Meanwhile, use of the drug Spice remains a "blight" within HMP Erlestoke leading to "frequent life-threatening emergencies". The report comes a day after the Prison and Probation Service downgraded the Wiltshire prison's rating. The Ministry of Justice said the prison had "addressed a number of concerns". The Prison Officers' Association (POA) said management must "get a grip". A disturbance at the Category C prison near Devizes last year saw 130 inmates transferred to nearby jails after two wings were put "out of commission". The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) said the "major incident" was not a riot but a shortage of officers "contributed to the incident". Of the 88 prison officers now working at Erlestoke, 34 are new and have served less than one year. "Lack of experience and confidence is a concern," the IMB said. Elsewhere in the report it said the use of the drug Spice "continues to cause concern" and it "may be only a matter of time before there is a Spice-related death". It added tobacco was being smuggled into the prison and sold for about 10 times the price paid in shops and is "an additional cause of debt, bullying and assault". A separate report from the Prison and Probation Service downgraded Erlestoke's rating from '3' to '2', meaning its overall performance is of concern. Mark Fairhurst from the POA insisted last year's incident was a riot, with "cell doors not fit for purpose". He demanded management "get on the [prison] wings and manage". "We need experienced staff to guide the new staff. It is a concern that nearly 50% of staff are very new and inexperienced," he said. Erlestoke's IMB chair Sheila Kimmins said the prison was "reaping the consequences" of government funding decisions. The Ministry of Justice said "while there remains progress to be made, HMP Erlestoke have addressed a number of concerns".

Summary: A lack of experienced staff contributed to a serious disturbance at a prison last year and remains a "concern", a report has said.


Sixteen men and eight women competed in the World Gravy Wrestling Championships at the Rose 'N' Bowl pub in Stacksteads, Lancashire. Hundreds of people turned out to watch wrestlers from all over the country take part in the tenth event, held in aid of East Lancashire Hospice. Organiser Andy Holt said it was "harder than it looks". Mr Holt, who is the gravy monitor, has wrestled in the event eight times and said it was "very slippy out there". He added: "It really does take it out of you, even if it is just two minutes." The wrestling ring is a 14ft (4.3m) by 13ft (4m) pool which is padded to reduce the risk of injury. Mr Holt, who makes the gravy at his black pudding factory, said he has had to change the recipe because the original attracted swarms of wasps to contestants. Bouts are two minutes Three judges award points on entertainment value, not just the wrestling Losers get gravy bombed in the "laughing stocks" Mr Holt said the best wrestler does not always win. He added: "The points system is more about entertainment." Gandalf the Gravy (Joel Hicks), from Leicester, was defending the men's title, while Nicole Taylor-Lyons, 21, was aiming to recapture the women's event. Mr Holt said: "It is crazy, but it is all about having fun and it is for a great cause."

Summary: Wrestlers in fancy dress have grappled for a world title in 1,000 litres of gravy.


He is known for frank - some would argue brutal - descriptions of sexuality and alienation. One of France's best-known authors internationally, he also wrote the books Atomised and Platform. Houellebecq, 52, won a court case in 2002 against Muslim groups who accused him of insulting Islam. He said he felt contempt for Islam, but he was cleared of inciting racial hatred. The Map and the Territory, first published in French in September, satirises the Paris art world, telling the story of a misanthropic artist who achieves critical and commercial success by photographing old Michelin maps. It also features a badly dressed, drunken writer by the name of Michel Houellebecq who becomes the victim of a grisly murder. "Among all the people who are going to discover my books thanks to this prize, I hope I won't disappoint them and they'll be happy," the author told French media. He has twice come close to winning the Goncourt Prize before, in 1998 and 2005.

Summary: The controversial writer Michel Houellebecq has won France's top literary award, the Goncourt Prize, for his book The Map and the Territory.


Media playback is not supported on this device Real took the lead in the ninth minute through Karim Benzema, but Gaku Shibasaki scored either side of half-time to put Kashima in front. Ronaldo levelled from the penalty spot on the hour mark after Lucas Vazquez was fouled by Shuto Yamamoto. The Ballon d'Or winner put his side ahead in extra time after being played through by Benzema, and completed his hat-trick seven minutes later. Listen: 2016 - the year of Ronaldo? Victory gave Real their second Club World Cup and extended their unbeaten run to 37 games in all competitions. It also means nine of the past 10 winners of the competition have come from Europe. The Champions League winners looked set for a comfortable afternoon when Benzema put them ahead, and they dominated possession in the opening stages. But Kashima - the first Japanese team to reach a Club World Cup final - impressed in an entertaining game, and Shibasaki took both goals well. Indeed, after Ronaldo's equalising penalty, Kashima had the better chances late in normal time. First Keylor Navas saved a long-range strike from Fabricio, then Yasushi Endo shot wide at the back post with the final kick of the 90 minutes. At 3-2 down, Yuma Suzuki hit the bar with a header. The Japanese side also felt Real captain Sergio Ramos should have been sent off in normal time when he appeared to body-check an opponent when on a yellow card. Referees used video replays to review several decisions during the competition, but Janny Sikazwe chose not take a second look at this incident. "The referee lacked courage, which was regrettable," said Kashima coach Masatada Ishii. Victory for Ronaldo capped an impressive year for the forward, coming six days after he won the Ballon d'Or, awarded to the world's best player. He scored the winning penalty in Real's Champions League final victory over Atletico Madrid in May, before captaining Portugal to Euro 2016 success in the summer. His hat-trick in Yokohama was the first in a Club World Cup final, and he is now the joint-top scorer in the competition's history with five goals. "What a game," said Ronaldo. "We had to suffer, but that's what finals are about. It's a trophy we really wanted to win and we end the year in the best way possible so I'm very happy." Ronaldo has now won the Club World Cup three times, having done so previously with Manchester United in 2008 and Real in 2014. He was already the only player to win the competition with two different clubs. Having taken over as Real coach from Rafael Benitez in January, Zinedine Zidane's first year in management has been remarkable. The Champions League, Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup have all been won during an unbeaten run stretching back to April. That adds to the former France international's achievements as a player, when he won the World Cup, European Championship, La Liga, Serie A, Champions League, Intertoto Cup, Intercontinental Cup and Uefa Super Cup. Zidane's side, whose last defeat

Summary: Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid survived a scare to beat Japanese side Kashima Antlers in extra time and win the Club World Cup.


The message from David Cameron was clear - there needs to be "a big cultural change" towards sport in schools with a return to the "competitive ethos" in school sports. The prime minister said the problem was not money and suggested some teachers were not "playing their part" but what do those in grassroots sport believe are the key ingredients for success? Graeme Maw, director of sport at Millfield School, in Somerset, says every pupil at the school does a minimum of three hours of scheduled sport per week. However, many pupils at the private school, which has nine former and current pupils competing at the London Games - more than any other school - do up to 22 hours of training. There are also more than 30 different sports on offer. Mr Maw says the word "opportunity" is key. "Sport and physical activity are the heartbeat of our community," says Mr Maw. The Youth Sport Trust (YST) says it is important schools engage everyone, for example by involving young people in the selection and planning of sport and activities. Schools also need to broaden the range of lunchtime and after-hours clubs to increase opportunities for young people to take part, it says. It is an ethos Mr Maw agrees with. "Dance might not be an Olympic sport but it's something that young girls really enjoy - it's about finding and discovering individual talent in a child," he adds. Mr Cameron spoke on Wednesday of "some teachers not wanting to join in and play their part" when it came to school sports. But Malcolm Trobe, deputy general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), says his comments were "ill informed, unfair and fail to recognise the huge contribution that many teachers make to sports in schools". "Many teachers, not just PE staff, willingly give up their time to motivate and coach young people in a wide range of sports," he says. The YST says there must be teachers and coaches on the ground ready to support young people who show an interest in sport at primary and secondary level. Mr Cameron has said the government is investing Â£1bn in school sports over the next four years, but "the problem isn't money". David Mansfield, headteacher at Coopers' Company and Coborn School, in Essex, says investment is key. The state school was named the most sports-minded school in Europe in 2005 and Mr Mansfield says it is one of few that competes with public schools in national sport. Mr Mansfield says the school's success is down to putting extra money into sports, for example, the school employs a professional hockey coach. He describes funding as "the bottom line" and says there is a "straight-line correlation between outcomes and incomes". "If schools are not on the front foot to identify talent then we're going to see a real fall away from the fantastic job that has been done (in the past)," he says. Mr Trobe is critical of the removal of funding for the Schools Sports Partnership (SSP), a network of sports

Summary: With Team GB celebrating their most successful Olympics for 100 years, a debate is growing about how best to build on the legacy and inspire the next generation into sport.


The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closed its investigation after it found no evidence of a defect in the vehicle. Joshua Brown was killed when his car collided with a lorry while operating in Autopilot mode. Tesla has stated Autopilot is only designed to assist drivers, who must keep their hands on the wheel. The feature is intended to be used on the motorway, where it lets cars automatically change lanes and react to traffic. The NHTSA report said data from the car showed that "the driver took no braking, steering or other actions to avoid the collision". Bryan Thomas from the NHSTA said the driver should have been able to see the lorry for seven seconds, which "should have been enough time to take some action". The investigation did not find any evidence that the car's systems "did not perform as designed". However, Mr Thomas said there was "industry-wide" concern about the way driver-assistance features were explained and advertised to customers. "These systems require continual and full attention of the driver," he said. "It's not enough to put [information] in the owner's manual and hope drivers are going to read that. "Manufacturers must anticipate how drivers would use the functionality, and that some don't read the manual." He said systems should be designed with the "inattentive driver" in mind. The NHTSA said it would continue to monitor the safety of Autopilot and would take further action if necessary. Mr Thomas warned manufacturers that if safety defects were found in semi-autonomous cars, they would have to be recalled, even if the vehicles were capable of receiving over-the-air software updates. Following the closure of the investigation, Tesla's chief executive Elon Musk tweeted that the report was "very positive".

