." The DUP's Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said the party is not prepared to move forward on legacy issues on "a partial basis", where a a small number of victims

Summary: The state has a legal obligation to ensure inquests into some of the most controversial killings of the Troubles take place, Northern Ireland's most senior judge has said.