Summary: Tesla will not be ordered to recall its semi-autonomous cars in the US, following a fatal crash in May 2016.


Media playback is not supported on this device Leicester's Selby, who beat Ding Junhui in last year's final, looked on course for a whitewash by going 8-0 ahead. Irishman O'Brien claimed the ninth and 11th to avoid becoming only the second player to exit without winning a frame, but Selby wrapped up the match. He will face either Wales' Ryan Day or China's Xiao Guodong in the next round. Selby has enjoyed a stellar season - claiming four ranking titles, including this month's China Open, though no player has followed that by winning the world title in the same season. The world number one made top breaks of 92, 77 and 66 as he began his attempt to win his third title at the Sheffield venue, which is holding the event for a 40th year. "I'm very happy to get through and happy with the scoreline but my performance could have been better," Selby said. "I was not killing enough frames off in the first visit and would have liked to have capitalised on them. "I would like to win every tournament I play in. I am confident and I am playing well enough. "Even if I don't play well, I have a never-say-die attitude and you have to scrape me off the table. "I was gutted not to go 9-0 because I know the history that there has only been one whitewash here. I was devastated to go in after the first session at 8-1." Having made light work of O'Brien, Selby has almost a week off, returning to action next Saturday. Dubliner O'Brien came through qualifying by beating David Gilbert in a final-frame decider - the longest frame in snooker history, timed at two hours, three minutes and 41 seconds. But he struggled badly in the first-round encounter, managing a high break of just 32, although he avoided the ignominy of joining Eddie Charlton - who lost 10-0 to John Parrott in 1992 - as the only players not to win a frame at the championship. He has now lost six successive meetings against Selby, claiming just four frames in a run stretching back to 2006. "When I won my first frame, it was good because the crowd were so supportive and willing me not to get the whitewash," said O'Brien. In an all-Scottish tie, qualifier Stephen Maguire claimed eight frames in a row to trounce Anthony McGill 10-2. Maguire, who has won five ranking titles, has fallen to 24th in the world but was in good scoring form, compiling breaks of 97, 66 and 60 to go through. Meanwhile, five-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan was pegged back to a 5-4 lead over debutant Gary Wilson. Former taxi driver Wilson fell 5-1 behind but took the last three frames of the session, including the ninth having needed snookers. On the other table, Kyren Wilson leads 5-4 against Crucible first-timer David Grace. Media playback is not supported on this device

Summary: Defending champion Mark Selby reached the second round of the World Championship by thrashing Fergal O'Brien 10-2 at the Crucible Theatre.


The red kite was discovered by a member of the public at Daintry Wood near Toddington. An X-ray image showed it had 10 pieces of lead shot lodged in its body. The RSPB said: "This was clearly no accident and it is especially sad considering the lengths that have been taken to reintroduce these splendid birds to England." RSPB inspector Jenny Shelton said: "The bird will most likely have been shot at close range to incur this level of damage. "Red kites feed mainly on carrion, so there is no logical reason for these birds to be targeted". Bedfordshire Police has appealed for information about the shooting. Insp Mark Farrant said: "This is a particularly worrying incident against a bird that is fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. "I would ask anyone with information relating to this or similar incidents to call Bedfordshire Police." According to the RSPB, the shooting of birds of prey is a widespread problem in the UK. The organisation's latest Bird Crime report said there were 196 reports of shooting, trapping and destruction of birds of prey in 2015, including red kites. The species is protected under schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the punishment for killing one is up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to Â£5,000. Red kites became extinct in England in 1871, with only a handful of pairs left in remote parts of central Wales. The RSPB helped reintroduce them in 1989 and there are now about 1,000 red kites in England.

Summary: A protected bird of prey has been found dead in Bedfordshire and had likely been shot "at close range".


The 10 men and three women, aged from 22 to 54, are from Lincolnshire and West Yorkshire and are due to appear in court next month. Ten face charges of conspiracy to hold another person in slavery or servitude. Two have been charged with cheating the public revenue, and another person has been charged with false representation and possession of criminal property. They are due to appear at Lincoln Magistrates' Court on 28 October. Seven of those charged are from Washingborough Road, Lincoln; five from Drinsey Nook, near Saxilby; and one from Kinsley in West Yorkshire. The charges follow a joint operation involving police and the National Crime Agency, during which a number of traveller sites were raided, including Drinsey Nook and Washingborough Road.

Summary: Thirteen people have been charged after a police operation against modern slavery.


The outgoing vice-president spoke during a state dinner and took the opportunity to praise America's northern neighbour. "The world is going to spend a lot of time looking to you, Mr Prime Minister", he told the Canadian leader. Mr Biden has been highly critical of US President-elect Donald Trump. "Vive le Canada because we need you very, very badly," he told the dinner guests. He went on to describe the self-doubt that liberal leaders across the world are currently experiencing after several political defeats. But he praised "genuine leaders" including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, saying such statesmen and women are in short supply. Mr Trudeau reportedly became emotional during Mr Biden's remarks when the American spoke of his late father, former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. "You're a successful father when your children turn out better than you," Mr Biden said. This is the second state dinner shared by the two North American nations this year. President Barack Obama hosted Prime Minister Trudeau at the White House in March and later in the summer visited Canada to give a speech in parliament. Canadian officials say the visit is not about "specific policy", but rather "an opportunity to show the depth of the relationship", said Kate Purchase, Mr Trudeau's director of communications. The dinner ensures "that there is continuity in the relationship" with the new American administration, she added. Experts say Mr Biden will seek to assure Canadians that the US-Canada relationship will remain strong during President-elect Donald Trump's presidency. On Friday Mr Biden is meeting with Canada's provincial premiers and indigenous leaders to discuss climate change.

Summary: US Vice-President Joe Biden told an audience in Ottawa that the world needs "genuine leaders" such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.


You never said that, but all your friends on Facebook think you did because a profile claiming to be you has said it. At a glance the account could be yours too. From photos, to status updates, to your date of birth, the account is rich with information which has been lifted from your profile, which is public. It is so convincing many of your friends have accepted a friend request. The problem is that you have no control over what the account pretending to be you says, or who it says it to. After being granted rare access to Devon and Cornwall Police's Hi-Tech Crime Unit, Newsbeat has learnt this scenario is becoming more frequent, particularly for young people. It's thought weak privacy settings combined with a rise in professional trolls who have the time and resources to steal your identity is to blame. An anti-bullying group has told us replica accounts have sent death threats or told people "to get cancer". There have been incidents where people have been beaten up or were scared to leave their house after offensive messages were sent from an account pretending to be them. Replicating a profile is all about piecing bits of information together, like a jigsaw. The more pieces there are, the more believable the account will be. While you can never completely stop a troll from stealing your identity, here are some things you can do which will make a troll's life a bit more difficult. The best way to protect your profile is to make it completely private so only people you know can see it. However, even if your account has the highest privacy settings, if a couple of your friends have Public accounts and accept Friend Requests from strangers then a potential troll could still access your photos or comments. By editing your account so only your Friends can see your Friend List it will be harder for a troll to work out who you know. If you want to see how strangers view your Facebook profile click on View As (see above) and it will show you. We think Rachel may want to reconsider how much she is sharing with the world and keep it amongst her "Friends"... Sorry. There's nothing wrong with letting people know where you are when you have taken a photo; if you are capturing the Eiffel Tower it can feel almost essential. However, photos can soon add up, and if you do not keep an eye on your Instagram Photo Map and it is open to the public it soon becomes clear where you live, work and socialise. That's handy for a troll. You can edit what pictures appear on your map by clicking on them. If you don't want any locations on any of your images you can make the switch on your privacy settings. It's one thing tweeting that you are rocking out to Taylor Swift at Radio 1's Big Weekend 2015 and the message confirms to the world you are in Norwich. It's a bit different if you are

Summary: Your friend Monica calls you, agitated and angry, asking: "Why did you write that horrible thing about Ross?!"


Healthcare workers are visibly struggling, the response to the outbreak has been damned as "lethally inadequate" and the situation is showing signs of getting considerably worse. The outbreak has been running all year, but the latest in a stream of worrying statistics shows 40% of all the deaths have been in just the past three weeks. So what can we expect in the months, and possibly years, to come? Crystal-ball gazing can be a dangerous affair, particularly as this is uncharted territory. Previous outbreaks have been rapidly contained, affecting just dozens of people; this one has already infected more than 3,900. But the first clues are in the current data. Dr Christopher Dye, the director of strategy in the office of the director general at the World Health Organization, has the difficult challenge of predicting what will happen next. He told the BBC: "We're quite worried, I have to say, about the latest data we've just gathered." Up until a couple of weeks ago, the outbreak was raging in Liberia especially close to the epicentre of the outbreak in Lofa County and in the capital Monrovia. However, the two other countries primarily hit by the outbreak, Sierra Leone and Guinea, had been relatively stable. Numbers of new cases were not falling, but they were not soaring either. That is no longer true, with a surge in cases everywhere except some parts of rural Sierra Leone in the districts of Kenema and Kailahun. "In most other areas, cases and deaths appear to be rising. That came as a shock to me," said Dr Dye. The stories of healthcare workers being stretched beyond breaking point are countless. A lack of basic protective gear such as gloves has been widely reported. The charity Medecins Sans Frontieres has an isolation facility with 160 beds in Monrovia. But it says the queues are growing and they need another 800 beds to deal with the number of people who are already sick. This is not a scenario for containing an epidemic, but fuelling one. Dr Dye's tentative forecasts are grim: "At the moment we're seeing about 500 new cases each week. Those numbers appear to be increasing. "I've just projected about five weeks into the future and if current trends persist we would be seeing not hundreds of cases per week, but thousands of cases per week and that is terribly disturbing. "The situation is bad and we have to prepare for it getting worse." The World Health Organization is using an educated guess of 20,000 cases before the end, in order to plan the scale of the response. But the true potential of the outbreak is unknown and the WHO figure has been described to me as optimistic by some scientists. The outbreak started in Gueckedou in Guinea, on the border with Liberia and Sierra Leone. But it has spread significantly with the WHO reporting that "for the first time since the outbreak began" that the majority of cases in the past week were outside of that epicentre with the capital cities becoming major centres of Ebola.

Summary: This isn't just the worst single Ebola outbreak in history, it has now killed more than all the others combined.


That is the eye-catching accusation in the Guardian, following a report in a trade publication, the Bookseller. Amazon will not confirm that it has managed to do this. The accusation hinges on the fact that since 2006, its UK business has been a subsidiary of its European headquarters in Luxembourg. As a result, anyone buying anything from Amazon in the UK makes a payment to the retailer in Luxembourg, with the profits taxed there rather than here. That is despite the fact that Amazon employs hundreds of staff in the UK, at several large depots, selling tens of millions of items each year to millions of UK customers. "Amazon EU serves tens of millions of customers and sellers throughout Europe from multiple consumer websites in a number of languages, dispatching products to all 27 countries in the EU," Amazon said. "We have a single European headquarters in Luxembourg with hundreds of employees to manage this complex operation." Campaigners against tax avoidance arrangements - which are in fact quite legal - have taken a very dim view of all this. Speaking on BBC Radio 4, Richard Murphy of the Tax Justice Network said the government had turned a blind eye to this sort of thing and was even encouraging it. "I severely criticise our tax authorities for putting up with this sort of arrangement," he said. "It is part of our "open for business" agenda - we will let a multinational company do what it likes, so long as they put some jobs in the UK, but we won't ask for tax." In fact, HMRC has long had a specialist unit of 1,200 tax inspectors dealing just with the affairs of the 770 biggest companies. It is called the Large Business Service for firms with a turnover of Â£600mn or more, or assets of Â£2bn or more. "We can't discuss Amazon for legal reasons, but HMRC applies the tax laws as they apply to multinationals so the UK receives the tax revenues to which it is legally entitled," HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) said. "Where there is a high risk of the UK losing out, we move our resources to challenge that risk," it added. When it comes to multinationals and tax authorities arguing about how much tax should be paid, and to whom, the arguments often last for years, frequently hinging on a concept known as transfer pricing. This occurs when a division of a multinational in one country charges a division of the same firm in another country for the supply of a product or a service. This is sometimes criticised as a technique in which artificially high charges are levied internally, with the aim of siphoning money from a firm's business in a high-tax country to a low-tax one. There is nothing new in this problem and the issue hit the headlines in the UK as far back as the 1970s. There is now a lot of legislation to stop transfer pricing being abused, but in the end, there may be no right answer to how much tax is owed

Summary: Has the giant online retailer Amazon managed, quite legally, to avoid paying any corporation tax at all to the UK in the past year?


Eugenijus Tulauskas, from Lithuania, was up to four times over the maritime limit when arrested in September last year. A pilot had to take control of the container ship to ensure its safe passage into harbour. The 44-year-old seaman, of no fixed abode was fined Â£1,500 at Belfast Magistrates' Court. Tulauskas had contested a charge of having excess alcohol while on duty as professional master of a ship. His lawyers argued that he was not on duty at the time of the offence. The court was told that an experienced pilot sent out to guide the ship into port thought he smelled alcohol on Tulauskas' breath. He contacted Belfast Harbour Police who detained the defendant and took a breath sample. Talauskas confirmed at that stage he had not taken any alcohol in the previous four hours. The district judge said she was "satisfied on the evidence that the defendant was not just master of the vessel, but was on duty at the time". Talauskas' lawyer argued that he was aware of the pilot's actions and had congratulated him on his manoeuvres. "It's not a case that he was totally incoherent," the lawyer said. The court heard that the captain had since lost his job. The judge, who could have fined him up to Â£5,000, commented that "if the defendant were in employment I would be looking at the upper region (of a fine)".

Summary: A sea captain has been convicted of being drunk in charge of a merchant ship in Belfast Lough.


Shana Grice ended her relationship with "obsessed" Michael Lane who stalked her when she started up a new relationship, Lewes Crown Court has heard. The 19-year-old's body was discovered with her throat slit in her bedroom, which had been set alight, in August. Mr Lane denies murder. Giving evidence, his friend Natalie Fines said she bumped into him during an evening out with her parents on Saturday, 20 August. Ms Fines told the court: "He told me she'd dumped him and gone back to her ex. He wasn't very happy about it, he told me he was depressed. "As we were all leaving and hugging goodbye, he whispered in my ear 'she'll pay for what she's done'." During cross-examination by Simon Russell Flint QC, defending, she added: "I didn't think that much of it. He'd often say things like that. "For example, that he'd kill himself, and do it that night, but he didn't act on it." The trial has previously heard Mr Lane, of Thornhill Rise, Portslade, East Sussex, put a tracker device on Miss Grice's car after hearing about her rekindling of the relationship with Ashley Cooke. He was also cautioned by police after he stole a key to her back door before letting himself into her bedroom in Chrisdory Road, Portslade, to watch her sleep. The trial continues.

Summary: The man accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend whispered to a friend "she'll pay for what she's done" five days before she was killed, a court heard.


Putnam County Sheriff deputies believe the toddlers probably teamed up to work the pedals and steer the wheel before crashing it in a ditch. The pair made it three miles (4.8km) down the road and successfully navigated multiple turns. They were not hurt but officials are weighing charges against the mother. They had taken their mother's 2005 Ford Focus after finding the keys in the floor mat while playing in the front yard. Officials believe they were trying to reach their grandfather's farm but crashed five miles short in the town of Red House. "Luckily, they didn't pass anybody because they would've probably had a wreck before then," said Putnam County Sheriff Steve Deweese. Mr Deweese told WSAZ-TV that the sheriff's office is working with the county prosecutor and Child Protective Services to determine if the mother should be charged with any crime.

Summary: Two brothers aged five and two stole their mother's car and wrecked it on a drive to their grandfather's house, say authorities in West Virginia.


The celebrated US fashion designer was found dead in her New York flat on Monday, in an apparent suicide. In a statement on his website, Sir Mick said he still failed "to understand how my lover and best friend could end her life in this tragic way". He added: "We spent many wonderful years together and had made a great life for ourselves." Sir Mick described his partner as having "had great presence and her talent was much admired, not least by me. "I have been touched by the tributes that people have paid to her, and also the personal messages of support that I have received. I will never forget her." The Rolling Stones have now have cancelled the first date of their Australian tour following the news. The British band, fronted by Sir Mick were due to play in Perth on Wednesday. Their promoter said no further information was available. They are scheduled to play five more concerts in Australia. The following date from Perth is due to take place on 22 March in Adelaide. The BBC's Phil Mercer said ticket holders for Wednesday's gig were being asked to hold on to their tickets until a further update is available. Scott, who was believed to be 49, was found by her assistant at 10:00 local time (14:00 GMT) on Monday. The Stones are due to perform in Sydney, Melbourne and Macedon later this month before playing two dates in Brisbane and Auckland, New Zealand, in April. The On Fire tour is then scheduled to move to Europe in June, with concerts planned for the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Belgium. Sir Mick, 70, began dating Scott in 2001. On Monday night, a spokesman for the singer issued a statement to deny a report that he had recently ended his relationship with the designer. "The story in the New York Post re: a split between Mick Jagger and L'Wren Scott is 100% untrue," said his spokeswoman, Victoria Scarfone. "There is absolutely no basis in fact to this story. It is a horrible and inaccurate piece of gossip during this very tragic time for Mick." The UK's Press Complaints Commission (PCC) told the BBC it had received a small number of complaints from the public over images published which apparently showed an upset Sir Mick at the time he was told Scott had died. It is understood the singer has not yet complained personally, but the PCC would deal with the matter in due course. Supermodel Naomi Campbell, Vogue editor Anna Wintour and singer Madonna were among those who were fans of the designer. Scott was found dead by her assistant 90 minutes after sending her a text message asking to come to her Manhattan apartment without specifying why, the Associated Press news agency reported. Police said there was no sign of foul play and no note was found. Naomi Campbell said Scott was "the epitome of elegance and femininity". Anna Wintour described Scott as "a total perfectionist... always unbelievably generous, gracious, kind and so much fun." She added: "Her old world American

Summary: Sir Mick Jagger has said he is "struggling" to understand the death of his girlfriend L'Wren Scott.


Defender Elphick, 28, first sustained the injury during the 4-3 win against West Ham in August. The former Brighton player last appeared for the Cherries in their 3-1 defeat at Norwich last month. "Tommy has had surgery on his ankle and could face 10 weeks out. It could be shorter," said manager Eddie Howe. Elphick was ever-present in the league last season as he captained the Cherries to the Championship title. Howe also confirmed striker Callum Wilson has had an operation after he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against Stoke. Wilson, 23, faces up to six months out. Winger Ryan Fraser, currently on a season-long loan at Ipswich, will receive treatment at Bournemouth as he also recovers from medial ligament damage. The 21-year-old sustained the injury while training with Scotland Under-21s and is set to miss the next two months.

Summary: Bournemouth captain Tommy Elphick has been ruled out until the new year following an operation on an ankle injury, the club has confirmed.


Neil Aspin's promotion-chasing hosts have not lost in nine National League matches while Adam Lockwood's side are unbeaten in five. Guiseley went ahead on 15 minutes against the run of play when a throw-in found James Hurst who squared to Jake Lawlor to stroke into an empty net. Gateshead defender Liam Hogan superbly blocked Jordan Preston's effort and Guiseley keeper Jonny Maxted then saved well from Wesley York's shot just before the break. The hosts, who started the second half well, levelled on 62 minutes when a slip by half-time substitute Derek Asamoah let York curl sweetly into the top-right corner from the edge of the box. Match report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Gateshead 1, Guiseley 1. Second Half ends, Gateshead 1, Guiseley 1. Substitution, Guiseley. Michael Rankine replaces Jordan Preston. Substitution, Gateshead. Luke Hannant replaces Gus Mafuta. Gus Mafuta (Gateshead) is shown the yellow card. Substitution, Guiseley. Adam Boyes replaces Jake Cassidy. Goal! Gateshead 1, Guiseley 1. Wes York (Gateshead). Substitution, Guiseley. Derek Asamoah replaces Kevan Hurst. Second Half begins Gateshead 0, Guiseley 1. First Half ends, Gateshead 0, Guiseley 1. Simon Walton (Guiseley) is shown the yellow card. Goal! Gateshead 0, Guiseley 1. Jake Lawlor (Guiseley). First Half begins. Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Summary: Gateshead and Guiseley extended their unbeaten runs with a 1-1 draw at the Gateshead International Stadium.


According to three separate analyses, a flood of automated comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was detected over the weekend. More than 400,000 comments with remarkably similar wording have been detected in recent days. Net neutrality proponents argue that all internet traffic should be equal. This means that no content provider should be able to, for example, charge more for faster access to certain data. One expert described bot activity as a new form of protest. "Someone has gone out of their way to make these seem like real submissions," wrote Chris Sinchok in a blog post about the apparently automated activity. Having downloaded the comments and associated data, Mr Sinchok noticed that the names and email addresses associated with thousands of them also turned up in lists of personal data stolen from websites. He told the BBC that this suggested someone might be using information collected from breached databases to make the submissions look more authentic. "It really seems like this is getting pooled from some place in an automated fashion and it's coming in at unreasonable rates," he said. He added that the uniformity of the data was also a possible giveaway. For example, many comments are essentially identical save for the occasional, small difference - such as the exact same sentence appearing in multiple comments, but with different letters capitalised each time. And the rate at which comments were posted also seemed suspicious, starting and stopping in bursts, he added. Other watchers, including a graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and another at Harvard University, have also tracked a boom in apparently automated activity directed at the site in recent days. Earlier this month, the FCC said it had been targeted by a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack that led to downtime for the comments system. This followed a television appearance by comedian John Oliver in which he urged people to post comments against the proposals on the FCC's website. "Net neutrality is such a hot-button issue and it's one of the few examples of online activism that's actually amounted to something," noted Prof Phil Howard at the Oxford Internet Institute. He cited the 2014 online protests, after which President Obama stepped in to recommend that the FCC drop earlier proposals to curtail net neutrality. "This is how people protest these days," said Prof Howard, referring to the apparently automated comments. He also pointed out that a growing number of people had the necessary programming skills to do it. However, Mr Sinchok is concerned that the bot activity will create the impression that genuine opposition to the FCC's current proposals does not really exist. "There are people that care about this issue a lot," he told the BBC. "Activity like this is really muddying the waters - and I don't want it to give [the FCC] an excuse to say, 'Hey, there's mixed support for this.'" The FCC has not yet responded to a BBC request for comment.

Summary: Bots appear to be spamming a US regulator's website over a proposed reversal of net neutrality rules, researchers have said.


Titan Arum produced a bud several weeks ago, which has recently been growing at several centimetres a day. But up until Friday morning it had not been clear if it would produce a leaf, or a flower. It will be the first time the so-called "corpse flower" has ever blossomed in Scotland. It gets its name from the stench of decaying flesh it produces, to attract insects to pollinate it. Staff at the Garden said "it's going to be incredible" when the full bloom shows. But that could take at least a week. And the full bloom, when it does appear, may only last for 48 hours. The corm was gifted to the Botanic Garden in 2003. It produced a similar growth spurt four years ago but that turned out to be a giant leaf structure which reached to the roof of the glass house.

Summary: Experts at the Royal Botanic Garden say one of the world's biggest - and smelliest - flowers is about to bloom in Edinburgh.


French firm EDF, which is financing most of the £18bn Hinkley Point project in Somerset, approved the funding at a board meeting. Contracts were to be signed on Friday. But Business Secretary Greg Clark has said the government will "consider carefully" before backing it. EDF chief executive Vincent de Rivaz has cancelled a trip to Hinkley Point on Friday following Mr Clark's comments. Critics of the plan have warned of environmental damage and potential escalating costs. They are also concerned that the plant is being built by foreign governments. One third of the £18bn cost is being provided by Chinese investors. Hours after EDF's board voted to approve the £18bn power plant on Thursday, the government launched a further review of the project. This stunning new development came all the way from the top of government and the timing seemed calculated to cause maximum impact. EDF executives were taken completely off guard, the post-Brexit run of major investment is abruptly halted and what precious entente cordiale in Anglo-French relations there is left after the EU referendum result seems diminished. Is it a genuine pause for a new government to read the small print of a project that is two administrations old, or a signal of a potential change in policy? Simon Jack: Hinkley delay is a high stakes bet Tom Greatrex, the chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, urged the government to make a decision as soon as possible. "We need to get on and do this and that's why I'm hoping the government make their decision very soon because if it goes on for a lengthy period of time we are going to run the risk of having real problems in terms of our energy supplies," he said. "Then what happens is that we end up paying a lot more and we end up paying for much more dirty power which we can't afford to do if we are to meet our climate commitments." Claire Jacobson, head of climate, energy and environment policy at the EEF manufacturers' organisation said the government's decision was "yet another blow to a decision that has been hindered by many delays and uncertainties". Hinkley Point C is expected to provide 7% of the UK's total electricity requirement. Announcing the approval of investment on Thursday, EDF had described the plant as "a unique asset for French and British industries", saying it would benefit the nuclear sectors in both countries and would give a boost to employment. However, the project has been hit in recent months by concerns about EDF's financial capacity. Despite the Chinese investment, Hinkley Point would remain an enormous undertaking for the stressed French company, which has had to raise money from its owners. Earlier this week, EDF shareholders approved plans to issue new shares to raise €4bn (£3.4bn) to help pay for the project. Ahead of Thursday's vote on whether to approve the project, an EDF board member, Gerard Magnin, resigned, saying the project was "very risky" financially. Earlier this year, EDF's finance director, Thomas Piquemal, had resigned amid reports he thought Hinkley

Summary: Plans to build the first new UK nuclear plant in 20 years have suffered an unexpected delay after the government postponed a final decision until the early autumn.


Currently Britain does not have a national bird, but ornithologist David Lindo believes that should change. A shortlist of 10 birds has been chosen by online voters on his campaign's website from an original list of 60. Mr Lindo will close the vote on the day of the general election, 7 May, and ask the new government to officially appoint the winner as national bird. The RSPB welcomed the initiative and said the lack of a national bird for Britain was a "glaring omission". Mr Lindo, the self-styled "Urban Birder", told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I want to encourage the great British public to vote for the bird that best represents all that is great about this nation." He hoped the appointment could be "the first act" of a new government, once the dust has settled from "the other election", he told the programme. The robin has emerged as an early favourite, but Mr Lindo, who is backing the blackbird, told Today: "People consider the robin as a British bird - but [like] a lot of our native birds... some of the population move south to Iberia for the winter and are replaced by immigrants from the continent. "So the robin you see in your back garden during winter is not necessarily British born." And he added: "It is quite a violent bird." A first round of polling on the campaign's website received 70,000 votes. One of England's rarest birds, the hen harrier, is something of a surprise contender, according to Mr Lindo. "I was expecting 10 garden birds in the list," he said, adding that the original pool of 60 candidates included favourites from literature and song such as the turtledove, nightingale and skylark - all of which have dropped out of contention. The hen harrier, which was the subject of a recent campaign because it had been the target of illegal hunting, was down to just one breeding pair a couple of years ago and "may already be extinct", he said. The robin is sometimes mistakenly thought of as the nation's official bird, the RSPB said, after it was given the title unofficially by some enthusiasts in the 1960s. Northern Ireland does not have an official national bird, while the golden eagle and red kite are sometimes regarded as unofficial national symbols of Scotland and Wales respectively. In December 2013 a petition was lodged by the RSPB for the golden eagle to be recognised as Scotland's official national symbol, but the Scottish parliament voted against the plans after it decided the RSPB needed to do more to show greater support for the proposals. The RSPB said it welcomed Mr Lindo's initiative in getting people to discuss their favourite birds. And it said the fact Britain did not already have an official national bird while other countries did was a "glaring omission". Grahame Madge, spokesman for the RSPB, said: "It's opened people's eyes to birds, which is raising awareness. As an organisation we are really behind him. "It seems most other nations have pipped us to the post in identifying

Summary: Votes can now be cast in an online poll to choose what could become Britain's first national bird.


Posh took a sixth-minute lead when Ryan Sweeney failed to clear a cross from Gwion Edwards and Marriott pounced to fire home from close range. A Junior Morais pass set up strike partner Marriott to score his second in the 55th minute and Steven Taylor forced the ball over the line for a third with 12 minutes remaining after Jack Baldwin had headed on a left-wing corner. Rovers grabbed a consolation five minutes from time when substitute Rory Gaffney headed home a Lee Brown cross at the far post. But Marriott completed his treble in time added on, tapping in a low left-wing cross from substitute Andrew Hughes. Posh had the better of the first half but survived a scare just before the break when Billy Bodin's left-footed drive from the edge of the box crashed against the crossbar. Rovers also hit the woodwork in the second half through a looping header from substitute Ollie Clarke. Report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Bristol Rovers 1, Peterborough United 4. Second Half ends, Bristol Rovers 1, Peterborough United 4. Attempt missed. Rory Gaffney (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Attempt blocked. Rory Gaffney (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Goal! Bristol Rovers 1, Peterborough United 4. Jack Marriott (Peterborough United) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Andrew Hughes with a cross. Attempt missed. Liam Sercombe (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Substitution, Peterborough United. Andrew Hughes replaces Gwion Edwards. Anthony Grant (Peterborough United) wins a free kick on the right wing. Foul by Billy Bodin (Bristol Rovers). Corner, Peterborough United. Conceded by Daniel Leadbitter. Attempt blocked. Jack Marriott (Peterborough United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Goal! Bristol Rovers 1, Peterborough United 3. Rory Gaffney (Bristol Rovers) header from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lee Brown with a cross. Substitution, Peterborough United. Chris Forrester replaces Marcus Maddison. Daniel Leadbitter (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Gwion Edwards (Peterborough United). Goal! Bristol Rovers 0, Peterborough United 3. Steven Taylor (Peterborough United) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Gwion Edwards. Corner, Peterborough United. Conceded by Adam Smith. Attempt saved. Marcus Maddison (Peterborough United) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom left corner. Attempt blocked. Idris Kanu (Peterborough United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Daniel Leadbitter (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Jack Marriott (Peterborough United). Substitution, Peterborough United. Idris Kanu replaces Junior Morias. Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Ryan Tafazolli. Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Jonathan Bond. Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box. Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Jonathan Bond. Attempt saved. Tom Nichols (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot

Summary: Jack Marriott scored a hat-trick as Peterborough made it maximum points from their opening two League One matches with an impressive victory at Bristol Rovers.


She had been contemplating the 50 hours she'd just spent crushed inside a tiny cupboard, hidden beneath a pile of clothes, with nothing but a bottle of body lotion to try to quench a raging thirst. The sound of her friends being butchered in the courtyard outside echoed in her ears. Cynthia, a 19-year-old student at Garissa's teacher training college on the edge of town, spoke with the studied politeness that I've encountered repeatedly in the past few days in this isolated town, on the hot, dry plains that stretch towards and over the seemingly notional border that separates Kenya from Somalia. There have been plenty of tears from the survivors of Thursday's killings. But when confronted by a foreign journalist, each student I met seemed too anxious to reach - more so than in any other similar situation I can remember - for some approximation of composure. "I'm fine, thanks." "Everything is fine now." "Thank you for asking." I am very wary of reading too much into such things. But I found their politeness increasingly unbearable. I couldn't shake off the sense that it was somehow linked to the horrors they'd just endured; that it was a lingering echo of the instinctive, terror-driven restraint - a numbed obedience borne out of the purest desperation - that had allowed four gunmen to spend hours sifting, separating, taunting and butchering a huge crowd of young men and women. These feel like bewildering times for Kenya. Not so much in Garissa. In this poor town on the banks of the slow, brown Tana river, the local ethnic Somali population is used to navigating the complexities of religion and identity. They are proud Kenyans, but occasionally feel like second-class citizens, suspected by every passing, bribe-hungry policeman of supporting the Islamist militants of al-Shabab across the border. But elsewhere, Kenya seems preoccupied by other matters; by its own hectic development, its increasingly confident, assertive sense of itself as a modern, industrialised, tolerant nation - albeit one with deep levels of inequality. Al-Shabab - with its bombs, its medieval values, and blood-curdling threats - feels not just out of place here, but baffling. Something on which to turn one's back. Perhaps that helps to explain why, despite the 2013 attack at Nairobi's Westgate mall, security in the capital remains noticeably lax. At Wilson airport this week, a porter helpfully offered to smuggle my bag on to a plane without going through the scanners. When I asked him why, he shrugged and said: "Oh, I thought you were carrying guns." And yet you could argue that Kenya's leaders must have known all this was on the horizon. For two decades Kenya managed to live alongside one of the world's most anarchic countries. It took in vast numbers of Somali refugees, many of them lived in giant camps near the border, supported by the UN and international NGOs, and helping to stimulate the local economy. But Somalia's chaos stayed, for the most part, outside of Kenya. Then, in 2011, the government's patience snapped - partly due to a series

Summary: "Now I'm okay," was about all Cynthia Terotich could manage, as she sat in the casualty ward in Garissa's hospital.


They arrested 57 people in Barcelona, Valencia, San Sebastian and Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. Chinese nationals illegally living in Spain reportedly paid the ring €8,000 ($8,960; £6,820) each to obtain fake contracts as domestic workers. In return they were given residency permits to work in Barcelona. "They would return to Barcelona once they obtained a residency permit to work in the textile sector, without ever carrying out the job they were hired for," a Spanish police statement said. The ringleaders, a Chinese couple, allegedly paid employers between €1,500 and €2,000 for the contracts. Most of the employers allegedly involved are linked to the hotel trade in Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands. Chinese immigrants are the fifth biggest foreign community in Spain with almost 170,000 people as of 2015, according to the National Statistics Institute.

Summary: Spanish police say they have dismantled a nationwide network that illegally regularised the working status of Chinese immigrants in Spain.


Former Carrick boss Haveron was appointed Glens supremo this week and could not have asked for a more high-profile first match in charge. Glentoran have slumped to 10th in the table after taking just one point from a possible 15. "We must show how much it means to play in games like these," said Haveron. "Our fans expect the players to show passion and pride and that is how it should be. "We have got to get a bit belief and a win would do that. "The best way to turn our season around would be to beat Linfield on Saturday." Despite being at home, Glentoran will be firm underdogs against David Healy's Linfield who are unbeaten this season. The Belfast Blues sit in second place and are five points behind champions Crusaders with a match in hand. The unbeaten Crues also face a big derby fixture as they host north Belfast neighbours Cliftonville at Seaview. Crusaders have won five league matches in a row while Cliftonville are up to fourth following back-to-back victories. "Cliftonville are back in form and are winning games of football quite well," said Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter. "They are packed full of quality players and have loads of confidence and ability. They will expect to get a result." Ballymena United travel to their fiercest rivals Coleraine looking to make it four wins in a row in the league. They came from behind to beat Glentoran 4-1 last weekend to consolidate third place in the table. "It will be my first experience of a Coleraine/Ballymena derby and we're looking forward to it," said Sky Blues boss David Jeffrey. "They came from two down to draw against Glenavon last week so that is an indication of the character they possess." The fourth derby clash in Saturday's Premiership is at Mourneview Park where Glenavon host Portadown. Final Score from Northern Ireland is on BBC1 NI at 17:00 BST on Saturday

Summary: New manager Gary Haveron has called on Glentoran's players to show pride in the shirt as they take on Belfast rivals Linfield on Saturday.


That bargain could have backfired in a way that was neither good for his golf nor his social standing. Thankfully for the Spieth family, the lure of the clubs was too strong to resist. Eighteen years on, the obsessive kid has become a record-breaking champion. Ben Crenshaw, another Masters winner schooled in the high winds and heat of Texas, has spoken of looking into the 21-year-old's eyes and seeing the dead-eyed stare of Wild West gunslinger Wyatt Earp. The final day here at Augusta is often a shoot-out. The pressures of the back nine - greens like glass, fairways steep and narrow, water, water everywhere - have broken older men with far greater experience of these beautiful and brutal yards. Spieth admitted afterwards that he had struggled to sleep on Saturday night, self-effacingly pointing to his prematurely receding hairline as an indication of the stress he has been under. Yet even with so many big guns lurking - world number one Rory McIlroy, three-times Masters champion Phil Mickelson, major winner Justin Rose - the callow kid never looked like backing down. If it seemed less thrilling a finale than we have come to expect from Augusta, it is worth a reminder of the dramatic context: the second youngest winner in Masters history, the first to go to 19 under (before a bogey on the last), more birdies across his four rounds than any player here has ever made, the first man to win it wire to wire in 39 years. For those who have become desensitised to the scale of his achievement by the very fact that he had led so handsomely throughout, this might help: Rose and Mickelson's score of 14 under for second would have have been the winning tally in all bar five of the previous 78 Masters that have been played. Spieth has always been aimed at this day. He won the US Junior Amateur title twice (something only Tiger Woods had ever done before), tied for 16th in the Byron Nelson Championship as a 16-year-old (better than Woods ever managed as an amateur in a PGA Tour event) and became the youngest PGA Tour winner in 82 years when he won the John Deere Classic aged 19 years and 11 months. There is footage of him aged 14 declaring that his ultimate goal in life is to win the Masters. Goals like that are supposed to be good for young sportsmen. They also bring their own burden. Out on the course, beery breath and cigar smoke swirling in the cool breeze, there were groans and gasps when his overnight lead of four strokes was cut to three at only the second hole and again at the seventh. So locked in tradition is Augusta that no radios, phones or tablets are allowed through the gates, which preserves a certain atmosphere but also creates its own strange drama. How was Spieth doing? Was Mickelson closing, was Woods - full of promise of a charge through the front nine - rampaging along as of old? The only indication, for both

Summary: It began early for Jordan Spieth: when he was three years old and ready for potty-training, his mother Chris decided to bribe him out of nappies by hiding his plastic golf clubs on top of the washing machine until he had done what he had to do.


Media playback is not supported on this device Three people who know Armstrong well gave their thoughts. The wife of former professional road cyclist Frankie Andreu, she claimed, long before his public confession, that Armstrong took banned substances and bullied team-mates. "When the going gets tough, he turns on the charm. He thinks if he can show he's a changed man it might benefit him. The problem with that is that he has no credibility. His actions speak louder than his words." Andreu believes there should be no way back into cycling for Armstrong. "He should forget it. He's not going back into sport. He should go and enjoy something else, enjoy his family. Everyone deserves a second chance, but how many does he want? What is he? A cat." The Sunday Times journalist first raised questions about Armstrong in 1999. He wrote LA Confidential, a book containing evidence that Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs. "When I see an interview like he's just done with Dan Roan, I just feel this guy hasn't changed one iota. When he's saying everyone was doing it (doping), he's being so unfair to the people who rode the 1999 Tour de France and tours over the following years clean - and plenty did." Walsh believes Armstrong is struggling with being out of the limelight. "This is a guy who would get called up by he president of the United States and asked to go on a mountain bike ride, this is a guy who had direct access to people like Bill Clinton and John Kerry... Bono was a big mate of his. Now, no-one really wants to be associated with him - and that's tough if you were once in the place that Lance Armstrong was in." A former French road cyclist, his career effectively ended when he spoke out against doping in the 1990s. "The fact that he says that he doesn't regret it and that if he went back to the same time, he'd do it again... I think that shows an honesty." Bassons, who clashed with Armstrong after making his doping claims, also thinks the American has changed - or been changed. "When I saw him last year, it wasn't the Armstrong that I knew in the '90s any more. Back then, he was strong, he was hard, he would stare you in the eyes, he was brutal, he was strong and he would never make a mistake. But when I saw him last year, he was alone, he was badly dressed, he avoided eye contact, he didn't seem happy."

Summary: In an interview with BBC Sports editor Dan Roan, shamed cyclist Lance Armstrong said he should be forgiven for doping and lying - but also admitted he would probably cheat again.


Governor Jerry Brown said the fires, which have left one person dead, destroyed and threatened buildings in the Napa and Lake counties. More than 1,300 people fled Middletown, north of San Francisco, as their homes were consumed by the flames. Four firefighters who were badly burned are receiving treatment in hospital. Wildfires were still burning on Monday after devastating homes and apartment blocks over the weekend. The woman who died was a disabled 72-year-old retired teacher, Barbara McWilliams, who lived on her own in Lake County on Cobb Mountain. Her carer, Jennifer Hittson, told the local media she had advanced multiple sclerosis that meant she was unable to walk unaided. Ms Hittson said she had asked the authorities to help her but by the time they got there, her home was already engulfed in flames. You can smell the so-called Valley Fire before you see it. An acrid stench hangs in the air on the road to Middletown. Smoke is thick in the sky, smothering the pines and the dry brush on the hillsides. But it does not prepare you for the devastation in the little town itself. Home after home lies in ruins. Families who have lost everything have returned to pick through the debris but there doesn't appear to be anything to salvage. Some houses have survived with scorch marks. Others are unscathed. But everyone here is stunned by the speed and ferocity of the fire which swept through in minutes, whipped up by a harsh, dry wind. In the heart of this tight-knit community, a twisted mass of metal and ashes was, we are told, an apartment block of nearly 50 homes. The people of Middletown say they will rebuild. That will not be easy. Raging fires prompt drone law change Up to 1,000 structures, which includes barns and sheds, have been burned, fire agency spokesman Daniel Berlant said. The fires across northern California are being blamed on high temperatures and years of drought. The state spent $212m (Â£137m) fighting the flames in July alone, California's forestry and fire protection department spokesman Daniel Berlant told the AFP news agency. He said more than 275 homes and other buildings had been destroyed and the Red Cross is opening emergency shelters for evacuated residents. One blaze, the Valley Fire, which started on Saturday in Lake County, is said to have burned 40,000 acres (16,190 hectares). It reached the centre of the small town of Middletown on Sunday. Its 1,500 residents had already been ordered to evacuate. The fire spread quickly and witnesses saw flames reach up to 200ft (60m) in the air, according to local news reports. Further east, in Amador and Calaveras counties, around 4,000 firefighters were battling the Butte Fire, which broke out on Wednesday. That blaze has so far destroyed around 65,000 acres (26,300 hectares) along with 86 homes and 51 outbuildings. It is only 15% contained and threatens more than 6,000 other buildings, officials say. Further south, beyond Fresno, firefighters have been tackling the largest of the blazes, the so-called Rough Fire, which has claimed 128,800 acres

Summary: The governor of California has declared a state of emergency after wildfires forced about 23,000 people to flee their homes in the north of the state.


Next was found to have used a tax avoidance scheme called a rate-booster. The court ruled Next diverted UK profits to foreign subsidiaries to claim tax relief on overseas profits. Such schemes are a way in which firms avoid corporation tax on foreign profits that are then paid back to the UK parent firm. Under rules designed to prevent double taxation of company profits, firms were able to claim credit for tax paid on money they made overseas. But some companies were able to exploit the rules through the creation of artificial arrangements involving what HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) referred to as "complex circular movements of money between companies in the same group, so they can claim there has been double taxation". Known as rate-booster schemes, this enabled companies to avoid corporation tax by diverting profits made in the UK to foreign subsidiaries. The foreign subsidiary then paid tax on those profits - often at a lower rate of corporation tax - before the profits were paid back to the UK parent company. Finally, the UK parent company received credits from HMRC for the tax already paid by its subsidiary. As a result, companies were able to claim far more tax had been paid on their overseas profits than was actually the case. Legal changes in 2005 and 2009 mean rate-booster schemes are no longer possible or attractive, HMRC added. The Next case is the second to reach court, following a 2013 ruling against P&O Ferries, although the firm appealed against the decision and an appeal judgement is outstanding. HMRC said about £130m in tax was at stake across 20 rate-booster cases, which were awaiting the P&O and Next decisions. About 70 rate-boosters have already been conceded by companies that wanted to avoid going to court. This has brought in more than £500m in tax, it added. HMRC's director general of business tax, Jim Harra, said: "This case shows how HMRC takes effective action against big businesses that try to avoid paying tax through convoluted, artificial avoidance schemes. HMRC expects all businesses to steer well clear of such schemes." In a statement, Next said it had paid the tax owed to HMRC "some years ago" and that this had been fully accounted for at the time. The retailer described the dispute between itself and HMRC as "a technical debate around complex legislation" which had now been superseded. It added that current UK law generally allowed companies to "repatriate their profits without a tax charge".

Summary: High Street retailer Next has been hit with a £22.4m tax bill after a court found it diverted profits made in the UK offshore to avoid paying tax.


Fifty lodges from around Ireland, along with visiting Orangemen and women, attended the event. The parade, accompanied by 30 bands, made its way along the rural coastal setting into the centre of the seaside village before a religious service. Many families with young children gathered at vantage points along the route to take in the demonstration. County grandmaster David Mahon said Donegal prides itself on being a family-friendly day with a relaxed atmosphere. The parade is the traditional opener to the annual 12 July celebrations marking King William III's victory at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Assistant Grand Master Stuart Brooker told the crowds the institution was "being challenged on many fronts". "One of the biggest issues we currently face is organised opposition to our traditional parades, and in this respect, we are branded intransigent, and insensitive," he said. "We have responded by challenging ourselves. And I believe that we have responded in a responsible manner, by reaching out to the wider community as never before." He added that they have done so "in a spirit of openness and goodwill, evidenced in the success of the Twelfth here in Rossnowlagh."

Summary: Thousands of Orangemen and women have taken part in their annual parade in Rossnowlagh in County Donegal.


Nathan Smith's overhead kick hit the bar and bounced in off luckless keeper Dean Snedker's back to give the Gulls an early lead before Nathan Blissett's towering header doubled the advantage. Kelvin Langmead then headed in before Arthur Gnahoua shot home the equaliser. But Smith poked in an 82nd-minute winner after a goalmouth scramble to earn Torquay's fourth successive win. It leaves the Gulls four points from safety with a game in hand, but Colin Gordon's Harriers are now 11 points off 20th-placed Boreham Wood with nine games left. Former Harriers striker Blissett's goal was his fourth in six games since arriving on loan from Bristol Rovers.

Summary: Torquay United, 22nd in the National League, edged a thrilling relegation battle with bottom club Kidderminster.


Linton Bridge, over the River Wharfe in West Yorkshire, was damaged in the Christmas floods. Emergency work has been undertaken but the cracked bridge between Linton and Collingham remains at risk of collapse, said Leeds City Council. Work, which will cost £4.5m, is to start in July to put in place a river platform to work on the foundations. Parts of the bridge dropped about 8in (20cm) after the floodwater undermined its foundations. It has been shut since 27 December and the permanent repair works are expected to be completed by the summer of 2017. More than 100 bridges were damaged by floods in West Yorkshire and a bridge partially collapsed in Tadcaster in North Yorkshire. Councillor Richard Lewis said: "I think everyone now realises the challenge of repairing Linton Bridge is considerable and requires detailed and complex work, so is not something that can be done quickly." The meeting also decided not to put a temporary footbridge in place due to cost and environmental impact. A free shuttle bus service has been operating between Linton and Wetherby since January.

Summary: Multimillion-pound repairs to a flood-hit bridge have been approved by senior councillors.


The grey seal was found at Cruden Bay on Tuesday. The Scottish SPCA removed the seal from beach and took it to the charity's rescue centre where it was cut free. Ch Insp John Carle said: "The amount of netting tangled around the seal's neck was the largest I have ever seen. It was a lovely moment watching the seal heading back into the water." He added: "He was so large and heavy it took three of our officers to lift him and take him to our centre in Drumoak where we cut the net away. "If he hadn't been discovered and freed the net would eventually have cut through his skin which could have resulted in septicaemia or other infections. "Thankfully there were no injuries in this case and we were able to release him relatively quickly. "This was a very happy ending and we're so glad we were able to help."

Summary: A seal found tangled in nets on an Aberdeenshire beach has been returned to the sea.


Cardiff and Vale University Health Board confirmed it had shut the mental health wards to prevent further spread of the virus. The health board said a number of cases had been confirmed in the community, including in care homes. Dr Tom Porter urged anyone eligible to get a free flu vaccine to reduce risk. He said: "Every year flu causes thousands of deaths across the UK and vaccination is a quick and effective way of reducing your risk." The dominant strain circulating in the community is influenza A (H3), which particularly affects the elderly.

Summary: Three wards treating elderly patients have been closed at Llandough hospital in the Vale of Glamorgan after an outbreak of flu.


Three years ago, Swedish software consultancy Crisp decided that the answer was no. The firm, which has about 40 staff, had already trialled various organisational structures, including the more common practice of having a single leader running the company. Crisp then tried changing its chief executive annually, based on a staff vote, but eventually decided collectively that no boss was needed. Yassal Sundman, a developer at the firm, explains: "We said, 'what if we had nobody as our next CEO - what would that look like?' And then we went through an exercise and listed down the things that the CEO does." The staff decided that many of the chief executive's responsibilities overlapped with those of the board, while other roles could be shared among other employees. "When we looked at it we had nothing left in the CEO column, and we said, 'all right, why don't we try it out?'" says Ms Sundman. Crisp holds four-day meetings for all staff two to three times a year. They are used to making decisions on issues that affect everyone, such as an office move, but workers are encouraged to make decisions themselves at other times. It also still has a board - a legal requirement - and this can be used as a last resort to resolve issues if something is not working. Henrik Kniberg, an organisational coach at the firm, argues that not having to ask a boss for decisions on projects or budgets means the firm can respond faster. "If you want to get something done, you stand up and start driving that," he says. Yet Mr Kniberg stresses that not having to ask permission does not remove the need for staff to discuss issues or bounce ideas off each other. Because they are all in charge, workers are more motivated, he argues. Crisp regularly measures staff satisfaction, and the average is about 4.1 out of five. The company is set up like a family, says Mr Kniberg. While nobody tells anyone exactly what to do, the unspoken understanding is that you don't mess up the house. But what if the rest of the staff feel that one worker has made a terrible decision? Ms Sundman says that is okay. "At least you did the thing that was right in the moment - and then we can have a discussion about it. You can explain why it is that you thought this was a good way, and actually you might get everybody else to think the same way." Ultimately, the firm hopes that its way of working could inspire other companies to emulate the "Crisp DNA". Although Crisp's move may seem radical, plenty of companies have trialled a similar arrangement. One of the best-known is online shoe and clothing retailer Zappos, which is owned by Amazon. In 2013 the firm adopted a new management structure called "holacracy", which was intended to eliminate workplace hierarchy and foster collaboration. However, almost a fifth of Zappos staff subsequently departed, with chief executive Tony Hsieh admitting that "self-management is not for everyone". While there is

Summary: Do you really need someone to tell you what to do at work?


Firefighters dealt with blazes on Friday overnight at garage forecourts in Salisbury and Durrington as well as in residential areas of Amesbury. An aircraft was also found burnt out at Old Sarum Airfield. Police estimate the damage caused at "over £100,000". A man, 26, from Amesbury was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of arson. All of the "suspicious fires" took place between 01:38 GMT on Friday and 04:40 GMT on Saturday, Wiltshire Police said. Det Con Ian Day said: "All the vehicles were unoccupied at the time of the fires and no one was injured however the damage caused is significant and is likely to run over £100,000. "We are treating the fires as suspicious and believe that the vehicles were deliberately set alight. "We have made an arrest but I would like to appeal for any witnesses to come forward as they may be able to assist our investigation."

Summary: A man has been arrested following a spate of suspected arson attacks on dozens of cars and an aircraft, at nine different locations in south Wiltshire.


One of the first out of the blocks is a touring production of All My Sons by black-led theatre company Talawa. The story centres on all-American couple Joe and Kate Keller, whose son is missing after World War Two. Its director Michael Buffong tells arts correspondent Tim Masters what makes the play a 20th Century classic. What does it mean to you to be taking All My Sons on the road in Miller's centenary year? The fact that it's a centenary year shines an even brighter spotlight on what is an amazing piece of work and an amazing writer. We originally performed this in 2013 and I'd love to say I planned the tour for the centenary, but the truth of it is that it's a coincidence. What makes All My Sons an American classic? The themes are so universal. On one level it's about chasing the dream and the cost of trying to live it. The themes that come out of the play are issues of loyalty and trust and betrayal, and secrets within families and how people collude and how ultimately everything can come falling down. The themes are so universal - what would you do for your family? Joe Keller thinks anything is forgivable because it's been done for his family but he doesn't have a wider social responsibility. That's his downfall. The 2013 production earned five star reviews - does that add pressure to taking it out two years later? I haven't thought about it. If I did I might not sleep too well. I guess it might add a bit of pressure. I read reviews, you can't help it. One has to be able to take them - the good and the bad. Given that it was such a hit, how much are you tweaking this time round? Like with any fantastic play once you get to revisit it you realise its depth - we are finding so many new things. Half the cast are different so it can't be the same because they bring new elements. It just goes to show the quality of the text: there's always more to unearth. Does having a black cast give the play a new perspective? It certainly gives it a nuance. If you think of a black family trying to achieve the American dream suddenly the stakes become higher still because of black history in the US. But it essentially remains the same story: it's a family drama, and this family is an all-American family. You took over Talawa in 2012 - are there still things you want to achieve? I'm just at the beginning. The past three years have been great and we are starting to achieve some of things we set out to do. It's great that we get do do All My Sons, and we get to work with the companies like the National Theatre as we did last year with Moon on a Rainbow Shawl. We've got a writers' programme working with the Bush and Soho Theatres and the BBC, and we have a space

Summary: The centenary year of playwright Arthur Miller's birth is being marked with an explosion of productions around the UK in 2015.


La Albiceleste are fifth in the 10-team South American qualifying group, with only the top four assured of qualifying for the tournament in Russia. Finishing fifth would mean a play-off against a team from Oceania. Bauza, 59, was appointed in August and guided his side to three wins, two draws and three defeats. "We've told Bauza he's ceased to be the national team coach," said Argentina Football Association president Claudio Tapia. "The national team is playing badly and everyone knows it." Bauza's final match was a 2-0 defeat in Bolivia, which came hours after captain Lionel Messi was given a four-match ban for verbally abusing an official. Argentina have four games left in qualifying, with their next match against third-placed Uruguay on 31 August. They last failed to qualify for a World Cup in 1970.

Summary: Argentina have sacked Edgardo Bauza after eight matches as coach, with the team outside the automatic qualifying places for next year's World Cup.


The Championship side are willing to allow the Scotland international to leave on a free transfer, but they are also willing to consider a loan move. The 28-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season, joined Blues from Swindon in August 2012. He has since played in 159 games for the club, but has been limited to just one appearance this season. "We have had a very good chat," boss Gianfranco Zola told BBC Sport. "I've told him very clearly that I don't mind if he wants to stay. "He has players in front of him in his position, but I've told him that If you want to stay and fight and you deserve to play, then you will play." Caddis is a player whose name is imprinted in Birmingham footballing folklore, having scored the late goal at Bolton that kept Blues in the Championship on the final day of the season, in May 2014.

Summary: Birmingham defender Paul Caddis has been told he is free to find a new club after more than four years with Blues.


The FBI has ordered the tech giant to assist it with unlocking an iPhone used by San Bernadino gunman Syed Farook. Prince Al Hussein said the law enforcement agency "deserves everyone's full support" in its investigation. However, encryption was essential in the interests of freedom, he added. "There are many ways to investigate whether or not these killers had accomplices besides forcing Apple to create software to undermine the security features of their own phones," he said in a statement. "It is potentially a gift to authoritarian regimes, as well as to criminal hackers. "Encryption and anonymity are needed as enablers of both freedom of expression and opinion, and the right to privacy. Without encryption tools, lives may be endangered." Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik killed 14 people and left 22 injured when they opened fire at his place of work in California in December 2015. The FBI has asked Apple to disable a feature that means the data on an iPhone is erased after 10 incorrect attempts at the four-digit password. It also wants to be able to run software that could go through the 10,000 possible combinations to unlock the gunman's handset quickly. Apple says agreeing to the request would set "a dangerous precedent". A number of major tech firms have also pledged their support for Apple's refusal to circumvent its own security. Two groups of tech giants have now filed an amicus brief, which allows parties not directly involved in a court case, but who feel they are affected by it, to give their view. They include Twitter, AirBnB, eBay, LinkedIn, Reddit, Amazon, Microsoft, Snapchat and Yahoo. However, a lawyer representing a group of Farook's surviving victims said he would file similar legal paperwork on their behalf in support of the FBI. "They were targeted by terrorists, and they need to know why, how this could happen," said Stephen Larson, a former judge. He declined to say how many of the victims he was representing, but did add that he would not be charging them a fee.

Summary: Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, high commissioner for human rights at the United Nations, has warned that a "Pandora's box" will be opened if Apple co-operates with the FBI.


A judge at the High Court in London ruled in favour of environmental lawyers ClientEarth. The group called air pollution a "public health crisis" and said the government has failed to tackle it. The ruling in the judicial review called the government's plan "woefully inadequate". The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) told the BBC that it accepted the court's judgment. ClientEarth won a separate, Supreme Court ruling against the government in April 2015. That judgment ordered ministers to come up with a plan to bring down air pollution to within legal limits as soon as possible. But ClientEarth was dissatisfied with those proposals, and took the government to the High Court in a judicial review. In the ruling on Wednesday morning, Mr Justice Garnham said the 2015 Air Quality Plan (AQP), devised when Liz Truss MP was Environment Secretary, failed to comply with the Supreme Court judgment and EU directives. Furthermore, the ruling said the government had erred in law by fixing compliance dates based on over-optimistic modelling of pollution levels. "It seems to me plain that by the time the plan was introduced the assumptions underlying the Secretary of State's assessment of the extent of likely future non-compliance had already been shown to be markedly optimistic," said Mr Justice Garnham. He said the Secretary of State "fell into error" by fixing on a projected compliance date of 2020 (and 2025 for London). In particular, he drew attention to the cost implications of bringing in Clean Air Zones no earlier than 2020. "The evidence demonstrates clearly that Clean Air Zones, the measure identified in the plan as the primary means of reducing nitrogen dioxide emissions, could be introduced more quickly than 2020," Mr Justice Garnham said. He continued: "I have also seen a document setting out questions for Defra from HM Treasury dated 18 August 2015; one question asks why the money required 'needs to be spent over two years?' "The answer given is 'spend does not have to be over two years, nine years is more realistic given that London does not need to be in compliance until 2025'." A raft of recent studies and reports have linked air pollution to heart disease and lung problems, including asthma. In February, the Royal Colleges of Physicians and of Paediatrics and Child Health said outdoor air pollution was contributing to some 40,000 early deaths a year in the UK. ClientEarth chief executive James Thornton commented: "This is an urgent public health crisis over which the Prime Minister must take personal control. "I challenge Theresa May to take immediate action now to deal with illegal levels of pollution and prevent tens of thousands of additional early deaths in the UK. The High Court has ruled that more urgent action must be taken." A spokesperson for Defra said its plans had always followed the best available evidence, adding: "Whilst our huge investment in green transport initiatives and plans to introduce Clean Air Zones around the country will help tackle this problem, we accept the court's judgment. "We will now carefully consider this

Summary: Campaigners have won the latest battle in legal action against the UK Government over levels of air pollution.


The company said it was looking at the possibility of adding services between Sandown and Southsea. It said the idea had come from businesses at the island resort who were keen to boost tourism. If confirmed, the cross-Solent service would operate on two days a week in July and August. Neil Chapman, managing director of Hovertravel, said: "We're always open to new ideas which might boost tourism to the Isle of Wight and we provisionally agreed the concept, subject to gaining the appropriate permissions." The plan would be for the service to operate four 25-minute crossings every Tuesday and Thursday from 14 July to 27 August. The Isle of Wight Council welcomed the plan and said it was currently in discussion with Hovertravel to finalise the details and the use of Sandown Beach for the service.

Summary: A new hovercraft route between the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth could be introduced in the summer, operator Hovertravel has said.


The latest picture was taken by the rover at "Buckskin", which is the seventh rock target on its mission. Curiosity does this planetary photography in the same way we would take a selfie - by holding a camera at arm's length and framing itself. The pictures must then be stitched together to make this final scene. Nasa is trying to take one at every location where the robot drills into the surface of the red planet. The robot has now been on Mars for three Earth years. It is in what's known as Gale Crater. Curiosity is currently climbing through what's known as Mount Sharp, examining the rocks as it goes. Scientists want to understand when and how Mars became so barren.

Summary: The US space agency Nasa has issued a "selfie" portrait from its Curiosity rover on Mars.


The Northern Irishman's win in the Tour Championship, which also saw him land the $10m (£7.7m) FedEx Cup prize, was his second victory in three weeks. "We were all in the bar watching last night when he won. It was a great moment and a huge boost," Lawrie said. "He is obviously back to his best and that bodes well for the team." Lawrie, 47, flew out to the United States on Monday with captain Darren Clarke and other members of the European team. The Scot, one of five vice-captains alongside Thomas Bjorn, Sam Torrance, Padraig Harrington and Ian Poulter, insists the Europeans are not fazed by the United States' billing as favourites on home soil. "I don't think it really matters if we are the underdogs or not," Lawrie said. "Everyone is extremely happy with the team we have got. There are lot of unbelievable players in there. "We are going to focus on what we can bring to the party, and we are all really looking forward to it. "I think the boys will lean quite heavily on you as a vice-captain. Darren has not chosen you and is not asking for your opinion if you are not going to give it. "I have no problem giving it if he asks me. I have known him a long time and I will give him an honest answer." With six rookies among Europe's line-up, Lawrie hopes his two Ryder Cups as a player - both in America - will be beneficial to the team. Lawrie contributed 3½ points to the 'Battle of Brookline' in 1999, when the US recovered from 10-6 down to win 14½-13½, a contest remembered for most of the US team invading the 17th green thinking the match was over while Jose Maria Olazabal still had a putt to halve the hole against Justin Leonard. He also featured in the 'Miracle of Medinah' four years ago, as Europe completed a stunning comeback from 10-4 down during the Saturday afternoon fourballs to win 14½-13½, the Scot winning his singles match for a second time. "We all know how tough it is to play out there," Lawrie added. "The fans get into it and the majority of the fans watching are American and home supporters. "I hope to be able to pass on to the boys who have not played over there before what it is like, and what they can expect." The first practice day is on Tuesday, with the three-day contest starting on Friday, 30 September with the first foursomes at 13:35 BST, and the fourballs scheduled to follow at 18:30 BST. The match concludes with the singles on Sunday, 2 October, starting at 17:00 BST.

Summary: Vice-captain Paul Lawrie says Rory McIlroy's recent form is a "huge boost" to Europe's Ryder Cup team ahead of this week's contest at Hazeltine.


Paramedics were called to attend a sudden death at Joe's Bar in Dungiven at 06:00 BST on 6 October 2014, Limavady Magistrates Court was told. Police arriving a short time later found several people still at the bar. Till receipts showed alcohol was being served as late as 04:49 BST. The judge ordered its closure for three months. Colleen O'Neill, 43, of Kevin Lynch Park in the town, was charged with two counts of allowing the consumption of liquor outside licensing hours. James Thomas, 44, of the same address, faced one count of the same charge. A defence solicitor told the court that the licensing laws in Dungiven "were not strictly adhered to". He said it was clear that the premises had not been run in a proper manner and had been running well into the morning. The judge said Ms O'Neill, who is the license holder, had "an appalling record" and expressed concern that he did not have power to impose a custodial sentence. "This was as bad a case as I have come across and as bad a record," he said. Ms O'Neill was also fined £3,000, while Mr Thomas was fined £1,000.

Summary: A sudden death at a pub in County Londonderry alerted police to alcohol being served hours after closing time, a court has heard.


The bird and wildlife charity was due to unveil its new sites at Snape and Hollesley later. However, the flooded River Alde over-topped the reserve at Snape, filling the freshwater marshes with saltwater. Work to clear up the damage is continuing and the RSPB said it hoped to open the reserves in the spring. Aaron Howe, RSPB reserves project manager, said: "The rain has helped flush out virtually all of the salt and the marsh will recover, but the project has been delayed." The 125-acre marsh at Snape is an extension to the existing 70-acre reserve. The reserve at Hollesley was not flooded, but the RSPB was hoping to formally open it on the same day as it opened Snape.

Summary: The RSPB has had to cancel the opening of its two new reserves in Suffolk due to damage created by December's coastal surge tides.


The Coventry Festival of Motoring, which attracted 40,000 visitors in 2014, has had ??20,000 of funding withdrawn by the city council. However, organisers Culture Coventry said the funding withdrawal was "not the only reason" they had made the decision to cancel the event. It said events planned for 2015 and 2016 have been axed. Organisers said they had not ruled out reviving the festival, but it would remain on hold indefinitely. The free heritage event, which features classic cars, was due to take place in August at Stoneleigh Park. It is organised by Culture Coventry, a trust set up to manage four of the city's visitor attractions. Chief executive Gary Hall said he had just found out about the council's funding withdrawal. "I have to look at the ongoing viability of the show and with cuts coming from the city council and other sponsors, we would not be able to grow it as we have in recent years," he said. "It is a lot of money and, as a charity running four attractions in the city, we have to look at what benefits we are getting." He said the charity was reopening Coventry's Transport Museum in June following a ??9m redevelopment. "Unfortunately, we have to put all of our resources into promoting the museum," he said. Mr Hall said the charity would run "a number of events" throughout 2015 to bring classic car owners into Coventry. Coventry MotoFest, a more recent addition to the city's festival calendar, which features car races and displays, will go ahead in May, as planned.

Summary: A motoring festival which has been running for 30 years is to be cancelled, organisers have said.


Thames Water said it was called out 101 times on Christmas Day 2010 to deal with blockages. It said fat should be put in a container and, once it has cooled down, disposed of in a bin. To highlight the problem a group of sewer men and women have posted on YouTube a rewritten version of the carol Deck the Halls Thames Water said 25% more fat - about 500 tonnes - goes down drains in December than at any other time. Rob Smith, Thames Water's chief sewer flusher and the Singing Sewermen's lead chorister, said: "Anything other than human waste and loo roll has no business in our sewers. "And fat is the biggest no-no of all. "Christmas time is the worst time of year for fat blocking our sewers because of all the turkey grease that gets washed away. "It goes down sinks easily enough when it's warm but when it hits our sewers it cools down and sets hard forming hideous fatbergs." This is the third year running that the Singing Sewermen have released a Christmas song, recorded in the sewers under the capital. In 2009 they sung a reworking of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and in 2010 they did their own version of Good King Wenceslas. The video for this year's song was filmed in a Victorian brick sewer under east London.

Summary: People are being reminded not to pour fat from cooking Christmas dinners down the sink as it blocks up sewer pipes.


Wells, 23, impressed in the T20 Blast last season, scoring 373 runs at 28.69 - with a strike rate of 138.66. Wells said: "It's clear that the club is going in the right direction and it's really exciting. "The environment created by the coaches is of elite performance and it's making the lads want to be a part of it."

Summary: All-rounder Tom Wells has signed a new two-year contract which will keep him at Leicestershire until the end of the 2018 season.


More to follow

Summary: Carl Frampton suffered the first defeat of his professional career as Leo Santa Cruz won on points to regain the WBA featherweight title in Las Vegas.